Tap the text to show or hide reading controls.
The hell demon who barged in exuded a dreadful aura.
Each step shook the palace, his footprints igniting and crumbling to ash.
Some of Illinas’s minions obstructed him, but he swatted them aside with ease.
Only when one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Magnia, Lord of Flame, leveled his spear by the throne did the demon halt.
The demon bared his fangs and growled at Illinas.
“Illinas! What is this outrage?! You dare steal my patron?!”
Illinas simply looked down at him in silence.
Then Magnia spoke.
“Show respect to the Great Demon King.”
“Great Demon King? Respect?”
The demon snorted and seized the spear. A scorching heat poured into it, glowing red-hot.
SZZZZ—
Smoke hissed from Magnia’s grip as his flesh seared.
Yet he did not flinch. True to his title, “Lord of Flame,” such heat barely touched him.
Magnia met his eyes and spoke.
“Do you truly mean to fight me here?”
His voice carried an overwhelming force.
When his eyes sharpened with killing intent, the demon flinched back.
Just then.
Black smoke appeared, blocking his path.
It swept over his body, then coalesced into a form.
It was Shador, the dark warlock, robed in deep violet with golden embroidery.
His left sleeve fluttered strangely, but the serpent staff in his right hand radiated dreadful energy.
It was of a different quality than Magnia’s.
Far more dangerous, colder.
The demon stiffened and stepped back. Shador spoke.
[What is your name?]
His voice was strange—not heard, but resounding in the mind.
Irresistible.
Compelled, the demon answered.
“Abaddon.”
Shador’s lips curved—he had what he wanted. He began the ritual.
The so-called “False Covenant Curse.”
It binds the soul through a false promise.
Having spoken his true name, Abaddon could not resist.
Shador’s cracked violet eyes gleamed as he spoke.
[Abaddon. You have already sworn loyalty to me. Have you forgotten so soon?]
Abaddon blinked, bewildered. Shador pressed on.
[Unconditional obedience. That is what your life was worth when you sought me. Or will you give up that life here and now?]
His gaze flared, and Abaddon finally shook his head.
“N-no.”
[You deny it with words, yet your actions defy me. Daring to stand tall before me.]
At his chilling rebuke, Abaddon dropped to one knee.
“I-I apologize.”
Now Abaddon was fully ensnared.
Shador looked down at him and finished.
[Now return. I will summon you when needed.]
“Yes.”
Abaddon bowed, touched his amulet, and vanished into shadow.
After ending the uproar so swiftly, Shador glanced at Magnia, then strode forward and knelt before Illinas.
“I have returned, My Lord.”
Illinas’s sharp gaze swept over him.
“Your skill has grown.”
It was rare praise, but Shador showed no response.
To Illinas, it was rather puzzling.
Why was Shador, who had so easily driven out a hell demon, acting this way?
And that fluttering left sleeve.
Seeing it, something became clear.
“Could it be you failed to kill Damian?”
“I am sorry.”
Shador bowed his head even lower.
That look made it obvious he had failed.
“Even if he is a spirit, he’s still just a low-grade mage. It seems he must have gained some new power.”
“……”
Shador did not answer this time either.
Understandable.
Shador was the most powerful sorcerer in both the Demon Realm and the mortal world.
For him to fail his mission, his pride must have been deeply wounded.
Illinas rose from his seat.
Normally he punished subordinates for failure, but this time he didn’t want to.
After all, Shador had instantly subdued Abaddon’s rampage, and his loyalty thus far had been remarkable.
Such a capable subordinate deserved at least one forgiveness, a chance to soothe his spirit.
‘That way, he can be used more effectively.’
Illinas approached and helped him up.
“Do not be overly ashamed. If you failed, you must have had reason.”
“My Lord.”
“Come with me. Let us talk.”
Illinas led him into a portal standing on the right side of the palace.
A portal shimmering with faint black energy.
It connected to a chamber deep beneath the fortress.
The underground of the Citadel of Ruins ran very deep.
So deep that only Illinas and the high demons knew what truly lay there.
Illinas and Shador arrived at a vast chamber.
It was filled with huge eggs, each incubating various demonic beasts.
Illinas stood before a massive egg in one corner.
When he touched it, the shell turned transparent, revealing the beast within.
A huge, grotesque beast.
It resembled a rhinoceros with two horns, but nearly ten times larger.
Illinas lifted his hand toward its heart, where a thin soul-thread reached toward the surface. Beneath the heart was a rough inscription, as if carved with a blade.
It was written in the language of demons.
