Wry

Damian took a deep breath before replying the Duchess.

"Alright,"

The truth was, even if the Duchess had not requested for his help, he would still eventually clash with Claude. This wasn't because he felt the absolute need to, no, but because he felt it was inevitable.

After all, with how especially immoral Claude was, would he really leave him alive just because he was a Human?

Perhaps, he would have. But after seeing he was in cahoots with someone he hated and wanted to kill, would he still leave him be?

In addition…

'He might be the key to completing the Hidden Quest,'

Damian's eyes flashed as his face grew serene.

"Hahahahaha! Kill me? That's the greatest joke I have ever heard! And you, Valerie, are groveling before a Human now? Hahahahaha!"

The laughter of Claude reverberated from the holographic projection that floated in the air, the cadence a deep, booming tone of man that seem to carry himself above all.

"Talk about utterly disgusting. And you! Although, I don't see any difference that will make, I can't believe you are willing to help her. What did she offer you? Her snatch?! Her twat?! Wait! Aren't they the same thing?! Hahahaha!"

Valerie's eyes burned with rage rarely seen. Her killing intent hung above her head like a fog, threatening to spread with increasing swiftness. Were it not for the fact that her conscious mind seems to warn of the danger, she would have stormed off towards that heinous man in anger.

"You are just as disgusting as the accursed race. Actually willing to enter her? I can't believe you. Don't you have eyes? They are nothing but humanoid reptiles!"

To this, Damian raised an eyebrow. What was this man saying? Entered her? When did he ever? And besides, how had he sired Valerie if not by inseminating her mother, who was a Draconian, a pure-blooded one at that.

But then, he wasn't about to let this man go scot-free. Damian chuckled before opening his mouth to speak.

"Oh? Last I checked, the fact she was your daughter meant you had gadded with a female of said accursed race, no? Really, If we think about it, you don't really think yourself to be a lot more disgusting, hm?

At least, unlike you, who is low enough to do the deed with a pure blooded Draconian, this lady here is part-Human. No, scratch that. Half of her blood is Human. Now answer me, who is the disgusting one?"

Damian's voice came out slow and unhurried. He seem to be at ease, despite the fact that the weapons of the aircraft were pointing at him. With a glance, he could tell the weapons could really puncture a hole in his body if they hit him.

Claude, on the other hand, was already simmering with rage. He looked from Valerie to Damian, and from Damian back to Valerie. He had only said that thinking Damian knew nothing about their relationship.

But, clearly, it seems Valerie had made him aware.

"Good! Very good! Then don't blame me!"

With those words, the holographic projection vanished. What came next, was the whining and groaning of a machine kicking into gear.

Damian sighed, then looked towards the other lady in his vicinity. His eyes shone a complicated glint before it grew serious. Although, he didn't dislike this lady, he didn't like her either. Not after what she had done to him before the Change.

Nevertheless, that didn't mean he was going to ignore her existence either.

"Claire,"

His voice came out deep and rich. It penetrated through the air, snapping said lady's attention to him. Her eyes went wide.

"You? How did you know my true name?" She asked, shocked.

To this, Damian merely smiled. With his position as an Heir of the House of Octavius, he had detailed information about nearly all the organizations in existence. As such, knowing the true name of an Heiress of a Seventh Sphere Power was as easy as breathing.

"Does it really matter? Right now, our lives are more important than names, aren't they? Besides, you should know more than anyone how easy it is with a background like ours."

Claire took a deep breath before sighing. Of course, she knew. But that was only applicable to those with bigger fists. For example, although she could get any information about nearly all organizations in existence, that was only limited to those organizations with standing below hers or on par with hers.

As for those above her House of Etoile, she wouldn't even be able to glean a smidgen of information about them. An example was the fact that she didn't even recognize Damian's family name, even till now.

That said, she nodded her head before her Storage Ring churned to life, vomiting a sleek longsword that shone a sharp light.

Damian raised an eyebrow. He wasn't surprised by the fact that she brought out an Artifact, neither was he surprised by the Grade of said Artifact. In fact, he would only be surprised if she didn't possessed such Artifacts with her.

No, what surprised him in actuality, was the sharp light that surrounded the longsword. It was light, yet sharp, vibrating as though it would pierce through all things in existence.

Damian's raised eyebrows flattened out, already recognizing the light. There was no doubt about it, it was… Sword Edict.

Damian smiled a little bit, and returned her nod before turning to look at the Duchess. His conversation with Claire had lasted no more than three seconds. A time that was immensely short compared the time needed for Claude to begin his attacks.

"Ready?" he asked.

"I can't wait to tear him from limbs to limbs," The Duchess's voice was delicate yet dripped with malice, a maniacal edge coating it as she looked at the aircraft with absolute hatred.

"Good," Damian said.

He then brought out a familiar sabre, an unrestrained and berserk silver light radiating from it as he looked towards the aircraft.

He further took a moment to scan his current attributes, and was left surprised.

[ …

Strength: 262 | Stamina: 244 | Vitality: 260 | Agility: 248 (+20) | Edict: 460 | Soul Edict: 400

… ]

He couldn't believe all his attributes had gone up that much. Why had he even restrict himself all this while? With the level of strength coursing through his body, he would have been an unmatched entity of his generation.

Damian sighed again, but then, a fiendish grin curled up his lips. With this stats, Claude was a dead meat, in all senses of the word.

*

As Damian began his battle, in a world countless light years across the cosmos, a woman was laughing with utmost intensity. Her angelic voice reverberated across the whole planet, even making the sun and stars in the distance quake violently.

"A mere scrap metal of the Second Sphere is actually threatening to kill my boy? Bah! What a joke!"

She said before bursting into laughter once again.

At her side, a young lady of Damian's age-group shook her head, a wry smile spreading her lips.