The Sword Devil

by Nathan Valerio

  Xero just watched the nobles come and go to a different section but he perked up when he saw a stumpy man in a great armor while having huge warhammer on his shoulder. As he walked down he laughed, “Old Everlight. It’s been a long time.” he laughed.

  Everyone looked at him as if he was made but Valmor actually smiled. “You seem well, little fool, did you bring any good ale?” Valmor joked.

  “Aye! Of course I brought meh personal batch. Now tell me were that fool of a bearman is cause I still need to put him to sleep with meh batch to whip clean the shame he gave me the last time we drank.” The dwarf king said looking around.

  Valmor chuckled and pointed towards a clearing in the south east area in the outer gate were he said he was putting the new 2nd years through survival training in slightly dangerous woods to get the kids sharp.

  The dwarf king clicked his tongue. “Got any good spots here?” the dwarf king asked.

  At this time, the nobles of his nation had entered and suddenly Xero saw several dozen familiar faces and couldn’t contain it as he jumped on his sword and flew over to the gate. “Father! You were able to come!” Xero said landing near him.

  Nil smiled as he saw his son safe and sound. “Of course, with your brother’s help this last month the guards were able to build up strength while the knight are all above level 15 already. We got permission to join.” Nil said patting his son’s head.

  Without knowing the dwarf king had turned to look at the boy when he heard his voice and asked about the noble rank and information from his advisor.

  “If you're curious about the child, he is 3rd year, possesses a devil familiar.” Valmor said.

  “Oh? How is his magic control?” the dwarf king asked.

  “He is hardworking and already passed one core breaking. His familiar can even make minions and he has several element manipulators.” Valmor said.

  “It's still low too low ranked through, maybe in a few years it would interest me. Let’s see, is there any land in the upper city still open?” The dwarf king asked.

  “Only near the edge, I doubt you want to have such a view in the morning that would probably be falling off the cliff. As for the lower city, the forest area is quite good here…” Valmor ironically pointed location near Xero’s domiatory.

  “There is a building there. What kind of student lives there?” The dwarf king asked.

  Valmor smiled and gestured up and saw Xero making the dwarf king frown. “Old devil, what joke you pulling?” He asked.

  “Xero is Grunt’s current favorite. He is the #1 at the start of the year, you will see Grunt more often if you settle in this area.” He said.

  Only when he heard these words, the dwarf king raised a brow and thoroughly looked at Xero and played with his beard, “Alright, let's take this space. Close this section for my nation and this section is my market zone.” he designated the areas.

  Valmor nodded and ‘sold’ the ground for a good price to an old friend.

  He then lead all of men and to Xero’s shock, to the area near his dormitory.

  “Son, this is your place?” Nil asked when he saw it from far away.

  “Yes father.” Xero said.

  “Boy!” The dwarf king suddenly called him making his heart skip a beat but he walked up and kneeled.

  “Boy, the old devil said you got some element control minions your familiar made. Let’s see them then. In the next few days we will be settling this area but we didn’t bring many workers. Since you have skill, you will help.” He said.

  “Y-yes your highness.” He said. “How does your highness require your humble abode?” Xero asked.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Your highness, my minions require specific orders, or a plan, for constructing something.” Xero explained but didn’t look up.

  “Ah!” the dwarf king exclaimed but then nodded realizing that it made sense. He called an advisor who brought out the plans of how he normally built the palace he would stay in and told Xero to stand and handed the blueprint.

  Xero was shocked by the sheer size. With almost 5 floors and the construction made Xero shocked by the size but nodded and asked, “Where does his highness wish his palace?” Xero asked.

  The Dwarf scratched his beard and looked around before choosing a space some 200 meters behind Xero’s dormitory, which was around 5 streets away, which have been cut out already.

  With a nod, Xero called out edge and flew over and had the flying sword ‘cut’ the size of the space needed, even invading the roads behind it, then cut the first floors wall layout to save time. Because of the size, Xero knew it would take a while but putting down his only earth controlling Sword Devil and told him to build these plans. But first clear all the trees and put them to the size, while calling out all his Wood control minions and had them make planks from the trees first.

  The royals and nobles watched and when the sudden collapse of some many trees could be heard they looked over and saw the earth moving everything and then slowly many stone pillars began to rise.

  “Hell, the boy really is quick.” The dwarf king blinked. From far he could see the thickness and quality of the stone slowly rising as more and more mana filled it making it harder, stronger and more powerfully structured. The ground all around it soon hardened and the walls began to rise and ‘arms’ of earth began to pull the wooden planks and ‘nail’ it all down. One Demon went inside and made the wood perfectly level with each other while the earth minion controlled the earth to further strengthen and finish the construction.

  Floor by floor it filled and broke the windows and door spaces while the devils made the floor wood. When the final floor was made they made the roof beams and wooden shingles while also making planks and then many doors and window frames.

  In less than an hour, the royal manor was complete with wooden floor and roof covering all required areas.

  The nobles were quite surprised, though it was all stone and not any special or beautiful material but the rustic format it was made in gave it the look of cobblestone which appealed to the many dwarf and the quality of the wood used was also quite good.

