Chapter 374: [Mirage]

Chapter 374: [Mirage]

Chapter 374: [Mirage]

“Welcome to the starting point of the new world, Viscount Shien Buztout.”

As this laughter rang out, several figures slowly emerged from the shadows in front of the temple.

Four of these figures were the black-robed members of the Old Demon Faction whom Shien had confronted earlier.

Like guards, they surrounded a person in a four-corner formation and walked out silently as the person moved.

In the center of their protection was another figure in a black robe, but with their hood down.

It was a demon who looked about Shien’s age, with an unhealthy pallor, resembling a frail noble, a gentle smile on his face.

Seeing this gentle-looking demon, Oz and Maeve exchanged glances, confusion in their eyes.

Shien also narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise on his face.

“You’re the leader?”

Shien asked directly, his tone laced with doubt.

It couldn’t be helped.

Shien discovered that this demon, protected by four black-robed figures above level eighty with the [Symbiosis] skill, was only level ten.

Yes, level ten.

In other words, this demon was very weak, so weak that he didn’t seem like a member of the Demon Race, which was known for its strength.

The Demon Race had an absolute innate advantage in strength, even surpassing the Divine Race in this aspect.

Even a demon with low talent could grow to a level unattainable by ordinary humans.

When Shien first became an adventurer, the staff at the Adventurers’ Guild had told him that ordinary humans, as long as they had no defects, could reach level ten by adulthood.

Demons, on the other hand, were much stronger than humans. They could usually reach level thirty by adulthood, far surpassing humans.

As for the Divine Race, they didn’t have the concept of adulthood. They were born in their final form, which would never change.

In other words, the Demon Race had the greatest innate advantage among all races. Apart from children who hadn’t reached adulthood, it was almost impossible for a level ten demon to exist.

Now, the demon before Shien was only level ten and looked frail. He must be a good-for-nothing with the lowest talent among demons, right?

Such a person was actually the leader of the Old Demon Faction here?

This made Shien doubt it.

However, although this demon was only level ten, he had learned a skill that surprised Shien.

While Shien was feeling doubtful and surprised, the demon smiled unconcernedly.

“Allow me to introduce myself.”

The demon, like a true nobleman, bowed politely to Shien and spoke elegantly.

“My name is Danas, leader of the Old Demon Faction’s [Mirage].”

—[Mirage].

Was this the name of the Old Demon Faction’s branch here?

As Shien thought this, Danas spoke again.

“I’ve heard of your great name for a long time.” Danas said with a gentle expression. “The adventurer who subjugated the [Assassination Branch], the new generation noble who tamed a dragon, and the one who has connections with a Demon Lord of our Demon Race. Your name is very well-known among the Old Demon Faction.”

“Really?” Shien raised an eyebrow and said jokingly, “Is it the kind of fame where I’m on your hit list because I subjugated your colleagues, and you’re planning to eliminate me sooner or later?”

“Of course not.” Danas chuckled. “Even though we’re all part of the Old Demon Faction, we belong to different branches. Except for cooperation and alliances, the branches of the Old Demon Faction generally don’t interfere with each other, and sometimes even become enemies. Under such circumstances, no branch of the Old Demon Faction would target you because of a declining [Assassination Branch].”

Declining.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Indeed declining.

After the large-scale assassination in the royal capital ten years ago, the [Assassination Branch], which once had over a thousand members and was known as the largest branch of the Old Demon Faction, suffered heavy casualties, with less than one percent of its original size remaining. Lucy had told Shien about this.

The [Assassination Branch] was an Old Demon Faction branch that mainly focused on assassinations. They didn’t have any exceptionally powerful members. Even their leader, Bedo, was only level eighty-four and didn’t have a Unique Skill. If he hadn’t mastered high-level dark magic and mental magic, his leadership position might have been replaced.

Such an Old Demon Faction branch, after its decline, naturally wasn’t taken seriously by other branches of the Old Demon Faction, and no one would go to great lengths for them.

But…

“You seem to be causing me trouble right now.”

Shien said calmly.

Danas quickly shook his head.

“You’re joking. How could I possibly cause you trouble?”

Danas denied it.

Unfortunately, he didn’t know that Shien had already seen through his only learned skill with [Appraisal].

