It was grim—truly grim. Corpses were strewn everywhere, along with dismembered, incomplete body parts. It would be such a waste to simply discard or destroy them outright.
"Argus, activate Ahriman—use 'SystemCorruption' to corrupt the laws of 'SummoningMagic,' then apply 'FactualDistortion' to establish the fact that an individual named Sin Lucien has mastered 'Summoning Magic,' be it Demon Summoning or Spirit Summoning," I said calmly.
<'Ahriman Activated'>
Suddenly, a sound like shattering glass echoed through space and time as Ahriman activated. Chaotic magical energy surged violently from my body, signaling the skill was at work.
An odd sensation washed over me, startling me slightly. Somehow, it felt as though I'd already mastered Summoning Magic—as naturally as an extension of my own limbs. I hadn't expected Ahriman to be this powerful.
Raising one hand before me, I declared:
**Summoning Magic—Demon Summon!**
"I offer all these corpses as sacrifice. Come forth and obey my command!"
Instantly, the scattered corpses vanished as if evaporated into thin air. A summoning circle glowed with a somber, violet light. From it emanated an unsettling surge of magical power, as if something terrifying were about to emerge at any second. Thick black mist, like smoke, poured from the circle—then, an oddly shaped demon appeared: silver-haired, with two sharp horns and draped in a black robe that concealed its form.
"Khu... hahahaha! What an extraordinary sacrifice! I never imagined I'd be summoned to this world with offerings of such magnitude. Truly magnificent!"
The demon laughed boisterously, then fixed its gaze upon me.
"Oh? A Majin, I presume? Was it you who performed this ritual? Tch tch... Not bad at all. State your wish! I, the great one, shall grant it—consider yourself honored!" it declared with an arrogant tone and haughty expression, despite having just met me. Its attitude left me speechless—and thoroughly annoyed.
It was indeed tiresome to constantly suppress my overflowing magical energy. Too many pests kept showing up, chattering away as they pleased—just like the nuisances Rimuru dealt with in the original story. Yet letting my magical energy run rampant would only invite more trouble, practically shouting, "Hey, I'm here! Come say hello!"
I sighed, then activated Gravity Field alongside Demon Lord's Haki. The space around me trembled under immense pressure—compressing not just the air, but the very flow of magic and the dense magical energy spilling from the summoning ritual. Casually, I addressed the demon:
"Hey, your head's held too high! Allow me to correct your posture!"
I intensified the chaotic energy and the pressure of my Demon Lord's Haki.
Suddenly, as if crushed by an invisible force, the demon collapsed onto its knees, its forehead slamming hard into the ground, spiderwebbing cracks across the earth.
"I-Impossible!... Demon Lord's Haki?! Who... who are you?! No—WHO ARE YOU?!" it stammered, voice trembling with terror.
I remained silent, letting it stay pinned like that.
*Crackkk…*
I slightly increased the intensity of my Gravity Field. The very atmosphere and fabric of space seemed to fracture like glass, crushing the demon beneath unbearable gravitational force.
"Hmm, as expected. None of the demons in this world are sane. This one's useless. Might as well erase its soul entirely—no reincarnation, no second chances. What a waste of resources," I muttered softly, just loud enough for the demon to hear.
Upon hearing those words, the demon shrieked in panic: "Argh! Please, don't erase me! P-please, spare me! I'll do anything—I'll become your slave! Please…!"
Indeed, death itself wasn't truly frightening—but complete annihilation, with no chance of ever returning, was far more terrifying.
I stayed silent for several long minutes.
"Argus, use Abyssal Dominion to brand this demon."
<'Dolos' Abyssal Dominion Activated>
Chaotic energy poured from my body as a sigil—resembling a magic circle—formed over the demon's chest, then seeped deep into its spiritual core and soul.
Slowly, I withdrew my Gravity Field and Demon Lord's Haki, like switching off a light. The crushing pressure vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. The demon remained kneeling, forehead pressed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably, too terrified to lift its gaze.
"Argus, how much magical energy is required to bestow a name upon it, triggering its evolution into an Arch Demon?" I asked inwardly.
A satisfied smile crossed my lips. "Good. Let's proceed."
I stepped forward, my shadow falling over the trembling demon.
"Rise, nameless demon."
The demon lifted its head. Its glowing red eyes stared at me—fear, confusion, and blind devotion swirling within them. The effects of AbsoluteSubjugation had already locked its spiritual core, forging an unbreakable foundation.
"You're fortunate," I said. "I shall grant you a blessing far greater than mere life."
Hmm, silver ... Ok that's it.
"I bestow upon you the name Argenta," my voice echoed with authority. "Argenta—you now belong to me, body, mind, and soul. Remember: my command is absolute!"
Chaotic magical energy surged from my body into the demon. For a fleeting moment, I felt a slight drain—but it was negligible, like scooping water from an ocean with a ladle.
**CRASH!**
The naming energy exploded, piercing through the boundaries of their universe and drawing forth the very essence of demonic power. The Greater Demon before me transformed—ascending into a true Arch Demon, its aura magnified manyfold.
The demon screamed—pain and ecstasy mingling—as its horns grew sharper and more refined, its black robe reshaping into a stunning gothic maid dress with deep crimson accents, revealing its feminine form. Its dark aura condensed into something far denser, far deadlier. The evolution was complete. It now stood before me, breathtakingly beautiful yet lethally formidable.
