“How dare you…” As I turned around to glare at Coal, the words came out of my mouth on their own. Perhaps my anger was visible not just in my eyes, but also in the tension across my entire body, and Coal took a step backwards.

Hmmph, so now you know how to be afraid of me. How dare he mention that name?! Winter- No, it’s not something I want to remember, not something worth remembering! Just force it out of my mind, force it out! Force! It! Out!

“I know you don’t want to remember it, Shadow-”

“Shut up!” Coal tried to say something to me, but I immediately shouted over it. Before he could even do anything since my casting speed was so fast, I cast Blood Chains and watched them wrap him up. And to put an end to any thoughts of convincing me or being annoying, I added, “If you don’t stay quiet, then I’ll put a Blood Spike right into your head!”

Finally, some silence. Or at least, silence from Coal. Solace had woken up and must’ve heard or saw what was happening over here, since I could hear her struggling. Though, my threat against Coal seemed to also work against her, which is nice.

But I’m not sure what to do next. I want Coal to be awake for the suffering to come, but I won’t be able to tie him up. All I can do is use Blood Chains, but that costs 30% essence. I’ve already used it twice, so I can only use it three more - but to make it worse, I still need some essence for the ritual…

Shadow, you can cast Crystal Blood. Shade’s words were perfectly-timed, but there was a slight issue with them.

I’ve never cast that one before, though! Crystal Blood, an additive spell that targets a collection of blood created by another Blood Law spell. It could be a spike, chains, wall, blade, or anything else that is a result of a spell. As for the effect, it causes it to crystallize, becoming permanent, but shatterable.

Shatterable is relative though, so while it could maybe be broken by a spell, mere physical strength would never be able to break crystallized Blood Chains. In this case, the main thing of importance is the permanence part, since it means I won’t have to cast more spells to keep Coal tied up.

Of course, I know that Shade must’ve suggested it for a reason, just like how its suggestion to cast Blood Chains with one hand worked out in the end. But there’s a difference between the two, and I’m not facing the risk of death if I don’t do it this time either!

Well, Shade just explained. You underestimate yourself, and aren’t using your brain. Isn’t the reason you can cast Blood Chains with one hand because you know how to replace the seals and flows? Heritage path spells have similar seals and essence flows and you already know those.

Hmm. Basically, if I know the seals and flows, what’s stopping me from just casting the spell? After pulling out a Blood Jewel made from my second Sorceress victim - the only one I had - I began casting Crystal Blood.

This actually answers one of the earliest questions I had after learning about backlash. How could people practice high-rank spells when the backlash can instantly kill them?

Well, it seems to be because they’ve already mastered the seals and flows used! After all, there are only so many shapes that the human hands can make, and essence circulation was just a matter of practice over long periods of time.

So long as you know what to do, how could you not be able to cast a spell?

In line with my new confidence, Crystal Blood was successfully cast. The ten chains attached to the walls of the building and the ground had crystallized, but seems to have had a consequence. Three of them lost their anchoring, but Coal’s still trapped.

This actually works out well, since these chains aren’t going to disappear either. I picked one up - it’s shockingly heavy, probably weighing around half of my own weight. I can barely lift it, but I don’t have to pick the whole thing up. All I need to do is use it to tie up Coal’s arms, and that’ll be enough.

Seems Coal’s fear finally took over his… uh, fear. His fear of what was happening took over his fear of my threat? Regardless, something caused him to finally speak.

“Shadow, what are you doing? If it’s about what I said, then I apologize. I didn’t realize it’d be such-”

“Shut up.” I cut off his words by slamming my palm into the side of his head. Not hard enough to knock him out - I don’t think, but definitely hard enough to give it a good shake. If his thoughts become messy due to it, then that’s even better.

With his arms tied behind him and definitely not coming undone, it was time to drag him into the building with Dust’s corpse. And at this step, I realized that I hadn’t fully thought through things before casting Crystal Blood. How am I supposed to get these chains out of the way now?

I asked Shade, but its response was simply: Just pull out the anchors yourself. Of course.

So, the chains were slowly loosened one by one, with me hitting Coal on the head each time he tried saying anything. Unfortunately, it seems he’s realized that I won’t follow through on my threat, and has also gotten used to the blows to the head.

All I can do is tune out his words to the best of my ability. He keeps trying to convince me to let him go or whatever, but he keeps bringing up that- No. Ignore it.

I also tied up his legs and added one more around his waist in the process. It’d be bad if he tried to run, and the middle one is for me to drag him with. With the anchored chains all out of the way now, I dragged him into the room.

“Shadow! What in Hell are you doing!” Coal’s shout accompanied my action of kicking Dust’s corpse off of the box taking up the middle of the room.

I couldn’t help but quip back, “Making some space for you.” Well, it was the truth; I forced Coal onto the box and ended up using another chain to force him to stay there, since he kept trying to roll off.

Does he finally realize that things aren’t going to end nicely for him? …Now the plan can continue.

