In Imperial history, holy soul mages had perished outside their towers more than once. Each such event shook the country to its foundations.
Reyn didn't know enough to judge with full confidence why the Silver Star Duchess was the Shadow Blade's target. This secret organization worshipped Lohu—a evil deity, sworn enemy of Vedgestri, the Goddess of Magic. In the Empire, Lohu followers were hunted like street rats, deprived of any place under the sun. Killing the duchess and the ensuing chaos would undoubtedly please their dark lord. The explanation seemed plausible, but Reyn still had doubts.
Holy soul mages were revered as the world's strongest casters, and defeating them even outside their tower walls was no easy task. Reyn strongly doubted the Shadow Blade assassins had the power for it.
He glanced at Chief Felion. The legendary magic swordsman was still deep in thought. Did he know something about the Shadow Blade? Or perhaps he had other information? The Abyss Gates alone were enough to alarm Longsand's ruling circles.
After pondering, Reyn decided to stay silent. He couldn't explain how he knew about the Shadow Blade—it touched on too many of his own secrets.
"I'll head to Her Grace the Duchess immediately," Felion said, clapping Reyn on the shoulder. "You've rendered a huge service, saved Longsand. The duchess won't skimp on rewards. Go back, rest well, and wait for good news from me."
"Thank you, Chief," Reyn replied.
"Davenlak, there's still work to do here," Felion continued, giving orders. "Clear the demon bodies, don't let Fel poison the river water."
"It will be done, Chief, I know what to do," Davenlak assured him.
With that, Felion got into the car and drove off at once.
Reyn had nothing more to do here. He'd just been through a battle, and Davenlak wouldn't burden him with cleaning up demon remains, letting him leave early.
Returning to the Vigo estate, Reyn found Viola wasn't back yet, though it was well into the afternoon. He took a bath, changed into fresh clean clothes, and lay down to rest. He felt no fatigue at all; on the contrary, his condition was better than ever: both physical strength and spirit had reached an unprecedented peak.
After lying a bit and frankly getting bored, Reyn headed to the training hall. He couldn't wait to get used to his new power. Having absorbed an unknown number of demon souls, he'd fully charged his "battery" several times, with most of the energy going to strengthening elements. Though he remained a second-level mage, his power had grown by leaps and bounds, as if he'd jumped three levels at once.
"Steel Body" improved by one level.
"Strength" also by one level.
"Dragon Might" advanced from first circle to second.
Even after such expenditures, he had over eighty percent charge left, and the next soul transformation was just around the corner.
Spending over an hour in the training hall, Reyn roughly assessed his capabilities. Strength had grown most noticeably. Until today, he could lift about four thousand six hundred pounds. After "Strength" was enhanced to a fourth-level rare element, the figure jumped to seven and a half thousand pounds—an increase of nearly three thousand! And adding second-circle "Dragon Might," the weight he could lift exceeded ten thousand pounds!
Ten thousand pounds of strength.
Reyn was stunned himself. In familiar units, that was about five tons! He could lift a five-ton object!
Strength increased, and so did defense. "Steel Body" was an excellent element, and enhancing it consumed a full two hundred energy units—enough for two mage level-ups. Such costs showed how hard it was to improve. But second-level "Steel Body" was definitely worth the investment.
Reyn experimented on himself: even wielding a sharp sword and putting all his power into a strike, he could barely harm himself with "Steel Body" activated. He slashed his arm furiously; there was a clang, sparks flew, and after a few strikes, the blade was notched. After a dozen, the test sword broke in two. Reyn was amazed, seeing firsthand what invulnerability to normal weapons meant.
However, "Steel Body" wasn't an absolute panacea. Activating "Dragon Might" and hitting his leg with a warhammer, he still felt pain. A full-force strike would likely injure him. Reyn didn't continue—after all, both spear and shield were his, no need to see which was stronger.
He looked at the eighty percent charge on his phone interface. That spiritual power should suffice to raise "Reynbow Beam" to second circle or "Charge" to third level. But after careful thought, he shelved the idea. These elements were enough for now. His true power already matched any mid-rank superhuman, and he could even dare match a high-rank one. He'd long outgrown normal professional levels.
