[Salvos] 677. Offering Help, Demanding Help (Patreon)

677. Offering Help, Demanding Help

***

Salvos (The Enemy of the Demon King) (The Devil’s Daughter)

Species: [Primeval Demon of Pride] 

Secondary Species: [Lesser God]

Subspecies: [Angelic Devil Princess] - Lvl. 168

Class: [C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝] - Lvl. 153

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Corruption Mastery] - Lvl. 1

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

[Racial Skill: True Divinity] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 2

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Wisdom of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 5

[Title Skill: Demonic Essence Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: General Status Effect Resistance] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: Invoke Wrath] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: Influence Wild Demons] - Lvl. 1

[Title Skill: The Devil’s Grace] - Lvl. 1 

[Racial Skill: Divine Essence of the Angelic Devil Princess] - Lvl. 1 (Maxed)

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 330 (+150) (+10) 

[Strength]: 325 (+10) (+10) 

[Endurance]: 330 (+10) (+10) (+3) 

[Wisdom]: 490 (+40) (+10) (+50) 

[Agility]: 530 (+10) (+10) (+5) 

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 0]

[Angel’s Wings] - Lvl. 15

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Divine Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Divine Haste] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[Divine Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[Divine Strike] - Lvl. 13

[Divine Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Sacred Hellfire] - Lvl. 18

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[The Call of Armageddon] - Lvl. 15

[The Holy Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Angelic Premonition] - Lvl. 15

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Available Grand Skill Points: 0]

[Claw of Corruption] - Lvl. 2

[My Flame Shall Burn Until Eternity Ends] - Lvl. 3 (Maxed)

[Unused Skill Slot] x2

Secondary Skills: 

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 12]

[Corrupted Draconic Fury] - Lvl. 1

[Cluster Time Dilation] - Lvl. 1 

[Greater Teleportation] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Manifestation of the Old Gods] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Prison Of Isolation] - Lvl. 17

[Riftwalk] - Lvl. 1

[Truth Divination] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Worldbreak] - Lvl. 1

[Passive - Corrupted Dragon Scales] - Lvl. 1

[Passive - Corrupted Regeneration] - Lvl.1 

[Passive - Master of Material Manipulation] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[The World of My Mind] - Lvl. 1

[Unused Skill Slot] x1

I heard my brand new Status echo in my mind. And I couldn’t help but take note of one thing it said.

“I got [Invoke Wrath] again, huh?”

I found it a little bit funny how I lost then gained [Invoke Wrath] immediately. If there was one thing common about me, it was how I always seemed to invoke someone’s wrath. So it made sense that I got it.

But the other two Title Skills I obtained piqued my interest. 

“[Demonic Essence Resistance], and [Influence Wild Demons].”

The latter sounded like the kind of a Skill those [Changelings] I met in the Mortal Realm had— when they ordered the wild Demons around to attack me or my friends. Now, I didn’t think I would be able to control any wild Demons. After all, this was probably a more basic version of the Skill, whereas those Demons under Regnorex’s rule specialized in taming wild Demons… to a certain extent.

But perhaps I could be able to goad a wild Demon into a direction, or to get them to ignore me.

Or maybe the Skill was relative to my own level, so I had a stronger influence over wild Demons that were lower-leveled than me, with less influence over wild Demons that were higher-leveled than me.

I didn’t know for certain. I could only speculate for now. I had to test it out to confirm anything. Although that would be hard, considering that there weren’t really any low-leveled wild Demons wandering the Netherworld right now.

But at least, I could infer the basics of what [Influence Wild Demons] did. On the other hand…

“What does [Demonic Essence Resistance] even do?”

I didn’t even understand what a demonic essence was truly. I did have demonic essence, I knew that. After all, I literally had a Skill for transforming into other Demons back when I was a [Changeling] called demonic essence or something.

And yet, I was pretty sure that this Skill didn’t just protect me from… transforming into something else. 

“Could it be related to Haec’s Skill?”

I remembered Haec had a brand new Skill called [Demonic Essence Manifestation Mastery]. He still hasn’t figured out how it worked fully. But he understood the basics.

I could test out my Skill against his when we had the time later. 

“For now, I guess I have to exit my pocket space again…”

I started as I reopened the rift that had been there. But before I could exit, I sensed something from one of my clones. A thought that told me to wait.

