Chapter 89: The Valdmor Stronghold
The spells were ranked SS, S, A, B, and C. There wasn\'t a specific tier to the spells as the power exhibited by each spell was proportional to the user\'s tier.
However, even in the same tier, there exists the powerful and the weak. For example, the Infinite Sword Matrix was an S-ranked universal spell.
In the perception category of universal spells, Hiro quickly found the equivalent of {Divine Sense} and bought it.
[Item: Divine Perception.
Rank: S.
Compatibility: Universal.
Price: 40,000 points.]
…
With the {Divine Perception} as an example, Hiro browsed the other items in the shop.
The pricing of items had an increment of 10,000 points per rank, but the base price of each item was different.
For example, a sword technique could have variations in the C, B, A, and S categories, but an exclusive S-ranked technique would usually cost more points.
Hiro assumed that some spells and arts in the shop had the potential of evolving in the future, while other items could not be simplified any further.
Hiro bought a mix of sword techniques ranging from C-rank to A-rank and another technique that taught him how to condense energy into various weapons.
At the end of the day, Hiro almost spent his entire savings of achievement points on universal spells, martial arts, and exquisite techniques.
After spending the night in the system space to get himself familiarized with his new techniques and spells, Hiro woke up feeling refreshed.
…
Business in the Passione Tavern continued as usual, while Hiro grew bolder and started to enter his training space without worrying about Asmir\'s negative reactions.
As expected, even if she noticed his actions, Asmir didn\'t say or do anything.
A few days quickly went by, during which, Hiro also studied the information on the enemy strongholds provided by Asmir.
His target was a stronghold under the rule of Lord Valdmor, a mutated Demonic Imp.
He was most skilled with the practice of illusions, and the most dangerous aspect of his stronghold was the existence of mirror worlds.
Some of the reflections on any surface inside the stronghold weren\'t a cause of natural phenomena but an illusion. These illusions could easily draw someone\'s mind, stealing their soul and trapping it within Valdmor\'s mirror world.
In that world, souls would undergo subtle hypnosis, slowly forgetting that they were trapped within an illusion, treating it as though it was reality.
Then, influenced by the environment, worship from their bones to Lord Valdmor takes root, allowing him to maintain his strong foundation without worries.
The demons below him can complain and riot all they want, but since his foundation was in the mirror world where countless souls were trapped over the years, it\'s pointless even if they were to riot and rebel.
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Hiro didn\'t know what opportunities this Demonic Imp grasped to mutate his bloodline and rise to power, but it didn\'t matter much.
His {Divine Perception} was an S-rank ability and could see through illusions, as long as the entrapment power wasn\'t too great.
While walking toward the Demon Tower to relay his decision to Asmir, Hiro checked out his current stats.
[Name: Hiro Sciatis.
Race: Demon.
Bloodline: N/A
Level: 48.
XP: 77%
Universal Spells: Infinite Sword Matrix, Divine Perception, Guide to Mortal Combat, Martial Instinct…
AP: 14,830.
Gems: 9.
Skills: Immersive Reading, Professional Calligraphy, Analytical Mind, Professional Combat, Professional Soccer, Espionage IV, Telepathy.
Inventory: Lvl. 1 Mass Enlightenment Scroll, Game Voucher (2).]
…
As Hiro approached the Demon Tower, a beast carriage moved past him, only to screech to a halt a moment later.
Then, a maid walked down from the carriage and bowed toward Hiro. "Sire, my Third Young Master wishes to speak with you, please follow me into the carriage."
Hiro looked up and smiled faintly. It was no other than Paimon, the heiress acting out the role of a maid.
After thinking for a moment, Hiro shrugged and climbed into the carriage, followed by Paimon.
The moment the curtains closed, Hiro sensed the activation of a barrier mechanism, and the sound from the outside was immediately isolated.
"You\'ve offended the Wilhelm family," Paimon said, though her tone was quite nonchalant as she continued, "Despite that, Lord Asmir refuses to give you up. I can infer that you hold a special status…"
Paimon didn\'t continue talking because she knew that Hiro could understand her point.
