The Wandering Devil
Chapter: 29
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance. I'll keep posting regardless. If you have any suggestions you would like to see added, I will try to incorporate what I can :)
(Ceteris paribus)
I felt the tug on my demonic reserves that I had carefully kept available at full capacity.
A flash of light and I was pulled away in a rift in space. Instantly, I felt the massive drain on my demonic energy.
Instead of taking all of it like last time, I could still feel that I had demonic energy left. A noticeable amount was left even after the teleportation across worlds.
My demonic power reserves had truly grown with the seal removed.
It didn't take long for the light to die down as I found myself in a cozy-looking room, with both Reginald and Clint awaiting me with looks of anticipation.
Though I did notice Reginald looked slightly tense as I arrived.
There was a moment of silence.
"It worked." I nodded. "Good work, Clint."
"My Lord, I'm glad to see you back." Clint instantly replied, shooting me a wide smirk.
I noted his previously slightly yellow teeth were pearly white, his robes of a much better quality than they had been.
He had been taking care of himself.
Good.
It meant the accumulation of wealth was going well.
As long as he wasn't going around performing useless idiotic raids like a certain Dark Lord.
"My Lord." Reginald nodded, his posture making him seem almost… subdued.
"So? What's happened in my absence?" I asked with a smile.
I took a seat.
"We haven't done much, we laid low like you ordered in your departure. Due to this, our recruitment efforts have slowed down a bit, but we have still managed to recruit many to our cause." Clint rambled eagerly.
I took a seat. I leaned back in the chair.
"How many forces have we amassed?" I asked, keeping my tone casual despite the curiosity simmering beneath the surface.
This was my only power base and the second world I had been to. While becoming a Dark Lord had proven inconvenient I had been given a good opportunity.
Clint straightened, pride bleeding into his expression. "Eighty-nine, my Lord."
I schooled my features into a mask of mild approval, but inwardly, I was surprised. Eighty-nine followers. That was a legitimate force, not just a ragtag band of opportunists.
Like Clint had said, there must have been many wizards and witches desperate for a chance.
The fact neither Voldemort or Dumbledore had taken advantage of this was playing heavily in my favour.
That was good, I could take a few of them back with me without worrying about compromising my position in this world. If my… followers got taken down I currently had no way of returning.
"Eighty-nine," I repeated, letting the number roll off my tongue. "Not bad."
Clint's smirk widened. "We've been putting our focus into recruiting. We did have a few… incidents of attempts to infiltrate but we neutralised them."
"Good." I nodded, the gears in my mind already spinning. "And what's the Ministry's response?"
His smirk faded, a grimace taking its place. "They've upped the ante. Doubled the Aurors on patrol, more checkpoints, and they're keeping a close eye on any unusual gatherings."
I narrowed my eyes. "And we haven't made any big moves? No raids or unnecessary risks?"
Clint hesitated, his face becoming slightly bashful as he knew what I was referring to. "No, my Lord. We've kept to the shadows, as you ordered."
For a brief moment, I let the silence stretch, my gaze pinning him in place.
He held up well, though the flush on his cheeks betrayed his nerves.
"Perfect." I smiled easily. "We don't want to draw attention just yet, that attack on Gringotts had been a rash necessity for our funding."
That had been a rash decision on my part.
I hadn't had a lot of time and was in need of a quick way to solidify my power base.
And… I had also been a bit annoyed with the situation. While I had gone with the flow and acted like what I imagined my Devil Father acted like. I didn't appreciate defending myself from corrupt Aurors and then being branded a Dark Lord.
The wizarding world magic is not inherently as powerful as the magic in my world, which was filled with Gods and Devil Kings that could wipe out mountains with ease. The magic here made up for it in versatility and it could be wielded at a higher level.
Dumbledore and Voldemort had displayed that quite vividly.
This world was worth exploring.
I didn't know when the cooldown on my eyes would finally be over either, hopefully it was soon.
He nodded quickly, like a dog eager to please.
"Since you've handled things well so far, I have another task for you." I tapped my fingers against the armrest, the rhythm steady. "I want you to look into something. The Deathly Hallows."
