The devil’s laughter sends the crowd into a panicked frenzy. The people look at each other in fright. The king and the duke quickly move to guard their wives as they don’t know where the danger may come from. Even the cultists can only look around in confusion as they don’t know if this was part of their scheme or not.

Yeah, talk about a pre-emptive strike. She never even gave them the chance to make a move. Just drop a bomb and leave like a boss.

Are you actually impressed by that?! She could start a fucking riot! Innocents may get hurt!

Yeah, but… can you tell who is or isn’t part of… what’s the name again? Ante… something, something.

Antediluvian.

Right, that. God knows how many of them are there. I can’t tell. You can’t tell. She probably can’t tell either. Plus, she’s the devil—sowing chaos is her entire mission statement, remember?

Tch!

Well, there are three cultists we know for sure. Prince Gael, Admiral Sullivan, and Knight Irving slip out in the chaos. They pace in a certain direction, not noticing a strange mold-like substance following them. They enter the old dungeon under the palace and then cast a spell on a brick wall, revealing a hidden passage. Walking down the path leads them to a large catacomb hall. Stage symbols are drawn on the ground and walls.

Hey, I recognize that. It’s the eastern runes! The easterners figured out a way to inscribe spells onto paper and other surfaces. I believe they’re called talismans.

I wonder what those symbols do. Hey, do we have an eastern mage among us? What do you call them again… cultivators? What about you, grandpa? You look oriental.

I’m from the islands, you racist!

Calm down, gramps. I’m just asking. No need to get your panties in a knot.

Damn disrespectful kids! Why I oughta…

An old woman sits at the center of the catacombs. She’s wearing a ceremonial garb while holding a bundle of cloth in hand. She glances at the three men who just walk in then back at the cloth.

“Mistress, something went horribly wrong up there!” Sullivan says.

“It’s Adrian Acker! That damn pest, I told you all about!” Prince Gael stomps his foot in anger. “I told you to take him out first, didn’t I!? I told you!”

“Shhh…” The woman places a finger in front of her lips. “The Tongue is resting.”

Look, in her arms… is that a baby? No! No, that’s a doll!

The so-called Tongue is a doll? What?

“Screw that! That monster ruined our opportunity. What the hell are you people going to do?!”

“Patience, Prince. The master promised you a throne and you shall have it. How we obtain it is of little importance. So return to the world above, and do not disturb the Tongue’s rest with this minor inconvenience. As for the man you speak of, this Adrian Acker… he shall be dealt with when our glorious leader sees fit.”

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Prince Gael grits his teeth, then he turns back with Sullivan and Irving in tow. The old woman is left in the dark catacomb with the doll. The doll slowly opens its eyelids, revealing pure black eyeballs.

“...Jia Ju…” An adult’s voice comes out from its lips.

“This lowly Jia Ju hails the great master.”

The woman bows her head.

“...Is the sacrifice ready?...”

“Yes, lord. Four Points of Power are drawn around the city. The souls of the innocent shall feed the ceremony. Even the Elders shall succumb to the Blood Gyve.”

“...And what of the man who has slain Xanxus?...”

“He revealed himself just as you predicted lord. Our distraction is keeping him occupied.”

“...Good. A being who can defeat a Herald shall serve me well. By dawn, this kingdom and her Elders shall belong to me…”

“My, my, I didn’t think I’d hear a villain monologue from someone other than me tonight.”

Adrian’s mocking voice comes from the walls.

“Who’s there!?”

The old woman jumps onto her feet. She guards the doll closely.

“Aww, you don’t know? And you were just talking about me. Hehehe!”

“The one who felled Xanxus—Adrian Acker!”

“Bingo! And you must be the Leader I heard so much about.”

“Wrong, usurper! I’m—”

“I’m not talking to you, slave! I’m talking to you, junior. What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Hahaha!”

“...Who are you?...”

“Why, haven’t you heard? Adrian Acker, the Devil. Nice to meet you, my fellow villain.”

“...Come out from the shadows. Let me see you…”

“Ha! You first, junior.”

“How dare you disrespect the master!?”

Jia Ju pours out her mana to capture Adrian, but try as she may, she only finds mold and rats.

Suddenly a vein bursts out from the dirt and smacks the woman across the face. Her face turns from the impact as blood and spit fly out of her lips.

“Don’t you dare interrupt me, slave! Us masters are talking!”

Jia Ju touches her bloody lips in shock.

“T-this can’t be! How did you—”

“...Enough, my Herald. It seems I underestimated you, Adrian the Devil…”

“Aww, chucks. You’re making me blush. Hehehe!”

“...Your power shall be useful to me indeed. Tell me, what is your greatest desire? Tell me and I shall grant them to you...”

“Who, me? Now let me see… Chaos… Destruction… Total ruination… Yeah, that’s about it. I simply want to watch the world burn, as the saying goes.”

“...I see… Then our objectives line up. I can give you all you wish for, Adrian the Devil. You need only accept my gift…”

“Ah yes, that thing you call a Blood Gyve, correct? Power in exchange for servitude. What a generous offer. Should I take it? Should I not? Should I take it? Should I not? Hmm… Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go, eeny, meeny, miny, moe. My answer is… no! You see, junior, I plan on becoming the greatest villain this world has ever seen, and becoming somebody else’s lackey just isn’t my style. You feel me?”

“...Ashame. You would have made for an entertaining toy indeed. Jia Ju, destroy him. Make it quick…”

“Yes, Leader!”

Jia Ju creates thousands of ice picks in mid-air before shooting them in all directions. Not realizing that it was the excuse Adrian’s been waiting for…

“BOOM!”

A mana explosion erupts in an enclosed space, destroying everything in its wake. Adrian, who doesn’t know how powerful the woman is, crams more than half of his mana into a bomb and sets it off at point blank. Jia Ju barely has a chance to scream before her skin melts and her bones turn to ashes. The catacomb, the Tongue, the runic symbols, none survived the scorching blast.

T-that’s crazy! Did the devil just one-shot someone on Xanxus’s level?!

No way, she’s gotta be pretty weak right?! With how old she is?

Didn’t you feel her mana just then? She was the real deal.

Crazy! That’s fucking crazy!

From the wreckage, a monstrous snake slips out, pulling a half-bunt doll with it. Adrian studies the doll and sees a human tongue and a shining purple gem inside.

“Cough! Cough! Hey, junior, can you still hear me? Hello? Hello, operator?”

The purple gem gives out a final spark before shattering to pieces.

“And here I thought I’d get myself a long-distance friend. Oh well.”

Adrian puts another bomb into the doll, destroying all that’s left.

“Two down. Three to go.”