“If you do this, you won’t be any different than him, Shadow! You know that, right?” Coal’s shout came from behind me as I turned to prepare.

Do you really want to die so badly, Coal?! I could handle your previous words, but this time I felt my pulse quicken and my fingers twitching with a mind of their own. They had an itch for blood, and I wanted to satisfy it by reaching out and tearing open his throat before he could say anything more.

But if I did that, then this would all be for naught - and I’ll never have a better chance for this. So I stopped myself from lashing out, instead just turning to face him.

My eyes locked onto his, but there was nothing I expected. No anger, no mockingness, no sneer or smug smile. Not even fear. Just… confusion, is it?

It pissed me off. “How could you say such a thing, Coal?! You know just as well as I do; more than I do, even, what that bastard did! Don’t worry, all I’ll do is kill you. It’ll be a bit painful, but it’s still just death - what that bastard did was worse!”

“No, Shadow. You backstabbed Dust, and now me. You betrayed our trust, just as he did yours.” Coal spat blood onto the ground, “And why? Nobody understood why Winter did it, and now, I can’t understand why you’re doing this!”

“Because it’s what you all deserve!” Oh no, my true thoughts are starting to come out. But he’s going to die, and I’ll make sure Solace won’t say anything - so who cares anymore.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Not just you or Dust, but also Grass, Dark, and Flint. Then it’ll be the person in charge of checking on the young and those who are in charge of passing out rations. Then it’ll be the city lord who set up this system, and the empire that backs the city.” A giggle came out as I thought of the future. “I’ll reach 100% aptitude and make Flare mine, and then I’ll take my rightful revenge on the world for what it’s done to me!”

I’ve changed my mind on the plan. Who needs to be thorough, when I’m certain that I’ll get a response anyway?

“So Coal,” Ah, I’m sure he can see the smile on his face. Since he loves me, then he’ll definitely be happy to see it, won’t he? “You become a sacrifice for me. Be proud, since you’ll be a key component of my journey to become the strongest Sorceress ever!”

“You’re insane!” Yes, I know that I’m insanely smart. No need to say it.

The dagger in my robes was pulled out, and stabbed into Coal’s chest - right where the heart is. Screams of pain rang out, and I almost wanted to just sit back and listen.

Shadow, what are you doing? You have to kill him after the ritual is set up! Oh, I get your worry, Shade. But don’t worry, things will work out fine. But for its sake… I guess I can explain while I get unrobed.

“The ritual is needed to ask for power. But why should I ask? Why… When I can just take it!” I pulled the dagger from Coal’s chest and used it to finely carve a specific symbol into the region of skin below my navel; the region of skin directly in front of my essence core.

An eight-petalled flower with jagged petals, and the body of a serpent coiling under a petal, then over one, repeating all the way around. Not in a full circle, but extending down with head and tail being entwined, like a dual spiral.

According to Shade, the flower symbolizes love and the petals how damaging it is. The snake binds the flower and makes it its own; just as the ritual required the sacrifice of one who loves me.

Yes, I was carving the symbol that would appear after the ritual before performing it. Heh, why is some powerful force the one that decides who is and isn’t a Devil? I have the symbol of a Devil and the mindset of one - so I am a Devil, and that power should be mine!

Shade was silent, as it likely figured out what I was doing.

“I call upon the power of Void Curse, the original of all Devils! I have ascended from this mortal existence and become a divine Devil, above the sins of life! Of course, I’m not one who likes to be stuck with the options presented by others. I demand you give me the power of Sin, Curse, and Possession, and I will claim the throne of Devils!”

Shadow, I didn’t tell you because I never thought you would, but you can’t acquire the curse of power for more than one path. Take back your words now, and… Shade’s words trailed off. I’m not sure if it stopped, or if I just can’t hear it anymore.

But what I am sure of is that my body is changing. Some power spread out from the Devil’s symbol, reaching across my body in an instant and causing excruciating pain. It even reached into my essence core, and I could sense the force trying to leech from it!

No! This is my power, and I am in control of it! Relying entirely on what had been implanted in my mind, I proceeded to cast Steal Yin and placed my hand over the symbol. The power of Devil Law is yin, and therefore, I can steal it!

You will not be taking anything from me today!

The power that was being stolen was returned to my core, but it wasn’t just that. I could also feel a power with a bloodstained aura being drawn into me. Is it the power being taken from Coal’s body due to him being the sacrifice?

But more than either of those, the power that had been spreading from the symbol multiplied in intensity, coating my entire body and dyeing my vision a pure violet. Even though I couldn’t see, my other senses were able to tell me more than enough.

My bones were creaking and popping with each movement I made. My muscles screamed in pain, but it felt like every movement was easier to make. The skin across my body peeled off, replaced by a new layer, and I could feel the hair on my head growing out as what was once there fell out. Through my senses, I could even sense power fusing with my core, and the level of the essence inside rising up.

The smell of blood was no longer overpowering; I could pick out the dust and even the faint scent of meat carried from afar by the breeze. Solace’s mumbling was faintly heard by my ears, and I’m sure that my tongue has also become more sensitive - though that might be a bad thing.

