I stood there in the empty lab, holding the teleportation scroll Koil had shoved into my hand.
The place still smelled of herbs and metal, but it felt quieter now that she was gone. I took a deep breath and focused on the energy in my heart, that new familiar warmth from the meditation earlier.
Eli had said to connect my Demonic Essence to the scroll. I tried to do just that, reaching inside myself and pushing whatever existed of that power toward the paper in my grip.
At first, nothing happened. I concentrated harder, picturing the energy flowing out like a thread.
Ten seconds passed, maybe more.
Then suddenly, it clicked.
I felt connected to every detail of the scroll. The circuitry of magic carved into it, the way the lines twisted and looped to guide the flow.
The signature of the Demonic Essence used to etch those patterns, faint but unique, like a fingerprint left behind. The material of the scroll itself, thick and slightly rough under my fingers.
Even the shards of conductive mineral ground into the ink that painted the circle on the surface. Everything became clear, down to the finest lines.
I was sure that if someone gave me the ingredients, I could recreate this entire scroll from scratch.
This did not feel normal? Like, not at all. I thought of the question at Eli.
Did you know this would happen? It seems important.
『 I had a suspicion, 』 Eli chuckled in my mind, warm and amused. 『 I sensed something special blooming from the flower in your right eye socket. It has interesting properties when it comes to comprehending concepts. Especially since its roots connect directly to your brain and heart. 』
I paused, touching the spot gently. The red flower was still there, unchanged.
Is there a chance Lothair, Hayja, or even Koil know about this capability?
『 Nope. Lothair might have an idea thanks to her Ego, but she cannot pinpoint that it stems from the flower. The others have no clue, as far as I can deduce. 』
You seem to know a lot about it. Does this kind of power or organ have a name?
『 My original self possessed something eerily similar, though not exactly the same in shape. 』
I see.
Maybe there was a reason that Lothair went through the hard work of preparing my new place, gave me an identity, turning me into a fellow demon and had me earned Demonic Essence.
No, that was the reason. She already told me by simply letting me experience the crude capability of her Ego.
In one way or another, Lothair could see the future.
I had no idea if her Unspoiled Farsight let her see through the possible future or just make her an undeniable prophet where the event she saw would happen no matter what.
There were several documented Ego back on Athera that had the power to see or deduct the future, and all of them possessed a different trait and mechanism.
I sighed instinctively, heaving away my weight from my chest.
Regardless of Lothair's plot and her reason for investing in me, it could think and plan more about it when I acquire more power and influence. As of now, thinking about those things would only waste what was left of my sanity and brain power.
Back to the red flower on my eye socket.
Seeing how you are familiar with it, Eli. Does this ability have a name?
『 Your skill is quite differently structured than the one I have. In a way, it is akin to a branch of a special trait of the aforementioned power. 』
So it is a new power, then.
『 Thus, I declared it Magic Savant. And the flower itself... Thaumanthus vinculum. Meaning, the magical flower that binds~ 』
Magic Savant, and Thaumanthus vinculum.
"I like the sound of it."
Thaumanthus flower, I decided. That was what I would call it from now on.
A powerful skill born from my demonization.
Excitement built up in my chest. I could not wait to test more, but first things first. I activated the teleportation scroll, channeling the energy again.
"I should go back and huddle myself in my library before I want to do anything."
The world twisted. Nausea hit like before, but I was ready for it this time.
When everything settled, I stood in a brand new place. One I never expected, at that.
Gore stretched out everywhere.
A hellish wasteland of demonic beasts and monstrosities piled in heaps. Beastly, limbs twisted in ways no human could imagine. Blood soaked the ground, mixed with strange fluids that steamed in the air.
All sort of skulls cracked open, organs spilled out. The smell hit me hard, rotten and metallic.
Mountains of corpses rose in the distance, blocking the crimson sky.
What the fuck is happening?
『 What did you expect, honey? 』
Eli sounded dumbfounded.
This is supposed to be near Lothair's territory! The environment around her mansion was pretty. Gardens with glowing vines, elegant halls. This place is nowhere like that!
『 Uhuh. 』
Right after I thought that, a deafening roar screeched across the wasteland.
I covered my ears, the sound piercing straight into my head.
『 Hmm, you might want to hide. Actually, you need to run as far as you can. 』
Eli's voice was casual, but directive.
I started moving as I sensed that there was no reason for her to lie, but then a sharp stripe of lightning streaked from one point to another.
Red and blue electricity cracked the air, destructive and fast.
It passed right by my side, only a meter away.
The ground exploded where it hit, sending dirt and gore flying.
Then I saw it.
A large dragon-like armored beast emerged from one of the mountains of corpses. Constant sparks of red and blue electricity covered its body.
At a mere glance, it looked higher than ninety meters. Massive scales, jagged horns, claws that dug into the dead flesh as it moved.
Without saying anything, goosebumps sprawled over my body and blood rushes in adrenaline.
My legs burned, heart pounding. Tears also welled up as I cursed Koil in my head.
Why send me here? This was not near Lothair's place. This was a death trap!
I glanced back, and I sensed the ground rumbled as I did so.
The beast sprinted forward, low and fast like a hungry komodo dragon as its winged front limbs lunged to the ground again and again.
Its eyes fixed on me.
At that moment, I realized.
It was not using its electricity from afar.
It wanted to devour me up close.
"There are a lot of corpses and carcasses around! Stop going after me!"
I screamed it out loud, but of course it did not listen.
And because I was looking back, I did not see what was in front of me.
My foot caught on nothing, and I fell forward into some sort of hidden gap. Tall and large hole, like a trap.
Also, shiny metallic spiky things lined the bottom, sharp and waiting.
"AAAAAAAAAA—!"
The fall was short but terrifying.
Thanks to reflex and a bit of luck, I was small enough to slip through the gaps between the spikes.
I hit the bottom hard, pain shooting through my leg.
Just by the sensation alone, I knew that my shin was broken, bone sticking out at a wrong angle and all that.
My whole body trembled. Hands shook as I pushed myself up, careful not to touch anything I was not supposed to.
As I brute forced my mind to think while my body trembled uncontrollably, I started to see the clear picture.
Giant weapons jutted upward all around me. Swords longer than I was tall, axes with blades wider than my body, spears thick as tree trunks.
Handles planted in the ground, points aiming up to impale anything that fell in.
『 The Jagan Basilisk is no longer chasing you. It seems scared of this trap. 』
Eli notified calmly. There didn't seem to be any lie on her words.
I sweated, moving my pained body slowly. Panic still rushed through me, but I forced myself to stay calm.
I analyzed the weapons around me. Each one huge, meant for something massive, nd be wielded by a total giant.
Their Edges are still sharp, despite the gore and time. There were also runes etched into the metal, faint glows here and there.
"Eli, what can you tell me about this Jagan Basilisk you mentioned?"