It's been almost 3 years since my training began with Lili. I'm already 8 years old now, and I've become a master of elemental magic, able to control the elements as easily as breathing. Thanks to my training, my INT has reached 200. My STR has grown to 50, and my AGI to 35, which might because of the physical aspect of my training.
The first year of training was the hardest. Lili is very strict, but she's actually very kind. She's become like an older sister to me, even though I'm mentally older. She reads me books, accompanies me to town, and teaches me a lot of things beyond magic—like languages from different kingdoms, effective ways to defeat monsters and demons, and all sorts of stuff you can't find in books.
That's why I don't understand why the system wants me to kill Lili.
System Open...
/System: Main Quest
/System: Kill Demon Lord (1290 days remaining)
/System: Kill "Lili Eilin" (3 Days Remaining)
I don't know what will happen if I don't follow this quest. And obviously, I won't kill Lili, no matter what. Every time I ask the system about this, all I get is: "You need to kill Lili Eilin." I've also tried to investigate the matter.
Maybe Lili is a demon? No, she acts very human even though she's an elf. There's nothing mysterious about her, except that she doesn't like Gustav. Every time Gustav talks to her, she seems irritated. I don't know why.
And whenever I ask Lili about it, she immediately changes the subject.
Anyway, I get up from my bed and put on my leather boots imbued with a magic stone—a gift from Stella for my 8th birthday. I'm not too familiar with how magic stones work, but they seem like materials that upgrade weapons in MMORPGs. The boots help increase my mana regen by 0.5%.
That's a lot, considering my mana pool is already 1000, so my mana regen is equal to 15 mana per second.
As I step outside my room, I see Stella, Lili, and Gustav's party sitting and discussing something.
-- Hi Leon, long time no see -- Lian waved at me.
I waved back and sat in Lian's lap. This is one of the perks of being a child. Sting glanced at me, and I smirked, knowing she has a crush on Lian. Sting's face turned irritated.
Everyone looked serious, then Lili began to speak, holding a letter.
-- As we all know, Arthria's last province has been completely conquered by demons, and they've begun their campaign to capture the three kingdoms in the middle continent: Astuv, Hanisha, and Hassin. If they succeed, that would be the 8th human kingdom under the Demon Lord. Hanisha is my homeland and where the headquarters of the Council of Sages and the Holy Church are located.
If Hanisha falls, human order will crumble. I need your help. I need to return to Hanisha and prepare for the war. -- Lili explained.
I thought Lili was an elf. isn't her homeland should be in the Elvian continent?
-- The problem is humans are selfish. They're too busy defending their own kingdoms and neglecting others, weakening the overall human defense against a full demon invasion -- Sario added.
-- That won't be a problem since the Council of Elders and the Holy Church are at stake. The 17 kingdoms will reunite to defend Hanisha -- Stella added.
-- I'm going to war. The future of humanity and our family depends on the outcome. Stella, in case the war doesn't go as we want, I want you and Leon to escape to the Elvian continent -- Gustav replied.
-- I need to return to Hanisha as soon as possible. -- Lili said.
After the meeting, Gustav and his party went to the guild to recruit more members for the war, while Lili and I resumed our training.
-- Listen, Leon, over the past three years you've become a master of elemental magic. You've learned fast, and there's nothing more I can teach you about elemental magic. You've mastered control, become proficient, and more creative since we first met.
I'm leaving in three days. I know you know about the ongoing war between demons and humans. In these last three days, I'll teach you forbidden magic. I don't expect you to master it or even use it. In fact, I don't want you using it at all. --
She raised her hand in front of her. I could see her building up mana in her palm. The mana turned red, then black, before she launched it at the ground.
The earth crumbled as if it had been punched by a giant.
-- This is dark magic. Special elements like dark and light magic can amplify physical prowess and do this --
She vanished from my sight. I used my detection magic, and she instantly appeared behind me and punched. I dodged and hopped forward.
-- Dark magic can control space, and in theory, even time. Since I can't use light magic, this is the final magic I can teach you. An average mage would instantly die using dark magic, even once -- Lili explained.
I noticed she was having trouble speaking, and suddenly, she spit blood.
-- This is why… dark magic not only consumes mana, but also life force. What I did is the basic application of dark magic. Demons can master it to a certain extent, bringing instant death, capturing souls, and amplifying curses -- Lili explained.
