Chapter: The Apathetic Heir
Chapter: 04
(The Legendary Familiar)
Snow crunched under my foot as I stepped out into the dungeon. My guard was up, even as my eyes lazily scanned my surroundings.
The first thing I noticed was that I had appeared in some sort of desolate city. The next thing of notice was that the city was pristine. Besides the layer of snow that covered the entire area.
It was almost eerily quiet and empty. Something that just wouldn't be true for a city of this size in the modern world. The only sound was the gently whistling wind.
I was glad there wasn't something limiting my visibility or this would be a bit trickier.
There was a main question though, where were all the enemies? Had I mistaken the dungeon for the concept from back in my own world? Was this perhaps some sort of place to reside?
That would suck and also make levelling up much harder since I needed to kill things to gain exp.
I guess there was one way to find out.
I began walking around.
It was an entire five minutes later that I finally found something. A claw mark on one of the cars, it looked relatively human-sized but then again humans didn't have claws.
Just as I passed into another street, I finally spotted a figure. Its skin was chalk-white and it seemed to be sniffing the ground. Long ears twitched at the sound of my foot crunching again the snow visibly registered in its ears.
Name: (None)
Title: (None)
Level - 3
Race - Frostwalker
The newly identified Frostwalker screeched and my hand was up, a ball of scorching hot lava shooting out and wrapping around its head. The creature died moments later as its head was eviscerated.
More screeching echoed in the far distance and by that I mean multiple dozens of screeches. Wasn't this meant to be the starter dungeon? I heard things and windows suddenly getting smashed though.
The silence was replaced with the sound of a lot of damage. It was almost creepy. I decidedly snuck into one of the taller buildings to observe what I was against. Getting myself killed with arrogance would be embarrassing.
I watched as Frostwalkers came sprinting to their dead kin. Windows smashed as some just opted to smash through buildings while others came crashing through the road.
I was glad I was on top of the building since I could hear the building I was in getting smashed up below by FrostWalkers. Frosty dark blue eyes frantically searched around.
I could probably come up with some clever plan to maybe collapse one of the taller buildings on them to avoid the fight altogether. But honestly, that sounded dull. I had already lived such a dull life before so the plan didn't appeal to me.
Besides, there was the question of If I would even get the experience from that.
If things got too hard of course I would abandon this mindset and go for that option but for now, I wanted to fight.
Instead, I focused and raised my hand as a sharp mass of molten lava formed in my palm. I removed the heat like I had practised, letting it harden into a solid dark rock.
I aimed and let the hardened lava shoot from my hand. It whizzed through the air at a slower rate than I would have preferred. The attack seemed on track to hit only to hit the ground next to the targeted Frostwalker.
Their heads all snapped up to me at once.
"…"
Oops.
They all screeched in unison and began running into the building I was in. Unhurriedly I formed a large chunk of lava with only some difficulty and sent it down the entrance to the rooftop.
I hardened part of it and made the rest of the lava pour down the steps. The lava started to melt through the floor. I heard something and I looked down to see some of them crawling up the walls. I didn't waste time.
Aiming my hand, I formed another spike of hardened lava that I shot at the closest Frostwalker who had managed to climb to the third floor already. This time I didn't miss and the Frostwalkers head practically exploded from the force.
You have Levelled up!
I shot another one and raised my other hand, firing a mass of molten hot lava. Progressively more began to climb up and swarm the entire building. I also began to hear banging coming from the rooftop entrance.
Instead of showing any sort of worry I basked in the excitement.
I formed another dense mass of molten lava in my hands. It wasn't perfect, its form was sluggish and hard to control but it was unnaturally hot. An idea came to mind and with a flick of my wrist, I shot it at the rooftop entrance.
The lava splattered across the door, hissing as it melted through the surface. Which revealed more Frostwalkers below but they couldn't do anything as the lava created a massive hole.
I heard a scraping sound behind me. I spun around just in time to see another Frostwalker cresting the edge of the roof, its long claws digging into the concrete with some success. Attempting to pull itself up.
Instantly, I formed yet another spike of hardened lava in my palm and hurled it straight at the creature. It missed and I clicked my tongue, quickly forming another one and shooting it.
I found that they were relatively easier to use than pure lava at the moment. It also helped that they were relatively low cost with Demonic Power since I could feel every attack lowering my reserves.
