Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Light of Hope Chapter 45: Light of Hope I infused my katana with the dark, pulsating energy of [Dark Magic: Shadow Katana].

The weapon hummed with power, an extension of my resolve to protect Lyra and the captured students.

With it, I could slash through the shadows and even the mighty Dark Knight of the Abyss.

Without divine or light magic in my arsenal, this dark energy would be my sole means of defeating them-absorbing their essence into my blade.

Using my ultimate attack from the battle with Canis crossed my mind, but it wasn’t an option here.

That technique consumed an immense amount of energy, and its destructive force was far too risky in this enclosed space.

The building could collapse, burying everyone here.

No, I needed a more measured approach.

Gripping my katana tighter, I rushed forward with enhanced speed using my trait [Shadow Conquers], 50% multiplied my agility.

As I neared the Dark Knight’s striking range, I weaved through its massive, clumsy swings, dodging each strike by mere inches.

Once within my ideal range, I launched [Blackmore Katana Style: Tsurugi no Mai].

This intricate, chaotic dance of slashes encircled my opponent, leaving the towering knight reeling as its armor cracked and its movements faltered.

The moment its balance shifted, I seized the opportunity.

With precision honed through countless battles, I activated [Blackmore Katana Style: Inazuma], my lightning-quick iai strike.

The blade flashed in an instant, slicing clean through the Dark Knight’s towering form.

Its body fell, split cleanly in two, and though it began to regenerate, my [Shadow Katana] absorbed its essence before the process could complete.

The monstrosity dissolved into nothingness, leaving only silence.

The hooded figure, now glaring at me with undisguised rage, clenched the crystal elixir in his hand.

“You wield dark magic as well,” he spat.

“No matter-I haven’t lost yet.” Raising the crystal, he let out a guttural scream as dark mana surged from his body, flooding the chamber and feeding into the artifact.

A ripple of energy exploded outward, and the summoning circles appeared-ten of them this time.

One by one, ten more Dark Knights of the Abyss emerged from the glowing circles, their presence plunging the already grim atmosphere into despair.

The students huddled behind Lyra, their hope fading as their cries filled the room.

“Stay behind the barrier, Lyra!” I shouted, turning my focus to the oncoming knights.

Lyra nodded and reinforced her [Sanctuary], her expression tight with determination.

Despite the protection, cracks of fear appeared on the faces of the students she shielded.

Her attempts to reassure them were drowned out by their cries for escape.

I launched myself at the knights, knowing I had no choice but to keep them from breaching the barrier.

But it was overwhelming.

Fighting ten of them at once while protecting the group was a monumental task.

My body screamed in protest as I blocked one heavy swing after another.

“Envi, status check!” I barked.

“They’re breaking through!” Envi warned, his voice sharp.

“Focus on the ones going for Lyra’s barrier!” My heart raced as I realized some of the knights had slipped past me.

I dispatched two with [Blackmore Katana Style: Nisshou Giri], a twin slash that carved through them cleanly.

Turning swiftly, I unleashed [Blackmore Katana Style: Tenshō Kōsen], a ranged slash of dark energy, to cut down two more just as they reached Lyra.

But the constant onslaught was unrelenting.

Three more knights lunged at me simultaneously, their strikes pounding against my defenses and sending me flying backward.

“Naoki!” Lyra cried, her voice breaking.

She cast [Support Magic: Defense and Speed Up!], enhancing my endurance and quickness.

But I saw the worry in her eyes-she was reaching her limit too.

“Stay in the barrier, Lyra!” I shouted as I sprang back to my feet.

“If you get hurt, we’re finished!” Despite my words, Lyra’s hands trembled.

I could tell she wanted to fight alongside me, but the barrier’s integrity was our last line of defense.

With a surge of adrenaline, I charged back into the fray, slashing through more knights with [Kazekiri] and [Tenshō Kōsen] in rapid succession.

Each strike whittled down their numbers, but still, three more reached Lyra.

Their massive weapons slammed into the barrier, shattering it.

The students screamed in terror.

I pushed myself harder, my speed quadrupled by the combined effects of [Kasoseki] and my boosted agility.

