[The second pupil ring is saturated. Do you wish to upgrade it?]
Kurogai froze for a moment at the message echoing in his mind. After all the magical knowledge he'd gathered over the past year, nothing had ever pushed the Ultimate Eye to this point.
He had nearly given up on evolving the second ring. Yet now, after copying Kaecilius's dark magic, it had finally reached the threshold.
This completely caught him off guard — but in the best way possible.
The saturation of a pupil ring meant one thing: evolution.
With each upgrade, the Ultimate Eye would unlock a new ocular ability — a powerful "demonic eye" — further enhancing Kurogai's arsenal. This was pure gain. No drawbacks.
"Upgrade."
Without hesitation, Kurogai issued the mental command.
A thin layer of intricate runes shimmered over the totem of the Ultimate Eye. The second ring deepened, becoming more complex. A soothing warmth spread from the eye into his body.
When he reopened his eyes, a vermillion cross-shaped magic circle glowed in his irises.
[Second Pupil Ring Ability Unlocked: Demonic Eye of Annihilation – Activated.]
Kurogai's eyes lit up in excitement.
"The Eye of Annihilation… this is incredible."
Of all the rumored abilities within the Ultimate Eye, this was the one Kurogai had anticipated the most. And now, it was his.
The Eye of Annihilation was one of the Five Great Demonic Eyes. Similar in visual traits to the Eye of Replication, this one manifested a cross-shaped rune instead of a pentagram when activated.
Its powers were devastating — it could absorb magic, drain energy from other beings, and nullify spells entirely. The eye could even enhance physical strength and regenerate the body at alarming rates — making fatal wounds meaningless.
In some cases, users of the Eye of Annihilation could move so fast it seemed like teleportation.
But such power came with a flaw.
When the Eye of Annihilation was active, the wielder couldn't cast their own magic. Against non-magical enemies, this could become a serious handicap.
Still, among the five demonic eyes, this one was the most feared — its users often referred to as "demons," due to their inhuman resilience and power.
Kurogai remembered this from the ancient texts he'd read in Kamar-Taj. This wasn't just an upgrade.
It was a game-changer.
With the Eye of Replication and the Eye of Annihilation, Kurogai was no longer on par with ordinary sorcerers. Even the Sorcerer Supreme would have reason to take him seriously now.
But his thoughts were abruptly cut short.
"Getting distracted in a battle, are we? Foolish mistake. You'll regret it — in the afterlife!"
Kaecilius lunged.
In a blink, he appeared before Kurogai, transparent sword raised high — a strike fueled by fury and dark power. He aimed for a clean kill.
But Kurogai didn't flinch.
"Fierce swing. Useless spell."
A faint smirk curled on his lips.
The vermillion cross-runes in his eyes pulsed.
Eye of Annihilation – Activated.
The moment Kaecilius's magic blade made contact, it shattered into thin wisps of magical energy — all of it instantly absorbed into Kurogai's eyes.
Kurogai felt the surge. Strength flooded his limbs. The Eye of Annihilation fed on the magic, empowering him further.
Kaecilius stumbled back in horror.
"What… what is this?! My blade—my magic—it just vanished!"
His face twisted in panic. The sensation wasn't just the loss of his spell — even the magic within his own body now felt unstable, as if something inside was cracking.
He recoiled like he'd touched a serpent.
"What did you do to me?!"
Kurogai didn't answer. He just smiled coldly.
"Maybe the universe decided you weren't worthy of using magic anymore."
He wouldn't explain the Eye of Annihilation to an enemy. Let Kaecilius tremble in ignorance. He deserved that much.
"Didn't you say you'd kill me? I gave you your shot. Now it's my turn."
The smile disappeared.
Kurogai's body blurred — a phantom afterimage flashing through space. Before Kaecilius could react, Kurogai was in front of him.
CRACK!
A devastating punch connected with Kaecilius's face, the force slamming him backward through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed into a nearby wall — hard — shattering stone and leaving a massive crater in the side of the building.
Debris fell. Dust rose.
And Kurogai stood silently, eyes glowing in the shadows.
---
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