Clint's brows shot up. "The Hallows, my Lord? May I ask why?"
Reginald shot me a look.
I allowed a faint smile. "Call it curiosity."
He hesitated, but only for a second. Whatever thoughts lingered behind his eyes, he wisely kept them to himself. "I'll start right away."
With a quick bow, Clint turned and left, the door closing softly behind him.
That left only Reginald.
He hadn't moved from his spot near the door, his expression carefully blank.
"Reginald," I said, with a hint of amusement at his strange attitude.
He didn't regret in his choice of serving me at least or anything I had done. That much I could sense, so I wasn't too bothered. He would have sabotaged the summoning if that was the case.
"My Lord." He dipped his head, then hesitated when I gestured to the chair across from me.
He lowered himself slowly, every movement deliberate.
"You seem tense," I noted.
"There's been much to consider," he said, his hands clasped tightly in his lap.
"Is there a problem, Reginald?" I questioned, turning to the man.
He remained silent for a second, before hesitantly pulling out a book.
The name alone made me realise his problem.
'Ars Goetia.'
Ah.
Reginald's knuckles tightened around the book, the leather binding creaking under the strain.
"You've been doing some light reading, I see," I said, a hint of amusement in my voice.
He cleared his throat, the sound too loud in the quiet room. "The Ars Goetia." He set the book on the table between us, his fingers lingering on the cover. "While you were away, I wanted to search further into your background. Since I assumed you were from a foreign Pureblood house. I couldn't find anything, not a single trace. Until I came upon this book."
"Okay…" I replied, "So?"
He looked put out by my lack of reaction, a hint of uncertainty appearing on his face. "Perhaps I'm overreaching, especially since this book was written by a muggle."
The proud Pureblood Lord seemed to feel less certain the more he spoke.
"The name 'Gremory' appears within its pages. It's the only book that I've found your name within. This book has a list of 71 other such clans. Demon clans."
I met his gaze evenly. "It does."
"Are you… a demon?" His question lacked the bite of accusation.
I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. "Not quite."
That was true. I wasn't a Demon. I was a Devil.
"I'm a Devil and technically, I am a Pureblood." I replied.
"A Devil…?" Reginald questioned confusedly.
"We are kind of like wizards in a way, just a lot stronger." I shrugged, that was the best way I could explain it.
"I understand, I think." Reginald replied thoughtfully.
Honestly, I'm not sure he would have cared that much even if I was a Demon. He was more concerned with my character than anything else. From what I had observed anyway.
"You don't seem very concerned that I found out." Reginald spoke after a moment.
"If it were a secret, I would've changed my surname." I said, my voice flat. "I never pretended to be anything I'm not."
He blushed a bit.
Reginald opened the book, his fingers brushing over the old text. "The Ars Goetia mentions many names. Are there… others?"
"No." I said it simply. "I'm the only one of my kind in this world. You don't need to worry about any others."
"So Voldemort and Dumbledore aren't secretly a part of some clans?" He asked, "it would explain their sheer magical power."
I laughed. "No. They are wizards. Powerful wizards."
His shoulders eased, the tight line of his lips softening. He exhaled, a long, weary breath. "I suppose it doesn't matter."
I tilted my head. "Did it ever?"
He shook his head slowly. "No, my Lord. I've seen what Muggles have written about wizards and witches. They've called us demons before, burned us for it. I had been more worried about what that would have meant about your true personality. I only wish for my family to be safe."
"They will." I nodded, slightly seriously.
He shot me a small smile. "Then I am at your service. Lord Zephyrion."
"Then tell me, what do you know of Hogwarts?" I asked.
My question caught him off-guard.
"My Lord?" He questioned confusedly.
"I've got multiple points of interest currently within Hogwarts, I wish to know more about it." I elaborated.
He looked like he had just swallowed a lemon.
"Hogwarts is one of the oldest wizarding schools," he said. "It's also the place my daughter attends her schooling as do many pureblood heirs."
"What would you say about its defences?" I asked seriously.
"It's heavily warded by ancient wards. Breaking in would be difficult and would definitely alert the staff and the headmaster." Reginald instantly replied.
