“Chapter 45: Weapon”

Chapter 45: Weapons

"The eternal nemesis of demons is arrogance. It was this very nature that humans exploited to bury a peerless demonic genius."

Phelous recalled the old demon's lecture from that morning. His consciousness was hazy, and he couldn't even clench his fists under the numbing electric current. He struggled to lift his head and watched the approaching white demon through blurred vision. Eventually, the white figure dissolved into darkness.

Phelous appeared to be a roasted fish, unlikely to be feigning injury. Wen Ying hurried over in a few strides, crouching down to poke at Phelous with concern. "Are you alright?"

The on-duty demon at the arena was still that elderly demon who seemed like he was strolling in a park. He flew over, assessed Phelous' condition, and announced, "The Mirror Demon, Wen Ying, emerges victorious."

The thunderous spectacle had just concluded, and an eerie silence persisted around them. Everyone was immersed in astonishment. It wasn't until the old demon pronounced the verdict that the buzz of voices resumed, as if dragging them back from a dream.

— Outside the dream, the outcome remained unchanged.

"Did the Mirror Demon win?!"

"What was that electric display? Some kind of instant high-level magic? Does the Mirror Demon possess a natural affinity for lightning spells?"

"It seems like cards. He unleashed the magic of dozens of cards simultaneously."

"The power he wields is horrifying. Is he still that Mirror Demon?"

"Hold on, I just bet half my savings on Phileas..."

The heated discussion among the demons abruptly ceased as if their throats had been simultaneously constricted. They spun around to look at where the croupier, Muershi, had been standing, only to find him gone.

"Aaaah, why could that Mirror Demon possibly defeat Lord Phileas?! This isn't logical!"

"Snap out of it. Logic is a human concept."

"That guy is incredible!"

Wen Ying stood on the arena, listening to the fervent remarks of the surrounding demons. His limbs trembled slightly as he gazed down at the deflated Phileas beneath him, his heart pounding fiercely.

This sensation was akin to being in an amphitheater, with a bloodthirsty audience at his side. The wild flames burned fiercely here, igniting hormones and adrenaline to their peak, creating a decadent revelry in its most primal form.

Wen Ying began to comprehend the fascination demons had with power. It was in their very blood, and the demonic half of his own blood was now influencing his judgment.

It was as if the strings of madness and reason were both taut, balancing precariously. This balance allowed for coherent thought but also made one prone to getting carried away, with countless whispers echoing in one's mind.

In the arena, there was a resident medic, and two demons carried a stretcher to attend to Phileas. A third demon, clad in a white coat, followed, channeling healing magic into Phileas as they moved.

The elderly demon on duty, or rather, the arena's manager, approached Wen Ying with his hands clasped behind his back. His slow and deliberate voice transported Wen Ying back to a park in the human world: "Young man, last time you ran so swiftly. Do the demons of your generation not fancy enchanted weapons?"

Wen Ying snapped back to reality, looking at the old demon in confusion. "What enchanted weapons?"

With a flick of his hand, the old demon produced a silver-white rod adorned with intricate magical engravings. Skillfully twirling it, a gleaming silver rope slid out from one end.

It turned out to be a dual-purpose weapon.

No, wait, there was a third function.

With dexterous movements, the old demon manipulated the silver rod, triggering some mechanism. From the opposite end of the rope, a sharp blade shot out, its length about half that of the rod.

Together, they were roughly the length of an adult's arm, including the hand.

Wen Ying was astounded by the intricate design and found himself captivated.

They were still on the arena stage, and many of the demonic student spectators who had yet to leave were now buzzing with excitement at the sight of the enchanted weapon displayed by the old demon.

"What kind of weapon is that? So fascinating.

"The designer's aesthetic sense isn't great. Who would use white..." The demon was about to comment casually when he suddenly saw another demon entirely in white, and promptly covered his mouth.

The adjacent demon chuckled at him, "Perhaps the designer is a white demon themselves."

Wen Ying was quite fond of this three-in-one weapon. The staff seemed to be made from some sort of silver metal, exuding elegance with its intricate engravings, giving it the appearance of a work of art.

He looked at the old demon, unsure of what the elder meant.

The old demon harrumphed, reminiscent of a mischievous elderly human, "Now you like it? Last time, you bolted so quickly, I thought you didn't care for it."

Wen Ying: "..." Last time? Oh, right, he recalled the fight with Huiguo. Back then, he had been suffering from sore muscles due to using [Supple Body] and was desperate to escape without any other demons noticing. There was no way he could have lingered to chat with this old man.

