I wasn"t foolish enough to have the religions related. The dwarfs and the merfolk hate each other to the bone.

If both religions can prosper soon, they might fight each other to the death for the world, with me being the only winner. Devilish indeed.

My next business should be joining the Battle Master a.s.sociation. I"ve been putting it off. My combat Daos are in the Baron realm now, so it"s time I perfect my combat.

I contacted Mira to learn where the nearest Battle Master a.s.sociation was.

"I"ll be there soon," said Mira.

She came the next day.

"You made this Viscount wait a long time for you, Soulless," said Mira as she came into my Bloodfang Estate.

"I was busy advancing my devilry, do not question my actions succubus," I said.

"Oh, you"ve gotten bold since you"ve had a little advancement," said Mira.

She pushed me against the wall and kissed me; I grabbed her and threw her to the bed. This young lord had to be the dominant one in this relations.h.i.+p. We had another wild encounter.

"Yes, your essence was delicious as always Soulless," said Mira as she licked her lips clean.

"It"s good you practiced restraint so I can function," I said.

"Now where is the nearest Battle Devil a.s.sociation? I wish to join to improve my combat skills."

"You don"t seem like the fighting type," said Mira as she got up putting back on her clothes.

"This young lord has to learn to fight to have respect in the Abyss," I said.

"The best way I know how to test my skills is in the Battle Devil a.s.sociation."

"You won"t make the cut," said Mira.

"Why is that?" I said.

"Battle Devils are the best of the best, to be a battle devil means you are undefeated at the same realm," said Mira.

"Even I do not have the honor of being a Battle Devil. The Zagell Empire has a camp you can join if you wish to commit service to the empire," said Mira.

"If you try your luck there, maybe you can increase your skills to be deemed worthy of the Battle Devil a.s.sociation."

"Are there rewards for service," I said.

"If you serve well, you can even be rewarded a fief. Empires are generous to those who wish to battle in a Rift," said Mira.

Battling in a Rift!

I had heard of the Rifts before. The Hudson clan estate is situated on the Hudson Rift, though it is mostly manned by [Mountain Shadow]. Rifts were the bridges between different Abyss.

Inside a rift, devils would battle chaotic demons birthed from the Abyss. Chaotic demons were pure evil. Only seeking chaos and destruction. Every devil had a duty to exterminate these foul Abyss sp.a.w.n.

The pros outweighed the cons for heading to the rift. My life would be on the line battling chaotic demons, but I could improve my combat skills and be awarded a fief. When this young lord has his own fief, he would truly be a young lord!

If I got my fief, I would no longer be beholden to the Hudson clan, I could start my own devil clan. With blackjack and succubus"!

This would be the best path forward for me, learning more Daos when I didn"t even know how to fight properly with the ones I had held no meaning. I would head to the Rift and fight for the Abyss!

"Are you heading to the Rift soon, Mira?" I said.

"No, I already served at the Rift. I do not plan to head to that death trap anytime soon," said Mira.

The rift brought up terrible memories from the way Mira looked speaking about it. I decided no longer to bring it up.

"Well, point me to the nearest rift," I said.

"Take this, it is my devil mark, with it you will be granted access to the rift," said Mira handing me her devil mark.

She must really care about me, devils usually only give their devil marks to their followers and their closest kin. And this young lord d.a.m.n sure isn"t a follower.

I kissed Mira one last time before heading to the nearest rift.

"I hope he survives," thought Mira as she watched Soulless leave.

Traveling to the Rift wasn"t too difficult. I could reach it in only a few weeks" travel by carriage. I could have taken a portal, however, site seeing the Zagell Empire was of more importance to me.

I was a free young devil lord. There was no reason for me to rush off to every single thing to train. Sometimes life just had to be enjoyed.

I met many new partners along my way. I had to stop this enjoyment. If I keep it up, I might end up an Incubus when I become a Viscount.

I had higher hopes than just being some s.e.x devil. Devil"s true forms are influenced a lot by their innate talents and personality. It was the embodiment of their inner devil.

The scenery around the Zagell empire was very calming. This was this young devil lord"s first time sightseeing.

For my youth, I spent most of my time stowed away at the Hudson Estate. Now that I could freely roam, getting to know the Xertzul Abyss was broadening my world view.

The Empire"s landscape is colorful; pink blossom forests, small, playful waterfalls, and pristine, snow-covered fields were some beauty it offered. Zagell had frozen mountains and a large coastline contributing to its scenery.

One day this young devil lord will claim a beautiful land like this as my own. An entire Empire in the Xertzul Abyss where my word is law. That was my goal.

Soon I came upon the rift where I would pit my life against the chaotic demons. It was truly a sight to behold.