Witch, Fireball and Steam Evil God

Chapter 251 Your Dark Lord is Back!
Winter is likely the most unruly and magically talented student in the academy's history, truly deserving of the title "Dark Lord," though this title circulates more among the instructors than among the students.

After all, few students dislike joining in the fun.

Even later students heard about Winter's glorious feat of blowing up the dean in the library. The Mole Club even produced a "historian" who wrote all of Winter's pranks, big and small, during his time at school into a "history book." This inspired generation after generation of freshmen and led them down the path of "dark magic."

Franky was also a follower of Winter, albeit subtly so in terms of age.

He and Winter were the same age, but he graduated several years later than Winter. The academy's system has always been flexible. As long as enough credits are accumulated, one must eventually apply to the academy for the graduation exam to obtain the Elemental Shaper certificate. His progress was already considered fast among his peers, but he was no match for Winter, a freak who had accumulated all the credits in just three years at the academy.

Now, Franky understands everything.

"Dean, this is..."

"Perhaps it's the entrance to the magic network, who knows?"

The old man with a full head of white hair shrugged, and the echo from the white sphere of light had disappeared.

At this moment, Franky seemed to have become that student again, filled with doubt, "But there's one thing I don't understand."

The dean was the most learned person in the college, and whenever he encountered a problem that he couldn't solve, he could get the answer from the dean.

As always, the dean calmly looked at Frankie with his somewhat cloudy eyes, waiting for his student to ask a question.

"You just mentioned that time doesn't flow normally here, and we'll see memories of the past here..."

"What did you see?"

Seeing that Franky looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated, the old man asked.

“I saw myself. I’ve been here before, but I have absolutely no recollection of what happened.”

He confessed his unruly past to the dean, which is why he was here today. During his patrol, he saw a sneaky figure wearing a Mole Club member's party mask, sneaking out of the campus.

The dean then asked, "What else did you see?"

“I saw him enter the maze and run deeper into it, which doesn’t match my memory.”

In Franky's original memory, he hid under the tree roots until dawn, and never explored the secrets of the labyrinth's depths again until graduation, because when he looked into the darkness, he always felt that something dangerous was hidden there.

He consulted many books related to the magic network, but found no clues.

For many years afterward, this became an obsession in his heart—he had to prevent anyone from breaking into the place, which was the reason he returned to the academy, but when he thought about it carefully, he couldn't remember the source of his obsession.

"Perhaps you've forgotten about it, that's not surprising."

The dean said, "We forget many things every day."

But it's not that important.

Franky wanted to argue, but ultimately restrained his emotions.

The magic network hides too many secrets, perhaps even the Dean doesn't know all of them. He could sense that the Dean didn't seem to want to continue this topic, and when he said he couldn't remember, the Dean breathed a sigh of relief, to the point that Franky couldn't help but wonder if he had seen wrong.

“Mr. Franky, it’s getting late, you should go back and rest.”

"Yes, Dean."

Faced with the dean's order to leave, Franky nodded and retreated into the path woven from tree roots. But at the same time, his long-dormant curiosity took over—the dean seemed a bit strange today, and the dean had never, and did not intend to, explain to him why he was there.

When Franky had completely retreated outside the passage, his hand involuntarily reached for the potion bottle at his waist.

This is a bottle of invisibility potion, confiscated during a surprise room check in the evening. Ever since Winter appeared, invisibility potions have become the best-selling item in the academy, and they still are today. He hasn't used these items for many years.

After a brief hesitation, Franky unscrewed the bottle cap.

This is too much of a coincidence, as if it were planned in advance.

This reminded him of "fate," making him wonder if the phantom he encountered at school was also an arrangement of fate.

Franky drank the potion from the bottle in one gulp, watching his hands gradually disappear, once again following his instincts.

Slow down and make sure you don't make a sound.

He had extensive infiltration experience and was a troublesome kid who gave his mentors a headache when he was at the Mole Club. While talking to the dean, he observed his surroundings, selected a hiding place, and tiptoed back, retreating towards a corner.

The dean seemed oblivious to his presence, still intently gazing up at the white sphere in mid-air.

But then, a slight noise nearby caught his attention.

