17

'Hmm, what's this?'

"Mnnhh~ Mnrghh~"

[Bloodline: Giant Demon]

[Origin: Agro'th]

[Grade: Unique]

[Description: Any creature having this bloodline can transform into a five meter tall, horned giant. Those with this bloodline can have unimaginable physical strength and vitality.

The creature will also gain intermediate resistance to all energy attacks directed at the body. Able to create armor out of flesh. Specialities include giant horns, red eyes, acidic blood, etc.

Touching a blessed cross, a sun stone or anything related to holy divinity will have highly dangerous negative effects on the creature having this bloodline.]

[Price: 310,000 Evil Points]

Jake clicked away after seeing the description. He checked out more pricey bloodlines while the gorgon below him sucked his thick cock.

Instead of using her hands, she wrapped Jake's thighs with her hair. Her fat peaches laid on her black tail which she coiled on the ground. Tightly pulling the foreskin back and forth with her lips, the gorgon bobbed her head.

It was such a strange time to be doing this. Her master was engrossed in his own business. He would occasionally stroke her hair, telling her to suck properly. Ruxa brought her soft boobs into play as the ethereal souls danced around her.

"Slurp… Slurp…"

She had a very long snake tongue which hung further than her chin. Ruxa wrapped Jake's meaty rod with it and tightened her grasp. She repeatedly hit his loins with her breasts while the winds raged.

Pat… Pat… Pat… This snake woman seemed pretty skilled. Jake poured a stream of hot cum into her mouth. The surrounding chaos was ongoing.

'Not this… Not this either… Ugh, too pricey…'

[Crimson Devil Ancestry]

[High Incubus Lineage]

[Bloodline of Destruction]

These all were Epic or Legendary grade, costing upwards of millions… tens of millions of Evil Points…

'Huh, this one looks good.'

[Bloodline: Black Devil]

[Origin: Azarel]

[Grade: Unique]

[Description: A creature of this bloodline can manipulate the emotions of others. The bloodline bearer may also feed on negative emotions to restore mana or heal injuries. Those with this bloodline have high Agility, Charisma and Intelligence.

The bearer of this bloodline has significant resistance against mental attacks. Able to consume souls at higher stages. Specialties include curved black horns, dark eyes, black wings and tail.

Touching a blessed cross, a sun stone or anything related to holy divinity will have highly dangerous negative effects on the creature having this bloodline.]

[Cost: 400,000 Evil Points]

Jake kept scrolling to see if he could find better ones.

[Bloodline of the Fallen]

[Draconic Demon Bloodline]

[Nephilim…]

…

However, he only found costly ones. Among these bloodlines, the Draconic Demon appeared to be the most powerful. Giving the terrifying power of an Ancient Dragon turned into a demon. However, its cost was easily 30 million Evil Points.

'I'll buy it one day,' Jake thought and stood up. In the end, he chose the Black Devil Bloodline for now. He really liked the notion of manipulating emotions.

Jake first asked the system about the origin of this bloodline. He learned Azarel was a Demon Prince who was later killed by an angel. It was said that Azarel could've become one of the 3 Demon Kings.

He looked at his Evil Points and found that it was only just over 400,000. He bought the bloodline and immediately heard the system's notifications.

[Congratulations! You have acquired the bloodline of a Black Devil.]

[Please commence a Bloodline Awakening Ritual to awaken the bloodline.]

[Ding! Advancement Ritual in process. It is possible to awaken your bloodline during advancement as well.]

Jake was about to proceed with the ritual array now, but he noticed that the Evil Points were still steadily increasing. He decided to wait while fucking this gorgon.

Holding the woman's head who was still diligently sucking his cock, Jake rapidly moved his hips.

"Mnnghh… Mnffghh… Mrrnnhh…"

He pressed Ruxa's cheeks and came inside her mouth again. After that, he pulled out and told her to spread her legs.

"Annhh~ Ah~ Ah~"

Soon, the monster woman's cries accompanied those of the dead souls. She wrapped Jake's whole body with her hair, pressing him closer while he split her cunt.

The rain kept pouring and the surrounding people committed sins just like the one who had ordered them.

Another half an hour passed. Jake noticed that the increase rate of the points had immensely slowed down. That meant it was time to go on a killing spree again.

He finished his sex with Ruxa and took flight. Jake didn't bother to wear clothes in front of people who were soon going to die, anyway.

