Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Chapter 52- Hunting(End)
You cannot grow stronger unless you learn from your enemies. And that’s exactly what Austin did when he realized the difference between him and his enemy.

He had more than one way to subdue the demon, asking Sebastian would have been the easiest. However, he was striving for a stronger self, wanting to become someone who could stand beside Valere and face the dangers that would be threatening the world in the near future.

As such, the most important thing, he needed to do was,

Learn.

[Skill ‘Adapt’ is in use!]

[Time remaining: 30 seconds.]

Austin shot toward the demon, his speed exceeding Kalwar’s expectations, as it hurriedly raised its claw to parry the attack. However,

*SQUELCH*

It was stabbed from behind, the target in front dissolving into a mist.

Kalwar’s eyes widened as it shakily muttered, “H-How….c-can you use my s-skill….”

Austin didn’t reply, rather, he drove the dagger into the gut of the demon with all his force.

‘System, add all my three points into combat.’ he commanded, as Austin released the hold from his dagger, and began launching and barrage of punches at the demon

Kalwar was overwhelmed by the speed and flexibility of the human, who was easily maneuvering through its defense and launching attacks at its vital point.

“YOU FUCKER!!”

The demon roared, its dark energy pulsating and becoming alive.

Kalwar joined its hand and dropped the hammer on Austin’s head—only to strike nothing but open air, as Austin disappeared once again.

**SQUELCH**

Another searing pain ripped through the demon’s monstrous form as Austin drove his blade deep into its back.

“RAAAHHHH!” The demon roared, its guttural howl shaking the air. It swung its massive arm wildly, trying to crush the human pest clinging to it. But what once made Kalwar proud, now filled him with rage and helplessness.

*SWISH*

Austin vanished in an instant, dissolving into a cold mist. Before Kalwar could react, Austin reappeared above him, his silhouette framed against the darkening sky.

His fist was drawn back, veins bulging as power surged through him. His glowing eyes locked onto the demon’s head like a predator about to deliver the killing blow.

With a thunderous crack, Austin’s fist slammed into the demon’s skull. The sheer force drove Kalwar’s feet deep into the ground, the earth splitting beneath the weight of the impact. Blood erupted from the demon’s eyes and nose in sickening streams, its body convulsing as a horrific crunch echoed through the battlefield.

Austin’s sleeve shredded from the raw power of the strike, his arm dripping with the demon’s foul ichor. The once-proud demon lord now sagged, trembling, pinned in place by the human’s merciless strength.

Austin jumped back and looked at his fist.

‘Increasing combat stat has improved my strength and speed as well…I might become C-rank in a few days at this rate.’

Kalwar dropped to its knees, unable to discern what went wrong and how it ended up being so gravely wounded by a lowlife.

Austin…was supposed to be weak and should had a fragile ego. What suddenly changed, and how could he use the same skill as Kalwar?

…nothing made sense.

“Before I kill you, tell me where Rudolph is.”

Kalwar’s broken jaw made a guttural voice, “Dead…killed….ripped to shred-”

“Bullshit. I know he escaped you guys. Your deceased brother gave the information.”

“…” Kalwar was stunned into silence. It had known its late brother had been captured for interrogation, but it never imagined that its brother would reveal so much before the Vow claimed its life.

“Well, not like you are going to say anything. So just-”

“You think this is over?” Just as Austin raised his hand, with the intention to kill the demon, Kalwar voiced something unexpected.

“Do…you…believe, this will end…like this…?” Raising its broken face, the demon asked, “….I still have a brother…back in…the academy…and hundreds…of innocent….students…he could kill…within seconds…how are you going to…stop that catastrophe?”

Austin narrowed his eyes. Until now, if the demon was confident in its brother, then Valerie hadn’t found the last demon.

‘No wonder. If even the security of the academy and Sebastian couldn’t sense the demon, then Valerie surely can’t…’ Austin showed hesitation for the first time.

