Kael didn't sleep.
The System's warning hovered in his mind like a blade at his throat. The Inquisitor was still in the village chapel—probably praying, or worse, performing a detection rite. He couldn't hide forever. He needed answers.
So he found a quiet place near the edge of the woods, lit a single stolen candle, and spoke aloud.
"System… what is a 'Stealth Protocol'? Explain."
The black runes flickered into view, responding immediately:
Demon System: Stealth Protocol [Rank F] – Active
Description: Automatically suppresses infernal aura, energy fluctuations, and corruption signatures detectable by holy sensors or magical scans.
Limitations:
– Rank F protocol is fragile under divine scrutiny.
– Duration limited to 12 hours per activation.
– Cooldown: 6 hours.
– Does not hide physical mutations or acts of overt demonic magic.
Upgrade Path: F → E → D → C → S → SS → SSS.
Kael blinked. "So if he gets too close or uses a spell…"
"Your soul will be forfeit."
System Suggestion: Remain calm. Avoid divine confrontation. Use deception. Build power. Survive.
He grit his teeth. "Great advice, system. I'll just out-bluff a monster hunter."
The Radiant Church was no myth. Every child in the empire grew up fearing its golden paladins and silver-tongued priests. It was the empire's sword and shield against corruption. They hunted witches, demons, necromancers—and anything in between. The Inquisitors were the worst of them.
Not fanatics. Worse: true believers.
Kael had seen one once, when he was a boy. After a merchant confessed to harboring a cursed relic, an Inquisitor burned down half the town to cleanse it. They smiled while they did it.
Now one of those men had come for him.
Analyzing Enemy:
Subject: Inquisitor Seraphin Vale
Class: Holy Scourge (Unique)
Affiliation: Radiant Church – Order of Blinding Dawn
Rank: Gold Inquisitor
Skill Highlights:
– [Sanctified Sight] – Detects infernal taint within 20 meters.
– [Judgement Flame] – Ranged holy attack, scales with faith.
– [Divine Chain] – Binds unholy entities; ignores physical barriers.
Threat Level: Lethal.
Kael stared at the profile. "So, you're saying if he breathes near me, I die."
Affirmative.
Suggestion: Establish Domain. Gain Demon Seed Core. Level up.
He paced. He couldn't leave the village without arousing suspicion. But if he stayed, the Protocol would wear off, and Vale would sniff him out.
Unless…
Kael's eyes narrowed. "If I can get him to leave the village, even for a few hours…"
New Objective: Distract or Remove Inquisitor Vale
Optional Pathway: Frame local threat (corrupted beast, minor cult, forbidden artifact)
Tools Unlocked:
– [Whisper of Doubt] (Passive) – Sows paranoia in low-faith targets
– [Imprint of Shadows] (1 use) – Temporarily infects object with demonic aura
Kael smiled for the first time in days.
He didn't have power yet—but now he had options.
And if the Radiant Church thought he'd be easy prey…
They'd learn what kind of Demon Lord he was becoming.