Chapter 40 Into The Darkness

Lust, a primal urge that grips our senses, is an insatiable desire that can manifest in many forms - be it materialistic pursuits or the yearning for intimacy.

Indeed, it is a sensation that every soul experiences at some point in their life. Yet, when one succumbs to its powerful allure, it ceases to be a mere craving and becomes a pernicious vice.

While sexual desire is a common manifestation of lust, those who fail to keep it in check and yield to its temptations are transformed into something grotesque, a perversion of humanity.

Such individuals are nothing less than monsters, wearing human facades, with no place amongst civil society.

This transformation is a gradual process, with the seeds of corruption taking root in the heart, and if left unchecked, it can birth the most heinous of criminals - rapists, molesters, and other such abominations.

"Why did you alter our route? We could have remained there to indulge in some private time," Ruby inquired, her tone laced with curiosity.

"A moment of personal intimacy in the hell does not seem like a prudent decision to me," I retorted, my words dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, let me remind you, I am the queen here, and these inferior beings will follow my lead," she responded.

"Forgive me for reminding you, Miss, but you are not yet a full-fledged devil. Your veins still carry human blood, and this will remain the case for the next few years," I replied.

"Ugh, fine. But could you at least tell me where we are headed?" she asked impatiently.

"What are your thoughts on creatures driven by insatiable lust?" I asked'

"Do I need an opinion on such vile beings?" she responded, swinging the pole in her hand. "I'll just tear them apart."

"Excellent. In that case, I have a new task for you," I said.

"And what would that be?" she asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Find these monsters and do your job", I replied.

"And what about my commission?" she inquired.

"Forget it. I'll do it myself," I answered dismissively.

"By all means, proceed", she acquiesced.

'...' "Fine, you can have whatever you want", I relented.

"Understood, sir", the subordinate affirmed.

----[POV: Sun-Jung]

"We have eliminated countless devils, but I wonder, how much farther until we reach the end? It's disconcerting that we haven't come across any landmarks or surveillance devices," Ji-ho stated, her voice betraying her exhaustion.

"Rest assured, we've been following the same path straight ahead, so we couldn't have taken a wrong turn," I reassured her.

Despite walking for an hour, we hadn't seen any signs of progress. Not a single marker or device indicated that we were on the right track.

"Perhaps we should turn back. Our lives are more valuable than any grades we could receive," I suggested.

"I agree. We can argue that the path wasn't properly inspected or marked, leading us to get lost," Ji-ho replied.

"You all are mistaken, this is undoubtedly the correct path, and the markings are accurate," a voice responded from behind us. As we turned around, we saw a group of five boys from our class, all of whom were ranked in the top ten.

"Forgive me, but I believe everyone chose a different route. May I know why all five of you are together?" I asked, taking a step back.

"Trust me, if you were in my shoes, you'd have done the same," the apparent leader, a boy with golden hair and blue eyes, replied.

"I don't think we know each other well enough for us to care so deeply about each other," I retorted.

"Who the hell is talking about you?" he sneered, then looked at Ji-Ho behind me and added,

"I'm here to check on my fiancé."

"Fiancé?" I asked, bewildered.

"You would be equally worried if your intended spouse ventured into hell with another man whom you don't know, so correct me if I'm wrong," he retorted.

"I'm not your fiancé, and I have declined all the proposals and gifts from your Tae-yang guild," Ji-Ho shouted from behind me.

"If I can't win you over with love, money, or power, then I could make you mine by force, but I'd rather not resort to that because I truly care about you. I'll do anything for you if you agree,"

He continued. "But let me remind you, hiding behind this worthless excuse of a man won't make a difference. He'll just be considered collateral damage in the end."

"Have you removed all the surveillance devices and erased all the markings along the way?" I inquired, my anger towards him brewing due to his association with Ji-Ho.

"Ah, that," he responded, raising his eyebrows and gesturing towards his group of lackeys, "was not my doing. They took care of it."

"Then, may I assume that your intentions are not benign, given that you went to such lengths to create a personal space?" I asked.

"Indeed, you are perceptive," he sneered, "My objective is to eliminate you. Although I had hoped to do it away from Ji-Ho's eyes, I am reconsidering that decision, given your arrogance."

"After all, I hate guys like you, the ones who act like best friends but in reality want to bed her", he continued, his voice dripping with malice.

With a flourish, he pulled out an artefact, unlike anything I had seen before. The weapon he wielded was called the Blood Reaver, a massive axe with a blade that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy.

The air around us grew thick with a cloud of acrid smoke, and I could feel my skin prickling with goosebumps as he swung the axe in a wide arc.

My heart sank as I watched in horror as the trees around us began to wither and die, the leaves turning brown and crumbling to ash as the Blood Reaver sapped the life force from them.

Even the very air seemed to grow heavy with the weight of the aura of his axe, and I knew that we were in grave danger.

But what came next was even worse. As the axe struck the ground, a wave of crimson energy rippled outwards, causing the ground beneath our feet to buckle and crack.

"She would be fine, she did not lose consciousness because of the toxin", Tae-yang said as he swung his axe horizontally creating a strike of blood that cut through the air as it approached me.

I brandished my broad sword in front of me, hoping to fend off the incoming strike.

However, as the cursed Blood Reaver made contact with my weapon, a deafening clang echoed through the air, followed by the sound of shattering metal.

The training gear was no match for the power behind his artefact.

With a violent force, I was sent hurtling backwards, my body tumbling uncontrollably through the air before crashing against a nearby tree.

Pain shot through my body as I tried to regain my bearings, but the impact had left me disoriented and gasping for air.

As I struggled to stand, I could feel the weight of his gaze upon me, his eyes filled with sadistic glee as he approached with the cursed axe still dripping with blood.

"<Arcane Surge>", "I was hoping not to use this," I murmured under my breath.

"What did you say?" he demanded, his voice laced with impatience.

Without another word, I closed my eyes and focused on the aura that coursed through my veins.

With a deep breath, I channelled the energy and released it in a powerful surge, unleashing the full extent of my abilities.

The world around me faded away as my body broke free from its restraints. The aura consumed me, enhancing my physical abilities and granting me temporary invincibility.

In this state, my attacks would deal massive damage and nothing could interrupt them.

But there was a price to pay for this power. After the surge subsided, I would be immobilized for a week, unable to move or fight.

It was a heavy price to pay, but at this moment, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make to defeat my opponent.

----[POV: End]

As we perched atop the tree branch, Ruby's eyes fixated on the wicked axe in Tae-yang's hand.

"I like that Axe", she remarked, her voice low and sultry.

"Well, why don't you go and grab it then?" I replied, trying to keep my voice even.

'What's with her sudden interest in helping? Usually, she only cared about her own goals, I thought.

"Let's wait for him to finish the job first," she continued, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Then, I'll make sure to take it for myself."

"…"