Another beast crumpled to the ground, helpless against the seamless teamwork between Arayn and Soren. The demon frogs, their bat-like wings beating rapidly, swooped in to collect the corpse. They latched onto it with their webbed claws, lifting it into the air and hauling it away.

Soren waved at them. "Good job, everyone! Master Arayn said you can collect their soul now!"

Before they could bask in their brief moment of accomplishment, an ominous shift in the air caught Arayn’s attention. Across the street, the shattered remains of a house groaned under the weight of something heavy. From the gloom, a demonic beast emerged.

The creature's body resembled a mantis, but its leathery skin glistened like polished obsidian. Multiple glowing red eyes dotted its triangular head, each swiveling independently as it scanned the spot hidden by the camouflage barrier. From its back protruded rows of sharp, bone-like spines. Without warning, it flexed its limbs, and razor-sharp claws detached from its human-like fingers, hovering momentarily before launching through the air in rapid succession like deadly missiles.

Arayn’s eyes narrowed. "It can detect us! Get behind me!" he barked, stepping in front of Soren without hesitation. His hand shot forward as he muttered, "[Infernal Aegis]."

A crimson dome materialized under the camouflage barrier, its surface rippling like molten glass. The first wave of claws slammed into the invisible barrier, sending sparks flying as the dome endured the impact.

Soren’s camouflage barrier cracked under the strain of the next barrage. With a shattering sound, it disintegrated. More claws sliced through the air, hammering against the red dome. Arayn calmly dropped a chant in the Ancient Demon Language.

"Vrex'tar zalorth, vynkar des'thalar!" The barrier wavered for a moment before solidifying, glowing brighter as it endured the onslaught.

With a sudden pulse, the dome unleashed a retaliatory strike. Beams of fiery crimson light erupted outward, each one finding its mark and tearing into the beast’s exoskeleton. It screeched as the projectiles struck, forcing it to pause its attack.

Seizing the opportunity, Soren’s demon frogs took flight, their wings beating furiously as they swarmed the beast. They unleashed a volley of venomous bullets, each one hissing as it struck the creature’s armored hide and ate away at its defenses.

Arayn stepped forward, his expression calm. He began chanting again. A swirling mass of energy coalesced around his outstretched hand.

"Fyr'kalth morveth, xal drakanar!" he intoned, his voice reverberating with power.

The beam erupted from his hand and engulfed the beast. The creature let out one final shriek before its form crumbled to ash, the crimson torrent consuming it entirely.

[Your dexterity stat has increased]

[You have leveled up]

[Name: Arayn Azael

Class: Demonic Acolyte

Level: 20 (EXP limit reached)

Strength: 29

Dexterity: 30

Constitution: 40

Intelligence: 42

Wisdom: 25

Charisma: 31]

[Abilities:

Ancient Demon Language (B): A lost tongue of the demons, capable of reshaping and manipulating demonic power.

Soul Rend (B): An attack that tears into the soul of the target, causing both physical and spiritual damage.

Dark Pact (B): Sacrificing a portion of your own life force to temporarily gain enhanced power.

Demonic Aura (B): A passive aura that radiates demonic energy, weakening nearby enemies and causing fear.

Demonic Step (C): Leap short distances using demonic energy.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Cursed Fang (C): A crimson fang imbued with destructive demonic energy. Can be used as a melee weapon or thrown as a projectile that explodes on impact.

Inferno Torrent (C): Channels mana into a stream of energy that incinerates everything in its path.

Infernal Aegis (C): Surrounds the caster with a shield that absorbs a percentage of incoming damage and reflects a portion of it back at attackers.]

[Your abilities have reached C rank or more. You have the qualification to advance into an exepert-class. Error! Second class advancement isn't available in Demonic Acolyte's path. Please use a Primordial Crystal to advance.]

Soren's gaze fixed on the surroundings. "I am sorry for troubling you, Master. I’ll keep the barrier stronger next time," he muttered, already preparing for the next hunt.

Arayn straightened up, his voice filled with amusement. "We don't need to hunt anymore."

Then, he laughed—an unsettling sound that echoed through the quiet streets, sharp and cruel. It was a burst of mirth that felt out of place in the otherwise tense atmosphere.

