Tanya held her brother's hand as they made their way to Midea's home, their footsteps kicking up small clouds of dust along the village's narrow roads. The decision to stay with the Satyr was practical—both their homes had been destroyed, and they needed shelter. But more importantly, Tanya sought a private moment with Midea. She needed answers about her origins, and she wanted to better understand her physiology. She knew instinctively that she and Tarak were not ordinary, and the sooner they learned the full extent of their abilities, the better prepared they would be for the challenges ahead.
As they walked, Tanya couldn't help but glance down at Tarak. His red eyes were fixed on her, full of trust—complete and utter trust , as though he believed she would never harm him. And he was right. The connection between them felt undeniable, and she scoffed inwardly at how easily her rational mind was giving in to the overwhelming instincts of this new body. Already, she was thinking of him as family. Her thoughts, once sharp and analytical, were now clouded by these primal feelings. They weighed on her heavily, making it difficult to separate her own emotions from the instincts that had been ingrained in her new form since birth.
Despite the relative calm around them, Tanya couldn't ignore the growing tension in the air. As they passed through the village, people began to gather along the roads, huddling in small groups beneath the green-blue roofs of their homes. She could hear their whispers—some in shock, others in fear or amazement.
"That's the girl... she's the one with wings."
"And that... that creature with her... look at his eyes!"
"Did you see what happened earlier? He tore through men like they were nothing."
The murmurs grew louder, and more villagers came out to stare. Tanya noticed many were children, their wide eyes filled with a mix of awe and terror. She stiffened, her senses heightened, and she could feel Tarak tense beside her. A low growl began to rumble in his chest, and she shot him a sharp glance.
"Wait, Tarak," she hissed under her breath.
There was no need to provoke more distrust than they already faced, but she couldn't completely blame him. He was an infant, in mind if not body, and the instincts that came with their birth were likely much stronger in him. They screamed at them both to kill, to dominate, and to destroy anything that threatened them. Tanya, with her previous life's experience and discipline, could suppress these urges—barely. But Tarak was too young, too raw, to understand that restraint.
Her eyes scanned the crowd, noting the looks of terror from some of the adults, who whispered while sending worried glances in their direction. She spotted one woman clutching her child protectively as they hurried inside their home. They had become a spectacle, something beyond human understanding.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a girl watching them from a distance—this one wasn't Luna, but Sol, Luna's sister. Sol stood with her hair as bright as sunlight, cascading down her back in golden waves. She was staring at them with wide, curious eyes, wearing a pendant with the image of a sun inscribed on it. But before Tanya could make sense of Sol's gaze, her mother appeared, roughly grabbing the girl by the collar and dragging her away with clear urgency. The woman's face was dark, etched with anger, and Tanya immediately recognized her as Sol's mother. So, this was the woman Luna's father was currently with—or at least, that's how Tanya understood the situation.
Tanya's mind raced as she pieced together what little she knew about the family. Luna and Sol—two sisters, one so similar to herself in hair color, yet so different in demeanor. Luna's mother had always been sickly, and she had never seen the woman out during the day . In fact, she had never seen her at all. If Luna's mother was so prone to sickness that she couldn't leave the house, why was Luna never outside during the day either? Something wasn't adding up. Why was Sol out in the daylight while Luna remained hidden until nightfall? There was something more to this family than a simple scorned lover. It was certainly curious if nothing else. She remembered seeing a similar pendant on Luna—though it bore the image of the moon. Did that have any relation to the situation?
These thoughts were pushed aside as they finally approached Midea's home, a modest building made of the same blue-green wood as the others in the village. Tanya let out a small sigh of relief. They had made it without further incident.
"There you go, little monsters," Midea said with a grin as he held the door open for them.
Tanya shot him a glare, and beside her, Tarak growled again. He didn't understand Midea's words, but the tone alone was enough to make him bristle. Tanya, however, didn 't stop him this time. The Satyr seemed to enjoy provoking reactions from them.
Once inside, Tanya took in the sight of Midea's home. It was, in a word, opulent—or at least as opulent as one could manage in a place like this. The walls were decorated with stitched hides of various beasts, the floors covered in thick, fur-lined carpets. A large, imposing head of some winged creature—likely some variant of a featherlin—was mounted on the wall, its glassy eyes staring blankly at them.
"How crude," Midea lamented with a shake of his head."But it's the best I could do with what I had."
Tanya rolled her eyes, sighing in exasperation. "Are you always like this?"
"It's in a demon's nature to brag," he said with a smirk.
At his words, Tanya's attention sharpened. A demon? While Midea certainly resembled the classic descriptions of devils—red eyes, clawed hands, and the arrow-tipped tail—an actual demon? Her mind raced, connecting the dots. Was this related to Being X? The creature had always fancied itself as some divine figure, switching between claiming to be the Abrahamic God and other high deities. As long as it was the most high, it didn't matter to the creature. Could it be that she had been reincarnated as some sort of demon herself? Or perhaps she was of a higher house than Midea's, which was why he seemed to tread carefully around her. But that didn't explain everything—not by a long shot.
