Chapter 23 - An invasion?
A glint of satisfaction flashed in Cain's eyes.
No matter the details, any skill tied to absolute was never simple.
And for Esdeath, it was a perfect fit.
Most importantly…
With a thought, he pulled up his panel.
[Cain Lucifuge]
[Race: Primordial Devil]
[Level: Level 54]
[Unique Authority: Primordial Devil Transformation]
[Servants: Grayfia, Shiho Miyano, Akemi Miyano, Esdeath]
[Skills: Devil Contract, Devil Summoning, Infinite Demonic Power, Heart of Magic, Magic Gunslinger, Devil's Lance, Devil Mask and Absolute Zero]
Subtle but significant changes.
After, Esdeath added to the list. Absolute Zero was now his.
But the real highlight, his level had jumped noticeably.
This was the true value of a high tier servant.
On the other side, the reincarnation ritual completed.
Esdeath stood slightly dazed, feeling the new power coursing through her veins.
This had to be the same force her Master had wielded.
A faint itch prickled between her shoulder blades
Wings, no doubt.
Cain handed her the sheet of recorded stats.
Esdeath took it automatically, brow furrowing in mild confusion. "What's this?"
"Your servant panel," Cain explained simply.
Esdeath nodded and studied it carefully.
===
Level 39.
High class devil, according to Master.
Not weak at all among devils.
Determination flared in her eyes.
She finally had a clear goal.
She would climb higher, always higher.
Then her gaze dropped to the skill.
Absolute Zero.
"I see…" A slow, thrilled smile spread across her face. "No wonder ice feels so much more… intimate now."
Even freshly reborn, her strength had multiplied several times over.
"Thank you, Master, for granting me this power."
She dropped gracefully to one knee, looking up at him with pure reverence.
Cain's lips curved. "You're quite obsessed with getting stronger."
A strange light danced in his dark eyes.
"If that's the case…"
"I know ways to make you improve even faster."
Esdeath's breath caught with excitement.
"Then please, Master."
"Make me stronger."
The words barely left her mouth before Cain closed the distance.
"!??"
Esdeath blinked.
Wait.
Was something off here?
Mmm...
Her lips were claimed.
She melted like soft dough, molded completely against him.
An intensely unfamiliar sensation flooded her.
Hard. Hot.
This… this…
Panic flickered briefly in her eyes, then overwhelming emotion drowned it.
All that remained was the instinct to give everything to her Master.
To fulfill her duty as his servant.
Cain's expression stayed solemn.
Time to focus entirely on leveling Esdeath.
...
Later, Esdeath lay catching her breath, intimately aware of every change in her body.
"Master… my strength really has grown."
She knew her own power better than anyone.
Even after reincarnation, she'd quickly grasped its limits.
But now…
Her physique felt reinforced.
Demonic power flowed richer and deeper.
She finally understood the true depth of her Master's strength.
"Esdeath," Cain said, voice calm, "if you want to improve faster, don't waste a single moment."
Esdeath rolled her eyes playfully, expression serene. "Oh dear, Master is so strict…"
She rose and began kissing him again.
The next few days blurred into relentless pursuit of strength.
Esdeath barely slept or ate.
She stayed glued to Cain's side.
===
[Esdeath]
[Race: Devil]
[Master: Cain Lucifuge]
[Level: Level 41]
[Skill: Absolute Zero]
[Absolute Zero: Ultimate mastery over ice and cold.]
===
"It's getting easier to influence their growth," Cain mused.
Compared to Shiho and the others, Esdeath advanced at a terrifying pace.
She was already peak among High class devils.
Breaking through should have been exponentially harder, perhaps equivalent to a Mid class gaining ten levels.
Yet in mere days, she'd climbed two full ranks.
"Probably because my own strength broke through another threshold."
Cain sighed quietly.
His own leveling felt slow by comparison.
But…
He had more than one servant.
"In that case, we'll have to work even harder."
His eyes glinted as he rolled over.
Esdeath's gaze flashed with brief panic.
"No more, my lips are swollen."
Cain pinned her gently, giving no escape.
"Didn't you say you'd pay any price to grow stronger? Let's do that."
Just then...
Deafening warhorse neighs thundered across the plains.
"An invasion?"
Esdeath's eyes lit up, as if granted sudden amnesty.
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