Soldiers of Human Supreme Society.
What do mortals across the Lower Planes think of them?
Some say they are warriors of unparalleled might, their purpose singular—to shield humanity from devils and the countless predatory races lurking in the vast cosmos.
Most would say they are the pinnacle of human honor, the embodiment of righteousness, the kind of individuals one would be fortunate to encounter even once in a lifetime.
And so, the universe itself recognized their purpose, bestowing upon them the title of Dharma Soldiers, a name revered by all, a name feared by those who would stand against them.
But what does Dharma truly mean?
Dharma is not a mere word, nor is it an honor that mortals can bestow upon one another.
It is a force, an acknowledgment from the universe itself—a cosmic decree that marks those who have sworn the Dharma Oath and upheld it without faltering, without hesitation, without ever betraying their duty.
To become a Dharma Soldier is not a simple matter of reciting empty words before a crowd. It is a binding covenant, a path with no deviation, no room for weakness, no second chances.
A noble ideal, is it not?
But is it truly that simple?
Every warrior who joins the Human Supreme Society must first swear the Dharma Oath.
It is not an option. It is not a privilege.
It is an unyielding demand.
The Oath is not just a collection of words—it is the foundation upon which the very existence of the Dharma Soldiers is built.
First Duty: A Dharma Soldier must ensure the survival of the human race, even at the cost of their own life. This duty grants them absolute authority—to fight, to kill, to eradicate any force that threatens humanity's existence. There is no hesitation. No second-guessing. A Dharma Soldier does not wait for permission to strike.
Second Duty: A Dharma Soldier must never abuse their power. Strength is not a tool for oppression. Status is not a weapon to wield against the weak. The strong exist to protect, not to trample. To many, this may sound like a fairy tale, an idealistic dream crafted by fools. And yet, the universe itself has recognized these warriors with the Dharma title, proving beyond doubt that their path is real, that their duty is absolute.
Third Duty: A Dharma Soldier must never betray their kind, never raise their blade against a fellow warrior with the intent to harm or deceive. Loyalty is not a virtue—it is an unbreakable law.
Fourth Duty, Fifth Duty, and so on…
To an outsider, these rules may seem like suffocating chains—binding warriors to a rigid, self-sacrificial path with no room for personal ambition or freedom.
But for the true Dharma Soldiers, these laws were not chains.
Unlike the arrogant tyrants of lesser realms—where the strong flaunt their power and tread upon the weak—these soldiers saw their duties not as restrictions, but as the natural order of things.
To protect. To serve. To uphold their race's survival.
And for this, the universe itself had rewarded them with the Dharma title—a distinction so coveted that countless beings across the cosmos would kill, deceive, or sacrifice everything just to obtain it.
But that… is a discussion for another time.
Of course, nothing is absolute.
Not all Dharma Soldiers uphold their Oath. Some view the Oath as shackles, resent its constraints, and long for the power to oppress others without consequence.
And they have a choice.
A soldier who no longer aligns with Dharma's principles is free to renounce their title and walk away.
Yet, such cases are rare.
Because no sane warrior would cast aside the Dharma title—a mark of the universe's favor—just to indulge in fleeting power over mortals.
NOX loathes the Human Supreme Society with every fiber of his being.
He has destroyed them once. He will do so again.
Yet, even he acknowledges an undeniable truth: the Society is not entirely evil.
Corruption exists within its ranks—greedy individuals who wield authority without the restraint of Dharma. But despite this, the Society remains the only barrier standing between humanity and annihilation.
It is no exaggeration to say that without the Human Supreme Society, the human race would have perished long ago.
And yet, the Society's greatest flaw did not lie in its leadership or its warriors. It lay in the very people it protected.
Mortals.
For millions of years, the Human Supreme Society had shielded humanity, ensuring their survival. And what happened when a single generation of mortals lived barely a hundred years? What happened when countless generations passed, never knowing a world without the Society's protection?
They forgot.