Luckily I also had boosted reserves from my bloodline and being a Devil or I might have had to consider making a retreat. It would have sucked to be a human.
My attack shot through the air, piercing its skull in one smooth motion and the Frostwalker tumbled off the edge with a dying screech.
The victory was short-lived. More of them were already at the rooftop, breaking through the remaining windows and scaling the sides of the building.
I shot more blobs of molten lava but I was limited to what I could aim at with my two hands along with only being able to produce one attack per hand due to my low level in control.
You have Levelled up!
I decided to start ignoring the notifications as the blobs of Lava melted through the Frostwalkers who screamed in pain.
Despite my efforts, they just kept coming. One after another, screeching loudly while they desperately tried to reach me. I attempted to block their advance by melting sections of the floor beneath me, causing the roof to sag and crack.
A basic architect would tell you why melting parts of the roof and the support for that roof wasn't a great idea.
The Frostwalkers stumbled over the shifting ground, but they were relentless. I felt the roof beneath me begin to give way under the heat and pressure. The building wouldn't hold much longer.
I fired a few more hardened lava spikes, my aim mostly accurate.
My eyes flickered to a taller building beside the building I was on, a wild grin spread across my face and I took a step back. I sprinted to the edge of the roof. With all my strength I jumped, feeling the cold wind whip past me as I sailed through the air.
My heart pounded excitedly as the building loomed closer. I stretched out my arms, barely managing to grab hold of the ledge. My fingers scraped against the rough surface and I pulled myself up.
Had I been in my old body, I would have fallen to my death right there but with my new enhanced devil physique, I was able to easily make sure I didn't fall.
I watched the part of the building I had been standing on collapse into itself. The Frostwalkers screeched at me and I grinned. This was as good an opportunity as any, I had been wanting to test my DarkLight ability since I had been reborn.
It looked like a pitch-black light at first glance which didn't make sense. Instead of illuminating the area, it absorbed the surrounding light, casting an unnatural darkness around it.
The pitch-black energy flickered and pulsed around my hand as though it were alive, feeding on the light and drawing everything into it. Just as I tried to move it swirled out of control. My eyes widened slightly as I was forced to wrestle with it for control.
I was glad that I hadn't tried using this back at the mansion.
The material of the building that I hung from began melting and decaying. With all my willpower I was barely able to direct it, and multiple notifications of what I assumed were skill level-ups appeared which made it slightly easier.
A blast erupted out from my hand and I gasped slightly as I felt a massive amount of my demonic energy drain. The blast ripped through the air, growing larger and more volatile as it spiralled toward the building.
It hit with a massive force, detonating in a violent explosion that tore through the structure.
I quickly pulled myself up and watched in fascination as the dozens of Frostwalkers were killed. Either by the collapsing building, the explosion or the weird way everything seemed to melt and decay around the explosion.
Soon only a few remained, the Frostwalkers that had already begun charging. I finished them off as they tried to crawl up the side of the building. A spike of hardened lava pierced the last two's skulls.
My breath was heavy.
There was a brief silence, the same silence I had heard when I had first arrived here. That was soon broken as hundreds of screeches echoed from the far distance.
I think it was best I leave it here.
My demonic reserves were below ten per cent in total capacity. I sighed, finally looking at my notifications as my heart pounded in my chest.
You have Levelled up!
You have Levelled up!
You have Levelled up!
You have Levelled up!
You have Levelled up!
Not as much as I had expected it would be but then again all the Frostwalkers had been level three. I checked my status. I was now level eight with a total of fourteen unallocated stat points.
I allocated four to physique and the rest towards my magical reserves. My demonic energy seemed to expand and deepen while my body tensed before untensing.
I paused.
Perhaps I should have waited on doing that and instead slowly raised my stats. My physique would go unnoticed but I didn't know if Gremailia or Lucius could sense my demonic energy.
I clicked my tongue. That would cause more questions to be raised but then again I could just make out I was a monstrous prodigy. After all, Sirzech had probably done the same thing. Why couldn't I?
Restricting my growth and ability to grow which would be based on the power I could use in the dungeon wouldn't be wise. Plus, Devils revered power from my knowledge. So it shouldn't be a bad thing.
I looked at my skills.
[Lava manipulation] (LVL: 24/25) {Novice}
The destructive element of lava, a mix between earth and fire allowing the user to both defend and destroy. Widely considered one of the most dangerous elements, once mastered the user can attack his foes with the power of a natural disaster. Bringing an unstoppable destruction to any who dare to get in the user's path.