He should pause element strengthening and focus on raising mage level. Each new level let him fuse with a new demon soul, gain new elements, and grow stronger and faster! His ability to challenge higher-rank foes mostly came from "Steel Body"—an excellent element. One superior element meant far more than several common or rare ones. Reyn had learned this on his own skin and knew how to choose right.
"It's been just half a month since fusing with the Crystal Giant Lizard, and it's time to hunt a third demon soul already. Growth this fast is a minor issue in its own way."
Reyn gave a wry smile. His standards for demon souls were high, and finding a suitable one wasn't easy. It might take considerable effort.
That evening, Viola returned to the estate. She'd heard about the Abyss Gates and knew Reyn was involved, but thought he'd only assisted. Reyn didn't want to worry her unduly and didn't tell the full truth, just outlining events in broad strokes. Listening, Viola looked concerned too. She realized it might be a plot against the Silver Star Duchess, but without enough info, couldn't draw firm conclusions.
The next day, all Longsand papers reported the incident. But the tone was restrained, almost routine: a demon extermination squad found demon traces in a dock warehouse. All were destroyed, residents had nothing to worry about.
Though rumors spread from dock workers who'd seen the demons that day, the demons hadn't caused major havoc, so the talk didn't resonate much and soon died down.
Yet beneath the calm surface, dark currents churned in Longsand. The Silver Star Duchess ordered a thorough investigation. City guards and the demon extermination squad combed the city; the Secret Flame Guard was also mobilized. Street by street, they checked, uncovering many fugitives and evil god followers. But they worshipped other dark entities, unrelated to Lohu.
Public Security Bureau Chief Felion personally oversaw the probe. With the Mechanics Guild, they examined all of Trevichi's actions in recent months, including friends, colleagues, and relatives he'd contacted. But no substantial evidence emerged. He was a typical hidden apostate, little different from other fallen superhumans. Trevichi, returning to work at the Mechanics Guild, immediately prepared to open the Abyss Gates. Meaning he'd gotten the Abyss Crystal soon after falling.
Beyond that, no leads. The Abyss Crystal's origin remained a mystery. They could only assume Trevichi's fall was provoked, all pre-planned. But by whom, what force—the Public Security Bureau didn't know. Many suspected the Shadow Blade, but no direct proof.
A week later, Reyn was summoned to the Public Security Bureau.
Outside Chief Felion's office, he met Captain Pollock and Frida. Both looked well, wounds nearly healed.
"Reyn!" Pollock greeted joyfully. His skin had healed, no burn scars left, just hair and brows not fully regrown. His bald head resembled a boiled egg, looking a bit funny. "Where've you been these days? I haven't thanked you for saving me yet. Without you, I definitely wouldn't have survived."
"And me too," added Frida beside him.
Reyn took it calmly, shaking his head:
"We're team comrades; it's my duty. I couldn't watch you die."
Lately, he'd devoted himself to studying the gramophone, reaching a key point, spending almost all time in Zoltan's mechanical workshop, only leaving to eat and sleep.
"Be that as it may, you saved me," Pollock said seriously. His gratitude needed no extra words.
In fact, Pollock still thought it a dream. Surrounded by that many demons, he'd braced for death, but Reyn stepped forward, unleashing terrifying power. Recalling how Reyn slaughtered demons, he never stopped marveling.
Pure power, onslaught speed, unbreakable defense!
Armed only with a warhammer, Reyn tore through hundreds of demons, leaving severed limbs and flying flesh chunks like a merciless killing machine.
Violence, blood, shock!
Those battle scenes were etched deep in his memory forever.
During the Iceberg death investigation, Pollock had met Reyn. Then Reyn was ordinary, but the captain already sensed this young man was no simpleton. Escaping a second-level shadow warrior required exceptional qualities. So, wanting to nurture talent, he didn't dig deeper, sparing Reyn trouble.
Unexpectedly, in just over two months, Reyn gained such incredible power. And saved his life. Pollock found fate's twists amazing and understood Reyn had a great future ahead—this was just the start.
