The Underworld, Luciferad territory.
As the name implies, this is territory belonging to the Great Satan. Within the Devil's lands, situated almost at the center, lies a region that belongs neither to any noble nor to any Pure-blooded Devil house. Instead, it is partitioned under the title of the Great Satan, held as a direct crown land.
At this moment, high above this territory, a massive Sky Dragon soared through the night sky toward a sprawling metropolis.
"You settled those sisters in Luciferad?"
Atop the Sky Dragon's head, Leon and Ravel sat side-by-side, conversing with the dragon beneath them.
"Indeed," Tiamat's voice vibrated from the Sky Dragon's throat. "They aren't magical beasts like I am, after all. They are still young; it would be far too stifling for them to live a monotonous life deep within a forest forever."
"Therefore, I placed them in a manor within Luciferad, allowing them to live the lives of ordinary people."
Luciferad was once the city where the original Lucifer resided—the personal territory of the first Great Satan. It used to be the capital of the Underworld. However, after the Old Satan Faction was completely ousted from the ruling circle, the capital was moved to Lilith. Luciferad became the "Old Capital," no longer the political heart of the Devil world.
Yet, even as the former capital, Luciferad maintained immense popularity in the Underworld due to its legacy. The current administration had not abandoned it but continued its development. Consequently, Luciferad had become a thriving metropolis second only to the new capital, Lilith. It housed numerous administrative agencies and attracted Devils from every corner of the Underworld.
The Great Satans and high-ranking officials still visited frequently to conduct business, and many grand events were held there. Its prosperity was in no way inferior to Lilith's.
Tiamat had deep ties with the Devil hierarchy. Although few knew her true stance, as a recognized ally of the current Great Satan Beelzebub and the underground arbiter of the Rating Games, owning a manor in the Old Capital was a trivial matter for her.
Tiamat herself disliked living in bustling cities, preferring the depths of the Familiar Forest. Had it not been for the psychological well-being of the sisters, she would never have considered keeping a residence in the city.
Now, she was carrying Leon and Ravel toward that very manor in Luciferad.
"What exactly is the origin of these sisters, Lady Tiamat?"
Ravel, unable to contain her curiosity, finally asked the question. Based on what Leon and Tiamat had said, these twin sisters—who might become her comrades—seemed quite extraordinary. Tiamat had previously mentioned that they were neither human nor Devil, nor even magical beasts.
So, what exactly were they? Even Leon had been curious for some time. At this stage, Tiamat saw no reason to keep it a secret any longer.
"Have you heard of the Oni Race?"
Tiamat's words left both Leon and Ravel stunned.
"The Oni Race?" Ravel asked in surprise. "Do you mean the Yokai from folklore?"
In this context, the "Oni" Tiamat referred to were not ghosts, vengeful spirits, or wraiths, but a specific species of Yokai from folk belief. In Japanese legends and local lore, they were often described as tenacious giants with horns on their heads, red or blue skin, and iron clubs in their hands—ferocious monsters with unkempt hair who ate humans and drank heavily.
In this world, Yokai—like Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels—were real biological entities. Thus, as a branch of Yokai, the Oni Race did indeed exist.
However, unlike the legends of blue-faced, fanged monsters, the Oni of this world were generally humanoid beings whose appearance was identical to humans. They were born with immense physical strength; even a three-year-old child could easily swing a hundred-kilogram mace to kill enemies on a battlefield. While they did not eat humans, they were mostly violent by nature. Most notably, when immersed in combat, glowing horns would grow from their heads. At that point, their strength would increase exponentially, and their temperament would become even more ferocious. They were considered a warrior race second only to Dragons.
They had appeared many times in history, not only enslaving humans but also causing havoc alongside other Yokai during events like the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. They had clashed with humanity many times and had been slain by powerful heroes. For instance, the legendary Shuten-doji and Ibaraki-doji of Mt. Oe were famously slain by Minamoto no Raiko's "Four Heavenly Kings."
Thus, the Oni were a formidable warrior race. Though not as terrifying as the Dragon Race—the undisputed strongest species—they were among the elite Yokai. In terms of raw combat power, they even outclassed the Nekomata who could manipulate Senjutsu.
But...
"Wasn't the Oni Race wiped out?" Ravel asked.
Leon searched his memories for the history he had read in books. It was said that because the Oni were too warlike, their population had dwindled over the centuries. By the modern era, they had become exceedingly rare, with only a few isolated villages hidden from the world.
Ten years ago, the village believed to be the last habitat of the Oni was reportedly destroyed by a group of stray cultists. Every Oni in the village was slaughtered; no one was believed to have survived. Therefore, the general consensus was that the Oni Race was extinct.
Tiamat's voice reached their ears.
"The Oni Race is indeed on the brink of extinction. However, ten years ago, I happened to pass by that slaughtered Oni village. I rescued a pair of children who were fighting to the very end against the stray cultists."
At this point, Leon and Ravel understood exactly what was happening.
"So, the sisters you want to give to Lord Leon are those two Oni children you rescued?" Ravel's eyes lit up.