[Passive Effect: 10% cost reduction to all lava manipulation usage]
[Darklight] (Lvl: 8/25) {Novice}
The signature bloodline ability of the Lucifer house created by Lucifer himself after he fell and forsaked his light in spite of God. It is a mix of light which was corrupted by darkness, behaves like both while having animation properties allowing it to "destroy" any magical ability that is of equal or lower strength than the user.
[Passive effect: 5% cost reduction]
That brief struggle had netted me eight levels in my Darklight skill. Interesting.
The screeches echoed closer and I nodded.
Time to leave.
I stepped out of the dungeon and back to the safety of my bedroom with a yawn. I hadn't been in the dungeon for long, mostly since I had immediately got horded but that had been good.
My level had risen to eight and I had gotten a feel for the dungeon. It had proven itself to be as dangerous as it was rewarding.
I had expected something more along the lines of a slower enemy that didn't travel in hordes but perhaps this had worked out in my favour.
[Dungeon Gate] [Lvl: 4/25] {Novice}
Dungeon gate lets the user create a gate into a dungeon of any available. This skill levels up by making progress via the dungeon.
Only four levels? It seems this was going to be harder to level than my other skills. Then again my perk did make all magical skills level up much faster.
I laid down on my sinfully comfortable bed. I felt a bit drowsy from the lack of demonic power but it should regenerate soon.
A thought suddenly occurred to me. Where was my legendary Familiar? My inherited memories made me certain that I had never interacted with or even seen any other living creature other than my Butler and Maid.
I opened up my inventory and there it was.
A red egg aptly named 'Legendary Familiar Egg' I pulled the egg out, and a massive egg appeared on my bed. It pulsed and I looked at it curiously. Did I have to wait for it to hatch?
Hatch Legendary Familiar Egg?
[Yes/No]
Naturally, I pressed 'Yes' and watched with mild curiosity as the crack opened. Flame burst out and I was forced to move the egg to somewhere that wasn't burning my comfortable mattress.
As the egg opened and the cracks widened, flames erupted from the openings in the egg. They licked at the air around it and caused a visible heat wave around its shell. Shadows seemed to twist in the light of the fire, darkening the area around the egg.
From within the molten crack, a clawed hand wreathed in flame and darkness sprouted out. The shimmer of dark flames seemed to swirl around the creature as it rose.
Its skin was an ashen grey, cracked with what would appear to be molten fire running through its body. Its head popped out and I noticed that two tiny horns were curved around its skull.
Two molten-slitted eyes looked up at me with what I could identify as pure unadulterated affection. Even as an aura of evil and malice swirled across its small frame.
The moment its eyes met mine, I felt an intense connection, as though it had imprinted on me.
The creature's eyes glowed like two raging fires, yet they carried a surprisingly deep loyalty and devotion. The flames around it, though from a glance seemed malicious and corrupted by nature, did nothing to me. Not a hint of heat despite the fact it was burning.
Two small wings of shadow stretched out behind the creature. Flapping almost subconsciously.
It let out a small coo, more innocent than one would expect from a creature that looked more demonic than any Devil could ever hope to even look a trace of.
It moved closer to me from its place on my desk, its dark raging flames parting as if to welcome me into its sphere of protection. It nuzzled against me affectionately.
Name: [None]
Title: [None]
Level - 1
Race - Balrog (Newborn)
"…"
Even as normally unphased as I was most of the time. A fucking balrog. I don't know what I had expected but it certainly wasn't a Balrog. I experimentally stroked its cheek which elicited me a happy nuzzle back.
This was certainly a development. I guess I should start by giving it a name.
A name came to mind.
"I name you Malphor," I said, scratching it behind the ear. It was hard to tell with its ashy skin.
It purred happily and I smiled.
Suddenly a knock came and I clicked my tongue.
"Young Lord? Are you okay?" Lucius' muffled voice called from behind my door.
This was a weird predicament.
As if sensing my desire and predicament the newly named Balrog somehow sunk into my shadow. Literally, as my shadows stretched out before returning to normal shape.
That works.
I cleaned the ash quickly and put away the eggshells in my inventory for later examination. The entire process only took ten seconds
-{Lucius Zechariah}-
As no answer came from behind the door, he prepared to kick it down and fight whoever had intruded upon the young heir of the Lucifer clan's room.