That was the sound of breathing; it seemed to be trying its best to adjust the frequency of its breathing to avoid making any more noise.

He was instantly stunned, as if he had been electrocuted.

The "illusion" didn't disappear; it ran all the way here, using an invisibility potion to conceal its presence. The fact that it hid here and dared not move meant that someone else had come here, not to catch it and deduct its credits, but for this white sphere!

A short while later, a noise came from outside the door.

Footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by the noise of metal objects being dragged across the ground.

What came into view was a figure dressed in a black robe, whose face was completely covered by a cloak. A scythe connected to a chain dragged on the ground. This appearance almost immediately reminded Franky of a dark sorcerer, those otherworldly beings who used wisdom and knowledge to bring disaster.

He did not show up.

The voice of the figure was dry and low.

The dean, standing beneath the white sphere, was taken aback at first, then realized, "So that's it, it's the invisibility potion. You've always been by our side."

The dean's voice seemed to have changed as well; he looked around and his eyes turned gloomy.

Franky immediately understood the meaning behind their conversation.

On the surface, the dean told him to leave, but in reality, he was tipping off the dark mage carrying a scythe. If the mage hadn't drunk the invisibility potion and returned, he would probably have been ambushed and killed without warning.

This explains the source of all the incongruity.

Transforming agent.

Franky immediately recalled the relevant information: it tasted like licorice and its effect was to allow him to appear as someone else for the next hour.

This means that the dark wizard landed on the island without their knowledge and learned the secrets hidden beneath it.

Perhaps they had met before, and the dark sorcerer disguised as the dean failed to notice him and allowed him to return to the school. So the amnesia must have happened after that. From a magical perspective, it is entirely possible to remove a part of one's memories from the brain.

Frankie's heart was beating faster and faster.

Everyone was aware of the seriousness of the dark wizard's infiltration of the academy, so the first thing he did upon returning to the academy was to inform his tutor or the headmaster.

Franky mentally simulated the actions he might take, but someone within the academy didn't want the matter to spread. They plotted against him, erasing some of his memories. They didn't choose to act within the academy, perhaps because they feared their family's influence in the Ministry of Magic. If he were to die unexpectedly at the academy, his parents would certainly use all their connections within the Ministry of Magic to launch a full investigation within the academy, which was probably not the outcome the dark wizards wanted.

However, if someone disappears after skipping school, there's much more room for argument.

The college had already been infiltrated.

The thought that rushed into his mind immediately made Franky's hands and feet go cold.

Was the person who plotted against him his mentor, or the dean himself?

“Come out, Mr. Franky, we can talk.”

The dean, standing some distance away, addressed the surroundings, "You're also eager to know the secrets of the Magic Network, aren't you?"

The black mage with the finger scythe had begun his search; the silver-gleaming blade seemed to be imbued with some kind of spell he didn't recognize.

As they drew closer, Franky could smell the stench of the figure, as if it hadn't bathed for weeks, which was nauseating.

He gently pointed his wand toward the passage.

An insect constructed from electric arcs gradually took shape. It immediately burrowed under the intertwined tree roots and ran back the way it came.

He manipulated the electric insects to explode at the entrance, and the electric arcs caused the tree roots to twitch, producing a subtle, soft sound.

Franky knew he couldn't go too far. He was likely facing a dark sorcerer with countless lives on his hands, and overly obvious footsteps would only make them think it was bait to distract them.

Only the sound of roots trembling makes it sound more like a noise made unintentionally as one passes by.

The black magician, wielding a scythe, immediately turned and strode towards the source of the sound, the blade leaving a corroded red mark on the black roots.

You absolutely must not be touched by this sickle.

Franky had a plan in mind; now he had to strike first.

The moment the figure disappeared into the passage, pale blue arcs of electricity surged from the wand in his hand.

The arrow-like arc of electricity pierced straight through the "Dean's" chest and struck the entrance. Franky didn't believe that such a simple spell could kill a dark mage. Before the "Dean" could react, a red arc of electricity erupted from his wand and struck him.

The red arc of electricity did not dissipate immediately. The surrounding temperature suddenly rose by more than ten degrees. The bodies touched by the arc made crackling sounds, accompanied by black smoke, and the smell of burning filled the small space.