"So sneaking in isn't an option," I noted.
"Not easily," he agreed. "Especially with the competition happening tomorrow."
"What competition?"
He shifted, clearly uncomfortable. "It's a magical battle competition. It was created a while ago to keep the drive of learning high and has quickly turned into a big event every year."
I thought it over. "Should I expect trouble if I show up?"
"Not unless you cause it," he said. "But if you're planning anything, I need to know. I'd rather my daughter not be caught up in it."
I smiled. I liked his bluntness.
He had been careful at the start, unsure if I would explode like a certain soft-hearted Dark Lord. I was glad he had caught on.
I raised an eyebrow. "Your daughter?"
"Amara Greengrass, " he said. "She's in her sixth year. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Slytherin."
"I'm not planning to attack the school," I assured him. "But I do plan to go. There are things I want from there."
Reginald looked relieved. "Thank you, my Lord."
"Did you intend on attending this magical tournament event?" I asked.
He shook his head. "I didn't think I'd have time to spend on such a thing."
I nodded.
I could see that he knew where this conversation was going.
"Then make the arrangements to go, I'll be coming with you." I ordered.
That was probably the best way to enter Hogwarts.
I didn't want to start unnecessary fights. My reputation was bad enough already.
He nodded, not arguing. "Yes, my Lord."
Reginald paused. "Are you going to be able to pass the Auror check? I'm not sure if they'll check us but they've been incredibly active. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that was the case."
"I'll deal with it." I simply replied.
"Now, Reginald." I started. "Just where are we?"
"We are at a newly-purchased outpost near Nottingham." Reginald responded. "We have bought multiple places to spread ourselves out in case of potential raids."
I guess I had some time to kill.
-Scene Break-
I sat in a room alone while I quietly read through an advanced magical book.
I hadn't nothing else to do but wait until we entered Hogwarts tomorrow. I didn't want to make any big moves and draw attention, especially since I was infiltrating Hogwarts tomorrow.
There was also the fact I had only gotten back to the wizarding world a few hours ago.
My ears picked up the faint sounds of a commotion outside.
I let it play out for a moment, before closing the book with a soft thud.
The muffled sounds outside grew louder.With a sigh, I stood and moved toward the door, slipping into the dimly lit hallway. When I stepped outside, I found a small crowd gathered, their attention fixed on a man struggling to mount his broom.
His hands fumbled with the handle, his knuckles white. While his robes were disheveled, and a thin sheen of sweat coated his brow.
A woman at the edge of the crowd whispered to another, her voice reaching my ears despite her attempt to keep it low. "His daughter's in that village… poor bastard."
I strolled in casually, and finally gained their attention. I watched as they slowly identified me in their individual minds. Recognition flashed through the group.
When they realised who I was, the entire crowd seemed to freeze. Eyes widened, and in near unison, they bowed, the man with the broom hesitating before following suit.
I took this chance to look over the group of newcomers.
"What's going on?" I asked curiously.
The woman who had spoken earlier rose just enough to meet my gaze. "Death Eaters, my Lord. They're raiding a village nearby."
"My daughter is there!" The man hurriedly said. "I have to go. I can't just wait here."
I glanced at him, then back at the woman. "Does this happen often?"
She shook her head quickly. "Not often with our own people, my Lord. But more of us are finding our relatives or family members caught in Death Eater attacks with the Dark Lord's increase in action."
I hummed, considering her words.
This was an opportunity. I hadn't really wanted to get involved in anything but the Death Eaters were attacking, not me. This could be a chance to deepen the loyalty among the general populace, along with improving my reputation as I defend against the Death Eaters.
Then, there was also the fact I wanted their souls. I could have any surviving Death Eater taking into my humble custody. In which they would be given the execution of having their soul eaten.
Yes.
This was a very good opportunity.
"Ok." I nodded. "Let's go."
"My Lord?" One of them asked.
The man on the broom looked shocked before I could watch him visibly getting excited and hopeful."
"Let's go, gather your wands. We are performing a counter-attack." I said, not waiting for them to reply. "Where is the attack happening?"
