“Watch out!”

“Keep it contained, increase the magic output!”

“W-we can’t hold it, it’s going to escape… We need to evacuate the academy!”

“All of you feeble flesh bags will perish within my flames!”

“Heh, this one is a big boy…”

Zhang Dong commented from the side as he was looking at a five-meter-tall horned demon. It had the classical look of a muscle-bound giant with sharp claws for hands. The legs were hooved and it also had the usual red pointy devil tail. It was covered in an aura of demonic flames that was making everyone here sweat.

For the past few hours, they had been going through the testing process. Most of the instructors and teachers came out clean with the occasional red goblin-looking demon hiding behind their skin. Without knowing what this was in reality the demons all followed the instructions and were captured in that magic circle.

It had some kind of demon binding magic infused in itself which was quite interesting. Zhang Dong made sure to add any spells and magical techniques to his own library. He already discovered that these skills could be used by cultivators, he only needed a better way to convert the energies that were involved in these magic arts.

It was going quite well with five goblin-looking demons being apprehended. This was until it was time for the Vice-Principals to participate. There were four others like the gray-bearded Elobarin. They were all at the lower levels of the core formation if he compared them to cultivators.

It started out well, the first one looked like a three-meter-tall man made of marble. It was some kind of special rocky race of this world. It was quite fascinating as this being was more akin to a body refiner than a magic-user. Following him, there was an old lady that had a nice large witch hat and a broom. She came floating in while sitting on it and complained quite a bit.

The last one was a gnome with a long white beard as well, it was clear that the mighty in this world had a certain amount of age to them. The elf Principal that he didn’t hear the name off yet was actually the oldest person here. It looked like these guys were clean but that was until the last person showed up.

The man was similar to the Principal in the way that he was an elf, but a pale-skinned one. He had long golden hair that went down to his waist and a face that would make all the ladies squeal in joy. He looked like your perfect pretty boy but in reality, he was a form-changing demon.

They managed to get him to leave the room with the magic trap but then the problems started. He was a powerful being by this world’s standards so he realized what this room was. Before the trap could be fully activated he revealed his true form by shedding his skin. It looked quite grotesque to see him expand in size while the fleshy skin he was wearing burst forth.

“How did an Archdemon hide itself in this school!”

The witch-looking Vice-Principal called out while throwing some hexes at the red beast. The other high level magicians were informed about what this investigation was about. Now all the four Vice Principals as well as their Leader were facing off against this red monster.

The problem was that this one was an actual demon lord. It was one of the powerful named monsters that was at the great circle of core formation. This posed a problem as all of the magicians that were gathered here were weaker with the dark elf lagging behind this beast.

“You will all perish here! The day of reckoning is coming and I The Lord of Pain Doth'tollen, will pave the path!”

It didn’t look well for the people of the races gathered here. Zhang Dong used his small body to pass through the walls and back into the room that Beatrice was in. His body wasn’t made of flesh and bone but of mana particles. He was more like a spirit than a real person in this world.

“Honorable Leigong, we need to help them!”

“How noble of you but you should think about yourself first, leave it to the adults to handle this.”

He wasn’t sure of the capabilities of the people of this world so the decision was made to let them handle this monster. The person that he needed to protect was Beatrice and not those four adults. His little cute summoner had leveled up a bit since his fight in the arena but she wouldn’t be able to give him enough magic juice to battle this monster. At most he could perform a similar attack like last time before draining Beatrice of most of her mana.

“B-But…”

“No buts! We need to leave, remember our conversation. Your Principal told you to evacuate if any of the monsters get loose and that is what we are going to do!”

Zhang Dong blocked off the path and pointed to the door on the other side. He wasn’t sure how that group of magicians would do but they had reinforcements coming. The alarms in the magical academy were going off everywhere after the demon threat was identified to be one of the demon lord class beings.

“Now let us go!”

He pulled on her hand while using some strength and forced Beatrice to go towards the exit. It was remarkable that she wanted to help out but this was out of her capabilities. On the outside, they needed to get through some stairs and winding corridors to finally arrive outside. On the way, they bumped into some other security personnel that was running towards the room that the demon was being held in.