-- I don't want you to use this, Leon, unless you truly need it. To apply dark magic, you must focus your mana on the most vital organ—your heart. Once done, you need to overflow mana into your heart and release it into the space around you, or into any space you desire. --
Then, Lili handed me a book.
-- This book has been passed down through our Elvian lineage. I'm half-human and half-elf, as you've noticed from my pointy ears. But my lifespan is the same as a human's. In the Elvian continent, dark magic is also called 'god magic,' as it is believed to control spirits and souls, which are powers of a god. This book contains knowledge of dark magic. I'm not supposed to give this to you, but something inside me urges me to. It feels like we've done this before… and I'll regret it if I don't. --
-- Anyway, I need you to prepare. Tomorrow will be your final test: a 1v1 combat. Use everything you've learned, and I expect you to defeat me, Leon. You will be a great asset to humanity in the future. --
As we returned home, Stella and Gustav were talking. Stella was against Gustav participating in the upcoming war, but there was nothing she could do since the future of humanity was at stake.
It was a quiet night for all of us. After Lili fell asleep, I went to the basement. I opened the system storage and pulled out the book Lili gave me.
I studied dark magic. Dark magic defies basic logic—curses, manipulation of space and time, and so on. It can't be explained by modern science.
The basic application of dark magic is spell amplification. I tried to focus the flow of my mana to my heart. I could feel my mana piercing my heart like a needle and thread. Then, I redirected it to my finger. The mana flowed through my bloodstream to my finger, and I cast a fireball.
The fireball appeared purple instead of yellow. I kept pouring mana into it, making the fire denser until it turned black. My breathing became labored… I could hear my heart pounding faster and faster… until my vision blurred and I passed out.
/System: Dead...
/System: Rebooting...
Did I just die? My breathing was still heavy, and my heart ached. As I opened my eyes, the black fireball was still floating in the room. I tried to dispel it, but I couldn't. I tried to control it, but the fire wasn't responding.
So, this is dark magic. Isn't this thing going to explode? I needed to find a way to dispose of it. I poured water on it using water magic, but the water evaporated instantly. The air grew hotter and hotter. I rerouted the flow of mana into my heart and released it into my hand, trying to control the black fireball. Finally, it responded.
I immediately dispelled it, i suddenly feel dizzy then I sat on a chair, and continuing to study the book.
So, that's how dark magic amplifies basic elements. Now I'm curious about its effects on other elements...
As I turned each page, I learned more about the applications of dark magic beyond amplification.
Short-distance teleportation, space manipulation, time dilation (in theory), summoning, and instant death. These are forbidden spells among humans, but it seems that elves can study this kind of magic. Since elves, like demons, have lifespans that extend far beyond humans, they can use dark magic more freely.
Enough of this. I left the basement. It was already morning, so I assumed there's some delay with my immortality. Whenever I die, it takes some time before I revive. I don't fully understand how my immortality works.
But what troubles me most is the main quest. Only two days remain before the "Kill Lili" quest expires. I can't wrap my head around why I'm supposed to kill Lili or what will happen if I don't complete it. Am I going to be sent to some deserted wasteland with a gigantic centipede, like in that webtoon I read before? Who knows.
This damn system isn't doing me any favors. It acts on its whims, throwing impossible tasks at me, like killing the Demon Lord. is that the purpose why you bring me in this world? That's straight out of a light novel! All I want is to live peacefully in this world, protect everyone, and maybe find a way back to my original world to check on my sister.
If only I could bring her here... Maybe the magic in this world could cure her condition.
I hear footsteps approaching... Stella is waking up. I need to slip back to my room.
As I enter, I find Lili wide awake, sitting on my bed, her expression serious.
-- Where have you been? I told you not to use dark magic yet. I sensed it when I woke up, -- she says, concern lacing her tone.
- I was just testing it out, - I reply with an awkward smile.
-- *Sigh,* -- she exhales, standing up and kissing my forehead gently.
-- Just make sure you become powerful enough to save me from the Demon Lord, okay? --
Then suddenly...The system voice flooded my mind...
*/System: You must kill Lili...
*/System: You must kill Lili...
A sharp pain pierces my head, and I feel nausea rising. Fear and confusion collide within me as a horrifying vision flashes through my mind...
Lili... crying as she stands over Gustav's lifeless body. Her hands tremble, stained with blood. Tears stream down her face her lips are moving and saying something, her voice broken by grief. -- I'm sorry, Gustav....