It was at the open training area where Lucio and Mika confronted each other.

Just a few moments ago, Mika fought against demons but they quickly backed away once Lucio told them to.

"I still can’t believe that demons are obeying you, a human." Mika remarked as he threw a glare at Lucio.

"You’re talking as if you have abandoned your humanity." Lucio replied indifferently.

"..."

Lucio took a few steps toward Mika.

"Most demons are creatures who only obey those who are superior to them. Does that answer your question?"

"Are you implying that you’re stronger than an A-rank demon?"

Mika was given enough time to catch a break. Now, he could focus again.

"I’m not necessarily stronger but I suppose you could say that I won’t lose against anyone except one person." Lucio declared confidently as a grin crept onto his face.

His face was devoid of kindness or warmth and was instead, replaced by menace.

"But don’t misunderstand me. I’m not trying to overthrow the demon realm nor do I wish to make them submit to me. After all, I, too, pledged my loyalty to the Demon King. Everything I do, even the things I’m doing now, is for him." he added gracefully.

"I see... So you’re acting on his orders in the end?"

Because Lucio was a subordinate of the Demon King, the other demons did not dare to harm him nor did they disobey him as they already knew that he was an important individual who carried out their liege’s orders.

"Were you also the one who let the demon Dreyar set foot into the human realm?"

Mika’s tone turned sharper just like the air around him.

"Dreyar..."

Lucio pondered for a moment.

"Technically speaking, yes. I summoned him, however, only because Xander’s companions insisted so much. Why do you ask?" he responded casually.

Mika’s clenched his fists.

"Ah, right. How could I forget?" Lucio laughed.

"He and Xander’s group killed your village if I remember correctly! Are you still searching for him?" he mocked Mika.

"..."

"Sorry to disappoint you but he’s currently somewhere else!"

"Good, that’s everything I need to know for now."

Then, Mika jumped high with Excalibur retracted.

"First of all, I have to take care of you...!" Mika declared with a silent rage.

But as he was thinking about cutting Lucio in two, he stopped moving midair and landed on his feet without doing anything to Lucio.

"..."

Lucio, in turn, just kept grinning eerily at Mika who was about to swing his sword horizontally.

And again, the sword never reached Lucio.

Mika tried again and again but his body seemed to turn stiff every time he was about to hit Lucio.

"You’re making your killing intent too obvious. This way, you will never be able to defeat me." Lucio mocked Mika.

Lucio stood still the whole time, letting Mika run around like some kind of wild animal.

"..."

Mika ignored his words as he zoned in on him again.

Excalibur and his arms stopped moving once the blade was about to touch Lucio.

"You won’t listen, huh?" Lucio sighed relaxedly.

Lightning sparked on his palms as he pushed his palm into Mika’s chest, sending him flying from his spot. He crashed into the infirmary which was near the training field whereas at the same time, a large water ball exploded above the east gate of Loogam.

After some time passed, Mika emerged from the dust and building.

His head was bleeding but his gaze remained firm.

"You can control people’s thoughts, right?"

"..."

Lucio did not respond but he still smiled.

"Whenever I think of cutting you down, punching you with my left fist, kicking you into the guts, my body always stops. It feels like you can control my body after knowing my thoughts." Mika elaborated sternly.

"That’s a good guess but it’s still not the whole truth." Lucio answered amusedly.

"Then-"

"Enough. Be quiet now." Lucio ordered.

His smile turned arrogant and it appeared like he was toying with Mika.

"I won’t-"

Mika strangely cut himself off.

His mouth was open and he was trying to utter words, however, he did not make a sound.

"It’s time to end this already."

Lucio came closer to Mika, pulling out a hidden knife.

That knife was not an ordinary knife as it had a strange design.

"...!"

Mika recognized that knife because he saw a knife like that back then when he fought against Xander. It was a magic tool whose purpose it was to suck out the magic energy of a person.

"You want to run away?"

Mika’s body flinched.

Just like Lucio said, Mika wanted to back away but his body would not let him do that.

"I guess you know this thing already but with this knife, I can suck out your magic energy. And looking at you, I’m certain that I can get a lot out of you."

Lucio’s grin seemed even more amused than a few moments prior.

"However, did you know? Just like how a human can use a certain amount of magic per day, only a certain amount of magic energy can be sucked out of a human’s body as well. However, there’s something called the magic core which is stored and directly linked with the person’s heart. That core contains an amount of magic that you could not even fathom!"

He spread his arms as he gave a quick lesson.

"You should have realized by now I hope..."

Lucio opened his slit eyes and glanced at Mika menacingly.

"The most effective and efficient method to gather magic energy is to kill people."

He threw the knife to Mika’s feet.

"Pick it up."

"..."

Mika instinctively rejected that order in his mind but his body obeyed.

"It couldn’t get any more embarrassing for you, right? After spending two whole years training and trying to stop my forces, you finally ambushed me today in the hope of defeating me, however, instead of ending this day with my defeat, it will be yours as you’re going to kill yourself with the knife!"

Lucio raised his voice in joy and mockery.

"...!"

Mika, who could not say anything, struggled to keep the knife away from his chest but his body tried to push it in.

"Now do it...!" Lucio yelled excitedly. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The knife poked Mika’s chest.

However, that was it.

"Have you turned completely insane now?!" Ophelia remarked baffledly and sternly.

She came just in time to stop Mika. However, Ophelia was covered in some bruises and bled in some spots.

"The signal was launched so what are you still doing here? Let’s escape already!" she said hurriedly.

Hunters and those in cahoots with them knew beforehand about the signal and that they should retreat to the east gate immediately no matter what the situation was.

"..."

Mika looked at her with an open mouth. His ability to speak was apparently still sealed off.

"I won’t let yo-"

"Lereon!" Ophelia shouted, noticing Lucio who was about to go after them.

Then, Mika and Ophelia were engulfed in a gentle wind which quickly carried them away from the place.

"Don’t use me like some kind of vehicle." Lereon stated slightly annoyed.

Although he had some serious injuries, he still remained relaxed as he picked the two up from far above.

"..."

Ophelia and Mika looked back at the academy one last time.

"I don’t know if I should feel sad or relieved that I’m leaving Loogam..." Ophelia muttered with a melancholic smile.

But contrary to her, Mika just reviewed his first confrontation against Lucio which ended in a complete humiliation for Mika.

He opened his mouth and this time, he could finally let out sounds again.

"I still have a long way to go." he whispered to himself in frustration.

With the feeling of defeat and uncertainty, they headed toward the east gate in order to regroup with the others and to retreat for now.

Meanwhile, some demons gathered around Lucio who just stared in the direction of Ophelia, Lereon and Mika.

"Should we go after them?" a demon asked.

"Do you really think that you can catch them?" Lucio retorted frowningly as if he was disappointed at the question which seemed like it was lacking intelligence.

Lucio signaled with his eyes to the corpses of their fellow kin.

They all met their ends at Mika’s hands.

Mika may have been injured but sending some random demons after them would be the same as ordering them to die.

"Clean up here. I will take a rest in the meantime." Lucio ordered as he walked away.

Despite Mika escaping from him, Lucio was not concerned. After all, he was confident that Mika could not beat him and if he was not able to do that, then no one else could.

"As long as you stay the way you are right now, you will never be a threat to me."

He smiled.

"As long as you have even the faintest amount of humanity inside you, you will never stop me."