I reached the knights in time, delivering a devastating [Inazuma] that sliced through all three simultaneously.

“Are you okay, Lyra?” I panted, glancing back at her.

She nodded, her face pale but resolute.

“I’ll be fine.

Just don’t push yourself too hard, Naoki.” “Thanks for the buffs.

Keep the students safe,” I said.

Envi interrupted, his voice grim.

“You have to take out the summoner.

He’s the source of all of this.” The hooded figure trembled with rage, his aura radiating a malevolent intensity that made the air heavy.

Before I could approach him, he raised the crystal elixir high and, to my shock, swallowed it whole.

Dark energy burst from his body like a storm, distorting his figure as he grew taller and more grotesque.

His transformation was horrifying to watch-his armor fused with his body, and long white hair spilled out from beneath his helm.

When the metamorphosis ended, he stood as a massive Dark Knight of the Abyss, towering over me and radiating raw power.

His echoing laughter chilled me to the core.

“Commander of the Dark Knights,” Envi’s voice cut through the tension.

“Level 65.

Hope you’re ready for this.” The students huddled behind Lyra screamed in terror.

Their cries snapped me out of my shock, and I turned to see Lyra reinforcing her protective dome with [Sanctuary].

But this time, to my disbelief, she stepped out from the barrier and stood by my side.

“What are you doing?!” I barked.

“I’m fighting with you,” she replied, her voice firm despite the quiver of fear in her eyes.

“I can’t stand by and watch you carry this alone anymore.” “Lyra-” I began to protest, but she silenced me with a glare sharper than any blade.

“You’re not alone, Naoki,” she insisted.

“We’ll end this together.” I stared at her for a moment, then nodded.

“Fine.

But no risks.

Stay safe.” A flicker of relief crossed her face before the knight roared, charging at us with reckless fury.

Its massive blade swung down in a crushing arc, and I barely managed to intercept it with [Yanagi Uke].

The clash sent shockwaves through the chamber, forcing me to grit my teeth as the sheer power of the blow reverberated through my arms.

Lyra wasn’t idle.

She cast [High Support Magic: Reflect] on me, causing several of the knight’s follow-up strikes to bounce back, though they barely left scratches on its armor.

Even with our combined efforts, the creature’s overwhelming strength kept us on the defensive.

“It’s strong, but not invincible,” I muttered, looking for an opening.

Lyra seemed to sense my thoughts.

She stepped back, chanting quickly, and unleashed [Water Magic: Water Prison].

A swirling sphere of water materialized around the knight, trapping it mid-swing.

It roared and thrashed, its movements sluggish against the liquid’s grip.

“This is it!” I shouted, steeling myself for what I was about to attempt.

Channeling every ounce of my strength and focus, I activated [Power of Incarnation], a skill I had only used once before in my battle against Mark.

This time, however, my goal wasn’t to destroy.

I needed precision.

I needed to sever the bond between the hooded man and the Dark Knight of the Abyss.

Dark magic surged through me as I readied [Blackmore Katana Style: Yami Kiri no Seikatsu], a purifying slash designed to cleanse the influence of demonic energy and dispel dark magic from a host.

The katana in my hands shimmered, glowing faintly with a mix of my dark magic and the purifying intent I poured into it.

I lunged forward, cutting through the water prison with the precision of a blade slicing silk.

The strike landed perfectly, bisecting the monstrous Commander of the Dark Knights with a decisive, ethereal slash.

The dark energy holding the knight’s form together dissipated in a storm of shadows, and its towering figure collapsed like a marionette with its strings severed.

For a moment, the chamber fell silent.

Then, as the students realized the monster had fallen, they erupted into cheers.

Their relief was palpable, and I allowed myself a small, shaky smile.

But it was too soon to celebrate.

Lyra’s sudden scream turned my blood to ice.

I whirled around to see the knight’s shattered body pulling itself back together.

Of course-there’d been no system notification of its defeat.

“We didn’t finish it…” I muttered, gripping my katana tighter.

Before I could make a move, a blinding light flooded the chamber.

The oppressive darkness lifted, and I turned toward the source.

