Inside the conference room of Augustus College, every member of the Board of Trustees, professors, and senior instructors gathered to discuss an urgent crisis—the midnight assault on students.

The preliminary investigation report was completed within hours. Each attendee silently reread the documents before them, their expressions grave. The situation was dire—that much was obvious.

But why so dire?

Was it the attack’s severe repercussions? No. Augustus College was a thorn in many nations’ sides. Similar assaults happened once or twice yearly. Casualties were expected; the academy itself was a battlefield.

Was it the victims’ noble status? No. Since the college was part of the warzone, and students enrolled voluntarily, they should be prepared to fall in combat.

Was it the killer’s elusiveness? Perhaps—but that wasn’t the core issue.

The core issue was what the killer had wielded…

*BANG!* The headmaster slammed his palm on the table, slowly curling it into a fist. His voice turned bitter. “Why… why would *this* appear within our academy…”

The preliminary report held few concrete details. Yet one finding stood out: the residual mana sampled from the scene. The analysis was staggering—pure Sin Power lingered there.

Shadow magic specialized in demonic arts. Sin and Calamity were the twin apexes of shadow power: one amplified strength through extreme emotional states; the other summoned disasters, unleashing massive destruction.

But neither humans nor ordinary demons could ever refine shadow mana into pure Sin Power. Only Demon Kings—long eradicated in the great wars, supposedly extinct—could wield it. Or the Devil King Artifacts they forged, scattered and lost across the world.

This meant the assault was either the work of a secretly resurrected Demon King… or someone wielding a Devil King Artifact. Either scenario was a global catastrophe.

Worse, the detected Sin Power carried the attribute of *Pride*.

Pride—the first among the Seven Deadly Sins. It symbolized defiance against Divine authority. Its master was none other than Infernal Overlord Lucifer, and his Devil King Artifact: Lucifer’s Crown.

People feared this overlord not just for his power, but for his cunning and strategic brilliance. If he had truly returned, the next Apocalypse War would be imminent.

Fortunately, the academy contained the incident’s fallout—for now. But if similar attacks recurred, rumors would inevitably spread.

The truth had to be uncovered. The culprit had to be caught.

Yet the greatest hurdle loomed: millennia after humanity ended the Age of Gods and Demons, few remained who understood Demon Kings or their artifacts.

The headmaster turned to Lu Yun, who sat deep in thought. “Professor Lu, your analysis?”

Lu Yun had been the student of Lin Shixiong—the college’s former genius who researched replicating, even remaking, Devil King Artifacts. No one alive held more authority on the matter.

“I believe…” Lu Yun drew a slow breath. He knew his words carried weight. After one final mental check, he spoke. “This wasn’t the Demon King’s doing. Someone is misusing a Devil King Artifact.”

Relief washed through the room. If only an artifact was abused—not a resurrected king—the crisis lessened significantly.

But the headmaster, as overall commander, couldn’t afford complacency. “Your reasoning?”

Lu Yun wasn’t speculating. His logic was precise. “This was a straightforward lethal assault. Infernal Overlord Lucifer himself would never recklessly expose himself with such a crude act. Moreover, the现场 showed poor control of power—the attack was clumsy and drawn-out. This reeks of someone taking revenge after stumbling upon unexpected strength.”

“Hmm. Plausible,” the headmaster nodded. “So you believe the culprit is among the students?”

“Yes.” Lu Yun affirmed, then added firmly, “I’d even wager similar attacks will recur. And that’s our best chance to catch them.”