Recently, Lord Asmir handed down a mission that pointed at her substitute, directly naming him for the task.
How did someone on their level catch Lord Asmir\'s eye? Although Paimon was confused, she still carried on with the task.
However, as time passed, she started to pick up on some clues. Although it was a pain to bring ordinary demons around to stroll around aimlessly, Paimon was very smart.
When she noticed how the ordinary people were being trapped by an invisible power one after another, and how this was a mission issued directly by Lord Asmir, she guessed the implications.
The idea alone frightened her so much, that she didn\'t dare speak rashly. Connecting her conversations with Hiro the other day, she smelled something fishy going on.
However, she couldn\'t swallow her pride and visit Hiro\'s tavern, because that would mean her admitting her mistake and apologizing.
It could be said that she was on her way to report her recent findings, but she didn\'t expect to bump into Hiro.
She wanted to ask so many questions, but she didn\'t know what to say.
As for Hiro, he took advantage of this moment to accept the interpersonal mission with Paimon as the target.
"What?" Hiro crossed his legs and smiled, responding calmly. "Can\'t you treasure an opportunity when you grasp it? I pulled you from a clown role in the circus, and now you\'re just a bystander who will enjoy the show."
Paimon understood Hiro\'s meaning.
Since Lord Asmir was already aware of the plan to undermine her laws, the fight was over before it started.
The Great Demon families inside the stronghold and the enemies outside the stronghold can plan and play tricks slowly, thinking everything is going on smoothly.
However, they\'re oblivious to the fact that they\'ve already been exposed, it\'s just that the person they\'re up against wants to watch some more.
The Nine-Tailed Fox is a capricious, playful creature. When there\'s fun to be had, they wouldn\'t refuse it.
Paimon took a deep breath, relaxed her tense nerves, and asked, "When does it start?"
Hiro shrugged and answered, "Who knows? Let the clowns prance around as much as they want, I won\'t be here to witness it anyway."
Paimon furrowed her brows. Hiro could tell that she was worried about her family, but he shook his head.
"You\'re smarter than this, large families like yours won\'t put all the eggs in one basket, who\'s to say that you weren\'t pushed to the side as a backup plan?"
Why would Kings and Emperors sire more heirs even after the birth of the Crown Prince?
It\'s such a simple principle.
As for Paimon, she and her mother were trying hard to climb the books of the family head\'s favor all this time, and they were so focused on the prestige, fame, and benefits of a large family to the point where they overlooked the possibility of it all going away in a fortnight.
From Hiro\'s perspective, once the great families suffered heavy losses in the upcoming rebellion, Asmir would only spare the branch families and the middle-tier powerhouses.
After all, she couldn\'t exterminate these demons once and for all, the stronghold needed them.
Luckily, Paimon wasn\'t beyond saving and quickly got her act together.
Regardless, Paimon couldn\'t find it in her to thank Hiro even after realizing that he had actually helped her out.
She was still suspicious, thinking that he had some ulterior motives behind helping her.
In a sense, she was right, but she could never guess his true motives. The carriage continued on, and soon, they arrived at the Demon Tower.
Hiro bade farewell to Paimon and proceeded to follow his usual path to the upper levels.
While moving through, Hiro noticed that plenty of old faces were removed from posts or transferred elsewhere.
Hiro raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that he might have assumed wrongly.
It seemed like Asmir was planning to take the initiative this time around.
Whatever, Hiro touched his chin and began to contemplate his next course of action. This move from Asmir would definitely have a ripple effect on her enemies, the Valdmor Stronghold included.
In that case, he needed to act quickly.
After rushing to the upper levels of the Demon Tower and informing Asmir of his decision, Hiro quickly left on a flying mount.
On the highest level of the Demon Tower, a figure surrounded by light stared into the distance.
"If you can really take down that stronghold on your own, this seat might consider your offer seriously," Asmir said, her tone devoid of emotion.
"This realm\'s lifespan is approaching its end anyway, and as you\'ve said, beings on our level can\'t keep all eggs in one basket."