Mayhem
Chapter 12. The Dark Prince: Demon of Potential
(From Toren's perspective)
Emilia slowly turned her head toward us.
In her left hand, she still held the severed head, and she casually released it, letting it fall to the floor with a dull thud.
There was no point in hiding anymore.
I stepped forward, standing directly in front of her.
—You saw everything? — Emilia asked.
From her face, it was clear: she was furious. She didn't like that I had witnessed this.
—I just arrived, — I replied calmly.
—Tell your friend to come out too.
—You're a maniac, — Kair appeared. —Though that was obvious even during our sparring.
Emilia remained silent.
—And what are you planning to do now? — I asked.
—Looks like I'll have to get rid of the witnesses too, — she replied. —It's your own fault.
She assumed a combat stance.
—Kair, get out of here. Report everything to Professor Grimvale.
I created a magical sword.
The red glow emanating from her sword suddenly turned into a bright blue, exactly the same as mine.
Against those four girls, she had enough with a small amount of energy.
But she knew what I was capable of.
So she began pouring more and more power into the sword.
—Hold on, Toren, — Kair said and rushed away.
I didn't fully know what Emilia was capable of.
But one thing was clear: the faster Kair reached Professor Grimvale, the better.
After all, a real fight isn't sparring.
She dashed toward me. I charged too.
Our swords clashed.
I immediately struck. She parried and immediately countered. I dodged and counterattacked; she did the same.
I fired a beam of magical energy from my left hand at her. She read it in a fraction of a second and responded in kind. For several moments, we built up the flow of power until a shockwave formed between us, throwing both of us back.
I rose instantly. So did she.
We charged at each other again.
As the temperature of my body rose, I accelerated, but within seconds she caught up to me in speed. She struck. I didn't parry; I simply blocked it with the elbow of my left arm, around which I formed a dense energy shield.
At the same moment, I dissipated the sword in my right hand, clenched it into a fist, poured magical energy into it, and struck Emilia in the stomach.
By that point, we were moving many times faster than a professional boxer, and all of this happened in one second. She didn't have time to react or fully form a shield.
Emilia was thrown about three meters. She fell to the ground.
I immediately recreated the sword and pressed it to her throat.
Her face twisted in pain.
—Ow… my stomach… — she groaned. —Why did you sit on me? Get up… I can't move…
She complained like a small child.
—You could at least pity your friend a little, — she muttered discontentedly. —It hurts.
I stood up. She immediately curled up, unable to hold back the pain. I silently watched her. After a minute, she struggled to her feet.
—I don't understand you, — I said directly. —Who are you? And why are you like this?
Her gaze instantly became serious.
—Will you continue being my friend if I tell you?
—I don't promise.
She made a surprised face, then laughed.
—You really don't know how to talk to girls, — she said. —You could at least lie. Or do you not like lying?
—When necessary, I can lie.
—Then why didn't you lie now?
She tried to step forward, but I extended the sword, stopping her.
—I don't know. I answered without thinking.
—Then I won't lie to you either, — she said. —I'm possessed by a demon.
I had no response. We stood in silence for about half a minute. She looked straight into my eyes.
—Sometimes the demon completely takes control of my body and mind, — she continued. —I see everything… but I can't do anything.
She dropped to her knees. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
—I tried to kill myself to end this nightmare, — she said through tears. —But the demon won't let me. I'd be grateful if you killed me.
The aura around her suddenly changed, from ominous to ordinary. I don't know how, but I felt it.
I sat down beside her and hugged her tightly.
I wanted to believe that the demon did all this, not her. But at the same time, her words ignited excitement in me. I was insanely curious where this would lead.
Honestly, I've always dreamed of such a "toy." Such a person. To play with, to create drama. This is exactly what I was missing.
—What a spectacle, — a voice came from behind. —She killed four students, and you're hugging her, Toren.
I turned around. Behind me stood Professor Grimvale, teacher Erwin, and Kair.
...
Erwin approached and began examining the bodies.
—I said from the beginning that we shouldn't take someone possessed by a demon into the school, — he said calmly. —But you insisted, Professor Grimvale. The school's reputation is finished.
—Did we have a choice? — the professor replied. —The Demon of Potential can destroy an entire city with one technique.
—Demon of Potential?.. So the rumors were true? — Kair said in surprise. —He's appeared again?
—Yes. And right now he's sitting in the arms of your friend, — Erwin replied irritably. —Or rather, inside Emilia. The situation is much worse than I thought.
The Demon of Potential is one of the seven S-rank demons. Such demons are capable of wiping out cities one after another. Their appearance always ends with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of victims.