Hal stared at the Cosmic Armament that spun slowly over Melinda and was in wonder, the likeness of the Golden veins to the black veins on Executioner most likely meant...

"Her bloodline has tampered with her Armament"

'Her bloodline has tampered with her Armament'

He and Grimiore said as one before a silence pervaded, a silence that seemed to require something clever to break it, alas...

'Jinx'

'Jinx'

...was the first thing that came to the minds of both man and Grimiore.

Hal turned away from the Armament to look upon Melinda's face as she lay in silence. There was no change in her condition but her cultivation was now at the Cosmic Armament realm Early stage.

Hal sighed and spread his Astral perception to the Armament but no matter how he checked, there did not seem to be anything special about it other than the Golden veins.

He would have loved to take her into the Time warped array but was worried the change in time flow could affect her in her unconscious state.

After a few more minutes of silent staring, which had been gentle and piercing enough to make him seem like a stalker, Hal stood to his feet and went into his room where he sat cross legged and refined the Essence from his session with Rita as well as the one he had gotten from Amelia.

He directed it all towards his Bloodline as that seemed more important to him at the moment because he could feel he was close to a breakthrough.

His bloodline absorbed the Essence in a rush and once all Essences were absorbed, A violent burst of Devil Energy was suddenly released from his body.

In shock he opened his eyes, just in time to witness his body turn a bright crimson red. Black lines spread over his entire body and his muscles became even more defined along with an increase in broadness of his shoulders.

Hal observed it with his physical eyes as well as Astral perception which let him know his eyes were Black and releasing small burst of fog in the same shade.

His Flesh was stronger and all of his characteristics i.e speed, resilience. strength and the overall power his body now contained was now heightened.

The surprises did not end there as he could also feel the volume of cosmic energy he could keep in his body had increased. putting him (in terms of Energy reserve) on par with a peak Cosmic pearl realm cultivator.

'Nice' Came Myra's voice from his soul world as she and Tiberius observed the changes

'Meh. It's just the form of a lesser Devil. Nothing worth of note,' Tiberius scoffed, unimpressed.

'Lay off him, you ass' Myra rebutted

Almost as though Tiberius' words were a trigger, all knowledge of his current form immediately came to mind by virtue (Hal guessed) of his Primeval Devil inheritance.

While Tiberius might have been harsh with his words, he was in essence correct.

This form was that of a lesser Devil, a symbol of his blood strength i.e purity and was merely the start towards gaining the Primeval Devil form which would mark the height of his bloodline strength/purity, However, for this city, it was more than enough.

'What? My body was stronger. Yours too. Stupid Devils thinking they were so great' Tiberius mumbled the last part

'Still on about that petty rivalry' Myra giggled

Along with knowledge of the Devil Form came the knowledge of the rivalry between Demons and Devils with the Devils claiming superiority in the sense that they were 'closer' to the Devil Queen because they were Devils just like her.

But there was something about Tiberius' tone that suggested something more personal. But of course that's a story for another time.

Hal stood up, took off his robes and stood naked to view every hint of his crimson skin marred or beautified (In Hal's opinion) by the Black lines on his arms, legs and torso with two lines from the bottom of his eyes to his jaw.

Around him was a thick mass of Devil Energy, one he was shocked to realize he had no control over.

Lesser devils are also known as unstable Devils because of this very same reason. They had the least control over their Devil Energy due to the low purity of their bloodline, and this would prove a disadvantage against anyone with better control.

The pressure of the Devil Energy was so suffocating that Hal knew it would be dangerous to any non Devil that came in contact with it.

His skin quickly returned to normal as did his Eyes as the Devil energy was reined in. He picked up his robe and put it on before he sat cross legged again.

'Don't be so glum, It's a good start' Myra said in a soothing voice

With a thought Hal was inside his Soul world and looking directly at the succubus whose placating somehow looked sexual all the same

"Why would I be glum. No one in this city could possibly know the difference. In that form. I AM the Devil" Hal chuckled

"Oh, I thought you wanted Aunt Myra to console you"

"Aunt? I don't think there was ever a more lecherous Aunt than you" Hal said with his brow raised

Myra grabbed his arm and held it tight between the valley of her breasts and smiled up at him with lasciviousness thick on her face.

Tiberius perked up "Are we your Aunt and uncle now?"

"Who wants a boring person like you for an uncle?" Hal scoffed

"Boring? You take that back!. I am Tiberius, Father of Fiends, one of Her majesty's Generals. Some even say I'm her favorite..."

"No one says that" Myra corrected but she could have been a brush of cool wind for all the notice Tiberius took

".... I am also her Executioner, No one will ever call me Boring!"

"Well I do. So shut up and let me talk to my Hot and sexy Aunt"

"Oh, I'm so charmed" Myra swooned but Hal secretly rolled his eyes, well aware that this could not be her first time hearing flattery despite her swooning like a maiden.

'So why are you here, if not to cry on Aunt Myra's ample assets?" Myra said and held up the boobs to emphasize her point and Hal had to admit they were hefty.

"Well, it's because of your Armament"

"Oh did you finally find it?" Myra asked excited

For an answer, Hal stretched his hand...

"Aflame their passion, Essence stealer"

...and from his hand flooded out a mass of purple colored mist that simply ooze Demonic Energy to form...

Myra clapped excitedly

"Isn't she beautiful?" She asked with an excited squeal

Hal on the other hand looked mildly disgusted

"Beautiful? Don't make me barf"

...

Edgar Castle

Marlon lay on his bed, the excitement of the night before had made him tired and he decided he needed a well deserved rest. Not sleep per se, just a little nap. He had only just stirred from said nap when his wife, Olivia walked in and the look on her face was close to contempt.

It was no secret to her that Marlon had no real interest for her, he made no attempts to make their relationship better and was more than satisfied with them not having children. despite his younger siblings having long welcomed children of their own not to mention his elder brother's son, Alexander was already being referred to as the Edgar heir.

She watched him sit up and turn towards her at which point, she steeled herself for another one of his angry sex. Which had been his new hobby in the last few days.

However when Marlon turned towards her, he smiled. Olivia blanked. Marlin had never smiled at her before during their last 100 years of marriage.

She was thrown off guard.

She had no idea how to react.

And she was determined to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.

Marlon on the other hand looked at her flustered expression mixed in with complete surprise, Nay, borderline shock just because he smiled at her and his heart ached.

Had he neglected and mistreated her so much that she had never received a single smile from him?

It had nothing to do with him loving another woman, it had everything to do with him being a jerk.

Adler was dead now and he needed to move on.

To move on he needed to take a step back and no longer neglect those he usually had no interest towards.

He would find interest for Olivia. He had to.

"Olivia, let's get married again. What do you say?" Marlon asked with a wide smile. Olivia blinked and as happy as she felt she found herself saying

"I say no"