Dante stepped into the hallway and walked toward the bedroom at the far end.
He had already tested the Ox Talisman and Holy Light Effect.
Now only Purification remained.
His sister had been acting strangely for weeks.
Her grades had fallen and something about her presence made his instincts scream that she was no longer normal.
Dante stopped outside Lily’s door and took a slow breath.
Then he raised his hand and knocked three times.
“Knock.
Knock.
Knock.” A tired voice came from inside.
“Who is it?” “It’s me.” Dante kept his voice low and serious.
A moment later the door opened and Lily appeared in her pajamas.
She rubbed one eye and looked at him with a sleepy expression.
“Dante?
It’s late.
Is something wrong?” She stepped aside to let him enter.
Dante moved past her and immediately shut the door.
Click.
He locked it before turning around.
The sudden sound startled Lily.
She stared at him with confusion while Dante narrowed his eyes and pointed at her.
“Foul creature!
Your disguise cannot fool me!” Lily tilted her head.
“What?” “I can tell just by looking at you that you’re not human.
Reveal your true form!” She blinked several times before giving him a concerned look.
“Have you been watching weird anime again?” Dante’s dramatic expression disappeared.
He had hoped his speech would pressure the creature into exposing itself.
Lily only looked embarrassed for him.
“Fine.
We’ll do this the direct way.” His hand shot toward his pocket.
A silver object flashed beneath the dim bedroom light as he pulled it out.
It was the Sterling Silver Cross.
The sleepy expression vanished from Lily’s face.
Her skin turned pale and fear flooded her eyes.
It was not normal surprise.
The sight of the cross seemed to strike something hidden deep within her soul.
Lily stumbled backward and screamed.
“Get that away from me!” Dante froze for half a second.
Her reaction had already confirmed his suspicions.
“Take it away!” Black energy suddenly erupted from Lily’s body.
The force struck the cross like a cannonball and ripped it from Dante’s hand.
The silver cross flew across the room and slammed against the wall.
It fell to the floor with a sharp metallic clatter.
Lily slowly raised her head.
Her eyes no longer looked human.
A savage hunger burned inside them as her lips twisted into a cruel smile.
“You found me out…
dear brother.” Each word came from her throat in a distorted voice that seemed far older than Lily.
The sound carried enough hatred to chill the entire room.
Dante stared at her for a moment before breaking into a wide grin.
“That’s more like it.” He turned sideways and extended one arm in a ridiculous heroic pose.
His expression became completely serious as he pointed toward her.
“Purification!” Dante lunged before Lily could react.
The strength of the Ox Talisman surged through his arm as he grabbed the front of her pajamas.
He lifted her from the floor with one hand.
Lily’s feet kicked helplessly in the air.
Her murderous expression collapsed into complete disbelief.
“What the hell are you?” Blue-white light erupted from Dante’s hand.
The power of Purification spread over Lily’s body like fire.
Her demonic energy hissed and twisted as the light burned through it.
“Agh!
It burns!” Lily screamed and thrashed in his grip.
Her body twisted violently as though she had been thrown onto a red-hot stove.
“Stop!
Please stop!” The blue-white radiance only grew stronger.
“I’ll do anything!
Just turn it off!” Dante held her steady and stared into her eyes.
“What are you?” His voice carried none of his earlier humor.
“Why are you possessing my sister?” “It isn’t possession!” Lily forced the words through clenched teeth while Purification continued burning her.
“I descended into this world with a physical body.
This body belongs to me.” Dante’s eyes narrowed.
“I only regained my strength recently,” she continued.
“That’s why you didn’t notice before.” Dante studied her face.
She looked exactly like the sister he had known for years.
If the demon was telling the truth then the situation was far more complicated than a simple possession.
“What exactly are you?” “I’m not a what!” The creature glared at him despite the pain.
“I’m a demon!” “What’s your name?” Her jaw tightened.
She refused to answer and turned her face away.
Dante increased the flow of Purification.
The blue-white flames flared around her body.
Lily immediately threw her head back and screamed.
“All right!
I’ll tell you!” Dante reduced the power slightly.
“My name is Marquis!” He raised an eyebrow.
“Marcus?” “Marquis!” The demon glared at him with enough rage to tear apart the room.
“That’s what I said.
Marky.” “My name is Marquis!” “Sure it is.” Dante nodded without the slightest sincerity.
A new prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Eligible target detected.] [Adopt Marquis as a pet?] [Yes / No] Dante selected [Yes] without hesitation.
A red collar appeared around Lily’s neck with a sharp click.
Strange symbols flashed across its surface before the entire collar vanished.
Marquis stopped struggling.
She reached toward her throat but found nothing there.
A moment later her eyes widened as an invisible restriction wrapped around her soul.
“What did you do to me?” She began fighting against Dante’s grip again.
“What did you do to a noble demon?” Dante raised his free hand.
Slap!
The sound echoed through the bedroom.
Marquis went completely still.
Her head remained turned to one side while fear slowly replaced the rage on her face.
A faint trace of Purification still glowed around Dante’s fingers.
He stared at her without emotion.
“What’s your name?” Marquis trembled before forcing a nervous smile onto Lily’s face.
“Master.
Whatever you say is correct.” Dante released his grip.
She dropped to the floor and landed on her knees.
Dante looked down at her while unease settled in his chest.
The cute sister he had grown up with was apparently a demon named Marquis.
He crouched in front of her and studied her carefully.
“All right, Marky.
What can you do?” “Reporting to Master.” Marquis straightened her back and remained on her knees.
“I can create fear.
I can absorb it.
I can also create illusions and bewitch humans.” Dante waited for more.
Nothing came.
“That’s it?” Marquis opened her mouth but he continued before she could answer.
“Your abilities sound pathetic.
What happens when you meet someone who isn’t afraid of you?” Her expression stiffened.
“Wouldn’t that make you completely useless?” Dante lifted his hand and formed another sphere of blue-white light.
It hovered above his palm like a small sun.
“Someone went through the trouble of bringing you into the human world.
Are you sure you aren’t hiding something from me?” Marquis stared at the Purification light and nearly collapsed from fear.
Her earlier pride disappeared as she raised both hands.
“Brother…” She gave him a sweet smile and tried to make Lily’s eyes look innocent.
“I’m adorable.
Why would I ever lie to you?” Slap!
The second strike was even louder than the first.
“Speak normally.” Marquis covered her cheek and looked away.
Tears gathered in her eyes but she no longer dared to act cute.
“Yes, Master.” She quickly adopted the tone of an employee giving an important report.
“My power to create fear can disturb a person’s mind.
Even someone with incredible courage will still be affected.” Dante lowered the glowing hand but kept Purification active.
“As long as someone feels fear, I can absorb that emotion and use it to strengthen myself.
The more terror I consume, the more powerful I become.” Marquis pointed toward the shadows near the wall.
“My illusions can become almost indistinguishable from reality.
I can use them to hide, launch surprise attacks, confuse enemies, or trap them inside false surroundings.” Her nervous gaze returned to Dante.
“Bewitchment allows me to control people with weak willpower.
Once they fall under my influence, they will follow my commands and serve me.” 500 = +1 Chapter] [Review Goal: 10 = +1 Chapter]