Chapter 8: Embracing The Shadow

As the chains that bound Valeria dissipated, Valeria became conscious as well. She wanted to get up and attack Ethan with his spear but her body couldn't allow it.

[ Seems like those chains can absorb powers ]

"You are awake?"

Valeria looked behind her only to see Ethan sitting in a pool of blood. His body was drenched in blood. His hairs and eyes have returned to normal. As Ethan got up shivers went down Valeria's spine remembering their fight from before.

"Now take us out of here" Ethan ordered Valeria in a domineering tone.

Valeria being an apostle of god outright rejected him.

Ethan took a heavy sigh and muttered, "This is my first time so it will hurt a lot"

As Ethan's memories of him meeting ancestor form mother's side returned, so did the knowledge on how to use demonic spells. Ethan without hesitation pierced Valeria's chest. Just as Ethan pierced her, black substance begun to envelop her. This black substance was then absorbed by Ethan.

Ethan took some heavy breath.

[ To think I would one day act like the demons I once used to loath ]

Partial fragments of Valeria's recent memories and her powers were absorbed by Ethan.

[ Since the space has not been destroyed, I was right. This power doesn't only absorb memories and power but the very soul itself. ]

Ethan then put his hand into thin air making tearing sound as cracks of space appeared on his fingertips. He then tore the space in front of him and walked out back to his world.

He found himself in a room made by stone. It felt like the dungeons he used to raid in his previous life. Ethan's shirt was completely burnt. He put his hands in his pants pocket.

[ Looks like I dropped it somewhere ]

He brought some scrolls for cases like this but he had now lost them. He took a deep breath and gathered some demonic energy in his hands. Even if the demonic energy was dark, it emitted light.

Using mana required one to draw it from nature. Since there was barely any mana in this world Ethan had to use demonic energy which used the strength of soul. The more mature and strong one's soul were the more powerful that persons demonic energy will be. That is exactly why most of the powerful demons were at least 3 to 4 generation older in human terms.

Ethan created a dark orb in his hands. The room was spacious. It had pillar on both sides. There was an entrance with no gate. Ethan proceeded towards the exit. Just as Ethan stepped on the next rooms some torches lit up. It was a large hallway with a red carpet. Pillars with magnificent artworks supported the celling. Torches were lit on these pillars.

As Ethan followed the red carpet it lead him to stairs to surface. Ethan cautiously took his step. What greeted him on the surface was something he didn't think about.

The old man he had met before was standing with both of his hands on his cane that was balancing him. At a glance he looked like someone who would fall from a little push but in reality he was someone that even Ethan couldn't guarantee a win against. Even if he grew stronger than before he felt it in is bones, this old man was lot stronger than Valeria.

Beside the old man was Akazaki and a cage with Seraphina chained in it.

"That useless thing has done something useless again. I warned her many times-"

The old man picked up his cane and aimed its tip at Ethan. Suddenly a burst of energy came towards Ethan. Even though Ethan instinctively titled his head his face was cut by it. The old man despite not looking like it rushed towards Ethan at unimaginable speed and striked him with his cane.

Ethan blocked it with both of his hand making his knees fall to the ground. The old man then kicked Ethan in the face making him drop in the stairs.

"You are unique after all. She and her obsession with solving everything by persuading never changed. But I truly am impressed. Seeing your strength that witch can not have just manipulated you."

As the old man was walking down the stairs and lift up his right hand, orbs of solid divine energy were forming. The next second he stretched his arm, those orbs dashed towards Ethan in a tremendous speed creating explosion wherever they land.

"Wish I could play longer, but I need to deliver the witch to her trial."

As the old man turned back and started to climb the stairs again his eyes widened from shocked and tilted his waist to side avoiding a punch from Ethan. Taking this opportunity the old man used his elbow to crush Ethan's waist to the ground. Ethan screamed in pain.

"These markings... So this is why I couldn't feel that brat's remnant soul"

The old man was staring at the fallen Ethan's marking on his face. Ethan trembled in pain and tried to get up slowly.

"It's useless"

The old man then raised his right leg to stomp Ethan to finish him for good. Just then something blasted the old man further away.

Ethan looked at the source. There was a dark-purple portal near one of the pillars near the stair. A man stepped out of the portal dressed in suit. He had a black suit, pants, and a black sunglass on him. His hair was bright red which was quite rare in this world.