Before she could question him further, Midea disappeared into another room to fetch clothes for Tarak, leaving her alone with her brother. She took the opportunity to observe him more closely. His facial features were similar to hers, though there were distinct differences. Anyone could tell they were siblings, but where she was more lithe, he had a surprising amount of muscle for someone so young. His abs were already visible beneath his smooth, brown skin, and she found herself wondering how their physical traits could vary so much despite their shared origins.
"Ahhhh," Tanya opened her mouth, making a sound as she pointed to her teeth.
Tarak, confused for a moment, mimicked her. "Ahhhh."
His voice was deeper, but he followed her lead, opening his mouth wide. Tanya leaned in, peering inside, and her suspicions were confirmed—two distinct rows of teeth, sharp and deadly like her own, and a barbed tongue resting at the back of his mouth. It was strange how similar they were in some ways and so wildly different in others. She scratched her chin, deep in thought. Why was her brother so muscular already, while she was more wiry? And why did their non-humanoid traits differ so much?
Just as she was about to lose herself in further speculation, Midea returned, holding a simple white shirt and dark trousers.
"Alright then, let's get him dressed," he said, walking up to Tarak.
Before Tanya could stop him , Tarak's tail bristled, spikes sprouting along its length as it lashed out at Midea. The demon weaved around the blow, but the speed seemed to catch him by surprise.
"Huh, as fast as an early second layer right out of the womb. .. or egg, I suppose," Midea mused, shaking his head in amazement.
Tanya narrowed her eyes. So it had been a test after all. She had suspected as much. After all, she had blocked a full-force blow from that elder Hathor earlier, and Tarak had taken a direct hit with little more than a scratch . Even without cultivation, their bodies were capable of feats that defied explanation.
"Give me the clothes, I'll dress him," she said, snatching the garments from Midea's hands.
Tarak, though initially agitated, quickly calmed down as Tanya helped him into the oversized clothes. He stood still, trusting her entirely. The shirt and trousers were hilariously large on him, his arms practically swimming in the sleeves, and his tail had already torn a hole in the fabric of his pants. Tanya couldn' t help but chuckle, and to her surprise, Tarak smiled back at her. He was still a child—despite everything, he was just a child.
But the moment of levity passed quickly. Tanya turned back to Midea, her expression serious.
" Midea, is this place warded enough for us to talk privately?"
Midea's grin faded, and he nodded. "Naturally, Surya. Ask whatever you want."
Now, it was time for answers.
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"You said you were a demon. What does that mean? Where are you from, and how are you different from the people of the village?" she asked. While she knew of Hell from Earth's mythology, his version of the place could be entirely different. Besides, this world had no legends of Hell, so for her to possess such knowledge would be impossible to explain. She wasn't keen on revealing her reincarnation to him—it was simply unnecessary. Moreover, based on her theory that she might be a newborn demon from a house higher than Midea's, it could be exceedingly detrimental. While she was sure her original soul had been destroyed, what if her current parents still disliked the fact that her mind had developed before their child could even grow ? They must have been powerful beings, so wiping a soul into a blank slate wouldn't be beyond them.
"Demons are a race of entities from a place called Hell," he began, confirming her suspicions. Damn it, of course, she was right.
"Hell is a vast realm," he continued, unaware of her inner turmoil. "It's composed of eight individual realms, each with its own structure and numerous sub-spheres. At the center of it all is where the Prince of Darkness rules. Surrounding his domain are seven circles, each a realm in itself, Governed by one of the seven Archdemons. These circles align with the seven sins. But since you wouldn't know those, just know I come from the circle of Pride."
Seven sins? Prince of Darkness? Is he talking about Satan? She almost laughed but held it in. This is insanity. If this is true, does that make Being X... God? For real? Did Satan take her from his plans? What does cultivation mean now that she knows this?
He didn' t seem to notice her confusion and pressed on.
"Lord Satan is a being of the Twelfth Layer, while the Archdemons exist at the Eleventh Layer. Just so you know, the Twelfth Layer is the highest level of cultivation I'm aware of. That's where the supreme beings reign. My house, House Valefor, is part of the king-class households, with an elder at the Ninth Layer of cultivation. That makes us one of the highest noble houses in the circle of Pride. No one in our circle has reached the Tenth Layer, and only Lilith , our Archdemon, stands at the Eleventh."
So Satan is at the Twelfth Layer of cultivation, and that's the peak as far as he knows. She processed the information, trying to fit it into her understanding. If Being X really is the Abrahamic God, then he too would be at the Twelfth Layer—a level that can be reached through cultivation. And Midea's attitude makes sense now, considering he's from one of the highest noble families in Hell.
She shifted in her seat, focusing her thoughts. "So, what does being a demon actually mean? Who are your enemies and allies? And...are we demons?" She hoped to pry some clues about her origins and the enemies of Hell.
"Our enemies?" He gave a dry chuckle. "Well, we used to be locked in a war with the Enochians, also known as the angels, over territory in the mortal realms. That war ended long before my birth, though. Right now, the circle of Pride is engaged in a war with Baal and his allies who hail from the realm of Svargaloka. The other circles won't interfere—they don't care. Demons aren't exactly fond of one another, even though we technically serve the same lord. Think of the seven circles like separate villages under the rule of a head village. The head only steps in when things get really bad."
