High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1619: Chapter 363: Characteristics of the Growth Stage

At the far eastern end of the Black Prison World, there lies an abyss, so deep that no end can be seen. Year-round, a cruel wind sweeps through, shrouded in a deadly chill, barren and lifeless. Occasionally a stream of magma erupts skyward only to quickly extinguish.

Prisoners whisper among themselves that this abyss is the domain of a powerful demon, though never does it gather followers or claim territory like Eris or Sujade, always appearing indifferent to worldly matters. Bold prisoners who dare approach the abyss to offer allegiance are ignored completely, left to struggle futilely as their life is drained away by the wind and chill.

The guards who manage the Black Prison never inspect near this abyss.

Gradually, this area grew ever more desolate.

Rumors speak of a demon residing at the bottom of the abyss, once a prominent figure at the First University, who fell due to a laboratory accident, personally cast into the Black Prison by the Nameless Principal, and sealed with a powerful seal. As long as the Black Prison remains intact, the seal cannot be broken, so the demon inside cannot escape, nor do guards need to worry over its confinement.

Some say the abyss conceals a laboratory established by the First University, using the prisoners of the Black Prison for all manner of unethical magical experiments in secret, thus maintaining strict isolation. Precisely because it was set up by the First University, the guards never worry about disturbances there.

Others say beneath the abyss indeed lies a powerful demon, but unlike other demons, it voluntarily surrendered to the First University, entering the Black Prison to evade pursuit by some powerful figure outside.

A rumor is a rumor precisely because it cannot be definitively proven or refuted.

The only certainty is the ’well-behaved’ nature of this abyss.

When guards usher new prisoners into the world, the abyss remains indifferent.

When the Xuanhuang Ancient Tree blossoms, its fragrance pervades the world, and the fierce wind over the abyss briefly stalls, then reverts to origin, seemingly unaffected by the enticing aroma wafting through the air.

When the Black Prison Castle brightens, countless prisoners rush towards the gleam, battling terrifying energies above the castle, dozens of profound wills intertwining, thunder raging, karma entwining. Yet the fierce wind and chill above the abyss grow even denser, the presence below it further withdrawn.

Just like a well-fed longevity tortoise retreating into the mud, seeming as if time alone proofs its existence.

Until a white arc traverses the sky.

Several implicit magical waves spill from the white arc.

Finally, there is motion beneath the abyss.

”Oh?!”

A swirling thought rises from the abyss.

Above the abyss, the fierce wind, which seems to have ravaged since the dawn of the Black Prison, abruptly halts. A powerful suction emanates from the abyss’s depths, sweeping away the heavy chill encircling the abyss, sucking it into its cavernous maw.

Moments later.

Sounds of rock cracking echo forth, as an odd scent fills the air—imbued with the frozen depths of the starry sky and the sulfur of hell, differing from the chaos of demons, nor akin to the order of wizards.

Soon.

A goat head as large as a mountain slowly emerges from the abyss, fixedly gazing at the white arc above.

Its elongated face bare of fur, seemingly cloaked in a deep black flame, the flickering outer fire consists of countless curled sheep wool strands.

As flames roll, numerous vortices spiral outward, each vortex center embedded with a dot of dark red, like myriad black-pupiled red-eyed eyeballs gazing through the abyss’s profundity towards the seemingly eternal night of the Black Prison.

Activity within the abyss grows more evident.

Rocks peel off in a continuous clatter, and as the goat’s head rises higher, more red eyes appear within the Black Prison, like tiny yet resilient flames, gradually casting a small patch of dark red color onto the endless night.

This small patch of dark red also outlines the appearance of the goat-headed creature rising from the abyss.

Its bodily form suggests some kind of tree, the trunk being its short, thick legs, the canopy its tentacle-covered, flame-imbued body. The goat head conceals itself within the vast canopy, its whip-like tentacles adorned with mouths of varying sizes, teeth-filled lips dripping black viscous liquid onto the ground.

Buzz!!

A thin, golden web of light manifests in the night, hovering above the abyss, precisely encapsulating the goat-headed creature. Magic circulates on the web momentarily, casting a phantom talisman.

As the talisman trembles, a stern intention emanates:

”...Remember your promise!”

The goat head turns toward the talisman, seemingly pausing for a moment.

Immediately, the white arc above trembles slightly, appearing to transmit some signals.

Then the creature crawling from the abyss hesitates no longer, continuing its ascent. The sound of dislodged rocks mingles with the thunderous rumbling in its belly, for a long while, amalgamating into a clear intention:

”...My willingness to stay a lifetime in this Black Prison was on the condition you kept it outside... Now, it has come, you first broke your own promise...”

Having spoken, all the eyes on the goat-headed creature abruptly widen, bursts of red light illuminating the surroundings, akin to charcoal flung from a dark furnace.

The thin golden net is easily burned open by this lone charcoal ember.

The phantom talisman suspended in mid-air hesitates briefly, then ceases attempting to reforge the net, instead retracting it into a stream of light, heading directly toward the direction of the Black Prison Castle.

The goat-headed creature glances at the stream of light, disinterested, simply slowly raising its stump-like limbs, beginning to move towards the direction of the white arc.

Red light pervasive.

Like a stream of lava, head and tail defined.

...

Black Prison Castle.

A golden stream of light streaks from the sky, disappearing in a flash, landing atop the inner fort wall.

”Snap!”

Shi Hui raises her hand, capturing the stream of light, like a soap bubble burst, scattering golden glimmers. The elderly man in black beside the witch shifts his gaze from the hell equation burning outside the castle, settling on those glimmers.

”The goat from the eastern abyss has emerged.” The witch preempts his inquiry, stating directly: ”It claims to have sensed the presence of a formidable enemy from the white arc... It is we who have broken the promise.”

Vice Principal Ruoyu pinches the head of his cane, turning again to look outside the castle.

After a moment, he rasps in a low voice:

”No surprise.”

”If juveniles represent soft innocence, maturity stands for the epitome of composure and reason... then the stage of growth between the two is distinctly marked by rebellion.”

”It has shed its juvenile identity yet remains too feeble to confront Nicolas. Capable of betraying the mother of the Mountain Goat of the Forest who bore countless offspring naturally can betray us too.”

”This is not at all surprising.”

”Once the Black Prison matter is resolved, if it hasn’t fled, capture it and hand it over to the Institute of Applied Magic... Professor Montreya has applied numerous times, hoping to acquire this rare specimen.”

Shi Hui gives the elder a surprised look.

”I thought you would care for its existence,” she sighed sentimentally, eyes landing on the highest tower of the outer castle, chuckling lightly: ”...it would be nice if you were as open-minded in dealing with the Moon Council.”

Elder Ruoyu gently taps the stone ground with his cane.

”Mind your words.”

He shakes his head, correcting the witch’s view:

”I may cherish life, yet do not dispense mercy indiscriminately. Those in the depths of the starry sky do not walk the same path as us, a mere hint of concern is already the utmost limit... while the Moon Council, they are our allies.”

”The Dao does not walk alone, so as to support one another.”