《Requiem of the Damned》 Chapter 1 There is beauty in silence. Have you ever ventured into the desolate yet serene environments beyond the taint of human civilisation? The constant cacophony of noise bombards us, the hum of electricity in the walls, the loud arguments of neighbours, the whirr of traffic just out of earshot, all this and more. I have lived for a long time without knowing what silence is, and I am sure most don''t. True silence, the absence of noise, akin to a vacuum, where no sound can be made, is both intoxicating and terrifying. On one hand, there is beauty in that state; there are no distractions, only you and your thoughts. On the other, it''s you and your thoughts. To the disciplined mind, it does not matter. They are your thoughts, concepts, memories and scenarios created by your mind, yet they are not you. If you think of robbing a bank, then are you a thief? Not really. It is okay to think of something, including those intrusive thoughts that may creep up on you on bad days, but that does not mean they are you. A human being is far more complex than a few ideas concocted by a tired mind. Now, that raises the question of what consciousness is. What is the meaning behind this all? People have contemplated the question since the dawn of time. A simplistic theist approach explains the unexplainable by proverbially burying your head in the sand. Higher powers have created humans to worship, build, destroy, and love. And contemplating the intricacies of existence is above the pay grade of feeble human minds. On those dark and dreary days (like this one), I wish this was true, it removes the burden of those enquiries from me and gives a point to the pointless. Existence is scary, so I understand why some people seek faith as a source of peace and a reason. Atheist philosophies argue that the pointlessness of existence is simply because it''s fucking pointless. Some say that you should find your meaning, a reason to continue on the constant struggle and suffering that is life. I also see some beauty in this idea: to create meaning out of meaninglessness, stand in the face of suffering, and be resilient. People tell me I need to find meaning; some take it from their family, loved ones, jobs, or interests. None of that sounds appealing, to be honest. And all of this because of particularly land-inclined fish a few hundred million years ago¡­..sigh.At least, that was how it was back in my world.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. So, where am I going with this? Well, nothing makes you contemplate the meaning of existence more than a fresh bout of murderous violence. Letting my freshly conjured blade dissipate, I talk to the room''s only other, well-former occupant. "To be honest Frank, I have no idea where to go from here", I whisper in a hushed tone to the headless corpse sitting mere centimetres from me; the distinctive smell of death and the foul materials are almost overpowering my other senses, but more important matters occupy my mind at this moment. ¡°I think a conversation this important warrants a face-to-face meeting, heh" I pull the stray head using Frank''s few remaining locks of hair and bring him to eye level with me. His expression is forever frozen as one of utter bafflement; his mouth is open, and his tongue is lolling this way and the other with the shaking of my hands. As I stared into his lifeless eyes, an uncomfortable silence enveloped the tiny room I found myself in; the only sound breaking the silence was the constant dripping of blood from the cooling head I held in my hands. drip¡­drip¡­.drip¡­drip¡­. ¡°This is getting rather awkward Frank, I know we didn¡¯t start on the right foot, but I¡¯m sure we can hit the ground rolling¡± I chuck the head like a bowling bowl, and it not being one, it does not go very far. I take careful yet steady steps towards the reinforced metal door of the room that housed me for the last few months. Casting a final gaze on the remains of the incubation pod, the bloody corpse of the researcher I dubbed Frank, I unceremoniously bend the metal like a child playing with playdough, and it makes a horrible shriek that will doubtlessly draw the attention of every living being in the lab. I only take a few moments to admire my inhuman strength before making bloody footsteps outside the tiny room, my naked, rippled body tensed in anticipation. I feel for my demonic power and conjure another ancient and powerful blade. I have fifteen people left to kill. Chapter 2 Alarms start blaring around the underground facility, with red alert lights, an automated voice announcing a breach of containment, and reinforced doors dropping from the ceiling as the cherry on top. I consult the mini-map to the top-left corner of my vision and make my way to the left, where five red dots congregate just a couple hundred feet west of my position. I only make it a few dozen feet before my way through the sterile yet chaotic base is blocked by a heavy-looking blast door. My blade reflects the lights as I intrinsically get into a basic stance. The knowledge flows seamlessly from my mind as if I practised the basic swordsmanship katas of House Ipos thousands of times. The blade shines with a sinister light, looking flawless despite the millions of lives I know it has reaped through the aeons. My blade slices through the reinforced metal, both mundanely and magically, like a hot knife through butter. I take hurried yet deliberate steps towards the red icons on my mini-map, having figured out that such a facility that experimented with natural-born devils was isolated from everything else, and help was a long time away. As I come close to yet another reinforced door that hides the cowardly researchers behind it, whom I could hear panicking from across the door thanks to my enhanced senses, I take a steadying breath and ready my blade again. The metal slices perfectly, leaving an impossibly clean cut. I do not hesitate as I spot the telltale signs of magic circles being activated and rush through the door of what looks like a hybrid of a high-end human biological laboratory and something from the wet dreams of a fanatical magician.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Taking a quick stock of my surroundings¡ªa process that took a fraction of a second yet felt like an eternity¡ªI rushed to the masked and garbed devils, who, in their infinite wisdom, decided to huddle together in one spot¡ªa fatal mistake¡ªand cut through two of them and their half-formed fireballs. I don''t stop to look at my prey and immediately twist towards the third and bisect him horizontally, showering me and the pristine environment in gore. A searing pain momentarily distracts me; it looks like one of them managed to hit my shoulder with a fireball, and the other is microseconds away from launching his own. Without hesitation, I throw my blade at the Devil, and it sinks to the hilt in his sternum. I take advantage of the shock of such an unorthodox move and deliver a devastating uppercut to the stunned surviving Devil. I am rewarded with the sickening crunch of bone. I summon my blade and proceed to decapitate him in one graceful swing. A quiet groan grabs my attention. It looks like the one I threw my blade at is still alive. I quickly move to him and shove my blade through his skull, and I am once again back to the almost serene blare of sirens¡ªten more to go. I checked my mini-map for any other threats, and it looks like the coast is clear for now. I feel like a giant boulder has been lifted from my shoulder, and the rush of the last twenty-six seconds is processed in my mind. Looking at my HUD, my HP went down by a quarter in that single hit, although the pain is somewhat dulled by what I assume is my devil physiology. Knowing that every room is equipped with CCTV, I quickly make short work of them before planning my next move. Showered in viscera and exhausted, I checked my map for my next targets. Two groups are left, one quickly moving towards the other. It looks like they are trying for a last stand. Although the first encounter went without complication and with relative ease, I don''t let this get to my head. My power makes sure of that. The opponents my ancestors have faced would kill me in less time than a human takes to blink, hell, before the neurons have sent signals to their brains from their eyes. These eggheads have never seen or never expected to see a battle, and that is something that I am going to exploit. Chapter 3 Taking stock of the situation, I finally examine my HUD, which indicates several level-ups¡ªa marginally less pesky insect in this world. [Status] Huh, the level-up has restored me to full HP. That will prove immensely useful. Filing that useful nugget of information, I take stock of my situation by checking my Quest Log, Inventory, and Skill list. And that skill might just get me out of here alive. Unholy hell, that seems overpowered.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. [Quest Log] [Inventory] [Skills] Combat: Focusing on Arcane Singularity shatters my boyish dreams immediately. Arcane Singularity: Create and control miniature black holes ¨C Costs 1000 MP/s Yes, I can make physics my bitch. For a whole two and a half seconds. It''s little consolation that such an absurdly powerful ability has such a steep cost. After all, I am tearing a hole in the spacetime continuum. High school physics may be helpful for once. I''ll delve deeper into Echoes of the Ancients and my gamer system at another time. My second power thrums in excitement, begging to be used, eager for blood. Chapter 4 After Double-checking the mini-map, it seems the Devils have holed themselves up in a massive room Northeast of my position. Before I go to the central area, where the rest of the researchers were, I decided to ransack the room labelled ''Armory'' on my map. It is directly North of my position and on the way to the lobby. Summoning my blade again, I make quick work of the reinforced blast doors barring my way to the Armory, and in what felt like no time at all yet took forever, I find myself facing an unassuming grey metal door, much larger than any I have encountered so far. I take a stance and inhale like my Ancestors did countless times in my memories. I exhale with the swing of my blade. To my utter astonishment, my blade meets resistance and stops in its tracks about three feet into the door. Making two more chops reveals a layer deeper into the massive door that my blade cannot scratch, no matter how I try. The beginnings of a plan formulated in my head, and with little hesitation, I activated Arcane Singularity. I feel it before I see it. For a moment, a wrongness manifested in the centre of the hole I had made. A tear appeared in the spacetime continuum, where the flimsy laws of physics lose their meaning, a Singularity. I instinctively knew that the hole I created was barely the size of an atom yet had the mass of a big mountain. The laws of physics and magic prevailed, and the Singularity vanished. Nothing seemed to happen for a few microseconds, and then a massive boom rattled the entire facility. The air was sucked into that point, and I had to stab the floor to stay upright. The door collapsed into nothingness, with it, most of what was in the Armory. I knew the gravitational pull would not affect me, but my aerodynamics worked just fine.