Amidst the crystal-clear clarity of the surrounding seawater, the wisps of jet-black miasma stood out with glaring prominence. The runic inscriptions twisting along the surface of the unidirectional teleportation array flickered erratically for a fraction of a second, before strings of black vapor began continuously leaking out from the formation only to be instantly incinerated by the dense light-element energy before they could disperse into the wider ocean.
“So that’s how it is.” Retrieving his communication crystal, Xavier recorded the magical signature radiating from the teleportation array directly into its memory.
Frost demons constituted the second-largest demographic among the Underworld’s demonic races, trailing only behind the flame demons.
Consequently, merely identifying the signature as belonging to a frost demon fell short of narrowing down the mastermind manipulating these events. Moreover, the unidirectional array served exclusively to channel dark mists into the Sea of Oblivion, providing no pathway for reverse tracking.
It remained unclear what transpired on the opposing end of the teleportation array, but dark mists poured forth in an endless, continuous torrent, only to dissolve the moment they collided with the radiant light elements released by Xavier.
Click—click—
The instant the array’s magical signature was logged into the crystal, the device began vibrating with intense violence, emitting a piercing shriek underwater. Across its interface, two distinct blue beacons of light flickered, pulsed, and ultimately converged into a single overlapping point.
“Caron…” A glacial glint of intent flickered within Xavier’s eyes.
Frank had truly earned his tenure as the long-standing chief assistant to the Grand Archangel, demonstrating exceptional professional competence. The moment Caron manifested the previous day, Frank had promptly captured his unique energetic signature within the crystal database.
At that precise moment, a violent surge of magical volatility erupted across the teleportation array. A massive volume of black mist erupted from the core of the formation, hurtling directly toward Xavier as he hovered above.
Narrowing his golden eyes, Xavier flicked his wings and launched upward at blistering speed, soaring over forty meters before coming to a halt. Down below, the previously purified expanse of seawater was once again rapidly re-blanketed by swirling dark vapors, swallowing the teleportation array back into the absolute gloom.
Swarming with malicious intent, the surrounding black mists coalesced into towering phantom hands, lunging upward in an attempt to drag the flying angel down only to recoil in shrieking agony as they hit the repelling perimeter of pure light-element force.
Without breaking stride, Xavier beat his twelve magnificent wings, surging upward through the black-shrouded layer capping the ocean surface to rocket straight past the corrupted skies and pierce upward toward the radiant sun hanging overhead.
Bathed in the warm, orange-gold radiance of the solar disc, the golden-haired, golden-eyed angel unfurled his wings, allowing torrents of concentrated light elements to flood eagerly into his frame and drape him in an aura of absolute holiness.
Opening his eyes slowly, he radiated a sharp, piercing brilliance that defied direct eye contact possessing the sublime, detached arrogance inherent to divinity itself.
He was the Light God’s most flawless creation, graced with breathtaking features touched by a chilling, sacred haughtiness.
He was, in every practical sense, a living deity.
When Huey finally stirred, twilight had already settled across the horizon. Warm, amber sunlight filtered through the delicate gauze curtains, dancing gently across the young succubus’s porcelain face.
“Hm?” Blinking awake, Huey bolted upright into a sitting posture in the center of the plush mattress, wearing an expression of utter, disoriented bewilderment. “Where am I? Did I fall asleep? Where is the lord?”
Adorably dazed from his slumber, the little succubus delivered a rapid-fire succession of three confused queries, looking utterly endearing.
“Hh.”
A man’s low, resonant chuckle rang out beside the bedside. Turning his head, Huey found Xavier seated nearby, wearing a pair of wire-rimmed gold spectacles whose delicate chain dangled down gracefully against his throat. Resting an open book across his knee, Xavier gazed toward him through the lenses with a gaze brimming with boundless, indulgent warmth.
“You are at home. You’ve been asleep for a few hours, and I am right here.”
Xavier’s voice flowed at an unhurried, even cadence laced with gentle amusement. Having methodically addressed each of the young demon’s questions one by one, he added with supreme patience, “Is there anything else you wish to ask?”
“My lord!” Huey squeaked out in soft embarrassment, shooting a flushed, reproachful glare mixed with feigned anger. Naturally, the glare carried zero intimidation factor.
“Weren’t we down in the ocean? How did I suddenly fall asleep, and what happened afterward?” Finishing his brief glare, Huey rushed into a fresh barrage of inquisitive questions; his head was currently brimming with unresolved mysteries demanding answers.
“Indeed.” Setting his book aside on the nightstand, Xavier reached out to gently ruffle the little succubus’s hair, channeling a steady, soothing stream of light-element energy to clear away any lingering grogginess. He then recounted the events that had transpired at the ocean floor. Naturally, he omitted any specific details alluding to his true identity.
“How terrifying…” Hearing the recap, Huey let out a disappointed, crestfallen sigh. “Why did I have to fall asleep right then? If I had stayed awake, the lord wouldn’t have been pushed to the brink of magical exhaustion…”
“Hm?” Pausing in mild surprise, Xavier offered a hesitant query: “Huey, I’ve actually been meaning to ask you this for a while why is it that your presence prevents me from experiencing magical exhaustion?”
Forgive the pure, innocent Grand Archangel; throughout his endless expanse of existence, his soul had been saturated exclusively with the teachings of the Light God, while sacred and pristine phenomena occupied his entire worldview. Regarding the specific nature of Underworld denizens, his practical knowledge remained remarkably sparse.
