THE DRAGON DEVOURING ART

“SOMEONE STOP HIM! WE NEED HIM TO STOP LUCIFER FROM DESTROYING THE WHOLE ACADEMY!” a loud shout tore through the air as a middle-aged man clad in billowing blue robes raised his hand, causing a massive earth spike to spring out from the ground.

Surrounding him were all sorts of people, including the students in the senior year, as they gazed intently at the creature standing not too far away.

All sorts of elemental and physical attacks surged forward from them and landed squarely on the youth.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A terrifying eruption erupted the moment the attacks landed on him, and a cloud of dust rose into the air.

“Is-is he dead?” one of the senior students raised his voice to ask. They could still recall the terror the youth known as Lucifer had caused.

One of the instructors hesitated briefly. “I-I can't tell...” He turned to a female teacher beside him and asked, “Vera, your talent is related to enhanced sight. Can you see anything?”

Vera nodded at his words, then turned her gaze in the direction of the cloud of dust. Her eyes glowed a pale blue color as she squinted intently, gazing deeply at the location where Lucifer was.

Just then, her expression froze, and terror clouded her face as she turned in the direction of the teachers, her face filled with fear.

“RUN!!!” she let out a scream. However, it was cut short as a claw pierced through her heart, forcefully dragging it out.

Lucifer turned his gaze in the direction of the other teachers and students, then slowly clenched his fist, crushing the heart.

The action sent a chill down everyone’s spine, and they couldn't help but shiver, taking an involuntary step back.

For the first time since the legendary battle, Lucifer finally opened his mouth to speak.

“Do you know how I became this strong? Do you know why I'm doing all this?

“I know you have questions... so let me take you down memory lane for a bit.”

It was uncertain who Lucifer was talking to in particular. However, everyone couldn't help but stare intently as Lucifer shared his story...

...

Some time ago...

“Thank you guys so much. Among all the other students, you two are the kindest to me... I can't thank you enough for bringing me on this mission. If we succeed in clearing this F-rank dungeon, I promise to only take 10 percent of the shares...”

Lucifer’s childish voice, filled with naivety, spoke up as he glanced at the two in front of him. His back was hunched, and his black hair cascaded over his face as he walked hurriedly, trying to keep up with the other two.

Ahead of him were two youths, Amira and Storm. Both of them were classmates who were in the same class as Lucifer.

Amira had short blue hair with dark green eyes. She was an average beauty. However, Lucifer couldn't help but look at her with a hint of emotion because... he liked this lady!

Although he hadn't mustered the courage to tell her his feelings, he was gradually learning things online about how people go about it.

He even had a plan in mind. ‘Explore the dungeon, take 10% of the spoils, sell everything, and take her out to a nice place, then ask her out. She becomes my girlfriend and, and...’

Lucifer’s thoughts wandered off as many sweet scenes filled his mind.

Beside her was another one of his classmates, his best friend. They had been friends since their middle school days and had shared everything between themselves.

In fact, just recently, Lucifer had revealed to him that he liked Amira, telling him all his plans and everything else he hoped would happen. Back then, Storm had reacted joyfully, supporting him and even coming up with the plan to help him explore the dungeon together.

Lucifer couldn't help but smile faintly at how helpful Storm had been.

‘Although I'm constantly bullied at school, it doesn't matter much as long as I have such good friends...’

“Why are you grinning like that?” Storm raised his brow, slapping Lucifer lightly on the head.

Lucifer quickly shook off his thoughts and flashed him a smile. “Nothing, haha. I was just recalling something,” saying so, Lucifer winked at him as though he was giving him a hint.

Storm’s gaze turned to Amira, who was walking beside him, and for a brief moment, his eyes flashed with killing intent. Unfortunately, Lucifer didn't notice any of this...

Sensing his gaze, Amira stuck out her tongue at Storm, and the trio continued on their way.

Soon, their gaze finally settled on a portal not too far away. It was radiating a slight pressure and gave off a weak aura...

“This should be the F-rank dungeon.” Amira pulled up her phone and scrolled through some pictures, realizing they matched perfectly with the one in front of her.

Storm nodded at her words, then turned to Lucifer.

“Luci, when we go in, don't do anything. Your ability is Creation, which is basically useless unless you have a high energy source... so just stand at the gate while Amira and I clear the dungeon.”

Lucifer hesitated and looked as though he wanted to say something but ultimately kept his head low, agreeing to Storm’s words.

He wanted to use this moment to look cool in front of the girl he had a crush on. At least she would see a different side of him, from the cowardly, weak-willed child who was constantly bullied.

‘However, it seems that it's not possible...’ Lucifer sighed.

He had awakened an F-rank ability called Creation. It was basically an ability that could create other abilities. It would have been overpowered except for the fact that it needed an exorbitant amount of energy to be able to create just an F-rank ability.

To create a C- or even D-rank ability was something that not even the whole country could provide for, so they had labeled the ability useless.

After a tense moment, the trio stepped into the dungeon. However, what they didn't notice was that the moment they stepped in, the dungeon turned black... completely different from the red it was before...

As soon as they entered the dungeon, their expressions, which had been filled with slight nervousness...

It was as though they had appeared in a different space... however, that wasn't what made them feel terror.

Ahead of them was a massive creature covered in scales and jagged lines. It was extremely massive, spanning a few tens of meters.

The moment the slit of the creature’s eyes opened to meet them, they felt their legs grow weak.

“This...” Storm’s eyes widened in alarm.

“It’s a dragon! I thought the teachers said that the higher-ups had hunted every dragon... Isn't this supposed to be an F-rank dungeon? Why is there a dragon here???”

Storm’s eyes flashed. There was no time to think...

He moved his hand and pushed Amira toward the still-spiraling portal behind them, which was slowly thinning out.

Then he moved swiftly halfway through the portal.

Lucifer finally recovered from his shock. Noticing his two friends leaving, he also rushed to enter the portal. However, to his shock, Storm... pushed him back?

Lucifer stumbled to the ground and fell on his butt. As he stared at the portal, his mind filled with shock.

Why? Why? Why?

His eyes met Storm’s, who was halfway through the portal.

“Luci, my dear friend. Please do me this favor. You have to stay here and stall the dragon. It has been starving for a long time. At least give it something to eat...” Storm waved goodbye to Lucifer.

However, he paused mid-step as though he had forgotten to tell Lucifer something...

“Oh, and I've been with Mira the whole time you were telling me about your feelings for her... It's actually nice fucking her behind your back...”

With those fading words, the portal finally closed. However, Lucifer’s mind went blank.

He stared at the portal in a daze, and only when the sharp claw of the dragon pierced his heart did he regain a sliver of consciousness, but it was already too late.

Lucifer... died.