The Smiling Death

Chapter 480: Arrival in the Demon Kingdom

Friday morning arrived faster than most students expected.

The usually lively atmosphere of Arcadia Academy felt different today.

There was excitement and curiosity.

Also nervousness between all students.

All three emotions could be seen on the faces of the students gathered inside the Gateway Hall.

The massive hall was one of the most important locations within the Academy.

Several enormous teleportation gates stood throughout the chamber, each built from ancient stone covered in glowing runes.

Soft blue light flowed across their surfaces like liquid mana.

Today, Class A of the second year had gathered before one of those gates.

Nearly eighty-eight students stood in organized groups while talking among themselves.

Some looked excited. Others looked nervous. Many simply couldn’t stop staring at the enormous portal before them.

After all... They were about to leave the Human Continent.

They were going to visit the Demon Kingdom.

Many people never even go to other country in their whole life, let alone leave the continent.

A place most people only read about in books.

Amon stood together with Seraphina, Eliana, Marcus, and Aisha.

A large travel bag hung from his shoulder. His eyes constantly wandered around the hall.

Unlike many students, he looked genuinely excited. That’s how he was afterall.

"We are actually going," he muttered.

Eliana nodded enthusiastically. "I still can’t believe it."

Aisha folded her arms. "You have repeated that five times already."

"And I will repeat it another five times. You simply cannot stop me!"

Eliana smiled.

Aisha rolled her eyes with a tired sigh.

Marcus simply sighed just like her.

Meanwhile, Seraphina quietly observed the glowing portal.

Her golden eyes reflected the blue light. Despite her calm expression, she too seemed interested.

At the front of the group stood Professor Jolene. Beside her were Professor Asher and Professor Adelia.

The sight surprised many students.

After all, Adelia wasn’t a regular instructor.

Most students knew her as the head of the infirmary and leader of the Academy’s medical healer team.

She rarely accompanied students outside the Academy.

Amon glanced toward her.

Adelia noticed his gaze and gave a nod.

And he immediately understood why she was standing there.

It was because of him.

When Jolene had mentioned that two additional professors would accompany the trip, Amon had spent days convincing Adelia to come.

For perhaps the first time since she had known him, he had been unbelievably stubborn.

In the end...

She gave up. A small part of her still remembered the last time Amon and others had left the Academy.

A simple trip after semester exam, in a beautiful city....but it had turned into a disaster.

He had vanished. Everyone thought he was dead. Even now, the memory occasionally returned.

What if something happened again? The thought had crossed her mind for only a moment.

But it had been enough.

Now she stood among the accompanying professors.

Despite being a healer, she was strong. She knows how to fight well, even better than many other professors.

So she got permission to go very easily.

Jolene stepped forward. The hall slowly became quiet. Her voice echoed throughout the chamber.

"We will be departing shortly. I hope all of you are prepared and have brought everything you need."

"Yes, Professor!"

The students responded together.

Jolene nodded. "Good."

She continued,

"As all of you already know, we are traveling to the Demon Kingdom."

Several students straightened immediately.

"The capital city is called Molveth, one of the largest cities on the Abyssal Continent."

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Even now, many students still couldn’t believe it.

Jolene smiled faintly. "Remember. You are representatives of Arcadia Academy and the Human Kingdom. Behave properly everyone. I don’t want any trouble. "

Everyone nodded.

Then she raised her hand. "Alright students. We are leaving soon."

The giant portal brightened. Blue light flooded the hall.

One by one, students began entering.

Amon waited with his friends. While standing there, his eyes landed on a familiar figure.

There moved Arnold. The tall young man was entering with several classmates.

Amon blinked several times. Since returning to the Academy, he hadn’t spoken with Arnold much.

Not much, rather he didn’t even try talking to him.

Not because of any conflict. They simply never got the opportunity.

’Maybe during this trip, I can have chat with him." Amon thought.

Soon it became their turn. "Let’s go."

Amon stepped forward.

The others followed. The moment he entered the portal, cold energy surrounded his body.

The world blurred. Blue light filled his vision and everyone else’s vision.

For a brief moment, he felt weightless.

Then his feet touched solid ground.