So, it's more like an empire made up of warring states... similar to ancient China. She mentally filed that comparison away. And they aren't at war with the angels anymore? That's unexpected. She had assumed they were still fighting angels, but the conflict had ended before this demon's lifetime. Judging by his tone , it didn't seem like a loss, but Pride's current conflict with Baal's forces was of greater concern. And Svargaloka... that sounds familiar. Middle Eastern, maybe? She didn't know much about the region, but she knew Baal was a well-known figure from the Key of Solomon. So Baal is leading a rebellion? And Satan allows this?
"As for demons," he continued, "we vary by circle, especially in terms of abilities. But one thing we share is that when we ascend to a higher layer of cultivation, we evolve. We become fundamentally different from what we were before. So, if I get stronger, don't be surprised if I don't look the same."
Evolve like Pokémon? She thought, amused for a brief moment before focusing on the more important point: her theory had just been proven wrong. So... we aren't demons after all.
The demon spread his hands, as if explaining a universal truth. "There are more realms than the ones I described. There are infinite spheres of existence, each with countless realms. No one has explored them all—no one knows the true limits of creation. Not even those at the Twelfth Layer, I'd wager. Many races exist out there, though demons are among the most powerful."
He rubbed his nose, clearly proud of his heritage. "There are the Deluvian Dragons, the Kovri , the Asura, and the Prismari. These are just a few of the races that can rival demonkind. And of course, there are the Enochians, as I mentioned earlier. But you and your brother aren't from any of these races. You 're Tyrannius."
Tyrannius? She raised an eyebrow. So dragons, Asura, and even beings like angels exist, but we're something else entirely? Tyrannius. She hadn't heard of that race before, but at this point, mythology seemed to pale in comparison to the reality she was experiencing.That being said it was a bit annoying that she had no clear mythological roots to pull information from. If you could even call them myths anymore.
"Where do the Tyrannius come from? Why are we here with you, a demon? And why do you fear us?" she asked, more determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Fear you?" He chuckled. "I don't 't fear you—I fear your mother." He paused, letting that sink in before continuing. "As for where your kind comes from, I have no idea. No one knows, except maybe Lilith. I don't think even Lord Satan would know. But your mother... your mother is a friend of my lord, Archdemon Lilith. As I said, the circle of Pride is currently at war—a war we were losing until your mother showed up to reinforce us. Now we're winning, gaining territory."
She listened intently, sensing the gravity of what he was about to reveal.
"But your mother... she was pregnant when she arrived. She laid her eggs during the war... and those eggs were you and your brother."
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She could hardly believe it. A being with such immense power that she alone had shifted the course of an entire war, a divine war at that. Her mother in this life was such a being. It made it rather clear why Midea always walked on eggshells around them. It was still somewhat troubling that even Midea knew nothing about the origins of her race. The mysteries surrounding the Tyrannius only deepened, but there were more immediate questions to be addressed. Some things still didn't add up.
"So , why are we here on this planet instead of in Hell? Where exactly is this place, and if my mother holds such high status, why is it that only a second-layer demon has been assigned to watch over us?" she asked, her curiosity tinged with frustration. The thought of being abandoned in a foreign land with no clear path back to their origins gawed at her. She glanced down and felt a sudden weight against her side. Her brother, too young to fully comprehend the conversation, had rested his head in her lap and drifted off to sleep. A small smile crept onto her face despite herself as she gently stroked his hair before turning her attention back to Midea.
Midea sighed in exasperation, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, well, it's not like I volunteered for this job. Watching the two of you in this veritable wasteland. Your mother commanded that her eggs be watched over by millions of demons and surrounded by powerful wards. There wasn't supposed to be any real threat to her offspring. I managed to get the job due to my connections—it was supposed to be an easy job, you know? Pad my resume, look good for my future endeavors, lead me on the path to becoming a true overlord... But things didn't exactly go as planned. In fact, they seldom do."
He leaned back, his face darkening slightly. "Some devas, masquerading as demons, infiltrated the ranks. They activated some kind of bomb, likely tied to space-time manipulation. The wards protecting you interacted with the bomb's power, and the result was a rift—a space-time tear. At least, that's my theory. The next thing I knew, the whole place was blown to hell—literally. When I came to, I found myself here, stranded on this Satan-forsaken planet with the two of you."
A bomb that distorts space and time? It wasn't entirely implausible, given what she knew of cultivation and its potential. But devas? Those were supposed to be divine beings, or at least, beings of great power in Hindu mythology. The name was familiar to her from what little she had studied. If the devas were involved, it meant that the attack likely came from Svargaloka. It was easy to draw that connection now with the associated knowledge. But why would devas be able to disguise themselves as demons so easily? Were they long-term spies? Or was it a betrayal from Hell? Spies seemed more likely; if it had been an outright betrayal and they had intended to kill her and her brother, the wards wouldn't have been such an issue. There was no point in keeping them alive unless they had no choice.
"I see. So you're taking care of us because of your duty as a demon, and because you fear our mother. If you fail in your duty , you won't be able to return to Hell. But if you manage to return with us, you stand to gain immense rewards. And... you have no idea where we are, do you?" She folded her arms, analyzing the situation.