Beside him stepped out another woman. Her beauty wouldn't lose out to any. She had white hairs that flowed all the way to her waist. Her eyes were bright red. Unlike Ethan, her sclera was white as it should be. Her crimson eyes had a pattern in it as well. She had emerald earring on her right ear. She was covered with a crimson-red gown stretching to her knees, magnifying her beauty manifold. But, she was lacking a bit in the chest department.

As if the woman somehow understood Ethan's rude thoughts she gave him a cold look and turned to the old man.

"ARE YOU PEOPLE INSANE!"

The old man lost his cool. He was shouting at the two strangers.

"Calm down sir Mord. We are here because we felt a surge of demonic energy. And it is our job to take care of this, no?" The man in suit was leaking blood lust towards the old man to which the old man who seemed to be called Mord responded as well. Mord's divine energy and the man in suit's bloodlust clashed with each other making the surroundings shake. Ethan noticed Akazaki who was outside came rushing in after feeling this.

The woman in gown then placed her hand on the man in suit. "Stand down Baal. We are not here to fight, you should do the same Sir Mord. It will only be disadvantageous to you if you were to fight us right now."

At the woman's order Baal, the man in suit put his hands down. With disappointment in his face Mord did the same.

Mord then questioned the woman in a threatening voice. "So what do you want?"

"Mind your manne-" Baal tried to interfere but the woman stopped him. She pointed at Ethan.

"Him"

"Can not do that. He has killed a fellow apostle." Mord outright rejected her.

"The last time I checked you people never cared about each other, so why now?" The woman questioned Mord.

Ethan who was still sitting under the stairs was confused as to what was happening.

The woman then offered Mord a deal. "How about this? We take the boy with us and in exchange we will give you three tickets "

Mord didn't immediately reply. After thinking for a while he finally opened his mouth. "Very well but the witch goes with us."

"???" Ethan was shocked from what he heard and stood up suddenly.

The woman gave a gesture to Baal and he immediately teleported behind Ethan knocking him unconscious.

"I will send the tickets to her directly." The woman said that and left through the portal she came from.

Baal picked up the unconscious Ethan on his shoulder and followed her.

<Seraphina's POV>

After her group's representative brought the riddle from professor Alleina's box he showed it to the group. Seraphina, being who she was, immediately solved the riddle in her head. However not to disrupt the team's mood she decided to stay quiet. She gave one last glance towards Ethan before going with her team.

As her team proceeded with their Seraphina tagged along giving them clues from time to time. The team now stood before an abandoned building. This building was in a place without any kind of shops or other houses around. A building in such a place was truly suspicious. But all the clues of the riddle led to this place.

With hesitation the group entered the building. The door was so old that it made creaking noises as it was opened, there wasn't even a lock on it. The group turned on their phone's torch to see in the dark. They searched all the room on the first floor one by one. Not finding anything they proceeded towards the second floor.

[ Why am I keep getting an ominous feeling ]

Seraphina felt some magic traces in the building before entering it. But her curiosity got the better of her and she entered the building.

"Guys I don't think the answer would be in a place like this. Think logically what kind of riddle would lead some university students to a uninhabited part of a town we haven't come to before. Let's go back." Seraphina suggested to everyone.

Everyone seemed to agree with her. They stopped climbing the stairs half way and went back the way they came.

As they reached the entrance to the building the group saw something unbelievable. The door which was wide open was shut tight with planks barricading it. The group was terrified from seeing that. One of them dashed towards the door and started to kick it. It was useless.

Seraphina understood that there was someone else in this building. Whoever it was, she was the target.

[ They most probably know my identity if they are targeting me. Could it be professor Alleina? After all she set up the riddles and this could be her plot to send me here. ]

As thoughts engrossed Seraphina's mind she heard a sound from her back. A female student, who was standing behind her was on the ground. Her throat was slit from something sharp. Seeing that another male student started to scream and shout while looking around vigorously around with his phone's torch. Suddenly after that their torch started to blink eventually turning off.

The other male student who was by the door suddenly yelled as he was grabbed by chains from behind. As he was pulled into a room the door shut tight and screams were heard. The last student alive except Seraphina knelt on the ground and started begging for life.

Seraphina spread her arcane energy like a net around her.

[ Found you ]

Seraphina then casted a bolt of arcane energy towards the perpetrator in the darkness. There was no response. Suddenly the male student's scream was heard and as Seraphina turned her head to see a body lying on the ground stabbed in the heart.

Seraphina then spoke up.

"Who are you and what do you want? Stop bringing innocents in this."

A female figure appeared out of the shadow. To Seraphina's surprise this person was on Ethan's team.

"Why are you here?"

