I hadn't noticed it until now, so focused on my conversation with Sirzechs, but walking through the streets of Lilith is different now. If I wasn't already notorious before the day's events, then I sure as shit am now.
People glance at me as I walk by, recognition in their eyes, whispering to themselves and smiling at me.
Some of them with respect. Others with amusement at the fact that they get to see the infamous Demi-fiend in person. I'm either a man of talents to be respected, or a fucking zoo attraction. There doesn't seem to be an in-between.
I never was the type of person to enjoy attention much before my demise. I didn't see the appeal of the world's eyes on you. Now? I'm a little mixed. I can't deny that having the focus of everyone and their nan is quite gratifying.
I would probably be relishing in the attention even more if it wasn't for the fact that I'm dragging in the wrong type. First was Bidleid's obsession with me, now it's the confirmation of Rizevim's eyes. That, and Uriel in Heaven. Feels like I've got enemies watching my every waking moment.
...it was difficult, hiding just how happy I was to hear about Bidleid hunting for me. I'd like to think I did a good job, but the second they said those words I got a System Alert that made me grin ear to ear and killed any stalwart composure I might have had.
Main Quest: Rematch has been unlocked!
It's inevitable, then, that he and I will meet again soon.
Despite all my words to Grayfia, all the reasons I would now have to be afraid of such a thing, and all the promises I'd made to cherish my life - it all disappeared when I saw that Quest Alert.
I'd like to tell myself that this eagerness comes from a desire for retribution, to turn the page on this chapter of my life and be rid of his shadow over the Underworld... but that would be a lie.
My malice has only grown in his absence. It is a vile, ugly thing, and it festers endlessly. Every moment of sleep I've lost, every flash in my mind of those grey walls, the purple fire, those red fucking eyes-
It'll all disappear when he's gone.
Him, and Daimadosu. I don't care about their blood, or their martyrdom, or their legacy. They'll burn along with anyone who flies their banners. Then, I'll be able to rest easy once more.
For that though, I'll need more power.
I always need more power.
Which is why I'm going to have to get working within the System once more. A shitload of quest rewards, a lot of CEL to claim, and the Precursor's Eye. I've got a lot of business to attend to.
First things first though, I need to find out where exactly Serafall even is. I'll deal with the System on the way there. All I know is which territory she's in, but when a territory is the size of a country on average that stops being a very useful thing to know.
Thankfully, there's quite a few members of the Satanihilus hanging around each of the gates into Lilith. A lot of them are getting prepared to head out themselves.
Seems like Serafall's planning a big offensive. Lucky me.
"Excuse me." I call out, walking towards the group of men gathered near the gate, small storage buildings and supply wagons drawn by korranars dotted around the area.
One of the armoured men looks up at the voice and stares at me in surprise, recognition flashing behind his eyes as he stands to attention a moment later.
"Lord Demi-fiend." He says, a palm to his heart as he lowers his head.
I have to suppress the grimace his words leave me with. I'm torn between feeling flattered and disrespected all over again as he smacks a nearby woman into following the same gesture.
The rest of the soldiers glance up in interest but return to their chatter as they haul boxes of cargo to and from their wagons.
"You can stop bowing now. I'm here for a ride to the lands of Gusion. I assume that's where you're heading as well."
They look between one another in surprise, but see no reason to deny me the journey given I'll only be making their lives easier soon, nodding their heads before going back to loading the wagon once more.
I imagine this process would be far, far easier for them were it not for the mile wide teleportation blocker surrounding Lilith. They could skip the wagons entirely and just teleport the goods around the city.
Then again, if there weren't teleportation blockers the war would-
"Um... excuse me Lord Demi-fiend."
The man from before returns, my thoughts interrupted as he tries to get my attention. I look up and gesture for him to continue.
"You wouldn't happen to be paying for this journey, would you? Not that I'm asking you for a fee or anything, but..."
I don't care about whatever dilemma he is faced with, or whatever scheme he is trying to pull on me nearly enough, grabbing a fistful of Sol from my inventory and shoving it into his open hands before he can finish.