Midea chuckled, leaning forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You've got it mostly right. If I return to Hell without you two, not only will I be slaughtered, but my entire bloodline will be wiped out. And trust me, that's not an exaggeration. Your mother... she'd eat me, my family, and anyone who had the misfortune of associating with me." He sighed with exhaustion rubbing his brows as if imagining his demise. "I suppose I could abandon you both and live my life out here, never returning to Hell. But on the off chance I run into your mother again, well... there'd be nothing left of me. Simply put, I'm doing the smartest thing that I can."
He straightened up, brushing a hand through his hair with an air of theatrical flair. "Not to mention that I, Midea Scelus, have never lacked ambition. I will see you both returned to your mother, and I will step onto the path of an overlord. My will is not so shallow, and my path is not so short."
Killed and eaten? The thought made her stomach churn, though she couldn't deny she had already felt those instincts within herself, and there was obviously Tarak. But even our mother? She had assumed the Tyrannius, being a sapient race, would eventually move beyond such base savagery. If her mother was friends with Lilith—a being of the Eleventh Layer—then she must be as ancient as time itself. Still, despite the horrifying image Midea painted, she wasn't overly worried about meeting her mother . For one thing, Midea had made it clear that her mother cared a great deal about her offspring, and for another, she had Tarak. Even before she had known Tarak was her sibling or even that he was the same race as her, her instincts had screamed at her to protect the egg. The bond between them was undeniable, and just being near him felt natural, like a primal instinct that comforted her. If the bond between siblings was that strong, she could only imagine how intense the connection with their mother would be.
There was also something deep within her body—something fundamental—that longed to meet her mother, to be reunited with the one who had laid her egg. These damned instincts again.
"What kind of creature is she?" she asked, her voice calm but filled with an underlying intensity. "What exactly are the Tyrannius? Tell me everything you know about them. And how do you plan to get back to Hell?"
Midea's expression shifted, becoming more serious as he leaned in slightly. "Your mother's name is Lervea. Lervea the Heavenless Huntress. I don't know much about the Tyrannius as a whole. Almost no one does. Hell has only ever interacted with one of your kind—your mother. According to her, your race are natural-born tyrants. It's fitting, given what I've seen from her, well, at least heard about her and... well, from you. Your birth was extraordinary."
"My birth?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Midea nodded. , his face darkening as he recalled the event. "Before you were born, your egg was damaged during the transfer—likely due to that Satan–damned bomb. Something was leaking out of it... I assumed you wouldn't survive. It was a terrifying time for me because if you had died, I'd have been doomed to eventually death. But fortunately, you didn't die. Somehow, despite not even being born yet, you instinctively pulled a human soul from the void and absorbed it into yourself to regenerate. It's. .. insane, really. But it's also fitting, given what I know of your mother. She has a reputation—when she kills you, she doesn't just kill your body; she eats your soul."
Her stomach twisted at his words, the implications sinking in. So her body, in an act of desperation, had absorbed her human soul to survive. I was devored by an unborn child... a pure survival instinct. She had always suspected that something like this had happened, but having it confirmed now was both unsettling and somehow... comforting. It wasn't malicious; it was just a child trying to survive.
But then another thought struck her. He knows about humans? That wasn't 't something she had expected from a demon. She decided to press him for more information. "Humans? What are they?" she asked, feigning ignorance. The more she knew about his understanding of her former race, the better. "Humans
? What are they? "
?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "They're one of the lesser mortal races. Well, 'mortal' is a bit misleading—all beings are technically mortal until they reach a certain point in cultivation. But humans, they're from the lesser spheres. They're rarely born in realms with enough numen to even begin cultivating."
Lesser spheres? Mortal realms? She needed more information, and quickly.
"Is this the same race that Hell warred with the Enochians over?" she asked, hoping to piece together more of the puzzle.
Midea shook his head, chuckling slightly. "No, no. The war wasn't specifically over humans. They were just one of many races involved. The war was over souls. Souls are valuable. They're a resource, and back then, it was a competition to see who could collect the most. Nowadays, it's more of a split. Souls are divided based on their traits. We have demons known as Ferrymen—usually around the Fifth Layer—who take sinful souls into Hell. On the other side, the Enochians have their Psychopomps who ferry souls to their realms. It's a relatively peaceful agreement now."
So that's it. Being X had likely been a Fifth Layer being playing with human souls. Claiming to be God, huh? Well, at least I have a target.
Midea continued, oblivious to her inner thoughts. "Now, most souls aren't that easy to destroy. Even for weaker beings, a soul's core tends to drift into the void after death, even if nothing else remains. The void eventually consumes most souls , of course. At higher levels, the soul evolves, making it much harder to destroy entirely. Beings are more aware of their souls at that stage, too. Sure, there are ways to attack a soul directly, but most can escape with a damaged soul. And, there are plenty of ways to revive a being from just a soul imprint. Avatars, soul clones, there is a variety. But your mother... she's different."
Midea shuddered slightly as he spoke the next part, his voice tinged with a bit of genuine fear. "When she kills someone, their soul is gone. Completely. No fragments,no chance of revival, no imprint. Just... gone. Obliterated."
