The Devil's Cage

White Jack looked at Bloody Mary in fear.

The judgmental gaze from a spiritual being was much simpler than humans.

Whose soul fire was stronger, who was the stronger one?

White Jack saw the soul fire in Bloody Mary, and it was definitely powerful. More importantly, the soul fire burned frankly, as though it was running on infinite gas.

'What is this weird thing?'

White Jack thought in its mind, but it approached Bloody Mary in a friendly manner and bowed, as though it didn't know how powerful Bloody Mary was.

As for Bloody Mary?

A warm smile appeared on its ghostly face, as though the sneering and mocking earlier was nothing but an illusion.

'Trying to play disguise are we?

'I'm all for it!'

Disguise was Bloody Mary's forte.

"Not bad."

Kieran took the chessboard and the blood chess piece, and inspected it.

The comment had two meanings.

First, Bloody Mary did a good job.

Second, the two items were really not bad.

[Name: Figure Chess (Broken)]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: I]

[Attack: None]

[Defense: I]

[Attribute: 1. Figure Creation; 2. Chess Game]

[Effect: Transform Castle]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Prerequisite: Mystic Knowledge (Master), Spirit B]

[Remark: Figure Chess was created by some powerful being to kill time, but when it fell into the wrong hands, its original motive was altered]

…

[Figure Creation: Able to turn companions into chess pieces and place them on the chessboard. The created chess piece will obey the master's orders unconditionally.

[Chess Game: While completing any kind of 'contract', the owner can have a game with the contracted person or being; If the target fails to comply, a Cruel Game will take place and damage will be inflicted relatively.]

…

[Transform Castle: It is a chessboard and also a castle.]

…

[Name: Bloody Chess Piece]

[Type: Wonder Item]

[Rarity: I]

[Attack: I]

[Defense: I]

[Attribute: 1. Buff; 2. Level Up]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Prerequisites: Figure Chess]

[Remark: Use a person's flesh, blood and soul to create a chess piece. The created chess piece's power will depend on the converted target (highest rank cannot surpass Figure Chess)]

…

[Buff: Able to buff every chess piece; lasts 1 hour, 1 time per day]

[Level Up: Sacrifice Bloody Chess Piece to perform a level up to a specific chess piece]

…

Kieran tossed the red chess piece and looked at the black and white chessboard.

When Kieran's gaze landed on the chessboard, a feeling rose in his heart; it was as though he had total control of the castle.

It wasn't just a feeling though, as powerful Spirit and sensitive Intuition told Kieran everything he felt was real.

He could even feel the pleasure, sorrow, anger and joy of the people around the castle, and he could simply alter their fates!

Powerful!

The special feeling of power made Kieran breathe faster.

After three to four hurried breaths, Kieran returned to normal.

He then fell into deep thought.

It wasn't just because of what the two items represented, but also because of what he related from them.

The first item was just as Kieran expected—it should be connected to the series of ambushes to Freedom Alliance before this.

As for the second item?

Kieran somehow thought of the big city and what followed was his heartbeat quickening again.

If it was really what he thought…

"A chess piece, eh?" Kieran muttered to himself.

He then discarded the thoughts from his mind and looked at Bloody Mary.

"Is it useful to you?" Kieran asked.

"Yes." Bloody Mary nodded repeatedly.

Without further hesitation, Kieran gave the chessboard and chess piece to Bloody Mary.

Kieran was being straightforward because of Bloody Mary's clean answer. It was also the last option in his current state.

As for trying out the [Figure Chess] and turning his companions into chess pieces?

As long as Kieran was still sane, he would never do that, even if he had [Bloody Chess Piece].

The mastermind hiding in the dark must have more underneath his sleeve.

Never fall into an enemy's pace. That was what Kieran had determined since the beginning.

Bloody Mary received the two items with joy.

Unlike previously when Bloody Mary fought with [Voodoo Pillar] as though it was fighting its mortal enemy, Bloody Mary chose a more direct way this time.

Kak!