Amon opened his eyes.

And then froze immediately. "...Whoa."

The place on the other side looked completely different from Arcadia Academy. The enormous chamber surrounding them was built from ancient gray stone.

Massive pillars stretched upward toward a ceiling nearly impossible to see. Strange glowing crystals were embedded throughout the walls.

Unlike the warm architecture of human cities, this place felt older.

This place...it looekd ancient.

As if it had stood here for thousands of years.

Students continued appearing behind him through the portal.

Many stared around in amazement. "So this is the Demon Kingdom..."

"It’s huge."

"Look at those walls."

"I’ve never seen architecture like this."

Amon nodded in agreement.

The entire place resembled a gigantic transportation station. Numerous teleportation gates stood throughout the hall.

People constantly entered and exited through them.

Then Amon noticed something else.

Demons.

Real demons....the staff that works here.

They stood throughout the station wearing official uniforms.

Some were organizing travelers. Others were handling documents. Several guided people toward different exits.

Unlike what many students imagined, they didn’t look like monsters.

Most appeared almost identical to humans. The main differences were impossible to miss.

They had horns, tails and eyes with vertical pupils.

Some demons possessed dark red skin. Others had gray, blue, or bronze complexions.

Many have human like color. Many looked completely human aside from their horns.

Students openly stared. The demons seemed used to such reactions. Several staff members approached and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome to the Demon Kingdom."

"Welcome to Molveth."

Their polite greetings immediately eased some tension.

Professor Jolene and the other instructors spoke briefly with the staff.

After a short conversation, she turned toward the students.

"Everyone, follow us."

The class began moving.

Soon they exited the transportation complex.

And the moment they stepped outside. The entire group stopped.

A collective gasp spread through the students.

Even Amon stood frozen. Before them stood the capital city of the Demon Kingdom.

It was Molveth.

The city stretched endlessly toward the horizon. Massive black and silver buildings rose into the sky.

Ancient towers stood beside modern magical structures. Elegant bridges connected different sections of the city above ground.

Countless glowing crystals illuminated streets and buildings. Large banners displaying the symbol of the Demon Kingdom fluttered in the wind.

The city felt ancient. Yet incredibly advanced. The architecture possessed a unique beauty unlike anything on the Human Continent.

Watching something new obviously made everyone fascinated.

They kept watching it.

Wide roads spread throughout the city. Hundreds of demons walked through the streets.

Market stalls lined entire districts. Magical vehicles moved through designated lanes.

Flying creatures occasionally crossed the sky above.

In the distance, towering walls surrounded the city like protective mountains.

And beyond everything. A gigantic black palace stood atop an elevated section of the capital.

It was royal palace of the city. Where the new Demon Queen reside.

Even from this distance, its size was overwhelming. Amon’s mouth slowly opened.

"Wow."

For once that single word was all he could say. Beside him, Eliana looked equally stunned.

"It’s beautiful."

Marcus nodded. "I didn’t expect this."

Even Aisha’s eyes widened slightly. Seraphina silently observed the city. The wonder reflected in her golden eyes.

Around them, students continued whispering excitedly.

"I thought it would be darker."

Someone said.

"I expected something scarier."

"This place is amazing."

"It looks completely different from Elarith."

Amon couldn’t disagree. Books simply couldn’t capture this sight.

People have to see it themselves. Only then they could understand its beauty.

Most human kingdoms were more bright looking and beautiful.

Meanwhile this looks little dark, that doesn’t mean it was not beautiful....it was giving ancient and dangerous vibes.

Waiting outside the station were several enormous transportation vehicles.

Each was large enough to carry dozens of passengers.

Dark metal covered their frames while magical crystals glowed beneath them.

They resembled a mixture of carriages and magical machines.

One of the demon guides stepped forward.

"These vehicles will take you to your accommodations. They looked good."

The students immediately became excited again. This was similar to a trip had barely begun.

Yet it already felt unforgettable.

Amon grinned happily.

He was really excited to explored it with his friends.

His eyes remained fixed on the city. The Demon Kingdom. A place he never expected to visit ever.

And somehow... He had a feeling this trip was going to be very interesting.