He paused, letting the weight of that statement sink in before continuing. "There are ways to avoid it, of course. Using flesh puppets, or splitting your soul into fragments and creating a soul clone, but even then, she's known to track those fragments down and destroy them. That's why she's called the Heavenless Huntress. If you project your soul into someone else's body, and she destroys that body... your soul will be extinguished. I have no idea if this is an ability unique to her or if it's something all Tyrannius possess."
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
So, when she kills, she truly kills... even the soul. That made her mother far more terrifying than she had initially realized. She herself had felt a warm satisfaction when she had killed that Vampyr, but at the time, she had far too many other things on her mind to dwell on it. Is that what it means to be Tyrannius? To annihilate not just the body, but the soul itself?
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Midea nodded, continuing his explanation, his tone shifting to a more cautious, almost reverent cadence. "Your mother, Lervea, in her natural form is a giant. She stands at sixteen meters tall, which would be about seven and a half of me stacked on top of each other. She has four eyes, two golden wings, and a pitch-black tail."
Sixteen meters... Tanya blinked, trying to envision that size. Her mother was a giant, far beyond anything she had ever seen or imagined. Was that her natural height due to cultivation? Could the sheer size of her have come from such power? Or was it simply a natural trait of the Tyrannius race? Lervea had laid an egg almost as tall as a meter, so maybe this was normal for them. She glanced at Tarak—small in comparison, but clearly growing, perhaps into something just as imposing.
Her thoughts shifted as she considered other aspects of her mother's appearance. Four eyes. She herself could feel something under the surface of her skin, where two additional eyes should be. At least where she felt they should be there was neither an eyeball nor a socket where the marks were. Ultimately she had suspected as much, but this confirmation ignited a deeper curiosity. Those extra eyes... why couldn't she open them? Even though she felt an innate awareness of them, it was as if they were sealed off, dormant. Not to mention the lack of signifiers beyond the marks. And while she had wings, Tarak had a tail—an intriguing variation. Were these differences common among Tyrannius?
"What color is her hair?" Tanya asked, a hypothesis forming in her mind.
"Her hair is white, with black edges," Midea replied. Tanya's mind immediately leaped to Tarak, who was almost the inverse with his black hair streaked with white. She herself, however, was blonde—a deviation from both of them. Where had that trait come from? Was it unique to her, or was there more to it?
"Does she have marks like mine when one pair of her eyes are closed?" she asked, pointing at the golden lines beneath her eyes.
Midea paused, thinking it over before nodding. "Yes. The same marks appear when her lower eyes are closed, just like yours. If you wanted to know they also share the same color as her hair just like your own."
Tanya exhaled slowly. So, it was confirmed. Those golden markings were indeed her sealed eyes, eyes neither she nor Tarak had yet been able to open. It added another layer of mystery to their physiology—two rows of teeth, a barbed tongue, an immense stature, and four eyes that might hold some unknown power. And then there were their animalistic traits—her wings, Tarak's tail... but Lervea had both wings and a tail.
"Are her wings like mine? And is her tail similar to Tarak's?" she asked, hoping for more clarification .
Midea shook his head. "No, her wings are golden, unlike your silver ones. And she only possesses two compared to your four. And while her tail is black like Tarak's, it's not plated or armored like his. Her tail is sleeker, more fish-like in appearance."
Tanya's thoughts twisted at that. It seemed even within their own race, physical traits could vary widely. She would need to study these differences more closely. Not just for herself, but for Tarak too—he needed understanding just as much as she did.
Midea's expression darkened slightly as he continued. "Lervea is horribly strong. No one knows her exact power, but it's widely assumed she's near the peak of the Eleventh Layer, maybe even capable of contesting with someone from the Twelfth. One thing she's famous for is her unmatched physical strength. I mentioned the Deluvian Dragons before, right? They're one of the most powerful races, constantly evolving, each generation stronger than the last. Due to their genetic library that is . Their physical might is unparalleled, even among the strongest demons from the Circle of Sloth, which specializes in brute strength."
Tanya's ears perked up. Dragons are always the most absurdly powerful beings in any mythology or story, and it seems they lived up to their reputation in this world as well. And yet, it was the next part that struck her with even more intrigue.
"Dragons also have their geniuses," Midea continued. "One such genius, a Tenth Layer Deluvian Dragon, challenged your mother. He wanted to make her his mate. Typical dragon arrogance. He believed that because of his sheer physical bulk, he could overpower her. After all a Dragon at the tenth layer's true body would dwarf even the dharma body of a deva at the same level. And pound for pound they are unequaled. At least they were supposed to be."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Tanya's mouth. She could already guess where this story was going.
"He invited his children and mates to watch, thinking it would be an easy display of dominance," Midea went on, shaking his head. "But your mother... she wasn't having any of it. The dragon's form dwarfed her, yet all she did was pull a single strand of her hair. She wrapped it around her wrists, pulled it taut, and no matter how much the dragon strained, he couldn't break it or even budge her as he drove his horns forward."
Tanya's eyes widened slightly. A strand of hair? Holding back a Tenth Layer Dragon with just that?
"In his embarrassment," Midea said, his tone growing more somber, "the dragon attacked in full force. But your mother decapitated him in a blink and tore him to pieces. She didn't just kill him—she ate him. Right there in front of his children and mates. Then, when his family tried to retaliate,she Devoured them too. She ate them all."
