Outside the Sealed Ground.
Satan’s shadowy entity watched the Mage from the sky, its mind racing.
‘How is a mere human this troublesome?!
Judging by his age, he shouldn’t be anything more than an S-Class Mage at best.
Yet, after fighting at this intensity for so long, he hasn’t shown a single sign of fatigue!
Is this brat even human?!’ The entity’s massive purple eyes narrowed toward the ruined church.
‘No…
I have a terrible premonition about this.
That little human girl he threw into the ruins…
there is something deeply unsettling about her.’ ‘I have to stop this kid now.
In my current state as a mere remnant soul, I cannot draw upon even a fraction of my true power.
I don’t know if casting this Magic will actually succeed, but I have no other choice.’ “Abyssal Grimoire…
First Chapter of the Netherworld: Tiankui!” Instantly, a colossal, pitch-black Magic Circle materialized in the sky above.
A massive, towering pair of ominous doors slowly descended from the center of the dark runes.
Caelan stared up at the heavy, rune-carved gates, his lazy demeanor finally fading into something much more serious.
The sinister, suffocating aura radiating from the doorway was enough to make even him feel a twinge of unease.
‘Looks like the old ghost is finally going all out.’ Satan’s voice boomed from the clouds.
“Human, there is still time for you to flee!
Once these doors open, your fate is sealed!” Caelan scoffed, resting his glowing sword on his shoulder.
“Should I be thanking you for the warning?
For a big, bad villain, you sure talk a lot of garbage.
Open it!
If you don’t open that door today, I’ll call you my grandson!” “Insolent brat!
Once I claim your body, I will torture your soul for eternity!” Satan roared.
“Open!
The Gates to the Netherworld!” On either side of the towering gates, two gargoyle-like bat demons peeled themselves off the stone archway.
Each held a massive, rusted key.
They plunged the keys into the heavy locks and turned.
Creak…
Screech…
The doors slowly cracked open just a few inches.
Immediately, the agonizing, bloodcurdling screams of countless tortured souls poured out from the rift.
“Aaaaaaahhhh—!!!” Suddenly, a pair of massive, deathly pale hands shot out from the gap, grabbing the heavy stone doors and violently prying them open.
A flood of screeching, wandering souls erupted from the Netherworld.
Behind them, the owner of the giant hands stepped forward into the mortal realm.
Thud.
Thud.
A towering demon, standing five meters tall, lumbered out of the gates.
Its entire body was sickly, chalk-white, and it had no eyes or nose—its entire head was nothing but a massive, gaping maw lined with jagged, razor-sharp teeth.
“Gurgle…
urgh…
ROOOOAARR—!!!” “Accept my sacrifice, White Demon of the Netherworld: Tiankui!” Satan commanded.
The suffocating black mist covering the sky began to rapidly condense, pulling all the darkness into a single, hyper-dense sphere of demonic energy floating in the air.
As the sky cleared, the remaining wisp of Satan’s remnant soul hovered above the sphere.
Slowly, the dark energy orb floated down and sank directly into the center of Tiankui’s chest.
Instantly, jagged black veins began branching out from the demon’s chest, rapidly crawling across its chalk-white skin.
Within seconds, the black runes covered Tiankui’s entire body.
Two glowing, blood-red eyes suddenly ignited on the demon’s previously featureless face.
“Kill…
kill this human,” Satan gasped.
It was obvious that summoning and empowering this demon had cost Satan’s remnant soul an unimaginable price.
Tiankui raised a massive, pale hand and violently bit down on its own wrist.
Thick, black blood poured from the wound, rapidly hardening and expanding into a massive, jagged bone cleaver.
“ROOOOOAAR—!!” Caelan winced, digging a pinky into his ear.
“So loud.
Seriously, why is every boss intro so damn noisy?” He pointed his glowing sword up at Satan.
“Hey, old ghost!
I thought you were actually going to summon something impressive.
You don’t actually think this ugly thing is gonna beat me, do you?” “Who knows?” Satan mocked weakly.
“I have much more pressing matters to attend to now.” With that, Satan’s remnant soul shot straight down, diving directly into the church ruins toward the Sealed Ground.
