At Danteriar Academy, the expedition to Mount Marrac was known as one of the most dangerous tests, yet for second-year students, the test was moderately difficult compared to the Academy's final test, which required each student to bring back a fifth-rank monster core. The graduation test caused the death of about a third of the students, but those who graduated were considered to represent the best of the republic and would be its protective shield.
For some teachers, it was still painful to lose their students, while others had simply become accustomed to the inevitable.
Professor Helen carefully observed her surroundings and decided to follow the trail left by Asfil and Selis. She soon reached the lake, found Mart's faint trail, and hurried to follow it until she reached the ledge and saw the horrific image of dismembered students, blood and guts scattered everywhere, but there was no longer any sign of danger. She immediately ordered her team to follow her. Professor Helen followed Evans' trail and arrived at the valley. There wasn't as much death there, just a partially devoured body, but she felt as if Mart's energy had increased, and the worn demonic wands were on the ground.
"This can be reused, these noble spendthrifts," she thought, feeling a little less oppressed by the situation. She immediately found the trail of about six students moving away from the valley. In the distance, she also heard the roar of the abominable creature. She was at the peak of the fifth rank; if it was just a monster, she felt capable of defeating it.
"Find the six students who left together. I'll take care of the monster and look for Mart Sevec," the teacher ordered her assistants.
Ilin and Asdef nodded and hurried to find Nirian Arcariz's group.
Mart was standing in front of the cave at that moment. He took one last potion of demonic energy and entered the cave with a greedy smile on his face.
Mart walked through a place resembling a tunnel, floors, walls, ceilings made of solid rock and damp earth, no light, but for him it was like being under the sky on a completely cloudy day, although that did not make it any less gloomy, but he had already accepted that he was now a demon; However, although he now considered demons to be a species similar to humans in the world he found himself in, that was different from the concept of demons used in his previous world, and that was the concept that best suited his situation if he wanted to survive and save the country from demons.
As he went deeper into the place, it became colder and more humid than outside. Sometimes, as he walked, he stepped on the bones of animals and magical beasts. After taking a few more steps, he began to smell nauseating odors coming from different directions, until he reached a fork in the road. He didn't hesitate and chose the path to the left.
[Demon system has detected Demon God energy]
"There's a reason they say it's bad luck to get up on the wrong side of the bed; I'm glad I talked to Asfil, I managed to lower that flag."
As the nauseating smell grew stronger, Mart's feet were about to step into the void. In front of him was a 20-meter drop, and although he could withstand the impact, it would consume an excessive amount of demonic energy to do so.
In the depths of the void, black-skinned goblins chewed on pieces of rotting flesh from beasts and animals, also chewing on the bones, producing an unpleasant sound. There were hundreds of black-skinned goblins corroded by corruption.
"It seems they haven't come out in a long time. They must fear the creatures that attacked the students," thought Mart as he surveyed his surroundings to find a route that would allow him to descend without expending too much mana. He observed for a few seconds and finally decided to act, shouting petulantly:
-Damn goblins! The demon came to his house and they don't bow down before him. Are they unable to recognize me?!
The goblins looked up, they had all been hiding for so long that they too longed for a fresh meal, the sound of hundreds of bones being crushed was succeeded by the uncontrolled bustle of agitated goblins like wasps rushing into the tunnels around them.
Mart pulled the piece of a tree from his demonic pouch, sat down and immediately pulled out three sachets containing powdered demonic steel, and another containing obsidian orchid powder prepared by Selis.
"Iristel, I have great desires to return to see my succubus, now that you are my partner
I will not hold back," Mart smiled.
[Lust trait activated: resistance temporarily increases (+20)].
"Well, we won't put that stamina to proper use," Mart thought wryly as he heard dozens and dozens of goblins approaching.
••••
Nirian and her group were running as fast as they could, they were only two kilometers away from the camp, the pretty student who had read the messages Mart sent, asked with an agitated tone due to the fatigue caused by running without rest:
-Nirian, will Mart be alright?
-I guess you didn't hear him yelling at us. -One of the demon warriors in the group exclaimed.
-Yes, he even dared to insult us, he must have spent a fortune on artifacts to be able to show off like that..." added one of the mages but stopped as she remembered the deal Nirian had made.
They all ran in silence until Nely, the pretty student who read Mart's messages, said:
-Nirian, don't worry, we will pay a part.
Within Nirian's group, everyone was noble, so they felt that if they joined in, the cost to be paid would not cause a big impact.
-Stop! -Nirian suddenly ordered.
A few seconds after Nirian's group stopped, Ilin and Asdef appeared; Nirian immediately recognized them and with a calm attitude asked them:
-And young Mart?
Asdef shook his head, because he was lazy to answer that they had not found him; but seeing that reaction Nirian was surprised and put his hand to his mouth, until Ilin elbowed Asdef in the side and almost scolding him said:
-Don't be a brute; for that you'd better not answer. -Ilin looked at Nirian and added: -Young Mart also managed to escape, Professor Helen went after him.
Nirian regained his composure, he had been surprised because he did not want to be indebted to a dead man, especially if that dead man was Mart Sevec.