By the time the new president was announced, Renny froze. The name called was a familiar one, Thyrosan Korav. The very same demon he had seen at the basketball court, the one who had saved him from the troublesome Damaruk brothers.
Thunderous applause erupted as Thyrosan adjusted his glasses with calm precision, standing tall at the podium. His presence commanded silence even before he spoke.
"First, I must extend my gratitude," Thyrosan began, his tone measured, almost surgical in its clarity. "To Yurokane Omekro, for his competent stewardship in these past terms. To the former association, whose diligence, however imperfect, has kept the machinery of our order in motion. And now, on behalf of my Vice President, Shorai Omekro, and my fellow council members, I offer our thanks, for entrusting us with this mantle and the honor it carries."
He adjusted his glasses with a precise motion, his diction sharpening. "That said, let us dispense with sentimentality. President Yurokane's regime, while stable, was often permissive an indulgent experiment in leniency. Mine will not be. I intend to govern with discipline and exactitude. Nuisance behaviors, petty theatrics, the incessant disorder so often tolerated in these halls, consider them finished."
His eyes flicked across the assembly, cold and deliberate. "We stand at a transition point. I cannot enumerate all that is to come, but rest assured: the coming year will not resemble the last. Structures will tighten. Standards will rise. And those incapable of adapting will, quite simply, be discarded. That is the reality of the order I intend to shape."
With that, Thyrosan gave a curt nod and stepped back. The applause was sharper this time, edged with unease. Then, with the new council members at his side, he exited the podium, leaving behind a silence heavy with both fear and anticipation.
***
The ceremony reached its zenith with thunderous applause, echoing through the grand hall. Then, as the clapping faded, a new sound rose, a series of sharp, simultaneous chimes. Demons in tuxedos instinctively reached for their phones. The pop-up messages flashed across the screens, their glow lighting eager faces.
Seated beside Renny, Kev glanced down at his phone. As promised, the new mark abilities had arrived. Murmurs swept the room as demons scrolled rapidly, and soon every screen lit up with the leaderboard. Fingers paused mid-swipe, eyes narrowed at their devices, everyone checking who had risen, and who still reigned supreme.
Unsurprisingly, the former Vice President, Krovanis Omekro, held his place at the very top of the Lesser Demons, his unshaken dominance a quiet storm over the hall. Just beneath him sat the two other former council members, followed by the newly elected president, Thyrosan Korav, then his vice president, Shorai Omekro, and the rest of the new council in descending order.
Further down, the names of the lower grades shuffled. Morrin Omekro now led Grade Two, with Khevlack Korav close behind.
Renny turned to Kev, a faint grin breaking through. "Man, you've grown really strong."
Kev rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "You know me, violence always been my lane, bruh. I was pushin' weight back on Earth. Hell just cranked that up to the max."
Renny nodded slowly. That made sense. For Kev, violence was instinct; Hell sharpened what already existed. For him, though? He didn't feel heightened in any way, except maybe in how he used his brain. Everything else was still unfamiliar.
Curiosity got the better of him. He scrolled to find his own name. As expected, he was still near the bottom. But relief flickered in his chest, he was no longer dead last. Out of the forty-five former Grade Ones, about seven others who'd failed their contracts had sunk below him.
Exhaling, he locked his screen and leaned back, letting the device slip into his pocket.
A girl approached their table, petite, striking, with a presence that was both subtle and intimidating. Renny frowned, trying to place her; he'd never seen her before.
Without hesitation, she eased onto Kev's lap, planting a quick, congratulatory kiss on his lips. "Congrats, babe," she murmured, her tone intimate. Kev grinned, returning the affection, murmuring something sweet back. Renny sat frozen, dumbfounded. Being bedridden for months had kept him away from most of the year's happenings, and clearly, he'd missed a lot.
As she moved to leave, Kev seized the moment. "Yo, Ren, this is my girl, Amorette Velzira. She's in Grade Three now."
Renny tried to offer an introduction, but Amorette waved him off dismissively. "Don't bother. Everybody knows who you are, the Ezraphor," she said, a trace of disgust in her voice. "I don't mix with repeating demons from extinct families." She pecked Kev on the cheek and was gone before Renny could react.
Kev shrugged apologetically. "My bad, homie."
Renny shook his head, more amused than annoyed. "Nah, don't worry. I'm actually impressed… you got a girlfriend already?"
Kev chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "You missed a lot, homie. Can't even imagine half the stuff that went down while you were cooped up. Don't stress, I'll fill you in after the ceremony."
Renny leaned back, taking it all in, before realizing there was something he needed to do.