Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot
Chapter 83 - 82 - The Deal.

Chapter 83: Chapter 82 - The Deal.

The beast rushed past Alex like a whirlwind of despair; it lunged as the maw on its stomach opened, teeth dripping with black venom.

Selena’s breath caught in her throat as she saw this.

Everything slowed.

The screech of wind faded.

The world dulled into a single image—

—A blur of bloodied claws, snapping jaws, and monstrous hunger heading right at her.

’I’m going to die.’

Her mind screamed, but her legs refused to move.

Her mana surged, desperate. She could barely gather it.

’What can I even do?’ That thought struck her suddenly.

Yes. What could she do?

She was a fifth-circle mage even if she relied on her demonic powers.

That was if she relied on it.

But even if she did, there was no way she could defeat a level six demonic beast before it bit her head off.

’A level-five beast... maybe.’

’A level six is also possible, but not from this distance.’

She knew it was impossible to survive.

But it was her fault in the first place.

It was her fault that, despite being on a battlefield, she wasn’t alert but mesmerized by looking at someone else fighting.

It was her fault to love a guy so much that she couldn’t look away from him despite the tension in the air.

She was in the wrong for, even now, glancing at the same boy instead of trying to defend herself.

Her limbs trembled. Her throat tightened.

Tears welled in her eyes, not from fear of death, but from the regret of powerlessness.

But as she saw Raven’s eyes, she somehow felt that he would save her.

’Hah! What am I even thinking...?’ She scoffed inwardly.

Her death was decided the moment the beast rushed at her. Raven was already trying his best to reach her; he had even launched magic attacks at the beast, but the beast didn’t care.

It was as if the only thing the beast wanted was to take her down no matter what.

It bore Raven’s attack while dodging some, heading for her head.

But then—

A voice, velvet and loving, slid into her mind like a blade of silk.

"Do you want to live, little darling?"

Selena’s eyes widened.

It was a voice she knew well. It was the voice that had offered her power, but it was always distant, hollow, and emotionless.

Today, it was different.

It... was alive.

Unlike the genderless voice, it was smooth, feminine, and seductive.

"No..." Selena whispered aloud, the word nearly swallowed by the pressure around her. "I don’t want anything from you—"

But her voice was drowned in the dark.

Suddenly, the world vanished.

She was no longer in the clearing.

The moment she blinked, she found herself on a velvet chair.

A long obsidian table before her, lit by flickering candlelight, and across that table—

A woman sat with her legs crossed, eyes half-lidded, and lips curled in amusement.

Purple hair like silk cascaded down her exposed shoulders.

Her eyes were the color of amethyst fire, and her skin was like moonlit wine.

Her dress—if one could call it that—was made of shadows and lace, revealing far more than it concealed.

The air reeked of danger, seduction... and immense power.

"A demon..." Selena muttered, fists tightening on her lap.

She didn’t need anyone to tell her that.

The horns above the woman’s head, her small bat-like wings, and a swaying tail told her everything.

"That’s the reaction I get?" The woman, however, laughed, resting her chin on her hand. "I’m the one who’s been helping you grow, you know—feeding your spells, strengthening your body, and keeping you alive."

Her smile sharpened.

"I didn’t want to reveal myself yet, but I had to... because you’re about to die."

Selena stared at her, trying to keep her heart steady.

"Who are you?"

"Names have power, child," she cooed, leaning closer. "But you may call me..." She trailed her finger along the table, then whispered with a wink, "Mistress."

Selena rolled her eyes. Even in a near-death hallucination, she couldn’t escape weirdos.

"What do you want?"

"I want nothing." She smiled. "You’re the one who needs something."

The world outside trembled. A ripple of time, and Selena knew the moment was slipping.

"You’ll die in less than three seconds," the succubus said sweetly. "Unless I help."

Selena hesitated despite knowing it was the truth.

She knew accepting a demon’s help meant crossing a line she could never uncross.

However, she was considering it until—

—Raven’s face flashed before her eyes.

Not when he was smirking.

Not when he was bullying others.

But that look he gave when he genuinely believed in her—when he looked at her like an equal.

If she accepted this now...

Would she still be able to stand beside him?

"...No," she said, shaking her head. "I can’t. I won’t take any more of your help. If I show that power—"

"He’ll cast you aside?" The demon interrupted with a sad, knowing smile. "He’s not like that. You know that."

