Does the Hudson clan want me to be forever under Mikael's thumb? With him as patriarch, I could never strut around the Hudson Estate freely!
'Codex, what's in my library?'
[Slaughter Heart Scripture Vol. 3]
[Cla.s.sic Elements Scripture Vol. 4]
[Soul Refining Scripture Vol. 3]
[Curse Binding Scripture Vol. 3]
This young lord is rich with scriptures. The time has come for me to break into the Baron realm. I will enter the Baron realm with my Fire Dao. My understanding of Fire Dao is at the Baron level.
It is the simplest one for me to break through with. Once I become a Baron, I will improve my other Daos.
I filled my devil heart to the brim with devil qi. There was no room for me to progress as a Devil Knight. The only path forward for me was to break into the Baron realm.
I started carving my devil heart with my Fire Dao. It was an excruciating process. The pain had me almost pa.s.sing out every time I carved a part of the Fire Dao rune.
Dao runes are a condensation of Dao understanding. Bit by bit, I carved all my understanding of fire in my Devil Heart.
'With Fire as my Dao, I carve its essence into my devil heart.'
'Burning… Conflagration… Ignition… Extinguishing… Fire…'
'With my Fire Dao, I carve this contract with the Abyss into my heart.'
'I will serve the Abyss' will.'
'Beguiling mortals is my solemn duty as a devil'
'Grant me this boon and allow me to serve the Abyss.'
'Move my devilry forward. My heart carved for the Abyss.'
The process was extensive; it took me several days. With the Fire Dao rune fully carved in my heart, I was officially a Devil Baron. My devil heart generated Devil and Fire Essence.
Essence was a condensation of qi. It was much more potent and powerful. My techniques would be fueled with essence now. I could now live up to 1200 years.
I had done it. Before twenty years, I had become a Devil Baron. No one could think of me as trash anymore! I even trained a Dao that was not granted during the Fel Awakening Ceremony. This young lord will garner the respect he deserves around the Hudson clan from this point forward.
I now knew my true name. 'Awih Yunza Zaeuh Ziksq Mina Haeng' it was engraved in my soul when I transcended into the Baron realm. It could only slowly change as my Daos developed. Now, I had to keep it hidden.
[Quest issued: 'Join the Battle Devil a.s.sociation']
[Hosts skill in combat is not befitting to wield the Codex of Souls.]
[Joining the Battle Devil a.s.sociation will improve the host's combat skills.]
"Meow, the book doesn't want you to be a weakling," said the cat.
"Listen! It's about time you learn to fight," said Sybil.
I ignored them and the Codex; I am the one who decides what I do in my free time. Not the voices from a devil artifact.
I had scriptures covering Elements, Electric, Soul, Curse, and Slaughter Dao. I had entirely too much on my plate attempting to learn so many Daos. However, every new Dao I learned would allow me to create a unique Curse Bound.
For now, Destiny was not a part of my forces in the Xertzul Abyss. Eventually, I will create an even more powerful Curse Bound. One day they would be my most powerful force. I had to make more of them. Now that I was a Baron, increasing my devilry quick was no longer an option.
Every devil took many years to cross from Baron to Viscount. Over these years I would have time to learn new Daos and improve my foundation. By the time I enter the Viscount realm, I hope to master all the Daos I have arts for. That was my path.
My eyes were finally ready to gain freedom. I removed the Devil Wraps and looked upon the World for the first time since the ceremony that stripped me of my sight.
My vision was 360 degrees. Not even a gnat could escape my view within 20 yards. This was power, this was my inborn ability!
Everything lay bare in front of my u003cSoul Eyesu003e. This would be my most potent hidden card. While I wore the Devil wraps, my vision was normal. I was no longer a blind young n.o.ble fumbling around. Now I could see.
Now I was a devil lord looking down on the ma.s.ses. My arrogance grew, I desired strength. Bl.u.s.tering arrogantly while under the protection of others was no longer my goal in life.
I will conqueror everything within my sight with my own two hands. Looking back, it embarra.s.sed me to think of the young n.o.ble I envisioned myself to be. It was downright pathetic; I am a talented devil, I should beholden to no one, not even an Empire. I should rightfully lord over the ma.s.ses.
The Hudson Estate is no longer a place for me to stay. Living under the clan's protection has made me have a weak mentality. I thought of how I had easily conquered a pocket world just because my lackeys were stronger.
If I didn't work hard, I could be in that position one day. Slaughtered without being able to put up an ounce of resistance. Strength decided everything in the Abyss. As a Baron, the entire Xertzul Abyss should be my playground.
I will embark on a personal journey now. I already made my organization [Libra], I set the foundation for them. Kyle and Wanfang can manage my forces with me away.
I went to my 'Young n.o.ble Lounge' to have a meeting with [Libra].
"Your devil lord has entered the Baron realm, However, I shall soon depart from the Hudson Estate. I can no longer live under the clan's protection. Doing so has weakened my resolve," I said.
"Your devil lord desires to rule over everything I survey. Nothing I see should be able to escape my grasp. To fulfill that ambition, I must take this journey."
"Kyle you are in charge of the finances department of Libra. Wanfang will manage the war department. This journey will take me many years. I may not return here until I reach the Viscount realm, or maybe even beyond that."
"But I require this journey to progress. I must make this journey alone, that is the only way. I plan to head into other Empires, forsaking the protection the Rez'gal Empire grants me."
"Young lord, how will we manage without you?" said Kyle.
"You already manage everything without my input. You have a nice foundation with the Tutan World that will finance my organization while I am away."
"Wanfang you will be in charge of managing the organization's Scriptures. The Cla.s.sic Elements Scripture has insights to the Viscount realm."
"Today I am granting the full Cla.s.sic Elements Scripture to you. Those that you find fit to nurture may have access to it."
"Thank you, young lord. I will not let down your faith in me," said Wanfang.
"You only have each other to depend on from this point forward. When I return I hope to see a prospering organization."
"Send a message to Azon informing him of my departure in a week."
"Yes, young lord!" said Kyle and Wanfang in unison.
I left after my speech, not looking back. I did not even take the time to visit my Devil Ancestor, my mother, or my father. With only a cloak on my back, I booked travel to the Zagell Empire.
The Zagell Empire was the closest neutral Empire to the Rez'gal Empire. I changed my attire completely. I discarded the devil wraps.
This young lord can see. I no longer need such a foolish handicap. For my travels, I will take on an alias.
James Hudson is no more. From this point forward I am the young devil lord Soulless!
