Damn Regression (3)

Episode 4: Damn Regression (3)
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Demonic Magic series.
It’s classified as black magic that enhances physical abilities through mana, but when you consider the principles behind it, it’s not such a simple spell.
“It temporarily turns the caster’s body into that of a demon.”
I glanced at the mana surging through my right arm.
Crash!
The last five skeletons were swept away like paper.
Now, the distance between me and the Undead Orc was roughly 30 meters.
“Whew…”
Gathering mana in my right arm, I began crafting the spell, and cast a curse upon my arm.
The previously flickering mana writhed as though infused with new life, then seeped into the skin.
Crackle!
The veins in my right arm darkened to a deep crimson.
Lloyd’s face, once merely tense, drained of all color.
Click.
Once preparations were complete, I drew my spear-wielding arm back.
Rooaaar!
A shadow loomed ahead.
The distance between the orc and me had narrowed to about twenty paces. And then there were those brutish arm muscles.
This wasn’t something that could be handled with a simple shadow spear alone.
“That is, if I were only using curse-type magic.”
Crack!
I flexed my right arm, muscles bulging and veins prominent.
This strength should suffice.
Without hesitation, I lunged forward and drove the spear in a straight line toward the orc’s chest.
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Shadow Manipulation Technique
Shadow Spear: Enlargement
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With the sound of air being ripped apart, my vision was engulfed in blackness.
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Boom!
Silence descended upon the sparring ground.
Neither instructors nor cadets spoke, but all eyes were locked onto the toppled Undead Orc.
Its massive body trembled on the ground, spasming like it was struggling to move its stiffened limbs.
Grk… krrk…
But no matter how it tried, the body wouldn’t obey.
Crack!
A massive spear, as tall as the orc itself, was impaled through its chest.
Dark energy clung ominously to the spear’s tip.
A purple curse radiated from the weapon, corroding the monster’s body from within.
Cadets, realizing what had just occurred, gaped wordlessly.
“A shadow weapon?”
“How’d he throw something that big?”
Everyone stared blankly at Aaron, who had brought down the Undead Orc.
Then they looked at his right arm—the one that had thrown the spear—and gasped.
From his fingertips to his shoulder, the veins were stained a dark crimson.
“That’s… demonic magic, isn’t it?”
“He used three types of black magic… simultaneously?”
Ignoring the awe and gasps around him and the now-defeated Undead Orc, Aaron rotated his deformed shoulder a few times and looked coldly at Lloyd.
He gave a chilling smile.
“It’s still a sparring match, so… we should see it through to the end, don’t you think?”
“What the hell happened to you in a day…?”
Lloyd could barely form the words.
His magic, his combat sense—everything was on a completely different level than before.
Even if he’d been hiding his true abilities for the final duel, this was too much.
“Is this guy… really the Aaron I knew?”
Aaron summoned another shadow spear into his right hand and took up a throwing stance aimed directly at Lloyd.
Crunch!
The veins in his mutated arm bulged again.
Shiiiiing…
The cursed energy around the spear shimmered ominously.
“If you can block it, go ahead and try.”
Seeing Aaron’s razor-sharp gaze, Lloyd felt a chill down his spine.
It was just a shadow spear.
And yet, he knew instinctively—
This attack was dangerous.
Thud!
Aaron stepped forward and poured his weight into the throw.
Lloyd quickly raised both hands, summoning mana.
They acted simultaneously.
Rumble…!
Lloyd poured all his mana into the ground, summoning fifteen skeletons before him in a line.
Clatter…!
They formed a straight wall—his shield.
This many skeletons should be enough to block anything head-on.
That’s what he thought, watching Aaron’s every move.
Boom!
With a gust of wind, Aaron’s spear flew straight toward him in a perfect line.
A simple, honest attack.
This should be blockable—
Crack!
‘…What?’
The skulls of the front-line skeletons were shattered.
‘What?!’
The upper bodies of those in the middle were blown away.
‘What is this?!’
Bone fragments from nearby skeletons exploded outward.
‘What the…?’
The cursed, purple-glowing spear reflected in Lloyd’s pupils.
‘It’s too fast!’
As sharp and forceful as a crossbow bolt.
No time to react.
‘I’m going to—’
Suddenly, someone stepped between him and the spear.
Clang!
A piercing sound rang out.
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Thud.
Lloyd’s legs gave out and he collapsed.
Whirl—
The shadow spear I had thrown spun in the air and crashed to the ground.
A grim-faced instructor had appeared in front of Lloyd, alternating his gaze between me and him.
“…Sorry to step in like that, but I assume you both know the rules of the graduation duel.”
He lowered the foot that had deflected the spear.
“In the graduation duel, cadets are free to use any technique, even lethal ones.”
However—
“If the instructor judges that a cadet’s life is in danger, they have the discretion to intervene and determine the outcome.”
