"Hmm, finally. You know that's exactly what I needed," the demon grinned contentedly as the square fully opened, and a massive structure began to rise from underneath.
The arena used during the tournament. The students landed on the sandy field, protected by a sturdy barrier.
"So, was this the plan?" Seleria still couldn't fully believe they had found shelter. "Even these monsters won't be able to break this crystal shield. Well done, rector."
"Sorry to shatter your illusions, but this refuge won't protect us for long either," the rector sat in the center of the arena, holding onto his staff. "This barrier has some serious flaws, and the demon knows about them. It's here to give you time to catch your breath before you have to do what you need to do."
"Hey, but this is one of the strongest barriers, no demon can destroy it."
"Every magic needs something to sustain it, and this barrier has existed for centuries. The mages who created it have long since died."
"But it was created to protect the spectators; you surely must know how to strengthen it."
"Ho-ho, the arena was built much later; the real shield extends much further."
"You mean it covers the entire Academy territory?" Katrina recalled something from recent past. "When I once fought Seleria, there was some barrier underground suppressing my magic."
"You're right, Princess. Initially, the shield covered the entire Academy, but over time, as it weakened, I decided to create an instrument to sustain it with magic. My friend Grivor helped erect this coliseum so that it could transfer the energy of the students fighting on it to maintain the barrier."
"It's quite strange to try to protect the Academy underground."
"It's not to protect the Academy at all, but to maintain what is hidden beneath it."
"Rector, you're starting to scare me," Seleria frowned in discontent. "And I'm starting to like the idea of hiding here less and less."
"The main thing is that the crystal shield surrounding the arena is sustained by the magic embedded in the structure itself. If the demon destroys the walls, the barrier will begin to crumble. But now, he only controls three golems. Take advantage of this to escape. You know where the passages to the Wanderer's Path are; lead all the survivors there and leave. As for me, I'll try to do something with this monster.
"Grandfather, you're lying," Feris looked reproachfully at the rector. "You can barely stand on your feet. And even in your best shape, you wouldn't be able to guarantee victory over such an enemy."
"Yes, you are right, but there are more important matters at hand. It doesn't matter what happens to me; the main thing is for you to get out of here. If the demon can't fulfill the contract, Kurone's body will die soon. It's not the best solution, but it will help us avoid greater losses."
"What are you saying! I won't abandon her," Katrina objected, but the rector sighed sadly.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to help her. If she willingly entered the contract, there's little you can do. But if you continue the battle, the demon will get what he wants."
"Do you mean..." Katrina looked at Alfred, and the inquisitor cowered in fear.
"Oh, no, he doesn't need that coward. He wants to break this barrier, and for that, he needs a suitable sacrifice."
"But you said the barrier would collapse if the coliseum is destroyed."
"Only this part will collapse, and the barrier won't be able to be replenished, but the main shield will remain. The demon wants to reach his main body, sealed underground, and then Kurone will be of no use to him."
"So maybe we should give him what he wants and free her. And then we'll fight the demon. We already have experience in major battles."
"Why won't you listen to me! You won't be able to defeat him; you barely defeated his minions. He's not a mindless hydra; he's cunning, and we sealed him precisely because we couldn't stop him any other way."
"What makes this demon so special?"
"It's the Archdemon, the one who led the demon invasion a thousand years ago. He couldn't be defeated because he combined the power of a ruler of Hell and a summoner. Every time he died in the physical world, he was reborn in the spirit world, consuming his minions. That's why we hoped to put an end to him without allowing him to resurrect, but it seems we miscalculated in some places."
"And when you say 'we,' you don't mean yourself, right? This all happened over a thousand years ago."
The rector averted his gaze, contemplating what to say in response.
"Grandfather," Feris looked at her ancestor, "that's what I call you, but that's also what my mother and grandmother called you. How old are you?"
"Much older than an ordinary person can live. You're right, Princess; I speak of myself when I recall the battle with the Archdemon. It was me and my three comrades who sealed him here, so it's best for you to believe my words and do as I say."
"But you're a light mage; even a contract with an angel doesn't grant such a life."