"Well, my original plans were to monitor that guy but it suddenly changed into taking care of you"

"Orders?"

Suddenly some daggers flew at her from the darkness to which Seraphina dodged reflexively. Her years of training was finally paying off.

"Never thought I would get the fun of slaughtering you kind again"

Seraphina couldn't understand what this woman meant.

[ Perhaps there was witches in this world as well, seem these people are the reason they went extinct ]

Seraphina didn't have the luxury to think about anything else. As the woman kept attacking her relentlessly Seraphina dodged them and countered with arcane energy time to time. Since Seraphina couldn't regenerate her arcane energy she had to use them wisely.

The woman then paused her attacks and retreated in the shadows. Suddenly she leapt at Seraphina from behind, not being able to dodge in time, Seraphina's shirt's right sleeves were torn. There was a slight cut on her arm as well.

The woman then again retreated in the shadows and leapt at Seraphina from another side. Unlike last time she didn't try to dodge this time but instead pulled out a scroll from her pocket. Suddenly the corridor where they were fighting at shone brightly. The scroll emitted light to all sides. The woman, being unprepared was blinded by the light. Seraphina taking advantage of it casted a arcane bolt aimed at her heart.

Just as she was about to gather the arcane energy on her hand she felt immense pain within her soul itself. The woman regaining her composure, punched Seraphina's cheeks directly making her slam into a wall.

"Took it long enough to work"

Seraphina groaned in pain not knowing what was happening to her. She couldn't use arcane energy suddenly.

"What- What is happening"

Seraphina felt dizzy as her whole body started going numb. The last thing Seraphina saw before se lost consciousness was the woman chaining her limbs.

As Seraphina slowly opened her eyes she found herself inside a small cage with her limbs tied with a golden chain. She couldn't feel any arcane energy flowing within her. He looked around and found professor Alleina chatting with the woman that ambushed her and another old man. The professor noticed her and waved at her.

"Looks like we have to cut our chat short" The professor said to the other two while coming towards Seraphina.

She placed a hand on the cage and leant on it. "So you two take it and wait outside for me, I will handle him."

Seraphina turned his head to where the professor was looking at.

"???"

Ethan was lying there chained just like Seraphina. "What did you do to him???"

"Nothing dear, at least not yet"

"Let us not waste any more time" The old man interrupted their chat.

"Take extra precautions against him. Though I drained most of his power I still feel somethings bad gonna happen."

The old man came close to the cage and lifted his hand towards Seraphina. She suddenly started to feel dizzy.

"Don't worry after all no one but me can control that place"

That was the last scene Seraphina saw before loosing her consciousness again.

<Ethan's POV>

A splash of water in the face woke Ethan up. As Ethan quickly got up he saw Baal holding a bucket and the woman she met previously was sitting on a chair cross-legged.

"Look who finally decided to wake up"

Ethan looked around him. There were skinned pigs hanging upside down around him. It looked like a butcher shop to Ethan. "Where am I?"

"Relax a bit will you? Be grateful that I saved you today. However before expecting any answer don't you think you should explain why a noble like you got caught by someone like that old geezer? And Why do I not know of you?"

"A noble? What do you mean?"

The woman's face showed her surprised emotion. "Before anything, I am Laila Von Blackthorne. This big guy in front of you is Baal"

"Greetings to the great demon"

To Ethan's surprise Baal bowed down 45 degree with his arm on chest showing his respect.

"Judging by your reaction, it seems you are somehow not aware of your own identity, that's- surprising. Anyways for starters what is your name?"

"Ethan Cross."

"Alright" Laila then stood up from his chair and gave a hand to the sitting Ethan. Ethan grabbed her hand and got up from the ground.

"For now, follow me"

"What about the girl who was in cage? I need to free her."

"You think you can? The you now? Never. Just because you fought one apostle doesn't mean you are strong enough."

"I don't care I have to go to her"

With a heavy sigh Laila looked at Ethan and told him to follow her. They came out of a what it seemed like the storage room and came to a corridor. They then went through another door revealing a room at least 10 times bigger than it looked like from outside. It was made entirely out of white blocks. After entering the room Laila ordered Baal to close the room.

Laila then looked at Ethan "Now fight him."

"Wha-"

Before getting a grasp of what Laila meant Baal leapt at Ethan throwing a punch at him which Ethan avoided resulting in the ground trembling from Baal's punch.