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I could describe it in a million different ways, but I can never do it justice. The sheer thrill and awe of violating the laws of nature and doing something so magical would be a feeling that I would never forget. I was already doing magic by summoning my blade, but nothing will top tearing a hole in reality anytime soon. There is a subtle shake in my body from giddiness or excitement; I do not know. Cursing Stephen Hawking, I make my way towards the remains of what once was a pristine and organised armoury, with weapons, supplies and the bane of all sentient beings - paperwork - scattered across the room. I waste no time donning one of the spare changes of clothes, uncaring of the gore on my body and grab a few more and shove them into my Inventory. All I must do is think about storing the item, and it disappears into the space. I also grab as many supplies as possible, as I do not know where we are and how far I must travel before reaching civilisation. I quickly check my Status as I exit the room. [Status] I have enough mana for one more use of Arcane Singularity, which should be enough for what I have in mind. I quickly duck out of the room, heading South towards the ''Control Room''. Another few blast doors meet my blade, and I thank the Satans. This room is not as heavily fortified as the Armory, which makes the loss of what was inside sting even more. The room has a spartan interior, as all in the facility do, with one wall occupied by dozens of screens showing the feeds from their corresponding security cameras. I can see the main lobby where the rest of the researchers are huddling behind what can generously be described as a makeshift fortification, no doubt spooked by the earlier explosion. They seem to be arguing with each other. I take a few seconds to study the many buttons on the table before pressing the big button labelled ''Power''. The effect is immediate: the lights are cut, and emergency lighting kicks in. The alarms that have been incessantly blaring also stop. I summon my blade and make sushi from the board, and it catches fire. Paying no heed to the mess I just made, I quickly approach the lobby. Chapter 5 I memorised the layout of the room in front of me. I can see where each Devil is located. I have a plan. I take one final steadying breath. It is a mantra. Take a stance. Breath in. Tense my muscles. Reinforce them with demonic power. Exhale. Cut. My position is immediately bombarded with fireballs and various other attacks. A thick cloud of smoke obscures the doorway. Devils have perfect night vision. I anticipated that. The attacks see nothing but air. I hide behind one of the adjacent walls and mask my energy as my Ancestors did. A tense silence is broken when one of the Devils speaks. "Is¡­Is he dead?" One of them utters, seemingly trying to reassure himself. "He''s gotta b ¨C" I rush through the doorway without hesitation. There is no try. Only do. "Look out!" A panicked shout tries to warn my current target, the Devil closest to the doorway and the left of their little fortification. His head is separated from his body, and his expression is frozen in shock before the sentence is completed. "Get him!" another of their number screeches, and many fireballs converge on my position. I make a somersault to the opposite end of the room, landing blade first on another shocked researcher. I quickly twist and bisect the other Devil next to him, wasting no time; I throw my blade towards a third. Eleven to go.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I weave between the oncoming attacks, avoiding each by a hair''s breadth. I can feel the heat of the fireballs as they pass millimetres away from my body. I place myself between a couple of Devils and the rest of the group and waste no time delivering a wild haymaker to the one to my right, followed by a swift roundhouse kick to the one on my left. In the same breath, I summon my blade. Their parts litter the floor in the next. I enter a trance. Duck under the fireball. Spring to the next target. Part his head from his body. Onto the next. An attack grazes my leg. The pain almost overwhelms my mind. Breath in. Breath out. Another head joins the pile. I faced the remaining seven with no cover in what felt like a moment. Every muscle in my battered and abused body is protesting the sheer stress of the last few minutes. I notice my entire body is shaking. The air seems to drown my lungs, each breath more desperate than the last. The telltale light of magic circles brings me back to earth or wherever I am. There is no try; only do. Seven attacks launch into my position. I dump all my mana into my last gamble. [Arcane Singularity!] The world draws to a stop. A singular bead of sweat drips from my long bangs. It does not make it to the floor. All matter carries mass. Mass gravitates towards each other. The larger the mass, the stronger the pull. I just tore a hole in reality. With the mass of a small moon. Everything in the room, bolted to the floor or otherwise, is violently pulled towards a singularity¡ªsquare in the middle of the group. The attacks, which are halfway towards me, are also pulled back. I stabbed my sword with all that I had left and more besides. It sinks to the hilt. The researchers are violently ripped apart, atom by atom. Panels on the floor are torn loose. Nothing is spared in the carnage, makeshift fortifications, light fixtures, and electrical wiring. A moment later, the black hole collapses, and a massive shockwave of air shakes the facility to its core. Cracks in the floor form, and the ceiling is slowly collapsing. I felt a sudden pain in the back of my head, and I knew no more. Chapter 6 Callen was gently stirred awake by soft and familiar humming and the mellow rays of an awakening day. He felt warm and content. He looked around the small bedroom he found himself in. The bed barely fit him, and the floor was littered with various knickknacks and toys¡ªan old Teddie here, an unfinished woodcarving there, an antique radio set on his nightstand. He carefully extracted himself from the worn sheets and went through the creaky wooden floors towards the humming. The corridor was filled with various photos that showed the family at different stages of life: a happy young couple on their wedding day, a tired, smiling mother holding her baby, a man with a face full of cake, and a giggling child. A delicious smell interrupted his stupor, and he realised he was starving. The humming was getting closer. A melody he would never forget. As he approached the kitchen, he couldn''t stop the tears. "Good morning Callie!" The soothing voice of his mother greeted him.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. She was happy to see him, as always. She was carefully nursing her special beef stew, which her nana had passed down. Rumours in the neighbourhood said that the original recipe, created during the war, could bring a man back from death''s door. "Callie?" When he did not respond, she looked at him, hazel eyes scrunched in worry. When she saw his face, she bolted to his side, stew forgotten. He was soon enveloped in a tender hug, her brown curls tickling his face. She smelled of honey and vanilla. He was safe. "Oh honey, what happened?" The concern in her tone was palpable. He doesn''t cry. "Nothing mom, just a bad dream." He struggled to keep his tone even. "Mommy will keep the bad dreams away." She said as she wiped his tears. "Stop it mom, I''m not a baby anymore!" He couldn''t help his reply¡ªa familiar song and dance. "You will always be my baby." She giggled. He immediately felt lifted, though he would never openly admit it. "Now help me set the table. Your dad will soon be back from the farm." She messed his hair up and went back to her stew. It used to annoy him. "Okay mom" His body went into autopilot, going through motions done hundreds of times. He grabbed the old tablecloth from the drawer, set up the cutlery, and finally brought the freshly picked tulips to the centre of the table in their vase. Chapter 7 As soon as he was done, the door grating was heard, and steps were heard heading towards them. "I''m home!" his dad''s cheerful voice called out from the living room. He came in, immediately embraced his wife, and pulled her into a deep kiss. "Ew, not here." He couldn''t help the exclamation. He loved them, but they were still his parents. "Hahaha! How is my big man doing today?" His dad mercifully let go of his mom and came in for a hug. Although his broad shoulders and toned body made for a much harsher squeeze, it was safe all the same. Then, there was a hair ruffle. Again. "You stink!" He huffed in mock annoyance. "Try shoveling fertiliser at four in the mourning." His dad did not have an ounce of regret. "Ooooh is that beef stew I smell? What''s the special occasion?" "Honey!" His mom squawked in indignation and followed it by slapping his dad upside the head. They were not great at this lying thing. "The stew is ready. Now take your dirty boots out of my kitchen so we can eat," his mom demanded. "Okay, Okay, I will do as the princess says." His father knew when to retreat from a hopeless battle. The stew was soon on the table, and everyone settled in their chairs. A steaming bowl was placed in front of him. His mom cast a few spells to ensure all the bowls were at the perfect temperature, and he shared a knowing look with his dad.