The hidden mechanics of the Devil Contract

In an instant, countless spatial coordinates spread out from Shura, eventually covering almost the entire Imperial Capital.

"Are you really that confident?"

Lind looked at him with a faint, mocking smile.

"Hahaha, can't you see?"

Shura paused, then burst into laughter. "Sure, killing Budo proved you've got some ability."

"But against my Dimensional Matrix, you won't even get a chance to come close..."

Bang... splat!

A head shot backward like a cannonball and burst apart in midair.

A deathly silence fell over the surroundings.

Both Shura's subordinates, who had been ready to strike at any moment, and Seryu, whose face had been filled with hatred, froze in place.

They stared at Shura's headless corpse, their pupils widening until their eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets.

"Imperial Arms really are good things. Their owners are just too weak."

Lind had appeared on the rooftop at some point, with the Dimensional Matrix in his hand.

So what if he could teleport?

His reflexes couldn't keep up.

He hadn't even had a chance to use his Imperial Arms.

"Shura just died like that?"

"You've got to be kidding!"

Izo and the others exchanged glances, each seeing the terror in the others' eyes.

Shura's Dimensional Matrix had been their greatest source of confidence in this fight.

Who could have expected Shura to be killed in an instant?

Even the Dimensional Matrix had been snatched away.

As they looked at Lind's indifferent expression in the distance, sweat soaked their backs.

Were they supposed to fight?

They didn't stand a chance.

Without exchanging a word, they all fled in different directions at once.

Watching them go, Lind ordered, "Esdeath, Kurome, don't let them escape."

"Yes, Master," both replied.

Esdeath and Kurome nodded together, then vanished from where they stood.

"As expected, they're all scum. I couldn't count on them to uphold justice."

Seryu, the only one who remained in place, wore a look of disgust.

"What, you think you represent justice?"

Lind looked at her in amusement. "In the end, you're just satisfying your own desires in the name of justice."

"What do you know, you rebellious criminal?"

Seryu stared fiercely at Lind. "Today, I'll pass judgment on you in the name of justice."

"Kill him, Koro."

The instant she finished speaking, the little dog beside her leaped into the air.

This was none other than the Imperial Arms, Demon Beast Transformation: Hundred-Armed Giant.

"Roar!"

Koro let out an earth-shaking roar as his entire body began to swell without limit.

In the blink of an eye, an enormous monster several dozen feet tall opened his gaping maw at Lind.

"Honestly, you think a piece of trash like this can kill me?"

Lind shook his head and casually raised his arm.

Hum.

Magic gathered in Lind's palm, and a crimson beam shot out in an instant, engulfing the Hundred-Armed Giant.

Boom!

A terrifying explosion thundered out, sending violent gusts sweeping in every direction.

"Roar..."

Only one agonized scream escaped the explosion before everything fell silent.

Seryu stood frozen, her lips trembling. "K-Koro..."

"He's already dead. No need to keep calling."

"Aaaah! I'll kill you!"

Like a madwoman, Seryu leaped toward Lind and threw a punch right at him.

"Naive."

Lind sidestepped her fist, seized her head with his other hand, and slammed it hard against the edge of the roof.

Bang!

Seryu grunted, her eyes rolling back as she lost consciousness.

Lind grabbed her by the collar and dropped down from the rooftop.

Before long.

Kurome and Esdeath returned to join him.

Esdeath was spotless, carrying only two frozen heads.

Several lifeless corpses followed behind Kurome.

"Looks like you've dealt with them all."

Holding Seryu, Lind said helplessly, "That ruined the mood. Let's have our date another time."

"Yes, Master," both replied.

Inside the bedchamber.

As soon as he returned, Lind tossed the unconscious Seryu onto the carpet.

Kurome glanced at Seryu and asked in puzzlement, "Master, why didn't you just kill the enemy? Why bring her back?"

Esdeath gave him a curious look. "Master, don't tell me you want to make her your Familiar?"

"You're half right."

Lind snapped his fingers and said calmly, "To be precise, I want to conduct an experiment."

He had just checked.

Seryu had the aptitude to become a Familiar.

He wanted to find out.

Whether someone filled with hostility toward him.

Someone unwilling, could become a Familiar.

Chapter 29: The hidden mechanics of the Devil Contract

"I-I'll kill you!"

After Lind slapped her awake, Seryu struggled incessantly, but the ropes only tightened the more she fought.

Kurome said quietly, "Don't waste your energy. This is the Assassination Squad's binding technique."

"The harder you struggle, the more you'll suffer."

Seryu shouted, "You'd better kill me, or I'll make sure you face the judgment of justice!"

"Is that so?"

With a faint, mocking smile, Lind ordered, "Esdeath, give her a hand."

"Yes, Master."

Esdeath smiled slightly and pulled off Seryu's outer clothing.

Seryu's face filled with terror. "What are you going to do?"

"Relax. I'm just making you my Familiar."

"No way! I refuse!"

Although she did not know what a Familiar was, Seryu instinctively refused.

"I wasn't planning to ask for your consent anyway."

Lind could not be bothered to explain further. Golden blood seeped from his index finger and dripped beneath Seryu's skin.

Hum!

Brilliant light flashed, and a heart-shaped pattern appeared for an instant before vanishing.

"Looks like it worked."

Lind's eyes lit up at the sight.

In that case.

I can ignore the other person's will when taking Familiars in the future.

Of course.

Under normal circumstances, Lind intended to respect the other person's wishes.

After all, forced affection was never sweet.

As for Seryu.

She was an enemy, so that did not apply to her.

With that thought, Lind looked at Seryu's attributes.

[Seryu Ubiquitous]

[Race: Demon]

[Master: Lind Lucifer]

[Level: L21]

[Skill: Demon Beast Familiar]

[Demon Beast Familiar: Construct a familiar using your own magic. The more you understand the demon beast, the more perfect the construct will be. You can also modify it using your own magic.]

Seryu really did like being a summoner.

Lind rubbed his chin as he read the description of [Demon Beast Familiar].

It's pretty decent.

But only being able to construct one familiar is a bit of a rip-off.

Choosing which demon beast to use as the model was crucial.

It was a skill with a stark difference between its lower and upper limits.

Meanwhile.

Seryu had completed the Demon Reincarnation Ritual.