Confronted with such a direct question, the little succubus widened his eyes in utter shock, his face flushing crimson with a mixture of bashfulness and indignation as his tail gave Xavier’s hand a light, harmless swat that failed to leave even a faint pink mark.
“My lord!” Huey bounced to his feet on the bed, planting his hands on his hips to glare down imperiously at the gentle man below, blushing fiercely as he protested, “How can you ask someone about such common-sense matters so directly?! Even if you are my lord, that is terribly impolite!”
Observing Xavier’s genuine expression of total incomprehension, Huey gave an indignant little huff. “Hmph! I’m a succubus! A succubus! Are you really going to force me to spell out every single detail?!”
Good grief, Huey thought with a heavy internal sigh of heartbreak, the lord is hopeless. He’s always out here teasing me with sweet talk, yet he never follows through with actual actions…
Wait a second! A sudden thought struck him, leaving shock plastered across his face. Could this… could this be what Sophiel described as a classic scumbag man?!
Surely not… The little succubus descended into an internal spiral of agonizing conflict, his expressive face cycling through a dozen rapid-fire emotional shifts in a matter of seconds. Ultimately, fixing a fierce, resolute glare upon Xavier’s handsome face, he clenched his fists with unyielding determination.
Even if the lord turns out to be a total scumbag, I am still determined to sleep with him! That, that is the grand, ultimate life goal of Huey Christie!
Remaining entirely silent, Xavier simply watched the little succubus’s theatrical performance play out before him, entirely clueless as to what bizarre conclusions were currently racing through that hyperactive little brain.
The mature, composed Grand Archangel massaged his temples in silent defeat, resolving to discreetly interrogate Frank about the matter at the earliest opportunity.
“You’ve slumbered quite a long time are you hungry?” Removing his spectacles and rising to his feet, Xavier lifted the waist-propped little succubus off the mattress and settled his fair, tender feet securely into a pair of fluffy house slippers.
“Let’s go dine.”
By the time Xavier escorted the young succubus into the dining hall, Frank had already orchestrated a magnificent, sprawling spread of exquisite cuisine.
“Greetings, Frank.” Seated in the chair pulled out by Xavier, Huey offered a cheerful wave to the assistant delivering the dishes. “Why are you still wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night? Won’t it obstruct your vision?”
The moment the sunglasses were referenced, Frank experienced a fresh wave of psychological trauma, coming dangerously close to bursting into tears. Maintaining a stoic, rigid facade of absolute chill, he responded, “It does not.”
“Alright then.” Dropping the inquiry, Huey lowered his gaze to tuck into the beautifully carved beef steak Xavier was portioning out for him.
Mid-meal, a young female demon servant slipped quietly into the hall, bowing respectfully. “My lord, Lord Herman of the Soren family has requested an audience to offer his greetings.”
Huey paused fork-in-hand, a wave of panic washing over him. “My lord, why is Herman here? Could it be that he discovered our midnight break-in at their estate last night?”
In stark contrast to Huey’s anxiety, Frank dissolved into sheer, unadulterated terror, shrieking at the top of his lungs: “Do not let him inside!”
The pitch was so high and shrill it closely resembled a strangled duck, startling Huey right out of his seat.
Dropping his cutlery, Xavier cast a sharp, piercing glance toward the panicking assistant and demanded coldly, “Frank, exactly what transpired last night?”
“Nothing at all…” Frank lowered his voice, stammering incoherently with a guilty, flushed complexion.
“Very well.” Frowning in displeasure, Xavier instructed the servant, “Invite him in.”
“Understood, my lord.” The servant withdrew to execute the command.
Upon hearing the directive, Frank’s face drained of all color, throwing his hands up in a panic. “My lord, I—I suddenly recall a mountain of unfinished duties! I must take my leave!”
Bolting toward the exit, he found his escape abruptly terminated as a localized spatial bind froze him stiff right in his tracks.
“Frank, sit down.”
Utterly defeated and on the verge of tears, the poor assistant realized flight was entirely impossible. In an act of desperate self-preservation, he dragged his chair backward until it was positioned directly behind Huey, seeking sanctuary behind the delicate frame of the little succubus like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand.
“Would you mind expanding your wings for me?” Frank whispered frantically, leaning in close to blink imploringly at Huey. “I believe I require extra physical shielding.”
“Is it truly necessary for me to manifest my wings?” The kind-hearted little succubus blinked in confusion. “I genuinely doubt my physical frame is broad enough to conceal your entire body.”
“Wuuu ” Frank clutched his hands together in a tearful plea, whispering, “Please, I beg of you.”
Before the humanitarian rescue operation could be finalized, Xavier intervened directly.
“Huey.” Opening his arms wide, Xavier beckoned to him. “Come here.”
Glancing back at the trembling, pitiful Frank, then forward toward the familiar, warm embrace, the choice was self-evident.
With a sympathetic little sigh, the little succubus abandoned his post, scampering across to slip right into Xavier’s lap to enjoy absolute safety, comfort, and direct feeding service.
My apologies, Frank, Huey communicated silently through an apologetic glance.
At that exact moment, the exceptionally efficient servant ushered Herman into the hall. The moment Frank locked eyes with the tall, flamboyant succubus, his gaze met a slow, teasing wink delivered with casual mastery.
Let it all burn, the chief assistant to the Grand Archangel thought with complete spiritual resignation. Death would honestly be a welcome mercy right now.