Later That Day -
The door opens, but this time, it's not just Grafiya. Although she is there as well.
Sirzechs Lucifer enters his expression calm, unreadable. I can't tell if he's here to kill me or agree with my deal.
I set my book down, glancing at Grafiya, who's displeased chilly countenance gives me hope I've won.
He studies me for a moment before speaking. "Come along, Levi. We're going to see Ajuka."
I feel a profound sense of relief, letting out a shaky breath, Sirzech looking away, letting me have my small moment of loss of composure.
I can recognize and appreciate that level of politeness, even as it still infuriates me, because if he only could care about what's not in front of him too, I wouldn't be here…
I rise to my feet, stretching languidly to hide the trembling of my limbs. "That's it? No small talk? No 'gee, Levi, thanks for all the wonderful intel'?" I try, having to clear my throat twice to manage.
He doesn't react to my baiting. He suddenly seems tired, not that there is much of a tell, but for some reason that's the feeling I'm getting here.
My grin turns sharp, sensing weakness. My anger at my own weakness sharpening my tone, "How's Diodora doing?"
Both Sirzechs and Grafiya eye me coolly. One much harsher than the other.
They don't answer.
Before I can prod further, Grafiya steps forward and grabs my arm in a firm, unyielding grip.
A teleportation circle flares beneath us.
Fucking ask woman, I inwardly squawk, recoiling from her touch, by habit, surprise touches never good.
Sirzechs sigh is loud.
And just like that, we vanish.
The world shifts in a blur of color and energy as the teleportation completes. The suffocating aura of Sirzechs and the ever-present weight of Grafiya's gaze disappear from my mind as I focus on our new location.
A lab.
Because yeah, of course.
And suddenly I'm also less sure things are ending well. If anyone could disassemble my rune chain - of blow myself the fuck up - without me being able to preempt it by said blowing up - it's this bastard.
Ajuka Beelzebub, who is already waiting when we arrive, wearing a labcoat, his green hair instantly recognizable. Not that I would have believed he is anyone else, not with that aura that could match Sirzech. Although where his is searing and domineering - Ajukas is prodding, clinical, never still.
You'd think I'd hate him most of all, for creating the evil pieces in the first place.
Yet…
Although I hate him for not fixing the broken system, I don't hate him for creating that. He's a scientist, he is bound to search for ways to progress the devil race. I know his type. If he even bothers with what happens in the Underworld outside major incidents, I'd be very surprised.
No, I blame the others more. It's their job to control the rest of the bastards. Maybe it's my own attempts to uplift 16th century Vienna talking, but I can understand looking around you, head filled with a vision of better, and working towards it.
He just picked the worst fucking option for anyone not a devil.
Not too different from a human. My country back when sure as hell would have picked the option that benefitted them, not their neighbor or enemy.
Not that it makes much of a difference, hate is hate. And I'm not ever going to forgive any of them. I'm rambling, I need to pull myself together. I chide myself.
Ajuka watches me as we all walk forward.
His blue eyes doesn't blink, his gaze is as sharp as a scalpel, dissecting me as if I'm a particularly interesting experiment that's just walked into his lab.
I really hope that's not what's happening…
My last ditch plan… It held no possible way to stop Ajuka. If he for some reason doesn't follow Sirzechs lead, I'm done.
I raise an eyebrow, folding my arms. "Something on my face?"
If unsure, go for audacity.
It sure as hell beat cowering.
I half expect Grafiya to make a sharp remark, but she remains silent. Sirzechs, however, lets out another sigh, the sound carrying long-suffering exasperation.
Ajuka doesn't react to my words, nor does he offer any acknowledgment that I've spoken. Instead, he reaches into the sleeve of his coat and pulls out a syringe - thin, wickedly sharp.
Before I can move, before I can even decide whether or not I want to react, the needle is in my neck.
A sharp sting. A pull of blood.
I scowl, rubbing the spot where he drew blood as he pulls back, examining the syringe with mild curiosity. "You know," I say dryly, "Starting to feel like you guys don't actually want any information. You know how close I just was to 'sploding myself?"
Sirzechs sighs again, heavier this time. "Ajuka."
Ajuka blinks, as if Sirzechs' tone is the only thing that actually registers to him. Then, as if only now realizing the breach in etiquette, he turns his head toward me. "Can I please have some of your blood?" His voice is flat, uninterested, as if the act of asking is beneath him.
I glare at him. "No."
Ajuka nods like that was the expected response and turns away, already walking off with the syringe.
Man, fuck all of these people, I think, just hoping this is not a prelude to a nice specimen tank.
I look at Sirzechs and Grafiya, expecting some kind of reaction. Sirzechs just gestures for me to follow Ajuka, while Grafiya - almost - smiles at my discomfort. Not quite, but the ghost of one lingers at the corners of her mouth.