Upon hearing the news, the black mage carrying a scythe returned. Before he could take even half a step, Franky tightly closed his eyes, and the lightning arrows embedded in the vines burst forth with dazzling light.

Franky had located the location of the dark magic before he closed his eyes. He heard a painful growl not far away, drawing upon his dwindling magical power.

Another red arc of electricity appeared.

The growl gradually weakened amidst the crackling sounds until it disappeared completely.

The smell of burning in the air grew stronger and stronger. Franky, who had finished all this, was hunched over, breathing heavily.

To ensure the kill of these dark mages, he had to use the most destructive elemental magic he possessed. Clearly, these dark mages had mastered some spells he was unaware of. Against such opponents, he had to strike decisively and not give them a chance to cast spells.

It's a big gamble.

If his surprise attack had failed, his remaining magic power would have been insufficient to handle the battle ahead. But it seems he won his gamble.

Franky opened his eyes and saw two charred corpses, their skin completely ulcerated, lying motionless on the tangled roots.

He began to breathe heavily.

But the crisis was far from over; a dark sorcerer had infiltrated the academy, and he had to deliver the news…

Franky's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as a bizarre scene unfolded before his eyes.

Those struck by the Lightning Bolt Curse are doomed to die. Not only is their skin charred, but their internal organs are also destroyed in the burning process.

However, at this moment, the "dean," who should have been dead beyond any doubt, raised his arm and propped himself up.

The final bolt of red lightning struck him, easily crushing him, but it only repeated the same process once more.

This was not a healing spell, nor was it the trick of the Cult of Life that Franky knew. All the wounds on his body were receding at a visible speed until his skin returned to his entire body.

"Truly worthy of being an honorary member of the Duel Club."

The "Dean" lightly patted off non-existent dust from his body, and the black mage holding a scythe stood up in the same manner. He was no longer in a hurry and lightly slashed at the entrance of the passage with his scythe, which gleamed with silver light. The tangled roots then sealed off Franky's last escape route.

"Time Traveler..."

Franky blurted out, an expression of disbelief on his face.

"You know us?"

The dean said with great interest, "Indeed, some books in the college's library have mentioned our story."

That's hardly a good reputation.

The calamity that befell the Second Age, a horde of unkillable monsters, buried the glorious Garogg dynasty.

The book describes this mysterious tribe in all sorts of bizarre and fantastical ways.

They can transform into the likeness of the people around you. Some have pointed out that their true form is a humanoid creature with red skin and an appearance similar to an octopus. The most mainstream view is that time travelers originated from underground and are as ancient as the Old Gods. Perhaps an archaeological team accidentally released them.

Time travelers are also the only group in the history of civilization that has never been defeated head-on.

Just as no one can confirm where they came from, this mysterious bloodline disappeared into the annals of history after destroying the Garlog dynasty, leaving no trace ever since.

Time travelers can manipulate time and reverse life and death.

Even the most powerful warriors of the Garlog dynasty were defeated by them.

Franky felt that everything that had just happened before his eyes perfectly matched the description of time travelers in the book. The time traveler in front of him had transformed into the Dean's appearance, and its true form was very likely a red humanoid octopus.

His mind raced, but the book didn't contain the crucial information on "how to fight against time travelers."

Perhaps no one knows the answer to this question, because with the fall of the Galog dynasty, all those who once tried to resist the time travelers have become history.

Franky had read the descriptions of warriors in books. His strength was beyond doubt. The people of the dynasty regarded him as the embodiment of power, and some believers even worshipped him as a god. His great achievements were unmatched even by saints. However, such an invincible general died easily at the hands of the Time Traveler.

This was not an opponent he could defeat.

So what about running away?
What are the chances of escaping here and bringing the news back to the academy?
"Don't be nervous, Mr. Franky. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already—at least not now."

The "dean" once again turned his gaze to the rotating white sphere above his head.

Everything is ready; it's a good day.

The echoes from the magic network mean they are getting closer to the prophecy.

The minor issue of eliminating a small mouse can be addressed last.

Franky sensed something was amiss and, through the fragmented clues, suddenly understood the time travelers' purpose.

The Dean had just mentioned that the echo had only recently appeared, so the travelers rushed here immediately.