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Let''s dig in!" His father started vacuuming the stew without a preamble, paying no heed to the mess he was making. He carefully eyed the delicacy, taking in the rich aroma. It was a mixture of herbs, beef, vegetables, a pinch of salt and pepper, a hint of garlic, and a mystery ingredient that his mother refused to reveal. His spoon scooped up a tasty-looking chunk of meat and broth. The beef melted in his mouth like butter, and the rich broth, which had to be prepared a week in advance, contained a complex set of tastes, each somehow complementing the other. The family ate in content silence. His mother was very strict about observing the kitchen etiquette, and there was no room for debate. In no time at all, the stew was devoured, with his dad scraping every last bit from the pot, and for once, he couldn''t blame him. The bowls, utensils, and pot were removed quickly. The family would usually gossip about the latest happenings in the neighbourhood. Callen always tuned it out. He could never understand why his parents were so interested in something like the love life of old Rosmerta down the road¡ªnot today, though. "Today is a very special day! Happy birthday Callie!" The enthusiastic voice of his mother brought him back to reality. A magic circle appeared on the table, and seemingly, out of nowhere, a cake appeared. The cake would be the envy of any of those snobby bakeries. Using a traditional Tourteau Fromag¨¦ cheesecake as a base, with vanilla cream on top, thirteen strawberries elegantly sliced and spread around the top, and two candles read thirteen. Simple yet elegant. It''s just the way he liked it. And just the way to describe his mother. Another magic circle dimmed the lights and cut sunlight in the kitchen. "Light the candles, honey! Just like I showed you." His mother''s voice cut through the now-dark kitchen. He felt the warm current coursing in his body. He imagined what he needed, just a spark. He closed his eyes in concentration and used a tiny trickle of his demonic energy to bend the world to his will. A small flame lit the wick and didn''t touch anything else. "Yay! My baby is a genius! Now make a wish." His parents were at least kind enough to spare him the singing. He closed his eyes again and wished for this moment to last forever. Blowing the candle caused several more magic circles, and the candles transformed into a tiny flame dragon that danced around the room before finally exploding and spelling out the words ''Happy Thirteenth Birthday''. ''Show off.'' He thought fondly of his mother''s peculiarities; he had no doubt she was miles ahead of him in magical aptitude at his age. His mother rushed across the room to wrap him in a massive hug. He could see his father shedding a ''manly tear'' on the other side of the table. The lights came back on, and he cut the cake, giving the first slice to his mother and then one to his father. His was last. His parents waited for him to take the first bite, and he quickly dug in. It was sweet and cheesy with a hint of lemon and strawberry¡ªperfect. Chapter 8 The family spends the rest of the winter day by the fire, his parents watching TV, curled up on the sofa, and himself in his favourite chair with a book in hand. Three books and who knows how many episodes later, the dimming of the sun announces the end of the day, and the birds sing their evening song. His dad is already snoring, doubtlessly exhausted from his work on the farm. His mom gingerly wraps a blanket around him and gestures for Callen to follow her quietly. They go to the master bedroom, and she shuts the door. Complex magic circles surround her, revealing a hidden compartment on the old wooden flooring. Almost reverent, she opens it to reveal an ornate box that glows in enchantments. Callen watches in wonder as she opens the box, revealing a beautifully decorated scabbard. It is black with gold inlays that gleam in the dimly lit room, and blueish-glowing runic arrays cover every inch of it. The tip is one giant ruby faceted to perfection. The scabbard floats of its own accord, and his mother gives him a severe look. She was never serious. "This belonged to your grandfather." her voice comes out in a hushed whisper. "It is our legacy, and your birthright. Take it"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He knew that enchanted items cost a fortune. The pulsing runes on the scabbard and the lavish materials are his clue that this was no ordinary item. It will probably cost more than the nearby city. He wanted to argue, but a look shut that down before it began. He took deliberate steps towards the floating artefact and reached out with his left hand. As soon as he touched it, he felt a magic current invade his body. Ancient. Powerful. Judging. A blade of wind materialised. Callen could feel the air''s displacement and hear the vibrating blade''s powerful hum. It felt deadly, and he was sure no material in the house would stand a chance against it. Save, perhaps, the newly revealed box the scabbard came in. The blade floated silently next to its sheath for a moment and was sunk to the hilt in his chest in the next. Blood quickly spread on his shirt, and his mind finally caught up to what had happened. A pain the likes of which he has never felt emanated from his chest, his lips opened for a scream that never came. Looking at his mother in panic, he found cold, hardened eyes gazing at him. A golden oak tree materialised in the air, and a matching symbol shone inside the ruby on the sheath. Before he could collapse into shock, the blade and the scabbard winked out of existence. He looked down at his wound, healing at a rate visible to the naked eye. The blood, which had dripped onto the floor, floated back to the injury, individual drips reversing their course and seemingly breaking the laws of causality. The pain was gone before long, and to his utter disbelief, the injury was gone entirely. The only evidence of its existence is the tear on his shirt. Before he could voice out his utter disbelief and confusion, for Devils can''t heal, he collapsed to his knees, all his energy spent. He was soon wrapped in the arms of his mother. He had never seen her so distraught. She kept uttering soothing words, and the last image before he lost consciousness was the tear-stricken face of his mother. "I am so proud of you Callen." Chapter 9 A loud bang shook him out of his sleep. He felt groggy, his feet made of lead, but dashed towards the living room all the same. He opened his door and was struck by a vile smell, the hallway littered with darkly cloaked bodies. Bodies were strewn apart, the trail of gore extending from the master bedroom towards the living room. He had to push down his bile and rushed towards his parent''s room. The door was smashed in, and they were nowhere to be seen. He trudged through the muck on the floor towards the shouting in the living room. He first saw his father, or what''s left of him. He was still on the sofa, but his throat was sliced open, and his expression was frozen in horror. Before he could process the scene, his mother shouted from the now-ruined doorway. He was there in less than a second. What he saw will forever be seared into his memory. His mother was the same woman who was sweetly humming a tune while fussing over her stew not even a day ago¡ªthe woman who was sweet, kind to a fault, and always cheerful. She was gone. In her place stood a wrathful Valkyrie, covered head to toe in gold-embossed silver armour that seemed to glow under the moonlight. Her armour was dripping in blood, and it was evident that it was not hers. She held a long spear with a dead Devil at the tip. She threw the vermin off and turned towards him. "STAY BACK CALLEN." Her scream was projected in his ear. Harsh and unyielding, it would not be out of place in a meeting of army generals. He instinctively backed away. But suddenly, his mother flew across the field and crashed into their barn. "This is kind of quaint, Ipos." A man casually stepped out of the darkness, his long, gleaming silver hair and immaculate robes standing out in the carnage. Piercing amethyst eyes looked onto the scene with seeming mirth. His mother was in front of him before he could blink. "Lucifer." His mother spat out venomously. "Is that how you treat your old boss? My my, the youth are uppity these days." He lazily dolled out, almost sounding bored. "And is that your child? He looks just like his old man."This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Stay the fuck away from him." "You would keep my nephew away from me? It pains this old man''s heart." His reply was dripping with mockery. "Now, nobody needs to get hurt. Hand the boy over, and surrender and on my name as Rizevim Lucifer, you will leave this place in one piece." "And become one of your dogs? NEVER!" He never believed someone could have spoken with such hate, least of all his mother. "We know how this will end. We fight. Your boy dies, and you die. Or you put down your stick, and come along willingly." A magic circle appears below our feet¡ªa teleportation circle¡ªbefore we can escape. He moved. The world shook. One moment, he was there, and in the next, a hand softly wiped away the tears I didn''t realise I had. A massive presence descended on the area; the sky felt like it was falling. The sheer fathomless depth of his demonic power crushed the teleportation out of existence. My body shakes violently. A primal instinct awakens, one that all Devils have. My mind is filled with the urge to submit, for a predator is here. I force my head to move and find warm hazel eyes looking at me with a mockery of affection. His other hand is extended to stop my mother''s spear¡ªwith a single fingertip. "Now, Now, who said you could leave? That is no way to treat a guest. How the Mighty house of Ipos has fallen." He looked my mother in the eyes. "You would not cease your foolishness?" "You will take him over my dead body." "As you wish." He was here. Then there. No sound is made in the movement. His hand speared through my mother''s chest. It gingerly held her still-beating heart, and he crushed it. "NO!" I run towards my mother as he throws her aside like a discarded piece of trash. Her armour and spear dematerialise, and she returns to her usual orange nightgown. Tattered and bloody. I cradle her head in my arms. She is still somehow alive. "Promise me, Callen. "She manages to gurgle out words. "Promise me that you will grow strong. Find love, find happiness. And forgive your poor excuse of a mother." Her voice is hoarse. So many things go by in my mind¡ªso many words, emotions, dreams, and hopes. Her tears run freely, and blood is everywhere, yet her smile prevails, somehow serene, almost resigned. "NO MOM! I- Her head pops like a balloon, showering me in brain matter, fluid and all manner of viscera. My eyes don''t move from where they are, uncomprehending what happened. "All this sweetness is going to give me diabetes, it''s not good for an old man like me you see." The derisive voice brings me back to earth. Rizevim is there licking his bloody hands with an expression of utter ecstasy. "Can you believe she was still alive? She was always one of the fiesty ones." That monster was still mocking me. "YOU!" I rush towards him, magic circles already forming. "Hahahaha! Even the brat is fiesty." The voice comes from behind me. He lifts me by the scruff of the neck like a misbehaving dog. My demonic power ceases to obey me. "Frankle, or whatever your name is. Take the brat to the facility." I suddenly realised that there was another man next to us. I get thrown on the ground next to him. "Yes, Your Majesty" The man gives a deep bow and picks me up from the ground. "This is power, boy. Now make your mother proud." Those were the last words that I heard before losing consciousness.
