Chapter 249: Demon Magic, Angel History, Begin Fishing

He shook his head; these matters were too confusing to unravel—better to set them aside for now and keep them in mind without delving too deeply.

[1] He shook his head; some of these things were too unclear to ponder now—better to set them aside for now, keep them in mind but not dig deeper.

Soon after, Louis wasted no time; with a wave of his hand, he released the demon Gula from the silver box, and before it could shout, Louis cast a soul-searching spell at it.

[2] Then Louis wasted no time; with a wave of his hand, he released the demon Gula from the silver box, and before the demon could shout, Louis hurled a Soul-Seeking Spell at him.

Given Gula’s current pitiful state as a demon avatar, he was utterly incapable of resisting Louis’s soul-searching.

[3] Given Gula’s current pitiful state as a transformed form, he could not possibly resist Louis’s Soul-Seeking Spell.

However, since Gula possessed the essence of a great demon, Louis did not extract all his memories; compared to his centuries-old recollections, only a tiny fraction was retrieved.

[4] But since Gula was fundamentally a Greater Demon, Louis did not strip all his memories; compared to the hundreds or even thousands of years of memories, only a tiny fraction was extracted.

Moreover, during the soul-searching, Louis deliberately avoided the memories concerning the Demon God and the Demon Kings.

[5] Moreover, during the Soul-Seeking, Louis deliberately avoided the memories concerning the Demon God and the Demon Kings.

In this mythic world, merely uttering a name could invoke meaning—let alone directly peering into the memories of one’s devotees.

[6] In this mythic world, merely uttering a name could summon meaning—let alone directly peering into the memories of one’s own vassal.

Caution never hurts.

[7] Caution never leads to error.

“Devotee of the Gluttony King Beelzebub… thirty-six spells… war with angels… hell rifts…”

[8] “Vassal of the Gluttony King Beelzebub… thirty-six spells… war against the angels… Hell’s rift…”

Louis closed his eyes, carefully sifting through the memories, while crushing the ruined mass of bloody flesh in his hand; a fleeting purple flash appeared at his third eye, and the flesh mass vanished without a trace.

[9] Louis closed his eyes, carefully sifting through the memories, while crushing the ruined mass of flesh and blood; a flash of purple vanished from his third eye, and the flesh lump disappeared without a trace.

Moments later.

[10] Moments later.

Louis opened his eyes.

[11] Louis opened his eyes.

His gaze flickered uncertainly.

[12] His gaze flickered uncertainly.

In Gula’s memories, the Seven Sins Kings emerged one after another, each mastering one of the cardinal sins, eventually rising to become the strongest seven demons in all of Hell.

[13] In his memories, the Seven Sin Kings of Hell appeared one after another, each mastering one of the Seven Sins, and rose to become the strongest seven demons in all of Hell.

Otherwise, Hell originally housed demons just as powerful, even stronger, than them—such as the current pseudo-kings.

[14] Otherwise, Hell had once housed demons no weaker than them, even stronger—like the current pseudo-Kings.

But how the Seven Kings became Sin Kings remained unknown to all demons.

[15] But how the Seven Kings became Sin Kings—no demon knew.

This was the question that intrigued every demon in Hell, and the deepest secret of all.

[16] It was the question that intrigued every demon in Hell, and its deepest secret.

Yet no demon had ever known—not even Gula, a devoted servant, had any clue.

[17] Yet no demon had ever known—not even Gula, as a vassal, could fathom it.

And just how powerful were the Sin Kings’ abilities…

[18] And just how powerful were the Sin Kings…

As a devotee, Gula knew a little; though unaware of the others, he knew Beelzebub had once swallowed an entire floating continent.

[19] Gula, as a vassal, knew a little—nothing else, but Beelzebub had once swallowed an entire floating continent.

Hell was boundless, its borders vast, and occasionally fragments from other worlds would intrude—once, a massive, incomplete floating landmass, roughly the size of Eurasia, had crashed into Hell.