"That's not important right now. The main thing is that when my power was needed, I stood against the Archdemon. Now, to break the seal, he also needs my power. Back then, we sealed his body, but later I realized that his soul managed to escape, and now he has taken over Kurone to regain his former strength. You must, under no circumstances, let him obtain the blood of Rizel or Reines."
"And what makes us so special?"
"As you know, to create a crystal barrier, you need a connection with the four dimensions of spirits. This can be achieved if one possesses the power of a summoner or has at least four contractors of great spirits. We created the barrier with the latter, and to break it, the demon needs the blood of those who created it."
"But you said that the creators of the barrier are already dead."
"Not entirely," the rector wagged his finger, "it's enough to have the blood of their heirs, those who directly or indirectly inherited their power, or the blood of someone even more powerful."
"And that's why he needs Rizel's blood? What about the others?"
"Four worlds were represented by four powerful mages. I was an archangel's contractor for a very long time, and my blood is already with the demon."
"But a contractor can't live that long."
"It doesn't matter," the rector dismissed Katrina's objections. "The Elemental World was represented by a very famous earth mage, who became a recluse after that battle."
"For some reason, I feel like I know who you're talking about," Grain frowned unhappily.
"Yes, yes, yes, Grivor was a Titan's contractor and one of the strongest contractors of the Elemental World. By the way, young man, didn't you notice how your power and the power of my loyal subordinate increased after your encounter with him?"
"You mean..." Grain gasped.
"Exactly. He passed on his connection with the Titan to both of you, and that's why your power has grown so much. And it seems the demon also got his blood," the rector looked at the earth mage's shoulder.
"And a contractor of demons, is it easy to find him?"
"Oh, that," the rector grinned, looking at Alfred, "the contractor of the Demon World was Dextron, a powerful mage and the brother of the Fifth Summoner. When the Archdemon invaded the human world, not all demons supported him, and his war exhausted their world's strength. Then, the great demons chose a new ruler for Hell, and she made a deal with the most powerful demonologist among humans. And the brother of the Fifth Summoner, who was engulfed by the Archdemon by that time, was the best candidate for this role. So don't say that all demons and demonologists fought against humans at that time. There were those who made an invaluable contribution to that victory. He was the only one among us who wasn't a long-liver, but he had many children, and they possessed great power and were part of Verania's high management, though they had to hide the origin of their power."
Alfred carefully hid from the rector's gaze.
"In the end, paranoia, or maybe a thirst for power, led them to create a church that vehemently fought against manifestations of demonic magic. And now, Dextran's blood flows in the veins of the church's top figures, including Alfred," said the rector.
"Oh, my goodness," Seleria clicked her tongue disgustedly. "Great demon hunters, so honest, it's sickening."
"And the last one was the contractor of Thanatos, the mistress of death?" Rizel wanted to clarify the final piece of the puzzle.
"How many people do you know with whom the mistress of death made contracts?"
"Um... Besides me, my mom, my grandmother... five ancient dragons... and maybe someone from the ancient kingdom of northern necromancers."
"No, she didn't make contracts with anyone else except the first summoner, your family, and the grey dragons. And since the dragons were not accessible, you can guess who was the fourth archmage."
"My mom?"
"Yes, I told you that she hid you before a serious battle because she wasn't sure of its outcome. That was the final battle with the Archdemon. She invested a fragment of her soul in this barrier and fought alone with the demon while we prepared the barrier. She was a very remarkable woman, and she perished in that battle, but she gave us the opportunity to seal the Archdemon. If I had known back then where she hid you, I would have come for you. But she didn't entrust that to anyone so the demon couldn't track you. And now he needs your blood to break the seal."
"And then he'll regain all his former strength, and we won't be able to defeat him again because he'll be constantly reborn?"
"I'm afraid that to regain all his strength, he'll need a considerable sacrifice, and the souls of powerful mages will suit him best. So, it's unlikely that anyone from here will escape if he manages to regain his body. Therefore, you'll have to run as soon as he breaks the barrier."
"But that won't stop the demon."
"I know, maybe he can even break the barrier without the required blood, but for that, he'll have to destroy the barrier precisely from here. That will give you a chance. Leave, find help, and fight him again. Maybe you'll be able to defeat him."