As for my eyes, everything is still covered in violet, so I can’t tell if anything’s changed.

Shade never told me that the power of a Devil would cause such intense changes, so I can only assume that this is a result of my rash actions. Even my mind feels clearer, and I can realize that Coal had truly triggered something within me, for me to throw away caution to such a degree.

But it’s working and seems to be very, very beneficial to me, so why should I stop?

Eventually, the energy came to a stop. The first to go was the power being taken from my core, since I was no longer allowing it to be taken. Then was the bloody essence, which was quickly followed by the Devil Law energy coming to a halt.

So when the energy from the sacrifice runs out, the ritual ends… I suppose that makes sense.

Shadow, can you hear me? Shade’s voice sounded out - not in my mind as usual, though. I could actually hear it coming from below me, where my shadow would normally be!

Is this a perk of being a Devil, or caused by the change in my senses? After my vision cleared up from the pure violet that it had been, I turned to look at where I’d heard the voice from.

As expected, I could see the violet eyes and mouth of Shade. “Yes, I can hear you.” Heh, I stressed the ‘hear’ part on purpose, and then added, “And I can see you, too.”

Ah, I finally got a reaction out of Shade. The positions of its eyes and mouth changed, and I could almost picture the rest of a face taking on a startled look. I wonder…

It didn’t take long for it to recover, though. I thought you were definitely going to get killed, since the power of all three paths would definitely take a price you couldn’t afford, but… Who would’ve thought that Steal Yin could show its use in such a way?

Well, even I was surprised. “It just felt natural to do in my mind. Say, could it be that other than my senses, the energy also made me smarter?” In case Shade wasn’t able to tell, I also mentioned the bloody energy to it, hoping that it could also tell me what that was.

That bloody energy should be what enhanced your senses. Add the Devil energy onto that, and that should be why you can see me. It fell silent for a moment, and then I could see it shake its head. It’ll take a bit for me to determine what that energy actually is, though. You should check out your body, in the meantime.

Right, it wasn’t just my senses that had changed. As my attention finally shifted away from Shade, something extremely eerie immediately popped up in my vision.

“What the-?” My skin was a very pure white, perhaps as white as snow - I’ve never seen it, so I couldn’t say. But more than that, the skin on my right hand was partially see through; I could tell that it was white, but there was a purple tinge. More importantly, all of the blood vessels were clearly visible.

I looked away, since it was a bit too disgusting… but curiosity eventually won out. My nails were a shiny - like the shine of gold - blood red, and much longer than I remember. Actually, it feels like my entire hands are different… Is it just my imagination?

Not wanting to look at it any longer, I then checked out the symbol on my stomach. It was no longer a bloody carving on skin, but like it had always been there, violet in color and flush with the skin when I slid my hand over it. It’s like a tattoo.

My body felt light and easy to move, and even the blood chains that were so hard to carry were… still just as hard to carry. My body doesn’t seem to have grown stronger, sadly. Nor has my height changed.

Since there was nothing else to check, I spun around to find where Shade was and asked, “So, did you figure it out? Also, what’s up with my hand?”

Unfortunately, I have no experience with a bloody energy, but it must be related to vitality. As for your hand… That should be your Devil mark. I’ve never seen one so obvious, but it’s probably because that’s the hand that all of the Devil energy was channeled through due to Steal Yin.

“My Devil mark? Isn’t the symbol on my stomach the mark?”

Shade shook its head. That’s the Devil symbol that results from the ritual. From my understanding, it connects each Devil to the source of the power, Void Curse. The Devil mark is the location where one’s Devil energy is concentrated, and is the key to using that power for Devil Law spells.

Hmm. The point of becoming a Devil is that the power from Void Curse can ‘attune’ one to one of the three paths, making it far easier to use them. After all, it’s not like only Devils can use the Law.

While I was in thought, Shade called out to me. There’s no way you can see, so I should tell you that your eyes now have a violet tinge in them. It shouldn’t be noticeable normally, but it’ll glow each time you use a Devil Law spell, and will become more prominent as you advance in Rank.

Well, it makes sense that my eyes would change. And that reminds me, the hair in the edges of my vision is brighter than normal. My hair is a lighter color, huh.

I looked at my white, clean skin and sighed. I like it, but I’ll have to dirty it where it’d be visible, won’t I? And how am I going to cover up this hand… I should be able to figure out something to make my other hand’s nails red as well, at least.

Being a Devil feels both different and the same. Even though I know I’ve changed and can feel it in each step, I still feel the same overall. My steps carried me out of the small room. I’ll deal with Coal’s corpse later, or perhaps I’ll just leave it there to rot.

But I pushed those thoughts out of mine as I came before Solace, who was tied up on the ground still. She was staring at my right hand with some fear - at least, I think it’s fear.

I bent down and took hold of her chin, forcing her to look at me and not my hand. “Now, what should I do with you, little stalker of mine?”