"By the way, how long until that Umbra guy is done?" I grumbled impatiently.
It felt like waiting for water to boil for instant noodles: you're already hungry, the pot's on the stove, but those small bubbles just won't appear—and time seems to be moving slower than usual.
Spending all day on the throne like an idiot, that's what I do. I should make a monster to test these new powers of mine, but the effort just seems like too much.
Instead of waiting for that guy to finish his research, I'd better go see Caelus again. I don't even know if he's still alive. If he is, I'm going to teach him a lesson for what he did to me.
Honestly, I'm over the idea of pure revenge. However, I will certainly settle the score for that dark chapter of the past. Of course, I also realize Caelus only attacked me because he was under the influence of his skill.
I swear that was the most tragic and embarrassing defeat in my entire life's track record. I just need to blow off some steam.
"Kouga, Argenta, can you hear me? Come here!" I mentally ordered them to come to my location.
*Knock knock
After a few minutes of waiting, the sound of knocking on the door stopped my daydreaming.
"Lucien-sama, we have arrived. May we come in?" Argenta's voice came through the door.
"You may come in," I replied.
Seeing their faces, which were bright and beaming, annoyed me a little. Tch, typical new couple.
After a moment, the two of them arrived beneath my throne and immediately dropped to one knee.
Kouga spoke first, respectfully:
"Kouga has answered your summons, Lucien-sama."
Argenta followed Kouga's lead, speaking with the same respect:
"Argenta has answered your summons, Lucien-sama."
Afterward, they both spoke at the same time:
"Please give us your command, Lucien-sama!"
Ugh, you guys are so in tune. Must be that new relationship glow, I lamented in my head.
"On your feet!" I instructed, and then clarified, "We're going to a specific location, and you will both accompany me."
They both rose to their feet and replied together:
"Understood, Lucien-sama."
Seriously? They can't stop being coordinated, can they? New lovebirds, I swear, I muttered to myself.
"Good. Both of you grab my shoulders. I'm teleporting us out of here."
Teleportation
The three of us arrived in a set of extremely ancient ruins. I activated a gravity field around myself to isolate the water so Kouga could breathe.
"No change, huh?" I murmured quietly.
"Let me warn you: there is no magical energy in that world, so use your own magical energy wisely," I cautioned.
"'We understand, Lucien-sama,'" they both answered in unison.
Tch
"Argus, reconfigure this runic magic circle so we can pass through it," I instructed Argus in my mind.
Suddenly, a strong suction force pulled the three of us through. After a moment, a ruined world greeted us. I used Universal Detect to thoroughly scan this destroyed world and located the person I was looking for. He was sitting atop a ruined mountain, staring aimlessly into the distance.
That Caelus, has he been getting stronger all this time? The energy radiating from him feels completely absurd. Though to me, it's just like a splash of water. If Argenta were to fight him, she would definitely suffer a crushing defeat. Maybe only Kouga could be his equal, or at least corner him.
"You two can feel it, right?" I asked them.
"Truly, a terrifying aura," Kouga said with a serious expression.
Clenching her hand tightly, Argenta whispered, "I am truly insufficient." She followed up immediately;
"My deepest apologies, Lucien-sama. It is my shortcoming that has tarnished your great name," she stated, keeping her head lowered.
I gave her a gentle pat on the head and said:
"Don't lower your head in shame. This world operates on an unfair principle. The truly powerful are on one side, and the weak are forced to constantly struggle for strength just to stay alive. That's precisely why I focused on increasing my own power until I attained this current rank."
"Just keep striving."
I put both hands in my pockets and casually walked towards Caelus, followed by my two subordinates.
Footsteps echoed in the ruined world, causing Caelus, who was staring in a particular direction, to turn and speak indifferently;
"Who are you? Are you their envoys, and have you come to try and control me?"
Hearing that made me chuckle, and I casually sat down next to him.
I sighed and said;
"Did you forget me that fast? I mean, our fight—or I should say, the time you beat me up—feels like it only happened yesterday. To be forgotten so quickly... sniffle... that makes me sad." I said, pretending to wipe away non-existent tears.
Caelus's pupils contracted, and he spoke in shock;
"Y—you? You're that monster from back then??"
"Remember me now?? Yo... Long time no see, huh? How many years has it been? Over 150 years? Who knows," I said cheerfully.
"Listen, Caelus, you know what happened? That brutal fight left me completely paranoid. I got so afraid and overly careful that my own skill almost turned against me," I commented, dwelling on those memories.
"I nearly lost all my emotions and became a cold, cruel machine that only cared about data that benefited me," I continued.
"I made it past that."
Argenta and Kouga, standing behind me, muttered things that I could still hear;
"So, he's an old acquaintance of Lucien-sama," Argenta said, and Kouga replied;
"Yes, this is the first time I've heard about Lucien-sama past. Umbra-dono never told me about this. Perhaps this is Lucien-sama deepest trauma."
I ignored their conversation.
Gritting my teeth, I said furiously;
"I know you attacked me because of the influence of your unique skill, but—!!"
