Chapter 100:The Devil’s Declaration

An oppressive silence engulfed the training grounds.

Not because of the destroyed barracks.

Not because Captain Amaira's murderous aura still lingered in the air.

But because the Commander herself had arrived.

Commander Duan.

The woman hailed as the greatest military strategist of the Empire.

A genius whose tactics had never failed.

A warrior whose strength was said to stand just beneath the Soul King himself.

Yet...

Throughout her entire life...

People rarely praised those achievements.

Instead, every noble house, royal family, and influential clan repeated the same words.

"Become my wife."

"Marry into our family."

"A woman like you shouldn't waste her life on the battlefield."

Not once...

Not a single time...

Had anyone looked at her and admired the countless battles she had fought.

To the world...

She was a beautiful woman before she was a commander.

Because of that...

She had rejected every proposal.

She chose the battlefield over marriage.

She chose respect over affection.

She chose war over chains.

And yet...

Today...

A boy barely half her age had looked straight into her eyes...

...and boldly declared that she would join his harem.

Duan slowly turned toward Lucifer.

Her crimson eyes narrowed.

"What..."

"...did you just say?"

The temperature around the military camp plummeted.

Invisible pressure spread in every direction.

Soldiers instinctively fell to one knee.

Even Captain Amaira unconsciously lowered her spear.

No one dared breathe.

Lucifer, however...

Simply smiled.

"I said..."

"I'll make you one of my wives."

The soldiers nearly fainted.

Someone silently prayed for Lucifer's soul.

Duan's expression remained unreadable.

"You know..."

"I once rejected the Soul King himself."

"So tell me..."

"What makes you think you're worthy?"

Lucifer answered without hesitation.

"Because I'll surpass him."

A few soldiers almost laughed.

But none dared.

Duan folded her arms.

"Bold words."

Lucifer shrugged.

"I don't intend to convince you with words."

He pointed toward the shattered training ground.

"I fought Captain Amaira."

"I resisted your pressure."

"And I survived both."

"That's enough to prove I'm not all talk."

For several long seconds...

No one spoke.

Then...

To everyone's surprise...

The overwhelming pressure vanished.

Commander Duan laughed.

A quiet laugh.

One filled with curiosity rather than anger.

"Interesting."

She turned around.

"If you're so confident..."

"I hope your confidence survives military life."

Without another word...

She walked away.

Captain Amaira quickly followed behind her.

The soldiers stood frozen until both women disappeared.

Only then did everyone release the breath they had been holding.

Commander's Office

Captain Amaira entered the spacious office.

Commander Duan was already seated behind her desk.

Stacks of reports lay before her.

She didn't even raise her head.

"You want to ask something."

"It shows on your face."

Amaira hesitated.

"...Why did you spare him?"

Duan smiled faintly.

"Because he's interesting."

Amaira frowned.

"I don't understand."

"He beat every senior soldier."

"He fought me without fear."

"He endured my pressure."

"And despite standing before the Commander..."

"...he never once lowered his head."

Duan looked out the window.

"People like him..."

"...either become legends..."

"...or die very quickly."

Amaira crossed her arms.

"I think he's arrogant."

"Rude."

"Self-centered."

"Shameless."

"And completely insane."

Commander Duan burst into laughter.

"I didn't realize you had been observing him so carefully."

Amaira's ears turned slightly red.

"That's... not what I meant."

Duan smiled knowingly before returning to business.

"I've assigned him to your squad."

Amaira looked surprised.

"My squad?"

"Keep an eye on him."

"If his talent matches his confidence..."

"...train him."

"But if he's nothing more than a loud mouth..."

"...dispose of him."

Amaira saluted.

"As you command."

She quietly left the office.

After the door closed...

Commander Duan gazed toward the distant training grounds.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Show me..."

"...what kind of monster you truly are, Lucifer Morningstar."

The First Morning

Before sunrise...

The military camp had already awakened.

Hundreds of soldiers lined up across the enormous parade ground.

Captain Amaira walked between the ranks with strict eyes.

Everything appeared normal...

Until she spotted Lucifer.

He casually waved at her.

Then...

He winked.

Amaira nearly lost her composure.

Just wait...

You'll regret provoking me.

A dangerous smile spread across her face.

"So..."

"Today's training will be doubled."

The veterans immediately realized someone was about to suffer.

Unfortunately...

That someone wasn't Lucifer.

The first exercise...

A mountain run.

