It didn't take long for Chysis to arrive. The familiar shimmer of teleportation magic appeared in my room about thirty minutes after I'd shattered the crystal, and she stepped through with her usual graceful composure.
*Thank god she came quickly. With Cao Cao potentially hunting me down, I can't afford to waste time.*
"Akira," she greeted, though her expression quickly shifted to one of mild exasperation as she took in my tense posture. "Let me guess—you and trouble can't be separated for too long, can you?"
I gave her a wry smile. "You know me too well."
*If only she knew the half of it. Between vampires threatening me and the Khaos Brigade breathing down my neck, trouble seems to be my middle name.*
"Apparently not well enough, or I would have seen this coming." She crossed her arms and settled into the chair by my desk. "Tell me what happened."
I recounted the encounter with Elene and Elmenhilde, watching as Chysis's expression grew increasingly serious. When I mentioned the Khaos Brigade and Cao Cao specifically, her brow furrowed.
"Do you know anything about the Khaos Brigade?" I asked when I finished.
She shook her head slowly. "I've never heard of that group, but if they're powerful enough to threaten vampire factions, then Sirzechs might know about them." She paused, studying my face. "If that's all you needed to discuss, then I should return to the Underworld. We have our own affairs to—"
*Damn it, I need those Evil Pieces now more than ever. If Cao Cao is really coming for me, I need Valerie and Asia to be stronger. Much stronger.*
"It's not just about the Khaos Brigade," I interrupted, causing her to raise an eyebrow. "I want to use the Evil Pieces. I need to know if Ajuka has time to perform the ceremony."
A knowing smirk crossed her features. "It took you long enough to make this decision."
*Long enough? Lady, if you knew what I was facing, you'd understand why I'm rushing this.*
"It's all thanks to my current situation," I replied with a slight grimace. "So can we contact Ajuka anytime soon?"
She nodded thoughtfully. "Ajuka is currently within Satan's territory, so he would be able to perform the ceremony." Her expression became more business-like. "Would it be acceptable to do this right now? We're quite busy with Underworld affairs at the moment."
"The sooner we do this, the better," I said without hesitation.
She nodded as she typed something into what looked like a mobile phone with devil wings and then put it back in her pocket.
"Very well." Chysis stood, magical energy already beginning to swirl around her. "Let's go."
---
The teleportation brought us to a place I'd never seen before—a vast chamber carved from black stone, with intricate magical symbols etched into every surface. The air hummed with power so dense it was almost tangible, and in the center of the room stood a massive monument that seemed to pulse with its own inner light.
*Holy shit. The amount of magical energy in this place is insane. I can actually feel it pressing against my skin.*
Ajuka was waiting for us, his expression serious but polite as always. He looked exactly as I remembered—tall, elegant, with an aura of barely contained magical power that made the air around him shimmer.
"Akira," he greeted with a nod. "Chysis has explained the situation. I trust you understand the gravity of what we're about to do?"
"I do," I replied.
He gestured toward the monument. "Then let us begin. This is where the ceremony will take place—the Monument of Binding, one of the oldest magical constructs in the Underworld. I'm quite busy with my duties so let's make it fast"
As we approached, I could see that the monument was covered in runes that seemed to shift and change when I wasn't looking directly at them. It was both beautiful and unsettling.
*Those runes... they're moving. Actually moving. What kind of magic is this thing channeling?*
"Place your hands on the monument," Ajuka instructed, producing a chess piece from his coat—the King piece, carved from what looked like crystallized shadow. He set it carefully into a depression at the base of the monument. "This will register you as a King"
*No going back after this. Once I do this, I'll have the power to reincarnate others as devils. That's a huge responsibility. But I'm still going to be human—just a human with devil pieces.*
I pressed my palms against the cold stone surface. The moment my skin made contact, the world exploded into white light.
*What the hell—*
Power flooded through me—not the violent surge I'd expected, but something deeper, more fundamental. It felt like molten metal being poured through my veins, my bones vibrating with frequencies I'd never experienced. The sensation was overwhelming, like being struck by lightning while drowning in an ocean of pure energy.
*This is... incredible. I can feel the pieces becoming part of me, but I'm still human. Still me. Just... enhanced.*
I could feel new pathways being carved into my soul with surgical precision, but not changing my fundamental nature. it was integrating with me, giving me the ability to command devil pieces while keeping my humanity intact.
My vision flickered between normal sight and something else entirely. For brief moments, I could see the flow of magic around us like rivers of light, could sense the intricate web of power that connected everything in this chamber.
When the light finally faded, I found myself gasping, my knees threatening to buckle. Every nerve in my body was singing with new energy, like I'd been plugged into a live wire. The sensation was intoxicating and terrifying at the same time.