Tanya blinked slowly, feeling a strange mix of horror and... pride? As horrifying as the image was, there was a raw, primal satisfaction in knowing her mother was not only a peerless warrior but also a force that would not be challenged lightly . It was survival of the fittest, and Lervea stood at the pinnacle. Even so, Tanya realized that her growing instincts, her tendency to view things through a predator's lens, was undoubtedly a reflection of this lineage. So were these feelings for a woman she had never even laid eyes on.
Midea smiled grimly. "After that, no one dared challenge Lervea's physical might. Even the dragons bowed down. And you... you and your brother? You've inherited that strength. With no cultivation , you're already as strong as someone in the Second Layer. It should be impossible, but your physical bodies are just that terrifying."
Tanya absorbed that information silently. It made sense—her ability to tank blows, her speed, her strength . It wasn't learned nor cultivated; it was inherent, deep in her very bones. She looked at Tarak, who even now seemed capable of incredible violence despite his age and lack of understanding. It was in their blood.
"So, high physical strength and durability are natural traits for us, then," she said quietly. "But... can Lervea use numen?"
She was concerned that while their race had immense brute strength, they might be limited in other areas, like numen manipulation. Being physically powerful was one thing, but in a world of beings who could warp reality, sheer strength wasn't always enough.
"Of course she can," Midea replied confidently. "Lervea's control over numen is... different, though. It's not like regular cultivation. She has strange abilities unique to herself . For example, there's a space in creation known as the Protoflux, which was the source of numen for an entire grouping of spheres. It powered their civilizations, their soul realms after death. Then, something—likely caused by another race—messed with the wellspring of energy, and it exploded, destroying those spheres."
Tanya leaned forward, intrigued.
"Lervea appeared just as the Protoflux was on the verge of collapse. And she did something no one thought possible. A halo appeared above her head—a kind of inborn crown—and with it, she imposed her will on the Protoflux itself. She stabilized it, controlled it, even though it wasn't her own energy. No one had ever controlled something so immense before."
Tanya's heart raced. "So she saved those spheres?"
Midea grinned, his eyes twinkling . "She saved them, but not for free. After she stabilized the Protoflux, she absorbed it. Every drop of that numen, all that energy... it became hers. The civilizations survived, but the Protoflux was gone.She left them a patchwork soul realm, but they lost their most valuable resource."
Tanya couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride before she snuffed it out. She could, however, appreciate the cold calculation behind Lervea's actions. Her mother was no ordinary being—she was a being who rewrote the rules, who took what she wanted and left the rest. Survival of the fittest, in its truest form. Savage but justified, given the circumstances. Well, in a way.
"You said it was impossible to control something like the Protoflux," Tanya said, her mind racing. "Why was it impossible?"
Midea chuckled. "Because the Protoflux is imbued with the 'will' of creation. It isn't just energy—it's a fundamental part of the universe, tied to the laws of existence. Normally, no one can impose their will on it, let alone absorb it. It's the same with numen in general. You can't just absorb someone else's numen or attacks—it's tied to their own authority. But your mother? She broke that rule. That halo of hers... it gave her the power to override the laws themselves."
How curious, she wondered about it. Perhaps it was something innate to the race. But that was unlikely.
"And the halo," she asked, "was it some sort of technique?"
Midea shrugged. "No one knows for sure. It might be a technique, but perhaps it isn't. From what I've gathered, regardless of its true nature, your mother is the only one to have it. And the only one to achieve such a feat. But you asked me this question because you were worried about your lack of meridians, correct?" The demon said with a knowing smile.
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"You guessed it," Tanya said with an exasperated sigh, glancing at her slumbering brother. "I'd appreciate it if you could check Tarak for me."
Her mind raced as she considered the implications. Lervea, their mother, was apparently able to use numen, but only Tanya's egg had been injured during the transfer. It was becoming more likely that the reason she lacked meridians was tied to the damage her egg had sustained, coupled with the soul of Tanya von Degurechaff she had absorbed. still wasn't certain if her physical abilities could ever reach her mother's without the ability to cultivate, and that thought gawed at her.
"I'll check for you then," Midea said, moving toward the boy who lay curled by her side , exhausted from his chaotic birth and the immediate battles he had faced. The demon placed his hands on Tarak's back, doing whatever mysterious test he had performed on Tanya earlier. She watched as her brother visibly relaxed under Midea's touch, almost purring. It reminded her of the sensation she'd felt when Midea had done the same to her—it had been extraordinarily comfortable.
She shifted her gaze to the Satyr's face, noticing his expression darken, disturbed.
"It's the same," Midea muttered, his voice tense. "I can't feel any meridians in him either. And I can't perceive his soul at all. Any energy I shunt into him just... disappears. Exactly like it did with you." He ran a hand through his hair, slicking it back as he processed the shock.
Tanya understood his disbelief. They were anomalies, creatures that seemed to break the very system upon which everything in this world functioned. It was a revelation worthy of shock, even from a demon as seemingly unflappable as Midea . But while he grappled with this, Tanya felt a mix of both relief and concern. On one hand, she wasn't alone—Tarak had the same bizarre physiology. On the other hand, they were left in the dark about what this truly meant for their future. With no meridians, neither of them could practice conventional cultivation techniques. However Lervea had managed it would, it seemed, remain a mystery for now. They might be forced to rely entirely on their bodies, which —though terrifyingly strong—still seemed limited compared to the powers this world valued.
