"Light within my heart hear my call! Purge the devils that dare stand in my path!"
u003cLight's Judgmentu003e
Mikael made the battle arena overflow with Light qi as he attacked the devils with all his might! The criminals that dared to stand in his path where swiftly burnt to a crisp from such a strong and overbearing attack. All the criminals hearts skipped a beat as they felt like they were losing something as their very souls were purged by the light. It only happened for a split second but that split second in life and death was enough.
Mikael breathed easy after that. His u003cLight's Judgmentu003e was still very far from where it was in his previous life. It took all he had to purge these 10 devils with the light. Mikael's mastery of the Light Dao was much stronger than his devilry would allow.
He could not even connect with the G.o.ddess he worshiped in his previous life to empower his light. Devils mastered Daos much differently than humans did he guessed. He still did not know if they had Devil G.o.ds some worshiped to make them stronger. It seemed in the Abyss he could only worry about his own mastery of the Light Dao to strengthen himself.
Mikael's faith in his G.o.ddess had been extinguished after being reincarnated as a devil. He would find his own new path in the Light Dao in the Abyss. When he was a human he had never seen a devil practice Light Dao. Most of them seemed weak to it, after gaining the Light Dao himself he found it was not all too uncommon. He figured devils weren't weak to the light itself, only the G.o.ds blessing flowing through the Light Arts made them weak to it.
"Good Good Good" said the burly devil. "Your insights into the Light Dao is unmatched. I've never been able to see a decedent use their Devil Arts so effectively at the Esquire level. You even self created these Arts giving this Devil Ancestor face."
"How can your old Devil Ancestor make your path smoother?" questioned the burly devil.
"I hope to expedition into the Wesser Forest Devil Ancestor. I desire more combat to break into the Devil Knight realm. I also need a good Devil Art for Light Dao to help me gain more understanding."
The burly devil pondered for a bit.
"I recently punished that brat James with having to head to the Wesser Forest. I want you to make sure he is properly reformed in his stay there. Heres the [Conjuris Luminus Art] it is a Tier 3 Devil Art of the Light Dao. Quickly break through to the Devil Knight realm. You will be given an official clan post overseeing operations of the Hazel Canopy, one of the Knight camps in Wesser Forest. We must foster your leadership abilities. I hope you can make me proud Mikael."
"Thank you Devil Ancestor! I will not let you down!"
Across town, James finally received his punishment from the Devil Ancestor. He would have to serve faithfully at the Hazel Canopy Knight Camp until his two years of service were done. Only then would he be allowed to return to society. Most Hudson clan members took up these postings by choice as they would come with a stipend of clan contribution points and fel shards.
James began to study the map he had received from the Codex showing the location of Sybil. He couldn't wait to enter the forest and try his luck. Growing up he had been on many children's camp expeditions into Wa.s.sax forest so he understood the general layout of the forest and what the most common demon beasts were capable of. This was general education for the Hudson clan as the forest was a valuable natural resource for them.
The Wesser Forest had many camp grounds managed by the Hudson clan. In these camps adventurers could resupply all their needs while hunting in the Wesser Forest. They could find lodging, clean water, and a hot meal. They could have the the demon beast corpses butchered and appraised as well as fel herbs they found appraised. Adventures could choose to sell them at the camps or keep them.
These camps were where the chief revenues of the Hudson clan came from. Obviously most people sold whatever they hunted directly at the camps to quickly get fel shards. Hudson clan gave a fair price, but it was under market. It was more convenient for adventurers to sell their gains immediately and continue hunting than trying to find somewhere to sell them then coming all the way back. Storage was limited, if you were killing a lot of demon beasts every day you could not hold all the corpses.
All these resources were resold in bulk throughout the Rez'gal Empire by the Hudson clan. Hudson City was really considered a staging city. Anyone who wanted to try their luck would spend an extended time at the various camps in Wesser forest. The camp grounds were in different areas depending on the strength of the demon beasts that surrounded them. There were camps ranging from the Esquire level to the Marquess level, with the higher areas being unmanaged.
People would only have to purchase a hunting license from the Hudson Clan to try their luck in a camp ground. The unregulated areas however these were incredibly dangerous. Being left unregulated meant there were possibly Duke level or above demon beasts. Hudson clan guaranteed you would not find a demon beast stronger than the designation of the area.
That's where the management of the camps were involved. They would have to diligently manage the camp grounds they were responsible for ensuring no demon beasts stronger than the camp grounds designation were present. Only the strongest members of Hudson clan were bravely forging new camp grounds in the large Wesser forest.
People trusted the camp grounds, it was profitable to hunt within them. Devils could gain valuable battle training as well as resources. For common people that were not backed by large organizations or clans, places like Wesser forest were where they would improve themselves.
James headed to the slums to find Kyle. He had not seen Kyle in months. After letting him get beat up he was ashamed. As a young master all his lackeys should feel safe and have undying loyalty, knowing nothing could happen to them under James' protection. He had gotten due compensation for Kyle's troubles though. The Knight level Wood Dao Art would be very helpful to Kyle as a Esquire level cultivator.
"Kyle, it's me James. Open up I have some good things for you." Screamed James as he knocked on the simple farmers shack.
"I apologize for what happened at the tavern, but I have a good Knight level Wood Dao Art for you here as well as some medium grade fel shards. I hope you can quickly break into the Knight realm, this young masters followers can not be weak."
"Thank you young master, it's nothing."
Kyle immediately grabbed the presents from James. He had thought he had been abandoned by James, he wasn't an officially contracted follower after all. James had no obligation to make things right with him.
"The tavern is now up to you to run. If you need me you can find me in the Hazel Canopy Knight camp within Wesser forest. I am being tasked with residing at the camp ground for the next two years. I had that Baron follower that beat you up executed, and the clan punished me for it."
James was quick to invert black to white making it seem like he was being punished for looking out for his follower and not wrecking another clan members inn. Fostering blindly loyal followers was hard work after all.
"Young master being punished on my account? I will serve young master diligently! Young master is magnanimous and his future bright!"
~Kyle couldn't believe his young master was being punished for his sake. He had chosen the right devil to follow after all.~
"Yes, please have fel shard profits delivered to me every three months at the Hazel Canopy Knight camp. If you have any other issues go see Azon, the chief butler of my families house. There's no situation too difficult for him to handle, he serves my mother with the same fever that you serve me!"
"I will learn much from Azon young master!"
~James thought that would be good for them two too meet, Kyle was his first lackey and Azon was the epitome of what a good lackey should be.~
After about a week of preparations and getting his self in order James headed out to the Wesser Forest to begin his long exile. At least he would get paid while working the camp. James tried to cheer himself up thinking.
As soon as James made it to the camp he knew his good days were over. His d.a.m.ned nemesis was here! That stupid self righteous cousin of his was at the camp ground! ~Hopefully he's not here for long thought James.~