On the outside, Zhang Dong noticed that people were slowly panicking. The young students were running like headless chickens without knowing what to do. It was obvious that no one really thought that something like an Archdemon could infiltrate this well-guarded location.

If he didn’t come along to take off its hideous mask it would have probably been far too late to do anything. Now on the other hand the people here had a fighting chance. The strongest mages were already trying to contain the monster while more reinforcements were coming.

*Everyone is to evacuate to the magic shelters as practiced, this is not a practice drill, please follow your teacher's instructions.*

A loud announcement was going off on repeat while people were evacuating. Some of the people who heard it were quick to change directions and move towards those shelters.

‘Do you know where those are?’

‘Yes.’

Beatrice nodded and started jogging towards this shelter but before they could get anywhere close to it the ground started to rumble.

“Lower beings, accept your destruction.”

Both of them heard an imposing voice from the area that they left. Soon the whole place started shaking and Zhang Dong could somewhat feel that something was coming.

“Quickly, get to cover!”

He was still in his small form so he pushed Beatrice to the side with a lot of force. This was just in time as the earth below her started to part.

“I’ll bathe in your decaying flesh!”

The demon soon appeared from a large fissure in the ground and it looked a bit different than before. The number of legs had increased while the goat-like lower body was fully abandoned. This part now looked like some kind of fat worm with hooved legs. Its clawed hands were now elongated into sickles that looked black and razor-sharp. Its head was grotesque with a huge toothy mouth and three horns on each side of its large head.

‘Think Mr. Ugly is angry… where are that Principal and her lackeys? Are they all dead?’

Zhang Dong thought while helping Beatrice to her feet. This didn’t bode well for this entire school and the students living here.

‘Did I make a mistake and activate the final boss…’

He had thought that picking out the demons from the masses would hasten his progress. It seemed that his shortcut had a price, one that could cost other people their lives. If he was fully powered this monster wouldn’t be anything special, he could crush it with his pinky. Now on the other hand he would at most be able to injure it if he got a clear shot.

“Lady Beatrice, get behind me!”

His pessimistic outlook on the situation was brought to an end after the ‘cavalry’ arrived. It was the resident moss head prince and his carrot top knight. They had some other students and teachers with them along with their summoned creatures that seemed ready for battle.

‘This is a bad idea…’

Zhang Dong knew that these children wouldn’t be able to do anything about this monster. At most they could stall it till someone stronger appeared. Normally there were some sort of safety measures in place. This place was filled with noble sons and daughters, their parents should have been strong individuals. With time they would probably arrive to save the day but if there would be anyone left around to save was the big question.

Before the monster could charge at them something large delivered a blow to its side. It looked to be some kind of large stone creature similar to what a golem would look like.

“It’s Vice-Principal Varadath! We are saved!”

It was apparently the marble-looking man that he saw previously. He had changed size to match the monster and the two were now pounding away at each other. Soon some of the other Vice-Principals along with the Principal decided to show themselves. Every one of them was somewhat injured with the Witch lady being in the worst state. She was being carried by Elobarin that looked quite pale.

“Prince Ludwig, what are you doing here. Instructors bring the children to the shelter and leave this to us!”

“I can’t do that Principal, not when fair maidens are put in danger!”

Zhang Dong rolled his eyes and wanted to puke after hearing those words leave this young man’s lips. He was dressed up in some kind of emerald green armor and the orange head next to him in a red ruby one. They looked like two shiny gems that would go for quite the amount in an auction.

The Prince was holding a heavy rapier that had also some emeralds on it. He could feel that this weapon was earth grade and actually would be able to wound this red monster if used correctly. That is if it actually had a competent user, this youth wasn’t even around the foundation establishment level.

“It doesn’t matter how many weaklings you bring, you will all know pain!”

The monster gave out a strange wail that caused most of the people to back away. This attack carried some demonic energies with it and Zhang Dong noticed why. Soon every student and teacher that had yet to be apprehended started turning into three-eyed monsters. It was clear that this demon was calling for reinforcements, the battle was only beginning.