VIP Chapter 94: The Demon’s Surrender
“Entak… Eighth Style: Turn…”
Eugenie took a deep breath.
“Huu…”
She caressed her heart, feeling its beat, but her legs grew weaker. The power stolen by the demon wasn’t just the loss of Demonic Sword Arts; it also took away one’s energy, the power of life. It felt like every nerve was being agitated, causing unbearable pain. She grew increasingly weak but still clutched the armrests of her chair tightly.
“It’s fine… I still have a little left. As long as I can still use Demonic Sword Arts, I’ll still have a place in exploring dungeons…”
Will glanced at her. Although he saw Eugenie growing weaker, and Treya’s every move on stage resembled the Entak Style he first saw… he felt something was wrong. It was as if… she was being watched by something.
“By the way, Iaar, is there anyone nearby watching me?”
“Iaar has been watching Young Master, please tell me if you need anything.”
“Hmm… if Iaar didn’t notice, then no one is watching me…”
— This made it even stranger.
— What kind of gaze would he feel, but Iaar wouldn’t?
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“Huu…”
She poured her heart and soul into feeling each move of Demonic Sword Arts being directly infused into her. She finally understood how her sister had taught her the incorrect Eleventh Style, and how the correct one should be performed. Not only was the range wider, with extraordinary cutting power, but it could also destroy targets with greater precision. This was indeed what she wanted.
Treya raised her head. As she mastered the Entak Style, the painting at the end was rendered by her fingertips into a depiction of Will Systom in the black suit he wore at the banquet.
“Oh my. I’ve taught another one. Congratulations, your coronation is successful.”
The demon behind her clapped its hands, then walked forward step by step, stopping before the painting, and clapped its hands again. The painting within the frame dissolved, becoming a void. Within the void was like her own “vision.” Outside the frame sat Will, leaning back in his chair, watching her with apparent satisfaction. And… beside him was Eugenie. Treya saw faint black lines on Eugenie, somehow connected to the Demon Pot.
“Go this way, and you can get out.”
The demon, looking exactly like her, did not intend to change its appearance, remained standing, and bowed to her. It pointed outside the frame.
“…Is this what is called the Coronation Ceremony?”
“Certainly not. When you willingly step out of here, our contract will be established.”
The demon spoke “gentlemanly,” but there was always a hint of mockery in its words.
“A contract?”
Treya stared at the world outside the frame and walked forward, step by step. That’s right… if she walked out of here, she would become Treya, who had mastered Demonic Sword Arts. She could meet Teacher Will’s expectations… and she could get revenge on Eugenie… Her eyes unfocused as she looked outside the frame. The scenery outside gradually turned black as she approached… Only Will in the center was in color.
That’s right, that’s right… This is how it is. It told her. It was what she had promised. It guided her. It finally made her understand what she was confused about, what she was lost about, what she wanted to learn— Understanding her own heart.
“Wonderful. Teacher Will, look, I’ve learned it.”
She sheathed the sword in her hand. Step by step, she walked towards the frame and the demon beside it.
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Treya’s sword dance became more beautiful. It also grew closer to what everyone imagined the “Entak Style” to be. For some reason, a strange atmosphere permeated the air, as if shadows were faintly emanating from Treya on stage, swirling around her. Consequently… the whispers lessened. They were replaced by an inexplicable pressure in the venue.
Entak Tenth Style: End.
Treya’s sword drew a beautiful arc and then fell. Her back to the crowd, she froze in that moment.
“Okay… she should… she should stop now…”
“Huu… huu…”
Eugenie clutched her chest, restless in her seat, sweat drops falling one after another. The pain tightened as if in an instant. But… it suddenly stopped, released in an instant.
“Th-that’s great…”
She panted.
“Is she finally finished? Then… that looks…”
However, Treya maintained her pose and slowly raised the falling sword.
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Treya stared at the world outside the frame, where a colorful Will was. The only… color…
Wait… the only one…?
Only one?
Suddenly… she stopped. She turned her head towards the demon, which was still in a bowing posture.
“What’s wrong? As long as you step over here… once you get out, you’ll get the Demonic Sword Arts you desire, just as you wished?”
“Moreover, you will be able to ascend to the throne you wish to ascend to.”
“If that’s the case… wanting to get him…”
“It should be easy for Lingmeng too.”
“Hurry up~ Hurry and step over~ Hurry up and establish the contract with me.”
The demon spoke seductive words, making an elegant invitation gesture. But… Treya looked at it.
No, no, no, no. Something is still missing. Something is not satisfactory. Finally, she tilted her head and looked at the demon.
“I say…”
Treya’s silver hair fell in a lock as she tilted her head.
“Why… are you in color?”
The demon standing there seemed to tremble upon hearing this.
“Don’t… don’t think too much about it. See, you just need to walk over.”
But Treya turned around.
“How strange?”
She spun her silver sword in her hand as if playing for fun—for someone who had mastered Demonic Sword Arts, this was nothing.
“Why?”
She approached the demon and pushed it directly to the ground.
“I don’t understand.”
Then, she stomped on it with her foot, clad in silver boots and black stockings, especially on its vulnerable neck, and twirled her heel on its silver hair.
“Cannot understand cannot understand cannot understand cannot understand cannot understand…”
She shook her head fiercely.
“Why are you also in color?”
Finally, she drew her sword…
“You… cannot be in color.”
She aimed it at the demon.
“Because in my world… you’re not qualified yet, Mr. Demon.”
The demon’s face and voice kept changing, its speech becoming fragmented—
“Crazy▇Crazy. How can this be… It can’t be like this. The Ninth Princess is too terrifying… Don’t guide me like this▇… it will lead oneself to▇ death… Sur▇render▇… Hand over the final sword▇… Fuse, fuse together…”
Treya’s sword instantly pierced down. Aimed at its exposed forehead.
“Annoying.”
“He should be the only one in color…”
What flowed out was not blood; from its forehead outwards, the demon, as if dyed, turned black and white.
At the same time… from the heel of her connected silver boots upwards, connected to Treya’s black armor, it climbed to Treya’s silver hair, and she, too, began to turn black bit by bit.
“Mmm… this is how it is… How can my world tolerate a second colored existence?”
Treya did not pull out her sword and turned to walk towards Will outside the frame. Behind her, the demon’s corpse emitted a mechanical curse—
“You… are you satisfied now. You are now like me▇… black…”
“You have indeed become stronger…”
“But can you still turn back?”