Every soldier carried enormous boulders chained to their backs.

Even experienced veterans struggled.

Sweat soaked their uniforms.

Breathing became painful.

Meanwhile...

Lucifer casually jogged uphill with his hands behind his head.

He even slowed down to encourage the others.

"Come on!"

"Move those old legs!"

"I've seen grandfathers run faster!"

One veteran nearly coughed blood.

Another gritted his teeth and accelerated.

Soon...

The entire training turned into an unofficial competition against one newcomer.

Running.

Push-ups.

Sit-ups.

Burpees.

Weapon drills.

Obstacle courses.

Lucifer finished first.

Every.

Single.

Time.

Captain Amaira stared in disbelief.

"I doubled today's workload..."

"...and he's treating it like a morning walk."

Breakfast arrived.

The dining hall resembled a battlefield.

Veterans could barely lift their spoons.

Many simply rested their faces on the tables.

Across the room...

Lucifer devoured his twelfth plate.

Then his fifteenth.

Then his eighteenth.

The soldiers watched with lifeless eyes.

"...He's definitely not human."

After breakfast...

Everyone gathered for theory lessons.

Captain Amaira stood before the recruits.

"Our duty is simple."

"Destroy ghosts."

One recruit nervously raised his hand.

"But ghosts are already dead."

"How do we kill them?"

Amaira nodded.

"Ghosts are beings formed from regret and soul energy."

"Ordinary weapons can't harm them."

"The only way to destroy them..."

"...is with your own soul."

She continued.

"Every living being possesses Soul Energy."

"Most people never learn to control it."

"When they die with regret..."

"That energy transforms into ghosts."

Another recruit asked,

"Then how do we control Soul Energy?"

"Equilibrium."

"A breathing technique."

"It allows your soul to circulate and strengthen its own energy."

"The more you exhaust it..."

"...the stronger it becomes after recovery."

"From today onward..."

"You will maintain Equilibrium while walking."

"While eating."

"While sleeping."

"And while fighting."

The recruits immediately began practicing.

Minutes passed.

Nothing happened.

Captain Amaira expected that.

Then...

A brilliant crimson aura suddenly covered Lucifer's body like living armor.

He slowly opened one eye.

"So that's how it works."

"...Not much different from controlling Qi."

Amaira's eyes widened.

"He mastered it..."

"...on the first attempt?"

The surrounding soldiers looked utterly defeated.

Lunch arrived.

Lucifer carried an absurd amount of food before sitting directly across from Amaira.

She sighed the moment she saw him.

"What do you want now?"

"I'm eating."

"So am I."

"You could sit literally anywhere else."

"I could."

"But I chose here."

Amaira stood.

"Then I'll leave."

Lucifer raised a hand.

"Wait."

"I actually wanted to ask something."

She stopped.

"...Make it quick."

"What kinds of ghosts exist?"

Amaira hesitated before answering.

"There are three categories."

"Normal Ghosts."

"They can be killed by anyone capable of controlling Soul Energy."

"Special Ghosts."

"They require multiple Grim Reapers working together."

"And finally..."

"...Ghost Kings."

Lucifer looked interested.

"How many Ghost Kings are there?"

"One."

"It takes centuries for a ghost to evolve that far."

"And only the Soul King can defeat one."

Lucifer nodded thoughtfully.

"So military ranks?"

Amaira continued.

"Those who awaken Soul Energy become Reapers."

"Those who master it become Grim Reapers."

"Captains like me belong to that level."

"Above everyone..."

"...stands the Soul King."

"His power is said to be capable of destroying galaxies."

Lucifer rested his chin on one hand.

"And Commander Duan?"

Amaira smiled proudly.

"She isn't the Soul King."

"But she's the closest person to that throne."

"If they fought..."

"...the Commander would push him harder than anyone else."

"...Though she'd eventually lose."

Lucifer finished eating.

"Thanks."

He stood.

Amaira blinked.

No teasing.

No insults.

No outrageous flirting.

Did he finally mature?

Lucifer suddenly looked over his shoulder.

"Oh..."

"By the way."

He flashed his trademark grin.

"Amaira."

"You've got an amazing ass."

Before the spoon in Amaira's hand even hit the table...

Lucifer was already sprinting across the cafeteria.

Her furious shout echoed through the entire military base.

"LUCIFER!! GET BACK HERE!!"

The soldiers silently lowered their heads.

Somehow...

Life in the military had become much more entertaining.