I wake up with a gasp. My whole body was sore and sweaty. I wipe the tears from my dusty face and look around. I am still in the half-collapsed facility. He is not here. I quickly get up. There is still much to do. Chapter 10 Part 3

Chapter 10

Tired, bloody and filthy with all manner of gore and debris, I quickly bring up my Status. [Status] ¡ð Observe: Assess beings at a glance. Threat levels and information are recorded. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. That skill is a game-changer. Information is the most vital part of war, or so the books I have read have told me. The House of Nebiros, the one running this facility, will answer to their crimes, preferably at the tip of a blade. I must experiment with my system once I get as far away as Devilishly possible from this place, lest He shows up. The fact that I could have died here does not escape me. Nothing is ever guaranteed in this world. I am weak. If I am to ever get what I need, power is a must. That starts now. I focus on each attribute to bring up their descriptions. As the adrenaline of the intense battle left my body, I realised that this damned facility must hold more ¡®experiments¡¯ than just me and quickly doubled back towards the rooms labelled ¡®containment¡¯ on my map. The state of the corridors warrants an inspection from whatever bastard designed this place, making my life just that little bit harder. Cracks crisscross the floors, walls and ceiling. Concrete chunks lie around the darkened corridors. As I come across the blast door to the room, I ignore my body''s protests, summon my blade and make quick work of it. Inside was a sight that I will never forget. Broken incubation pods litter the lab, each containing a ¡®subject¡¯ younger than the other. Children, some of whom could be generously labelled as toddlers, were the sorry souls who once occupied this room. They came in all shapes, sizes, genders and species: devils, Fallen Angles, Yokai and even a few humans. Their little bodies were subject to unspeakable horrors, bruises and injections marring their skin. At what I estimate is sixteen, I was an adult in all but name in Devil society. And I thought that the Nebiros could not have stooped any lower. The realisation hit my tired mind like a freight train. They were all dead. They should be alive. Until some bastard decided to gallivant around the facility, swinging his big stick and dropping a fucking Singularity on the base. The fact that their life support was not tied to the auxiliary power did not escape me, but it does not make the reality of me being a mass fucking murderer any easier. I killed them. ¡®Actions have consequences, Callen¡¯. [SB2] The pained voice of my mother sounded. A phrase I was intimately aware of yet has been buried in the depths of my memories echoed like a gong in my mind. I could not hold it any longer. I threw up what little I had in my stomach. And ran. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Outskirts of Auros On a beautiful spring day, under the clear purple skies of the underworld. Where birds sang and butterflies hovered over blooming wildflowers. Children frolicked under the shade of trees, and mothers sat around and gossiped on an impromptu picnic under the shade of grand oak trees. Two children stood out. Both were unremarkable in appearance among the supernaturally beautiful Devils. Still, they were huddling under one of the trunks, with a book in the boy¡¯s hand, and the girl was snoozing in deep slumber. The odd ray of sunshine danced in Callen''s golden-brown locks. He was content here. Books were more interesting than any eleven-year-old child, and Akeno, who followed him around like a lost puppy, was too adorable to shoo away. This is what he imagined having a younger sister would feel like. He peeked across the canopy, and judging by the sun''s position in the sky, he knew his mom and Akeno¡¯s would call them over soon. He gingerly extracted himself from the vice-like grip of the sleeping eleven-year-old, put his book in his backpack, and was going to carry her on his back before four looming shadows interrupted him. ¡°Piss off, Pierce¡±, He spat in his best attempt at a sneer. ¡°What do we have here? The overgrown chicken and the bookworm¡±. The nasal voice of Pierce, who was clearly not done with puberty, grated upon his ears.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Callen glared at Pierce and his ragtag group of boys that could barely string a sentence together. He was not impressed. It is hard to feign fear when meowling teenagers who think they are tough are doing their best attempt at bullying. ¡°The only chicken around these parts is your ass.¡± He tried to sound as derisive as possible, damn the childish voice. ¡°What did you just say?!¡± Nose flared, and fists cocking back, Pierce did not sound too thrilled. ¡®Too easy¡¯ I cast a spell, the small magic circle appearing behind my back. Pierce tripped on thin air. As Pierce got up and his gang approached them ¡®menacingly¡¯, the sound of his expected saviour interrupted whatever bullshit these baboons were attempting. ¡°You! I will fuc- ¡°What is going on here?¡± his mother asked authoritatively, announcing her presence to the group. There was one rule in their household: Whatever she said went. ¡°N¡­Nothing, ma¡¯am.¡± Pierce, ever the coward, stammered out and scurried away, but not before giving him a final glare and muttering about how ¡®he¡¯s going to pay for this¡¯. Even they knew not to mess with an angry Selene. ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± ¡°You are always welcome, Callie.¡± She gave him a serene smile. Those boys would have been so much more of a headache had he not been born to the best mother ever. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Akeno''s sleepy voice sounded from the ground. ¡°Nothing, Akeno-chan.¡± His mother ruffled the little gremlin¡¯s silky black locks, much to her dismay. She gave a little pout to illustrate her frustration. She is too adorable. Her mother, Shuri, joined them a moment later. He was always curious about the mother-and-daughter duo. A human with a half-fallen child? But he knew such questions were significantly out of line, not to mention rude. Their trip to their respective homes was uneventful, and like the calm before the storm, it was a sign of things to come. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

This was supposed to be just another trip to the market stalls just down the road. He was tasked with getting a couple of kilos of meat, carrots, and green peppers. He must have made this trip hundreds of times before, and the fact that his helicopter of a mom allowed him to do it was a testament to the safety of their little town. We were having dinner with the Himejima¡¯s today, so I was expected to return to their house instead of ours. Little Akeno is probably running around like a possessed demon by now. I took a familiar shortcut through a dingy alleyway, and suddenly, I was struck by a sharp pain in the back of my head. ----------- ¡°Wake up, you little shit.¡± A somewhat familiar voice arose me from unconsciousness. I opened my eyes, but my vision was swimming. Everything was blurry and somehow double. ¡°He is out of it.¡± Another voice sounded. A splash of freezing water drenched me. I was definitely awake now. I tried to move and realised that my hands and feet were bound and my mouth gagged. I craned my neck to get a better look at where I was. The scent of old wood and cinnamon was my first clue about where I was. The crackle of the nearby fireplace all but confirmed it. This was the living room of the Himejima¡¯s. Shuri and Akeno were also bound and positioned just a few feet from me. The former had a pained look and was openly bleeding from an injury to the head, while little Akeno was sobbing. Pierce and his gang were making themselves comfortable on the sofa and chairs. I tried to voice my frustration, but unintelligible sounds came out.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Not so tough now, are you?¡± Pierce gleefully declared. Coward. ¡°Oi Pierce, check out the rack on that human.¡± One of the goons pointed towards Shuri¡¯s chest with a perverted look. These were children, for fuck¡¯s sake, and Akeno is right there. As the sick fucks approached Shuri, who looked more terrified by the second, I discreetly cast a spell to cut my bindings. ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t.¡± A voice sounded behind me, and a strike rattled my skull, interrupting my spell. Pierce got up from his seat and roughly grabbed me by the hair. ¡°This is what you get for associating with the chickens, little ¡®Callie¡¯. Now watch.¡± He forced me to look at the scene. His two goons'' hands were millimetres away from Shuri. She was the sweetest woman around town and always treated me like family. She was my aunt in all but name. This was the first time the fact that I was not in my world was really hammered into place. This is the underworld, and these are Devils. I noticed a faint glow coming from underneath her dress. Not a second later, the crack of thunder shakes the house to its foundation. The two boys who were closest to Shuri are thrown back violently. A tall, dark, handsome man appears before Shuri and surveys his surroundings. Twelve prominent black wings reflect the orange hue of the fire. When he sees his wife''s state, the blood dripping to the floor, and her dress pulled down her shoulders, his expression turns apoplectic. He knelt beside them, and a magic circle appeared. The bindings were cut loose, and Shuri¡¯s wounds healed at a rate visible to the naked eye. ¡°Now, Sleep, my love.¡± With those words, both mother and child went into a blissful slumber. He looked back at the now frozen and terrified boys, cracks of golden lightning emanating from his very presence. He did not speak. He did not waste time. One moment, a quartet of boys occupied his living room; the next, massive lightning bolts atomised their existence. A strong smell of ozone and ashes wafted around the house, and that was the only proof that either of them was even there. He turned towards me. And I just realised that my pants were wet. ¡°You are the Ipos boy, no?¡± His deep voice was buttery smooth, even clouded by such rage. I didn¡¯t know who Ipos was, but I almost cracked my neck by how fast I nodded nonetheless. ¡°I will take you to your mother.¡± That was the last thing I heard before I passed out. ------------ I remember being gingerly put in bed. My mother looked sad, and I definitely remember her words as I fell into a slumber. ¡°Actions have consequences Callen¡­¡­ Even with the best intentions.¡± I woke up on my bed the following day, and I noticed that I had a silver necklace that was not there before. I went to my mom, and she just said that I fell yesterday, and the necklace was a gift from her, and I should always wear it. I went around town, looking for proof that what I witnessed was real. No one remembers Pierce and his gang, not even their parents. Maybe it was a bad dream, after all? Chapter 13

Chapter 13