There were only a little over a dozen of them around…..
We'd manage.
As we exited the demonic circle one by one, I had to pause as I saw the sheer destruction around me.
A green glow illuminated the area from the massive skull floating in the sky, along with the orange hue of the multiple roaring inferno's that swallowed dozens of buildings.
The stench of burning wood and something far worse clogged the air, and the screams of bystanders were able to be heard through the crackling of fire.
From the brief knowledge I had gotten from my panicked follower, this was a small magical town with limited Aurors presence.
I frowned slightly.
I didn't feel much these days, but this was annoying. It was so senseless. I felt a hint of rage enter my chest, something that I knew as my sin of wrath eagerly tried to make from a flame into a bonfire.
Shadows darted between crumbling walls and twisted beams, figures cloaked in black, their silver masks glinting in the eerie light.
Death Eaters.
Even as my wizards and witches recovered behind me, they refused to make any other action than stay behind me. As if I was some sort of shield.
A handful of Aurors held the line, their faces grim beneath the soot, sending rapid spell chains though the smoke.
Their spells were easily outnumbered but they held up a good fight, green flashes responding with deadly accuracy.
A woman with a gash on her forehead threw up a shimmering shield just in time, a purple spell ricocheting off and slamming into a stone wall, blasting debris in all directions.
She staggered but held firm.
Another group had gathered, seemingly normal wizards and witches who had come to their senses, and fought back.
Bodies lay scattered across the street with some completely still while others writhed in pain, and others in too many pieces to move at all.
The cobblestones were slick, wet with blood and water from shattered pipes.
A cart of vegetables burned nearby.
A trio of Death Eaters soared overhead on brooms.
I heard them laugh as they used their wands to rain fire on what remained of the Auror's defensive line.
The bombardment was surprisingly effective as the entire area was left in a scorched mess.
My lips pressed into a thin line.
The body of an innocent woman cradling the body of a child entering my vision.
I strolled forward, boots crunching on shattered glass. My followers moved quickly behind me, forming some sort of formation that I assumed Clint or Reginald had taught them.
I raised my hand, and let my demonic power roar to the surface. The world dimmed around me, colors draining.
My hand waved lazily, and I watched my followers watch my actions intensely.
I wasn't sure how much was known, but this would be a good way to show them they had made the right choice.
An invisible force rippled outward into the sky.
The three Death Eaters above jerked, their flight halted as if an unseen hand had yanked them from their brooms. Their bodies twisted, limbs flailing as they plummeted to the ground, striking cobblestone with a sickening crunch.
One of them moaned, the sound wet and gurgling, but the others remained still.
"Go." I commanded, with a hint of annoyance in my tone.
The wizards and witches under my command went forward, not before sending me a look of awe.
I had quickly learnt that the wizarding world wasn't that different to the Devil society. Power was worshipped. It was one of the basic principles that couldn't be removed.
They didn't hesitate to shoot spells that arced through the air.
Red, blue, and yellow beams of light slamming into the Death Eaters' hastily raised shields.
Finally, our presence was noticed. Eliciting both similar reactions from the Death Eaters and funnily enough the Aurors.
I inspected my followers as they fought.
The disparity in skill and power was obvious. It was as Clint had said. While their magical power was lacking, they could be so much more with the correct teaching.
There was hesitation in their movements and delay between casting along with their aiming.
Even when three of them focused on a single Death Eater, their opponent moved with practiced ease, deflecting and retaliating with brutal efficiency.
A bolt of green light missed one of my followers by inches, and she screamed, ducking behind a broken wall. Another barely managed to conjure a shield, his Protego shattering under the force of a Blasting Curse.
I'll need to get Clint teaching them proper duelling and stronger spells immediately.
While it was true they weren't exactly strong, they hadn't even been given a chance to prove themselves. Clint's words had really hit the nail on the head with this situation.
They made up for it in enthusiasm, all of them seemingly trying to stand out. Even the woman who screamed after nearly being killed had continued returning spell fire.
It didn't help that I had only brought twelve people to a battle with many more Death Eaters outnumbering them. That became apparent as more rushed out from the shadows.