"There. Go buy yourself something nice. Now, are we leaving or not?"
He nods eagerly, grinning ear to ear.
"Of course, Sir!"
Something else comes from his lips a moment later, another shout intending to bolster the troops around us and prepare for the long ride to battle once more as he hops into the drivers seat, a pair of korranar roaring and stretching ahead of the carriage.
I've already jumped up and into the back of the wagon to take a seat by then. Thankfully they're more efficient with space than I'd anticipated, with the cargo stored beneath our feet, leaving the back free for seating.
Sure, it makes the carriage quite fucking big, and the seating quite high off the ground, but it's not like the korranar will be struggling to carry us. I wager they could rip a tree from it's roots, the big fluffy bastards.
Besides, it saves me the trouble of being cramped with both the soldiers and their goods. No matter the body, the realm, or the timeline, I'll always abhor tight spaces. Some things really never change.
Now then, time to get to business.
Alistair Mammon
Level: 225 (125/450)
HP: 16500
MP: 9322
STR: 120
AGI: 130
INT: 120
VIT: 129
LUK: 100
Three points to STR for the Stat Skill, the rest to VIT. I'm a fiend for a fat health bar.
Heh. I guess you could call me a Demi-
...No.
120 STR Stat Skill Unlocked!
Bareknuckle Brawler: User will not take limb damage from attacking with full strength.
I currently have a sword, a gun, a spare sword, and a bloody gun-sword. Granted, it's still broken. When the hell am I ever gonna need this?
Right, anyways, I've got 117,000 CEL in the bank, two of each for EX Skill Tokens and Gacha Pulls as well. Money talks it seems.
A quick look through the Store doesn't exactly show me anything attention grabbing for what little funds I've got to work with, but maybe I'll get some spare change after these Tokens.
EX Skill Token Used!
Blood Empowerment: User will gain a 10% bonus to all Stats for every 100ML of Blood consumed. Cannot be the User's own. Overconsumption will cause excess Blood supply to manifest upon the User's body.
Alright... what the fuck is this? First it was Blood-Starved Beast, now this?
In case you've forgotten, shitty little Gacha, I don't have the fangs for that Skill to be useful. Unless you want me to aggressively nibble on my enemies, it's worthless!
Or, even worse, you expect me to cut a man from hip to shoulder then start gulping down like an animal. I think I hate both options.
EX Skill Token Used!
Ignition Code: User can 'Ignite' their MP. While Ignited, all Skills/Spells cost double their MP, but are twice as powerful. Does not work on sustained Skills.
...of course. No sustained Skills, so no Freikugel, no Doppelganger, and no Blood Manipulation. Still a great Skill, no doubt about that, but such wasted potential.
Hm. Maybe I'm the one wasting my potential by relying on Skills so much. Maybe I should branch out into Spells more, go down the Devil's path.
That can come later, though.
Before I have the chance to forget about it again, or lose track of time and put it off any longer, I need to transplant the Precursor's Eye into my body.
...You know, holding it in my hand now, it almost shocks me that this thing costs more CEL than the Yamato.
The eye isn't anything special to look at. If anything, it looks startlingly normal outside of the blood red iris and the pale-grey shade of pupil within it. Not that I'm here for the aesthetics. I'm here for the power.
Precursor's Eye (EX): With this Eye, the User can view alternate timelines and influence the path of Fate itself very slightly based on those visions. Can you handle the burden of knowledge, User?
Truth be told, I'm not sure just how wide the meaning of 'influence the path of Fate' is in this context. The fact that I could see a future and change it alone might just be a game changer, depending on how heavy an alteration I can make.
Now comes the hard part.
Summoning the Doppelganger into the seat in front of me, I don't miss the way he kicks his feet against the floor, damn near grinning beneath that demonic visage as he summons his own Caduceus.
"Make it quick." I order.
-799HP!
"Motherfucker!" I heave through gritted teeth, barely having a moment to process his movement before the blade was embedded in my eye socket and torn out.
My hand slaps against the gaping hole instinctively in some bid to stave off the pain, memories of a jagged gauntlet jamming into my eye coming back in full swing as he grins and howls with laughter and-
Deep breaths. You are not the same man you were that day, Demi-fiend. Focus.
