Level up, Esdeath

Lind smiled. "So, do you still want to keep fighting?"

"No. I'm no match for you."

Esdeath shook her head, then said solemnly, "But I want to know how powerful you are when you get serious, Mr. Demon."

"I see."

Lind raised one hand slightly. "Since you want to see it, I'll oblige."

Hum!

The instant his words fell, a dark red magic circle appeared in midair.

"Lightning strike."

Amid a dazzling blaze of light, a vast bolt of blue lightning swallowed everyone's vision, like divine punishment descending from above.

Rumble!

The lightning, hundreds of yards across, struck a mountain and set off an earth-shattering explosion.

The surrounding mountains all shook.

Thick smoke billowed endlessly.

No one knew how much time passed.

When the lightning and smoke cleared, the mountain that had stood there had vanished completely.

Even the ground had become a bottomless abyss.

The sight made every soldier's hair stand on end, their faces filled with horror.

"Am... am I dreaming? Is this really power a person can possess?"

"Could it be an Imperial Arms? No, impossible! Even an Imperial Arms couldn't be this absurdly powerful!"

"Who exactly is this man?"

The soldiers erupted into an uproar.

Cries of terror and shock filled the air.

"He's actually this powerful?"

Esdeath turned to look at Lind, her eyes now blazing with fervor.

A short while later.

Inside another tent.

Esdeath poured Lind a cup of wine herself.

Her gaze was reverent, as though she were looking upon a god.

After taking a sip, Lind said, "Now that I've fulfilled your wish, it's time to discuss my payment."

Standing before Lind, Esdeath nodded. "Please, go ahead, Mr. Demon."

"What, you're accepting it just like that?"

At Lind's words, Esdeath remained calm, without so much as a flicker in her eyes.

Since this was a transaction,

both parties would naturally take what they needed.

Nothing could be more reasonable.

Esdeath drew a deep breath and said solemnly,

"Mr. Demon, whatever you want, you may take it."

"Even if it's me."

As she said that, she instinctively glanced at Lind.

Come to think of it,

Mr. Demon is very handsome.

And he's stronger than me.

He's practically my perfect partner.

Lind gave her a long look, then smiled.

"I have to say, I like you even more now."

"You guessed right. What I want is you."

Esdeath froze for a moment at his words, then the corners of her mouth lifted.

"In that case,"

"from this moment on, I belong to you."

Chapter 21: Level up, Esdeath

Esdeath agreed to Lind's request without the slightest fuss.

There was not a trace of hesitation.

Even without their deal,

not to mention,

the strong could rule the weak however they pleased.

Before Lind,

she was the weak one.

And with his handsome face swaying her judgment,

she felt no discomfort at giving herself entirely to this demon.

"Then from now on, your soul and your body belong entirely to me."

A smile curved Lind's lips.

After all that effort,

he had finally brought this exceptional servant into his fold.

"Mm-hmm."

Esdeath nodded and asked curiously, "Then what should I do?"

"Do we need to sign another contract?"

Lind shook his head. "I'll perform a Reincarnation Ritual on you, turning you into a demon—in other words, making you my servant."

"Become a demon?"

Esdeath paused.

Then excitement stirred within her.

Would becoming a demon mean growing stronger?

She gazed at Lind and asked, "I understand, but what do I need to do next?"

A Reincarnation Ritual, huh?

Now that's something to look forward to.

"First, take off your outer clothes."

Esdeath blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes.

She was quite certain

that she had not misheard.

After a moment of silence, Esdeath began to move.

A few seconds later, she held her outer clothes in her arms and asked, "This should do, right?"

Lind looked her over. "Yes. Leave the rest to me."

As he spoke, Lind slowly reached his hand toward her.

No, surely not?

Esdeath's pretty face flushed slightly.

Is this what he means by a Reincarnation Ritual?

I'm not ready yet.

Besides, we've only just met.

Mr. Demon won't think I'm a shameless woman, will he?

Maybe I should act a little more reserved?

Lind extended his index finger and squeezed out a few drops of golden blood. "Esdeath, what's wrong?"

She's acting so strangely. Is this woman imagining things too?

"N-nothing."

Esdeath shuddered, feeling her cheeks burn.

I completely misunderstood.

This is so embarrassing.

Lind shook his head and dripped the blood directly onto Esdeath's skin.

The searing sensation made Esdeath's pupils contract.

As Lind worked, mysterious letters emerged within the light.

Thump!

Esdeath trembled, the sound of her heartbeat echoing throughout the tent.

It felt as though something inside her was about to surge out.

Almost at the same instant,

data began to appear on Esdeath's skin.

[Esdeath]

[Race: Demon]

[Master: Lind Lucifer]

[Level: L39]

[Skill: Absolute Zero]

[Absolute Zero: Allows control over the power of ice to reach the pinnacle of mastery.]

"Level 39, huh."

Reading the information, Lind nodded to himself.

That's Esdeath for you.

She had only just reincarnated as a demon, and she was already at the very limit of a High-Class Devil.

Then Lind looked at Esdeath's skill.

"Absolute Zero..."

A gleam flashed in Lind's eyes.

Whatever its actual effects might be,

anything bearing that name was bound to be extraordinary.