Death Eaters slipped out and quickly started overwhelming my forces.
I stepped forward, a single finger raised, and with a flex of my will, the air around the Death Eater solidified. His momentum died, his body suspended mid-stride as if caught in amber.
My hand waved down and his body slammed to the ground.
I frowned. This was only going to escalate at this rate. I didn't want to wait around for the Aurors to come and ruin my PR stunt.
With a flick of my hands, I gathered the few downed Death Eaters, their bodies sliding over to me.
Catching sight of a lake nearby, my hand ripped up and a massive wave of water was formed. Using a nearby source of water was easier to influence with my Imagination Magic than creating it out of thin air.
Everyone briefly paused and I saw the panic increase as the wave consumed the burning buildings.
I made sure to perform protective domes over the bystanders and Aurors. It wouldn't do good to hurt them.
The Death Eaters didn't waste time, retreating quickly while firing spells at the massive wave that briefly turned chunks of water into ice. Only to crack from the force. The wave parted just as it was about to collapse on my followers and passed by us.
The wave finally crashed and I clapped my hands, turning the entire place into a frozen city of ice.
We waited in silence.
"Should be clear, go find your daughter." I said to the nervous man.
He nodded quickly.
We didn't have to wait long as he soon came back with an injured woman. Who was soaking wet…
Whoops.
"Thank you, My Lord!" He simpered, looking at me with grateful eyes. "I'll repay this debt with my life. I swear!"
I smiled.
That's what I liked to hear.
I drew a demonic circle.
I wanted to take the Death Eaters back for obvious reasons, and I couldn't exactly bring them with me through the Floo.
"Gather up these Death Eaters and bring them into the circle." I ordered.
They quickly did as told.
I gave one more look around, before nodding with a grin. I hadn't expected to get into a fight so soon after returning to this world but the benefits couldn't be ignored.
Good.
I'd say they retreated.
I gave the gawking Aurors a thumbs up.
"You're welcome."
With that we promptly left the scene via the demonic teleportation.
-{Cameron Boyst}-
He limped in the direction of the so-called Dark Lord that had just saved his village.
"Hey!" He tried to shout, only for ash to fill his lungs and make him cough harshly.
They disappeared in a flash of light and he cursed.
He fell to his knees, watching the Aurors immediately fall back and leave.
He glared at them.
Cameron had been terrified when the Death Eaters had attacked. It had all happened so quickly and because the Ministry had deemed their small town unimportant the force here was small.
That terror had magnified when he saw the dangerous and very powerful second Dark Lord appear with a small group of underlings.
The headlines on the Daily Prophet that had involved a new-upcoming Dark Lord had spread a new sense of terror among the wizarding world. One Dark Lord was bad enough but two was unthinkable. That had only become more apparent with the resulting headlines.
'Dark Lord raids Gringotts bank.'
'Dark Lord's forces clash with Ministry Aurors, resulting in multiple deaths.'
A new Dark Lord had sprouted from nowhere and had done so much in the course of a few days.
Yet, he had heard of many joining his cause.
He limped back to his son who was still hiding in an alleyway.
Cameron thinks he could see why now.
If this so-called Dark Lord hadn't arrived in the village that had been his hometown, he would be dead. The many witches and wizards recovering around him would be dead.
His son would be dead.
All because the Ministry decided this small village didn't make enough income to be of importance.
This Dark Lord had arrived, performed a tremendous feat of magic that had left him lowering his wand. Then simply left after one of his followers had retrieved what he assumed was his daughter.
It was at that moment that he realised he had only heard of this Dark Lord in the news.
One news source. Tied heavily to the Ministry.
In truth, he didn't know why he had tried to gain the Dark Lords attention before he left.
From what he could deduct, he had come to him merely to retrieve one of his followers' children. He could be wrong. But why else would he have come here?
All he knew was that the Dark Lord had left an impact.
That he could see from the many villagers who kept looking at the spot he had left from.
-{Bellatrix Black}-
Bellatrix Black moved through the dimly lit halls of Hogwarts.
She wore her uniform with a black choker that stood stark against her pale skin.