Survivors of the Oni Race—that truly was rare talent for a peerage. Oni were born with physical power that was arguably second only to Dragons. Once their horns were activated, a single strike could shatter mountains and part seas. They were the ultimate combatants. Even as minors, an Oni with their horns active could contend with a High-Class Devil. An adult Oni, even without activating their horns, was nearly equal to a High-Class Devil, and were said to be peerless once their horns manifested. This was the source of their legendary fame.
Now that the race was virtually extinct, these sisters were likely the last survivors. If they could be recruited into the Eligos peerage, it would be a massive boost to their strength.
"The prerequisite is that your master can successfully reincarnate them," Tiamat added, pouring cold water on their excitement. "To be honest, those sisters are special even among the Oni, a race already teeming with powerhouses."
"Because they are twins, they were born with only one horn each. They are the exceedingly rare 'One-Horned Oni'."
"The horn is the source of an Oni's power, and the race takes great pride in possessing two. Consequently, twin Oni born with only one horn were usually treated as trash and discarded; they almost never survived."
"But these sisters survived, and they fought to the end as children during the massacre ten years ago."
These words were enough to prove how unique the sisters were. Tiamat's next words confirmed it.
"The elder sister is exceptionally gifted, a once-in-a-century genius of the Oni Race. Before the age of ten, she was already the strongest in the village, receiving the praise and expectations of her parents and kin."
"The younger sister's talent is far inferior to the elder's, but she possesses a trait where she enters a state of total berserk and massive power gain once her horn is activated. In this state, only her elder sister could stop her. She was deeply feared by the villagers."
"The clan referred to the pair as the 'One-Horned Oni Gods.' Each hidden within her a terrifying power."
The "One-Horned Oni Gods."
If nothing else, simply being granted such a title spoke volumes about their strength and uniqueness.
"No wonder so many Devils were unable to reincarnate them..." Ravel muttered under her breath. Just hearing the description made her realize how difficult the task would be. If it were just one of them, a single Mutation Piece might suffice. But if both sisters had to be taken together, it became a monumental challenge.
"Honestly, if you weren't such a special existence yourself, I wouldn't be optimistic about your chances of taking those sisters," Tiamat remarked.
"Because of your mutation trait, all your Evil Pieces possess the properties of Mutation Pieces, don't they?"
As such, Leon might be the only one capable of meeting the reincarnation requirements for those two.
"I hope you succeed. That way, those sisters will finally have a place to belong."
As Tiamat spoke, she began her descent. Ahead of them, a prosperous city appeared on the ground.
The outskirts of Luciferad.
In a relatively secluded rural area sat a luxurious manor. This estate was shrouded in mystery; it was said that no one knew the owner's identity. Only a pair of maids would occasionally venture into the city to shop. Otherwise, no one else was ever seen. This sparked many rumors in the city.
Some said an ancient Devil lived there, and those who gained his approval would receive his legacy and rise to prominence. Others said a hidden treasure was buried there, with wealth enough to buy an entire city. Some whispered that a terrifying monster was sealed within, and anyone who trespassed might break the seal and endanger the Underworld. There were even rumors that a powerful weapon slept in the manor, and whoever claimed it could dominate the Underworld and become a Great Satan.
Because of these rumors, many Devils had attempted to break in over the years. Ultimately, they were either driven out by the two maids or vanished into thin air, never to emerge again. Over time, the manor became a forbidden zone that countless Devils coveted yet feared. No one dared to wander in anymore.
But today, guests arrived.
"We are here."
Tiamat had shifted into her human form. Along with Leon and Ravel, she descended from mid-air and landed before the manor's front gate.
Click—
Almost simultaneously, the manor gates swung open, and two figures slowly walked out. They were a pair of girls who looked exactly alike—identical in height, build, and features, as if carved from the same mold.
The girls wore identical outfits: a black-themed maid uniform that exposed their delicate shoulders, paired with a short skirt that clearly outlined their curves, giving off a slightly provocative aesthetic.
Wearing identical uniforms and white headdresses, and with their identical features, a stranger might have thought there was a mirror between them reflecting the same person. Of course, there were subtle differences.
The girl on the left had large pink eyes and pink neck-length hair, with her fringe covering her left eye. Her frame was slender, and her curves were less pronounced.
The girl on the right had large blue eyes and blue neck-length hair, with her fringe covering her right eye. She was the same height and build as her sister but was more curvaceous.
Any observer could tell they were twin sisters.
They seemed to have sensed Tiamat's arrival. As they came out to greet her, they bowed respectfully like genuine maids.
"Welcome back, Lady Tiamat."
"Welcome back, Lady Tiamat."
The sisters' voices were remarkably similar, and their movements were synchronized and precise. There was no trace of the warlike Oni Race in their behavior.
"I'm back, Ram, Rem."
Tiamat's cold aura seemed to soften considerably upon seeing the twins as she nodded to them. Behind Tiamat, Ravel was observing the twins intently.
Leon, however, narrowed his eyes and marveled inwardly.
It really is them—
After hearing Tiamat's description, he had already suspected they might be characters he recognized. As it turned out, his guess was spot on.
"These are the last descendants of the Oni Race. On the left is the elder sister, Ram; on the right is the younger sister, Rem," Tiamat said to Leon.
"Now, it's up to your own ability."
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