This time, he opted to use [Explosion].

Booming sounds echoed all over the town as he massacred its dwellers. Their bodies bursted along with the grounds they were fucking on. Jake summoned his scythe and killed those who were too close for the spell's range.

New souls joined those below him as he went on killing. The group of these ethereal people became larger. Their collective crying could drive low-willed people insane.

Even some lesser demons would lose their minds. Ruxa, the gorgon, kept a distance from her master. She still hadn't fully swallowed the cum which he shot inside her mouth.

"Aaaa!"

"Noo!"

Jake's ruthless slaughtering continued for two hours before he finished killing those in his sight. He ordered those who had hidden themselves to come out. With his corrupted seeds in their minds, they had to obey.

Jake killed them as well, leaving no one alive.

[Ding! You have committed a greedy sin. You gain 8,821 Evil Points!]

He knew news about the destruction of two towns would soon reach other cities. However, he could make sure it got delayed as much as possible.

After every single resident was dead, Jake checked the number again.

[Inhabitants killed (3,051)]

By now, the rain had already stopped. The scorching sun had evaporated the water on the ground.

Jake delayed no more and immediately began drawing an array in the middle of the town using the people's blood.

Ruxa tried helping him, but the souls' cries hit her psyche and she couldn't resist them. He ordered the gorgon to stay out of the array because it was different, designed to use souls as fuels.

When he was finished with it, Jake stood in its center. The chant this time was the same, and the ritual array glowed brightly when he began the process.

Ruxa's eyes were glued to this demon who had taken control of her. He now slightly hovered above the crying souls. She could see them become darker and cover him in a way she felt chills looking at.

A soul-wrenching cry burst out at this moment as a dark red pillar rose from Jake's location. The high-grade mana stones rapidly became smaller as their stored mana got sucked toward the middle.

A wild air blew which turned into a terrifying shock wave. Ruxa hid behind a stone house and covered her ears. Behind her, the souls began laughing instead of crying.

"Hihihi…"

"Ahahaha!"

Their eyes and mouths elongated as they disintegrated, getting sucked by the pillar which burst from the demon's body.

Jake felt as if his existence had taken a higher step. The marks which disappeared on his forehead during the previous advancement appeared again. They flowed to his back and created protrusions.

Jake felt two long bones emerging out of his back. He was gaining wings. His horns curved and became similar to a sabbatical goat's. Jake's eyes glowed red as he kept chanting.

His wingspan became two meters long, reaching the maximum length.

The pillar dimmed when his wings had fully grown. A tail also sprouted from his tailbone. It was smooth and thicker than his front tail. At this moment, Jake's red irises turned pitch black.

[Congratulations on advancing to the 4th Circle! You are now a Demon Earl with an awakened Black Devil bloodline. You have the qualifications to return to Hell.]

[Ding! You have gained a new skill, Negation Aura]

[Ding! Your various attributes have naturally increased.]

These messages did not surprise Jake. He clicked on his new skill and saw its stats.

[Skill: Negation Aura (Sin-Specific – Pride)]

[Grade: Unique (High)]

[Type: Passive]

[Level: 1]

[Requirements: INT 300+, CHA 400+]

[Description: Your arrogance is the fuel of this aura. It can nullify attacks directed at you. The more prideful you are, the more powerful it is.]

Jake could see the true value of this skill. However, he had to be fucking arrogant, a self-important piece of trash to use it to its full potential.

There were two types of arrogance. One was baseless arrogance, and another was justified arrogance. The former was something to scoff at but the latter was acceptable. After all, you earned it.

Jake shook his black wings. A gust of wind lifted him from the ground. It was as if he already knew how to fly with wings.

Because of his high strength, the ground caved when he pushed it with his feet. Jake looked at the state of the town while thinking internally.

'Until now, I have used the cheat known as this system to get immensely powerful in such a short time. To be honest, I have no base to be arrogant, or I will be a hypocrite.' Jake clenched his left fist.

"But do I care…?" He chuckled.

'Fuck this. Fuck everything. I am already arrogant.'

Jake landed in front of the gorgon. His bloodline gave him various emotion-related abilities which the system didn't register. One such ability was empathy.

He could taste Ruxa's emotions. His tongue felt bitter and that meant she was feeling fear. His mana was so high, it made her naturally feel intimidated.