Her long, raven-black hair cascaded in wild waves, a mane that seemed to absorb the light. Her skin held a porcelain hue. Her eyes were a piercing shade of stormy grey, that held a glint of something dangerous.
She drew the eyes of many as she walked by younger students.
Her lips that were painted black, curled into a smirk as she moved through the corridor.
Bellatrix slipped into the library and plucked a tome from a high shelf. She settled into a corner of the library.
She leaned back in her chair, her mind already drifting. Thoughts of her family rose to the surface of her mind
Tensions were rising.
The Dark Lord was pressuring the Black Family into joining them. It wouldn't be long until the Black Family followed the Dark Lord.
She idly curled a strand of her hair around her finger as her thoughts shifted to potential engagements.
Despite being highly sought after, her options weren't looking too promising. Her beauty and magical talent had only added to her value in the eyes of ambitious families. Many of which were her Slytherin peers who held pathetic crushes on her.
Her high magical talents had unfortunately resulted in a flood of marriage proposals, many of which she had little interest in. Her family's ambitions and the looming threat of the Dark Lord only made things more complicated.
While she held no interest in that sort of thing, unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for her very Pureblood infatuated mother.
Bellatrix's musings were cut short as a familiar group of Slytherin girls approached.
Narcissa Black, her sister, led them.
She boredly watched her approach.
Beside her was Andromeda, who offered a more genuine smile. The last was Evan Rosier's sister, Miranda.
"There you are," Narcissa said, slipping into the seat across from Bellatrix. "I thought you'd ran off to torture someone's pet hamster or some such thing."
"Not today," Bellatrix smirked, tucking the strand of hair behind her ear. "But the day is still young."
Andromeda laughed lightly, setting her book down. "Have you heard about the attack?"
Bellatrix's interest piqued. "Which one?"
Miranda leaned in, her voice lowering despite the empty library. "The new Dark Lord Gremory. He wiped out an entire village. They say he froze it solid, with Aurors and Death Eaters still inside."
Narcissa pulled a folded Daily Prophet from her bag, opening it to a grainy photo of the frozen village. Ice covered the entire area, and the bodies were little more than dark shadows that you could barely make out under the frost.
Bellatrix stared at the image, a flicker of desire in her eyes as she stared at the picture.
Such power.
The kind that could reshape the world.
She still didn't know what to make of this new Dark Lord. But it was evident that he was powerful. Only fools like the students in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff weren't taking him seriously.
He had come out of nowhere.
Voldemort had been building his strength for years, and then this second Dark Lord had just appeared. Proceeded to shake the wizarding world, then disappear for two weeks.
Miranda's lips curled into a sly grin. "Maybe he'll give the Dark Lord a run for his money."
Bellatrix's eyes narrowed. She didn't outright deny it but she doubted so. From the little she had learnt he was young. While powerful no doubt, Voldemort and Dumbledore were on a different level.
"Voldemort isn't the kind to share the spotlight." She replied.
"Still," Narcissa said, folding the newspaper. "It makes things interesting."
"Do you think this will change Fathers decision? Mother seemed rather taken with the Dark Lord Voldemort." Bellatrix mused.
Narcissa merely frowned.
"So…. Are you ready for the dueling tournament tomorrow?" Andromeda asked. "Half the house is already making bets."
Just like that, the conversation changed.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
This is bullshit.
I read the paper with a scowl.
Okay, maybe, just very maybe in the slight chance that the Aurors I had encountered were just idiots. Could my actions in the Ministry be considered worthy of being titled a Dark Lord.
But… BUT this!
'Dark Lord Gremory unleashes a catastrophic magical assault on a small village, obliterating Death Eaters and Aurors alike, leaving the village entombed in ice.'
Firstly, Who told them my name?!
Secondly, seriously what? I had literally defended the Aurors from being seriously hurt in that last attack. My actions couldn't have been taken any other way.
I sighed.
At least that confirmed that the Ministry wasn't as smart or good as they wanted to seem.
On the bright side, I glanced over to the five Death Eaters in the corner of my room glaring at me.
I looked over to the five contracts I had prepared.
