234 BACK FROM THE DEAD?
"Illusions!" Grammers exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "We were fortunate the Eunuch didn't inspect the body. If he had, he might have uncovered the ruse."
"That's exactly why I had to distract him," Leo explained. "By playing the ambitious son eager to usurp my father's position, I bought us enough time to remove the body before anyone could investigate."
Grammers chuckled, "No wonder you wanted us to take the body quickly and burn it."
Leo's expression turned serious. "We had to act fast. Any delay, and we would've been exposed. Cleaning up the evidence was as crucial as the deception itself."
Letcha smirked, his confidence evident. "My illusions are second to none. But if I reach the high tier of Svad, my transformations won't just be illusions—they'll be indistinguishable from reality."
"High tier? How many more potions would you need from Megane?" Grammers asked.
"Well, don't be stingy", Letcha said.
"Why not? They don't call me the Philanthropist of Sodom for no reason", Leo replied teasingly.
"That's not accurate. You are the Greedy demon of Sodom", he replied.
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[Some time ago during the demon intrusion at Heaven's Cage]
Lord Aseran of the Deghad family gazed across the battlefield, his eyes narrowing as they fell upon a figure that sent a jolt of recognition through him.
The features were unmistakable. It was his son, Agathae. Or at least, someone who looked eerily like him. Aseran's heart clenched, though doubt crept in. Could it truly be him?
"He just looks like Agathae," Aseran muttered to himself, trying to steady his racing thoughts.
Before he could process further, a demon shaman stepped forward, pressing a blade against the throat of the Agathae look-alike. Their eyes met, and the shaman's gaze was cold and deliberate.
It was a silent threat, a warning: oppose us, and he dies.
Aseran's mind raced. "But is he really Agathae?" he questioned again, his voice barely a whisper.
As if in response, a message materialized before him, glowing faintly in the air. It was from Agathae. "Father, the demons have captured me. They're holding me hostage."
Both Aseran and Agathae were players in the Realm of Sins, bound by the System's rules. From a reasonable distance, communication was possible, and now, the message confirmed his worst fears.
This was no look-alike—it was his son, Agathae.
"What happened in Sodom's ruins?" Aseran demanded, his voice filled with urgency.
Agathae's reply came swiftly. "Lilleo Gullee. He almost killed… he nearly kills me and he left me for the demons. You have to stop him."
Aseran's jaw tightened as he processed the information.
His gaze soon shifted to Leo, who stood nearby, still deliberating whether to aid the city in its fight against Azuthol. Leo was bargaining, demanding rare treasures and items in exchange for his assistance.
Catching Aseran's eye, Leo raised a brow, waiting. Aseran forced a smile and stepped forward, offering his prized sword. "Take this. Use it to kill the demon."
Leo accepted the sword with a nod, his expression unreadable, and turned towards General Nahum. As he walked away, Aseran couldn't suppress a faint, grim smile.
He sent a quick message to Agathae. "He's finished if he faces the demon."
Aseran believes Leo had no chance fighting against a demon thereby giving him the honor to die by the monster. There was no need to dirty his own hands.
Agathae's reply was immediate, laced with dark certainty. "Yes, he will be."
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[The Deghad family home]
Aseran awoke with a start, his body drenched in cold sweat, heart pounding as if trying to escape his chest. For a moment, he thought it was the remnants of a nightmare that had jolted him awake—but the reality was far worse.
Shadows moved in the dim light of his bedchamber, and the glint of steel caught his eye. Assassins were here, Now.
"Who are you?" Aseran growled, his voice low and furious as he scrambled to reach for a weapon, his fingers brushing the hilt of a dagger hidden beneath his pillow.
"Calm down, Lord Aseran," a calm, melodic voice cut through the hostility. A woman stepped forward, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. "We mean you no harm."
Aseran hesitated, his grip tightening on the dagger as he studied the intruders.
Their posture was not one of aggression, and the woman's tone carried an air of authority rather than malice. Slowly, he relaxed, though his guard remained up.
"I am Unna, of the Temple of Hera," the woman introduced herself, her voice steady and commanding. "We come on behalf of the Court in Koresh."
Aseran's eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring. "The Temple of Hera? We have no dealings with your order. What business do you have here, in my chambers, in the dead of night?"
Unna's expression remained serene, unfazed by his hostility. "We are here to offer our assistance."
"Assistance?" Aseran echoed, his tone skeptical. "What kind of assistance?"
"We are aware of your struggles," Unna replied, her gaze piercing him. "The barrier to Man tier has eluded you, has it not? We have a solution."
Aseran's breath hitched, his interest piqued despite his mistrust. "A solution? What are you proposing?"
"The Potion of Ascension," Unna stated simply.
Aseran's initial excitement waned, replaced by disappointment. "I know of the potion. It's powerful, yes, but it's not enough to break through to Man tier. Not on its own."
Unna's lips curved into a faint smile. "You are correct. The potion alone is insufficient. But we possess something more—a catalyst that, when combined with the potion, will grant you the breakthrough you seek."
Aseran's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "And you're certain of this?"
"The Temple of Hera does not deceive its allies," Unna replied, her voice firm and unwavering. "Our offer is genuine. The choice, however, is yours."
Aseran studied her for a long moment, weighing her words.
The path to Man tier was a relentless struggle for Aseran. If what she said was true, this could be the opportunity he had been waiting for. But things don't come for free in this world.
"Very well," he said at last, his voice steady. "What do you want from me in return?"
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