Return of the Anarchists

Lucas watched on as Diablo left the room. He couldn't help but have mixed feelings about his current situation.

He had actually regained consciousness much earlier. He still pretended to that he hadn't recovered to compose himself and understand about the situation. From the little he heard he was able to piece that though the humans seem to be losing, they have some new trump card up their sleeves. This wasn't the first war either and most demon lords had an uncanny reputation of being killed by heroes.

The anarchists had just been destroyed, and here he was being asked to be the successor of a goddamned demon lord.

He wondered how Martin had being doing. He was sure that Martin had at least survived. Would he try to kill the hero in revenge. No, he wouldn't be that stupid. He would eventually move on. Lucas wished that Martin could at least find new friends he could trust.

He was rather reluctant to agree to the deal. Its not that the power wasn't attractive, it was in fact too attractive.

But to be handed over in a silver plate, calling it suspicious would be an understatement. He couldn't help but reflect back to his recent conversation with Diablo.

The demon lord was someone extremely dangerous, in the same league as him.

Lucas was a master manipulator, there was nobody he couldn't read like a book. However the demon lord was too foggy. There were some clear parts that were intentionally shown but the rest were hidden away.

Lucas knew that he was walking on eggshells and thus decided to behave how Vincent would've- a half-insane crazed son-of-a-b*tch.

What bothered him was that Diablo somehow reminded Lucas of his own father. Not the weak-hearted part mind you, he could smell the mercilessness and bloodlust from across the room. It was the part where one was helpless against the change of the times. That's the reason that Lucas had chosen to believe in the demon lord's sincerity for now.

Successor to the demon lord.

As an anarchist, trying to be a ruler of a monarchy was completely against his beliefs, but he had to find something out for sure.

He had made anarchy into a symbol of power and chaos.

Perhaps he should first have a feel of absolute power then decide whether it was worth the effort.

Just as vengeance is related to justice, freedom is often related to power. If he were to lose his freedom in pursuit of power, such power isn't worth the bargain. He was an adaptable individual, he could be the incarnation of freedom as much as he was the incarnation of power.

He had already suffered defeat once. The next times the anarchists rose, they wont make the same mistakes, and they would NEVER fall again. Lucas took a deep breath as his eyes slowly filled with unshakable determination.

It's just that...

Lucas felt around his head. Were the horns really necessary? It was just too unwieldy, jutting out of his head as if they had always been there.

The door opened and a young woman gracefully entered.

"You must be Lucas, The Prince of Shadows"

Well that's one way to introduce yourself.

"Yes, you can just call me Luke." He replied innocently.

"Are you the rumored beautiful Ms.Lilith"

"Yes, I am Lilith, Lady of Darkness. You can call me Lily" she replied smiling back equally innocently.

Well, well what do we have here. It hadn't been half an hour and his first test had already arrived. If it was any other day he would have flirted a bit, but following Vincent's character he would have to act like a dense idiot, who has zero understanding of romantic relationships. Well too bad for the lady.

"So, Lily how may I help you?"

"Well since you are the candidate to succeed the demon lord it wouldn't be good if you walk around without any magic skills. Without any magic you would basically be a walking target." giggling cutely she went on, "So please do follow me."

"Magic!" Lucas' eyes shone like two bright stars. Its as if something inconceivable was mentioned to him.

"Yes!" Lilith smiling with equal intensity replied "This world has the presence of magic, you should have noticed it by now, considering that summoning you from another world is also magic."

Lucas grinned sheepishly "Of course! How silly of me. Lets go immediately. It sounds really interesting."

Of course he knew that magic existed in this world. It was just that they had concealed it completely. He wasn't conscious when he was summoned or healed. It could have easily been advanced technology. Horns could at the end of the day be a genetic mutation. What really gave it away was the subtle clues of medieval age culture all around him and well the king did mention the word ritual.

Lucas came into the room and there were six crystals glittering in front of him.

Light(white), Dark(black), Water(blue), Fire(red), Earth(yellow), Air(green).

"You can only absorb two elements, make sure that your choice matches your affinity."

Looking at the elemental crystals, Lucas couldn't help but click his tongue. To confirm with his act he should choose explosive elements like fire and light, but this choice should be irreversible.

He raised his arm and held the dark crystal. Soon a black stream enter his brain and he could see all the various possibilities he could achieve if he absorbed the crystal. Smiling to himself he chose to absorb the crystal.

Element- dark

Specialization-shadows/smoke

He was playing a mad character after all, he needn't be restrained by logic.

Then he immediately went for the white crystal.

Element - light

Specialization-mirage (reflection/refraction)

At the end of the day he was a manipulator. He won all wars before they even began. Combat was never his specialty. Smoke and Mirrors, on the other hand were perfect for putting on a show.

Lilith slightly raised her eyebrows at his choice but didn't say anything more.

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In a similar room Martin was presented with a similar choice. Since he was the blue phantom he would have to follow the color scheme while making sure no corners were left unturned.

He chose to absorb the green and blue crystals.

Element-Air

Specialization-Lightning

Element-Water

Specialization-Ice

"Lightning and Ice? Lightning is an extremely violent element and hard to control. Ice on the other hand should be able to help restrain your lightning while assisting speed by reducing friction. Quite an interesting combination. It should help complement your skills." Freya nodded with approval, feeling a bit more relieved.

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