Coming back from the raid had been amusing. We had been met with a massive force of newly-gained followers following a determined Clint who was about to jump into a Floo.
It warmed my heart a bit that his instant reaction to hearing me going into battle was to rally a force to come to my aid. If there was one thing that actually got through to me it was that type of loyalty.
Perhaps that was due to my rather unsavoury human life, but I could appreciate it.
I could even reward it.
Clint opened the door respectfully, coming to stand in front of me.
"You called for me?" He said respectfully.
"I did."
With a wave, four of the five tied up Death Eaters were knocked out.
It would make things harder if they saw what was to come. The single Death Eater left conscious began looking nervous.
I took out a single special contract, looking over it for a moment before handing it to Clint.
"Do you trust me?" I asked curiously.
"Yes, of course." He nodded quickly.
"Then sign this contract without looking at the details." I said, handing him a quill.
He looked confused, but instantly did as ordered.
I nodded in appreciation.
"Clint. Does your lack of power annoy you?" I questioned.
His posture stiffened as I could see worry enter his eyes.
"I can get stronger." He immediately replied.
"But does it bother you?" I asked.
His fists clenched.
He nodded defeatedly.
"You?" I pointed to the confused Death Eater.
"Sign this if you want forgiveness." I said, being as vague as I could.
I let my demonic power flow and I narrowed my eyes down at him as I handed him the contract.
I wanted him to focus on me.
Not the contract that would have his valuable soul snatched away.
I could see his sharp eyes glance at the contract but I took a step forward. Even intimidated as he was, he was smart enough to try to see the contract contents.
He signed it hurriedly and I grinned.
I turned to Clint as the contract glowed.
"Consider this your reward."
The blonde-haired admittedly handsome Death Eater screamed in pain as his body shrivelled into a husk. An orb, brighter than the soul I had retrieved last time by a considerable amount, floated out and struck Clint.
This was a good chance to see just how powerful Devil Contracts were. This was perhaps one of the most complex contracts I had created.
Clint's eyes widened as he fell to his knees.
Clint gasped, his body trembling as the orb of the Death Eater's soul fused with him. The air around him seemed to hum with raw magical energy. His magical power swelled.
He stared at his hands, flexing his fingers as if testing they still worked. "I... I feel it. So much power."
The sheer difference in pure magical power between wizards and witches was astounding.
I leaned against the desk, watching him closely. "A reward for your loyalty. You've earned it."
Clint's head snapped up, his expression a mix of awe and gratitude. "Thank you, my Lord. I won't disappoint you."
I offered him a small smile. "I know. Go practice."
He bowed low, still looking in shock as he stepped out of the room.
Loyalty like his was rare, and it deserved acknowledgment.
When the door closed behind him, I turned to the four remaining Death Eaters. Still unconscious. Still useful.
It wasn't long until I repeated the process with the four of them but on myself this time.
A rush of power flooded my veins, demonic energy weaving through my core.
The conversion of raw magic to demonic power wasn't perfect. Much of the magical energy slipped through my grasp, lost in the process.
But what remained was enough to add a decent amount to my permanent Demonic Energy reserve.
Seriously, I don't know why the Devils didn't abuse this….
Well, that was a lie. I did. Powerful humans were rare and highly sought after. This world would be a gold mine for them if they ever found it. The humans that could wield magical power in my old world were stupidly rare.
Then they would run a risk of angering any other Race they did this too. It was better to recruit them as Devils and have them willingly a part of your Faction instead of eating their souls.
Luckily I didn't have that problem.
It was only a few minutes before Reginald was walking into my designated office.
"My Lord…" he started. "Why is Clint boasting about receiving your blessing? And why do his words hold value due to the massive increase of magic he seemingly possesses."
"Oh? You heard that?"
"Such things tend to spread like wildfire." Reginald replied. "Am I to assume his words are true?"
"Yes, he has earned himself a reward." I confirmed.
He silently stared at me, before giving me a nod of acceptance.
"As fascinating as that is, it's time." He said, becoming more serious.
I grinned. "Wonderful. Let's get going."
This ought to be interesting.
-END-
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