The startlingly familiar lack of peripheral vision comes back to me once more as the construct looks at the eye skewered atop his blade with muted fascination.
My hand slowly shifts away from the wound, optic nerve hanging out the socket like a balloon string as my breaths come out in deep, shaky rasps.
I raise the Precursor's Eye with an unstable hand, my Doppelganger quickly taking over for me as he delicately places the organ into my eyesocket. He leans back, glances over the small trail of blood dripping down my cheek, before offering a thumbs up.
With one last shaky breath and a lot of spite, I dismiss the Doppelganger and cast a Prayer over myself. Instantly, I see a message show up on my HUD.
Successfully Assimilated: Precursor's Eye!
All at once, a wave of exhaustion crashes over me. I sag in my chair, a sigh of relief exiting my body as my eyes readjust. I blink several times in rapid succession as normal sight returns to me, no side effects so far.
My head turns, glancing at every surface around and then my hands in sequence. I even summon Caduceus, but nothing seems off. One last test now. I take another deep breath, and activate the Eye.
Had I been looking from the outside, I would have instantly noticed the way my pupil split into two, red shapes twisting and contorting as a vision takes hold of me and-
-a sword embedded in my chest a question made but no answer given red eyes cold red eyes Caduceus shattered at my feet as-
"Shit!" I shout again, pain lancing through my eye as the vision fades away immediately after. It shifts and twitches erratically in the socket, simmering with Mana as the pupils shift and dilate.
The worst migraine I've ever had in my life then quickly forms as I rub the eye in some hopeless bid to make it stop, a very important question in my mind.
What the hell was that?
[The Visions you receive will be brief. The drawback will be intense. Over time, and with continued use, you will see with clarity and no longer experience the burden of errant knowledge when using the Eye.]
I can understand that. A small price to pay to be able to change the future.
But no, my real concern was with what little I was able to see. Caduceus being shattered at my feet can only mean my soul was destroyed somehow, and the sword in my chest doesn't bode well either.
Was that... was that my death at Bidleid's hands? What was different about that timeline compared to this? Why would I even want to steer myself toward that Fate?
...oh well. It seems, as always, that I need more power.
Fine then. As I blink away the twitching in my eye, the pain lessening with every passing second, I return to the Inventory and get to work on the EX Gacha.
No more games, System. Give me something worth my time.
EX Gacha Pull Used!
Chronomancer's Pocketwatch: When worn, allows the User to stop time for 3 seconds once every hour. User cannot move while under the effects of stopped time.
I can see the uses of this. It's a free power, no matter how small it may be but, not enough. 3 seconds that I can't even move in. This is nothing more than a panic button.
It's a nice looking watch as well, rather antique. Shame these pants have no pockets though. Gonna have to let it catch dust in the breast pocket.
EX Gacha Pull Used!
Fragment of Placidusax: A claw of the once great Dragonlord. Using this Item allows the User to challenge Placidusax in single combat as a Pseudo-Dungeon.
Oh?
The claw is as big as Thorn, warm to the touch and practically singing with power. Red lightning streaks across it, arcing to my hand and between my fingers. The sight leaves me oddly nostalgic.
System hasn't exactly mentioned yet just how I'll be fighting the Dragonlord. Will it be in my dreams like normal? Or will I be throwing my life away once more? I really can't be sure at this point.
At the very least, it specifically said 'once great' when describing him. That should mean I won't be fighting a fully powered dragon, especially not a fully powered Dragonlord - whatever that means.
There's one thing I'm sure of, though. Whoever this Placidusax is, he must be holding quite the special power given how much this thing sells for.
Chronomancer's Pocketwatch: 89,000 CEL
Fragment of Placidusax: 271,000 CEL
"Um, Sir Demi-fiend? What exactly is that?"
I blink and glance up, realising that I've been surrounded by members of the Satanihilus the last few minutes. They stare at the Fragment with vested interest.
"Something you shouldn't worry about. Either you'll never see it again, or it'll be the cause of my demise."
