Barely twenty minutes later, the three demons returned, Vanta looking larger than before and his liquid darkness noticeably thicker.
“I see that it went well.” Corvin smiled. “Did you have your fill?” Corvin asked.
“Thank you, Master. That was a nice meal!” Vanta spoke, his voice making the men behind him shake in fear.
Corvin then turned to Brael and Lucian, who were oddly quiet. “What is it? Did you let some escape?”
“No. All are dead; not a soul will speak of what happened here tonight.” Lucian muttered.
“Then what is it?” Corvin pressed.
“Master, the horrors we witnessed. I wouldn’t wish them upon anyone.” Brael spoke darkly.
“What?” Corvin lowered his voice.
“He ate them alive from the inside out while they were still alive. The screams, the horrors...” Brael explained.
“And the stench. Oh, the stench...” Lucian gagged.
“What, never seen a Shadewalker hunt? It’s a perfectly natural thing.” Vanta said, confused.
Corvin chuckled. “Alright, you can go back, guys. I appreciate your help.”
Then he opened a portal. “See you later, honey. Call me tonight if you wish.” Vex blew him a kiss and led the others back through.
Lucian shrank down and jumped into Corvin’s lap, Corvin cradling him like a baby.
“There, there. Bad Vanta won’t get you.” Corvin laughed.
Nera shook her head. “Spoiled cat. If only I could be cradled like that.” She hissed, jealousy thick in her voice.
“Well then, you four, what will you do now? I doubt this place is safe any longer. I could take you back with us to Trison.” Corvin said as he turned toward them.
“We just want to live.” One of the three said through tears, and the other two nodded in agreement.
“I want nothing more than to rip apart the ones who ordered this, but life is not that fair. Just leave me here to kill whoever else comes.” The old chief growled, grasping his demonic-looking battleaxe.
“Chief, please, you have done enough. You might not have long left as it is. Please just find peace.” One of the fishermen cried out.
“What if I could offer you power? In return, you would need to join me. See, I plan on destroying the Empire, all the Churches, and all the Cults on this continent and every other one. I will purge them all.” Corvin spoke with complete conviction.
The four men paused, their eyes shining as they hung on every word Corvin spoke.
“What use would you have for an old man? I barely have any skills anyway. It’s not easy to gain more with this cursed Icon.” He muttered.
Omega, would he gain skills like other demons by eating their hearts and absorbing demonic power? Corvin asked.
[Affirmative. Even though he is genetically human, his Icon is linked to the demonic energy of the Fate Network.]
[By my calculations, unlocking skills should work the same for him as for any other demon. The only difference is that he does not possess bloodline abilities or a Battle Form.]
[Let’s call it a poor man’s demon. Just like the Saints of the Churches. They might wield the power of angels, but they are nowhere near the real thing.]
Understood. Thanks, Omega, you are the best! Corvin whispered.
“I can help you with that. You just need to hunt some demons and eat their hearts. That’s your ticket to gaining more skills. Simple, isn’t it?” Corvin smiled darkly.
The men gasped while the old chief fell to one knee, thinking it through.
“And I would be able to have vengeance for my villagers? For all the children and women who died at the hands of those bloodthirsty monsters?” He asked hopefully.
“I promise it.” Corvin nodded and extended his hand. “Just accept me.”
“Chief, don’t. You are selling your soul to a demon.” One of the fishermen cried out.
“What soul? My mother made sure I had none.” He cried out and grabbed Corvin’s hand.
As he did, Corvin activated Crow’s Seal, and a surge of the Sovereign’s power flowed into the old man, binding him to Corvin. In return for never betraying him and fighting by his side, he would be given the power to stand on his own.
As the Crow’s Seal fused into him, Corvin used Runic Inkworld as well, inscribing a rune onto the man’s palm, increasing his already surging power by another thirty percent.
The old man roared. His body grew slightly larger, and his weathered skin became younger.
He stood and clenched his fists before laughing. “I don’t feel a day over one hundred. Thank you... Uhm, I never asked for your name, my lord.” The chief said, embarrassed.