She knew everything Selena knew. That included her insecurities and fears, so the demon could easily tell what she was trying to avoid.

Selena’s lips trembled as her greatest fear was exposed, but she didn’t give in.

The one before her was a demon and was probably stronger than any being she had seen. She shouldn’t get swayed by her words.

"I don’t care," she whispered. "I won’t let him see me like that. I won’t become something unworthy of standing next to him."

The succubus stood, her bare feet clicking softly on the shadowed floor.

"Then you’ll die. Right now. Without even screaming. By the jaws of a mere level six demonic beast."

"..."

A pause.

Selena clenched her fists.

She wanted to resist.

She wanted to fight.

But...

She had no choice.

"...What about Raven?" She asked quietly.

"I will handle it. Everything," the succubus purred. "I have a way to turn this into a happy ending. Just say... yes."

Selena didn’t want to believe in a demon, but she was out of options.

"...Yes."

The demon grinned as soon as her words fell, and time resumed.

As soon as Selena returned to the present, the beast’s jaw was just inches from her face.

Selena’s heart froze.

But then—

Her shadow surged.

It flickered once.

Twice.

Then it exploded.

From behind her, jagged teeth emerged from the shadows like a maw from the abyss.

"CHHHHAAAA—?!"

The beast’s shriek was cut off as the shadow mouth swallowed it whole, like a nightmare being devoured by a worse nightmare.

The wind stilled.

The clearing fell silent.

Not even a breath was heard.

Everyone just stood there.

Raven stopped mid-step, his fist still glowing with fire.

Squeaky’s little jaw fell open.

Even Nibbles, watching from atop a distant tree, froze.

The corrupted level-six beast... had been devoured by Selena’s shadow.

"..."

"Did... did she just eat it?" Alex muttered, trembling.

"That felt... demonic," Clara whispered, her voice tight.

She didn’t want to believe it, but looking at Nibbles, who was now hissing at Selena, she knew what that power was.

It was Demonic Power.

Her only friend, whom she had been with for the past two years, turned out to be a demon worshiper.

Jake’s grip on his sword tightened, while Lia, who was looking at all of this wide-eyed, couldn’t believe anything.

............................

Later.

The forest clearing was now a trial ground.

Selena stood bound to a tree by earth chains created by Jessy, her eyes downcast.

Raven’s group silently watched her, standing before her.

Their expressions were judgmental.

Even Raven hadn’t said a word.

But it was Clara’s eyes that hurt the most.

Those weren’t angry eyes.

They were broken.

"...I trusted you," Clara whispered. "We were friends. You were my friend."

"Clara... This isn’t what it looks like—" Selena’s voice cracked.

For a while, she had been trying to call out to the demon, but she didn’t come out.

It seemed like the demon had gone back on her words.

’What did I even expect of a demon?’

Her words, however, were cut off by Jessy.

"Nibbles has already confirmed you are emitting demonic energy," she said coldly. "If you have demonic energy, then you are related to demons."

Alex clicked his tongue. "I knew there was something off with her."

Jake and Rufus were dead silent.

Even Siris, of all people, was frowning.

Clara stepped forward.

"...Why?"

Selena looked up, her blue eyes trembling.

"...I didn’t want to die."

Clara’s hand clenched.

"Don’t gimme that! Just tell me how long you have been a demon worshiper! Tell me how long you fooled me!"

"I didn’t—!"

"Then what the hell was that?!"

Selena bit her lip so hard it bled.

She knew denying wouldn’t get her anywhere, so she sighed.

"...I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t want it. But if I didn’t accept it, I would’ve died. That’s the only reason..."

She looked at Raven.

"I wanted to live. Because I still—"

"Stop," Raven finally said.

Everyone turned.

His face was unreadable.

He looked at her.

Long and hard.

But no judgment.

"...You said you didn’t ask for it?"

She nodded, trembling.

"...Then tell me everything."

Tension cracked the air.

"...Depending on your answer," he said quietly, "I’ll decide what we do next."

Everyone stared at Raven, their brows frowned.

’Was there something we didn’t know of?’

They all wondered.

If she had demonic energy, she was a demon worshiper, right?

Then the answer was simple. They had to kill her.

Why did her answer matter now?

They didn’t know, but looking at Raven’s serious face, they realized that things weren’t as simple as they seemed.