The young man creases his brow, halfway to laughing and crying all at once as he glances between his allies who share similar expressions of concern.
"That only makes me worry more, Sir."
I send the Fragment back into my Inventory and fold my arms, smiling in what I can only hope is a reassuring manner.
"Then cast aside those fears, shed any doubts you may have. If I somehow die before I have Bidleid skewered atop my sword, I'll bring myself back from the dead just to fix that error."
The Satanihilus laugh, sharing a similar mentality themselves as they repeat the notion, a chorus of aye's ringing out.
They then look to me again for some form of wisdom, some words to think on, or maybe just because they enjoy it at this point.
I've no idea how to handle their interest, or their expectations, so I once again start spinning a yarn and say the first words I can think of that sound relatively motivational.
"I meant it when I said to cast aside your fears. As long as you stand in my shadow, then you'll never need to worry about your own mortality. No matter what wounds you may take, or the pain you may feel, as long as I draw breath you will stand tall."
I pause for a moment to give them time to cheer, to praise my name, but am met with deafening silence.
They look among themselves, then back to me, before a meekly voiced woman says the common thought they share.
"You... aren't very good at giving speeches, are you Sir?"
"Funnily enough, no." I bite out, arms folded in annoyance at her words.
"They don't give public speaking classes to the half-breeds these days. I may have the powers of a leader, but if you expect me to have the wisdom of one then you're going to be incredibly disappointed."
They don't take much offense to my words, thankfully. If anything, it only seems to make them happier. Maybe they feel like they can relate to me more.
"Well, we can't all be General Gremory. As long as you keep us healthy and alive, I won't complain, Sir Demi-fiend."
I sigh, unable to stop myself from smiling slightly alongside them.
"Alistair. My name is Alistair."
...They continue to call me Sir Demi-fiend for the rest of the journey. We pass the teleportation blocker after a few moments time, and wind up in Gusion territory proper.
From there, it's only an hour's ride to the town of Haprio, where Serafall's operating out of. The Satanihilus smile and joke and laugh amongst themselves the whole time.
I can't enjoy the jovial atmosphere very much though. Every time I close my eyes, I see Caduceus shattered at my feet.
...maybe I should try learning Touki.
------------------------------------
[Grayfia Lucifuge]
Reaching the Phenex' territory of Ashara was much easier than anticipated, taking nothing more than a simple Teleportation from the forests of Kariah to reach the gates of their illustrious manor.
This journey would have been far, far easier still had the Phenex as a whole decided to move into Lilith like most of the allied Clans, but their own pride would not allow them to.
Aside from Lord Phenex, the family has elected to stay in their own territory. The surrounding lands are thankfully Satanihilus controlled, so a direct assault on their home is unlikely, but...
I suppose you can never be too sure these days. They must be quite assured in their own strength.
"You there! Halt!"
A guardsman watching the gate immediately takes notice of my presence, Mana flowing around his body as he slowly approaches, recognition in his eyes.
"Good day, sir. My name is Grayfia Lucifuge. I am here on behalf of my Master, Sir Alistair Mammon. I ask that you give me entry."
He stares with naked suspicion, eyes glancing up and down my form for any weapons as he continues his slow approach.
"If it is documentation that you require, then I have a letter of request, though I will need to reach into my pocket for it."
The Devil moves an inch closer and scoffs, sneering at me.
"Stand still and place your hands behind your head. I'll need to properly search you if you want to enter."
There is a blatant excitement in his gaze. A man like him, spending his days watching a gate and bowing to the pompous Phenex. I imagine he must be quite pleased with this opportunity he now has.
My fingers twitch. The urge to summon a weapon grows, though I will not act on it. Despite all his flaws, this man is a member of the Satanihilus.
"I am afraid I cannot do such a thing. This body is the property of my Master. To allow your filthy hands to touch it would go against the vows that I have made to him."
Again, he sneers.
"You'll do as I say if you want to get through. You wouldn't want to come back home empty handed and disappoint that Master of yours, right?"
