Mu Yi stood atop the high tower, silently gazing down at the dark, silent alley below. Then he shifted his eyes to the distant streets, brightly lit and bustling with life.
The brilliant lights of the night market faded where tall walls blocked their reach into this abandoned alley.
Cold, damp darkness and warm, noisy brightness formed two extremes—one shadowed, one radiant.
Aiva watched Mu Yi, shrouded in shadow, with conflicted emotions. The chilling aura from him filled her with dread; the heavy pressure was nearly unbearable.
"Aiva, has Olienna left already?"
Mu Yi paused silently, then slowly turned. Subtle frost spread from his feet outward.
"Master, Miss Olienna has left and arrived home safely," Aiva reported, retracting the tracking particles she’d sent with Olienna.
Her master was angry. This was the first time she’d seen him fail to suppress his power from rage, leaking his aura. Though faint now, prolonged leakage would draw the Imperial Capital’s strong warriors.
"Olienna’s just a sixteen-year-old girl. It’s impressive she didn’t vomit from sheer terror."
Mu Yi summoned his backpack, opening the outfit panel as if searching. His fingers scrolled swiftly through slots until a pure black armor in a corner caught his eye.
This exotic armor wasn’t elegant like others. Wearing it granted no dazzling aura.
It was pitch-black, lightless, its monstrous form resembling a hideous demon. A deep death aura flowed across it. Sharp black spikes lined the pauldrons; intricate purple patterns adorned the chest plate.
It offered no grandeur—only crushing oppression and bone-deep fear.
Mu Yi stared at the armor, gathering dust in his backpack since he’d obtained it. He’d never worn this death-foretelling set in-game.
But now, seeing it again, he felt a kinship, as if they were long-lost soulmates.
Black mist seeped from the armor. Like a child finding its father, it coiled around Mu Yi’s arm, rubbing affectionately.
"Has Hank been found?"
Mu Yi raised his palm, watching the black mist swirl. Its aura reminded him of the female demon from Hot Spring Valley. That demon’s aura felt eerily similar, hinting at a connection.
"Hank’s been found, but his condition is dire. We must reach him now."
Aiva pointed toward the distant, brightly lit market where Hank waited. His life force weakened, but not beyond saving.
"Let’s go. Don’t keep Hank waiting."
A hoarse, weathered voice drifted forward. When Aiva looked up, the death aura hit her like ice.
Thick black mist swallowed the rooftop. Pitch-black armor encased Mu Yi completely, not a gap left.
The monstrous helmet twisted his voice. His once-magnetic tone now rasped like a demon’s whisper.
A dark red gleam flashed in the helmet’s slit. Two huge, jagged horns rose on either side.
With each step Mu Yi took, the death aura—lethal to mortals with a touch—flowed alongside him.
Shrouded in mist, the hideous armor made him a terror born of darkness.
"M...Master... what is this..."
Aiva’s eyes widened; she swallowed hard. Even in their past world, she’d never seen him like this.
This abyssal darkness and Demon Aura felt like a world boss—but no, even bosses lacked such crushing pressure.
Her master had lost all human traces, now an evil god ruling over death.
"Just an ordinary outfit," Mu Yi said flatly, hand on his chest. "Hundred Faces of Demons" was this armor’s name.
He opened his character panel, scrolling to titles. Seeing "Lucky One" appear, he smirked bitterly.
"Title change: 'Demon King'."
The moment he switched titles, the armor shrieked piercingly.
Black mist surged upward with a roaring welcome, swallowing the silver moon and stars in seconds.
The pitch-black canopy blotted out all sky-light. The erupting black energy shook the Imperial Capital’s air and ground.
At last, the Demon Kin of this world had their long-awaited master. The master of Demon Kin—had descended.
