Volume 2 chapter 2

The Temple of the Demon God.

Clyris stood at the edge of the pool, looking at the sixteen Sixth-Rank demons kneeling before her. They were the absolute peak of the current Demon Race's strength.

"Are you ready?" she asked one last time.

The water of the Demon God Pool was typically used for lower-ranked demons to advance naturally by absorbing its dense mana. But advancing to the High Rank (7th) was different. Even for demons, reaching the High Rank required Elemental Resonance.

For this ritual, the pool water was merely a catalyst. Clyris would force the liquid mana into their bodies, using the raw, unadulterated power to scour their flesh and souls. The goal was to force a deep, violent intersection with the elements to trigger resonance.

It was extremely dangerous. If they failed to resonate before reaching their physical and spiritual limits, the torrent of mana would scour them into nothingness—body and soul.

"We are ready! Please begin, Your Majesty!"

Luna, kneeling at the front, looked up with unwavering determination.

"Good! Then I begin!"

Clyris took a deep breath. She raised her hands, and the water in the pool rose in response. She split the mass of liquid mana into sixteen streams, driving them into the bodies of the kneeling demons.

"AAAAHHH!!!"

"URGH...!"

"HNNG!"

Screams of agony instantly filled the temple. Their physical forms were submerged in the mana torrent, while their souls were tossed like small boats in a hurricane. One slip, and they would be drowned.

Clyris focused her mind, daring not to distract herself for even a second. Her Elemental Vision locked onto each of them.

If they reached their limit without ascending, she had to cut the flow the instant before their souls collapsed.

"AAAAHHH!!!"

A Fire Demon shrieked, his soul beginning to fracture. Clyris’s eyes narrowed. She severed the mana stream above his head instantly.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

His ravaged body reappeared on the temple floor, smoke rising from his skin. His eyes held the lingering terror of a survivor who had stared into the abyss.

"Th-Thank you, Your Majesty... This subordinate was incompetent. I failed to reach the Seventh Rank and required your rescue!"

He struggled to stand, bowing his head deeply, his voice filled with shame and regret.

"It is fine. Forced ascension is never easy," Clyris shook her head, comforting him calmly. "Heal your wounds and adjust your state of mind. You will have another chance."

"Yes!"

He bowed again and moved to the side, slowly drawing small amounts of pool water to regenerate his broken body.

This was where demons far surpassed humans. Physical mutilation, which would be permanent even for human High-Rankers without rare magic, was trivial for demons. As long as the Demon God Pool existed, regrowing a limb was as simple as drinking water.

This regenerative ability was the source of Clyris's confidence. Even if they failed, as long as she saved their souls in time, they could try again and again until they succeeded.

Soon, several more demons reached their limits. Clyris pulled them back from the brink of soul dissipation just in time.

They, too, were frustrated but did not complain, moving aside to heal.

After saving a Shadow Demon, Clyris suddenly felt a mana stream shatter from the inside.

She started, looking over. It was Luna!

Luna’s body remained intact, though her face was pale and trembling. Around her, cyan mana swirled like a gentle mist, responding to her will.

She had successfully resonated with the Wind Element. She was now a Seventh-Rank High Demon!

"I... succeeded, Your Majesty..." Luna whispered weakly, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Clyris.

"Yes. Well done. Go rest," Clyris nodded, her eyes warm with encouragement.

The process continued. Demons failed, were saved, and healed. Some succeeded.

After a full day, the ritual concluded. Out of sixteen candidates, only six had successfully ascended.

"Alright, that is enough for today. Dismissed!" Clyris announced. "Those who succeeded, stabilize your foundations. Those who failed, return tomorrow!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The demons retreated in an orderly fashion.

A few days later.

When the final demon had successfully ascended, Clyris sent them all away to rest. She remained alone in the Temple.

Standing before the Demon God Pool, she prepared to use her full strength for the first time.

Normally, replenishing the pool required vast amounts of multi-elemental potions, the efforts of multiple High-Rank demons, and a complex gathering array.

But that was the method for ordinary demons. Clyris now possessed four Authorities. She intended to forcibly transmute natural ambient mana into pool water through sheer brute force.

Mana surged through her limbs, driving the four great powers within her.

Deepest Darkness.

Silent Death.

Crushing Gravity.

Alluring Charm.

Darkness came from the Demon King's inheritance. Charm came from the "Queen of Greed" Phyllis. Death was seized from the Wall of Despair. Only Gravity belonged entirely to Clyris herself.

She pushed the Authority of Gravity to its limit. The space around her warped and twisted, creating a singularity that dragged endless streams of natural mana toward her.

But dragging it in wasn't enough. She split a portion of her consciousness to connect with the core of the pool, intending to channel the gathered energy.

And then...

BOOM.

It felt as though a sledgehammer had struck her brain. Her vision turned instantly white.

Time seemed to stop. The world froze.

In the next instant, a heavy, suffocating presence—like the Abyss itself—washed over her.

Countless souls seemed to wail in her ears. The smell of blood filled her nose. It was as if millions of vengeful spirits were circling her, tormented day and night, unable to escape or resist, capable only of eternal cursing and screaming.

"Phyll... is..."

A magnificent, booming voice erupted, scattering the wails of the damned.

"Come back... quickly! Return... to my side..."

The voice was colossal, filled with an ancient, terrifying longing.

"Who... are you..."

Clyris barely managed to focus her mind to ask the question.

"Phyllis, do not be naughty..."

The voice did not answer. Instead, it spoke with a doting, almost paternal tone.

"I am... Clyris! I am not... Phyllis!"

Clyris gritted her teeth, bracing her spirit to deny the entity.

"You..."

The voice let out a sound of confusion and shock. Then, it fell silent.

With the silence, the crushing pressure vanished. Clyris felt her spirit lighten, finally free from the terrifying weight.

But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the voice descended again.

This time, it was not slow or gentle. It arrived like a thunderclap, carrying the fury of a god.

"PHYX!! OMIR!!"

It roared two names, the sound vibrating with boundless rage and hatred.

The voice carried a power as heavy as a prison, as inescapable as destiny. It struck Clyris's soul directly, nearly shattering it.

After that, she remembered nothing.

She only felt two other powers descend to intervene.

Wrapped in one of them—a power as warm and gentle as a mother's embrace—she fell into a deep slumber.