"But tell me… why should I spare you, boy? What reason do I have not to crush you like the rest of these insects?"
The voice was cold, cruel—yet disturbingly calm.
Liam—no, Astro—felt his heart pound like a war drum. His mind raced in every direction. I can't die here. Not again.
This wasn't a dream. It was too vivid, too heavy. He didn't know if he could ever return to his old world… but just like he told Maria to live for both of them, he too wanted to live—for her, and for himself.
Desire to live.
But then a thought sparked. No, wait. He's a devil. Devils have desires too. If slaughter was his only goal, I'd already be dead. The fact that he's wasting his time on me means… I have something he wants.
"You're curious, aren't you?" Astro spoke up, forcing his trembling voice into steadiness. "These mages summoned you through this ritual, and I was supposed to be the sacrifice. But somehow… I'm still here. Alive and kicking. Doesn't that make you wonder why?"
The demon looked at Astro like an idiot . "Alive, yes. Kicking, no. But you are correct. You should be nothing more than a corpse—and yet, here you are. How intriguing."
In the blink of an eye, the demon was before him. Astro flinched. Even tied high upon the ritual stake, he found himself face-to-face with those burning red eyes. Just meeting that gaze made his body scream in terror, but he clenched his teeth and refused to look away.
"Maybe I know why," Astro said. "If you promise not to kill me, I'll tell you."
The devil chuckled, voice laced with ridicule. "Hahaha… deal with a devil? Do you truly believe my word carries honor?"
"No," Astro shot back quickly. "But I can tell that you don't have much time left in this world. Otherwise, you would've already experimented on me to learn the truth yourself. You're curious… but you're also in a rush."
The mockery faded from the devil's eyes, replaced by a bit of helplessness. He leaned closer, his presence still suffocating. "Go on."
"I'm not the original Astro," Liam said, voice steady now. "I… reincarnated here, into this boy's body. I come from another world. A world with no magic, no devils—yet full of its own wonders, its own stories. That's what interests you, isn't it?"
The demon's expression twitched. "…Another world? Impossible. Even Edolas has magic."
"Edolas?" Astro echoed. His memory flashed—snippets of Fairy Tail he'd once watched on a screen during long hospital stays.
He didn't know the full story, only fragments: guilds, adventures, Fiore… the bonds between friends. His chest ached at the thought. I was supposed to watch more, but Maria never let me…I never understood why.
His drifting thoughts shattered as the demon's voice cut through.
"Looks like my time is nearly up." The devil's body flickered with cracks of light, fading.
"So demons can't remain here for long… guess I was right," Astro muttered under his breath.
"What a shame," the devil said, lips curling. "I would have liked to hear more of this 'world without magic.'" He paused, eyes narrowing with a dangerous gleam. "Unless… you become my vassal."
Astro's breath caught. "Y-You want me to give you this body?"
The devil scoffed. "Hardly. Why would I lower myself to a fragile mortal shell? No… I want you to be my subordinate. My vassal. In return, I will grant you power—my power. Once a year, I will manifest, and you will tell me more about your world. That is my price."
Astro's mind whirled. If I refuse, I die here. Even if this demon leaves, I'm still tied up in a royal castle of Inca. I'll be executed or worse. And outside this place… a world full of danger waits. I have no choice.
He clenched his fists. "…Alright. I'll take your offer, Alvemak Blackmist. I'll be your vassal."
The demon's grin widened, his fangs gleaming in the flickering ritual light. "Wise choice, boy. Do not disappoint me. Tell me your name."
For a moment, Liam almost slipped. "Lia—" He stopped, then smiled bitterly. "…No. Call me Astro."
The devil chuckled. "Very well, Astro. From this day forth, I give you my name. You will bear the title of Blackmist. And I grant you my gift…" His voice rose like thunder, shaking the very air.
"From this moment, you are a Devil Slayer. A Sky Devil Slayer!..HAHAHAHA "
His laughter echoed across the chamber, a booming sound that rattled Astro's bones—then faded as the demon's form dissolved into nothingness.
But the power did not fade with him.
Astro gasped as his body convulsed. Mana surged into his veins like a flood. He could feel the wind itself, every whisper of air against his skin, every cut in the ground, every drop of blood soaking the ritual floor.
Too much. Too much.
Information poured into his mind, suffocating him in sensation. His vision blurred. His head felt like it was going to split apart.
So this… is the power of a Devil Slayer…?
But before he could steady himself, the doors of the ritual chamber creaked open. Heavy footsteps echoed against the stone. Soldiers. Voices.
"Wait. that boy…Check if the sacrifice still lives!"
Astro's eyes widened. He was still tied to the stake. His body trembled with power he couldn't control. If they see me like this…!
The ropes snapped under the surge of his mana, but his knees buckled as the torrent of new strength threatened to tear him apart from the inside.
The soldiers drew nearer, their torches casting long shadows across the chamber.
And then—his vision went black.