With the memory fading, Wen Ying donned a pleasing smile that an elder would appreciate. The previously thunderous white demon now appeared meek and polite, his voice clear and courteous, "Grandpa, last time, I was in a hurry to treat my body. How could I not cherish such a weapon?"

The grandpa observed the quick change in Wen Ying's demeanor. This version seemed worlds apart from the ruthless white demon he had seen earlier. He narrowed his eyes, twirling the silver staff deftly in his hand. Under Wen Ying's expectant yet anxious gaze, he spoke slowly, "Last time, I said if you defeated Huiguo, I'd give it to you. I won't go back on my word, but I want to know why your magic power has suddenly surged so much?"

This demon mirror, when fighting with Huiguo a few days ago, clearly didn't possess as much magic power as it did now.

The surrounding demons perked up their ears, lowering their voices as they spoke.

Wen Ying pondered for a moment and uncertainly suggested, "Could it be because I consume magical potions every day?" In a sense, Aruda's dark cuisine could be considered magical potions.

The old demon rolled his eyes in thought.

Now, everyone in Lucifer Academy knew that Wen Ying was being taken care of by Aruda. When they associated his mention of magical potions with this fact, they couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

Goodness, this guy actually consumes such terrifying and bizarre magical potions every day. His spirit and mentality are truly remarkable.

Demons in the Realm of Devils practically grew up listening to horrifying stories about Aruda. Their parents would threaten to send them to Aruda's castle to eat terrifying magical potions if they didn't behave well.

These horrifying potions included octopuses with hundreds of tentacles, phosphorous flames emerging from skull heads, and sticky black water – all sounding like things that could stop a child's crying at night, or perhaps make them cry even more out of fear.

"The old fellow Aruda is tinkering with something new again…" The old demon muttered, then straightforwardly placed the silver-white rod in Wen Ying's hand.

The item felt cold to the touch and was heavier than it looked. As Wen Ying held the rod, he examined it curiously and carefully. He discovered that the engravings on the rod seemed to be more than just decorative patterns.

They were magical runes.

Magic Runes are not the language or script of demons; they embody something else entirely. The rune on Beloros's face is an example of one – it carries the essence of his family's legacy, innate to him since birth.

There are both natural and artificially created Magic Runes. They function much like vessels, encapsulating intricate contents within them.

Over time, many Magic Runes have been lost, their meanings unknown, preventing the unlocking of the treasures they hold.

Enchanted weapons also bear Magic Runes to enhance their quality. However, the ones on this staff seem unusual. Staring at them for too long leaves Wen Ying feeling slightly dizzy.

A hand interjected between his line of sight and the staff, waving it dismissively. The aged demon's voice echoed, "I have no use for this item. Its stark whiteness makes me wonder if the craftsman had a questionable sense of aesthetics. If not, perhaps the creator, like you, was also a white demon."

How charming is the color white, yet demons fail to appreciate it, Wen Ying thought to himself, his smile deepening, like a radiant little white flower.

"I felt an instant connection with this item the moment I saw it," Wen Ying said, not being boastful, but genuinely drawn to the enchanted weapon.

"Alright, alright, hurry down. I have another match to attend to."

The ranked matches in the arena had been going on without Wen Ying's knowledge.

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa. I'll cherish it." Self-taught, Wen Ying stowed away the silver rod's mechanisms and placed it into his spatial bracelet before flapping his bat wings to descend.

The surrounding demons looked at him with a mix of emotions. Each time this Mirror Demon stepped onto the arena, he surpassed their expectations of his race. Just when they thought they had him figured out, he grew stronger and more cunning.

Each one of them had to admit to themselves that they would never dare to resist the combined power of those dozens of lightning attribute magic cards. This time, the Mirror Demon had genuinely won. Perhaps Phileas' loss was partly due to underestimating his opponent, but Wen Ying still emerged victorious.

Their feelings were complicated and nuanced, torn between admiration for his strength and the contradiction of their own perceptions. For a moment, they were unsure how to feel about Wen Ying.

Wu Shaluo watched Wen Ying leave the arena, his gaze sharpening slightly. He had promised Huiguo to give Wen Ying a sound beating in the arena, but now he needed to reconsider his approach. He certainly didn't want to end up as humiliated as Phileas. Recalling Phileas' miserable state just now, he rubbed his arm, relishing in the other's misfortune.

...

Boros closed the book in his hand, his usually confident face now clouded with confusion.

What on earth were emotions, love, excitement, hormones, affection, and dating in this book? It made his teeth itch, and he instinctively resisted anything that didn't align with his nature. He should have shut the book immediately, having lost interest or even feeling repelled by it at first glance. However, certain passages within resonated with his own situation, compelling Boros to reluctantly continue reading.