I grit my teeth, putting it as another thing I can do fuck all about. Whatever. I'll be out of here soon enough, and then my blood won't matter.
We follow Ajuka through a set of reinforced doors, deeper into his domain, until we enter a chamber dominated by a massive ritual circle. The patterns on the floor shift constantly, flowing in and out of existence, weaving complex arrays of energy that make my skin prickle just looking at them. A matching circle mirrors it on the ceiling, forming a sphere of layered enchantments that radiate pure, condensed magic.
I've seen something similar before - only a thousand times less complicated. A ritual used on other reincarnated devils, peerage members, when their pieces were removed by my mas - no, fuck that! Never again! - by that bastard, Shax.
Evil pieces can of course be removed. Most devils did not in fact keep the same peerage for ten thousand years, and trading wasn't actually that common.
Most of them were left weaker than before of course, discarded by their masters, reduced to nothing more than common laborers or beggars. The process if not done very skillfully strips them of a great deal of power, tearing away a piece of their very existence.
The thousands of devils who make up the masses of the lower class, are devils like this whose masters grew bored of them, and decided to take their piece back with the mercy of letting them live after.
Having seen this ritual before, I know exactly what's coming.
Pain. Agony, even.
So an old friend, really.
But I'm not just removing my piece. I'm trading it. The King piece will fill the void, anchor me back into my power - no, more than that. It will push me beyond anything I've ever felt before. It has to.
Everything hinges on this.
Ajuka steps toward the circle, glancing at the blood sample he took. "Stand in the center." He tells me brusquely, not bothering to explain anything.
I inhale deeply, steadying myself, and do as he says.
The moment I step into position, the magic hums beneath my feet. The energy of the ritual circles coils around me, pressing against my skin, an eerie static crawling along my nerves as Ajukas magic feels me out.
Ajuka watches me impassively. "I have never actually traded one piece for another on a willing healthy subject before. I am pleased to get the opportunity."
I flick a glance at him with a chagrined expression. Oiy. That guy just said something really disturbing right now.
Forget what I thought about him, I hate him equally as much as the rest… How could I not have thought he'd use reincarnated devils as unwilling subjects at some point. Humans, too.
Just get me out of here already…
Ajuka doesn't react to my displeased mien, already twisting his fingers, a surge of energy crackles through the air, and suddenly, he's holding a King piece in his palm.
Even from where I stand, within the magical circle, I can feel it.
The power emanating from that tiny chess piece is staggering - dense, compact, volatile.
The fact Sirzechs and Ajuka haven't tried to talk me out of the King piece in particular, means my Touki training has given my body the edge needed to survive implementation. Still, I feel a sliver of apprehension right now, at the last moment.
"If I explode, I just want to make it clear that you all are horrible monsters, riding on a wave of suffering to enjoy your privileged lives." I say flatly, bracing myself.
Sirzechs taps his foot, his tone edged with impatience. "Ajuka, can we start? The sooner we move on this deal, the better." Completely ignoring my comment. As did the others.
Fuckers probably thinks they're heroes, can't even comprehend my words, because they don't compute, tch.
My gaze slides towards Grafiya, I want one last dig in if this is the end. My expression says it all - looks like you're not getting your way. The life of a servant, huh?
Her scowl is deeply satisfying.
Then, pain.
Ajuka starts the ritual, and my blood boils.
The magic circles ignite in full force, flaring to blinding brilliance. I can feel Ajuka's magic clawing into me, probing, searching - digging. My very soul feels like it's being unraveled, piece by agonizing piece, as the Bishop piece is ripped from me.
It is not a clean separation at all.
If only Shax could feel this pain, but of course the system is set up to only be painful for the soul of the slave.
The piece fights back, screams through my veins, tears at my essence as it is wrenched from where it has been embedded for centuries. My vision blurs, my body seizing as raw, unfiltered agony sears through me. I feel like I'm being torn apart, like my very existence is being peeled away layer by layer.
I have endured much in my life.
This ranks at the top.
I grind my teeth, refusing to scream, even as my muscles lock, even as every nerve in my body lights up in white-hot torment.
And then, just as I think it might actually kill me - the King piece slams into place.
The void left behind is filled in an instant, a tide of power rushing through me, sealing the wound in my soul with something stronger. My demonic energy surges, and surges, and it just keeps going.
It expands.
Grows.
Rises.
I can feel it. My power reaches past the limits I had always thought would bind me, soaring to heights I had never imagined.
I have it.
I finally have it.
My lips part, a breathless, exhilarated laugh bubbling up before the overwhelming rush of magic crashes over me, pulling me under.
Darkness takes me.
The last thing I hear before unconsciousness claims me is the distinct thud of my own body hitting the stone floor.
No one moves to catch me.
Fuckers.
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