[20] Hell was boundless, its borders vast; occasionally, things from other realms breached in—once, a fractured floating continent, as large as Eurasia, had crashed through.

And Beelzebub had swallowed it whole.

[21] And Beelzebub swallowed it whole.

Also,

[22] Also,

The Sin Kings possessed the ability to transform others—what are known as devotees. For instance, Gula was once an ordinary demon; after being chosen by Beelzebub, he was transformed into a great demon, gaining a fly-like form in the process.

[23] The Sin Kings possessed the ability to transform—what were called vassals. Gula, for instance, was once an ordinary demon; Beelzebub chose him, transformed him into a Greater Demon, and gave him the form of a fly.

The other kings possessed this same ability, making devotion a major shortcut for ordinary demons seeking advancement.

[24] The other Kings had the same ability, so becoming a vassal was one of the fastest paths for ordinary demons to ascend.

As for other details, Gula didn’t know much.

[25] As for the rest, Gula didn’t know clearly.

The rank difference was simply too vast.

[26] The rank gap was simply too vast.

Even so, Louis’s expression grew grim.

[27] Even so, Louis’s expression grew grim.

Swallowing an entire continent in one bite.

[28] Swallowing a continent at random.

Could he, with all his strength, even move a single mountain?

[29] Could he, with all his strength, move even a single mountain?

The gap was staggering…

[30] The gap was enormous…

Should he be grateful that the mortal world and Hell were severed, and that Hell’s demons were restrained by God?

[31] Should he be grateful that the mortal world and Hell were severed, and that Hell’s demons were bound by God’s restrictions?

Otherwise, even a single king arriving here could destroy Earth—such a being, capable of stellar destruction, could truly be the unimpressive entities of myth?

[32] Otherwise, even one King arriving could destroy Earth—this kind of being, capable of likely exploding stars—was this truly the same as those lowly, insignificant entities in myths?

Or was the concept of “Sin” truly that miraculous?

[33] Or was the Sin itself truly this miraculous?

Moments later.

[34] Moments later.

“The road ahead is long and arduous; I shall seek high and low.”

[35] “The road ahead is long and arduous—I shall seek high and low.”

Louis’s expression returned to calm.

[36] Louis’s expression returned to calm.

After all, that was a matter for the future; treating them as hypothetical enemies to spur himself forward was enough—never allow doubt to paralyze him, or he’d become a laughingstock.

[37] No matter what, it was a matter for the future—treat it as a hypothetical enemy, use it to spur yourself forward, never allow doubt to take root; if you were paralyzed by fear, you’d become a joke.

“Too bad I found no information about Mammon; Gula knew nothing of what Mammon was plotting.”

[38] “Pity—I found no information about Mamen. Gula didn’t know what Mamen was up to.”

After dismissing the thought, Louis quickly recalled the primary purpose of this soul-searching.

[39] After dismissing the thought, Louis quickly recalled one of the main purposes of this Soul-Seeking.

Mammon, the first Hellish king Louis had ever heard of, was a key focus; recently, Malphas’s projected memories had further heightened Louis’s vigilance.

[40] Mamen, the first Hell King Louis had ever heard of, was the key focus—and the recent projection memory of Marsus had only heightened Louis’s vigilance.

This Hellish king was actively pursuing some sinister scheme.

[41] This Hell King was currently engaged in some conspiracy.

Thus, Louis’s soul-searching served both to deepen his understanding of Hell as a hypothetical enemy and to uncover information about Mammon.

[42] Thus, his Soul-Seeking on demons served both to deepen his understanding of Hell as a hypothetical enemy, and to uncover information about Mamen.

After establishing these priorities, Louis began refining demons within his third-eye consciousness while reviewing the remaining memories.

[43] Having established these priorities, Louis began refining the demon in his third-eye mind-sea while reviewing the remaining memories.

The remaining memories were even more fragmented, mostly concerning the ancient war against angels and some incomplete spells.

[44] The remaining memories were even more fragmented, mostly concerning the ancient war against the angels, and some incomplete spells.

In the memories, angels were peculiar beings.