Jake used his bloodline powers to calm her down. Using it for the first time, he was amused because it seemed like he was a cleric using pacify or placate skill.

His first experience of manipulating emotions seemed enjoyable. He could see how the beautiful gorgon went from being fearful to smiling.

'How about…' Jake tried something else.

Immediately, Ruxa felt that this naked demon in front of her was the love of her life. She wanted to hug him, shower him with kisses and devote all of herself to him.

"How far is Saelther Canyon from here?" Jake asked.

"About a month and a half away, master…" Ruxa slid closer and replied, blushing. When she looked at him, her eyes had that love-struck gaze in them.

"I see." Jake snapped his fingers.

The gorgon's budding feelings vanished. It confused her to the point she opened her mouth and closed it multiple times. Ruxa blinked and leaned backward. W-What just happened? She felt weird.

"Transform yourself, we're leaving." Jake said.

He wanted to visit that dungeon in another province. However, if it was that far away, he had to postpone the matter.

Right now, the unknown necromancer was wreaking havoc in the Karsuda province. To maintain the status quo of his dungeon and the nobles under him, he had to be there.

Jake used [Body Transformation] to hide his tail and wings. He then began dressing himself. Ruxa also transformed herself. Her previous clothes were damaged. She was hoping her master would give her a robe as well. However, Jake gave her a black bikini, instead.

She didn't like revealing her skin, but she had to wear it without questioning him. Unfortunately, the size of this "dress" seemed small for her large breasts and ass. They stuck tight.

"Walk ahead and get inside that carriage." Jake pointed at the ride just before the mayor's destroyed house.

He had kept the horses of this carriage alive. These creatures were rather terrified with all the killing and destruction that had happened. Jake wasn't sure if they would even work.

Ruxa looked at him with a poker face and walked ahead. Jake could taste her discomfort. It tasted sour, like raw mango. However, the view in front of him was sweet.

The sexy gorgon's waist swayed and buttocks trembled as she walked. Jake followed her.

Coming near the carriage, he didn't enter with her. Jake opened the shop and bought two 1st Circle goblin riders. They were taller than normal goblins and had better physiques.

These bought monsters appeared quickly and bowed to him, treating him as the absolute master. He didn't know from where the system brought live creatures. Jake had asked that question, but the system told him to be a Demon Lord first.

"Go handle the horses. You two will coach this carriage." He ordered.

He directed the goblins to go out of this town first and then southwest. The two goblins immediately understood and saluted.

As they took hold of the reins of this large carriage, Jake went inside. The moment he sat on his seat, he unbuttoned his pants.

"Well? Turn around and show me that ass."

"Yes, master!" Ruxa crisply replied like a fangirl this time. That warm and exciting feeling from before came again…

The evening was coming. As the carriage left the town, it went through the cultivated fields of rice. There were no workers here.

Sitting on the coach's seat, the two goblins directed the four horses to move southwest. The grassless trail which was wide near the town got narrower and narrower.

There were no stones in the way, yet the carriage kept shaking. The goblins knew about it, but they shut their ears and focused on driving.

Inside the carriage, however, exciting things were happening.

"Annhh~ Ah~ Annnh~"

Fresh meat-clapping sounds were ringing in Jake's ears along with Ruxa's unending moans. Her long black hair matted her streamlined back.

Pahh! Pah!

Her peaches were jiggling just like her breasts. Jake pulled her elastic, black panty and thrusted faster. His balls kissed her meaty pussy, inciting more moans from her.

"Annh!"

The gorgon looked behind as Jake pounded her. She seemed absolutely intoxicated.

Black scales appeared on her hands and legs. Her both calves joined together as the scales covered her shins. Ruxa's feet joined to form a black snake tail.

Her eyes became gray as she looked at him with a horny gaze. Any other person would have already turned into stone, yet her natural reaction did nothing to Jake.

"Snha! Annhh~ I love this, masssster!"

Juices dripped from the woman's cunt. Jake held her thighs together with one hand and bent them against her belly. With his other hand, he grabbed her right breast. Jake then spread his legs more and lesiurely fucked her.

Her pussy tightened, squeezing his cock which powerfully drilled into her canal. Ruxa's ass made an upside down heart shape.

Vibrations went through each section of her split buttocks when the thick, lotioned rod pounded at the middle. The carriage jerked as the loud slapping sounds continued.