I stopped speaking, and then angrily unleashed all the pent-up chaos magic energy in my body, along with my Demon Lord's Haki. The ruined world shook violently, space warped, and rocks crumbled into dust.
"Lucien-sama!!! Get a hold of your emotions... ugh," Kouga cried out laboriously while exerting his full strength to resist the blast of magic energy.
"Kouga speaks the truth, Lucien-sama," Argenta supported, simultaneously struggling to hold back the force.
"What kind of power is this?!! I—it can't be!!... Don't tell me? A Demon Lord??!!!" Caelus's pupils severely contracted as he wiped the blood from the corner of his lip.
Caelus was the one who felt the full force of Lucien's magical energy release. He had been briefly struck by the sheer intensity of Lucien's chaotic energy, causing his soul to be slightly injured.
All at once, Argus's voice resonated within my consciousness, which brought a measure of clarity to my mind.
I immediately stopped releasing my energy and let out a soft sigh, then looked at Caelus.
"Hey, you got lucky. Consider the Goddess of Fortune to be hugging you right now. But I can't let this pass just like that."
I pondered briefly before going on;
"What if we strike a bargain? Thoughts? Would you care to listen?"
I had already given this some thought: there's absolutely no profit in killing Caelus compared to utilizing him for my own gain.
"W—what is it?" Caelus asked cautiously.
"No need to be so cautious. Killing you would be as easy as stepping on an ant for me, so it's useless for you to struggle in vain." I paused for a moment before continuing; "This should actually be a beneficial thing for you, since I won't be killing you."
"Would you like to leave this shattered world and experience the world beyond?" I asked coolly.
Caelus questioned with a shaky voice; "I—is such a thing possible?? You aren't going to experiment on me, are you?"
Using Universal Detect, I could sense Caelus's trembling fear and anxiety the moment he mentioned the experiment.
"No. Instead, I have expectations of you. You must be traumatized by your history, right?"
Caelus simply gave a slight nod.
"How about this. Become my subordinate, and I'll get you out of here," I said.
He gave a light nod. "'Alright, is that all?' Caelus asked.
Huh? This is different from the scenario in my head. You were supposed to reject me, choosing death over surrendering your honor to me, and then I'd beat you to a pulp before making you submit. Aren't you being too careless?? I grumbled inwardly.
*Cough, cough
"Th—that's all. But are you sure? Don't you hate someone trying to control you?" I asked, making sure.
Caelus answered; "It's not the same. I'm prepared to follow anyone I consider deserving, but trying to seize control of me is a completely different issue."
Isn't this person being too rash? I muttered inwardly.
"But becoming my subordinate means you must be ready for me to brand your soul with my power. Are you willing to do that?"
" I agree, provided you take me out of this place and don't conduct any experiments on me," Caelus replied coolly.
"Don't worry about that. Oh, by the way, I'm curious about the function of your unique skill. Can I check it later?" I asked. I already had a guess about its function, but I just wanted to confirm.
"Do whatever you want," Caelus replied indifferently.
Seriously? Does this guy have absolutely no caution whatsoever? That's a unique skill, a unique skill!!
Ah, whatever.
"Let's get started. Please turn off your spiritual attack resistance," I said.
"Alright," Caelus replied.
Ahriman Abyssal Dominion
The pattern of a sigil materialized out of thin air, resembling a magic circle, before it penetrated the depths of Caelus's soul. I observed the process with a winning smile.
Smiling faintly, I said to Caelus; "Do you feel anything?"
"I don't feel anything. But maybe... just a little... you've become easier on the eyes"
A tic-tac-toe grid instantly appeared on my brow. Seriously, what was he seeing when he looked at me? Some kind of hideous monster? I might be dateless, but I'm certain I'm good-looking. Yet, I hate to admit it—he's actually better-looking than I am, damn it. I muttered to myself.
"Now, try using your skill for just a moment. I'll analyze it afterward. Maybe I have a solution for you," I suggested.
"Understood" Caelus replied.
For a moment, the energy in Caelus's body suddenly increased drastically. With the Mark I had implanted in his soul, Argus helped me analyze it briefly.
"Okay, stop," I commanded using Ahriman Law Erosion.
"Argus, what's the analysis?"
I figured as much. This skill is arguably like the Degraded version of Milim's (Lord of Wrath Satanael). The Madman boosts magic energy in multiples; exceeding the body's limit instantly triggers insanity. A very potent skill, yet completely a double-edged sword.
"Well, how is it?" Caelus cut short my train of thought.
"Do you feel an immense burden on your body and mind? Does it make you feel easily provoked emotionally?" I asked back, instead of telling him.
"Yes, how did you know? Does this have something to do with my unique skill?"
"Do you know what will happen if you activate your unique skill one more time and enter the state of madness?" I asked.
Not giving Caelus a chance to reply, I answered my own question;
"You'll be annihilated. Yes, annihilated. Even your soul will be gone." I paused for a moment before continuing, "You might be asking if you could still recover from the madness, right? My answer is: 'Impossible.' Do you know why?"
"Why?" Caelus asked anxiously.