[45] In his memories, the angels were peculiar beings.

The earliest angels—the Primordial Angels—aside from a few like Lucifer, had no rank divisions or physical forms; everything was chaotic.

[46] The earliest angels—the Primordial Angels—had no rank or form distinctions, save for a few like Luxi; everything was pure chaos.

In fact, angels were often hideous, even grotesque; Gula once fought an angel consisting of nothing but a single enormous eye with wings sprouting from its back.

[47] In fact, the angels were all ugly, even grotesque—Gula had once fought an angel that was nothing but a single enormous eye, with wings behind it.

That enormous eye was the angel.

[48] That enormous eye was the angel.

In contrast, demons of Hell were naturally beautiful, or capable of transforming into stunning men and women, primarily to facilitate concealment and seduction.

[49] In contrast, the demons of Hell were naturally beautiful, or could transform into stunning men and women—mainly to aid in concealment and seduction.

Later, for reasons unknown—perhaps due to the growing human population—he wasn’t sure—angels developed ranks and underwent physical transformations, yet still lacked gender distinctions.

[50] Later, something happened—he wasn’t sure if it was because human numbers had grown—but angels developed ranks and changed forms, yet still had no gender distinction.

As time progressed, the number of angels increased.

[51] The more time passed, the more angels there became.

Their power became stratified; as weaker angels multiplied, something astonishing occurred—he saw angels split into male and female!

[52] Their strength developed tiers, and as weaker angels multiplied, something strange occurred—he saw angels split into male and female!

He swore, as a veteran demon,

[53] He swore as a veteran demon!

This was utterly unbelievable!

[54] This was utterly inconceivable!

Moreover, these new angels exhibited increasingly strong emotions, like humans, unlike the mechanical Primordial Angels.

[55] Moreover, these new angels grew increasingly emotional—like humans, not cold machines like the Primordial Angels.

Later, due to the war, some angels were captured; through study, Gula and other demons discovered these new angels possessed souls—human souls!

[56] Later, due to war, some angels were captured; after study, Gula and other demons discovered these new angels possessed souls—human souls!

Though purified and glowing with brilliant white light, as demons who fed on souls, they were experts in this field and could not be mistaken—these were undeniably human souls!

[57] Though they were bathed in blinding white light, as demons who fed on souls, they were experts—there was no mistake: they were human souls!

Therefore,

[58] So,

Human souls could be transformed into angels.

[59] Human souls could be transformed into angels.

This revelation sent shockwaves through Hell, yet the Demon Kings remained silent, the Four Supreme Pillars did nothing, and even the Demon Gods made no comment.

[60] This discovery shook Hell—but the Kings made no move, the Four Pillars made no move, and even the Demon Gods remained silent.

It seemed only ordinary demons and great demons like Gula were unaware.

[61] It seemed only ordinary demons and Greater Demons like him were unaware.

Eventually, the matter was dropped.

[62] Eventually, it was dropped.

“Angels, humans, ascending to heaven?”

[63] “Angels, humans, ascending to Heaven?”

“How can humans become angels? Isn’t it said humans enjoy peace and bliss in heaven?”

[64] “Humans have the right to become angels? That doesn’t make sense—weren’t humans supposed to be safe and joyful in Heaven?”

“And even if humans could become angels, their numbers—oh, Hell’s demons and lesser demons far outnumber them…”

[65] “And even if humans could become angels, in numbers—oh, Hell’s demons and Lesser Demons were far more numerous…”

“Both Hell and Heaven clearly crave souls…”

[66] “Hell and Heaven both truly need souls…”

“Tsk, souls, souls.”

[67] “Tch. Souls, souls.”

Louis’s lips curled in disdain.

[68] Louis curled his lips into a sneer.

But the world works this way—without utility, why would heaven offer protection? Its operating principles are, in a sense, no different from human society.

[69] But the world works this way—if you have no value, why should Heaven protect you? Its operating rules were, in a sense, no different from human society.

At least, becoming an angel offers power—a decent path for mortals, assuming no hidden traps.