Bloody Mary put its hand through the sturdy chessboard and crushed the chess piece with his other.

The powers contained inside the two items were absorbed instantly.

After a while, Bloody Mary's attributes changed again.

[Name: Bloody Mary]

[Type: Superior Demon (Hetero-Form)]

[Rarity: I+]

[Attack: I+]

[Defense: I+]

[Attribute: 1. Illusion; 2. Phantasm Body; 3. Hand Blade; 4. Blood Sucking; 5. Quick Regeneration.]

[Effect: 1. Form Change; 2. Mystical Knowledge (Pro); 3. Noble Knowledge (Master)]

[Prerequisite: Willingness to submit]

[Remark: A High Demon that was born from the Blood Queen Tiara because of an accident. After consuming the Voodoo Pillar, it had reached the limits of a common demon. However, not being a common demon to begin with, it was smart enough to not simply fuse with those seemingly powerful things, but choose those that benefited itself. Another feeding elevated its strength to new heights.]

...

[Illusion: Create Illusions that require authentication no lower than SSS+ Spirit, rank I+ Intuition (Fail once, and the target will suffer Extreme mental impact; Fail twice, and the target will suffer rank I mental impact). When there are multiple targets, Spirit and Intuition authentication will decrease based on the increased targets, and when the targets have unstable emotions, authentications will increase.]

[Phantasm Body: Transform body to phantasmal form; immune to physical attack; 30% damage mitigation against energy attack. +3 in Undercover]

[Hand Blade: Hands are sharp as blades, attack rank +1 (Cannot exceed rank III)]

[Blood Suck: Consume the blood of living beings to rapidly regenerate injuries and stamina, and cleanse debuffs. Regeneration +2 when munching]

[Quick Regeneration: Consume a small amount of Stamina to quickly regenerate HP; consume a certain amount to even regenerate limbs, including the head.]

...

[Form Change: Able to change into anyone, anything or any living being (possesses own abilities and a certain level of the target's aura). The size of the transformed can be no bigger than a large being (an elephant is the limit of a large being). Or change into a Blood Tiara (when contractor wears the Blood Tiara, they will be able to choose 2 attributes from Bloody Mary as skills)]

[Mystical Knowledge (Pro): Skilled in many pieces of mystical knowledge and able to use them freely]

[Noble Knowledge (Master): Familiar with knowledge that nobles have to master]

[Note 1: Slave Contract doesn't requires points to summon]

[Note 2: Strengthen Contract; even if it somehow broke free from Fantos Manuscript, it would still be your slave.]

…

There weren't any drastic qualitative changes, but the basic attack, defense and other attributes acquired a certain boost.

Kieran was satisfied with the results.

The two items that were used as 'bait' to lure Kieran out were exchanged for enhancement for Bloody Mary, hence making his 'tool' even more efficient. What else was better than this outcome?

Of course, Kieran did not forget to seal the deal.

A new contract was given to Bloody Mary.

Bloody Mary was used to its boss' way, so it signed its name while savouring the power up in its body.

As for the contents of the contract, it didn't even look, not even a glance.

It had signed so many contracts throughout its service anyway, so it had almost forgotten what the contents were. Since it couldn't free itself, might as well enjoy the ride.

All it had to know was one rule: never disobey its boss.

White Jack beside them was dumbstruck by the scene.

From the moment Kieran simply gave Bloody Mary the items, White Jack was already astonished.

It wasn't a newbie in the big city and had quite the understanding of this environment while serving its previous collaborator, so it knew how valuable a powerful item was in this city and what it represented.

For every single player, a powerful item could change one's life and provide one the chance to be a rising star in the city!

One single powerful item was already so promising, let alone two!

In the big city, 1 + 1 would always equal larger than 2.

What happened after Bloody Mary broke the chessboard shook White Jack's worldview; it defied its logic.

White Jack was utterly confused when it saw Bloody Mary signing a new contract.

Bloody Mary was already so powerful, why would it sign such a harsh contract?