Ethan glanced at Laila's smirking face and dashed towards Baal with his hand clad in a low amount of demonic energy. Baal was able to greab his hand and punch him right in the stomach, unlike Ethan, Baal's punch was filled with so much demonic energy that his hand became partial black. Taking the punch, Ethan coughed up blood and his knees fell to the ground.

Baal however, didn't let go of Ethan yet. He kicked him towards the wall behind Ethan. Slamming against the wall directly, Ethan again coughed up blood as he heard some of his bones break. From all these fighting Ethan had gone through, he was topless and his beige pant was dripping with blood.

Ethan, tired, didn't give him. With determination to save Seraphina he again got up. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. As he closed his eyes, crimson-red marks began appearing on his body. Demonic energy surged within him. The entire room was trembling. Ethan finally opened his eyes. His crimson red pupils in between his dark hollow-like sclera sent shivers down to his opponents.

Laila standing on the sidelines was shocked as she saw Ethan's eyes. Ethan took a deep breath again and took a stance. This time he didn't dash ahead like he would always do, instead provoked Baal to make the next move. Baal lifted his arm towards Ethan and grasped it tightly. Just as he did that 4 spear made of demonic energy appeared out of some small portals aimed at Ethan's vital.

To avoid that Ethan jumped in the air. Taking this chance Baal gathered demonic energy in his right arm and shaped it like a spear and threw it Ethan. Ethan hesitantly put his arm in front of him. As the spear touched Ethan it got absorbed into him.

"???"

Baal and Laila was shocked from what they witnessed. After landing, Ethan put both of his arms in front of him and from those hands came black flames aimed towards Baal. Baal however widened his arms creating a portal in front of him. The black flames went into the portal and then again came back from a portal on top of Ethan directly aimed at Ethan. Ethan noticing it quickly took a step back.

[ Wha-? ]

However Baal appeared behind him punching him in the back of his head making Ethan's face slam into the ground.

"That's enough"

Laila interrupted the fight.

"Ethan, do you truly not know who or what you are?"

Ethan with his nose broken from the slam was staring back at Laila.

"This is a butcher shop. We people usually meet in here. There's some room upstairs that you can sleep at for the night, there will be clothes for you to change into as well. Baal will show you them. I will see you tomorrow."

"What about Seraphina? Those bastards could kill her any moment"

"No they won't. They won't be killing a witch like her easily. It will take a week just to finish the trial. If you train hard enough you could just make it" Laila smirked at Ethan.

"How are you so sure about that?" Ethan asked Laila while glaring at her.

"Lets just say I had my fair share of experience" Laila winked at Ethan then went out of the room.

After that Baal guided Ethan to his room. It was on the second floor. Unlike the place they fought at, the room seemed normal. He spread the little mana he had in the room like a net to see if there were any magic device to monitor him.

Seeing he was safe he lay down on the bed not knowing what future held for him. Engrossed in thoughts the tired Ethan fell asleep.

The next morning Ethan woke up early like he always does. He went to the washroom to take a shower.

[ ??? ]

Ethan was surprised as he saw himself in the mirror. Though his right eye was fine his left eye had a crimson pupil within his black-hollow like sclera. It was Ethan's first time seeing his eyes like that. There were also red strands of hair on his head.

[ Wha- What is this? ]

[ What happened to my eyes and hair ]

[ Is this- side effect from using that power? ]

Ethan took a sigh and took a bath. After a nice shower he stood in front of the wardrobe.

[ It's weird ]

[ All of this are of my size as if they were put for me in the first place ]

Ethan picked a solid black full-sleeves shirt and a jeans pant from the wardrobe. Ethan used to wear bright colored clothes all the time but suddenly he had the urge to wear all black. He picked a round-shaped sunglass from the wardrobe as well. He also found a cap to hide his hair. The clothes were arranged as if they knew Ethan's gonna need them.

Suddenly someone knocked the door. Ethan opened it and found Baal standing there.

"If you are ready we should go"

Ethan put on his shoes and went outside. After stepping outside from the butcher shop Ethan was shocked to see there wasn't any other floor except ground floor in that butcher shop. The shop was in a bustling street. Judging from the appearance of the passer-by Ethan thought he was in some another country.

Soon Baal lead him to a café. Laila was already waiting there sitting in a corner. Unlike before she had a casual dress today. Purple shirt and tight pants. Baal and Ethan sat down on at the same table.

"So, before we begin I believe we both need to be clear about you identity. Tell me how you got you abilities for the first time."

Ethan decided to tell her about the fight with Valeria. He intentionally didn't talk about his previous world.

"So these powers came to you when you were in the brink of death. How is it that your parents have never told you about this before, you have noble blood within you after all."

