Chapter 99:The Captain

The commander's crimson gaze swept over Lucifer.

"I heard your family fell during the Ghost Wave," she said calmly, though every word carried enough pressure to force seasoned soldiers to lower their heads.

"And that you're the sole survivor."

Silence filled the courtyard.

Lucifer merely met her eyes.

"Lucifer Morningstar."

A faint grin spread across his face.

"The Devil."

For a brief moment, the pressure intensified before disappearing completely.

The commander nodded.

"...Good."

"You're worthy enough to serve in this military."

She turned away.

"Take him to his quarters."

Her voice became colder.

"And don't think your noble blood earns you special treatment."

Lucifer shrugged.

"I'd be disappointed if it did."

A faint smile appeared on the commander's lips before she vanished into the shadows.

Several guards escorted Lucifer through the enormous military fortress.

Unlike the luxurious palaces of Murim...

There were no marble halls.

No golden decorations.

Only rows upon rows of stone barracks filled with soldiers preparing for tomorrow's battles.

Eventually they stopped before a massive dormitory.

One of the guards pushed open the door.

"This is your room."

The door shut behind him.

Lucifer looked around.

Instead of elegant chambers...

There were dozens of bunk beds lined up like prison cells.

A single lantern illuminated the entire room.

"Cozy."

He tossed himself onto the nearest bed.

Chirin floated beside him, now resting in her new scythe form.

"So..."

"What now?"

Lucifer folded his arms behind his head.

"I'm starting over."

"This military will become my stepping stone."

"I'll rise through the ranks..."

"...then dominate this world."

Chirin sighed.

"You always say ridiculous things so casually."

"But tell me something."

"If the Soul King is as powerful as you claim..."

"...why doesn't he wipe out every ghost himself?"

Lucifer stared at the wooden ceiling.

"Because..."

"He can't."

Chirin blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"The Soul King can destroy planets."

"He can erase armies."

"He can annihilate continents."

"But every second..."

"...someone dies."

"A child loses their parents."

"A soldier dies with regret."

"A mother dies protecting her family."

"Those regrets become ghosts."

He closed his eyes.

"As long as despair exists..."

"Ghosts will never disappear."

"No matter how powerful one man becomes."

For the first time...

Even Chirin fell silent.

Not long afterward...

Exhaustion overtook both of them.

Lucifer drifted into sleep.

BOOM!!

The entire bunk bed collapsed.

Lucifer crashed onto the floor together with broken wood.

"..."

He slowly sat up, rubbing the back of his head.

"Someone..."

"...is going to regret that."

Around him...

Dozens of soldiers burst into laughter.

"So this is the new brat?"

"He sleeps while we're training?"

"What an arrogant noble."

Lucifer yawned.

"This body really isn't used to me yet."

Chirin sighed.

"You dropped your guard."

"Can you blame me?"

"This body's still adjusting to my soul."

One bulky soldier stepped forward.

He planted his boot directly in front of Lucifer.

"Looks like nobody taught you military etiquette."

"We seniors will educate you."

More laughter echoed across the room.

"Don't break him too quickly."

"He might wet himself."

Lucifer slowly stood.

He dusted off his clothes.

Then casually shoved both hands into his pockets.

He looked around.

"..."

"You all look more like street thugs than soldiers."

The laughter stopped.

Veins bulged across the soldier's forehead.

"What did you say?"

He grabbed Lucifer by the collar.

Lucifer looked down at the hand gripping his uniform.

"Didn't your mother taught you anything."

"Never grab another man's collar."

CRACK!!

Lucifer slammed his forehead into the soldier's face.

The impact echoed throughout the barracks.

The soldier collapsed instantly.

Out cold.

Lucifer rubbed his own forehead.

"Hurts every time."

"...but it works."

The entire room exploded.

"GET HIM!"

Over twenty soldiers charged simultaneously.

Lucifer smiled.

"Now this..."

"...is a proper morning."

Punches.

Kicks.

Elbows.

Headbutts.

Lucifer didn't use overwhelming techniques.

No Cleave.

No Seven Deadly Sins.

No terrifying cultivation.

Only raw combat instincts perfected through countless lifetimes.

Every strike landed perfectly.

Every movement was efficient.

One soldier flew into another.

Someone crashed through a bunk bed.

Another was kicked into the ceiling before falling headfirst onto his companions.

Within minutes...

The barracks looked like a battlefield.

One terrified soldier escaped through the door.

Elsewhere...

Inside the administrative building...

A woman with long white hair calmly organized military reports.

Captain Amaira.

Leader of the Third Company.

Without looking up, she spoke.

"What happened?"

The soldier stood there gasping for breath.

"Ma'am..."

"Fight..."

"...barracks..."

"...new recruit..."