Soren blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion as he watched Arayn. The laughter subsided just as abruptly as it had started. Arayn’s face softened. He patted Soren’s head, ruffling his hair with a touch that seemed oddly gentle.

“Did I startle you?” Arayn asked, his tone now casual.

Soren shook his head, still processing the shift in Arayn’s demeanor. “May I ask if something happened?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"You see," Arayn began, "once someone reaches level 20, that's where it stops. There's no more progress, no more experience gained from hunting or fighting, unless they go through a second class advancement. I'm at level 20 now, so there's no point in continuing the hunt. All that fighting, all those beasts... it won't get me any further. I need to go through the next step if I want to keep growing stronger. So now, I need to focus on what's next. There's no use wasting time here."

Soren looked at Arayn with a questioning gaze. "So, are you finally going to eliminate the other participants?"

"First, tell me your level."

Soren straightened slightly, a small hint of pride in his voice. "I’m already at level 11."

Arayn raised an eyebrow, impressed but not outwardly showing much. "Faster than I anticipated. Then, it’s time to end everything—whether it’s the deathmatch or the tutoring lesson."

Soren blinked, his confusion evident. "End the tutoring lesson? Are you not going to teach me anymore, master?"

"I’ve guided you enough. Now that you’ve reached level 11, you’re no longer a newbie. It’s time for you to fly on your own."

Soren’s heart skipped a beat. His mind struggled to process the sudden shift. "But... master..." He hesitated. "Do I really have to leave?"

Arayn’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You’ll leave the town tomorrow. It’s time for you to chase your own dream."

Soren’s heart clenched. He didn’t want to be apart from Arayn—not now, not so sudden. His voice faltered as he asked, "Please, master. Let me stay. I will help you win this deathmatch. I won't be your burden."

Arayn’s gaze sharpened. "I didn’t raise a disciple to become spoiled or to become my tool. You’ve got your own path to walk. Remember your dream."

Soren’s gaze dropped, a sense of unease settling in. "Still... we only spent a short time together. I... I still don’t know you enough, master."

Arayn exhaled, his tone softening just a little, though still resolute. "Enough, Soren. Tonight, I’ll hold a graduation party for you. So, don’t spoil the mood." He turned to walk away.

Soren watched him go, the words weighing heavily on his chest. His fingers tightened into fists as he felt the sting of parting. A deep ache formed in his chest, and as Arayn disappeared from view, Soren couldn’t shake the feeling that it would be a long time before he’d see his master again.

---

That night, the grand manor of the Valtheran family buzzed with the celebration as Soren sat at the long table, surrounded by Alice and even Darius. Soren’s gaze remained distant. Despite the festivities, a heavy sadness weighed on his heart. The graduation party was meant to be joyous, but Arayn’s absence made it feel incomplete.

“Soren, don’t look so down,” Alice said, noticing the sadness in his eyes. “It’s a celebration, not a funeral.”

Soren sighed. “Why would Master hold the graduation here if he couldn’t even attend? It feels... wrong.”

Alice tilted her head, flashing an impish grin. “Well, Arayn’s a jerk. You don’t have to feel sad about it.”

Soren shook his head. Alice’s attempt to cheer him up didn’t work. The hole in the celebration left by Arayn’s absence couldn’t be filled. “Is this what it’s like in the cult?” Soren asked, almost to himself. “Are tutoring periods always this short?”

Darius chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, it’s much worse than that, boy. Most mentors would never let their disciples graduate so easily. They’d demand everything, using them for their own gain. You’re lucky to have Young Master Arayn as your mentor.”

Soren’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Still, I want to be with him more... I don’t want it to end.”

Darius nodded, his approval clear. “Not many mentors can make their disciples care for them this much. Gotta say, this makes me see Young Master in new light.”

Alice leaned forward, her tone serious. “Arayn is the kind of person you don’t want as your enemy, but if he’s on your side, he’s someone you can count on.” She paused, eyes narrowing. “But you cannot be like him, Soren. Don’t follow his cruelty. Follow the good example he shows when he does show it.”

Soren looked down, absorbing her words. He didn’t know what the future held, but he knew he wanted to be like Arayn who was strong, dependable, and smart.

“I’ll try,” he whispered.