"Why do you keep calling me a noble?"

Laila took a deep sigh and explained the demon hierarchy to him.

"Noble demons are divided into class by their eyes. Blue for baron, green for count, yellow for Marquis, red for duke... and everyone with unique eyes are considered... royalties, for example I am one of the Blackthornes, a noble demon. We have a unique pattern inside our red pupil that defines or royalty. And it is my first time seeing someone with eyes like you."

"Does that mean..."

"It could. I read a book about different royal demon lineages. If I remember it correctly there was one clan who had eyes like you.. umm what was it called.."

"The Vorathal" Baal interrupted Laila's thoughts

"Oh yes Vorathal. So you have never heard of them?"

"It's my first time" Ethan lied with a straight face

Laila stared at Ethan hearing his response then opened her mouth after a few moments. "There are... a total of 7 royalty that exists. You must have heard of seven sins right? It works like that."

Then Laila explained the royalties to Ethan one by one.

Vorathal - Devils of gluttony

Blackthorne - Sovereigns of pride

Shadowvale - Rulers of envy

Crimsonfang - Lords of wrath

Dreamweaver - Masters of sloth

Goldenscale - Hoarders of greed

Moonfire - Tempters of lust

Ethan was one of the Vorathals. There was no denying it any more.

[ This explains my abilities ]

[ Devils of gluttony huh? So there was a reason I could absorb Valeria ]

"If things were as it used to be I would have merely returned you to your clan. Well after all you are here exactly because things are not as it used to be" Laila interrupted Ethan's thoughts.

"What do you mean?" Ethan asked with curiosity in his face.

"The gluttonous Vorathals, they are merely history now. They went extinct many centuries ago. Of course that was true before you existence was found. Maybe one of your ancestor managed to escape the great destruction."

"Great destruction?"

"That is the reason we demons and gods barely fight now. We agreed upon a peace contract. Centuries ago the war between demons and gods became way too fierce. The Vorathals were the strongest then. Because of them the demons were winning the war. Suddenly out of nowhere as if the whole clan was cursed, began to die one by one. That was the start of the great destruction. The gods taking this chance killed many of us demons before finally balancing the scale of power. It was after that a treaty was proposed and accepted resulting in the world we live in."

"I heard something about you giving that old man Mord some tickets, what was that about?"

"That.. was authority over a region. After the treaty was signed the question of land was still there. Before another war could break out another idea was proposed. Dividing the land into smaller lands and creating 'tickets' for each land. These tickets were then divided equally then among the then 6 demonic clans and the apostles of then. No one is allowed to take this ticked by force, but one can acquire them if one kills the ticket bearer himself or the ticket bearer himself gives it out."

Noticing Ethan's face Laila again spoke out. "If you are worrying about the tickets then don't. You are much more valuable. Though I have no idea what kind of relationship that witch has with you but if you want to help her you better train your control over demonic energy."

Laila then got up after taking one last sip from her coffee.

"Follow me"

Laila then took Ethan to a bar.

"Why are we here?"

Laila ignored Ethan's question and went to the bartender's table.

"Three Eternal Moon for us"

Ethan didn't know why Laila took him to a bar when they just had coffee in the café.

The bartender, half bald fixed his glasses and took a glance at Laila, Ethan and Baal who was standing in the back. "Eternal Moon is it? Is there anything special you would like me to put into it?" The bartender asked in a low voice.

"A blood-red moon would be great."

"Very well dear customers. Allow me to take you to our VIP cabin." Saying that the bartender led us to a room with a trapdoor going underground.

The bartender then immediately knelt on the ground, "Greetings your highness!"

Ethan was shocked by the turn of events.

[ Laila mentioned she was one of the nobility. So was this bartender a demon? ]

"Good work"

After that Laila turned to Ethan.

"Come inside"

After that Laila went down the stairs. After that Ethan went down as well. He then set foot in an empty corridor lit up by torches hanging from the celling. The stones had an unique texture. After coming near the end of the hallway Ethan saw yet another bar underground.

This bar however was filled with demons. Demons with horns and tails. Some of them even had human forms. Laila then walked in the bar and stood before a dwarf. Ethan was very shocked by seeing a dwarf. He had not seen any other races except humans and demons and only heard about dwarves and elves in story books.

Laila then called out to him. Noticing Laila calling him he then guided the group to the other side of the bar. They was a staircase that led them further down. Unlike the previous floor this floor was dark and felt eerie. The dwarf then turned back and asked, "So what do you want?"