  Some nobles glanced at Nil, there was even the glance of cold jealousy from Viscount Warren Blitz who had Nil under his jurisdiction.

  “Come, let us not force a brat to do all the work. It would shame us all.” The dwarf king shouted and ordered his men to spread out and start the development.

  Xero turned back and kneeled, “Is this satisfactory, your highness?” Xero asked.

  “Boy, no need for all that. You have some good abilities. You can take care of your own family from here, the men are already prepared, that was a small lie I said. None of us would be kings or nobles if we couldn’t even do a little thing like build our own homes with a bit of magic. Go on.” The king said and Xero bowed.

  He ran off after collecting his minions while the dwarf king turned with an interested look at the place and walked inside. He looked around and touched the wall raising a fist and punching but all it did was shake the building a bit and made a dull ‘thud’.

  “Hell, this stuff is strong, did he make it extra strong to simulate refined molten rock we use for the walls in the palace?” the dwarf king asked. Then kicked the floorboards feeling a strong sound from them. “Dried by magic and reinforced by dungeon mana, wood is already excellent quality and was further improved by the Demons. They even slightly restricted the wood to be smooth and without odd ends. Besides a slight wave in the boards themselves that lowers the quality these could very well be ranked as high quality goods in the common market. If that slight wave was removed it would be top grade wood used by nobles.” The dwarf king said.

  “Is your highness interested in the boy?” The advisor asked.

  “Somewhat, his magic is good, I want to keep a watch on him and see how he develops, this includes his family, get me their information, detailed from identifiers.” The king said.

  The advisor bowed and turned to do what was n
eeded but suddenly heard the voice of the king, “Also get some men to tar the floor quickly and dry it so that we can put down our things already.” The king shouted.

  “Yes your highness!” The advisor said and ran out ordering several people who started to run into the royal manor and start to work while the rest spread out to complete the arrangement of the manor and raise walls and required structures like smithy and many other places.

  As for Xero, he pulled his family over near his dormitory and asked them how they wanted their place, Nil handed him a standard Great knight’s home handed to him by some advisor. Zip asked for a smithy and space to work for himself while Void said he didn’t need anything.

  Nil also handed to Xero the plans for a good enough training area for their men as well as a knight's barracks that would be around their manor.

  The Null family took up a large space in front of the student’s dormitory where Xero started constructing everything he needed there.

  Chapter 13

  Valmor, just like in the academy, he remained near the gateway, but this time sitting on top of it. After most nations had entered he had left some lower ranks take care of merchants and mercenaries entering at their own risk.

  Ding!

  Valmor heard a resounding sound of metal being hit and turned and saw a pillar of blue white flame.

  “What is that?” He asked himself but suddenly Lucifer shot out and appeared in his small form.

  “This…” He frowned.

  Ding!

  “No… It can’t be can it?” he said.

  Valmor frowned, “What is it?” He asked.

  Before all his words left his lips, the devil shot like a red bullet towards the source. Valmor frowned and soon followed after.

  At the source, Cinder stood in her full size hammering down on Xero and Ashley with full force for the fourth time.

  DING!

  The two were already on their knees and bleeding greatly but the flames burst from Ashley greatly roasting the two making their skin burn off and their muscles turn to ash only for it to reform once more. This pain meant nothing to Ashley but Xero found it inhuman to feel his body turn to ash and reform. He realized he was being tempered in a fashion similar to how an Imp would die and reform.

  Six hits later, he was panting and slowly his bones reformed as the fragments were pushed from his muscles and restored to how it should be. His broken organs and blood vessels also reattached and he vomited all the lost blood only to feel his body produce more.

  With Ashley supporting him he walked out only to see a red light fall down from the sky and stop in the air but that small red light caused a whirlwind to lift up.

  The next second, Lucifer was seen by them all and right behind him Valmor appeared casually flying.

  Lucifer’s eyes landed on Cinder who was still in her demon form but was in the process of reverting back to devil form. “It’s true! HOW!?” Lucifer roared. “How is a Plated Devil here as well!?” He said and glared at Xero. “Boy! Explain what the hell is a Plated Devil doing here?”

  “It’s my brother’s familiar. He is a blacksmith so he trained his Imp familiar to smith for him and it evolved like that.” Xero said through shallow breaths.

  Lucifer looked around and saw Nil, Zip and Void before seeing a small tan skinned cat girl. “And a Feral Devil…” He muttered before he froze, “Heh…” He snorted but suddenly he began to madly laugh. “I see, so that’s how it is. I see, I see.” He nodded.

  “Lucifer, what is going on?” Valmor asked.

  “Hehehe, something that I can’t ever let get out. Brat’s watch your backs.” He said and laughed like a madman before vanishing while making all of the Null family frown and leaving Valmor confused.

  “I excuse his intrusion, I shall take my leave.” He said and left like he came.

  All the Null’s were confused but could only shrug it off as Void got on the altar with Ember to receive a tempering as well.

  ***

  In a space where space was folded in on itself, Valmor sat and summoned Lucifer, “What was that just now?” he asked.

  “It is not something mortals can know.” he said.

