The Author's POV

Fwap—!

Tearing through the red clouds in the sky, a figure flew at high speed with a gentle flap of his wings.

In the course of his journey, he would repeatedly mumble two words.

"White Death…White Death…"

His face was strangely expressionless as he muttered those words.

"A white-haired human? What are the chances of me finding him…"

The figure flying in the sky was Duke Adramalech. The second Duke that overlooked the city of Morian. One of the largest cities in the Pride Clan's domain.

Currently, he was returning from a short trip near the outskirts of the Pride Clan's territory.

He was there to check the situation as a minor conflict arose during that time.

It wasn't a big conflict or anything like that. Nevertheless, that small conflict had enormous political implications.

This was simply because it allowed the participating clans to have a reasonable cause of conflict.

'It was an amusing sight to see…'

A smile spread across the Duke's face as he remembered the sight he had seen during his brief pause. Since the Pride clan had not been involved, all he had to do was enjoy the show that was unfolding before his eyes.

He certainly did. While he regretted having to return before the conflict ended, he nonetheless had to. It was revealed to him that there was something going on in Morian, and that he had to hurry back.

It was an emergency message, and therefore he wasn't aware of the detail. Nevertheless, since Duke Azenoch had still not contacted him, it meant that the situation wasn't that dire.

"I'm almost there."

Staring into the distance, he was soon able to see the outskirts of a large city. It was the city of Morian.

Keeping his wings extended, he slowly began to flap them, casting a shadow over the area below him.

Fwap—!

His body shot toward the city at tremendous speeds. In the midst of his actions, he had a sudden thought.

'...I haven't gotten a response from the spy I planted, did Azenoch figure something out?'

If that was the case, then things would become troublesome. Although they had been keeping their conflicts a secret, for him to suddenly kill his servant…

Halting his thoughts there, his face changed.

"Hm?"

With one more flap of his wings, his body picked up even more speed, and within a few seconds, he was already on the outskirts of the city.

As Duke Adramalech expanded his wings one more time and forced his body to halt mid-air, his gaze changed.

"What happened here? Why is the barrier activated?"

Slowly descending toward the ground, the Duke stared at the city encircled by a large purple barrier. The moment Duke Adramalech caught sight of the barrier, he knew that things were extremely serious.

Particularly since they were only activated in very dangerous situations. One that would even put Duke-ranked demons in trouble.

As he spotted the demon in the distance, Duke Adramalech appeared before him. Grabbing him by the shoulder, he asked.

"What's going on here?"

"H…h..his excellency!"

Duke Adramalech's sudden appearance startled the guard. Suddenly, his look was replaced with one of joy as he stared at the Duke.

"Your excellency! Thank god you're here! Thank god!"

'Since when has anyone been so happy to see me?'

They would usually either cower in fear or show a look of utmost respect. Throughout his life as a Duke, he had never witnessed such a reaction filled with joy.

'Just what is going on here?...Wait.'

a sudden thought. Demonic energy threatened to spill out

me Azenoch has managed to force the Blood Prince into signing a contract with

Adramalech's face sank completely. The demons' next words, however, caused his face to

"Duke Azenoch has died..."

"W.."

he opened his mouth. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't find the right words

piece of news left him too confused to formulate a proper

wasn't a Duke for no

digest the information, he calmed himself and closed

examined the barrier that was raised above the city, he concluded that the

has died

as demonic energy sprang out of his body. A while later, snapping his head in the direction of the demon,

exactly what

"Yes, your excellency!"

Especially about the man known as White Reaper. From how he became the overlord within

The demon left nothing.

Adramalech listened, the weirder

a short period of time that

fight lasted for

"Stop for a moment."

of the demon's speech, he quickly cut him off. He then

you mean to tell me that while I wasn't here, a

at the Duke, the demon opened his mouth

it, your

"Mhh…"

brows tightened even more. In an attempt to sense a presence, he closed his eyes,

of the

'Did he perhaps escape?'

shook his

been destroyed if he had chosen

expanded his wings. It was only a matter of time before his figure vanished from

His destination.

The arena.

***

'What are you doing?'

I watched as he walked around the room.

when am I going to get my

"Not yet."

do you

My heart sank.

hand on the desk, he looked around. There was something he

take control of the

'I can?'

"Yes."

eyes soon paused on one of the drawers

up suffering the after-effects

'After effects?'

were after-effects of

to try

lips suddenly pulled into a thin smile. Before I could reply, my vision distorted slightly, and I found myself back in my own body. Or rather, I could now

my fist, I glanced

"...I don't feel anything."

stare at my hands, and trying to feel every

"Is there really a—!"

even halfway through my sentence, I found my

Pain.

that I could feel, as it came radiating in crashing waves that threaten to

was something else, it was a sharper more inexplicable pain, but

"Haa..."

"Wake up."

didn't know how long had passed, but by the time my consciousness returned, the pain had already left and my mouth opened

that my

you can withstand

my own thoughts, I didn't answer immediately. It was only after half a

not

that I had

in words. It was something that