[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-evolution-from-little-devil-to-devil-empress":3,"chapter-evolution-from-little-devil-to-devil-empress-evolution-from-little-devil-to-devil-empress-chapter-26":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Evolution: From Little Devil to Devil Empress",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1079746,1395,"Chapter 26: Crucible Ranking [5] - Bartender’s Strength","evolution-from-little-devil-to-devil-empress-chapter-26",26,"\u003Cp>Amid Scurry’s seemingly endless chattering, time quickly went by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Liora took her seat, more and more Devils arrived. By the time she was halfway through her drink, the hall was completely full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the gathering showed no signs of starting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, the voices of the Devils grew impatient, while the atmosphere turned heavy, like a barrel of gunpowder ready to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me tell you. You should not trust anyone here—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Scurry was speaking, a thunderous bang resounded throughout the hall, instantly silencing the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When everyone instinctively turned their head toward the source of the noise, they discovered that it was caused by a gigantic, humanoid creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a Devil, more than twice the size of most Devils, and was covered in thick, spiked armor engraved with intricate patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was partly hidden behind a cracked helmet, revealing only a pair of glowing orange eyes and two rows of sharp teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his right hand, he held a massive stick of raw meat, which he slammed against the black floor while taking bites out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he opened his mouth and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s going on?! Who are we waiting for? When is this damn gathering going to start?\", he questioned in between his bites, his voice loud and booming with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversations in the hall stopped abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of the Devils shrank back, fearful of the Armored Devil’s reputation, while others watched with excitement, eager to see what he was going to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among these Devils was Liora, who, although seeing this guy for the first time, was actually quite familiar with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey! See? I told you that this guy is crazy!\", Scurry’s squeaky whisper came from the side, as if he wanted to receive praise but was afraid of being overheard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ay! Where’s the Inn Keeper? Let’s get this whole thing over with!\", the Armored Devil’s voice reverberated through the room as the banging continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint cracks began to form on the black floor, which, although infused with precious materials, was unable to withstand the damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone was waiting for the Inn Keeper to arrive and say something, the bartender—who had been quietly serving drinks all this time—suddenly stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his iconic smile, he approached the Armored Devil and attempted to calm him down:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please wait, customer. After everyone arrives, the Inn Keeper will start the gathering.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response to his polite words, the Armored Devil didn’t calm down in the slightest. Instead, he let out a harsh, angry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait?! Wait?! For how long are you going to waste our time?\", he roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for the bartender to respond, he lifted the massive meat club and brought it to his shoulder before slamming it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His aim was perfectly clear: the bartender’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although his movements looked ordinary, everyone in the room could feel the surge of demonic energy within his gigantic body and understood the power behind this attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some Devils hesitated, wondering whether to step forward and stop him in order to earn the Inn Keeper’s gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, before they could make up their minds, something surprising happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bartender lightly tapped on the glass in his hand, and as if in response, the liquor within it surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boundless, seemingly endless, liquor floated out of the glass and converged in the air before him, transforming into a massive flying dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon turned toward the Armored Devil and, following a thunderous roar, charged at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like water pouring out from a burst dam, the liquor crashed onto the Armored Devil, engulfing him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuous cracking and tearing sounds rang out as everyone’s vision was obscured by the flood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few seconds later, when the bartender tapped on the glass again and the flying dragon collapsed into liquid and returned to it, did the Armored Devil reappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, compared to just seconds ago, his appearance was quite embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless scars covered every inch of his armor, while his aura fluctuated violently, as if he had been severely wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his club tremblingly, then slowly put it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a cold snort, he sat back, this time silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the bartender raised his head, his eyes meeting those of everyone in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I ask everyone to be patient. The Inn Keeper is going to come out soon.\", he said with a smile before returning to his work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the tense atmosphere in the hall vanished, and conversations began once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this time, the Devils’ tone was no longer impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obviously, the bartender’s display of strength had shocked them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, although the Armored Devil was arrogant, everyone had to admit that his strength was superb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the bartender could easily suppress him, he would have no issue dealing with the rest of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few Devils remained calm, among whom was Liora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t surprised by the bartender’s sudden outburst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she had never seen him fight before, her instincts had always warned her of the danger he posed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you see that?! Did you see that?!\", Scurry’s excited voice interrupted her thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she turned to look at him, she saw that his green eyes were shining with excitement, like a fan meeting their idol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If only I could possess such strength! No one would dare bully me!\", he muttered in a low voice, as if he was stating his future dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liora rolled her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of her Void Instinct, her senses were way sharper than those of other Devils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Scurry tried to hide it, she could feel the powerful aura hidden beneath his unassuming appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her opinion, even if this guy was weaker than the Armored Devil, the difference couldn’t be that great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the entire City of Embers, who would dare \"bully\" him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liora had the urge to call him out on his lies, but in the end decided that it wasn’t worth the effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While her thoughts wandered and Scurry continued his antics, time quickly went by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the final guest entered the hall, and following behind them was the host—the Inn Keeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silent as ever, he strode to the center of the room and stepped onto the slightly raised platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, he waved his claw, and the Devil Runes scattered all over the hall lit up, their glow signaling the start of the gathering.\u003C\u002Fp>",1075,"2026-06-03T10:39:03.667Z",1,"novelbin.me","a580d41b93e71ca09d8c9c1e7fd68e765899431d2e5a920cd5e221cb3b6de7c5","evolution-from-little-devil-to-devil-empress-chapter-27","evolution-from-little-devil-to-devil-empress-chapter-25",482,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fevolution-from-little-devil-to-devil-empress-cover.jpg"]