Before Caelan could move to intercept, a massive shadow loomed over him.
The giant bone cleaver swung down with devastating force.
BOOM!
The sheer impact tore the earth apart, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
Houses collapsed into splintered wood and dust as deep fissures tore through the ground.
Fortunately, the villagers had already evacuated the area the moment the sky had turned black.
With a single strike, Tiankui had completely leveled over half the village.
Caelan stared at the absolute devastation, clutching his head in panic.
“Oh, my god!
I’m so dead!
The Master is going to literally kill me!
The reward money for this quest won’t even cover a fraction of the damages!” He whirled around, glaring furiously at the towering demon.
“Hey, you big idiot!
Do you have any idea how much trouble you just caused me?!” Because Satan’s sacrifice hadn’t been a complete soul, Tiankui hadn’t gained full sentience.
It was nothing more than a mindless, brutal killing machine.
“ROOOOAR!” Tiankui raised the massive bone cleaver and charged at Caelan again.
Inside the Sealed Ground.
Guided by the strange pull in her heart and the demonic arm leading the way, Mirajane successfully navigated the underground ruins and arrived at the core of the Sealed Ground.
In the center of the cavern, Satan’s true body was suspended in midair, bound by thick, glowing chains.
Strangely, one of the heavy chains was already broken.
Mirajane stared up at the terrifying demon.
To her surprise, she didn’t feel an ounce of fear.
Instead, a strange, creeping sense of excitement washed over her.
‘So…
this is the demon that awakened my Magic.’ Just as she reached out to touch the remaining chains, Satan’s eyes snapped open.
Mirajane gasped, startled by the sudden movement, and fell backward onto the stone floor.
A voice echoed directly inside her mind.
(Human.) Mirajane shuddered, looking around frantically.
“Who?!
Who’s there?!” (I am right in front of you.) Mirajane stared up at the glowing purple eyes of the bound demon, her breath hitching in fear.
“Why is your voice in my head?” (It is simple.
You are the Chosen One.) “The…
Chosen One?” (Indeed.
Is your arm not the ultimate proof of that?) Mirajane looked down at her grotesque, scaly claw.
Remembering all the pain, the isolation, and the horrified stares from the villagers, a deep, burning anger swelled in her chest.
“So…
all the suffering my family had to endure…
all of it was because of you!” (What is a little suffering compared to the absolute power you have gained?) Satan’s voice was smooth, seductive.
(Once I am freed, I will personally slaughter every last one of those pathetic peasants who dared to mock you.) Mirajane’s expression darkened.
She didn’t say a word.
(Quickly!
Break my seal, and I shall grant you even greater power!) The moment Satan spoke, Mirajane’s body seemed to move on its own.
She slowly stood up and walked forward like a puppet on a string.
She reached out.
The moment her demonic claws touched the glowing chains, they shattered like glass.
Crack!
Shatter!
As the final chain broke, a violent, howling gale ripped through the underground cavern.
Thick black mist erupted from Satan’s body, and the massive Magic Circle beneath him flared with blinding purple light.
The beam of demonic energy shot straight up, piercing through the ground and tearing into the dark clouds above.
Thunder roared, lightning crashed, and a hurricane-force wind swept over the ruins.
Up on the surface, Caelan had just stomped his heel firmly down onto Tiankui’s head.
He looked up at the violent storm brewing over the church ruins.
“It’s all up to you now, Mira.” Golden light flared around his boot.
KABOOM!
Tiankui’s head instantly exploded into dust, and the massive demon collapsed, slowly disintegrating into the wind.
Down in the Sealed Ground, the thick black smoke enveloping Satan finally cleared.
Standing before Mirajane was no longer a towering monster, but a man who looked like an elegant, aristocratic vampire.
Satan smiled wickedly, slowly stepping down to approach her.
“What a beautiful face.
It’s almost a shame I have to erase you.” He flexed his pale fingers.
“But my original body has been sealed for so long, it’s already crumbling.
You, my dear, are the key to me claiming that arrogant little Mage’s body on the surface.”