¡®Actions have consequences, Callen¡¯. Don¡¯t they ever? The echoes of my hurried footsteps made the whole trip to the entrance feel like I was trapped in another world, devoid of life, by my own doing. Ignoring the splattered remains of the psychopathic researchers took little effort, and in no time at all, I found myself facing a massive blast door identical to the ¡®Armoury¡¯ door. A few chops of my blade, a hesitant use of Arcane Singularity on the tiniest possible scale later, and a massive stairwell that leads upwards is revealed. I waste no time climbing my way upwards, towards freedom. I have not seen the sunset or sunrise in over two years. I have not heard the birds sing. I have not smelled the fresh breeze of a crisp spring morning. I have not spent my very early morning trimming the weeds on our farm or tending to Mother¡¯s beloved flowers, nor will I ever.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The dark, empty tunnel stretches on forever. The rough stone walls provide no comfort. My steps get faster with each flight of stairs, and the tiny dot of the entrance grows larger and larger with each second. As I reach the top of the stairway, I find myself face to face with a nondescript wall of rough stone. I summon my blade and take a stance. The sword feels impossibly heavy. I have torn through literal psychotic Devils to get to this point. I spent years as a useless guinea pig, to be poked and prodded at the behest of these fuckers. They liked their pigs to squeal, ¡®shows the fruit of their labour¡¯, Frank happily shared with me, one hundred and sixty-two days ago. I inhale. Bring the sword to an angle of forty-five degrees above my head and swing. The blade passes through as if nothing is there, and I almost trip over in my overextension. Looking around confirms that there is still no one around, bringing little relief. My Ancestors must be rolling in their graves. I unsummon the blade and unceremoniously step forward. The first thing I notice is the light. The sky is dyed in a dark violet hue, with the colours getting brighter as it approaches the horizon. My perch provides a panoramic view of the massive forest that extends in all directions. The shadows of birds could be seen above the treetops, no doubt enjoying the last vestiges of the waning day. A gentle breeze caresses my shoulder-length hair, and the smell of pinewood could be picked up even from this far up. I close my eyes and savour the sensation. This is freedom. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I spot a gap that cuts through the forest roughly twelve kilometres due west. I take one final look at the facility''s disguised entrance; it blends into the surrounding rockface without indicating its existence. I unfurl my wings, and two small, leathery appendages sprout from my lower back. They feel almost foreign after so long, but the ability to control them is instinctual to every Devil. They were more magical than physical. The Anatomy of A Devil was one of the most fascinating books I have ever enjoyed reading. I took to the skies in an effortless flap of my wings and immediately divebomb towards the treeline. The distance is closed in less than a second. Oh, how I love being a Devil. The trees pass by in a blur, yet small details like a colony of ants that took refuge inside a hollow trunk do not escape my eyes. It took me no time to reach the small stream I spotted earlier, and I quickly changed direction to go downstream. I hope I am not too far from civilisation. The Underworld is about the size of the human world but twice the landmass. I keep myself inside the treeline and run parallel to the stream. I do not know how long I flew, my tired and battered body not protesting the harsh treatment. This is do or die. If He shows up, I am dead, no ifs, buts, or maybes. By this point, the sun had long dipped below the horizon, but my perfect night vision was more than enough to navigate the dense forest. The stream eventually joined a river, and my hopes for a settlement were reignited. I did not dare fly too far from the bank, as monstrosities often roam unpopulated parts of the Underworld. I have travelled a couple of hundred kilometres by now and have spotted the telltale lights of Devil life just a few dozen kilometres down the river. I stop by the riverbank, remove my tattered clothes, and dip into the water.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The water was freezing, and the riverbed was a rough, sharp stone that dug into my feet. It was the best bath I had ever had. I eventually forced myself out of the water, put my old clothes into my inventory, and donned the only set that didn¡¯t look like it had crawled out of a super-secret Devil experimentation facility. I fly the rest of the distance to what now appears to be a small town and land just a few hundred meters away from the gates. I quickly glance at the artificial moon hanging overhead. It looks like we are still just past midnight. Safe. Putting on my best innocent kid look, I approach the guards. ¡°Who goes there?¡± The only guard awake asks in a bored tone. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, sir; I was camping out with friends and got lost. Would you mind pointing out the way to the closest city?¡± ¡°Are you serious? Who in their right mind would camp out in these woods? The night holds dangerous beasts, boy.¡± The guard was mildly surprised yet maintained his bored tone. As a fellow country bumpkin, I could empathise with the amount of stupidity these guys have to deal with. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir; I had a little too much to drink, and my friends left without me.¡± He sighed, evidently unimpressed with my apparent stupidity. ¡®Kids these days. Well, the Belial city is about a hundred kilometres to the North of here, and you can take the train or teleport from there to wherever you need to go.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°Whatever, if you get killed, it ain¡¯t my fault. Now piss off.¡± The damn cretins did not bother to hide their base too far from a major city. Are the Belials in bed with the Nebiros? I cast one last glance at the guards and use my newest skill [Observe]. Town Guard Level: 25 Threat: Lethal Even a tiny town guard can relieve me of my life, huh? I quickly scurried off into the night and settled on a tree not too far from the town, too tired to continue. The rough bark provided little comfort, but it was nightmares that were responsible for my restless sleep. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

I woke up in a cold sweat. Looking around, I noticed that dawn was only a couple of hours away, so I decided to check my system as I caught my breath. [Status] [Character Status] The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The quest log has a blinking button labelled ¡®claim reward¡¯. I must have missed that in all the action. I mentally press it, and golden text appears at the centre of my vision. ¡®Congratulations on surviving your first quest. We knew you were not entirely useless! House Ipos may yet have a worthy descendant.¡¯ Confetti and fireworks accompany that message, along with a fresh headache. What on earth is wrong with this thing? Even my system, my legacy, is mocking me. ¡®Don¡¯t worry about it, bub. We all start from somewhere. Even if that is at the level of a somewhat talented toddler.¡¯ ¡®Is this thing¡­. sentient? I demand a refund.¡¯ ¡®Ahem ¨C House Ipos bylaws, section three, part seven a, All purchases are final, and we take no returns or provide refunds.¡¯ Go fuck yourself, whomever you are. ¡®As I was saying before being rudely interrupted by an uppity great-great¡­grandson, you have now unlocked the full functionality of your Legacy. You can claim your ancestors'' skills, items, and even artefacts after demonstrating your skills and proving your worth. We will let you know when these requirements are met. Now, here is a freebie on me.¡¯ [Legacy point gained!] Ignoring my snarky system, I focus on that alert, which brings up an explanation and a new screen. ¡®Legacy points can be used to claim rewards from the Legacy Tree. The first reward for all House Ipos members is the Sword Style of the Great Founder. His generosity knows no bounds, which is why House Ipos maintained its position among the 72 pillars.¡¯ This is more self-congratulatory than a child praising themselves for their unmatched genius after stuffing some blocks down an appropriately shaped hole. At least it¡¯s useful. ¡®Oi, do you want this Legacy or not?! I could always shut the system down.¡¯ Oh mighty Ipos, forgive the transgressions of this ignorant one. Your endless generosity humbles us. ¡®That¡¯s more like it, here you go.¡¯ A trio of golden grand oaks appeared before me. Their depiction is almost lifelike, from the flowing roots to each leaf on their numerous branches. The one in the centre had a single glowing root, labelled ¡®House Ipos Swordsmanship,¡¯ with an accompanying point on the trunk labelled ¡®Sword of Ipos.¡¯ This tree was titled ¡®Path of the Warrior.¡¯ The other two trees were named ¡®Path of the Mage¡¯ and ¡®Path of the Craftsman¡¯, respectively. The roots on each tree were clearly labelled, while further choices were obscured. Despite the less-than-helpful labels, I somehow have an innate understanding of each option available. Although I had many roads open, considering my current situation, only three options are immediately beneficial. Path of the Mage ¨C ¡®Elemental magic for dummies.¡¯ A basic magical manual that will teach me attacks that won¡¯t destroy a mountain when used. Not yet, at least. Path of the Mage ¨C ¡®Gravity? Newton was wrong.¡¯ An instruction manual for gravity magic. Even I, out in the boonies, knew how absurdly rare and powerful that branch of magic is, not to mention the possible synergies with Arcane Singularity. Path of the Craftsman ¨C ¡®Alchemy for dull children.¡¯ An instruction manual for Alchemy; wars were fought for less¡ªa source of income and possibly life-saving potions. Can I afford the attention from that, though? Hmmm, I had a few ideas about where I want to go from here. Say what you wish about growing up poor, but it gives you some perspective. I chose and pulled out an MRE ration from my inventory. Jumping out from the tree, I quickly took flight towards Belial City. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The flight to Belial City was uneventful. This is unsurprising, as the Belials are among the foremost Devil houses in terms of reputation. Their rise inspires nearly all young Devils, including me, at some point. They were devastated by incompetent heads who spent wantonly and never cared for future generations. By the time of the current head, everything not bolted down in their estate was sold or pawned off. The house lady had to sell her jewellery to finance their son¡¯s education. And boy, did it pay off. The Emperor, Diehauser Belial, was quite possibly the most famous name in the underworld, bar, the Satans. Through sheer will, hard work and determination, he rose to the top of the rating games and brought glory, fame and wealth to the Belial name. Their territory was still poorer than some of the other houses, but no one of their subjects complained about the Emperor or his family; they were one of the rare cases of Nobles who worked for the betterment of their people. I admired the beautifully planned city from above and landed in one of the designated areas outside of the gates. There was a large queue at the entrance, and I took my place quietly. The city was made entirely of white marble, with grand columns, wide roads, and verandas lining them. Trees and greenery dotted the empty spaces between roads and buildings, and gold embellishments crowned the tops of important areas. This is surprisingly austere for the capital of a Pillar House. Overall, the City of Belial is a site to behold. The line moved quickly, and I soon found myself in front of the customs booth, where another bored guard sat. ¡°Name?¡± ¡°¡­Tsukuyomi¡± ¡°Purpose of visit?¡± ¡°Tourism¡± As the bored guard continued his security checks, I discreetly cast [Observe]. Belial House Guard Level: 62 Threat: Lethal ¡°Any items to declare?¡± ¡°Any items to declare?¡± ¡°None, sir.¡± ¡°Put your arm forward.¡± I did as instructed, and the guard stamped down on my arm. The crest of the Belials shone for a couple of seconds and then faded away. ¡°Welcome to Belial City. Stay out of trouble; we¡¯ill know if you don¡¯t.¡± He gave me a half-hearted attempt at a glare and motioned me inwards.