"Midea," she said after a moment, "could you get a beast for me? Some small creature, anything will do. I want to test your theory. "
Shaking off his own confusion, Midea nodded and quickly left the house, returning a few minutes later with a weasel-like creature in hand. The small animal had sandy brown and green fur, six legs, and a mock head on its tail— a natural defense mechanism to fool predators. It might fool lesser creatures, but not a demon. Midea set the animal down on the floor before Tanya. It squeaked loudly,eyes darting nervously, before bolting for the door.
But it didn't get far.
In a flash, Tanya's wing shot forward, moving faster than even she anticipated. A blur of silver streaked through the air, and the weasel continued running for a few more steps before collapsing—cleanly bisected down the center. Midea let out an appreciative whistle "
Impressive! So, how does it feel?" Midea asked, curiosity ablaze in his eyes. He was learning about an entirely new race in real time, and she could sense his excitement.
Tanya stood still for a moment, concentrating. She felt a pulse of energy enter her body from the creature's death. Unlike the ambient energy she absorbed from the air, this was more tangible—it didn't just vanish into the abyss within her. However, she noticed that only a portion of the energy was perceivable, the rest dissipating, almost wasted. She didn't understand exactly where it was going, but she could feel it lingering inside her, swirling in that mysterious space where everything else disappeared.
An instinctual Urge surged through her—a primal hunger to devour the corpse before her. She resisted it for the time being, but the feeling lingered. Something told her that consuming the body would complete the process, that the energy was meant to be fully absorbed, not left half-wasted. The energy within her was not escaping; rather, it was being destroyed, almost as if by not eating the body, she had interrupted some natural cycle. So in this world, energy could in fact be destroyed, it seemed. Physics was once again violated.
As these thoughts churned in her mind, she recalled the sensation from earlier—when she had eaten the meat the villagers had offered her. She'd felt warmer, stronger afterward. Perhaps killing and eating were both integral parts of the process. Killing enhanced her strength, but eating afterward perfected the absorption. Both were important, but doing both herself was optimal. Both eating and killing alone, however, seemed to increase her strength to some degree. It made sense now why her instincts screamed at her to hunt, to kill, to devour. It wasn't mindless savagery; it was survival. Violence was not just beneficial for her kind—it was essential.
"It seems that killing and consuming souls is indeed an inherent attribute of the Tyrannius," Tanya said, turning her gaze back to Midea . "But I'm not sure what this has to do with numen. It's like there's this... abyss inside me, and it takes the lion's share of any energy I absorb. I only get the remnants, which I think is what's been fueling my physical growth. I'm certain I'm stronger now than I was when I was born. Physically, at least."
The sensation was strange. There was something important happening within her body, but she didn't know what . Her instincts, the same ones that had led her to protect Tarak, whispered to her that this process was natural, part of who she was.Yet instincts were not enough to provide clarity. She needed answers.
"Yes, I've sensed it too," Midea said, nodding thoughtfully. "Your body has been passively absorbing numen to grow stronger. Normally, I would assume you possessed legendary-level talent. Perhaps even something as rare as eighty-one realm-grade meridians. I was prepared for an absurd possibility like that." He paused, rubbing his temples. "But to find none at all—that's... that's something I can't explain. Especially when the numen you absorb directly increases your physical strength."
He gestured vaguely, as if trying to make sense of something so fundamentally alien. "Numen doesn't work like that. It increases physical might to a degree, yes, but it stays in the soul. It can be used to enhance physical characteristics, but it doesn't directly interact with the body. That's why body-cultivating manuals exist—to infuse numen into the flesh, forging it like an artifact. But those techniques are extremely rare, usually created by those in the Tenth Layer and above. And used by them as well, seldom are such valuable techniques leaked to the lower levels. Only the elite of the elite start using them when they begin cultivation. Body cultivation is both hard, expensive, and time-consuming. Simply put, few can do it."
Midea shook his head, still incredulous. "But here you are, breaking all the rules again. Unfortunately, I don't have any body-cultivating manuals to teach you, nor the riches required for such a path. You'll have to rely on basic physical training to test the limits of your body. Your body is growing stronger passively, little by little every day, but if you want significant growth, you'll need to push it. For normal cultivators, pushing their physical limits yields only minor gains. They can hit a little harder, carry a bit more energy, but it's nothing compared to advancing in cultivation."
He leaned back, looking at her seriously. "But you—you and Tarak—your limit is likely beyond anything I can imagine. Given your passive growth and current abilities, I can only assume it's absurd. While I don't know body cultivation techniques, I do know several martial arts. That will be your lifeline. I can begin teaching you once Tarak is capable of understanding language. How does that sound?"
Tanya considered his offer. It seemed her immediate future would revolve around training her body and learning martial arts until she could uncover the deeper secrets of her physiology. It wasn't an ideal solution, but it was something. She also had the option of hunting, of consuming creatures to enhance her strength. She chuckled inwardly, wondering if this body could even get fat from overeating.