[70] At least, becoming an angel and gaining power was a decent path for mortals—if there weren’t other traps.

Then, Louis reviewed the memories concerning magic.

[71] Then Louis reviewed the memories concerning magic.

Magic.

[72] Magic.

Humans also had the profession of magicians.

[73] Humans also had the profession of mage.

But magic originally originated from demons—its full name being “demon spells.”

[74] But magic originated from demons—its full name was Demon Art.

Human magicians were merely learners.

[75] Human mages were learners.

In some aspects, they had even surpassed their “teachers,” the demons.

[76] In some ways, they had even surpassed their “teachers,” the demons.

Moreover, demons’ spells were innate, not learned; unless they advanced in rank, the number of spells they possessed was fixed and unchangeable.

[77] And demons’ spells were innate—not learned. Unless they broke through to a higher rank, they had exactly as many spells as they were born with, and could not change them.

As a great demon, Gula possessed thirty-six spells; excluding those with negligible effects, the rest were potent.

[78] As a Greater Demon, Gula possessed thirty-six spells; removing the weaker ones, the rest were potent.

“Maw of Gluttony,” “Rapid Digestion,” “Plague Fly”…

[79] Gluttonous Maw, Rapid Digestion, Plague Fly…

“These spells could be deconstructed—perhaps adapted into our own techniques.”

[80] “These spells could be deconstructed—perhaps they could be adapted into cultivation techniques.”

As he sensed these spells, Louis mused.

[81] Feeling the spells, Louis thought so.

But this would be extremely difficult; demons’ spells were innate and intrinsically aligned with their nature—only by deeply understanding their underlying logic could they be modified. Even human magicians faced immense challenges when first learning magic.

[82] But it was extremely difficult—these demons’ spells were innate and perfectly attuned to their beings; one had to deeply understand their underlying logic to modify them. Even human mages found learning magic a grueling process.

“Every demon is a treasure.”

[83] “Every demon is a treasure.”

“Their memories, spells, and experience—all are wealth.”

[84] “Their memories, spells, experience—all are wealth.”

This further solidified Louis’s resolve to pursue the “fishing enforcement” strategy.

[85] This further solidified Louis’s resolve to fish for demons.

The Cano Group, the Sanitation Company, and the Devourer Company had all expanded operations to seek out mysterious events, filtering out those involving demons, and Louis would need to actively summon them himself.

[86] The Cano Group, the Sanitation Company, and the Consumer Company had all set up operations to hunt for mysterious incidents, filter out those involving demons, and then take the initiative—Louis would have to summon them himself.

Louis licked his lips.

[87] Louis licked his lips.

Summoning demons, in horror films, is the classic start of suicide—especially in a world teeming with horror.

[88] Summoning demons, in horror films, was the standard start of suicide—especially in a world overrun by horror films.

But Louis felt he had the confidence to do it.

[89] But Louis felt he had the confidence.

As long as no great demon’s true form descended, or he didn’t summon a demon god or higher, other demons posed no threat!

[90] As long as it wasn’t a Greater Demon’s true form descending, or summoning something above a Demon God, other demons were nothing to fear!

“Fine, let’s play the fool—can’t just wait around forever.”

[91] “Fine, let’s commit suicide—can’t just wait around forever.”

“Yangshen, Yangshen!”

[92] “Yang Shen, Yang Shen!”

……

[93] …

He came here specifically for cultivation.

[94] He came here for cultivation.

College was merely incidental; Louis only showed up briefly, attended a few lectures, completed his assignments, then returned to the suburbs.

[95] College was just incidental; Louis merely showed up, listened to a few lectures, finished the assignments, then returned to the suburbs.

Here, the summoning rituals were already fully prepared.

[96] Here, the summoning rituals and all preparations were complete.

The speed of the wealthy is always like this—where there’s money, there are always people willing to act.

[97] The rich always moved fast—give money, and plenty would do the work.

Click. Click. Click.

[98] Click-click-click.

Heavy footsteps echoed across the ground.