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I knew I was weak, but seeing it quantified like that hammered the point in. A nobody like that could kill me as a child would squash an ant. As I stepped through the threshold, I felt a tingling of magic examine my body, which went away quickly. I assume that their scanners detected nothing suspicious when no alarms blared. As I stepped into the city completely, I could not help but admire the contradiction in technology that is Devil society. We have access to technology far superior to any human nation, yet we still stubbornly stick to some conventions. The Devil Net, smartphones, and magical development are available to most average commoners, yet Nobles traipse around cities in ostentatious carriages that fly. Any Devil could outrun or fly an average automobile, hence the lack of cars. However, flight is banned within cities unless you have the proper licences. Cities and estates typically match the tastes of whoever is responsible for them. That is how you get something like a Japanese-style mansion in a Greek-themed city next to a European-style road. The Belials were at least consistent with the theme. I did regular touristy things, like window shopping around the market and visiting the local sights; including a massive statue of the Emperor at the city centre. From what I know, he must hate that, heh. After a few hours, no one seemed to be following me, so I trekked back to the central district and looked for the local library. Some things really never change. After getting some directions from a local, I made my way to the atheneum. The library stood higher than almost every building in the district, bar the Belials'' seat. At least they have their priorities right. It was made of the same white marble, with golden embellishments depicting some history of one Belial or the other. As I entered the building, I noticed a stark change in temperature and humidity. The air felt crisp and dry. Possible devious ties to secret experiments aside, I like these guys. The smell of books hit me before I could see the library; old paper and a pleasant hint of lemon-scented cleaning fluid. The library was one massive room split into multiple mezzanine floors. Each floor housed massive mahogany bookshelves filled to the brim with books. The central plaza was divided into two sections: one that housed the admin required to run the library and another where people could sit down and read or browse the net on Library computers. A massive skeleton of a dragon hung overhead, and two spiral staircases led to the upper floors. I approached the receptionist''s desk and made myself known to the busy lady behind the computer. ¡°One second.¡± I tried not to stare at the woman. As most Devils are, she was supernaturally gorgeous, she looked to be in her early twenties with curly blonde locks styled into a bun, skin clear of blemishes, and a pair of glasses that gave her a sense of authority. She wore a conservative turtle neck and jeans that highlighted her athletic figure. Damn, these hormones. It was less fun going through this again, and having Frank & co for company for the last two years was no help either. ¡°Ahem¡­ What can I help you with?¡± A melodious voice brought me back to reality. Fucking hormones. ¡°I need to use the computers, please.¡± ¡°No problem. Everyone is welcome to use them for free. To keep it fair, each person gets a two-hour slot per day. Here.¡± She handed me a tag. ¡°Insert this into the keyboard; it will let you know when you need to leave. You can also borrow books directly from there. Magical tomes are restricted to registered residents and employees of the city. Please return the tag to me when you are done. Is there anything else I can help you with?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all, thank you.¡± ¡°I hope you enjoy your time here.¡± With that, she went back to whatever she was doing on the computer, and I made my way to where the public ones were. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

I wasted no time and quickly logged into the Devil Net to check the news from the past two years; I have a lot to catch up on. The first thing I looked up was the incident in my hometown, on the outskirts of Auros. Multiple sites have reported on the issue, but none go into any detail, and most were just wild speculation. There were all sorts of theories, from a wild monster rampage to quacky theories about a secret attack by the Old Satan Faction. Maybe I should look into conspiracies? Nothing here is helpful, so I move on to other news and happenings. Tensions persist with other Biblical factions¡­ There was a diplomatic incident with the Yokai in Japan when Devils decided to massacre an entire race because of one stray Reincarnated Devil¡­..The Satan, Serafall Levithan, responsible for foreign affairs, still runs a magical girl children¡¯s show¡­ Wait, what? Not even going to question it. It''s the same old with the Devils and the Underworld. Hardly surprising, The Great War wrecked every faction, and when you tend to live up to 10,000 years, it is that much harder to change. ¡®Hmmm, I have many paths open to me. Fighting is a no-go, despite my need to get stronger. That will land me in another lab, or worse, He shows up. A regular job? Blend in with common Devils and train on the side? Hey, system, I know you are listening. What do you suggest?¡¯ A few seconds pass by silently, and I almost feel ridiculous for asking a question to my own thoughts, but a gruff, disgustingly cheerful voice barges into my thoughts. ¡®Oh me, oh my, the dunderhead can actually ask his wise Ancestor for help, and in my infinite generosity, I will even reward you.¡¯ [+1 Wisdom for demonstrating that you have a third brain cell!] ¡®I already regret this.¡¯ It beggars belief that I managed to resist facepalming at this moment. ¡®Well, boy. If you are done with your little emo woe-is-me act, I do have several recommendations.¡¯ ¡®How do you even know what an emo is? You know what, forget I asked. I can¡¯t just keep calling you system. What are you anyway?¡¯ ¡®I possess the discernment, insight, cognition and knowledge of every member of House Ipos who has ever lived.¡¯ ¡®Wow, that sounds broken.¡¯ ¡®¡­Or DICK for short.¡¯ ¡®I take back what I said.¡¯ ¡®Why do you think those treacherous cretins wiped us out?¡¯ ¡®Wait, you said every member. Does that include¡­mom?¡¯ ¡®Yes, Callen. It does. She loved you more than anything. Until the last breath.¡¯Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡®I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say.¡¯ I swallowed back the oncoming tide of tears. The vivid image of her end played again and again in my thoughts and will do so for as long as I breathe. ¡®You don¡¯t say. You act. We go on, forged by tragedy, yet accompanied by the memories and Legacy of those we lost, to a brighter tomorrow.¡¯ ¡®You almost had me there. I can¡¯t believe this is the same guy who was making childish jokes just a moment ago.¡¯ ¡®Who am I kidding? Each house member gets a member to harden them on their terrible journey.¡¯ ¡®I feel sick. That was terrible. Can we please get back to you helping me?¡¯ ¡®I will have you know I was crowned champion of Lucifer''s Punderworld Championship. Twice. I-¡® ¡®Get to the point.¡¯ ¡®Alright, sheesh. These days, the youth have no respect for their elders. Your Legacy is, as I said, everything your forebears have accomplished, from skills, artefacts, and even memories, including the freebie sword style from old Ipos. Each descendant manifests the ability differently, in a manner that suits them the most. Some get books, others get dreams, and one even got a shopping list ¨C Crazy lad, that one ¨C You got a gaming system, nerd.¡¯ ¡®So, you¡¯re saying I got a gaming system since I like games?¡¯ ¡®In essence, yes.¡¯ ¡®How do I unlock these powers?¡¯ ¡®Quick on the uptake, I am starting to like you.¡¯ That sent shivers down my spine; creepy old men should not be saying that cheerfully. ¡®Oi, you know I can read your thoughts?¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t care.¡¯ ¡®Anyways, we don¡¯t like weaklings in House Ipos ¨C yes, including you ¨C so to get more powers; you need Legacy points earned by completing certain feats of strength and accomplishment.¡¯ ¡®Not even going to elaborate on that?¡¯ ¡®Nope.¡¯ He had the gall to pop the ¡®p¡¯. ¡®Our house sounds hardcore, why are you such a sassy, creepy old man?¡¯ ¡®That also is caused by your preference.¡¯ ¡®I am not even going to touch that with a hundred-foot pole.¡¯ ¡®I suggest seeing a mind healer.¡¯ ¡­ ¡®Moving swiftly on, what do you suggest I do?¡¯ ¡®Head to the capital. A big crowd to blend into and plenty of work for good-for-nothing youngsters.¡¯ ¡®I hate that you are right.¡¯ ¡®I am always right.¡¯ ¡®What about getting there? ¡°Dunderhead¡±.¡¯ ¡®You just unlocked a new power, idiot.¡¯ ¡®How could I possibly use that to get into a train or teleport?¡¯ ¡®See for yourself, knowing thy enemy is half the battle, or whatever that human said.¡¯ I now became consciously aware of how much time I have spent staring at apparently nothing but empty air and arguing with a creepy old man in my head, ¡®Can still hear you.¡¯ Shut it. I picked up my tag, quickly dropped it off with the cute receptionist, and asked her for directions to the train station. There is no time like the present. I quickly head out into the waning day. The violet rays of sunshine reflecting on the city''s sheer white marble give it a completely different atmosphere. Children play freely in the plaza, and harried-looking parents tend to them. I quickly head east to the transport district. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

¡°This train is departing towards Lilith. It is a nonstop journey. Please mind the gap when exiting and entering the trains. The first class is¡­¡­.¡± I listened to the automated announcement as I sat beside the departing train on a bench on the platform. Even the station was made out of white marble. If there is something such as going overboard, it sure isn¡¯t in the Devil dictionary. There were no paper or digital tickets to scan. Buy one at the machine, and it will automatically register you as a passenger. People got on and off seamlessly, and no one went in without a ticket. The lack of obvious security measures is no indication of there not being any. ¡®Smart boy.¡¯ ¡®Be quiet.¡¯ If I were to design a spell to scan passengers on a train, how would I trigger it? ¡®Eureka!¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s weight, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ ¡®Ding, ding, ding! The award for the bluntest tool in the cupboard goes toooo Caaaalllen!¡¯ He even did the announcer''s voice, complete with a chime. How do you even do that? ¡®Dick, or Richard or Richie, whatever your name is. You thinking what I am thinking?¡¯ ¡®By jolly, my good boy, you are not thinking of committing a crime by way of gravitational magic, are you? You don¡¯t happen to have an instruction manual provided by your awesome Ancestor, do you?¡¯ ¡®For Satan¡¯s sake, I can¡¯t believe I am telling this to a millennia-old consciousness in my brain, would you please grow the fuck up?¡¯ ¡®With age and wisdom comes the knowledge that life sucks, and we all need some fun once in a while. Now, I saw you eying up that lass at the library; why don¡¯t you let gramps teach you the secrets of the trade?¡¯ ¡®I would rather be bathed in acid. Thank you very much.¡¯ Ignoring the ramblings of the old fool and the no doubt perverted giggles I keep hearing. I set my course to the forest on the outskirts of Belial City. ¡­¡­¡­. After triple-checking my surroundings, sensing for any other magical signatures, and using my mini-map to make sure I am alone, I open my inventory tab. The information was updated with my knowledge of the blade, which is useful. I gather that the average adult Devil is around levels 15-20. Although I had a bloodline advantage, I could not afford mistakes, so I hope this works. I take out the tome with a thought. A massive book appears in the air before me and stays there. The cover is made from dark leather with a purplish hue. The title of the book is embossed in gold on the front. Cheeky git. ¡®And you wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡¯ I gingerly held out a hand and touched it. The book opened on its own accord, flipping the pages rapidly. It shined with a golden glow, and purple lighting sparks around the clearing. I frantically tried to do something, anything, to make the light stop, and a bolt of lightning was my reward.