Argenta rose, then knelt on one knee, her voice now melodious yet utterly submissive: "My Lord Sin Lucien, I, Argenta, swear by my soul and essence to obey your every command and spread your dominion across this world. Your word is my law!"
I nodded. "Well done, Argenta. Now, prepare yourself and eliminate those rats spying on us. I dislike witnesses. Once finished, we depart. I need a quiet place back at headquarters to 'reflect' on all this—and verify certain matters."
Argenta's face—now strikingly beautiful beneath her gothic maid attire—curved into a sadistic smile that starkly contrasted her elegant appearance.
"With pleasure, my Lord. Disposing of trash is my specialty."
With a single stomp of her foot, the air around her vibrated. She didn't summon ordinary fire or darkness—instead, she called forth Shadow Traces: residues of the Void itself, carried from the Netherworld.
"Reveal yourselves, pitiful creatures. You chose the wrong time and place to spy. As a welcome to this world, I shall show you the true meaning of fear!"
Five razor-thin shadows—no thicker than torn cloth—shot toward the dense forest surrounding us, where I knew a small group of spies from various factions had been lurking, drawn by the massive magical disturbance from the summoning and evolution rituals.
The next instant, a brief, piercing scream echoed from the woods—followed by absolute silence. No clash of steel, no bursts of magic. Just a single, final shriek.
"Done, my Lord. They will never reincarnate again," Argenta reported, kneeling once more, her expression serene and devoted.
"Good work," I said. "Now, let's leave this place."
I scanned the area, ensuring no corpse remnants or unstable magical residues remained as evidence. Argenta had performed flawlessly—leaving no trace behind.
"Argus, confirm the integrity of the laws altered by Ahriman," I requested, momentarily ignoring Argenta's presence.
"From whom?"
I sighed. Just as I'd anticipated. Overpowered abilities always summon greater plot devices.
"Is this serious?"
I exhaled in relief. "As expected of you, Argus. Now, let's go."
We turned to leave—but after only two steps, the air ahead of us exploded. Not from magic, but from the collision of immensely dense energy against an invisible barrier.
**WUUUSH!**
Argenta reacted in a fraction of a second, pulling me behind her and summoning a larger Shadow Trace to form a Shadow Wall before us. An overreaction—though unnecessary, as the attack wouldn't even tickle me. Still, not bad.
"Insolent vermin! How dare you strike at my Lord!" Argenta snarled, her beautiful face now etched with icy fury.
I calmly pushed her aside. "Easy, Argenta. No need to rush. I knew they were here. They aren't ordinary spies—they're personal guards left behind to confirm their comrades' deaths."
From among the trees emerged three figures clad in dull black armor, bearing unfamiliar crests on their chests. They weren't Majin—more likely royal knights or hired swordsmen disguised as such, judging by the dense magical and ki auras they emitted. Decent, by human standards.
"Halt, cursed demon!" one knight shouted, his sword glowing faintly. "You slaughtered our envoys! Was it you who destroyed this kingdom?!"
They quickly sensed the vast power gap between Argenta and me. I emitted no excessive magical energy—but Argenta's aura alone was enough to make them tremble. Still, they held formation, ready to fight to the death.
"Don't be provoked," I told Argenta indifferently. "I'll handle this. I need to test something."
I stepped forward, deliberately refraining from activating Demon Lord's Haki or Gravity Field. Only a faint trickle of chaotic energy seeped from me. Instantly, the knights felt as though mountains pressed down upon them.
"W-who... who are you?" the lead knight stammered, his sword nearly slipping from his grip.
I gave no answer. Instead, I gazed at the sky and closed my eyes.
"Argus, apply Factual Distortion and System Corruption to these targets. Rewrite their existential facts. They never existed in this world. All records of their presence—past, present, and future—are corrupted data to be purged."
<'Factual Distortion' & 'System Corruption' Activated>
Suddenly, all sound vanished. The world seemed to freeze. The knights no longer felt pressure—but something far worse: absence. Panic set in as they watched their own hands begin to blur.
"I-Impossible! I can feel my soul... being erased!" one cried, his voice fading like a distant hum.
I simply extended my hand. From my fingertips poured an aura of pure darkness—emanating straight from the Abyss, the Void itself.
"Existence Erasure," I stated calmly.
**ZZZZTT...**
No explosion. No blood. No flash of magic. Only a tear in reality where the three knights had stood—like fabric ripped apart. In a single second, they vanished entirely. Not dead. Not annihilated. Their very existence had been excised from the world.
Argenta watched, eyes wide. Even as a powerful demon who'd witnessed countless horrors, seeing something so absurdly illogical sent chills down her spine.
I withdrew my hand, expression unreadable. "Impressive. This power is incredibly efficient. But the magical energy cost is absurdly high."
If erasing pests like them drained so much energy, what would happen if I tried this on a Pinnacle of this world? Would I be obliterated instantly?
Argenta knelt, her reverence now bordering on fanaticism. "My Lord... Your power transcends even the concepts of Law and Gods. You don't merely kill—you redefine existence itself."
"Do you think so? Well... you're right. This power is truly terrifying. I haven't fully mastered it yet," I said calmly. "Now, let's leave."
Argenta bowed deeply. "As you command, my Lord."
How many years has it been since I last returned home... Umbra...