I imagine this man must be sweating slightly. Perhaps it is the first time he has tried this. Does he believe it will actually work? Is he not aware that I will cut him down should he lay a hand on me?
"As I have said, I'm afraid I cannot do that. If I must wait at this gate for a member of the House Phenex to collect me, then I will wait as long as it takes."
He balks at my words, stumbling to try and manipulate me in some way again, to use my devotion against me. My fingers twitch once more as he takes a step closer and-
Any plans he may have are interrupted as a wall of fire forms between us, the Devil jumping back in shock as it catches his open hand, burning the limb slightly.
His shout of pain is cut short as a woman's silhouette struts through the flames. Her voice is calm, measured, yet there is a distinct edge to her every word.
"Lady Grayfia. I didn't expect I'd be seeing you so soon after your trial."
The fire bends around her, condensing in shape and coiling up her arm as she smiles at me from beneath her white and red parasol, now fully exposed.
Like always, Rosalia stands out from her family in several distinct aspects.
The first, and most pressing, is her hair. Instead of the standard blonde that all Phenex are born with, Rosalia's hair is pink at the top, shifting harshly to white from then on at a point just below the ears. Her being a bastard child of the Lady Phenex and the late Lord Belphegor is the sole cause of this.
The back portion of her hair is pulled into a long ponytail that runs down her body, while the rest sits freely atop her head, her sides and bangs untouched, hair almost seeming to be cut short when looking from the front. She clearly took a few notes from me as well, given the braided extensions she has attached.
Her clothes are another matter entirely. She wears a shoulderless white gown, cut short at the front along the base of the thigh. Were it not for the stockings she wears alongside it and the back end of her gown, her legs would be completely exposed.
Speaking of attachments, running along the back of her arms, open at the shoulders, is an intricate set of black sleeves that opens up at the front to allow free movement. Her gown has something similar along the back, a long coat that hangs off of it from a string.
...I almost wish I had devoted more time to learning about textiles and fashion now. Perhaps then I would be able to more accurately describe her attire.
"My Master wishes to make the most of my service. To that end, he has sent me here to speak with your House in his stead."
Rosalia frowns.
"That meeting was organised to specifically build a rapport with the Demi-fiend. I'm afraid that if he isn't here, then there isn't much of a point to this."
The Devil watching the gate, having long since been forgotten, goes back to his post.
"My Master has stated that I am to be his emissary in these types of affairs while he continues to fight the war. Any matters you wish to share with him can be shared with me. It will reach his ears all the same."
She pauses for a long moment, twirling the parasol idly between her fingers. Her eyes glance to the guardsman, gauging the distance of his hearing, before she sighs.
"I distinctly remember asking him to tell no-one else about the meeting."
Her golden eyes bear down into me, barely an inch taller than me with her heels.
"I am bound to his will. I could not tell anyone else without his express permission even if I wanted to."
Rosalia stares for a long moment. Heat seams to swell around her body naturally as she scrutinises me intensely.
"...alright then. I can work with this."
She takes a few steps forward, arms then locked around my own as she guides me through the gate into the manor.
"We'll need some privacy if we want to talk about that letter. First things first, I'll need to introduce you gather the rest of the family. These meetings were originally Lady Phenex' idea after all."
She looks up at the sky and sighs, before turning back to me.
"Gathering everyone will take some time. You've had a long day, Lady Lucifuge. Rest in one of our guest rooms, and we'll start dealing with our business tomorrow."
...I find it difficult to decline that offer.
------------------------------------
"Lady Phenex. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance once more." I say, bowing in her presence and offering a curtsy as she enters the room.
The family had been attending to their own matters across the Underworld when I arrived. Now, after a day's wait, most of the Phenex stand before me thanks to Rosalia's assistance.
We are currently sat in a large room, a fireplace dug into one of the walls and a small table between the two large seats on either side of it, bookshelves lining the rest of the walls. Behind my own seat, Rosalia stands with her parasol now folded.
Ahead of me, the Lady Phenex sits with her first daughter, Rellana, and her second son, Raimen, standing behind her.
