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And Hester herself was the one who elevated Juleika’s will. The scientists of Mainrat had made the poison and produced an insane test, but she was the one who devised a magical design to disperse its reaction. It was something she conceived of after seeing the knight’s vampiric aftereffects.

Hydra’s poison burned the recipient’s life to increase their sensitivity, so after a while, they began to covet the lives of others. The hosts would endure until the ether calmed down. However, the problem was that it required a person who was adept at magic to use, as it required the application of [reduction].

There were only a small number of wizards, and they were usually fragile desk workers, so they often exploded after consuming the poison. They told researchers across the border that they were looking for a medicinal substance that could substitute for Oniro as they developed Hydra’s poison. However, it was difficult for it to be effective for magic. Therefore, Hester had been patiently searching for subjects.

‘Only three or four junior wizards have disappeared.’

As it became increasingly difficult to find experimental subjects, Hester found Guilard, who was on a soapbox on the side of the road giving a speech no one was listening to.

Somehow, Guilard had become the only wizard on the continent who didn’t die even after ingesting Hydra’s poison. His knowledge of magic theory and his ether level was matchless, his mantras were incomparable, but his true advantage was his narcissism. The mad prophet had gone along with Hester’s plan perfectly.

‘And now is the time for harvest.’

Tonight, Hester had finally reached the final stage of her plan.

‘I’ve collected the prey I’ve coveted well.’

If successful, she would become a wizard who would defend the right leader of the Dernier continent. It meant that the future of this world would depend on her decisions.

‘Very good.’

.

.

.

Kleio opened his eyes, sensing something had happened. The largest golem chomped at Guilard’s leg, quickly tearing the muscles and crushing the bones.

“Ahhhhh!”

Soon, the entirety of Guilard’s lower body disappeared behind the beasts’ teeth. Blood bubbled out of Guilard’s mouth, and after a while, the screams stopped. His face had stiffened into an expression that wasn’t aware of what had happened to him. Arthur moved before anyone else, leaping forward to cut the golem’s back with Beg’s sword. Although Guilard had died, strong defense magic formed a purple shield around the golem.

Klang! Klang! Klang!

Kleio was deafened by the sound of thunder ringing out. Arthur’s sword was unable to tear through the etheric shield. This was the first time a demon was able to use magic. Isiel and Cel’s combined attacks were also in vain against the shield.

“Ah!”

“Hak…”

“There have been no reports of demons using magic. Arthur, step back first.”

Isiel grabbed Cel and Arthur, dragging them back to Kleio’s side. It wasn’t a shield that their swords could break. During their attacks, the golem had continued to consume Guilard’s body in a terrible display. Even his upper body had dried up and mummified, his arm stiffened in a desperately grasping posture, the fake stigma on the back of his hand with a deep blue-purple light.

“We can’t handle it! Send a message to the Defense Force…!”

“If this thing is released into town, the causalities will be enormous. I’ll block it, so Isial, head to the station and call them….”

“No, you don’t have to.”

The three immediately noticed Kleio. Even with black bruises form on his neck, he forced himself to stand up. He held a blinking tool in his hand, the magic tool Ezra Sergey had given him.

“This magic tool is owned by vice-captain Sergey. As soon as they see the signal, support from the magic team will arrive.”

His words reignited the children’s wills.

“If it’s just for a few minutes, we can hold on.”

“However much.”

“I know.”

Even though most of their ether had been robbed by Guilard and the golems, the three students raised their swords. Though it was a remote area, the Nodus district was part of the capital. They wouldn’t let such a monster run into a densely populated place. Kleio’s shoulders drooped with a sigh.

‘It’s dangerous, so I hope the reinforcements come soon.’

It would be the first time someone was waiting for Ezra like this. The three took a familiar attack formation, with Arthur in the front and Isiel and Cel on his right and left, respectively.

“Go!”

Their sharp and heavy attacks focused on the golem. They moved like lightning, slowing down the golem’s movements. The joints made of stone rattled as if they might fall off as the etheric shield was torn. Guilard, only his neck and right arm left, was sticking to the golem’s left shoulder. Blue-purple ether swirled around the bizarre sight. The golem, which was forced back a few steps by the student’s offensive, opened its mouth to utter a silent cry. Instantly, all the surrounding air and ether began to be sucked into the demon’s mouth. The three stuck their swords in the ground and supported each other, but even the ether covering their swords was caught in the storm and absorbed by the golem. Ether began to leak out of the cracks of the stone beast as it became berserk. Blue-purple brilliance overflowed from it, blinding them. Not only was their vision blocked, but also their ether detection ability.

‘What is this?!’

The moment Kleio moved to save his friends wrapped in the sinister ether, a sharp golden spear suddenly emerged from behind him. As the spear gained speed, he leaned over to protect his heart, causing the spear to pierce his shoulder instead. The handful of ether he had gathered scattered and vanished into the golem’s open mouth. The wizard’s form couldn’t fall to the floor, as there was someone holding him firmly. It was a short, young woman with her braided hair. Without any difficulty, she sat down atop the golem’s wide shoulders, holding a wizard taller than her. In Hester’s arms, Kleio began to vomit blood.

“Kahak…”

Hester, sitting comfortably on the golem’s shoulder, tenderly spoke as she wiped his blood-soaked face with her sleeves.

“If I let this golem swallow you, would I become the greatest wizard of my generation? That sounds good too.”

Kleio recognized her immediately.

“Hess…kaff…”

“Oh, did you know my name? If so, you should call it properly. Captain Hester.”

Hester hugged Kleio, driving the golden spear in deeper. A terrible pain wracked Kleio. If it weren’t for Separation, he would’ve passed out from the shock.

“You endure better than I would’ve thought. Then, I’ll let you watch this special show. Ahaha.”

Hester, who embraced the trembling Kleio like a young brother, put a blood-soaked hand on the golem’s head. Amid the etheric storm, the cracks covering the golem’s body broke up. Guilard’s dry flesh also fell from the golem, revealing a bundle of pure ether that moved like lava under the shell. The flow of blue-purple ether in the golem was enormous, obtained from several people’s sacrifice, including Guilard himself.

All of it was being absorbed into Hester. Guilard’s hand completely vanished, and at the same time, the fake skill reappeared on the back of Hester’s hand.

[Transformation Skill: Parasitic Technique

-Hex technique to increase the amount of ether by using the life of others.]

Despite his wavering consciousness, Kleio captured the scene clearly.

‘Not only the people involved with the program weren’t just getting scammed for money… they were Hester’s prey.’

Hester unreservedly absorbed the remaining ether from the corpses of the golem and Guilard. The blue-purple ether grew more and more purplish until it eventually transformed into a blood-red color. A ripple of surprise ran through Kleio as he recognized that color.

‘Hydra’s poison…?’

Wasn’t it only medicine that knights could take because of the physical strain? With that thought, the golem swelled and burst into countless pieces before returning to dust. What had happened to them was the same as the aftereffects of Hydra’s poison. However, the fact that the poison’s recoil could be adjusted in this way was new information.

The golden spear embedded in Kleio’s shoulder, with a mana stone as its core, lost its power and collapsed. Blood began to spurt out, staining the white chiton he wore, and Hester patted his pale cheek. Her tone was like that of a sister teaching her younger brother.

“Isn’t it amazing? I’m good at stealing. Guilard had devoured the Hydra’s poison, and now I will use up all of that life to devour all the ether he has collected.”

“!!!”