Illinas studied the heart, name, and soul-thread carefully, then spoke.
“As you said, he still lives. Stronger than before, even.”
He turned to Shador and asked:
“Explain what happened.”
Shador spoke with a blank expression.
“As you said, My Lord, he came in spirit form. I attempted to cut him down with the Soul Harvester, but his skill far exceeded my expectations. I barely managed to prevail, but…”
“So, you barely escaped with your life.”
Illinas corrected him, and Shador bowed his head.
“My apologies. It was my first time fighting a spirit, I could not withstand it.”
Illinas’s eyes flickered, rage flaring for a moment before settling.
If Shador failed, any of the Four Heavenly Kings would have too.
It was not Shador’s fault.
It was Illinas’s own fault for underestimating Damian.
Illinas gazed at the massive beast growing inside the egg.
The beast was called Crikera, a mid-tier demonic beast. He had linked Damian’s soul to it, believing his soul to be of just that grade.
When Damian’s soul was fully harvested, he planned to give him Crikera’s body and enslave him.
But now Crikera was clearly unfit. Even as a spirit, to defeat Shador meant much.
‘He might even be a worthy new Heavenly King.’
Illinas promptly severed the thread bound to the heart.
Then he walked slowly to the other side, where several special-looking eggs lay.
They were smaller than Crikera’s but radiated far denser demonic energy.
Illinas stood before the leftmost one.
Its shell was studded with sharp horns, and a faint red glow surrounded it.
When he placed his hand on it, the inside became clear once more.
A well-built demonkin.
A demonkin resembling Magnia or Shador.
Illinas tied the severed soul-thread to its heart.
But with one pulse, bubbles surged within the egg.
The body, though unconscious, twitched its fingers, opened its eyes briefly, then shut them.
Seeing that reaction, Illinas smiled.
“Amazing. That Damian’s soul reacts even to a high-class demon’s body. Now I see why you struggled, Shador.”
“You must not take him lightly. He had power I did not know of.”
“What that is, I cannot easily guess. But still—”
Illinas drew a heart from his robe.
It was Vladimir’s heart, taken earlier in the palace.
He placed it into the egg beside.
At once, a far stronger reaction began.
The egg turned crimson as if heated, bubbling furiously inside.
And then.
CRACK—
The egg split open, revealing a demonkin.
It was larger than the one beside it.
Huge, solid muscles, and four menacing horns.
And bony wings sprouting from its back.
Its face greatly resembled Vladimir’s in life.
Freshly hatched, it looked startled, but quickly turned serious.
Mind controllers gathered around, telepathically informing him of the situation.
Realizing how he had died and what he was reborn as, he knelt before Illinas.
“My Lord. This humble Vladimir greets you.”
“No. That is not your name.”
Illinas placed his hand on the creature’s head, weighing many things.
Strength and ability.
Talent and resolve.
Potential and near future.
After considering it all, Illinas spoke.
“Your name is Vergas. From now on, Vergas the Berserker. You shall aid Shador.”
“I obey.”
Vergas bowed once more.
Illinas smiled at Shador.
“Continue the pursuit with him. Damian’s fate-line feels ominous. If left alone, he will interfere with me.”
“But My Lord, it is your law not to touch one under contract. Breaking it may bring you harm.”
Shador spoke truth.
The Great Demon King’s contracts, tied to the Heavenly Demon Realm, differed from those of lesser demons.
He could not directly harm petitioners or patrons, and once compensated, he was bound to fulfill their vow.
These restrictions stemmed from heavenly law.
Using powers from the heavens meant he was bound by them.
This was why Illinas could not kill Damian directly, instead seeking to erase his master in the past, who had caused his regression.
Hearing Shador’s words, Illinas slowly nodded.
Then he touched Shador’s left shoulder, and the severed arm slowly regenerated.
When it was whole again, Shador spoke.
“I understand your warning well. I shall find a way. You pursue him with Vergas.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Shador immediately prostrated himself.
As he bowed, a green gleam flickered in his eyes.
Reading Settings
#49 / 182
Have a story of your own? Write it on SDO Originals.
Start writingYou may also like
![Only I Can Choose as Many S-Class Rare Items and Broken Skills as I Want With the Awakened [Schrödinger's Cat]! (WN)](https://skydemonorder.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/covers/cMjMpG3WevBCUu9cpOKttkhzZcot94mD6ovsRqKB.jpg)
99 chapters
Only I Can Choose as Many S-Class Rare Items and Broken Skills as I Want With the Awakened [Schrödinger's Cat]! (WN)
230 chapters
