Kahn could feel his body dissipating.
'E—Eh…?'
Was he dying? At long last?
He had no idea how long he had spent receiving the same monotonous pain from his adversary.
It could have been hundreds of years—no, it was most likely more.
During that period, he had tried everything he could to win. He took the first initiative, lunged at the enemy with all his power, but…
He couldn't reach!
He stopped midway, unable to continue.
It was like his body had slowed down… and then inevitably paused. Before Kahn could understand it—
>BOOOOOOMMMM!!!<
—He had died again.
At some point, he gave up and made peace with his weakness. Unfortunately, he couldn't get used to the pain.
Since his body kept being repaired, it felt like a new sensation of agony every time Neron struck.
Pain. Pain. And even more Pain. That was all Kahn knew for so long.
He yearned for salvation. He prayed for release.
And finally, it was coming to him!
Kahn no longer felt any pain. He simply felt his consciousness fading. He was dying—returning to the abyss of death.
Wasn't this relief? Wasn't this pleasure? Nay, it was both! This was bliss!
'Milord… My master… oh great Demon King….'
Even in death, only one person came to Kahn's mind. And with the thought of that person flooded in regret.
'I made an error… I do not know why I attacked these people despite our Pact… I… truly do not know…'
But how could he explain it? He simply did what he did.
Now that it was all over, it almost seemed like a dream—how Kahn slaughtered all those humans despite the peace that had existed for so long.
More regret seeped in.
'My King… if I only I could return to your side. If only I could continue serving you…'
Deep regret formed.
'I shouldn't have come to the human world… I should have…'
Kahn's thoughts went to Neron Kaelid, Jared Leonard, and the denizens of Ainzlark Academy. The students put up more of a struggle than he had expected. Jared Leonard was completely unpredictable and his abilities were extraordinary.
But, the man called Neron Kaelid? He was impossible!
Yet, Kahn had made an enemy out of them.
'They're sure to blame the Demon Race…'
They would strike the Demons in retaliation!
'What have I done?!'
This would be a fuse that would ignite the flames of yet another war! Was this what the shady man wanted? Did he plan things to turn out this way?
'My king… I have made a terrible mistake!'
Kahn pictured Neron Kaelid against the Demon King.
'He… will lose…'
It was blasphemy to think this, but…
'… My King will lose…'
… Kahn knew the truth.
His master had grown old and weak. His master despised violence. His master wasn't capable of defeating Neron.
Yet, he had made an enemy of such a man—of such a Kingdom!
'My people… my race… my King…!'
They were all in danger because of this.
If only he could warn them!
Unfortunately, it was too late, His life had expired. His body was fading away rapidly. He was going to meet his end.
—DEATH arrived…
…
… and a new LIFE sprang forth.
A new Kahn… a being without a SOUL—extremely small compared to his past self.
The Soul knew not of his existence. It simply sought a HOST… and a MASTER.
Yes… this was a BOND SOUL.
Kahn had become a FAMILIAR.
***********
"Hm?"
Neron saw something spark from Kahn's nothingness.
He had used a Spell to turn Kahn's docile body into nothing but char—[NOVA] —yet, something else was forming.
It looked like a flickering flame of black and purple light. The energy seemed corrupted and malevolent. Neron monitored it closely.
Once the flame fully manifested, it turned to the area opposite Neron and began flying away.
"Oh, no, you don't…" Neron grinned and snapped his fingers.
Instantly, he created an orb around the purple-black flame, containing it in an instant.
With a single flick of his finger, Neron drew the prison of the fleeing target closer to him, until it floated directly opposite him.
"Oh? It turned into a Bond Soul. That's quite something. I wonder what desire it had…"
When living beings had a deep emotion before death—strong enough to preserve their Soul from flickering out—they became Bond Souls.
"I should have some use for you…" Neron grabbed the orb, and then looked behind him to see Jared's sleeping form.
"… Or maybe he might…"
***********
Neron Kaelid, having completed all he set out to do, looked in the direction of the exposed Meeting Hall of the Lecturers.
Ever since Jared's Spell was detonated, the Cloaking Magic used on the building and its surroundings were forcefully deactivated. This was one of the things Jared relied on when he used that Spell.
He had hoped a Lecturer would hop out to confront Kahn, but he gave up, realizing that he would die before that happened.
And he was right.
Neron arrived before the Lecturers could mobilize themselves.
Currently, the building was covered in amber light—Like a dome that surrounded the building and everything around it.
This was yet another one of Neron's abilities.
"I should undo the <Pause> Effect I used now…" He murmured.
He realized that the enemy must have been within the hall, so Neron decided it was best for the other Lecturers to sit the whole thing out while he handled everything. Once he had done all he could to his satisfaction, they were going to be released.
>SHUUUUUU!!!<
The amber light cleared away—like mist—and the individuals who were within poured out.
They had panicked looks on their faces. Many of them had entered Mage Mode, while others were preparing Spells.
The disturbance that was strong enough to break their barrier—what could it have been?
"N—Neron? What are you doing here? What is going o—"
The Vice Head of Ainzlark Academy stopped in his tracks. He had spotted something even more surprising than the presence of their Lecturer who was supposed to be on a long trip.
Surrounding the area was a massive, circle-like hole that dug deep into the ground. Like a fissure—like a chasm—like something that defied logic, completely engraved upon Ainzlark soil.
It was the after-effect of Jared's Spell, something Neron intentionally left out of the other renovations he carried out.
"—What is this…?" The older man asked, and the other lecturers followed him in marvels and gasps of shock.
Neron simply smiled, and his eyes went to the unconscious boy who was still recuperating. With a rush of pride—though mellowed out by his usually stoic expression—Neron answered the curious faces before him.
"It's a long story."
