Conquest Path Of The Prince Of Darkness

Nyx remained deep in thought while Dahlia stared at the floor, trying to piece together everything they had just learned. If the Primordial Devils truly could be brought back, then she wouldn’t be alone.

Meghan finally broke the silence. "So... what is your answer?"

Nyx looked toward the distant windows where the floating screens displaying the Dominion Exam could barely be seen. "My answer can wait. But this cannot."

Dahlia immediately understood. "Lucien."

Nyx nodded. "He contacted us through telepathy. If he reached out, then something has already gone wrong. Meet us later in the Student Council Room. There are still questions that need answers."

Meghan crossed her arms. "I’ll be there."

The next moment, black energy surrounded Nyx and Dahlia. Their figures distorted before disappearing completely.

---

The Dominion Examination Grounds... Only twenty contestants remained.

The instructors floated high above the battlefield while elders and professors observed every movement through magical mirrors. Students cheered whenever someone gained points. None of them noticed two invisible figures walking across the battlefield.

Nyx had cast one of her highest-level concealment spells. It bent light itself around them, making them invisible not only to the students but even to the instructors overseeing the examination.

Dahlia looked around in amazement. "Your invisibility spell keeps getting better."

Nyx didn’t answer. Her eyes searched only for one person. Then she found him. Her footsteps stopped.

Far away stood Lucien. Or rather... something wearing Lucien’s face. His posture was completely different. His eyes, once calm and seductive, had become empty darkness.

There was no warmth in them, no humanity, he simply stood there as though the battlefield belonged to him. Even the wind seemed unwilling to touch him.

Dahlia followed Nyx’s gaze. Then she noticed another figure lying several meters behind Lucien. The young man could barely breathe. His chest rose and fell weakly as blood stained the ground beneath him.

Dahlia frowned. "How did the instructors not eliminate him already?"

Nyx never looked away from Lucien. "They can’t see what’s happening. The Sovereign Berserk aura is distorting the battlefield. Go."

"What about you?" Dahlia asked.

"I’ll handle Lucien."

Dahlia hesitated. "You know he won’t recognize you. And he won’t hold back."

Nyx smiled faintly. "I know, I never expected him to and don’t forget that I can kill him in the blink of an eye." Dahlia nodded before rushing toward the injured participant.

---

Lucien slowly lifted his head. His empty eyes met Nyx’s, for several seconds neither of them moved.

Then Nyx spoke softly. "Lucien. You don’t want this."

A smile slowly appeared on his face. It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t friendly. It was the smile of someone who enjoyed making others uncomfortable. "So... so you’re the one who came. I expected someone stronger."

Nyx folded her arms. "I’m here to bring you back and I’m much stronger than you."

He laughed. "Back? What makes you think I ever wanted to leave? You look much better up close. I wonder... if I tear down that calm expression, will you finally stop pretending to be fearless?"

Nyx rolled her eyes. "Still talking, I see your arrogance survived the transformation."

He chuckled. "Arrogance? No, I simply enjoy watching people believe they can stop me. The untouchable Student Council President, I’d like to see what happens when that confidence finally breaks beneath me."

Nyx remained completely unmoved. "If this is your best attempt at intimidating me... I’m disappointed."

The smile vanished from Lucien’s face. His expression became frighteningly calm. "You know what your problem is?"

Nyx answered without hesitation. "I keep expecting you to think."

For the first time anger flashed across his face. The air exploded. BOOM!! The ground where he had been standing shattered into countless fragments. He disappeared.

Nyx’s instincts screamed. Without thinking, she shifted sideways. A violent strike tore through the exact spot where she had stood only a fraction of a second earlier. The shockwave split the earth apart. Dust filled the battlefield.

From within the smoke, Lucien slowly walked forward. He landed lightly on both feet, hands resting casually inside his pockets. Then he smiled again. "Good. At least you’re entertaining."

---

Meanwhile... At the Holy Academy, Lucien’s other body lay collapsed on a deserted stone pathway behind one of the academy buildings. Blood stained the cold ground beneath him. His vision blurred. The sky above became little more than patches of white light.

Footsteps approached him, he struggled to lift his head. Standing before him was a girl with short white hair and translucent blue eyes. Serena.

She knelt beside him. "What happened to you?" Lucien tried to answer but another cough interrupted him.

Serena sighed. "You really don’t know how to take care of yourself, can you stand?" Lucien stared at her for a moment before accepting.

The instant their hands touched, a circle of blue light appeared beneath them, space folded, the scenery vanished. Moments later they stood inside a quiet room decorated with books, holy symbols, and healing crystals.

Lucien looked around in confusion. "Your room?"

Serena nodded. "I couldn’t leave you outside. Stay still." Soft blue light gathered around her fingertips. Her healing magic flowed through Lucien’s body, slowly easing the pain. Several minutes passed and the color gradually returned to his face.

He finally opened his eyes fully. "Thank you."

Serena smiled. "No need, it’s my specialty." Lucien looked at her with genuine gratitude. The strange thing was that his memories felt incomplete. He remembered being a priest. He remembered entering the Holy Academy, but everything else seemed distant, like dreams fading after waking.

He frowned. "I feel like I’ve forgotten something important."

Serena laughed softly. "Maybe you’re just overworking yourself."

"Maybe." He stood up. "Thank you again."

She walked toward the door. "Class should be starting soon."

He smiled. "Then let’s not be late."

She smiled back. "Agreed." A teleportation circle appeared beneath them. In a flash of light, they returned to the academy grounds and began walking toward their classroom together. Neither realized that somewhere else... another Lucien was still fighting.

---

Back at the Dominion Examination, Dahlia finally reached the injured participant and supported him before carrying him toward the infirmary entrance. As she hurried forward, someone suddenly blocked her path. Sari. Her normally sleepy eyes had become completely alert.

She looked at Dahlia. "What happened?"

Dahlia hesitated, Sari stepped closer. "Tell me."

Dahlia lowered her voice. "Lucien entered the Sovereign Berserk State."

Sari froze. For several seconds she couldn’t speak. Then her eyes widened. "Wait... did he use the Mirror....I don’t know...Artifact?"

Dahlia slowly nodded. Sari covered her mouth. "No... then that means... he doesn’t remember."

Dahlia’s expression darkened. "As things stand now, his priest self has lost a large part of his memories. And every encounter with powerful holy energy damages the Dominion side. So what do we do?"

Sari looked toward the battlefield. Dahlia answered quietly, "We have only one option. We must find the priest side and reunite the two halves. Until then... Nyx’s only chance of stopping him is to force an elimination before the two sides destroy each other."

Far away, another deafening explosion echoed across the examination grounds.

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