Two familiar figures stepped through the doors-Amelia and Freya.

“Amelia!

Freya!” I shouted.

“Finally found you!” Amelia called, her voice filled with relief.

“Stay back!

It’s dangerous!” I shouted again and gesturing toward the regenerating knight.

Freya, ever the fighter, drew her flaming sword, her stance protective as she moved to shield Amelia.

But Amelia stepped forward calmly, radiating a confidence that made me pause.

“I’ll handle this, don’t underestimate the Braveheart royal family!” she said, her voice steady.

Golden light began to surround her, growing brighter with every word of her chant.

A massive circle of light formed beneath the knight, and an intense beam of energy descended from above, engulfing the monster.

It let out a final, bone-chilling shriek before disintegrating completely, its essence obliterated by Amelia’s [Divine Magic: Light of Purify].

A familiar chime echoed in my head as the system notification appeared: —- [!!!Congratulations!!!]  LEVEL UP!

LEVEL UP!

LEVEL UP!

— I immediately went up three levels.

I exhaled a shaky breath, sinking to my knees as exhaustion finally hit me.

“You two sure know how to make an entrance,” I said, my voice hoarse but laced with gratitude.

Amelia approached, her smile and she extended a hand to help me up.

“Looks like we got here just in time.” Freya smirked, crossing her arms.

“You owe us a drink after this.” Despite her teasing tone, I could see the relief in her eyes.

I chuckled weakly, glancing over at Lyra, who was checking on the students.

The barrier had faded, but they were safe, their tears of terror replaced by cries of joy.

Amelia and I approached the fallen hooded man cautiously, our breaths still heavy from the battle.

When we removed his hood, what we saw left us both stunned.

He wasn’t Instructor Morgan, the one we had suspected all along.

Instead, the face beneath the hood belonged to none other than Professor Newman, an academy instructor known for teaching summoning magic.

“What…

What is this?!

Why are you doing this, Professor Newman?!” I demanded, my voice rising in disbelief.

“Why?” Amelia cut in, her tone sharp and pressing.

“What’s your motive?

And who’s behind this?

Answer me!” Professor Newman, now on his knees and breathing erratically, suddenly broke into maniacal laughter.

His eyes gleamed with a wild madness as he shouted, “HAHAHAHA!

It’s all for the Demon King!

I’ll give my soul, my body-everything-for him to cleanse this filthy world!” His crazed expression made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

There was no hesitation, no regret in his voice.

He truly believed every word.

“Even if I’ve failed,” he continued, a twisted smile stretching across his face, “HE will succeed!” Amelia stepped forward, her voice laced with fury.

“WHO IS HE?!

Tell us now!” Before Newman could answer, the red crystal elixir he had consumed earlier began to glow ominously.

His body stiffened, and a pained scream tore from his throat.

“UGH!

AAAH!” he cried, as his form disintegrated before our eyes, scattering into tiny specks of light.

Within seconds, nothing remained of him but a faint shimmer in the air.

I stared at the spot where he had vanished, my heart pounding.

The truth hit me like a cold wave-I hadn’t received any notification that the quest was complete.

That could only mean one thing: the true mastermind behind all this was still out there, pulling the strings.

“This isn’t over,” I said, turning to Amelia.

My voice was grim, heavy with the weight of realization.

“The one behind this…

they’re still out there.

We need to keep searching.” Amelia nodded, her expression resolute.

“Agreed.

But for now, we have other priorities.” We glanced toward the group of frightened students huddled together, their faces pale and tear-streaked.

Their safety was our immediate concern.

Together, we escorted the students back to the academy.

As soon as we arrived, we reported everything to the headmaster, detailing what had transpired in the underground chamber.

The headmaster’s face grew dark as he listened, his worry evident.

Afterward, we took the rescued students to the infirmary, ensuring they received medical care for their injuries and the trauma they had endured.

Watching the medics tend to them, I clenched my fists, the image of Newman’s twisted grin burned into my memory.

Whoever “he” was, the person Newman had pledged himself to, I knew this was far from over.

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CREATORS’ THOUGHTS NAVIRUNAVIII I need your support please..