Ruxa's tail became longer and coiled on Jake's left leg. Her grip was tight. Unlike her warm upper body, this snake part of hers was cold.

At this moment, Jake sank his fingers on her plump ass and shot his cum in her womb. His dick kept jerking, streaming more semen.

"A-Anhhh~" Ruxa rolled her eyes and stretched her tongue out. Her upper body was sweaty and she tore her bra with her hair.

Jake pulled out and she immediately turned her body around, beginning to kiss him.

He re-inserted and pushed her against the carriage's window. Clutching her two milkbags, Jake squeezed them and thrusted again. The gorgon coiled her hair around his arms and legs, moaning loudly.

They both exchanged their tongues inside each other's mouths. Jake could taste her spicy lust.

He sucked on her breasts after finishing with kissing.

Pah… Pah… Pah…

Droplets of cum dripped from Ruxa's pussy, staining her inner thighs. Jake could feel the heat of her pelvis and loins in this position. The snake woman placed her palms on his chest, then felt his abs.

He was pinning her against the carriage's wall, rocking it with vigorous thrusts. Ruxa transformed her lower body into human legs and lifted them.

Jake took hold of her thighs, his fingers making deep recesses in her white flesh.

Ruxa nibbed her long tongue and lovingly smiled at the demon ravaging her insides. She hugged his neck and kept moaning.

Her voice had a snakey touch to it. It sounded like a hiss, yet sharper and louder.

Phah… Pah… Pakh…

Veins popped on Jake's dick again as he streamed his cum inside her. Ruxa was absolutely delighted to have his seed in her womb. She wanted him to fuck her like this every day, to breed her till she laid a dozen eggs.

Two hours later, Jake was on the carriage's seat, checking his status panel while the gorgon sat on his lap, moving her ass up and down.

They both had high stamina and vitality, so hours of sex without straining themselves was possible.

It was night already. The goblins were lucky as they got to eat duck meat which Jake gave them. They were happy to eat it raw.

As for the gorgon, her preference was fish. Though, she could go on without eating anything for more than a month.

Jake just absorbed the surrounding mana if he got tired. He'd also eaten some of Ruxa's emotions, but that made her seem unfeeling.

He liked when she became full of various emotions for him, so he stopped.

'Oh, what's this?' Jake thought. He seemed to have gained a new title.

[Title: Slaughterer ( Equipping this title gives a 10% attack boost after you kill more than five individuals in a row.)]

It seemed he had gained this title when he was mass-killing the town's inhabitants. At that time, he was getting many notifications and hadn't noticed it.

Pah… Pah…

Jake dismissed his status and looked outside while Ruxa did her work.

The moon was sickle-shaped tonight. In this thick forest, sensible travellers would camp at a clearing. Dangerous monsters could be lurking.

But here, they themselves were the monsters. Fear of midnight attacks was non-existent for Jake.

He was instead thinking how boring it would be to travel such a long distance in a carriage. Thankfully, he had this sexy gorgon to play with.

…

20 days later, the carriage was finally nearing the dungeon. Jake stretched his hands and looked outside.

Ruxa was sitting on his lap, wearing a provocative red dress. Jake had controlled her emotions many times, and it made her believe that she was actually in love with him.

Of course, this messed with her. In a way, Jake was experimenting with his innate abilities which he gained after awakening his bloodline. It appeared long-term tampering of someone's emotions could have permanent effects.

Here, he had made Ruxa artificially love him. Now even without using his bloodline ability, she would regularly kiss him and happily lay her head on his chest. A sign of how she adored him.

Jake let her be. He had tasted most of her emotions and among them, he liked her rage the most. Unfortunately, with his corrupted seed in her mind, the subservient Ruxa rarely showed anger.

At this moment, she tightened her hips around his waist. Holding his wrist, she put his heavy palm on her breast and looked at him with an expectant smile.

However, Jake suddenly frowned as he heard Viscount Dorstone's voice.

The noble had used the secret method of communication which he'd taught him.

'Master! The necromancer… S-She has come for me after divining that I had the Life Elixir. Be careful, she knows you have it now!'

In a dark room, William burned his blood and whispered to the mana stone he was holding. After informing Jake, he breathed deeply and looked around.

He walked out of the room and looked at the smiling countess.

"I-I have informed him, he will come here." Dorstone lied, of course.

