Devil's Rise

The five recruits were driven to the brink of madness by the young devil's bold proclamation. To have their souls forever tortured should they ever betray him. Not even death would release them. It extinguished any lingering thoughts of betrayal!

James' [Hollow Aura] was frightening to their psyche. All of them heard echos the agony and screams of all the people James had culled in the Tutan World. Many of them stronger than them! James' [Hollow Aura] was truly a horrific technique.

James' savored in the looks of terror he garnered on his young recruits' faces.

~~~

This young lord has gotten better at making a scene. My [Hollow Aura] is the perfect ability to bluster about as a young lord. I must slaughter another realm soon… Only then will I deepen my understanding of the Slaughter Dao.

Things were looking up for me. I planned to visit my father while I was in Hudson City. I rarely got to exit the campgrounds. I had to maintain my filial piety.

I went to my parents' house, and my father was nowhere to be found. Azon was there like a dutiful butler.

"Young lord, your father is in closed-door devilry attempting to make a breakthrough to the Viscount realm. My ladyship is also busy with personal tasks," said Azon.

"I apologize, young lord, my ladyship told me that in her absence I should ensure that your devilry practice has made adequate progress. Follow me to the training ground. Your first official lesson starts today."

Not again! This young lord was finally feeling powerful. I have many young lackeys that diligently follow my orders. They fear this young lord. Why's this old butler butting his head into my affairs!

I begrudgingly followed Azon to the training ground.

~~~

"Listen well young lord! A battle between cultivators at the Knight realm and higher is all about your usage of Dao. Simple punches and kicks will not get you far. Your cultivation is your bow, but Dao is the arrow," said Azon.

"Young lord, you must properly learn Battle Techniques to utilize your Dao!"

"This young lord has created one technique, Azon!" James said.

James attacked!

He released his \u003cHollow Aura\u003e as he punched.

"Good, I can see the traces of Soul and Slaughter Dao within that technique. I see our time in the Tutan World was not wasted. But such a technique has a minor effect on me!" said Azon.

Azon shrugged off the \u003cHollow Aura\u003e and dodged the punch.

"I am much stronger than you. I will not recoil seeing that you have slaughtered many Knights. Take this in well James, behold the power of a true slaughter technique."

\u003cExecute\u003e

Azon fully released one of his signature abilities. Razor-sharp blades immediately pierced James' body!

So this is my end? What a joke.

He couldn't move his body, he couldn't even move his own head. All he could do was look, look up at the sky and see a terrifying large metallic guillotine.

James was cold. Cold as steel. He wished there was somebody to hold him and keep him warm. He felt no pain, but his body kept shivering to warm itself up.

I'm so cold… This must be the end…

James was frightened. So much power from one bloody guillotine… So many opponents had died under this bloody blade… So powerful, the blood drops kept falling off…

James collapsed on the spot, Azon's ability had overwhelmed him!

~~~

Later that evening James awoke in his bed.

"That is a true slaughter technique. It uses the full force of my understanding of Metal and Slaughter Dao to attack," said Azon.

"I only released that attack at the Knight level, but you could do nothing in its wake. Learn well young lord."

I had a new understanding of what I could accomplish with a Dao technique after withstanding Azon's attack. I had to work hard to incorporate my Daos into my fighting style. Then I could be a well-respected devil lord.

"Thank you Azon, I gained much insight from that sparring session," I said.

"That's great young lord. Your mother does not want you to become a useless devil. She says that when your punishment is over in the Wesser forest that you need to sign up for the Battle Devil Association," said Azon.

"Only through joining the Battle Devil Association will you truly know what it takes to survive in the Abyss. If you don't face many strong opponents, you will grow complacent."

"My ladyship, however, is proud of your progress in advancing your devilry this far."

"I will heed your words Azon, if I can't inspire fear in my subordinates I can not be a well respected young lord," I said.

"It's good you understand that young lord," said Azon.

I lay in the bed recovering from my wounds. Azon did not take it easy on me. His attack was genuine, leaving me within an inch of my life.

After a few weeks of recovery, I headed back to the Hazel Canopy Knight camp. Now that I had direction, I would refine my combat techniques.

"Meow, since you were injured I haven't had a good meal in weeks chef!" said the cat.

"Hey! The fat cat dropped a few pounds," said Sybil.

"Shut up, you fat cat! You are always wondering how you will fill your belly," I said, ignoring the cat.

"Meow, but you're my chef!" said the cat, looking wronged.

"Meow, no one teaching you truly understands the Dao of Souls," said the cat as he took on a wise and knowledgable stance.

"Oh yeah, please enlighten me, great cat lord," I said after being intrigued by the cat's point.

"Meow, make me a meal and this cat lord shall enlighten you of the ways of the Soul Dao chef!" said the cat.

I fed my cat. Yep, this is my job. I am a chef.

"Meow, it's good you know your job chef," said the cat as he stuffed his face.

"Meow, while combat techniques are important for most Daos. Dao of Soul practitioners take a distinct path," said the cat with his mouth full.

"Listen! A powerful Dao of Soul practitioner functions as a General, leading his many troops to victory. Not a one-man army!"

"So I should refine my skills accordingly?" I said.

"I can use the Codex of Souls to create a portal to transport my curse binding weapons to this Tier-3 world right?"

"Meow, you can, but that connection will cost you many souls. Your stores of souls from the Tutan World will run dry," said the cat.

"That's alright, as long as I can begin my silent invasion all will go according to plan," I said.

I crafted a runed altar to send weapons to the Tier-3 world. Travel to Tier-3 worlds was much more expensive than it was to Tier-2 worlds. My souls could only fund the transportation of one weapon.

I spent an entire month sending down my most brilliant cursed weapon Destiny. This was a different type of invasion!