<h4>Chapter 8: A New Look</h4>


    Right after Ty signed the contract paper, it started emitting a radiant glow, casting light upon everyone below. The Demon King, who had his eyes gleaming with anticipation, bellowed, "Show me what you''ve got, boy!"


    "Elithira," he continued, his voice filled with amusement, "Stop toying with those bunch of weaklings. Clear the trash out. I don''t want anything to obstruct my view of the show," saying that he settled back, ready to witness the spectacle.


    A wicked grin, tinged with a mix of delight and fury yed on Elithira''s lips. "Finally, a chance to show off," she purred, drawing her de close.


    She then loudly proimed, "It''s time to throw you out of the party and where you weren''t invited," saying that she thrust her sword toward the ceiling of the hall and screamed, "Purple Dream Land!"


    All of a sudden, a ck fog began to shoot out of her de, leaving Caelum and Valerian, who were standing beside each other,pletely bewildered.


    Caelum uttered, "It could be a close equivalent to our Max Ultimos. Whatever she''s plotting to do, we should release our evolved states befo—" However, before he could continue any further, his words were cut off as blood started trickling from his lips.


    Taking a look down at his chest, he saw the sharp tip of the de protruding from it.


    Only then did he understand that Elithira had plunged her de into his back while he was talking, meanwhile, Elithira let out a chuckle and mused, "What, you think this is some kind of fair fight where we all just go out fighting?"


    With a wicked smile forming on her face, she shouted as she twisted the de while it was still inside his chest, "Descent of the Damned Rope."


    At the same time, Valerian swung his de at Elithira''s neck, however, his effort turned out to be futile as Elithira caught it with her bare hand, before she teased, "For a vice-captain, you sure are inexperienced. To show up in your base form is the perfect sign, Valerian, the prideful."


    Valerian attempted to pull his de away while he gloated, but Elithira removed the de from Caelum''s chest and stated, "Thanks for the energy."


    As Elithira said that, both Caleum and Valerian felt an unseen force crash on them while Kieran stood behind the two, unable to see anything due to Elithira''s move which resulted in darkness all around them, nheless, with her weapon pulled to her side, she tried to predict what she would have to do next.


    Elithira, his palm clenched into a fist, lunged towards Kieran, aiming tond a devastating blow to her gut. But just as her fist was nearing its destination, a dark green de intercepted her vision for a sh before it severed her movement.


    Before she could even register and react by changing her movement, she was met with a powerful kick which sent her sprawling to the ground.


    Aurelius, with his eyes shut tight and encased in a green armor that was adorned with thorns, bellowed, "Dance of the Thorn God!"


    Then, he brandished his de toward Elithira, releasing roots in her direction.


    Undeterred, Elithira deflected the attack with her other hand, which was the only one which she had at the movement and brought herself to a safe spot.


    A momentter, she was able to regenerate her lost hand effortlessly before taunting, "So, you can see even in my realm of darkness?" With that, she crushed his residual energy that was trying to assault her body with ease, making the vibrant green energy dissolve into a void.


    Before Aurelius could recover and advance, Elithira sneered, "I have to say, it was pretty amusing, but Father has instructed me to dispose of the nuisances like you."


    "SNAP"


    With a snap of her fingers, Aurelius felt his world turn upside down as an unseen force hurtled him toward his allies which was followed by another snap, after which all of them were ensnared by ck, rubber-like ropes.


    After having disposed them off, Elithira menacingly pointed her de at them and jeered, "Next time, tell your Headmaster to send someone who is more challenging." But before she could continue further, Aurelius cut in defiantly, "This isn''t over demon. We''ll return for the tinum soul!"


    A resounding snap echoed from the throne, diverting everyone''s attention towards the Demon King.


    "The soul," the Demon King dered, "Now resides within the Infernal Depths. Here, I reign supreme and only the Angelic King has the ability to challenge my decisions. If he desires Ty''s soul, he can personally plead his case."


    Saying that, the Demon King leaned back, and crossed his legs with a smug smile stered on his lips. "Or perhaps Ty can show you the way out."


    As he said that, the light around the Contract dimmed, allowing Ty''s soul to be suspended in mid-air. The once-vibrant red mark on his soul now looked like an old scar that had faded with time.


    Ty blinked, looking around for anything different, "Did anything change?"


    The Demon King raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a sly grin, "Let''s see, shall we?"


    "SNAP"


    A snap echoed, and the space beside the Demon King seemed to have been torn open, revealing a small portal. Through that portal, a coffin, simr to the one earlier but less adorned, slowly rolled out.


    The Demon King leaned closer, a mischievous light in his eyes. "Alright, Ty, now it''s time for you to make a move. If you still aren''t able to sessfully integrate with this soulless body, your own soul will be lost to the void, and even I won''t have the ability to reach it with all my powers."


    Determination red in Ty''s ethereal eyes, every part of him pulsed with energy that was urging him to get back to his old life, to face his love once more.