He had only knocked because he knew how much it annoyed the teen, especially after he had accidentally walked in on the young Lord relieving himself to what seemed to be one of Gremailia's undergarments.
Naturally, it didn't matter to him. As a young Devil who was bound to be powerful growing up, it was perfectly natural to give in to his lusts. In fact, in Lucius's opinion being so connected to his sins at a young age was a good sign.
It also wasn't surprising that Gremailia was the target of that since she was the only woman around and a very beautiful one if he did say so himself. Many men and Devil Heirs alike had tried bidding for her hand.
Nevertheless, the young Heir hadn't felt the same way and had ordered him and Gremailia to knock whenever they wished to enter his room. It was this that had stopped him from bursting in.
There was also another reason…
The young Lord had changed. He wasn't a blind fool who would ignore this. If Lucius didn't know any better he would say that the child was a completely different person. Except for the small mannerism and that Lucius would certainly know if that was true.
He had opted to wait in silence after seeing the teenager who had been so clueless and lonely turn into someone different. Lucius feared that it was his fault.
Perhaps he hadn't been attentive enough. Growing up without any friends or peers was hard on the boy and was able to pierce even his cold dead heart as he spotted the young Heir sometimes depressedly looking out the window.
He and Gremailia had tried to make the castle as homely as it could be. Lucius knew that Gremailia had the same thoughts as him.
The change was worrying. Had he finally snapped? Had the loneliness finally caught up to him and made him act this way? He didn't know. The sudden desire to train when Lucius had been trying to subtly nudge him in that direction for years was abrupt.
That show of anger was completely new. The strange apathy that he hid in his eyes. Lucius had been around too long to be fooled by a child. The way he looked at them was different. It still held affection but there was something else there.
As loathed as he was to admit it, the boy had grown on him massively. Before he had just been a means to better serve his master but now even if his master ordered him to kill the boy he wouldn't be able to.
If anyone from either of the three Factions had known this they would be in shock. He was evil. He had killed Angels and Fallen alike. In numbers that made him the right-hand man of his master.
"You can come in."
He relaxed slightly.
Lucius had been focusing on cleaning the house while trying to think of anything that might help the young Heir feel like himself again. He wasn't sure if this change was permanent, but he hoped to find a way for the boy to open up about what had caused it.
Though he wouldn't push too far, Lucius was determined to understand.
That had been interrupted when he had sensed a foul presence appearing within the mansion. It didn't feel powerful and he found the feeling it gave off rather comforting but nevertheless, it was an intruder.
Gremailia wasn't as adept at sensing as he was so she hadn't sensed it. He had opted to quickly come to the young Heir's aide before making any other decisions.
He quickly entered the room, his sharp eyes scanning everything for any sign of danger or an intruder. Raziel sat on his bed, looking at him in a relaxed manner. The presence was still faintly here but it felt a lot more distant.
Had Lucius attempted to sense it now, he wouldn't have been able to sense it from across the mansion. In fact, he was having trouble sensing it now. It was something you had to look for.
"Young Lord?" He asked inquisitively.
-{Raziel Lucifer}-
"Yeah?" I questioned back, lazing on my obnoxiously comfortable bed.
Lucius had definitely sensed Malphor. He had walked in ready to fight a war, his eyes scanning the places in such a quick motion it made his eyes look like a blur.
This would have been a lot more awkward if Malphor didn't know how to sink into my shadow. I wondered if that was an ability given to him because he was my Familiar or if he just had partial shadow manipulation.
"Are you okay…?" Lucius questioned, seeming both confused and inquisitive.
"Yes?" I replied.
His eyes narrowed. He closed the door behind him and I tensed slightly. Lucius noticed this and his eyes softened.
"Young Lord, there is much I have refrained from asking yet I cannot help but sense that there has been something amiss with you these past few days. Would you care to enlighten me or shall I remain a silent observer to these... developments?" He asked.
While ordering him to be a silent observer as he so aptly put it would be preferable, it was best I controlled his perception with an answer that wouldn't make him too inquisitive.
I didn't want to outright lie either though, that was a mix of the fact that I didn't know if he had some way of knowing if I was lying.
So I didn't want to risk it by outright telling him a lie and the emotions I felt for him. I had become Raziel so I couldn't help that I felt like he was a part of my family.
Now… What excuse should I come up with?
-END-