Or could it be that signing such a harsh contract was the root of growing stronger?

A sudden realization hit White Jack.

The limited time prevented it from further hesitating.

"My lord, I also want to form a contract with you, similar to that one!"

White Jack pointed at Bloody Mary.

…

Alisritter saw Decoman in the prisoner wagon get pushed out of the inner castle and get escorted to the plaza in the outer castle.

A stage was prepared in the plaza; an executioner—bare topped and showing off its muscles—was grinding his axe on the grinder.

Many of the castle citizens gathered around and pointed at Decoman.

Further away, a three level wooden stage stood tall.

The first level had knights in armours, a total of 12 knights.

The third level had archers—also 12. They each had a bow in one hand and loaded arrow in the other. They were looking around in vigilance.

In the middle, the second level, there were a few people dressed in fancy attires.

They sat around a roundtable; maidens fanned them and served them tea.

Other than the person in the middle whose face was cold, the others were looking forward to Decoman being escorted to the stage.

'Is it that guy?' Alisritter stared at a man with a cold face from the dark and wondered.

Alisritter was pretty sure he had entered a semi-realistic illusory state.

The castle was real, but the people might not be real.

In simple words, like the people who dressed as nobles in the second level, the Decoman being escorted to the stage might not be the real one.

However, Alisritter must find the person responsible for all this. Only then could he escape the illusory realm.

But…

After searching around for a few times, Alisritter still did not find the person he was looking for.

If Alisritter was the mastermind, he would never put himself in danger. Being so, that tall stage that seemed safe but was actually filled with danger would not be the first choice.

On the contrary, the observing crowd would be more likely, but there were too many people.

Alisritter didn't know where to start!

He wasn't skilled in Intuition, thus he fell into a difficult position.

Meanwhile, from above the walls of the inner castle, Valenheart was watching the Swordsmith's difficult position from the shadows. He couldn't hold back his grin.

"Come on! Come on! Pick the one you like! I'll surely give you a surprise!"

Valenheart almost laughed out loud when the delight hit him.

However, Valenheart held his laughs back because he knew how powerful his opponent was. He knew he might have absolute advantage in the situation, but he was still some distance away from true victory.

Only after turning the Swordsmith into his own chess piece would Valenheart have the confidence to confront the Flaming Devil.

Whenever he thought about the Flaming Devil, Valenheart frowned.

He never thought J.Pearlman would have such a relationship with the infamous devil. He'd even come to rescue the Fisherman!

It messed up Valenheart's plan thoroughly.

If it weren't for his backup plan, he would have failed or maybe even lost his life, let alone failing to achieve his original goal, which was to absorb the entire Freedom Alliance and transform the Swordsmith into his chess piece.

But humans always have weakness!

The Swordsmith put himself in danger because he wanted to repay his debt to Decoman, hence making it his weakness.

As for the Flaming Devil?

Greed and the urge to control!

Valenheart was certain of it because of the Flaming Devil's other title: the Treasure Hunter!

Why would others call him the Treasure Hunter if he did not search for items crazily until he'd scraped the land?

As for the urge to control?

The Flaming Devil had always been solo; he obviously disliked situations that he couldn't control so he was no different from those lone wolves.

Valenheart had prepared a gift for him, and he should be immersed with his 'gift'.

"Hope you have a pleasant time!"

Valenheart gave his blessing in his heart while he watched the Swordsmith move around.

After some hesitation, Alisritter finally moved towards the execution stage.

Since he couldn't find the person who was controlling the semi-realistic illusory realm, he chose to save Decoman first, despite the high chance of Decoman being a fake.

The outcome matched Valenheart's expectations.

The mole in Freedom Alliance could no longer hide his smile. He raised his right hand, intending to swing it down.

KABOOM!

The heavens shook, and the earth trembled.

A pillar of flame burst out of nowhere and rose up to the sky.

The whole sky was tainted red in that moment, and a black figure walked out of the flames as though he was tearing apart reality.

"Found you."