They want to use this echo to awaken some terrifying being beyond human imagination!
In the books he had read, someone had vaguely described the being defined as the "Origin," who endowed the time travelers with the most mysterious power in the world, and whose every action was at the time travelers' behest.

Judging from the fall of the Garlog dynasty, it was a force of nature as dangerous as an evil god.

With that thought in mind, Franky poured his last bit of magic into his wand.

However, this time the target was no longer the "Dean" but the white sphere floating above his head, which was the source of all the echoes.

The Dean's expression finally darkened. With a mere wave of his hand, an invisible force sent Franky flying before the lightning could form, causing him to crash heavily into the vine-covered wall. The dark roots immediately entangled Franky's hands and feet, firmly binding him within them.

"Now, quiet!"

The "dean" took out a dagger from the inside pocket of his clothes, his eyes filled with unparalleled reverence.

A sharp blade sliced ​​open a deep, bone-revealing wound on his wrist, and the flowing blood illuminated the circular array beneath their feet. Franky then realized that from the very beginning, they had been at the center of this unknown magic circle, where crimson light intertwined with the pure white sphere.

The sphere is rotating at an increasingly faster frequency.

Franky wanted to shout to distract the traveler, which was the only thing he could do, but the black roots anticipated his thoughts and tightly bound his mouth shut.

The magical field became strange; he could sense something being awakened.

That being known as the Time Traveler Ancestor.

A tyrannical evil god who revels in destruction!

He will witness the arrival of an evil god on earth. The time travelers do not need to kill him, because what follows will be enough to make him lose all his reason and die in madness and agony—this is the inevitable end for all humans when they meet an evil god.

But time travelers no longer belong to the category of human beings.

The traveler's chanting grew louder and louder, in a language he had never heard before.

—Please emerge from the dark void and answer our call.

He could only guess the meaning of the spell by reading translations in books.

The white sphere was spinning faster and faster, and you could hear responses coming from inside.

The evil god answered the time traveler's call.

Franky's eyes widened. Fate had brought him here, but only as a witness. He would witness the arrival of an evil god and could do nothing about it.

He wanted to close his eyes, but the fine threads splitting from the dark roots forced him to keep them open.

Countless thoughts surged forth amidst anxiety and unease. Franky couldn't predict what he would see, but he was certain that all rituals related to evil gods would ultimately end in bloody tragedy.

The "Dean" grew increasingly agitated, and the cloaked figure with the scythe in his hand knelt devoutly before the sphere, raising the scythe high above his head as if willing to dedicate everything to the great being that was about to arrive.

Amidst the ever-changing interplay of white and red, Franky heard other voices.

"Here, have another one, it's very sweet."

……

Ok?
The soft, almost cloying voice seemed completely out of place in the scene.

He gradually made out the figure in the light and shadow. She was standing, with her arms affectionately draped over the shoulders of another figure, almost pressing her entire upper body against the other. It was a very intimate posture that Franky had only ever seen on couples in the throes of passionate love.

“I’m thinking about a new possibility… um.”

The cool, sweet fruit was fed into the mouth of the seated figure, and the woman's voice was light and cheerful, "It's alright, you continue thinking, I'll feed you."

Clearly, the time traveler was also stunned by what he saw.

They completed the ritual, awakening the one they revered, the omnipotent yet ruthless... what was it again?

As the light faded, a man and a woman appeared before them.

Franky's questions were no less than the time traveler's. First of all, he had no idea why Winter would emerge from that white sphere.

The only good news is that she doesn't look scary, nor does she drive him to madness.

The two people who were whispering sweet nothings noticed the commotion behind them.

As soon as Leng Dong turned around, she was met with a familiar face.

"Dean, it's you?"

Immediately afterwards, she noticed something unusual about her surroundings.

In the dark, cramped space, a man was bound to the wall by twisted roots, his mouth also tightly bound shut.

"...I didn't know you had such a hobby. Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret."

"who are you?"

The traveler shouted angrily.

Theoretically, he knew who Winter was, but he was so angry that he was speaking recklessly.

He should have been questioning why Winter had emerged from the sphere.

"I am Winter."

This is not the answer he wanted!
Where is his goddess?
Where did his beloved goddess go?

(End of this chapter)