"Your body and your soul have already reached their limit. If I had to guess, you've often entered that mad state ever since our last fight. Am I right?... I know how strong you are right now, but I also know how fragile you are right now.... Are you afraid of death?"
"Don't bother replying, I already sensed it from the innermost core of your soul: you keenly desire life and freedom. You truly want to see the world you lost long ago. Correct?"
Caelus fell silent.
"I have a suggestion. Want to hear it?"
"What is it? Do you have an idea? Wait...," Caelus abruptly knelt on one knee respectfully before continuing his speech, saying;
"No, please pardon me, Lucien-sama. I beg you, save your servant... I desire to live... I desire freedom... I want to witness this world."
Watching him like this gave me a pang of guilt.
"My proposal is to move your unique skill from your soul and place it into mine. What's your decision? Do you consent? As compensation, I will grant you my spiritual constitution. Do you accept this? This is likely the most advantageous option I can offer."
"That is excellent! I beg you, Lucien-sama, proceed! This Unique Skill has brought me nothing but suffering, constantly dragging my past back into my mind. Furthermore, you absolutely do not have to give up your spiritual constitution for my sake, Lucien-sama!" Caelus cried out emotionally.
"No, that is my promise. I wouldn't be so petty about things like that. Besides, your unique skill is quite useful to me."
I spoke, then continued, "Are you ready? This might be very painful. I can make you feel nothing if you want me to."
"That won't be necessary, Lucien-sama. I wish to experience the cessation of the thing that has tortured me for so long, regardless of the pain." Caelus's response rendered me silent.
What is wrong with this person? Given a soft bed and a pillow, he opts to sleep on the roadside instead. That's just asking for trouble.
"Let's begin."
"Argus, execute," I ordered mentally.
Simultaneous with Argus detaching the skill from Caelus's core, a mournful shriek echoed across the ruined world. Kouga and Argenta merely watched the entire scene, focused and shocked.
Suddenly, the voice of the world echoed inside my mind.
<
Good! Argus, continue the process!
Fortunately, that went smoothly. But damn it. My magic energy reserves are drained by 50%, that's insane.
"How do you feel?"
Caelus opened his eyes, then felt his body and answered happily;
"I feel it, Lucien-sama. Is this what freedom tastes like?"
At a flick of my wrist, a purplish-black fireball instantly sped toward Caelus, catching him off guard and making his reaction too slow.
Boom
Kouga and Argenta, witnessing the scene, started to shout to intervene, yet they checked themselves when they perceived that Caelus was perfectly fine.
Caelus checked his body, finding no injuries. He was confused because he had sensed that the fireball was powerful enough to hurt him.
"Yep, it worked perfectly," I said.
Argenta, filled with curiosity, asked;
"What was that, Lucien-sama?"
"That is a unique spiritual constitution called Anti-Skill. It possesses the ability to suppress or 'seal' all spiritual or magical powers that come into contact with the user, ranging from auras to magic. It then uses that neutralized power to counteract kinetic energy. It can also deactivate most skills."
Hearing my words, Caelus himself was astonished. He then immediately knelt in reverence.
"Thank you for saving me, Lucien-sama. And thank you for the divine gift you have bestowed upon me. Starting today, I, Caelus, with the Voice of the World as my witness, swear to be the sharpest sword in the world to strike down all of Lord Lucien's enemies. Should I betray this oath, may the Fires of Hell burn my soul eternally, may the world curse me as unclean, and may my name be a blight upon the history of the world forever!"
" I accept your oath," I said offhandedly.
<
Hearing that voice left me speechless.
<
I let out a sigh.
"Caelus, get up!" I instructed.
I walked past him, lightly patted his shoulder, and said;
"From now on, I'll be counting on your help."
The three of them stayed silent for quite a while.
"Ooooiii.. aren't you guys going home?"
Only after I had walked a good distance and shouted did they finally come to their senses.
"Wait for us, Lucien-sama!" the three of them shouted in unison.
I shook my head slightly. Those guys! With a faint smile, I walked with both hands in my pockets toward where the magic circle was.
"Argus, explain to me the Unique Skill: Knight's Oath"
Unique Skill : Knight's Oath
1. [Absolute Fealty]
Grants high-level resistance against Mental attacks and Spiritual attacks. The Knight cannot be controlled, intimidated, or influenced by enemy skills aimed at manipulating the mind or soul.
2. [Guardian's Aegis]
Automatically detects and prioritizes attacks targeting the master. When the master is attacked, this skill will divert the attack toward the knight, simultaneously granting the knight momentary attack nullification to receive the blow.
3. [Master's Retaliation]
Establishes a spiritual connection with the master and leverages the knight's vow to utilize the master's Magicules (with the master's consent) as a Ultimate Attack (Laceratio Lux Mortis).
A light-speed sword attack that slices the enemy with absolute sharpness, inflicting wounds that cannot be healed, and causes the soul to be eroded by the sword's intent.
4. [Emergency Convergence]
The knight can instantly teleport to the master's location when necessary.
"Holy moly! That's more like an Ultimate Skill, there are so many sub-skills!"
With subordinates this capable, I feel confident stepping out into the open. Hello, I'm Sin Lucien.