My eyes narrowed as I recalled the vague bits of a conversation that happened while I was choosing my Title, and I nodded.

“Let them out.”

I told my clones. And one of the glass-like walls in my pocket space collapsed. I faced the two figures that were being held there, practically imprisoned. They were escorted out by a pair of my clones accompanying them.

“Ultis, Aliq.”

I addressed the two Deathsquad Hunters. The two individuals who I had made guide me to the Demon King’s Domain. I had promised them I would spare them after they had served their purpose.

Of course, I knew they could turn on me and immediately speak with the Demon King if I let them go. That was why I hadn’t freed them. Instead, I had kept them locked up until I figured out what to do with them.

But apparently, that wasn’t necessary on my end. Because my clones had struck a deal with them.

Ultis stepped forward as she placed a hand on her chest.

“We wish to strike a deal with you.”

I cocked a brow when I heard that. I knew as much, from what I parsed through my clones. 

“What kind of a deal?”

I asked curiously. I didn’t exactly trust them, but I highly doubted they would have been able to concoct a plan to trick me while under the constant surveillance of my clones. So I listened as Ultis explained.

“We know about your plan to overtake the rest of the legions, and we will offer you our help.” 

“You will?”

That surprised me. But Ultis quickly clarified.

“We will not aid you in your war against Regnorex himself. That would be suicide, and we want to live. But we will support you as far as overtaking the other legions of the Expanse goes. Isn’t that right, Aliq?”

Ultis spoke as she turned to the other Deathsquad Hunter. He grunted and averted his gaze. I eyed him suspiciously at that.

“And how do I know you’re not going to try to betray me in the middle of ‘helping’ me?”

I crossed my arms across my chest. And Ultis shook her head.

“We have seen what you are capable of. It would be truly foolish of us to try to double-cross you now— especially when it guarantees our deaths. If we were that much of fools, we would have tried something before we led you to the Demon King’s DOmain.”

Ultis met my gaze as she spoke. I narrowed my eyes, still not fully buying her explanation. And then she lowered her head, placing a hand on her chest.

“Besides, I have never been loyal to Regnorex. I care only about my survival. And this is my best chance of ensuring I survive.”

I studied the expression on her face for a moment longer, then I looked at Aliq. He wore a begrudging look on his face, but he nodded in agreement with her.

And I shrugged.

“Fair enough.”

Then I looked between the two of them again.

“But how would this deal benefit you? How would helping me increase your chances of survival?”  

“Because of what we are asking in exchange.”

Ultis sighed and took a step back. She placed a hand on the collar on her neck.

“We want you to free us from this.”

I blinked, hearing that. I stared at the metallic ring around her neck. Aliq seemed to be frustrated by it too, fidgeting as his eyes flickered down to it. 

Ultis shook her head.

“As long as these summoning collars remain on our necks, we will never be able to be truly safe from Regnorex. We can never escape him or his wrath, no matter where we go in the Netherworld. So we need you to remove these collars from our necks. Otherwise, we will forever be his slaves, and we will die.”

And she finished as she spoke in a grim voice. I tilted my head back when I heard that.

“Huh. I mean, that makes sense. But how am I supposed to help you remove those collars?”

I asked the question to the two Deathsquad Hunters. And they stared at me in utter disbelief.

“...are you being serious right now?”

Ultis said as I blinked.

“Um, yes?”

And the two Deathsquad Hunters sighed.

“You can talk to him.”

Ultis finally said, and my eyes went wide at the realization.

“Oh. Right, I forgot about that.”

***

A Fairy floated in a prison wreathed in iridescent colors.

No— he wasn’t a Fairy. He had shed that identity long ago. He was a Demon.

Or so he tried to tell himself. But as he saw the distortion reflecting his visage, he couldn’t help but recoil and remember his past.

“When I get out of here…”

He began as he ground his teeth together. And a rift opened up amidst the distortion. Blinking, he looked up at a silver-haired figure as she entered the prison— the very same person who put him here.

He glared at her as she spoke with a smile on her face.

“Hello, Hartia.”

Author's Notes:

What thonk? Sorry for the slow updates. I got a girlfriend recently, and apparently, having a significant other, especially at the start of a relationship, eats up a lot of time. I'll try to speed things up next month when I have more time!

Read next chapter here