---
"How do you feel?" Ajuka asked, walking up to me with an analytical expression.
I took a shaky breath, trying to process what had just happened to me. In my hands materialized a set of chess pieces—my Evil Pieces, each one thrumming with potential that I could now actually feel. The pieces somehow had integrated completely, becoming part of me in a way that felt as natural as breathing, yet alien at the same time.
*I can feel them. Each piece has its own... presence? Like they're alive somehow. But I'm still me. Still human. Just... more.*
The realization was both relieving and confusing. I was still human—I could feel that much was true. But there was something else now, something that hadn't been there before. A connection to power that felt both foreign and familiar.
"Strange," I admitted, my voice rougher than usual. "Like there's a whole new layer to everything I can sense." I flexed my fingers, watching magical energy dance between them without conscious effort. "But I'm still... me. Still human."
Ajuka nodded approvingly. "Good. It's a complete success. Most new Devils experience some discomfort during the initial bonding, but you seem to have adapted remarkably well."
"Is there more to the process?" I asked, studying the pieces in my hands.
"Indeed." He reached into his coat again, this time producing a sheet of paper covered in an intricate magical circle. "You'll need to use this when you're ready to reincarnate someone. The person you wish to use an Evil Piece on must stand within this circle while you pour your mana into it. The circle will facilitate the transformation and ensure the process is completed safely."
I took the paper, my head spinning as I took a good look at the complex pattern of lines and symbols. "Anything else I should know?"
"Practice with the circle first," he advised. "Understanding how to properly channel your power through it is crucial. A mistake during reincarnation can be... unfortunate for all involved."
*Unfortunate. Right. I'm guessing that's Ajuka-speak for 'horrifically painful death' or something equally cheerful.*
With that cheerful thought, Ajuka began gathering his materials. "I must return to my other duties now. Until we meet again, Akira, I'm expecting more inventions from you."
*More inventions? With everything that's happening, I'll be lucky if I survive long enough to invent a better mousetrap.*
"I'll do my best not to disappoint," I replied, though part of me wondered if I'd have time for research with everything that was happening.
---
After the ceremony concluded, Chysis approached me with a different expression—less formal, more familial.
"Come," she said, opening another teleportation circle. "I'll take you to my castle. You'll need proper instruction on using that magic circle, and I have some time before I need to return to my other responsibilities."
We stepped through the portal and emerged in what was clearly a different part of the Underworld. The castle before us was magnificent—all soaring spires and elegant architecture that spoke of centuries of refinement. The grounds were immaculate, with gardens that seemed to glow with their own inner light.
*This place is incredible. How old is this castle? And more importantly, how much power does it take to maintain all these magical effects?*
"Welcome to the home, dear" Chysis said with obvious pride. "It's been—"
She never got to finish the sentence.
A bucket of what looked like glittering pink liquid materialized above us and tipped over, dousing both of us in its contents. The liquid was harmless but thoroughly embarrassing—it sparkled and shimmered like fairy dust, and I suspected it would be hell to wash out.
*Are you kidding me? I'm being hunted by the Khaos Brigade already? but why I'm covered in what looks like unicorn's vomit?*
"Not again!" Chysis bellowed, her dignified composure evaporating instantly. "It took me hours to dress this well!"
Laughter echoed from somewhere above us, light and musical but definitely mischievous. A moment later, a young teen dropped down from one of the upper balconies, landing gracefully despite the considerable height. She looked to be about my age, with the distinctive Gremory crimson hair and a grin that was equal parts charming and infuriating.
"Chysis!" she said with mock innocence, though her eyes were dancing with barely suppressed laughter. "I was just testing the castle's defenses. You never know when we might face an invasion of sparkly intruders."
"This is Runeas Gremory, the ancestor of the Gremory clan," Chysis said to me with a sigh, pink glitter still falling from her hair. "She lives here as well. Runeas, meet Akira. Try not to scare him on his first visit."
Runeas looked at me with undisguised curiosity, her head tilted slightly to one side. "So you're the human who's been causing such a stir. You're shorter than I expected."
Looks like Chysis is not good at keeping secrets. I gave her side glance, as she whistled, dusting off glitters from her.
"And you're exactly as mature as I expected," I replied dryly, though there was less bite to it than usual. The earlier ceremony was still messing with my head, making everything feel slightly surreal.
"Oh, I like him already," she declared, clapping her hands together and sending more glittery residue flying. "This is going to be fun."
*An ancestor of the Gremory clan who acts like a teenager and lives in the same house as Chysis.* I studied her more carefully, noting the way power seemed to flow around her like a gentle current. *Just how old is she? And how powerful? More importantly, what's she doing here?!*
Chysis just sighed, resignation clear in her voice. Survival won't be easy for the next few hours, I can already see that.
. . .
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