Lady Phenex' long blonde hair looks almost a fiery orange in the light, her red and black dress covered in frills and feathers as she bats at herself with a folding fan regularly. She clearly values her femininity given how much cleavage the dress shows. She certainly has a lot of femininity to show off.
The room is drenched in silence as the family appraises me. At the moment, I'm surrounded on all sides. I'm sure I could take Rosalia hostage should they stage some attack against me, but just to be sure I shift myself only a half inch closer to her.
A shift that is immediately noticed.
"You need not be so tense, Lady Lucifuge. An attack against you would be one against your Master, and that is the exact opposite of what we want from this."
Lady Phenex' voice cuts through the silence with the finesse of a fine blade, her expression hidden behind the fan. Her amusement is plain for all to see through the crinkling of her eyes.
"I see. Then, excuse my behaviour." I say, sitting with hands clasped in my lap.
"Still so stiff. Would it kill you to pull that stick out of your ass once in a while?"
She laughs to herself at her own joke. Her children follow along shortly after. She almost seems to take offense at my own lack of amusement.
"No matter. I suppose we should get down to business."
She folds her fan away, tucking it into one of the sleeves running up her arm.
"To begin, the Noble House Phenex would first and foremost like to congratulate you on your freedom, Lady Lucifuge, and offer our congratulations to the Demi-fiend for his newfound lordship over you."
She grins giddily, hands clapping together briefly.
"It has been such a long time since the last Lucifuge was bound. I wasn't even alive to see it. Historical moments like these should be cherished for what they are, celebrations of devotion and trust."
She raises a hand behind her back, Rellana placing something in her awaiting palm barely a half-second later without need of being told. Lady Phenex then leans forward and offers it to me.
A Phenex Tear.
"To commemorate the binding of a Lucifuge, and to give a gesture of our goodwill, we would like to offer you this Tear, in the hopes that it may serve you well."
Her fingers brush against mine as I reach out and take hold of it, long nails raking against my skin as she grins. The fan returns the instant her hand is free, unfolded and fanning at her once more.
"My Master and I graciously accept this gift, and give thanks to your tribute." I say, sliding it into a pocket atop the front of my dress.
She then looks at me expectantly, her grin faltering for a moment as her children remain silent the whole time. It wouldn't be too much a stretch to say they're closer to accessories than people.
"Though I cannot offer anything in exchange, I would like to state once again my sincere wishes for a fruitful relationship between our families moving forward."
Her grin widens. It seems that was what she wanted to hear above all else.
The conversation unfortunately ends almost immediately after though, as Lady Phenex receives a call, the magic circle appearing at her ear only a moment later.
She mutters a quick 'Sorry. Zekram.' as her excuse before standing from her seat and pushing her favoured children out of the room alongside her.
I can't help but frown in confusion at just what the point in that all was. A scant five minutes of conversation after so much pomp and circumstance. She made no mention of a return, either. The discussion is over.
I had expected this would be a several hour long meeting, negotiations over territorial allowances and seller's rights, but she was quite kind. If anything she almost seems to want a fruitful-
"She wants to kill the Demi-fiend."
...
"...would you repeat that, please?"
Rosalia moves from her place behind me, taking a seat where Lady Phenex once was.
"Mother wants to kill your Master. She believes he is colluding with Ars Goetia to phase us out of High Society and cut out the need for buying Phenex Tears full stop in an effort to strangle our family out of Sol. Her suspicions have only grown since your trial after Zekram's declaration of his service."
My fingers twitch. The feeling returns.
"And how does she plan on going about this act, Lady Rosalia?"
She grimaces.
"The plan was for these negotiations to take place over the course of several days with regular 'interruptions'. He would be offered the finest hospitality, warm gestures of goodwill and kind smiles, until the penultimate day of his stay. On that day, the Demi-fiend was going to be lured into a room with Ryland Phenex and killed, his body burned to cinders to ensure no evidence of his stay remained."
"I see. Where do you fit into this all then, Rosalia?"
She sighs, leaning back in her seat.
"My initial plan was to steer the Demi-fiend as far away from that meeting as possible. I made the letter as suspicious as I reasonably could without overtly saying 'scheme' and incriminating my family to ensure he wouldn't be silly enough to trust my Mother's words."