[99] Heavy footsteps echoed across the ground.

Soldiers clad in black armor patrolled meticulously inside and outside the villa—each one among Louis’s most elite troops.

[100] Soldiers clad in black armor patrolled the villa’s interior and exterior, each one among Louis’s most elite troops.

Standing at the front was a man arguing with a puppet doll.

Tang Mi looked at the puppet and said, “Tell me, if I set you on fire, will you scream and yell?”

“Yes, but I’ll burn off your pubes first.”

Finley spoke, his voice sharp and strange.

Tang Mi’s eyes widened with excitement. “That’s perfect—I’ve never felt it before. Come on, let’s go.”

Click.

The lighter ignited.

Finley stared at the lighter, then at the excited man—even a puppet usually brimming with malice was momentarily speechless.

And yet.

If it remembered correctly, this guy had a rebound ability—actually attacking him might be…

The puppet rolled its eyes in a human-like way, then turned away. “Boss will be angry. You don’t want Boss angry, do you?”

???

When did a puppet learn to talk like this?

Tang Mi scratched his bald head, decided not to ask further, and began thinking about why he’d come here.

According to Boss, he was here to command the Black Armors, using them as the core to strengthen the Sanitation Company and serve the rich and powerful.

Sounds incredibly boring.

When will a demon show up so I can go fight it?

Tang Mi, bored out of his mind, kept walking as he patrolled the villa. When he reached a room, he stopped.

The room’s extreme cold had frozen a thin layer of ice over the door and even the corridor. The Black Armors guarding it changed shifts far too frequently—not because they wanted to, but because they had to.

Inside was a monster whose natural aura felt like a predator’s, unbearable to endure.

Even these superhumans, whose bodies had been enhanced and parasitized, couldn’t withstand it for long.

You could imagine what kind of beast was inside.

Tang Mi knew who it was. Since Boss had taken it in and begun feeding it, it had grown stronger and stronger.

A fierce gleam flashed in Tang Mi’s eyes—he wouldn’t allow himself to be weaker than Jason.

Beside him, Finley shivered in a human-like way, glancing at the room. “Tang Mi, aren’t you here for revenge? Go in. I believe in you.”

At those words, Tang Mi snapped back to reality, sneered, and slapped Finley’s puppet head. “Up to no good.”

Finley shook its head.

How could it ever have good intentions!

“Let’s go. Keep patrolling. If we delay Boss’s business, we’re both done for.”

Thinking of the Fire Man, Finley began clicking again involuntarily and hurried after him.

In the basement.

One after another, people were sketching magical arrays under the direction of a robed figure.

Louis sat nearby, watching intently.

Soon.

The robed man hurried over, saw the Black Armor standing behind Louis with a warning glare, and immediately stood still, keeping a distance from Louis.

“Sir, the array is complete. We only need the sacrifice.”

This robed man was the leader of a fringe cult—one of the few the subordinates had found in this period with real ability.

And honestly.

Though America had many fringe cults, those with real power were hard to find.

According to the robed man, he was born with an anomaly—similar to a medium—able to see spirits. After an accident, he accidentally took this path and had never harmed anyone, only collected money.

Hmm.

Who believes a fringe cult dog? A fool does.

But it didn’t matter—as long as he could draw the summoning array.

“This array summons a certain demon. I acquired it from a fellow practitioner—it’s definitely effective. I’ve seen them receive guidance from that demon.”

He spoke with absolute certainty.

Louis said nothing, but thought to himself:

After this, I’ll find out who that “fellow practitioner” is—and wipe them out to make them serve me.

“But, sir, summoning requires a sacrifice. And you must at least pretend—someone must pray and perform rituals. Otherwise, it doesn’t follow procedure.”

Oh, right.

Doing this follows procedure—it lets the demon know it’s being summoned by a fringe cultist.

Otherwise, no sacrifice, no prayer, no information at all—the demon would sense something’s off.

Since we’re fishing, we might as well act the whole part.

Louis clapped his hands.

Clap. Clap.

(End of Chapter)