Before Reyn arrived, Pollock had spoken privately with Frida. They knew Reyn had downplayed his role in demon slaying. Though they couldn't fool the chief and supreme captain, and some perceptive superhumans might guess from the warehouse state, it showed Reyn's wish to avoid excess attention. They agreed to help keep it secret.
Reyn chatted briefly with his comrades and, sensing their tacit agreement, smiled understandingly.
Just then, the chief's secretary emerged and invited them in.
Entering the office, they saw Felion at a wide desk piled with document stacks. He looked very busy.
"Reyn, you've come," Felion rose, circled the desk, smiling. He ordered the secretary to bring tea.
"Chief," the three said in unison.
Felion sat on the spacious sofa and smiled:
"Don't stand on ceremony, sit."
Reyn stayed calm as usual, but Pollock and Frida felt a bit stiff. In years with the demon squad, this was their first close chat with the chief. Knowing he was a legendary superhuman, they were nervous.
Felion was relaxed, asked about their wounds, and soon they loosened up. Reyn inwardly admired: this legendary magic swordsman had exceptional diplomatic skills. Strength and poise—no wonder he was the Silver Star Duchess's trusted aide, heading the Public Security Bureau for decades.
After brief small talk, Felion got to business.
"You destroyed the Abyss Gates—a great merit. You're this city's heroes; all Longsand residents owe you," Felion said sincerely. "Her Grace the Duchess has prepared rewards in three parts."
Pollock and Frida listened intently; Reyn was interested too.
"First, at the Goddess's Birth festival end of year, Her Grace will grant you baronies," Felion smiled. "Congratulations on joining the nobility."
"Goddess, baron!"
Pollock froze seconds, then nearly jumped for joy. Even usually reserved Frida beamed happily.
Reyn was somewhat surprised by the Silver Star Duchess's generosity. He understood Pollock and Frida's feelings well. For most Imperial commoners, nobility was the ultimate dream. Even now, when nobles lacked early Empire influence, and the Silver Star Duchess's title was honorary without lands, it still held huge appeal for commoners and most superhumans.
A title meant escaping commoner status, entering Empire high society, gaining numerous privileges.
Viola had told Reyn about ennoblement. The ceremony was usually year-end, at the Goddess's Birth festival. The Silver Star Duchess granted no more than ten titles yearly, sometimes two or three. Few new nobles were ducal heirs; most were rich contributors to the duchess's treasury. In other words, they bought titles. In Longsand high circles, it was almost open secret; even some informed commoners knew.
Imperial knight order and Imperial Order of Merit holders were near-nobles, costs fixed: five and ten thousand gold shields. Barons cost twenty thousand gold, viscounts fifty thousand, no haggle. Earl titles and above gave land rights, hereditary, so the Silver Star Duchess didn't sell them. Reyn suspected not unwillingness, but low offers.
Now the Silver Star Duchess granted three baronies at once. Honorary, costing her nearly nothing, but rarity added value. Handing them out freely would devalue future ones. Granting three showed generosity. In the whole Public Security Bureau, few had noble titles. Given Pollock's post, he hardly expected this. Becoming a baron hit him so suddenly he couldn't speak from excitement. Frida was deeply moved too, struggling to stay composed.
Reyn reacted more reservedly. His main goal was growing his own power; a noble title didn't thrill him much. Of course, he wouldn't refuse from false modesty—nobility would benefit his whole family. At least now he could take a surname.
Felion was slightly surprised by Reyn's reaction. Waiting for Pollock and Frida to calm, he continued:
"Besides baronies, Her Grace grants each a thousand gold shields, plus access to the Mage Tower's alchemy lab to pick one enchanted equipment item."
"Additionally, the Public Security Bureau will reward you: raise pay, improve service conditions. When back from Mage Tower, Davenlak will detail."
"Now follow me; we're going to the Mage Tower.
Felion, ignoring the mixed feelings reflected on the faces of those present, stood up and headed for the exit. It was only when Reyn called out to them twice that Pollock and Frida snapped out of it, as if from a dream, and hurried after him.