Rather than mystical exercises and energy absorption, she'd be stuck lifting weights and pushing her body through rigorous physical training. But it wasn't entirely unfamiliar to her. In her first life—if she could indulge in such nostalgia—she had been a mountain of a man, known not only for his business acumen but for his imposing physique. Picking up and putting down heavy weights to grow stronger was second nature to her.
She sighed, imagining herself going back to that routine. In her previous world , being small and nimble had been advantageous. But here? Here, it seemed bigger was better. Dragons, after all, were among the strongest races, and they dwarfed even her sixteen-meter-tall mother. It wouldn't be too much for her to put on muscle, if her body functioned that way.
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"I suppose I should thank you, then. I'll make sure Tarak follows along with your teachings," Tanya said, her voice firm but with a touch of gratitude. She paused, eyeing Midea carefully. "Oh, and you never answered my question, by the way. How exactly do you plan on getting us back to Hell?"
At this, the demon visibly flinched, his composure slipping for a moment. It was almost as if he'd been caught in a lie, though she suspected it was more likely he'd just been avoiding the subject altogether.
"Well, you see... that's a bit of a problem," Midea began, his voice waving with hesitation. "I don't actually have a way back. My only real option is to get strong enough to leave this world and, well, drift my way back into the realms of Hell... somehow."
Tanya blinked at him, incredulous. She could practically feel her patience slipping away like sand through her fingers.
"In other words, you have no fucking plan at all," she stated flatly, exasperation dripping from every syllable.
Midea's eyes widened at her bluntness, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before glacing back at her with a smirk as if to mask the feeling. It seemed he hadn't expected her to be quite so direct. "I mean, not no plan. Just... a very loose one," he added, though the weak attempt at justification only made Tanya roll her eyes harder.
It seemed clear now. They were stuck on this world, likely for a long while. If Midea had no solid plan to get back to Hell, she couldn't rely on him to deliver them out of this situation anytime soon. The realization settled heavily in her chest. They weren't leaving. Not for a long time.
"Well," she sighed, running a hand through her hair, "that's just wonderful."
Midea squinted at her, frowning slightly. "By the way... where did you even learn to speak like that?" he asked , a trace of disapproval slipping into his voice. "So uncout, really."
Tanya raised an eyebrow at the demon, unimpressed by his criticism. Who even used the word "uncout" like that anymore?
"Blame Hati," she replied casually, crossing her arms as she spoke. "She was the one who taught me this, got a problem with it, go take it up with her. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to survive her venomous tongue."
A flash of annoyance crossed Midea's face, but it faded quickly into reluctant acceptance. "Hmph, I'll pass, " he muttered, shaking his head. He knew better than to argue with Hati about anything, especially not something as trivial as speech. In fact, he seemed to realize he had no room to complain, given his current predicament.
"I'll take Tarak to bed now," Tanya said, glancing down at her sleeping brother, who was still nestled at her side. "And I'll look forward to your training tomorrow. I'll also work on mending our relationship with the villagers a bit. After all, whether they like it or not, we're all stuck in this together."
She caught Midea's expression darken for a moment as she mentioned the villagers, as if some shadow of worry crossed his mind, but he quickly nodded, accepting her plan without protest. He had to—there was little choice in the matter. Tanya was aware that their relationship with the villagers was on shaky ground, and the sooner she addressed it, the better. Perhaps she could use her reputation as a child of the sun to do something.
Tanya bent down and lifted Tarak into her arms, noting with mild interest how heavy he was compared to someone like Luna. Though not outrageously so, his weight was solid—dense. She wouldn't be able to chuck him around like she had Luna, at least not without more effort, but for now, he wasn't too much of a burden. She carried him to the other room, stepping carefully over the plush carpets, and laid him down on the bed. As soon as she set him down, he instinctively rolled toward her, burying his head into her lap.
Tanya couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. The bond between them was undeniable. Despite everything, despite the chaos and the mysteries that surrounded their existence, this connection felt strangely grounding. Tarak might have been born into this brutal, unfamiliar world, but he was her brother, and she would protect him. It was one of the few things she could be certain of.
She thought briefly of Luna, the girl she had been supposed to meet tonight. She had intended to follow through with that plan, but the day had been long and exhausting. Between learning about her mother, confronting her own nature, and dealing with Midea's bombshells, she was worn out. She sighed, leaning back slightly . Tomorrow would be soon enough to deal with Luna and whatever other mysteries that family held.
For now, she had a new family member to look after.
Her gaze fell to Tarak again, and she noticed his horns poking into her thigh. Oddly, they didn't hurt. Even though they dug into her skin, they didn't pierce it, and she found herself thankful for her new body's durability. It seemed that even without the ability to use numen or cultivation, her physical strength and resilience were formidable assets. But as she thought about that, a sense of frustration bubbled up. Was she really relegated to purely physical strength, while others wielded reality-warping power? Would she have to rely solely on her body's raw might forever?
She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with unknowns, and she had a sinking feeling that her challenges were only just beginning.
Tomorrow, she reminded herself. Tomorrow, she would tackle it all. Tomorrow, she would face the villagers, learn from Midea, and continue figuring out this new world and all its complexities.
But for tonight, as Tarak's horns pressed into her leg, she allowed herself to drift off into a rare, peaceful sleep.
Tomorrow would be another long day.