  “Speak.” Valmor ordered.

  “Only if you swear to the pantheon of Light, Dark and Demon god’s that you cannot mention what I will say.” He said.

  Valmor scowled when he heard that, an oath to the three branches of gods is a serious thing and should this be broken the offender would be punished by the heavens.

  “I swear to the Pantheon of Light, Dark and Demon God’s that I shall not speak unless the situation requires it or they find out themselves.” He said.

  “That is fine, now set up some sound barriers around here, make them very strong and then bend space until it's impossible to easily break in here.” He said.

  Valmor did as asked and built countless barriers around them and made space bend forming almost a prison.

  “Alright, this is what is going on with them, they are…”

  ***

  Huff! Huff!

  Void stumbled off the altar while Ember, still the size of a 5 year old, was dizzy following him on all fours collapsing several times.

  “Still… not…” He muttered as he felt his body slowly heal.

  His mumble was his emotion towards the fact that his brothers could get rid of the Lesser status on their devils but he had tried many things but until now he still couldn’t do anything.

  “Ahaha!” A laugh came from outside and when he looked he found a grey winged angel with a black halo.

  He remembered the face, it was Night. Similar to all the nations, the other academies came. Ernest had chosen this one.

  “Hi Xero.” Ernest said looking around expectantly.

  Xero turned to the voice and saw Ernest, “Hi, sorry I just got out. I’m tired.” Xero said.

  “No problem.” he said looking around.

  Xero looked at him confused. “Do you need something?” Xero asked.

  “Ah! Well…”

  Nil looked at Ernest and raised his brow, “It’s just military and combat personal, Opal and Jasmine stayed at home and Nadir went to the national academy to study advanced alchemy, cooking, magic and accounting.” Nil said.

  “Oh, um well, I was just wondering if… if there was anyone to spar with.” he said hiding his true intentions but he was visibly depressed.

  Night rolled his eyes and turned to Void, “Hey, what are you all depressed about?” Night asked with a Devil’s grin.

  KRAHCK!

  Coughing a large ball of blood that evaporated almost as soon as it hit the black altar, Void was in to much pain to stand but after a bit he started to get up. “H-how do… I remove ember’s… lesser status?” he asked a creature that might know.

  “The Feral Devil?” Night said and looked up while thinking a bit and grinning as he floated over to Void and whispered, “You mate with her of course.” He laughed and left the forge and returned near Ernest.

  “D-don’t bullshit me!” Void said but Night was already gone. He soon stood up and Ember was already up and walked off after healing but was very sore and tired. “Night… tell me for real, how do I evolve Ember.” Void asked.

  “I told you, she needs a mate. Once that she brands as her mate, it will cause a special pheromone in her body that induces her growth.” Night said grinning.

  Xero and Ernest suddenly turned to him, “Hey Night, don’t say something like that. This is a sick joke.” Ernest said blushing.

  Even more blushing was Xero while Ashley had almost turned purple from the mix of her skin with her blush.

  “Nya~! Myster!” Ember purred while rubbing against him.

  “Sorry but he asked serious, I answered serious. They need to find a mate in hell to be considered a fledgling adult.” Night said with a serious expression this time.

  Void’s face was covered in sweat and he looked down at the 5 year old sized devil. “How will I…” He covered his face. “There is no w
ay I can have sex with a 5 year old!” He said.

  Night laughed, “Oh that’s where you have it wrong. That little thing has at least a few thousand years on her little ass. Even if our spawning pool was the same or not hell and all its pools have several thousand years of age and the youngest weakest imp is at least a few hundred years before he can even get out of the spawning pit. Just think of her as an old woman in a young body. Also devil’s are ‘stretchy’ so no matter your size it will fit.” Night laughed.

  Ernest and Xero were both bright red by the sudden talk.

  “Alright all of you, stop this talk out in the open. Son, don’t think of this for now, you don’t have to follow your brothers in such a drastic growth or anything, there is still many teachers and even Archmagus Valmor that you might be able to ask for information to confirm this. DO NOT act recklessly.” Nil said breaking up the conversation.

  “Well, what I said is true, you can get the demon lord to confirm it if you want.” Night said shrugging and looking at Ashley, “Girly, you have the smell of someone that has accessed all her strength, want to have a little sparring match and get your little blue butt kicked.” He asked.

  “Shove it angel boy.” Ashley snorted.

  “I-I’m going to… check with Archmagus’s familiar.” Void said walking out.

  “Ah~! He sure is hung over this.” Night said.

  POW!

  “OUCH!” Night rubbed the back of his head.

  “It involves his familiar after all.” Ernest said and snorted. “I guess I’ll just look around if… if there is someone that can spar with me.” he said blushing.

  ***

  Void slowly regained motor control as the soreness slowly faded by the time he reached the portal gateway and saw Valmor. His heart was in his throat being in front of such a high powered being.

  Valmor also noticed the young man looking at him, feeling his gaze on him, and opened his eyes to see Void standing there, “Do you require something child?” He asked.

  Void jolted up and suddenly bowed, “Y-you excellency! I-I request an audience with y-your great familiar.” Void said stammering.