Amaira sighed.

"Again?"

"Let the seniors rough him up."

"If he can't survive that..."

"...he isn't worthy of wearing this uniform."

The soldier frantically shook his head.

"No!"

"The newcomer..."

"...he's beating everyone!"

"...Please!"

"You have to stop him!"

For the first time in years...

Amaira's pen stopped moving.

"...What?"

She stood immediately.

"A rookie..."

"...defeating trained soldiers?"

Impossible.

Yet...

The panic in the soldier's eyes wasn't fake.

She disappeared from her office.

Moments later...

She arrived at the barracks.

Then froze.

Broken beds.

Destroyed furniture.

Groaning soldiers piled together like a mountain of bodies.

Standing proudly atop the human pile...

Was Lucifer.

Hands in his pockets.

Looking completely relaxed.

"Listen carefully."

"From today onward..."

"I'm the boss."

No one argued.

Lucifer smiled.

"What?"

"Want another round?"

Every soldier immediately shouted—

"NO!!"

Amaira's eyelids twitched.

Even after years on the battlefield...

She had never witnessed something this absurd.

She finally spoke.

"What exactly..."

"...is going on here?"

Lucifer looked over.

Then casually walked down the mountain...

Stepping on someone's shoulder.

Someone else's stomach.

A leg.

An arm.

One unfortunate soldier screamed when Lucifer accidentally stepped somewhere far more painful.

Only after reaching the ground did Lucifer finally get a proper look at her.

He blinked.

"White hair."

"Crimson eyes."

"Red eyelashes."

"Thick legs."

"Big boobs."

"Huge ass."

"Cute face."

"Tall."

"A spear."

He nodded seriously.

"Sexy."

The entire room went silent.

Lucifer continued as if making a military report.

"Definitely SSS-rank."

"My type."

Every soldier stared at him in horror.

One quietly whispered,

"...He's dead."

Amaira smiled.

It wasn't a pleasant smile.

"Oh?"

"What did you just say?"

Lucifer pointed at her confidently.

"Congratulations."

"You're currently number two on my harem list."

Chirin nearly fainted.

"...What about Ock?"

"Sue?"

"Ming?"

Lucifer shrugged.

"They're in Murim."

"This is another world."

"I'm rebuilding."

Chirin sighed deeply.

"You truly are hopeless."

Lucifer scratched his cheek.

"...Wait."

He slowly looked back at Amaira.

"...Why is she shaking?"

Chirin deadpanned.

"Because..."

"...she's trying very hard not to kill you."

Lucifer nodded thoughtfully.

"Ah."

"That explains it."

He smiled warmly.

"So..."

"May I know your name..."

"...Number Two?"

The soldiers immediately fled the room.

They wanted absolutely nothing to do with whatever was about to happen.

Amaira disappeared.

BOOM!!

Her fist smashed directly into Lucifer's guard.

The impact blasted him through three stone walls before he skidded across the training grounds outside.

Dust exploded everywhere.

Lucifer slowly stood.

He glanced at Chirin.

"She really was trying to kill me."

Amaira landed gracefully before him.

Her crimson spear rested in her hand.

"I was wondering where your confidence came from."

"It seems..."

"...you actually have some ability."

Without another word...

She vanished.

The spear shot toward Lucifer's throat.

He leaned sideways.

WHOOSH!

The spear barely missed.

Another thrust.

Blocked.

Another.

Dodged.

Using Sin of Envy, Lucifer read every killing intent.

Using Greed, he slowed her movements just enough to react.

Steel clashed repeatedly.

Yet despite defending flawlessly...

He never counterattacked.

While retreating, he genuinely asked,

"...Why are you this angry?"

Chirin groaned.

"You really asked that?"

Lucifer looked confused.

"I complimented her."

"If that's your compliment..."

"I fear your insults."

Amaira's aura erupted.

The ground shattered beneath her feet.

"So..."

"...you still aren't taking me seriously."

Her spear glowed crimson.

"I'll show you why I'm a captain."

She compressed every ounce of spiritual power into a single thrust.

The air itself screamed.

The spear became a beam of scarlet light capable of piercing mountains.

Chirin shouted,

"Move, idiot!"

Lucifer didn't move.

Instead...

He smiled.

"...She's here."

Before the spear could reach him—

CLANG!!

Another woman intercepted it effortlessly.

The shockwave tore apart the clouds above the military camp.

Amaira immediately stepped back.

The commander stood between them.

Her scarlet eyes slowly turned toward Lucifer.

The entire base fell deathly silent.

"Lucifer."

Her voice was calm.

Far too calm.

"If you don't have an exceptionally good reason..."

"...for everything you've done today..."

She took one step forward.

"...then don't expect to leave this place alive."