She massages the bridge of her nose.
"Instead, he's gone and sent a hostage. Whatever plans they may have had for Sir Alistair will no doubt be far tamer than the things they'll do to you, to draw him in."
Hm. Yes, I see.
"If that is the case, then I shall take my leave immediately and inform the High Council of this plot."
I stand from my seat, turning to the door so I may leave and save Alistair the trouble-
"W-wait!"
...but her voice stops me in my advance. I turn back and face her, though she can't quite meet my gaze.
"Yes, Lady Rosalia?"
Her voice comes out as a small and timid thing. Belatedly, I realise she is afraid of me.
There's something else alongside her fear, though. Ambition.
"Lady Phenex sounds a lot better than the bastard second daughter, right?"
Rosalia leans forward at my silence, grinning as she continues.
"This scandal is going to come out one day no matter what. I want to be on the right side of it when that happens. That's why I let you into the manor instead of shutting you out the second I laid eyes on you."
With room to breathe and lay out her plan, Rosalia's calm and confident demeanour quickly returns.
"My family think this scheme is going to benefit them, bring back the medicinal monopoly they've held for centuries with the Demi-fiend out of the picture. They've no idea I interfered with the letter, nor any idea that I'm working to sabotage them."
"However, if the Council finds out about this plot too soon, then my Mother will be stripped of her titles and land, and they will be given instead to my half-sister Rellana."
Her eyes glow. There is a fire in her now, much like her mother. It seems that this ambition is natural among the Phenex.
"What I ask of you is simple. I care not if you frame her, or kill her. As long as Rellana is disposed of alongside my Mother by the end of next week, and I am made next in line as the Lady Phenex, then I will give your Master something he could never possibly refuse in exchange for your help."
She leans forward, elbows on her knees, chin resting atop her intertwined fingers as she smiles warmly at me.
"I will give him my hand in marriage."
...what were the words you used, Master? Let them grow fat with strength, so they may be left soft and tender?
It seems the noble House Phenex has grown too fat; too safe in their assumptions that they may conspire against you.
They think me a pawn in their game. A tool to be used against you, against themselves. Rosalia, Lady Phenex, the lot of them. Blinded by the flames of their own ego.
I will uncover the truth of their deception.
------------------------------------
[Alistair Mammon]
The rest of the journey passes in the blink of an eye. My mind runs a mile a minute still as I think of how the hell I'd even go about learning something like Touki, but as is with all times of peace, they come to an end.
DANGER
My head snaps up at the alert, a shout on my lips that doesn't comes out in time. That jovial atmosphere I witnessed earlier vanishes in the blink of an eye when our wagon explodes in a raging ball of fire.
-3443HP!
My own cry of pain is drowned out by the cacophony of noise that follows shortly after. My ears are ringing, portions of my skin blackened with char and flames licking at my clothes as screams echo in every direction.
Black spots fill my vision as I lay on my back, grass cushioning my body. The shattered remnants of our vehicle lay across the path ahead, korranars roaring out in agony as they burn in the fires, unable to make it stop.
The Precursor's Eye seems to be a lot more than a prophecy machine, as my vision quickly clears and I can easily make out the form of six Loyalists stalking up the road to appraise their work.
They grin and snicker among themselves, proud of their carnage. Almost as soon as I lay an eye on them, I cast a Prayer and Sonido directly into the closest man I see.
His laughter stops short, wheezed breaths leaving his lips after my fist tears into his armour, piercing directly through his chest.
A moment later, I throw Caduceus into the ground and cast a Circle of Life, tearing my fist out and jamming it into his stomach to send out the wave of Healing. The pained groans of those aflame immediately softens, but in their absence I'm left with a far more worrying degree of silence.
...it seems I couldn't save everyone.
"...plea-"
The young man's wheezes are cut short as I drag my fist out from within his stomach, throwing his body aside a moment later. His allies, once so joyful themselves at our pain, stare in blatant fear.
Level 67 Loyalist Slain: 160EXP!