They forgot what it meant to struggle. They convinced themselves that the Society existed for their sake, that it was their right to be protected. They lived under the illusion that someone would always shield them, never realizing that they were not entitled to such safety.
This was not a world of democracy. Power ruled. And yet, mortals had grown complacent, arrogant in their weakness, because even the strongest Awakeners hesitated to harm them—afraid of provoking the wrath of Dharma Soldiers.
And when NOX lost everything?
These same mortals trampled over him. They mocked him. They reveled in his suffering, finding amusement in the fall of an Empyrean heir.
The Human Supreme Society had spent millions of years protecting its people. But in doing so, it had created an illusion so absolute that when NOX finally became a Devil, there had been nothing stopping him from shattering it.
And this time, he would do it again.
***********
Now, back to NOX and his golden geese.
At this moment, he was both tempting and humiliating the Dharma Soldiers, drawing out their emotions one last time before he slaughtered them.
He knew these soldiers were pitiful creatures—not inherently evil, just like Lucas. In NOX's eyes, they were Buddhas with hair. But that didn't change their fate.
Because in the past, these very same soldiers had taken most of his family. Perhaps, back then, they had been on the right side of things, for NOX truly had been a Devil. Perhaps they had simply been fulfilling their duty, upholding their oaths to protect humanity. Or maybe they had just been pawns in the hands of their superiors.
But none of it mattered now.
The only truth NOX recognized was that their blades, though laced with honor, had been stained with his family's blood. He had suffered most at their hands, hunted like an animal as they had chased him and his sister.
They had taken everything he once held dear.
So, they must die.
And not just die—they must break.
NOX would make sure they suffered a slow, shattering death—one so agonizing that despair would force them to break their Dharma Oaths.
This was not a battle of Devil vs. Dharma.
This was Vengeance vs. Greed.
His blindfolded gaze settled on the Rank 7 soldiers. At this moment, they were the only ones he found troublesome. At their level, they were strong enough to resist his Evil Eyes.
Since Evil Eyes was a mental power that manipulated fear and despair, Rank 7 Awakeners could withstand it. Their minds had already been tempered—they had likely opened their Mental Realm within their consciousness, fortifying their defenses.
But NOX didn't dwell on it. He had many ways to deal with them.
For now, he still needed something from them—their emotions.
The ends of his blindfold fluttered as he stepped forward. The soldiers neither flinched nor showed fear. They simply stood tall, watching him like proud knights.
He moved slowly, deliberately, pausing between each step. Because these poor soldiers—and his precious golden geese—ahem, his precious Academy students—were feeding him Emotion Points at every moment.
[+2321 Anger….]
[+974 Excitement….]
[+5490 Hatred….]
NOX smiled.
"So, is there anyone among you who wishes to accept my previous offer?" His voice was both playful and commanding.
Not a single soldier responded.
More than that, NOX was astonished. Despite everything, he had yet to gain a single Greed point from them.
'Ah, how honorable…'
'Looks like I'll have to put in some effort to break them.'
As NOX prepared to fight, the Dharma Soldiers were baffled. An Unranked Awakener daring to challenge an entire fleet of the Society? Madness.
But the Rank 7 soldiers weren't just baffled—they were terrified.
They understood the reality of this situation better than anyone. If NOX truly was a Devil, they could fight him without hesitation, regardless of the consequences they might face from the Dark Heaven Clan.
But if NOX wasn't a Devil? If this was just another power play among the Council Lords?
Then they were nothing more than sacrificial lambs.
And as they watched NOX walk toward them, their unease deepened.
Because they remembered Tirius' warning from moments ago.
It didn't matter who struck first.
The moment NOX was injured, they knew—they were doomed.
This was why they hadn't made a move.
And more importantly… how could they attack a child?
All these factors fueled their unease.
They were waiting.
Waiting for their generals to finish their battle.
Waiting for fate to decide if they would live or die….
[The Unrecorded Divinity quivers with excitement...]
[Your title—Child of Madness—resonates with your Evil Eyes!]