First Event (2)

Daemon stepped into the grand entrance of the Calvaria Museum, his gaze briefly lingering on the elegant sign bearing its name. The craftsmanship was exquisite, reflecting the museum's rich history and prestige.

As he entered, a young woman with a warm smile approached him. "Welcome to the Calvaria Museum! Would you like a guide to assist you?" she asked politely.

Daemon shook his head. "No, thank you. I'd prefer to look around on my own," he replied calmly.

The woman nodded with a professional grace. "Of course. Take your time, and if you have any questions or need help, just let me know," she said before stepping aside.

The museum had a collection of historical artifacts from a time before mana had transformed the world. Though the exhibits were undoubtedly fascinating, Daemon had no intention of leisurely admiring them. His purpose here was far more pressing.

He scanned his surroundings, his eyes locking on a staircase that led to the second floor. That was his destination. The second floor housed the museum's most valuable and ancient artifacts, the relics of an era long past. Unsurprisingly, it was heavily guarded by Awakeners.

The [Mystic Eyes] were kept on the second floor, a place only accessible to those with a special invitation. Unfortunately, Daemon didn't have one. But that didn't concern him in the slightest.

"I just need to wait for the demonic humans to strike," Daemon thought to himself, keeping his composure as he wandered aimlessly through the museum.

As he strolled, his attention was drawn to a display case containing a pair of rings. They were crafted from gleaming silver, each adorned with a vibrant red ruby. From the design, it was clear that one ring was meant for a male and the other for a female.

While Daemon examined the rings, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"I didn't expect to see you all here as well," Amelia's voice carried across the hall.

"Well, the Calvaria Museum is one of the hot spots," Arthur replied casually, his cheerful tone matching the lively atmosphere.

Daemon, drawn by the conversation, shifted his gaze toward the source of the voices. From a distance, he spotted Amelia chatting with Arthur and Celestina.

'Amelia wasn't supposed to be here,' Daemon thought, his expression remaining neutral as his mind worked through the implications. 'This must be because of the butterfly effect.'

He observed them quietly, his sharp eyes calculating the situation. 'Actually, this might work out better. If she sticks helps them then, I'll have fewer people to worry about during the attack.'

Normally, Daemon wouldn't have paid them any attention, but this time was different. He needed to keep a close eye on them. Thankfully, the museum was vast, and the group hadn't noticed him yet.

Making sure to remain unnoticed, Daemon trailed at a safe distance. He watched as Arthur and Amelia moved through the exhibits, smiling and laughing, clearly enjoying themselves. Celestina, however, stood apart, her expression cold and indifferent, as if she were merely tolerating their company.

Just as Daemon contemplated his next move, a deafening explosion shattered the tranquility of the museum. The blast sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing walls and doors to splinter into pieces.

Reacting instantly, Daemon ducked behind for cover.

Chaos erupted around him. Screams echoed through the museum as people scrambled for safety. The lights flickered wildly, and alarms blared, drowning out the sounds of falling debris.

As Daemon observed the destruction unfolding before him, fear or worry didn't cross his mind. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face, and his eyes lit up with excitement. "The first event has begun," he thought to himself.

Just as he anticipated, a group of men dressed in black, their heads adorned with horns, stormed into the building. Their leader, a tall man radiating dark energy, barked a chilling command: "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

The air grew thick with terror as the demonic humans began their merciless assault, striking down anyone in their path.

"You bastards!" Arthur's furious shout rang out as he stepped forward, placing himself between the attackers and the panicked civilians. Without hesitation, he charged into the fray, his spear gleaming in a golden light as it clashed against the weapons of the demonic humans.

Amelia and Celestina were quick to follow. Celestina moved with precision, summoning a massive pillar of ice that erupted from the ground, cutting off the demonic humans and splitting them into two groups. At the same time, Amelia conjured a blazing fireball, hurling it toward the enemy. The fireball detonated upon impact, scorching several of the attackers and leaving them writhing in pain.

Despite their immense power, both Amelia and Celestina held back. They couldn't unleash their full strength—not with innocent lives at stake. Instead, they focused on defending the people while keeping the attackers at bay.

"It seems the information we received not accurate." a deep voice echoed across the room.

From the shadows, the leader of the demonic humans stepped forward. His presence was overwhelming, his sword enveloped in a sinister, red demonic energy. Without warning, he swung it in a deadly arc aimed directly at Celestina.

Celestina reacted swiftly as the attack aimed for her came crashing down. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a thick barrier of ice, managing to block the powerful strike. However, the sheer force behind the attack sent her flying backward, rolling across the ground until she came to a painful halt.

She groaned as she slowly pushed herself up, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her usual composed demeanor was shaken, but her determination remained intact.

Amelia, noticing Celestina's state, momentarily paused her assault and turned her attention toward the demonic leader. The man was preparing for another strike, aiming to finish Celestina off. But before he could act, Amelia launched her counterattack.

"[Emberfall Fire Magic: Flaming Spears]"

Fiery spears materialized in the air around Amelia before shooting toward the leader in rapid succession. With precise movements, the demonic leader raised his sword, slicing through the incoming spears, each one disintegrating in a burst of flame.

As the confrontation intensified, more demonic humans rallied to their leader, their eyes filled with bloodlust as they charged at both Amelia and Celestina. The two women held their ground, defending themselves while still trying to protect the civilians.

Meanwhile, Arthur remained engaged with the other demonic humans, his sword flashing as he fought to keep them at bay. Amid the chaos, Daemon noticed three demonic humans breaking away from the main battle. They charged toward the grand staircase leading to the upper floor, where the museum's most valuable artifacts were kept.

The guards stationed at the base of the staircase held their positions, their expressions resolute. They had been given strict orders not to leave their post, no matter what. It was clear why—the priceless artifacts housed above were worth over a million units. They couldn't risk letting anyone through, even as chaos erupted around them.

Daemon's sharp eyes tracked the three demonic humans as they charged toward the staircase, their intentions clear. Instead of intervening immediately, he leaned casually against a nearby pillar, observing the chaos with a calm demeanor.

The three attackers clashed with the security guards stationed at the base of the stairs. These guards were not ordinary personnel—they were professional Awakeners, skilled and trained for combat. They held their ground firmly.

However, the demonic humans were relentless, and their sheer numbers began to tilt the scales. Though the guards were strong, they struggled to keep up with the unending barrage of attacks. Slowly but surely, the balance of the fight started shifting.

Amid the chaos, one of the demonic humans, a figure wearing a mask with jagged red patterns, suddenly ceased his attack. 

"This is taking too long. Make way for me, I am going upstairs," the demonic human said.

Hearing that ,the other demonic humans immediately stopped their assault for a second before changing their fighting style, clearing a path for the masked man. The masked Demonic Human getting a chance ran forward and Daemon's smirk deepened as he watched the scene unfold.

Daemon quickly activated his skill.

[Stealth Activated.]

His presence faded and seamlessly blended into the surroundings. Moving swiftly and silently, he darted toward the staircase.

The battle between the guards and the demonic humans raged on, their focus locked on each other. Neither side noticed him slipping through the chaos, completely undetectable under the use of his skill 'stealth'.

Daemon's gaze stayed locked on the masked demonic human, who was now ascending the staircase. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. With the guards preoccupied and the demonic humans causing havoc, no one could sense his movements.

As the masked attacker disappeared onto the second floor, Daemon followed closely behind him, steeling himself and getting ready for the fight that was about to begin.