As Jake's corrupted servant, he would never let his master fall in harm's way.

However, the black-haired Minerva could smell that lie from a mile away.

"Is that so…?" The light of magic appeared beneath her feet.

"Ack!"

Dorstone tried to run away at this moment, but a bony hand appeared from the ground and grasped him. With his strength as a 3rd Circle Knight, he immediately broke free.

However, the strength of the undead was not something to be underestimated. Two more and then four, five, six… numerous skeletons pinned the viscount down.

At this moment, he saw his own knights turned into zombies. Unlike Minerva, they had lost their sentience and seemed hideous.

"No!" Although Dorstone knew this would happen, he was still shocked. The viscount gritted his teeth as the female necromancer swiftly flew behind him.

Minerva laughed and asked, "Where is he?"

When he didn't speak, she cut off his left wrist and sharply shrieked.

"Where is he? Where is my Life Elixir?!"

It was like the cry of a banshee, piercing the air throughout the viscount's residence. Blood dripped from Dorstone's ears as he shuddered under that voice. Still, his answer was useless to Minerva.

"I-I don't know…"

She cut off his other hand as well with a Wind Blade. William cried in agony, yet he still told nothing about Jake. Minerva didn't even know that Jake was a demon yet.

The viscount absolutely refused to talk about his master. This made her extremely frustrated.

"Looks like I will have to do it the hard way…" She muttered with killing intent leaking from her silver eyes.

Suddenly grabbing the viscount's head, she began uttering various incantations. Dorstone wanted to push away the undead knights that held him, yet his strength fell short against so many of them.

At this moment, he felt a splitting pain in his head and let out a terrifying cry.

"Aaaaaa!" His eyes rolled back and his body twitched. It was as if someone was giving minor cuts to his brain while not letting him die.

Minerva was using [Soul Search] on him. As a necromancer, she was well-versed in Soul Arts. Looking through his memories, she found hazy images of a tall man.

Black hair, black eyes, wide shoulders… And what… was that? Minerva's closed eyes opened at this moment. She retracted her hand from the viscount's face.

Dorstone's orifices were leaking dark red blood. He looked absolutely horrifying. His eyeballs were yellowish-red, like decayed flesh.

At this moment, one of the zombie knights bit him as Minerva waved her hand. She turned around and looked at the sky, muttering to herself.

"A demon…?"

…

Jake arrived at his dungeon a day later. He got no more calls from Dorstone. That made him immediately think of the worst.

As he got out of the carriage, Jake didn't recognize the surroundings for a moment. He was gone for exactly a month and a lot of things had happened.

Stepping out of the carriage, Ruxa held Jake's arms and looked around. She tasted the air with her snake tongue, delighted to find the ambient mana in the surroundings.

All around this place was a thick jungle featuring dangerous plants and tall trees. The redwoods from before was now replaced by these demonic trees Jake had planted.

As he stepped inside the dungeon, his footsteps echoed all around. Jake quickly realized that there were way more floors in this dungeon now!

It had expanded from the previous 18-floor Tier 1 dungeon to a 66-floor Tier 2 dungeon. The mana now on the first floor was as dense as the mana on the 10th floor of his previous dungeon.

"Master, welcome back!" Jake heard Lena's voice in his left ear at this moment. It was different… Well, still cute but not so high-pitched.

He was curious about how she looked right now. Using his senses as the dungeon master, Jake first checked out the layout of this dungeon, and began descending the floors.

Ruxa looked back to see the goblins following. She turned her head and walked alongside Jake.

…

It took Jake half an hour to reach the lowest floor. For a normal adventurer, it would take over 10 days to reach this place.

The dungeon was still mostly empty but there were various monsters sparsely spread on the different floors.

When Jake reached the 66th floor along with Ruxa, what he saw was the insides of an underground palace instead of a dungeon floor. His earth golems had advanced to the 3rd Circle and learned intermediate land magic.

Creating intricate hallways as well as a magnificent structure was easy for them. Jake looked above and saw that large mana stones and various reflecting gems maintained the brightness of this floor.

As Jake went through a tunnel, Erin suddenly jumped at him. Jake was surprised to know that she had advanced to become a 3rd Circle Vampire.

Sniffing his clothes, the vampire possessively pressed her body on him and glared at Ruxa. Even though she was a rank lower than Erin, the gorgon didn't back away and returned the glare.