“Do you think I didn’t notice that although your level is low, you’ve already mastered [Bio-Creation Magic] to its maximum level?”

Shien said bluntly.

Not only Danas, but also Oz and Maeve reacted to Shien’s words.

“You’re saying he has the [Bio-Creation Magic] skill? And it’s maxed out?”

Maeve was stunned.

“Doesn’t that mean he can use Bio-Creation Magic, and his skill is very high?”

Oz’s expression also changed.

Both of them immediately understood how important this information was.

If this was true, it meant that although Danas was weak, he could use very advanced Bio-Creation Magic and create very high-quality magical lifeforms.

And unfortunately, when they were pursuing the mastermind who destroyed the spatial node and took Beatrice, they had encountered many magical lifeforms that had been abandoned.

The implication was clear.

“You were the one who used magical lifeforms as disposable tools, right?”

Shien exposed Danas.

But Danas put on an innocent look.

“I think you must have misunderstood.” Danas raised his hands and sighed somewhat theatrically. “Indeed, my only strength is creating magical lifeforms, but those magical lifeforms have already been lent out. It wasn’t me who was controlling them, but your fellow humans, Viscount Buztout.”

Fellow humans.

Meaning, humans.

This wasn’t a lie.

Elise had said that it was a human, not a demon, who destroyed the spatial node and kidnapped Beatrice.

Since it wasn’t a demon, it meant that Danas was telling the truth.

“I have some cooperation with that person, but it’s not a big deal. He gives me what I want, and I give him what he wants. That’s all.” Danas said sincerely. “If the magical lifeforms I created caused you any trouble, I can apologize. But I have no hostility towards you. I hope you understand this clearly.”

Danas’s attitude towards Shien was extremely friendly.

But from the way he completely ignored Oz and Maeve, it could be seen that this person wasn’t as polite and gentle as he appeared on the surface, but rather arrogant and self-centered.

Shien didn’t mind chatting with him more.

Because the more they talked, the more Shien would learn.

For example…

“I think I understand why your level is so low now.” Shien curled his lip. “It’s not that you lack talent, but you’ve devoted all your energy to Bio-Creation Magic, resulting in your own lack of growth and training, preventing your level from increasing, right?”

Shien’s gaze swept over the four black-robed figures.

“These four treasures are the magical lifeforms you created, which is why they obey you without question, right?”

Shien’s words were met with a confirming smile from Danas.

“I’m not good at fighting, and my talent is very average. Even if I trained until I died, I probably wouldn’t achieve much, just become an insignificant member of the weak, lower-ranking demons, fading into obscurity.” Danas shrugged, seeming helpless yet lighthearted. “Fortunately, I have some talent in Bio-Creation Magic. Every time I level up while practicing it, I gain quite a few skill points.”

Generally speaking, the number of skill points a person could obtain depended on their talent and the outcome of their battles.

Those with exceptional talent and potential could gain quite a few skill points. The more talented they were, the more skill points they would gain upon leveling up.

If they leveled up after experiencing a life-or-death battle, they would usually gain a considerable amount of skill points, reflecting the importance of growth in battle.

But there were also some people who were extremely specialized, possessing unparalleled talent in one or two aspects but being mediocre in others. When they focused on their strengths, they would usually experience extraordinary growth.

Like Danas, if he had extraordinary talent in Bio-Creation Magic, his growth would be very slow when he worked hard in other areas. But if he focused on Bio-Creation Magic, he would gain exceptional improvement.

Therefore, Danas must have been diligently practicing Bio-Creation Magic. So, every time he leveled up while practicing it, he would gain a lot of skill points. Moreover, since he was talented in this area, the number of skill points required for leveling up was probably not high, allowing him to max out [Bio-Creation Magic] at level ten.

And because he lacked talent in other areas, even if he trained, he wouldn’t gain much growth, so he simply gave up, resulting in his low level.

However, this person was able to create a faction with just Bio-Creation Magic.

Not to mention, the four magical lifeforms with the [Symbiosis] skill around Danas were undoubtedly his greatest creations.

Lacking in personal strength?

So what?

Danas only needed to painstakingly collect precious materials to create powerful magical lifeforms to fight for him and obey his every command.

Thanks to this, Danas became the leader of [Mirage].

He was a true leader, not a warrior.