The Familiar Forest was one of the strangest regions connected to the Underworld.
Unlike the civilized territories ruled by the great Devil Houses, this place existed almost beyond the reach of authority.
Ancient trees hundreds of meters tall stretched toward the heavens, their roots thicker than castle walls. Rivers of pure magical energy flowed beneath the earth like vast veins, nourishing countless magical beasts that had inhabited the forest since ancient times.
Many creatures dwelling here possessed enough strength to challenge High-Class Devils.
Some were even stronger.
The deeper one ventured into the forest, the more dangerous its inhabitants became.
At the very heart of the Familiar Forest lay a territory that even veteran Devils avoided.
The Domain of the Chaos Karma Dragon.
Tiamat.
One of the Five Great Dragon Kings.
A dragon whose power stood near the pinnacle of the world.
At this moment, a crimson magic circle appeared high above the ancient forest.
Sirzechs Lucifer stepped through.
His long crimson hair swayed gently behind him as emerald eyes scanned the landscape below.
The moment he appeared, the forest reacted.
Magical beasts that normally fought one another for territory immediately lowered their heads.
Some fled.
Others hid among the dense foliage.
Even without releasing his aura, his existence alone carried a pressure that instinctively warned weaker creatures not to approach.
Sirzechs smiled faintly.
With a single step, space folded around him.
His figure vanished.
As he ventured deeper into the Familiar Forest, the atmosphere gradually changed.
The lively sounds of magical beasts faded away, replaced by an oppressive silence that blanketed the ancient woodland.
Massive trees older than some Devil bloodlines stretched endlessly toward the heavens.
Their trunks were as wide as castle towers, while luminous blue moss covered their roots, bathing the surroundings in an ethereal glow.
The deeper he traveled, the stronger the draconic aura became.
Ancient.
Proud.
Wild.
A pressure capable of making Ultimate-Class Devils struggle to breathe.
Sirzechs merely smiled and continued forward.
Soon, he arrived at a vast clearing.
At its center rested a crystalline lake whose waters reflected the violet sky above like a flawless mirror.
And beside that lake—
Was a dragon.
Or rather, a woman.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman.
Long sapphire-blue hair cascaded down her back like a flowing river of moonlit silk, reaching all the way to her thighs.
Each strand shimmered faintly beneath the magical light, giving the illusion that countless tiny stars had been woven into her hair.
Her eyes were brilliant gold, radiant and majestic like miniature suns.
They held the arrogance of a dragon who stood above countless races and the confidence of a being who feared nothing beneath the heavens.
Her skin was flawless and pale, almost luminous.
Two elegant sapphire horns curved gracefully upward from the sides of her head, further enhancing her inhuman beauty.
She possessed a tall and graceful figure.
Every movement carried an effortless elegance.
Her long legs seemed sculpted by the gods themselves, while her slender waist contrasted beautifully against the mature curves of her body.
Azure scales decorated portions of her shoulders, neck, and thighs.
Rather than detracting from her beauty, they enhanced it, serving as a reminder that beneath her alluring appearance rested one of the strongest dragons in existence.
Behind her rested a pair of enormous dragon wings folded neatly against her back.
Each scale gleamed with a metallic sapphire radiance.
A long draconic tail lazily swayed behind her.
She sat atop a massive stone beside the lake, one leg crossed over the other, her golden eyes calmly observing the approaching Satan.
The moment their gazes met, the surrounding mana trembled.
A Dragon King.
A Satan.
Two beings standing near the pinnacle of their respective races.
Tiamat tilted her head slightly.
Sirzechs smiled.
"It has been a while."
He stopped several meters away and offered her a polite nod.
"I've been meaning to visit you for quite some time."
Tiamat snorted softly.
A powerful gust of wind erupted from her nostrils, causing the surrounding trees to sway violently.
"It certainly has been a while."
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"So tell me, Satan Lucifer, what brings you to my domain?"
Sirzechs nodded.
"I came with a proposal."
The dragon shifted slightly.
The simple movement caused tremors to ripple through the surrounding mountains.
"I'm listening."
Sirzechs met her gaze directly.
"The Devil race has developed something new."
He proceeded to explain the Evil Pieces System.
Its purpose.
Its mechanics.
Its advantages.
Its limitations.
And the impact it would have on the future of Devil society.
Tiamat listened in silence.
As one of the oldest beings in existence, she immediately understood how revolutionary such a system truly was.
When he finished speaking, she remained quiet for several moments.
Then—
"You want me to become part of your peerage."
It wasn't a question.
Sirzechs smiled.
"Yes."
The Dragon King stared at him.
Then she laughed.
The sound rolled across the heavens like distant thunder.
"You've grown bold."
"I prefer confident."
"Hah."
Amusement flickered within her golden eyes.
"And what makes you think I would agree?"
Sirzechs crossed his arms.
"Because you already know I wouldn't have come here unless I was certain."
Tiamat studied him carefully.
A long silence followed.
Then a faint smile appeared on her lips.
A smile filled with challenge.
"Then prove it."
She rose slowly from her seat.
The moment she stood, the atmosphere of the entire region changed.
The lake began to ripple violently.
The sky darkened.
The earth groaned beneath an overwhelming draconic aura.
Golden eyes locked onto emerald ones.
A battle-hungry grin spread across her face.
"Show me that the current Lucifer is worthy of standing beside a Dragon King."
Sirzechs sighed helplessly.
Then he smiled.
The crimson aura of destruction slowly began to gather around him.
"Very well."
The smile on Tiamat's face widened.
Because dragons respected strength above all else.
And there was only one way to determine whether someone was worthy of standing beside the Chaos Karma Dragon.
The mountain beneath them cracked.
The lake exploded upward into the sky.
Across the Familiar Forest, countless magical beasts fled in terror.
For they all knew what was about to happen.
A battle between the Crimson Satan and one of the Five Great Dragon Kings.
And neither side intended to hold back.
....
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