“It’s Corvin, and you are?”
“I am Khrol Moriarty, though most know me as Old Silver.” He smiled, his eyes shining with life.
[Khrol Moriarty, Lv. 127] [HP: 20,174 / 20,174] [MP: 500 / 500] [Icon: Werebeast]
[Potential: B-Rank] [Rarity: Rare] [Max Level: 300] [Specialization: Demonic Lunar Werewolf]
Hmm, not bad. I wonder if I can make them all stronger than what their Icons allow? I guess we will see.
“Alright, come on. Let’s move. No use idling here any longer. Say your goodbyes to your loved ones. I will wait for you down the slope.” Corvin said solemnly and descended with Nera and Lucian.
***
An hour later.
They walked slowly alongside the grief-stricken men and arrived at the cave early in the morning.
“What happened?” Graves awaited them outside.
Corvin sent the men inside to rest while he gathered the group, including Mina and Liara, and retold the events of the night.
Iris summoned the power of her new body and struck a nearby stone, shattering it into gravel.
“That village, all gone because of us?” Liara gasped, her eyes swelling with tears as her blonde hair fell across her face.
“Not because of us. Nobody told them to kill the whole fucking village just because they thought someone might say something. That’s fucking insane.” Mina shouted.
“Do you see now why we need to fight back?! They will erase everything they deem a threat. Be it honest men, innocent women and children, revered elders, anyone will die if they believe they stand in the way!” Graves shouted, mana flaring around him.
“Well, you know, luckily there are no other villages in this whole region, right?” Corvin asked.
“Indeed, there are none. Well, especially now.” Graves muttered.
“May they find peace in Azrael’s arms,” Ortho whispered reverently, making Mina roll her eyes.
“If I may ask, what is with such deep worship of an Archangel of Death, especially when you know what they are doing and what the Church has done in his name?” Corvin asked Ortho.
“The ancestors of the Velestridians were once elves, but they were corrupted by the demonic. Lord Azrael fought that demon and severed that connection, bringing us back to the light. From that day forward, we worship only Lord Azrael and no one else. It doesn’t matter if all the others are flawed; he is our savior.” Ortho said with reverent conviction.
“What if you have to fight him one day? What if he is worse than the demons?” Corvin questioned.
“Then I would fight him and bring the freedom of death to either one of us. As it should be!” Ortho declared, his eyes shining.
That could be the reason why he adapted so quickly to Brael’s powers and why his arm works perfectly even with an Icon related to the divine. These Velestridians are certainly special.
“I understand. Your conviction is admirable.” Corvin nodded.
“Hah, or insane!” Mina scoffed while Corvin scanned Ortho.
I have not checked his Icon yet.
[Ortho Veles, Lv. 142] [HP: 23,380 / 23,380] [MP: 1,460 / 1,460] [Icon: Sentinel]
[Potential: A-Rank] [Rarity: Rare] [Max Level: 200] [Specialization: 76%]
Really good. Damn, this Graves had assembled quite a group, yet they all almost died. Not even fancy Icons can save you in this world. Maybe it’s not so bad that old Corvin was born Iconless.
[I told you so, didn’t I?]
Yeah, yeah. My whole fucking life is a blessing, isn’t it? He scoffed.
“How much longer until the teleport?” Corvin asked.
“Just a little over a day. Let’s lay low for now!” Graves suggested.
“Alright, might as well do some fishing.”
Corvin took out a simple lizardman fishing rod, bought a bucket of worms, and walked down to the shore.
“He sure knows how to relax.” Mina chuckled as she watched him go.
***
Later that evening, Corvin made fish soup, grilled fish, and even braised fish. His Fishing skill leveled up to Level 3 as he spent a good part of the day relaxing his mind.
“I didn’t know that you could cook like this!” Iris gasped as she drank an entire bowl of soup.
“Hah, you have seen nothing yet!” Nera hissed proudly, swallowing a piece of grilled fish.
“Young Master is a masterful chef. Even better than my private cooks.” Lucian bragged.
“I have been a fisherman my whole life, and I have never tasted fish prepared like this.” One of the fishermen gasped.