The demon was dangerous…with the ability to camouflage and shapeshift, it could cause mayhem and make people believe something that isn’t true.

“Imagine…slaughtering people while wearing a certain Prince’s facade…how would that look…?”

Kalwar grinned, liking the hesitation Austin was exposing.

“Young master, should I retreat and search for-”

“Don’t you dare! If any of you two move, I will give him the command right away!”

This…was bad.

Austin knew if the demon killed even a few students, the whole plot would shift, and the other students might decide to leave the academy because they mistrust the security. In the first place, he doesn’t like the idea of innocent lives getting wasted.

‘Was I hasty…I should have thought about the third demon…’ Austin clenched his fist in regret. Despite all the planning, he ended up making a severe mistake.

He depended on Valerie a lot for this, and now he was stuck in a deadlock.

“So what would it be, Your Highness? Either you come with me, and ensure mine and my brother’s safety, or I allow my brother to unleash his fury on your dear schoolmates..starting from that bitch of a fiancée of yours.”

Austin growled. This was the second time the Demon had insulted Valerie, and he was on the verge of making an impulsive decision.

Sebastian remained silent, his eyes focused on his master, as the butler awaited any command at the moment.

‘What will be your decision, young master…’

Austin took a deep breath, and said, “I-”

*CRASH*

Suddenly something crashed between the demon and the Prince.

It was a corpse. A being who was killed…no, slaughtered.

Kalwar’s body shook… Its eyes witnessed the body of its brother, yet its mind failed to register what it was witnessing.

“Astor…Astor…” Kalwar shook the body of its brother, however, no response came.

Austin raised his brows and turned toward the female who appeared from behind.

The pink-haired teenager had a cold look in her eyes as if killing a demon was nothing she felt anxious about. However, only Rhea knows how difficult it was for her…to kill a sane being who was begging her for its life.

It was her luck, that she stumbled upon the demon when she went to the library a few minutes ago. After that, the demon tried to escape but she chased it down and hunted the being who could have become the reason for her classmate’s death.

“You….killed…you killed my BROTH-*KWHACK*” The Demon wasn’t allowed to cry as a fast-paced boomerang crushed the beast’s head and ceased its existence.

Sebastian’s brows were raised, “I was wondering what you threw at the demon back then…so it was an artifact.”

Austin nodded before he retrieved the weapon and approached the corpse of the duo.

The beings who could have caused unimaginable damage were slaughtered.

“Austin…were they after that beast attack back then?”

Rhea asked, feeling her heart a bit heavy after slaughtering the demon. This was the first time for her to kill something capable of conversing and was weaker than her.

Austin glanced at the girl and somehow understood what she was thinking, urging him to say, “You did the right thing because these two were about to turn the Valorian Academy into a graveyard.”

Rhea’s mouth parted slightly as she turned towards the blond and heard him adding, “You cannot show hesitation in front of those whose sole intention of existence is to cause mayhem. Remember that, Rhea, or one day, you would be lying somewhere like them.”

Rhea took a strong gulp and looked back at the two demons.

He was right…she could not hesitate in battle or that would be her death.

Sebastian was impressed by the fact that how her master could be cold and blunt in front of others while if it’s about Lady Valerie, he becomes all soft and considerate while speaking.

Austin took a deep breath, before telling Sebastian, “Sebas…can you do me a favor and join the search team to locate Rudolph?”

“I will also go.” Rhea instantly added.

Austin didn’t say anything about that, however, he believed that with the school instructors searching for him, it would be pretty easy to locate Rudolph.

“Young Master, you should probably get healed up before Lady Valerie sees you.”

Austin jolted as he looked down at him…he had received several wounds, which surely would make Valerie panic.

“Yeah, I should-”

“M-My Lord…”

Too late.

———–**———

A/N:- I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. This was the second arc of the novel which concluded. If you are enjoying the story so far, make sure to drop a review.