Some descriptions were unbearable; they induced a toothache and goosebumps. Boros found it hard to proceed.

With no other demons around, Boros kept watch. He didn't want any of them to catch him reading such a book. After putting it back, he fled the library as if escaping from something.

Exiting the library, Boros repeatedly took out his phone. He knew he was waiting for a message from a particular demon, which irritated him to the point of wanting to toss the device away.

His steps faltered, a fleeting hint of fear flickering in his eyes. There were few things that could elicit such an expression from him, but now, he found himself reacting exactly as described in that "Guide to Love."

It was utterly terrifying, especially considering the devil mirror had told him yesterday that it was all a misunderstanding.

"Beep."

The sound of an incoming message caused Beros to instinctively reach for his phone again. After a three-second internal struggle, he resigned himself to checking it, only to freeze in confusion after reading the contents.

Having sent the message to Beros, Wen Ying put his phone aside and scanned his surroundings.

After leaving the arena, he had returned to his dorm to change clothes before heading straight to a restaurant he had found through late-night browsing the previous night.

Throughout the previous night, he had delved into various aspects of the demon world, searching through all sorts of online content, from official news to gossip and entertainment. He hadn't found much substantial information, but he had come across numerous trivial tidbits.

One such piece of trivia was about the Demon Lord. When Wen Ying saw the picture of the dashing young man, he almost thought the devil who compiled the information had used the wrong image. The long-haired, handsome devil exuded elegance and charm, resembling a nightclub prince as he held a beautiful female devil on each arm. His bright smile was neither sleazy nor vulgar, but rather, full of confidence and flamboyance.

The accompanying text left Wen Ying perplexed. As he scrolled through more content, he learned that demons could actively choose their appearance as they aged. Upon reaching old age, they could use their magical powers to revert to their youthful appearance, though this accelerated their aging process. However, some demons were simply too fond of their youthful looks to resist.

Then, there were those demons who prioritized their lives, maintaining their aged appearance.

They could also switch personas, like His Majesty the Devil, who usually appeared as a grandfatherly figure but would transform into a youthful and vibrant version of himself when going out for a night of fun.

However, the Devil's elderly appearance wasn't the typical old man vibe; rather, he exuded the energy of a rockstar grandpa, still brimming with vitality as if in his prime.

It was hard to reconcile this image with Aruda's cryptic comment about the Devil entering his twilight years and potentially birthing a third prince after death. The photograph suggested that the Devil could father several more offspring.

Wen Ying's perception of the world was once again shaken. The demon race always seemed to surprise him just when he thought he had them figured out.

At least His Majesty the Devil had recommended a restaurant that even he found impressive, so Wen Ying chose it as the venue for their dinner with Beros.

The Devil's appraisal was: good food, prompt service, and a pleasant atmosphere, spacious and comfortable.

When Wen Ying followed the map to locate the "Heddon" restaurant that the Devil had specifically mentioned in the capital, the exterior decor hinted that his wallet might take a significant hit tonight.

He should have anticipated it. Anything that the Devil personally endorsed was bound to be a five-star establishment.

Back in the human realm, money had never been an issue for him. Though he lacked friends, he had dined at many upscale venues and was familiar with opulent settings, his silver-gray eyes now filled with curiosity.

"Welcome! May I ask if you have a reservation?"

A female demon in a golden, form-fitting gown approached, her hands clasped demurely before her.

"Wen Ying, are there any available seats now?" He glanced behind the woman, noticing that the restaurant was filled with partition screens obstructing the view.

"There are indeed. Would you prefer a regular table in the main hall or a private room?"

"A table in the main hall will do."

"Please follow me."

Wen Ying accompanied the female demon as they navigated through several screened-off areas. No patrons were visible along the way, but he could sense the presence of guests beyond those partitions.

Upon arrival at their destination, Wen Ying surveyed the surroundings. No wonder the Demon King had described it as spacious. The area was resplendent with gold and adorned with mirrors that expanded the visual space. Seated here, one would feel as if they were the sole customer, having the entire establishment to themselves.

"Tell Cerberus to meet me here when he arrives," Wen Ying said, flipping open the menu on the table, oblivious to the shock in the demoness's eyes.

"You mentioned Cerberus? The great three-headed dog, sir?"

Wen Ying nodded.

The female demon thought to herself that it was another overconfident devil. Many renowned devil offspring had tried to secure a spot here, but Bellos never bothered to come. To Lord Bellos, who cared only for power, this was a place he would never set foot in.

That was what the female demon believed until she saw Bellos enter with an expressionless face, causing her to momentarily doubt her eyesight. Her professional demeanor even faltered as she didn't immediately go to greet him.