“It just takes a lot of practice and a bit of magic.” Corvin smiled, noticing someone staring at him. He turned. “What is it now?” He growled at Mina.
“Nothing, just thinking.” She said simply.
“About mating, probably...” Lucian teased as he chewed.
Mina blushed and scoffed. “As if, hah! Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Come with me. We need to talk.” Corvin stood and left the large tent.
Everyone pretended they had seen nothing as Mina sighed and followed.
***
Corvin stood on the shore, watching the moon’s reflection dance across the water while the waves rolled in a slow, rhythmic fashion.
“What is your problem with me?” Corvin asked simply, without much pretense.
“My whole life, I was taught to hate demons, and now one is trying to take over a guild I helped build. You tell me.” She replied fiercely.
“I am not taking over anything, and I am not a demon. I already explained that.” Corvin exhaled, annoyed.
“You made all our best raiders serve you. How is that not taking over? And stop with the nice-guy act; you have an elite group of demons at your call.” Mina pressed.
“Look, I don’t care what you think of me, but you need to stop with the hostility. And I don’t do the ‘nice guy’ act. Frankly, I don’t care what people think of me enough to pretend I’m something I’m not.” Corvin shrugged.
Mina remained silent, watching him closely while he let out a long breath.
“And regarding the other thing. I am not interested. You are pretty, but we are not compatible. Find someone more normal.” Corvin said and turned to walk away, only for Mina to grab him by the arm.
“Who gave you the right to tell me what to do? And don’t flatter yourself. You might be pleasant to look at, but you are nothing but a villain.” She scoffed.
“Likewise.” Corvin pulled his arm free and left her standing there fuming.
***
As he walked, he sensed a ripple within the link.
It’s finally time, huh?
He turned and headed deeper into the darkness, far from the camp.
He summoned the two large black translucent eggs covered in purple veins.
The eggs pulsed faster and faster before finally cracking open, and two nearly identical demons fell out.
Their bodies were dark violet, with countless abyssal runes engraved deep into their skin, making them look like living magic. Two horns grew from each of their foreheads, and between them rested a single abyssal eye, black as living ink.
They looked similar to the brothers Corvin had fought before, but smaller and calmer, their rage and madness contained.
“Father!” The duo spoke in unison.
“I am not your father. I killed you.” Corvin answered.
“You brought us back and gave us a purpose. You are our father.” They spoke in unison once more.
“What is your purpose?” Corvin asked.
“To be your weapons, to cleave through your enemies and bring you ever closer to rule, Father.” They replied reverently.
“A little extreme, but I don’t mind that. What about your powers?”
The two rose and summoned sabers forged from violet energy. Their runes began to glow, and the pair merged into a single massive two-headed demon with four arms, each wielding a violet saber.
“Good. Release.” Corvin nodded, satisfied.
The giant shimmered and split back into two identical twins. “Take these. They should fit you well.”
Corvin tossed them some armor he had taken from the Empire’s soldiers.
They donned red tunics and golden plates, making them look like royal guardians.
[Violet Twins, Kar & Zgar Lv. 233 & Lv. 233] [HP: 57,289 / 57,289] [MP: 1,400 / 2,600]
They are weaker than before, but that doesn’t matter. They will grow. He nodded.
“Come to me.” He ordered.
The twins approached and knelt before him.
Corvin activated Crow’s Seal and Runic Inkworld while also pouring a bit of divinity into them to increase their resistance.
Probably don’t need the Seal, but just in case...
They screamed as the divinity burned through them, but when it was done, they rose smiling. “Father, you blessed us!? We feel as though divinity can’t harm us like before. Thank you!” They bowed deeply.
“Well, you need to receive a welcome gift.” Corvin smiled. “Now go back and get to know your new comrades.”
Corvin opened a portal to the Demonic Plane.
The two nodded and stepped through, leaving Corvin alone in the darkness.
Well, I understand her. If anyone saw or heard this, they would think that I’m a demon incarnate, walking these lands to kill and pillage. He burst into laughter. “Ridiculous...”
And then he walked back.