Jake walked ahead as the two girls locked their eyes in a stare-down. Realizing that he was already through the corridor, they chased him.

"You were gone for a long time, master," Erin said.

Jake gave his forefinger and told her to bite it. She sank her fangs on the tip of his finger, and her eyes immediately widened as she tasted the blood.

"You advanced!" Erin exclaimed.

"You too. Whose blood did you get to drink?" Jake asked with a smile.

Erin kept sucking his finger while holding his palm with her both hands. After he asked, she pulled the finger out and looked at him with her red irises. Her lips parted.

"We've caught an injured wyvern!" she blurted.

Jake was truly surprised. He spread his senses and checked through all the floors. They had chained the flying monster on the floor above. After the dungeon increased in tiers, Jake gained many simple abilities which were limited to the dungeon.

One such ability was to completely vision any location here. Closing his eyes, he could see the silver-skinned wyvern's form.

'This… it's a 5th Circle Wyvern!' Jake exclaimed in his mind.

'How the heck did they capture it?!' Jake was completely stunned.

The increase in rank got exponentially tougher the higher one went. Someone at the 4th Circle was immensely weaker than someone at the 5th Circle. This wyvern had to be pretty badly injured for 3rd circle beings to capture it.

Well, there was the Dark Knight as well. Without him, they most likely couldn't have captured it.

He asked Erin questions about the wyvern while heading inside. It appeared this monster was attracted to the dungeon after it increased in tiers. It must be because of the higher mana.

He would check on it later.

Right now, Jake felt way comfortable inside the dungeon. The evil mana was something which empowered and invigorated his whole being.

As he went through chambers after chambers, his women greeted him. Those who could sense his new rank were surprised. Some, like Vin and the two priestesses shuddered, and timidly called him even though they knew he wouldn't harm them.

His aura had gotten dangerous after advancing. Jake could taste their fear and reverence for him. One drawback about his bloodline was that his tongue would always taste various emotions of the beings near him. And he couldn't turn it off because it was his innate ability now.

He didn't like bitterness in his mouth all the time. He told the women to calm down.

'I have to learn how to retract my aura,' he thought and looked at them again.

The women's bellies had gotten way bigger than when he had left them.

Especially Yunna. Because she was his personal succubus, her baby's growth was the quickest.

Jake came beside the redhead Yunna and felt her belly. She was wearing loose clothes.

"A month at most…" He said in a deep voice. Because she was pregnant, she hadn't gotten the intense desire for sex these days.

"Th-The baby kicks me sometimes, master…" She said, holding her belly.

Jake stroked her head.

'I wonder… Will it be a boy or a girl?' He thought.

Yunna had gotten chubbier than before. It was normal as pregnant women tended to gain weight.

"Master, you must be tired from the journey!" He heard Lena at this moment. Looking behind, Jake was once again surprised.

"Hihi! I grew up!"

The little fairy could walk on the floor now. She was as big as an 8-year-old girl.

"Come here, you." Jake beckoned her with his right hand.

Lena was still playful like before even though her body had grown. She lightly jumped and flew toward him.

Jake looked in fascination at her translucent pixie wings which gave off a sweet mist. She was still wearing her green clothes.

"Hmm…" He suddenly caught her waist and examined her like an experimental specimen. Lena began struggling and speaking quickly.

Her skin seemed no different from a human's, other than that it was too smooth and glowed charmingly. Well, she was a fairy, so that was understandable. Jake pinched her chin, ruffled her hair and let her go.

"Anyway, where is Irene?" Jake asked.

Lena wasn't happy with how quickly he lost interest in her. She avoided Erin's curious gaze and hid behind Rose, who treated her like a daughter. That vampire woman was definitely thinking of sucking her fairy blood!

"Irene is on the 45th floor with the harpies, master," Elena replied at this moment. "Their eggs have hatched."

"I see. Tell Perry to bring me a report of the monsters later. Also, lead me to my room." Jake said as he walked.

Other times, Lena would be happy to show around, but she pouted and hugged Rose's large belly this time.

Jake told Vin to give Ruxa a room. The gorgon obediently followed the assassin woman. She kept glaring at Erin until she left, though.

"This way." The cat girl, Amelia, said as she went ahead of him. Her white tail wagged left and right as she walked.