One bold Devil wakes from his shock, a Magic Circle on his hand as he conjures several blades of wind to decapitate me.
DANGER!
Each blade is dodged in succession as I Sonido towards him, picking him up by the neck and dragging him several feet into the air with another Sonido.
He stares at me, terrified, pleading for his life as he tries to draw his own wings out.
...I wonder if he would offer me the mercy he so desperately seeks had I begged a moment prior, pleaded for my life as I burned slowly in the wreckage of our wagon.
...
No. They'd have laughed at me. Delighted in my pain. They already were. The great Demi-fiend, battered and bruised; how they'd sing in glee. Hypocrites. Filth.
Vermin.
"Wait, wait, stop! Please!"
He writhes in terror as my hands wrap around his head, neck snapping with a single crack only a moment later.
Level 79 Loyalist Slain: 185EXP!
Now a group of four, the Loyalists below seem to realise this isn't a fight they can win. One of them works to cast a Teleportation Spell to flee, to run, to survive-
Thorn is drawn and fired within the blink of an eye. She falls to the ground, dead before the men around her can even hear the shot ring out, her body withering away into nothing more than a luminescent Soul hanging in the air.
Level 58 Loyalist Slain: 130EXP!
A single Sonido brings me into the Soul's radius, catching it in my hand and crushing it within my fist. A wave of green energy washes over me, power flowing through my veins temporarily.
With my newfound proximity, the Loyalists panic and draw their weapons. The Instinct screams in my mind, and I duck to avoid the pointed end of a spear. As soon as I do, another swings at me with a sword as long as his body.
My hand lashes out, not catching the blade as it tears into my glove and between my fingers. Blood spills from the wound freely, blood that quickly trails down the Loyalist's blade and against his body, my wound healed instantly as it tears at his flesh.
He screams, jumping back in fear and patting his body down relentlessly as it travels into his eyes, nose, ears, every pore of his skin. He writhes in terror before I send each and every drop of my blood directly into his heart.
His cries become unintelligible groans, a hand braced to his chest as I pull, the blood under my control forcing his heart to expand, elasticity tested with each second as he whines and begs and screams-
He slumps to the ground barely a second later, twitching against the dirt.
Level 88 Loyalist Slain: 190 EXP!
My attention then shifts back to the spearman from before, fist raised to shatter bone, but I find myself shocked when I see his weapon on the ground, hands raised in surrender.
Looking behind me, I find the rest of them having done the same, weapons thrown and hands raised as they mumble words of surrender beneath their breath.
They're afraid to meet my eyes.
...the sight only makes my blood boil further. The audacity, the sheer fucking audacity, to attack us, burn us all in flame, then cry and beg for mercy when I fight back. Cowardice in purest form, the workings of a pathetic-
"Ghk!"
I blink, and suddenly the choice to allow their surrender isn't mine anymore.
In the span of a single half-second, each Loyalist around me is skewered from the bottom of their jaw to the top of their head.
The weapon used?
...Spears of ice.
Whistle!
"Seems like my birthday came early this year! That was one hell of a show!"
She saunters into my field of vision a moment later, clapping and smiling that same deranged smile I'd come to cherish so long ago as she takes slow steps into my personal space.
Instead of the tight jacket I'd seen prior, she now wears a dark vest with a long cloak around her shoulders. A small, pink beret rests atop her head.
With barely a foot of distance separating us, she tilts her neck up and stares me in the eyes, several different conflicting emotions burning behind them as she smiles toothily, her arms coated in a layer of rime.
"You've been growing even stronger since you left. Did you really miss me that much?"
She leans forward even further, my personal space a thing of the past as frost coats the floor around us. She's trying to intimidate me. To see if I'm the same man she knew.
Seeing her again brings so many different emotions to me that I almost can't keep count. Nostalgia, frustration, hatred, desire and so much more.
Every thought in my mind, every feeling in my heart, it all quickly blends together into one cocky grin and a folding of my arms as I meet her gaze unshakingly.
"Honey, I'm home."
She blinks at the challenge, before matching my smile with one of her own.
"Welcome home, Ali."