Wen Ying sat at the center of the grand hall, which was primarily adorned in gold. The spacious surroundings were accompanied by the soft strains of an unknown instrument coming from behind a screen, filling the air with a soothing melody that slowed the passage of time.

There was only a long table and two chairs at this location. Fresh flowers and incense were placed in the middle of the table, while exquisite glassware shimmered like jewels under the dazzling chandelier above. Black, alluring blossoms glistened with dewdrops, exuding a bewitching charm.

As Bellos entered, Wen Ying was propping his chin up with one hand, pretending to sleep with his eyes closed.

The white devil sitting on the golden chair seemed to blend into a magnificent mural with his surroundings. His silver-white hair cascaded down his shoulders, and his exquisite features outshone the black flowers.

He sat there quietly, yet his aura was anything but tranquil. It was impossible to ignore, strong and captivating.

White bat wings were generally considered unattractive, but in Bellos's eyes, they were now exceptionally beautiful.

This Mirror Devil felt different to him, suddenly exuding the aggression of a high-ranking devil. Bellos was puzzled; before school ended, Wen Ying hadn't given him this sensation. Had something happened during the ranking match?

Wen Ying knew the moment Bellos entered the space, but his eyes had been closed for too long, making it difficult to open them. He had stayed up all night and was genuinely exhausted. After struggling for a moment, he finally opened his eyes when Bellos deliberately made a noise by pulling out a chair.

"Good evening." Wen Ying crinkled his eyes in a smile.

Boros sat down and nodded slightly. "How was the ranking match?"

"I won," Wen Ying said, resting his chin on interlaced hands. His tone was casual and his demeanor relaxed, in stark contrast to Boros, who seemed tense from the moment he entered the place.

The dynamic between the dominant and submissive seemed to have shifted. Wen Ying sensed Boros's unease and found it odd. Given his status and position in the demon world, Boros shouldn't be feeling this awkward in such a setting.

After some thought, Wen Ying explained, "I heard from His Majesty the Devil King that the food here is excellent, so I invited you to try it."

A waiter served the first dish, but as he recited its name, Wen Ying's smile nearly cracked.

"A Tongue of Passion, please enjoy."

"And this wine pairs well, it's called Romantic Lovers."

Wen Ying slapped himself mentally. He had vowed to learn more about the demon world, yet here he was, getting himself into another awkward situation.

Taking a deep breath, he forced a slightly menacing grin amidst the surprised looks of Boros and the waiter. "Just serve the dishes, no need for the fancy names. I'm here only to taste the food recommended by His Majesty the Devil King. Hurry up with the dishes, no need for formalities."

Wen Ying emphasized the pronunciation of the word "Devil King."

Boros suddenly chuckled softly, a sound that was both unexpected and incredibly alluring. Wen Ying's eyelids twitched; it was the first time he had heard Boros's soft laughter, which was casual, lazy, and slightly arrogant.

Boros picked up his wine glass, and Wen Ying said, "Minors aren't allowed to drink."

"Demons can start drinking at ninety," Boros replied, his gaze calm. "You really don't know much about the Demon Realm. I'm starting to wonder if Aruda kept you isolated in his castle and only released you this year."

Wen Ying: "..." Damn, why does the Demon Realm have an age of majority at one hundred and a drinking age of ninety?! Even the most patient person would curse. What's the difference between a demon being ninety and a hundred years old?

Wen Ying shrugged. "I've just forgotten a lot of things, but you didn't misunderstand this time. I'm genuinely happy, so there's no need for me to go out of my way to prove that I didn't do it on purpose."

Even a fool like Wen Ying knew that this restaurant might be a place for couples. No wonder the Devil King's illustration featured a seductive beauty with a wine glass.

Boros held the tall, slender glass filled with golden liquor between his bony, long fingers. His black nails gently supported the glass, creating a charming scene under the dim, intimate lighting of the chandelier.

"This is my first time here," Boros said, his brows slightly furrowed, his speech a bit awkward and unpracticed.

Wen Ying froze, feeling a bit uneasy now that he understood Boros's meaning. Surely Boros wouldn't get so embarrassed that he'd hit him, right?

"I'm not really interested in that, anyway." Boreas nonchalantly finished the wine in his glass, gulping down the esteemed vintage that was worth a fortune with no regard for its value.

He drank with an air of spontaneity, and Wen Ying somehow imagined a large, aggrieved dog whimpering softly. This imaginary canine had a handsome and sexy face, with a golden earring shimmering provocatively under the light on its right ear.

With a slight twinge of guilt and influenced by the atmosphere, Wen Ying looked at Boreas and said slowly, "Knowing the meaning behind this restaurant, would it be correct for me to assume that you have some interest in me?"