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡­¡­. I stand on my side of the training room; my opponent, handpicked by my grandfather, staring at me dispassionately. I take my time, studying the carvings on the massive underground chamber. Scenes of House Ipos at its apex were depicted in lifelike quality. As usual with Noble Devils, a Pillar House at that, most of these carvings are greatly embellished. Did Master Ipos fight a Seraph in the Great War? Yes. He lost his life to kill it. The depiction of this battle completely contradicts reality; Ipos is shown standing triumphantly over a twelve-winged figure, his decapitated head held by Ipos in a grotesque display of victory. ¡°Valerie?¡± The disapproving voice of my grandfather interrupts my daydreams. He was old, with a balding hairline and grey beard. He will officiate this bout. I nodded. He gave the signal. I was next to my opponent before my grandfather¡¯s hand moved from its position¡ªpurple magic circles with the sigil of house Ipos aflame on my fists. My opponent quirked an eyebrow in response. He will regret that. The spell activated before he could muster a guard. A gravitational pull manifested at the epicentre of my fists, and he was pulled towards me. I targeted the ribs, and a sickening crack broke the silence in the room. He was propelled across the room and smashed into the far wall. Hard. I didn¡¯t let up, and a trio of spells formed, two at my feet and one at his location. Two gravitational forces were created in an instant. A negative field that counteracts the natural pull of the Underworld and a second that accelerated my mass towards my enemy. I broke the sound barrier. The fast-approaching silhouette of my opponent in the dust indicated that he had just gotten up. Not for long. At the final stretch, I twisted my body in a roundhouse kick aimed for the head. My foot met his jaw and unplugged his head and spine from his body. I felt a painful grip on my other ankle and was pulled towards the now headless body, and he struck me using his knee square in the kidney. The shower of gore from my earlier stunt rained down, and flames started appearing where his head used to be. A pain I could not describe radiated from my abdomen and prevented any retaliation. He did not let up, and the hand still on my ankle threw me towards the roof. I broke the sound barrier again. As I sailed through the cavern, I pondered through a clarity only pain can bring. ¡®Why did you do this, sister? Why didn¡¯t you take me with you?¡¯ A golden glint pulled me back to the present, and my opponent''s pristine, grinning face and blond locks greeted me in midair. I tried to cast a few spells, but he was faster. He grabbed me by the same ankle and twisted. I stifled a scream. He would enjoy it. Not having had his fill, he put as much force on his grip, let go and punched me in the kidney again. I welcomed the ground. Cracks crisscrossed the arena, and it had a Valerie-shaped hole in the middle. I tried to get up, but it was no use. Blood rushed to my mouth, and I tried my best not to choke on it. I could not help the tears. I heard footsteps. ¡°Pathetic¡± My grandfather scoffed. The only indication of his departure was the echo of his footsteps. ¡°Need a hand?¡± The smug voice of Riven sounded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yes, what?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± Asshole. He came to the edge of my body and carefully extracted a small, gilded vial from his pocket. He opened it and tilted it until a single droplet came out. The effect was immediate; my ankle was healed, and my internal injuries dissipated. ¡®Damn Phenexs.¡¯ I slapped away the offered hand and made my way to the exit. ¡®When will I be worthy of the Ipos name? Is inventing a new branch of magic not enough?¡¯ ¡­.. I awoke with a start, my mind filled with memories¡ªValerie¡¯s. I studied magic under my mother, who I was sure was a prodigy among prodigies, and I can safely say Valerie was at least at that level. Her grandfather, and mine, I guess, is a massive Asshole. Looking around the clearing, the moon was well on its way across the sky, and mercifully, I was alone. ¡®Why didn¡¯t you tell me about what will happen?¡± ¡®Cause it¡¯s funny.¡¯ ¡®I want to say I am disappointed, but that would give you too much credit.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a rite of passage, kid. No one is told.¡¯ ¡®That doesn¡¯t make it any better.¡¯ I lay down next to the trunk of the nearest tree and take out an MRE from my inventory. My mind was awash with possibilities from my new knowledge, so many ways to incorporate Valerie¡¯s magic into my arsenal and, most pressingly, commit a minor crime. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

I awoke at first light and returned to the gates of Belial City. There were already multiple long lines at the security checkpoint. I took my place, and the time passed by quickly, my mind buzzing with ideas about gravitational magic. This is huge. That I can tell. Especially combined with my other Legacy, Arcane Singularity. I will not dishonour Valerie''s memory by half-assing this. There is an infinite amount of possibilities. Gravity-assisted physical training, inverting opponents'' gravity, increasing my blade''s weight. It is endless. Grandpa was an idiot to dismiss such a gold mine. ¡®To be fair to him, Nobles emphasise their house¡¯s ability, and Valerie was far from mastering ours.¡¯ That is the most idiotic rhetoric I have heard. We can imagine away the laws of physics. Is our ability broken? Yes, but that doesn¡¯t mean all others are worthless. ¡®He was a man of his time. That is all I will say.¡¯ I completed the security check and made my way to the transport district. Only a few train lines were operating from Belial City; teleportation made it all but obsolete, except for the poor. I went back to yesterday¡¯s bench and sat down. I took a deep breath. My hands were shaking. ¡®What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ ¡®I...I haven¡¯t cast any spells. Since that day.¡¯ ¡®Yes, you did. [Observe] and [Inventory] are magic dunderhead.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s not the same! And you know it.¡¯If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡®I know Callen.¡¯ I sat there in silence, replaying memories of my first lessons in the arcane arts. My mother was a strict yet fair teacher. She always celebrated my accomplishments, bragging about her genius son to everyone who cared to listen, including those who didn¡¯t. I will cherish those moments for as long as I breathe. ¡®Listen, kid. Your mother is proud of you. Your experiences will humble even the most powerful of our kind. I¡¯ve seen Devil¡¯s millennia-old who went through far less and gave up. Don¡¯t you dare quit at the first hurdle.¡¯ I swallowed at those words. The years spent at the facility were best forgotten. ¡®T¡­ Thanks, Richard.¡¯ ¡®You ¡®re welcome. Still a useless grandson, though.¡¯ ¡®I will let it go, just this once.¡¯ I gathered my resolve and walked towards the train waiting on the platform. Devil magic is potent, yet it has a fundamental weakness. We need a magical circle to direct the flow of mana. That is an obvious giveaway for any enemy or security guarding against stowaways. So, how do we negate that? You can¡¯t cast without a circle, but you can make it smaller. It requires tremendous control, years of dedicated training, and a sharp mind. Even the tiniest wavering in your control will lead to a loss of power, a point-blank explosion, and a few limbs. So, most don¡¯t bother, as bulldozing through obstacles is much easier. No one has accused our kind of being subtle. Here is where my mother''s genius shines: What if you place the circle inside a closed fist? You can cast magic without anyone''s knowledge and surprise your enemies when they least expect it. As I walked towards the train, acting like all the other passengers, two tiny magical circles manifested inside my fists. A second later, I almost fell flat on my face. Walking with a mass of less than a kilo is hard. Who would¡¯ve thought? I tried to mimic Valerie; she weighed a fraction of a gram at any moment. I should have practised first. ¡®Don¡¯t mind me; I¡¯m just enjoying yet another one of my descendant¡¯s idiocies.¡¯ The sound of crunching followed. ¡®Are¡­Are you eating popcorn?!¡¯ ¡®What of it?¡¯ ¡®You are an amorphous set of memories in my head!¡¯ ¡®Your point being?¡¯ As I mustered a response to Richard''s sheer gall, I noticed I was already inside the train, holding a rail. ¡®You care, don¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡®Took you this long to figure it out? I am insulted. You are the last of our line, and no matter how much I hope you grow your fourth brain cell, you are the only hope for the return of House Ipos.¡¯ As I stood quietly, pondering the ridiculousness of my life, my responsibility to our house, and my plans to gain power and bring those who wronged our family to justice, the train started moving towards the capital, Lilith. I was not disturbed. Chapter 20 Part 4

Chapter 20

I stepped out of the train into Lilith Central¡¯s massive atrium. The entire station is one open area with dozens of train platforms. As expected of the capital of the Devil race, the station was highly ostentatious. The whole building is made of a magical crystal, glowing runic arrays visible to the naked eye. Even the lighting was magical. We had electricity, for Satan¡¯s sake. I looked toward the ceiling, which was one giant transparent crystal dome. The metal highlights of the building were made of what looked like solid gold¡ªenchanted, of course. Trying not to look like a gawking country bumpkin was more challenging than I thought. It is one thing to see the Satans and their wealth through a TV screen and another in person. ¡®This is nothing compared to the Ipos Estate.¡¯ Oh, shut up. I¡¯m sure your house was bigger. You massive manbaby. ¡®Tche.¡¯ I meandered towards the exit, marvelling at each new curiosity. From magical cleaning robots to holographic displays that showed the state news station, this was something out of every mage¡¯s dreams. I¡¯ve read that the Beelzebub, the Satan responsible for R&D, had an entire floating city as his capital. Oh, how I wish I could visit. As I stepped out of the gates with massive golden statues depicting some prominent Devil or the other, my breath was taken away at the site I beheld. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A gargantuan plaza extended as far as the eye could see, complete with market stalls, town squares, street vendors, lush greenery and blooming flowers. And more people than I have seen in my lifetime. The Devil population plunged after the Great War and has yet to recover. So, seeing tens of thousands in one place only happened here. I am particularly fascinated by the Devil race and culture. It is mind-boggling that a group with such disparate values, beliefs, and traditions could have cohesion. Imagine trying to unite warring humans under one banner¡ªIt¡¯s difficult, right? Now imagine every human could destroy a small town when angered or mildly inconvenienced. It is a miracle that anything gets done in the Underworld. I am conscious of time, so I made a small promise to myself to explore every nook and cranny of the capital later. I consulted a nearby map to find the public library only a few kilometres from my location. I decided to take the shortest route, which would take me through a series of back alleys and minor roads. This is still the seat of Lucifer, after all, and she was known for many things, but being lenient on crime was not one of them. The buildings along the way had fantastical and varied designs: a medieval weapon store, an apothecary shaped like a giant vial, and an oriental restaurant that floated on a lily pad. I didn¡¯t know where to look. Richard was also suspiciously quiet, which was a mercy but gave me a sense of unease that I could not shake off. As I rounded yet another tiny street corner, the hustle and bustle of the city died down and gave way to a quiet yet impeccably clean alley. My ears perked up when I sensed a person following me. I tried to act normal and made a few random turns to see if they were stalking me or just taking the same route. They were still behind, close enough to be heard but not seen. I rounded a corner, summoned my blade and hid behind a crate. Click¡­Click¡­.Click¡­.Click ¡­ The steady sound of footsteps seemed unfazed by the lack of my own. As my mysterious stalker entered the small street, I sprang forth, blade in hand. There was no one to meet it. I made a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree pivot, and the only thing that I could make out was a shock of silver hair, and I knew no more. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