They talked on the way and Jake learned Perry had already advanced to the 2nd Circle. It was about time she advanced. The twin priestesses, Mary and Numa, had been training and teaching her various Unholy Spells.

It was only because she was busy most of the time that her advancement was delayed until now.

…

Jake was somewhat tired after that journey. Not physically but mentally. He slept for three complete hours before waking up.

The first thing he did was check the monster report which Perry had put on his desk. His new bedroom was like the previous one, except that it was bigger and more decorated.

"Hmm, it seems the minotaur has advanced to the 3rd Circle… Dark spirits, Elementals, Poison Centipedes, Sleep Moths, Gnolls, Ghosts of the Dead Adventurers… a lot of new monsters have gathered here."

Jake put the report back on the desk after reading through it. Many intruders had entered his dungeon while he was gone. However, with these many monsters inside, the adventurers, treasure hunters and excited explorers all made this place their grave.

Not to mention there was a 4th Circle Dark Knight guarding this place. Even a C-Rank party comprising veteran adventurers could do nothing to his dungeon.

Changing into a long dark robe, Jake went outside his room and then to his audience chamber. It was huge compared to the previous one. Even his high-back chair, placed at the chamber's end, was thrice larger than before.

Jake went and sat on it. Diana came and passed him some wine on a silver cup.

"This Three Seasons Wine was sent by Baron Leo, master," she whispered into his ear and retreated.

"Hmm." Jake nodded and sipped the alcohol. The taste wasn't bad. He crossed his leg and used [Magipathy].

A while later, Ash Harley entered the chamber and knelt on the ground. He could immediately sense Jake's increase in rank.

"Congratulations on your advancement, My Lord. May I ask why you summoned me?"

"Viscount Dorstone is most likely dead." Jake sipped the wine before saying, "You must have heard of the unknown necromancer killing all the nobles in this province."

"Yes, I have." Ash's deep voice echoed in the chamber. There was some curiosity on his usually apathetic face. If he was the paladin from before, he would have a wrathful expression.

"I want you to come with me to the viscount's fief. I know what that necromancer's aim is." Jake stood up, holding his silver cup.

"As you wish, My Lord." The Dark Knight remained kneeling, yet his pose gave off a powerful and heavy aura.

Just like how his master's every movement seemed to be filled with vigor. Fourth Circle beings were on a different level.

The malice in Jake's eyes had increased, yet it was difficult to sense them. A normal person wouldn't feel anything. However, Ash Harley knew how powerful his master had become.

"Stand up," Jake said as he put the wine cup on the armrest.

His pitch-black irises, his flowing dark hair, those long goat horns, the veins on his wrists through which the blood of a Black Devil flowed… It manifested a sort of powerful aura, weighing down on Ash even though he was of the same rank.

"Let us visit that necromancer." Jake flung his robe and walked down the raised platform. His gait was befitting of a Demon Earl.

Behind Jake, the Dark Knight silently followed his master out of the audience chamber.

Getting outside the dungeon, Jake spread his black wings and powerfully flapped them. His clothes allowed him to use his wings as well.

Ash opted to go by land. Most 4th Circle beings had flying skill. However, he didn't. Still, with over 400 agility, he was as fast as his flying master.

On the way, Jake tried guessing the identity of this necromancer. He knew she was a female and wanted the Life Elixir.

 The item itself was used for restoring and preserving youth. To even kill the kingdom's nobles for it… Jake deduced she had to be pretty desperate for this Life Elixir.

''A fight would surely happen…'' He muttered as the winds threw his hair back.

Whoosh!

He flew over the trees through which Ash was running. Both were like blurs of darkness, heading southeast.

'Whoever the necromancer is, her power is immense. It would be best if I got her under me,' Jake thought. He wasn't in the least bit concerned about the viscount's safety.

The pawn could be replaced. Jake wanted the necromancer to work for him, and he had the best bargaining chip. This Life Elixir in his inventory would give him an immense advantage against her.

Jake looked down at the river which he and Ash were nearing. They would reach the viscount's fief in the evening at this rate.

…

Minerva was standing in a hall inside the viscount's mansion, dressed in a white nightgown. After turning all the people in the courtyard into undead, she would've left this place.

However, she had divined that the demon would come here. It was costly to use divination. She had to sacrifice a lot of her undead soldiers to see a view of 5 seconds on her Mystifying Orb.

