Rise of the White Devil

A tired sigh left Karciel's lips as he exited the colossal silver gates, which disappeared into white particles a few seconds later.

"Nothing again..."

he muttered, gazing at the trees surrounding him.

"This is the fifth dungeon today with us leaving empty-handed. Are you sure the obtelux is even in a death zone and not already in the hands of someone?"

The uncomfortable voice of Abadux reached his ears as he leaned against a tree, gazing at the sky.

Death zones are perilous areas where dangerous beasts from dungeon breaks roam.

These places are shrouded in mystery and are so treacherous that anyone entering risks their life.

Most of the beasts inside a death zone are at least B-rank king predators.

Some even say there are beasts above S-rank residing there.

Rumors suggest that the deepest parts of a death zone house ominous creatures beyond imagination.

"His majesty was certain that the obtelux would be in a death zone's dungeon,"

Karciel said seriously, his playful demeanor absent, unlike when he attacked the Nightstar estate and tortured Lucas.

"Should we go deeper to check for more dungeon gates?"

Abadux suggested, making Karciel scowl.

"We can't... I feel a presence of something dreadful residing in the deeper parts."

"If the obtelux is in the deeper parts, then we have a problem... do remember that time is running out and that we are the highest ranks currently in Myrniel."

"You think I don't know that!"

Karciel snarled at him.

He knew that he and Abadux were the strongest of their respective races in Myrniel.

The gates were closed for some reason, ensuring no one from the demon world would enter Myrniel.

The only order he got before the gates closing was from Lord Diablo, saying that his majesty wanted them to find an ancient artifact consumed by the void and that they would find it inside a dungeon.

'Just what the hell does consumed by the void even mean?'

he thought, confused. He didn't even know what the obtelux looked like!

'I wonder how strong this weapon must be for his majesty to want it...'

As he thought, his pitch-red eyes widened in shock as he felt a connection sever.

'The curse is gone... of course it would be.'

He remembered when he placed a curse on Lucas that would only activate when he was away from him, intended to drive him insane.

But he never heard anything about Lucas going crazy.

Confirming his suspicion was when he watched the entrance exam and saw Lucas perfectly fine as if the curse was never there.

At first, he thought Lucas must have removed it, but then he would have felt that.

'He really isn't human, is he?'

Karciel was sure of it now that the curse was removed so easily.

He could feel that the curse wasn't connected properly with its host, meaning that Lucas managed to fight it with or without realizing it.

'Just what the hell is he... his skin was much tougher than a normal human of his stage to the point I had to actually try and...'

As he thought, he remembered their last moment together before he fled from the mysterious saint.

That smile of his...

'I can't put my finger on it, but why does he remind me of someone... my mind keeps going blank the moment I almost figure out who the person he reminds me of is.'

That smile when he saw it for some reason made his body tremble.

'Fear... to think he would actually make me feel fear for a second.'

He laughed bitterly out of nowhere, making Abadux look at him weirdly.

'To think I placed a curse to make one go crazy when he already was. I should have killed him...' Experience exclusive tales on empire

He didn't know why, but ever since their last moment together, he felt his chest tighten considerably remembering Lucas's expression.

'I am starting to understand a little bit why his majesty said to be clear of that family... everything is just full of questions with them.'

Breaking him out of his thoughts was the feeling of multiple beings approaching him and Abadux.

Looking ahead, he saw three demons and a wraith running towards them.

'So they are here... empty-handed.'

He clicked his tongue as he already noticed that they must have failed as well in finding the obtelux.

As they arrived in front of him and Abadux, they kneeled in their presence.

"Lord Karciel, Lord Abadux, we are sorry but we didn't find anything..."

they said regretfully with their heads down.

"So what now, Karciel?" Abadux asked as they were now stuck and knew they couldn't go any deeper into this death zone.

"We are leaving and going to another death zone for the time being... if we keep having no luck, we might have to risk going deeper into the death zones," Karciel said, making the demons and the wraith tremble in fear as they felt the ominous presence all the way from the deeper part of the death zone.

"Very well, let's leave this death zone for the time being then," Abadux said as Karciel nodded and a small mark appeared beneath him.

"Abadux, let's split up. I'll be going to a death zone I marked while you go to another. This way we will be faster,"

he said as Abadux merely nodded and disappeared, leaving a trail of miasma behind, corrupting the ground he was standing on.

"As for you lot... there is something else I need you to deal with for the time being."

"Anything you wish, Lord Karciel,"

one of the demons said, bowing his head again while all of them were still on their knees.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

They knew they had no choice but to obey either Karciel or Abadux as they were the strongest and had to fulfill an order of the demon king.

"I need you to find a person and kill him when the opportunity arises."

"Just say the name, Lord Karciel."

He didn't answer for a few seconds as he pondered the order he was about to give.

'Perhaps they can be of some use as well...'

"Lucas Nightstar."

Everyone looked up weirdly at him upon hearing the name of the intended target.

"Is there a problem?" He scowled at seeing their expressions.

"N-no, forgive us, Lord Karciel. It is just... why?"

'Idiots...'

"We don't know his exact star level, but he must be already at the 7-star level if he can fight a B-ranked beast alone. On top of that, he has shown to be a tri-elemental mage and a swordsman, making him a dual wielder... all of this at the age of 15. I have a feeling as well... that he will stand in the way of his majesty in the future if we don't get rid of him now."

They shuddered at hearing the last part from Karciel.

Being able to stand against the demon king?

The mere thought seemed ridiculous to them, but the feats that Lucas had already shown made them rethink if such a thing was really ridiculous.

"As you wish, Lord Karciel. We will make sure he will be dead when we get the chance."

"Good. Also, be careful... I am not sure, but I believe that he actually isn't a human." He said, making everyone open their eyes wide in shock.

"Not human... then what is he?"

"I don't know."

As he spoke, the mark beneath him started to glow with a white light.

"Don't take him lightly. He isn't to be underestimated even if he is 15. Remember, he is called the White Devil for a reason, so make sure you get some backup before fighting him."

'If only I asked him more questions back then... to think I let such a monster get away. Just how many secrets are you really hiding, Lucas Nightstar?'

"How many demons and wraiths should we take with us, Lord Karciel?"

"Not demons nor wraiths, but another race."

His face turned into disgust, showing his sharp teeth as he spoke the words of the race he despised the most.

"Leeches."