He looked at Lloyd, who was frozen in place.
Then Lloyd finally snapped out of it and stammered:
“N-no! I’m still—!”
“Still?”
The instructor gestured at the fading remnants of the shadow spear.
“You nearly died just now. Are you seriously still clinging to pride?”
“T-that’s…”
“You lost, Lloyd Desmond.”
“…Kuh.”
Lloyd lowered his head, unable to argue.
“L-Lloyd lost?”
“What does that mean for the final rankings?”
“The rankings? That guy… he’s now Triple-Class…”
The cadets whispered in disbelief.
Sorry, guys. I’m a little freaked out myself.
“I threw that spear just to be sure, but this really was the graduation duel?”
The graduation duel.
It’s the final sparring match between cadets before the ceremony. But at Necrophia, it holds far greater meaning.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every black mage currently active keeps a close eye on this event.
The cadets’ performance is recorded in detail by the instructors, with rankings determined for all to see.
Why go to such lengths?
Because the path of a black mage doesn’t end at graduation.
Cadets choose their future paths based on their skills, ideals, and values—aiming to blossom after leaving the academy.
In other words, the graduation duel is a rare opportunity for aspiring black mages to showcase their talents to the world.
Back before I regressed, I lost to Lloyd in this duel.
He graduated as valedictorian. I was second.
But just now, I defeated the top-ranked graduate of Necrophia.
Using three types of black magic.
Ha…
I’m screwed.
“Shit, things are already going off script.”
I didn’t think my regression would change the past in this way.
I’ll have to revise my entire plan now…
Throb.
‘…!’
A sharp pain shot through my right arm, stealing my breath.
Great. Now even my body is revolting. As if I didn’t already have enough on my plate.
I tried to limit the strain on this body, but it seems I still pushed it too far.
Crackle!
I returned my mutated arm to normal, then lifted it to massage the tremors out.
And in that brief moment—
I saw it.
Flash.
A faint golden glow shimmered across the back of my hand.
‘…What?’
It was only for an instant, but I saw it clearly.
I stared blankly at my hand.
‘Was I imagining things?’
No.
I’d assumed the stigma that Sword of Light engraved onto my hand had vanished when I regressed.
But that golden glow just now was unmistakably a trace of the stigma.
‘Don’t tell me…’
Even after regression—it’s still here.
“By the way, Cadet Aaron… I didn’t expect you to use not just curse magic, but three full branches of black magic in this duel. You only attended the curse magic classes at the academy, didn’t you?”
I don’t know the reason—but one thing is clear.
If I can properly use this stigma that the Sword of Light left me, it could be an incredible asset in changing the future ahead.
“Either way, to wield three branches of black magic at your age is impressive.”
“……”
“Given the results of this graduation duel, every black mage across the Luknica continent will be watching you. Still… don’t get too full of yourself. The world’s an unpredictable place.”
There’s just one problem.
I have no idea how to use this stigma.
I’ve never used it before.
“Cadet Aaron, are you listening to me?”
“…Ah.”
I lifted my head and looked around—at the scar-faced instructor and the other onlookers in the arena.
They were clearly full of questions. But I had no intention of telling them the truth.
“Who would believe I came back from the future?”
First… I need to find out if I can even use this stigma.
The results of the duel are already out of my hands.
Instead of obsessing over things I can’t control, I should focus on what I can do—and start making a new plan.
“Thanks for the compliment, but I think I might’ve pushed myself a bit too far… I’d like to rest for now.”
“Is that so?”
Though he looked disappointed, the instructor eventually nodded.
“Well, after a fight like that, it’s only natural. Get some rest for today.”
After my duel with Lloyd, the graduating cadets were given a day of free time until curfew in the Necrophia dorms.
As I left the arena, the other cadets kept glancing my way—but no one spoke to me.
Not that silence was much of a mercy.
“Eep!”
When our eyes met, cadets quickly averted their gaze and scurried away.
Not out of politeness, mind you.
“Hey, seriously, don’t even look at him. Keep your head down.”
“If Aaron marks you, it’s over.”
“He was already a mad dog… Now that he’s beaten Lloyd, he’s unhinged.”
I can hear you, you little rats.
It’s not just because I’m from the Bayonel family—one of the Four Great Houses of the Dark Empire.
That alone wouldn’t make them this terrified of me.
Now that I think about it, how did I talk to the other cadets back in the day…?
“How did trash like you even get into Necrophia? Did you bribe the examiners?”
“Everyone here is subpar—except for Lloyd Desmond.”
“Pathetic worms. If I were the instructor, I’d expel every last one of you. You hear me, you vermin?”
“To think you call yourselves cadets of Necrophia… Your mothers must be ashamed.”
Uh…
Yeah, let’s not dig any deeper.