Kabir walked down the main street of Bullera, eyes wide like a kid seeing a carnival for the first time — except this carnival was full of beings that could easily crush him like a bug.
Devils of countless shapes and colors crowded the marketplace:
• Fiery-skinned warriors with horns curled like blazing rams
• Tall, shadow-thin figures with a single horn sharp as a spear
• Massive tanks with three horns and armor that looked carved out of giant beast bones
Every step revealed some new, bizarre anatomy he wasn't prepared for.
Then he nearly tripped over his own feet.
A female devil passed him.
Not "just a bit" taller — she stood a full head over him… and Kabir was 6'2".
Deep red skin. Pure black hair tied in thick braids with metal rings.
And — yes — three breasts, casually strapped underneath leather piecework.
Kabir stared for one dangerous second too long before snapping his head away.
Nope. Not looking. Absolutely not looking.
…though why three? Do they come in packs?
He shook the thought out so hard he almost rattled his horns.
"Focus, Kabir… focus…" he whispered to himself.
The Guild Hall of Bullera rose at the village center like a fortress — obsidian black walls and firelit runes snaking upward like veins. Even the torches burned a shade of crimson he'd never seen before.
When Kabir stepped inside—
Noise hit him like a punch.
Devil adventurers roared with laughter or fury.
Weapons clashed from sudden arguments.
Flames and embers flew, some from magic, some from breathing.
It's like an MMA cage match inside a biker bar, Kabir thought.
He whistled under his breath.
"Man… this place is packed."
Then his attention drifted forward… and suddenly, everything else blurred.
There she was.
Tall.
Composed.
Way too attractive for his survival.
A dark maroon blazer fitted perfectly around her curves, paired with a crisp white shirt and a black pencil skirt that practically glowed against her violet hair.
Her horns were small and sleek — classy, almost.
Her tail coiled around her waist like a fashionable belt.
Her amber eyes tracked papers so efficiently that time itself seemed to politely wait for her to finish.
Kabir swallowed.
Okay… intimidatingly pretty. Dangerous pretty.
A sudden crimson notification flickered in front of him:
Warning: Unknown Charm Aura Detected
Effect: Mental Influence
Status: Nullified
Kabir jerked like someone poked him with a taser.
"What the—?"
Mara's deadpan voice echoed in his mind:
"Succubus charm. She's trying to influence you."
Kabir squinted and finally noticed the shimmering heat-like aura around her.
Great. A succubus. As if Hell wasn't already trying to kill me.
The receptionist finally glanced up — her smile polite and professional… yet carrying a tiny "I know I'm hot and you do too" energy.
"No cutting the line, sir," she said in a smooth, velvet voice.
"Please wait for your turn."
Kabir froze mid-step.
Yep. Succubus confirmed.
A few minutes later, he finally reached the counter.
Kabir cleared his throat, trying to sound normal and not like his brain was overheating.
"Uh… hello."
Amber eyes locked onto his.
"Hi there," she replied, smile softening. "How can I assist you today?"
Kabir straightened like he belonged here.
"I'm Kubaira. I'd like to register as an adventurer."
She tapped a crystal tablet gracefully.
"Understood. And Kubaira is your name, correct?"
Kabir nodded once. Confident. Calm.
Meanwhile, inside:
Mara, thank you for that fake name… because I almost said Kabir like an idiot.
She gave a tiny approving smile.
"To register, we must first assess your soul energy. That determines your rank and starting eligibility."
She placed a hand over her chest theatrically.
"Oh—and I'm Nebula. Guild receptionist… and a bit of a suc—"
"You're a succubus," Kabir finished.
Nebula paused.
Then smirked, intrigued.
"My, my… someone's observant."
She leaned forward slightly, inspecting him like a rare product.
"And how exactly did you resist my charm? Most lesser devils turn into stuttering idiots the moment they look at me."
Kabir shrugged, trying not to look too proud.
"Maybe my mental strength isn't as weak as you think."
Nebula chuckled — low, playful, dangerous.
"The funny part? I can't turn my charm off, even if I wanted to."
She tugged on a cracked pendant at her neck.
"This used to suppress it. It broke yesterday. Awful timing."
Kabir nodded sympathetically.
"That's rough."
"It is what it is," she sighed. Then her professionalism snapped back into place.
"Follow me, Kubaira. Assessment room is this way."
They walked through a hallway into a circular chamber — dark stone walls, runes glowing faint red, and a floating crystal orb at the center.
Kabir looked around like he'd entered some VR setup.
"So… what do I do? Punch it? Pray to it?"
Nebula laughed lightly.
"Just place your hand on the Soul Crystal. It will analyze your soul energy. No rituals. No pain."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Kabir approached slowly.
Mara's voice hit him like a slap:
"Suppress your soul energy.
If you show too much… they will not let you walk out."
Kabir's jaw tightened.
"Okay. Holding back. Not dying today," he muttered internally.
He pressed his hand against the crystal.
At first — silence.
Then—
The orb glowed faint red.
Dim…
Then brighter…
Then enough to illuminate the whole room in a soft crimson haze.
Nebula watched with clear interest.
"Well, well… that's quite a healthy soul for someone who 'just arrived from nowhere'."
Kabir kept his expression neutral.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Nebula flipped the tablet around.
"You'll start as F–rank… but—"
She tapped a line on the screen.
"With soul energy like that, you could apply for D–rank in a month."
Kabir blinked.
"One month? Seriously?"
Nebula nodded.
"For most devils?
That takes two years."
Kabir let a small smirk slip.
"Yeah… that's better than nice."
Nebula's voice lowered — half warning, half challenge:
"Welcome to Bullera's Adventurer Guild, Kubaira.
Let's see if you survive long enough… to rise."
Kabir took his hand off the crystal.
For the first time since entering Hell —
he felt like he actually belonged somewhere.
Not as prey.
Not as a mistake.
As someone climbing.