A slight tapping on my head brought me back from la la land. A painful headache reared its ugly head. I tried to roll over and found no response from my body. I opened my eyes. Oh¡­ Satan. That is painful¡ªtoo much light. As everything returned to focus, I realised that my hands and feet were bound to the chair on which I was propped up. I remembered the silver hair, and my heart almost exploded in panic, and I scanned the surroundings for any sign of Him. A few feet across the bare room, a simple table and a throne-like chair were the only other pieces of furniture in the spartan interior. On the throne sat the source of my panic, a woman, not Him. I tried to take calming breaths, inh- ¡®You are still detained dunderhead.¡¯ Never mind, then. I gazed upon my captor, and it was now apparent that hers was a different shade of silver than Rizevim. She appeared young, with carefully stylised locks, deep ruby eyes, and a look that would humble even the most fierce men. As a Devil, she was drop-dead gorgeous, but the maid outfit was a dead giveaway to her identity. Lucifer¡¯s wife kidnapped me¡ªthe Lucifer, as in the Satan, who rules the Underworld: Grayfia Lucifuge, the Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation. ¡®I¡¯m fucked, aren¡¯t I?¡¯ Her sharp gaze remained impassive, and she seemed in no hurry to start whatever she was about to do. ¡®Do Devils go to Heaven?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s where the overgrown chickens and their Father are, idiot.¡¯ As I was sweating buckets, Grayfia got up and stalked towards me. Every step was like the deafening gong of a clock announcing my final hour. She was so close now that I could smell the fresh citrus and jasmine perfume she was wearing. This made me self-conscious about my hygiene, or lack thereof. She extended a slim hand, unmarred by the many battles she won, and grabbed me by the chin. Her face was so close now I could feel her breath. I did not dare to make a sound. She turned my head one way and the other and, seemingly satisfied, returned to her throne. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°You.¡± Her voice was calm and projected confidence only one at the top could have. ¡°Y¡­Yes? Your Majesty?¡± ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Tsukuyomi.¡± An arch of a delicate eyebrow was her response. Oh shit. ¡°The Tsukuyomi I know is in a shallow grave.¡± The ¡®I put him in¡¯ went unsaid. I chose this name because it was the name of the Japanese moon deity. I wanted to pay homage to my mother, and I regret that now. ¡°Callen, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Mind explaining why you possess an artefact of an extinct Pillar House? Ipos no less?¡± Several thoughts came and went rapidly. Can she detect the system? Was I being followed the entire time? Are the New Satans secretly working with the Old Satan faction? ¡®Give her the truth, kid. She is not someone you can lie to.¡¯ ¡®And then what? Get House Ipos extinct for real?¡¯ ¡®Trust me on this one.¡¯ There are two options here. Lie and die, or tell the truth and then die. Wonderful. ¡°My full name¡­ is Callen Byleth-Ipos.¡± ¡°A bold claim. Both went extinct in the Great War. One by my very hands.¡± Can this woman not be utterly terrifying for a single second? ¡°I can prove it! It is the truth!¡± The ropes keeping me in place dissipated at those words, and the feeling was restored to my limbs. ¡°Well? The stage is yours.¡± ¡°Right here? My Byleth Legacy is somewhat destructive.¡± I was proud of my Arcane Singularity, but saying those words to her, of all people, felt like a kitten showing their ¡®kill¡¯ to its mother, who happened to be a lion. That could sneeze away entire cities. ¡°You can cast whatever spells you need to.¡± She didn¡¯t even get up from her seat. I summoned my sword and fed my mana into the weapon for the first time since I received it. The illusion array was deactivated, and in place of my drab, typical longsword, the Sword of Ipos manifested in all its glory. A meticulously enchanted blade, with glowing runic arrays across its length and a bejewelled hilt, the end being one single ruby, with the golden oak of the house shining inside. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to prove my Ipos ancestry, but my mother entrusted me with this sword.¡± ¡°And Byleth?¡± I unsummoned the blade and hesitantly cast Arcane Singularity with the smallest mana I could physically put into it. The familiar wrongness materialised before me, and a loud bang followed. To my shock, a barrier that I did not know existed appeared in a perfect dome around my chair, and not even the air outside was disturbed. Grayfia did not react to this, and her expression conveyed even less. ¡°Your father was a Byleth?¡± ¡°No, he was just a common Devil.¡± ¡°How come you have their signature ability?¡± ¡°I¡­ My family was attacked. I was sent to a facility for experimentation. I have no clue how I gained the Byleth Legacy beyond that.¡± My words seemed to affect her finally, and if not for my state of hyperawareness, I doubt I would have noticed the slight softening of her eyes. ¡°Your mother?¡± ¡°She¡­ She didn¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡± Even though she sounded sincere, I did not dare hope that my ordeal would end. We sat in awkward silence. I was saying my final rites, and she was probably thinking about what to have for dinner. After what felt like hours, she got up and walked toward me. She seemed even more imposing than before. I stood at a respectable five feet ten inches, and she had at least six inches on me. Would I be sent to another facility? Sent back to Rizevim? Made a slave to the New Satans? Chapter 22

Chapter 22

My heart was well on its way out of my ribcage. My hands were clammy with sweat. She is just a few centimetres away now. I closed my eyes for the inevitable. And I was enveloped in a warm hug? I opened my eyes in disbelief, and yes, they indicated that the Queen of Annihilation¡ªLucifer''s wife¡ªwas hugging me. It went on for a few seconds, and I made no sound that might poke the bear, bearess? She still looked impassive, but the edges of her lips were tilted upwards in what could generously be interpreted as a smile. "I''m glad." "Err¡­ For what, your majesty?" Stupid fucking mouth can''t wait for the brain to think first. "That I found you, and none of that with me. Call me Grayfia." She did sound happy. Were the MREs laced with something? My incredulous face must have conveyed my sheer confusion, and she elucidated. "Your mother, who I guess never told you about me, was my teacher and saviour. You look just like her." It just dawned on me. She must have been looking for her.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "Oh, I knew she was impressive, but way to go, Mom." "And act like her, too." "I''m sorry." "No need to apologise; I am the one who should be sorry. I did take you without your consent, after all." The queen of the Underworld was apologising. To me. "Anyway, how¡­ how did you find me?" "I was looking for your mother and set up a detection ward for House Ipos artefacts. Everyone thought she was dead after the War. But I was sure she survived and was out there, somewhere." Her eyes looked to a faraway place that sounded like she missed. "My mom was in the War?" "Did she not tell you that part either?" "To me, she was just an average ordinary Devil housewife. Albeit very talented in the arcane arts." At that, she showed her first expression in our encounter¡ªgenuine shock. "Selene Ipos, a housewife?......Hahahahahah." She went up like a Christmas tree, laughing in a very unrefined, unladylike manner, complete with snorts. It took her a few minutes to calm down, and she was wiping her tears away. "I''m sorry, just the image of her in a frilly dress, serving dinner, a housewife, heh." "I gather she was not up to cooking-related activities in the past?" "She was one of the top generals of our army. Slew Seraphs. Hell, fought their father and walked away from it. She was no housewife, no." "Unholy shit." "Unholy shit indeed." We stood there for a few moments of comfortable silence. I am digesting and trying to comprehend what Grayfia said. And her thinking about Satan knows what. "So¡­. What now?" "Now I take you home." "Pardon?" "You heard me. We are going to meet my wife. She will want to see Selene''s child." Chapter 23 Chapter 23 In the heart of Lilith, the capital of the Devil¡¯s territory, stands a massive building with towering spires, glittering embellishments, and patrols of griffin riders under the direct supervision of Satan Lucifer herself. Atop the highest of these spires sits a lavishly decorated office. Ornate mahogany furniture, magical crystal walls with a commanding three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the capital, enchanted to zoom in and focus on her subjects at her leisure, not that she had the time for that these days. A massive stack of paperwork occupies the single desk in the room, with the scratching of a quill being the only sound in the otherwise quiet environment. Elysia Lucifer hated tradition. They had computers, with Beelzebub providing her with cutting-edge magi-tech not available to the market. Still, those old doddering fools of nobility would see it as a personal slight if she chose not to sign official paperwork with a quill. She forgoes the traditional ink, made from blood sacrifices of the faithful, small mercies, and all that. How her predecessor managed to get anything done, with all the murder and torture in between, she will never know.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She will never regret rising against the establishment. The Old Satans were driving them to extinction after all, but bashing heads in beats paperwork any day of the week, though. No one told her that the job of a Satan is that of a glorified babysitter for the bickering nobility. At least the Leviathan dealt with foreign dignitaries; they can¡¯t be this stupid, right? The report she was currently tackling was a prime example. The Forneus heir has applied for a duel to the death with the Shax brat over a snarky insult. After rejecting it in bright red ink, she moved on to the following report. The Uvalls have signed a petition with half a dozen other houses in the Old Satan Faction to bring back human sacrifice. She didn¡¯t even bother signing her denial. She gets a report like that at least once a week. You would think that having two wars, which cut down the Devil population to a few tens of thousands, would strike some sense into these idiots and make them a bit more cautious about making enemies, but no, far from it. If not for the implied threat of her and Beelzebub, the Devils would be just a fairy tale that humans told their children. She looked at the clock at her desk and realised she still had six hours left before going home to her wife and child. This is going to be a long day. As she was psyching herself for more paperwork, she got an urgent magical summons from her Queen. That never happens. A disaster sounds just like the thing she needs right now. She got up from her throne and walked to the teleportation circle at the corner of the office. Glad to be free of the bane of all sentient beings: paperwork. She would be happy with even a single murder coming out of this.