The Villain's Story

Demon Lord Vassago, ranked third in the order of the seventy-two, goes by many names, such as The Oracle, The Demon of Prophecy, and He who takes Interest in the Unusual.

Vassago has many titles and lords over twenty-six legions of demons. Vassago is one of the more... benevolent demon lords, one that isn't thirsty for conflict and is well known to do unusual things. The authority bestowed upon him is the declaration of the past, present, and future.

Simply, it is the ability to peer into the past as well as the future, and grant rules to the present. Nobody knows the true extent of this authority. Vassago takes an interest in special individuals, those who defy the normal way of life.

Sword Saint Arken is one of these individuals, the very first human being to awaken an aura despite possessing mana. When news of Arken's awakening of aura reached Vassago, he took a special interest in the Sword Saint.

Using his authority, he pried into Arken's past and future, but he kept the information to himself. His interest in Arken was revealed only when Demon Lord Vassago approached Demon Lord Paimon a few days before the rules were implemented. It revealed all sorts of information to the Queen of Succubi.

The exact details are known only to the two Demon Lords, but Demon Lord Paimon delivered this information to the Martial Star, who, in turn, shared it with his subordinates. That is where the information about Askolt' s vulnerability arose.

'On the eve of a brand new beginning, the city of lights will be devoid of the protection of the Sage and the Saint, leaving only a young dragon of ice and a man that cannot bleed to guard it.'

That was among the information Morgana had received from the Martial Star, which eventually drove her to attack Askolt in retaliation in the previous... loops. The young dragon of ice referred to Alan Peccator, and the man who cannot bleed to Harrison, whom Morgana knew had a skill that let him exert a certain amount of control over his blood.

Back when they were schoolmates, Harrison had a unique party trick of slitting his wrist and surprising everyone with no bleeding... for some apparent reason, the young version of him found that amusing.

She explained all of this to Keith, who took it all with a grain of salt. Although he was more inclined to believe this than her stupid theory of repeating time, he still had some questions...

Even if Vassago had a weird reputation, why would the third-ranked demon lord ever be interested in a small world such as Earth? Even more so in Arken Miller?

But then again, the man being talked about was Arken Miller, the Sword Saint... As someone who had barely escaped the mad demon's clutches, Keith... believed it. The man was certainly special enough for a powerful demon lord of prophecy to pay attention to him.

Furthermore, his feat of unlocking Aura was impressive indeed. Many individuals had tried to replicate it, but none had succeeded. Arken was an interesting topic of study among many scholars in the Alliance, even if he didn't know it.

Keith took a deep breath, trying to shake away the fearful memory of encountering Arken Miller and barely escaping with his life. He harrumphed.

"Fine, I'll believe you, and get ready."

He stood up, bidding farewell to the leader of the Obelisk and promptly left the room. Morgana watched him depart with a smile on her face. When he left, the smile widened, and she stretched her body.

"Hmm... That was a bit hard..."

She mumbled to herself as she stood up and walked towards her laboratory. She hadn't really lied to Keith. Everything about her second source of information, being Demon Lord Vassago, was nothing but the truth.

Even though the information coming from her own skill was correct, there was one thing she hid from Keith about her Unique skill. While the messages and dreams coming from her Adaptation were true, she didn't reveal the true extent of Adaptation.

The passive feature of her skill, Biokinesis, wasn't just showing her visions about the loops but actually leading her to certain outcomes.

Adaptation had already informed her of her death or demise in the next few months. With the repeating loops, Morgana believed Biokinesis was leading her away from it, hence the unusual urge and attraction to attack Askolt.

Adaptation was leading her to a beneficial outcome! Biokinesis was guiding her to attack Askolt, for it was a way to avoid her eventual demise. This was why Morgana was adamant on saving her strength for the fated day, making no attempt to defend Terra Damnum when the World Government eventually came on its shores.

She approached her laboratory. It was orderly and obsessively clean. Although there was a thick scent of blood, not a single drop of blood could be seen. Everything was pure white. To the side, Flesh Amalgamations and other grotesque creations were present, sealed in containers filled with pale, amber fluid.

They appeared to be asleep, but were actually in a state worse than death. Each of the creations within the containers appeared to be 'inflated'. These were Morgana's Mana batteries, creatures she engineered specifically to store as much mana as possible, to use it for emergencies.

With the help of Biokinesis and a few other skills, Morgana was able to replenish her reserves remotely with the help of her batteries. They numbered in the dozens in her laboratory, but in the basement of the Obelisk.

There existed hundreds, maybe even thousands. Standard laboratory apparatus, such as centrifuges, microscopes, sequencing machines, incubators, sat alongside things that have no name in conventional science, instruments built specifically for a mind that operates beyond the boundaries of accepted biology. There wasn't a single monitor in sight where she could see any information.

She didn't need rows and rows of monitors to see any data in real time. Biokinesis would show her whatever she wanted and needed to know. In the center of the laboratory, a chair stood meters before a summoning circle used for spirits.

The circle was drawn with blood, and the 'experiment' on the chair was Lilith Cardaveres, Morgana's daughter. Her skull was... split open, revealing her brain in its entirety. Lilith herself appeared to be asleep, with a dazed expression on her face.

Morgana approached the chair, humming a tune. She gently touched her daughter's brain with her thumb, index, and middle fingers, activating Biokinesis. Lilith's body stirred, and her mana poured out towards the summoning circle. The circle lit up, and numerous sigils began to float up in the air.

A spirit was being summoned, and a foul stench permeated the area as Lilith's spirit, the vicious Boneclaw, was summoned. A Boneclaw was an undead-type spirit world creature, one that was more bloodthirsty than the rest of its kin. It was like a honey badger, picking a fight with literally anyone without an ounce of fear, eager to feast and reap.

However, the Boneclaw that was summoned was strange, it wasn't like the rest of it's kin, with long, bladed arms and a thin visage, akin to skin clinging to bone, as if there was no muscle or flesh beneath. The Boneclaw was... thick and filled with numerous tumors present on its body. As it was summoned, it fell to the ground and puked. The tumors and wounds on its skin released putrid pus and other unknown fluids, as the Boneclaw rolled around in pain, backing away in fear. It even tried to dig at the ground, at the summoning circle, as if searching for a way to return to the spirit world.

"There, there~."

Morgana continued humming, as she used Biokinesis to stimulate the connection Lilith and the Boneclaw had, controlling it to do her bidding. This was an experiment she was working on, one that she was desperate to complete and perfect as soon as possible.

It was research on how much biological 'evolution' in a host could influence a spirit world creature connected to them; her daughter was the perfect choice, having such a powerful spirit. Morgana wished to create... a new spirit; she wished to evolve one of them beyond normal limits.

She wanted to make a masterpiece, one that could contend against a Dragon! Indeed, the Boneclaw she was modifying was supposed to be her magnum opus! The greatest application of Biokinesis ever! Using Biological change, or rather, 'evolution', as she liked to call it, to influence the mind and the soul, and hence, introduce evolution in a spirit world creature!

Spirit World Creatures were deeply connected with the host they had a contract with. There existed many kinds of contracts, and thankfully for Morgana, Lilith had signed a powerful contract with her spirit.

Morgana activated Biokinesis, stabbing her fingers in her daughter's brain, as she channeled her mana. The Boneclaw roared out in pain, as its body began to emit flame, experiencing fiery evolution. Lilith's body twitched, and sometimes, her face contorted with pain, but her eyes never opened, as if she were still asleep.