However, it was worth every piece of rotten flesh and bones if she could find what she wanted.

Minerva didn't know how powerful that demon was. Considering the tampering of soul he had done on the viscount, she was pretty sure he was at the 3rd Circle.

The countess was right on mark. When he corrupted Dorstone, Jake was indeed at the 3rd Circle. However, he has advanced now. Minerva was completely unaware of it.

She was planning on making a Ghost Puppet out of that demon, and ''interrogating'' his soul. People would be afraid of hearing the word 'demon', yet she was not. As a necromancer, Minerva had dealt with various demons and other terrifying creatures.

''Go check outside,'' she ordered one of her Death Knights.

Then she went to see herself in a mirror. Making several poses, she admired her own body. If she saw even a single blemish on her face, she would frown.

But today, she looked absolutely gorgeous. Although this white gown of the viscount's wife was a little small for her round bust, it couldn't hide her lust-provoking charm.

Minerva was a narcissist. She spent about half an hour posing herself in various ways. The skull-faced undead, flesh-hungry zombies, skeleton mages and death knights alike stayed silent during this whole time.

It was a bizarre scene.

Suddenly, some skeletons faced north. They could sense a high mana signature coming straight to their location.

Minerva grabbed her staff and came outside of the mansion. She stood on the porch and looked at the sky.

Using the [Farsight] spell, she saw a winged demon whose body eclipsed the setting red sun behind him. Jake seemed to come alone.

He had actually told Ash to hide himself in a nearby town and monitor the mansion from there. If a fight indeed happened, the Dark Knight would rush over. It might take the necromancer by surprise.

''What?!'' Minerva's eyes widened as Jake came closer. She could sense his rank. He was at the 4th Circle!

She immediately frowned and pointed her staff at him. No talks needed. Minerva cast [Bone Chains] before the demon could even properly land. She had to take control first and not let Jake come close.

Her experience as a high-rank necromancer clearly showed. Unlike the other opponents Jake had faced, she was swift in her decisions and actions.

Jake flew up but this 3rd Circle spell quickly caught him. He found chains made of limb bones coiling around his body.

''These are useless.'' He laughed and broke them with his superior strength.

''Heh.''

Jake heard Minerva's chuckle. The next second, a huge black magic circle appeared under his feet. Exactly one hundred bony hands collectively went to grab his legs.

''Grasp of the Depths!''

Instead of reciting the incantation, Minerva just shouted the name. This 4th Circle spell was enchanted on her staff, so she could invoke it just by calling the name.

''You're too tense.'' Jake commented. He could taste her salty agitation.

''You can do nothing to me. Nothing.'' He stood there without using a single skill, overflowing with pride. The hands all caught his legs and tried pulling him down.

However, an invisible halo spread from Jake. The large hands suddenly began disappearing one by one. To Minerva's shock, the demon nullified one of her best spells doing nothing!

Seeing it work, Jake's pride increased more. The [Negation Aura] was a ridiculously overpowered skill, indeed. This necromancer's earlier spell could have completely immobilized his Dark Knight.

''Lastrunda Kal Di…'' Minerva clenched her right fist and a gray light shined.

Jake frowned deeply, sensing the horrifying mana. He took out his Black Reaper and slashed the undead soldiers who were coming close to him.

''You dare use cheap skeletons on me?'' A glint appeared in his dark eyes.

Jake immediately targeted Minerva and tried scattering her confidence. His Emotion Manipulation ability was fatal against mages. 2 seconds of interruption could change the tides of a battle.

As expected, fear appeared on the necromancer's face, and she stopped chanting. However, a greater fear appeared when Minerva realized what had just happened.

'Ah!' She felt a crippling pain in her head. It was the backlash of stopping a spell midway.

''Damn it!'' She quickly took out a piece of paper and crumbled it. One of her Death Knights suddenly began decaying. It was her emergency measure to deal with Spell Backlashes.

Just as the headache faded, Minerva heard the demon's voice.

''Pay attention.''

Su! Su! Su!

Icicles rained down at this moment and one of them cut Minerva's beautiful skin.

''Noooo!'' Her mad cry was like the wail of a banshee. It created a huge shockwave in the compound.

''You… will… pay…'' Minerva gnashed her teeth and rose in the air. Her dense mana made her skirt flap.

Even Jake's smiling face turned serious at this moment.