Pef entered the warded room again, to find Yamon examining a small girl with ethereal wings emerging from her shoulder blades. And she had golden blonde hair and no aura.

'How can she have no aura? Isn't that her soul?' he wondered inward.

'Fairies are strange. There're rumors they keep their souls inside a mystic pond, much like liches use phylacteries.' the glove explained in a weird tone.

'What else?' Pef asked curious.

'It's baffling. Where did she come from? And the dragon kid as well.' the glove said cautiously.

Pef patted the girl's head and drew her inside his inner world. Reason will know what to do, like always.

"You have it?" the Archdevil asked sternly.

Pef held his palm out, producing the repaired badge. The crack was smaller now, and there were faint violet lines glowing on the artifact.

"Here."

"Indeed, and it's even working now! And you overpaid for this slave. Is it for her blood?" Yamon asked warily.

"I believe so. Lord Yama probably wants her blood to unlock the weapon." Pef replied sagely.

Archdevil Yamon hummed to himself for a minute. "Another service for me then. I'll return to you 50 billions as compensation." he decided and handed over another storage ring.

Pef took the ring and smiled.

"Some support at the Count challenge would be great. Especially if Lord Yama makes an appearance." he asked politely.

Yamon nodded, deep in thought. "He is here, right now. I'll escort you to your territory, or you might not make it alive out of here."

Pef rose an eyebrow and glanced at his glove. The bastard didn't say anything.

Soon enough, Pef and his escort flew at speed towards his new Magrave planet.

It took very little time to arrive, and they caught the invaders by surprise.

"Baron Firestorm?" Pef asked in surprise.

"Oh you're still alive, Magrave?" the devil Baron wondered as Pef began producing warships and troop transport to defend his domain.

"Quite alive, yes. I take it you accept the challenge?" Pef asked curtly.

The Baron's troops were already in mid-attack, as he probably expected Pef to die in the Tarkin domain and leave him a free Magravate to occupy.

"Errr. Hic! I must have mistaken your lands for someone else..." The Baron muttered a bit fearful.

"I understand. But I am in need for a Baron rank. Forfeit the rank or die." Pef demanded more aggressively, flashing his sword qi and flying closer.

"I forfeit! Take the Barony!" Firestorm yelled in panic.

"I have observed the challenge. Congratulations, Baron Pef!" Yamon proclaimed regally, appearing into view by surprise.

"Lord Yamon! Eh...guess I'll retire to my vineyard then." the former Baron muttered in defeat.

"All local subjects, you now serve Baron Pef! Let me know Baron, if your new subjects rebel or disobey. I love crushing traitors." Yamon proclaimed with a system wide voice.

Pef nodded in thanks. As Firestorm was not dead, there was a risk of revolt perhaps.

Now all the Baron's Firestorm troops were his own, plus whatever forces Magrave Kontre had in reserve.

Pef began to now familiar task of organizing his territory, appointing overseers and magistrates, cleaning corruption and setting up new schools and roads.

Rebuilding a dozen major worlds and a hundred minor planets did take some time, so another year passed like magic.

Then one day, an auction messenger arrived at his palace, with even more herbs and pills and rare metals.

Pef promptly paid the bill and waved the merchandise into his inner world, to boost his troops even higher.

"Lord Pef, I heard Count Tarkin is gathering a huge army. I expect you know why." the Tier 2 messenger said softly.

Pef nodded and smiled.

"I guess it's time for war. Wanna watch?" he wondered amused.

"You mean, right now?" the devil asked in panic.

Pef split off a clone to manage the Barony and pointed at the sky. "Come!"

With a Blink, he and the auction devil arrived in orbit, and they were instantly surrounded by thousands of warships.

"Oh. You have more ships than a Count!" the messenger exclaimed in surprise.

With another Blink, they arrived on the command bridge of his flagship.

"Engage!" Pef ordered to his ship captain.

With a flash of engine qi, the war fleet departed towards the Tarkin County, with 10 billion ant soldiers on board, and some other surprises.

Tier 3 shields around every warship will allow much more aggressive tactics, like full on assaults of static defenses.

Other magic arrays were inscribed to block sensors and scans and even mind probing.

By next day, the fleet split off a dozen wings heading for Tarkin's major worlds, while Pef remained leading the main attack fleet.

He reached the Tarkin homeworld just before their own fleet was ready to depart.

Beams of qi cannons, and Pef's own Sword qi beams began decimating the Tarkin fleet, surprising the defenders.

A few Tier 3 and a dozen Tier 2 devils flew up from the planet, to help defend the devil fleet and the vulnerable devil soldiers.

Pef expelled his own converted Tier 3 and a dozen Tier 2 devils , including a couple of Tarkin's own sons.

Then Shiara and her own escort of Ant warriors joined the fight, mainly to protect Pef's fleet from being fried by any devil.

"Hahaha! You dare attack me, Baron Pef!" Count Tarkin yelled with a powerful voice.

"Of course I do. The war was declared a year ago, after all. And look, your sons have also joined me!" Pef yelled back, informing the entire system of his deed.

"How can you have that many soldiers and ships? Didn't you sell them to Argil?" Tarkin asked in anger, while staring with hate at the traitor sons.

"I sold the only the surplus, of course." Pef answered in amusement.

The fleet engagement continued for a few days, til it was clear that Pef had an advantage, and the devil fleet withdrew behind the defense platforms and forts.

To the devil's surprise, Pef's fleet advanced to engage the forts directly, withstanding huge energy beams and returning fire.

Pef also flew out, supporting an attack or another at crucial moments, then retreating. He had to maintain his qi reserves after all.

By the next week, a thousand defense platforms lay in ruins, while the fortified moons were all occupied by Pef's troops.

Pef had lost 2 of his Tier 3 devils and a handful of Tier 2, but he had captured even more from Tarkin's side. By the next year, he would be even stronger.

"Send a champion or face me directly, Count Tarkin!" Pef demanded as more and more County worlds began falling to his ant troops, while the capital lay defenseless.

The void flickered and bent, as a Tier 4 divinity arrived in the system.

"Baron Pef, must you pursue this vendetta to the bitter end?" an Archdevil voice asked in a polite tone.

Pef glanced towards the hidden space pocket. " I am afraid I must, Lord Yama."

"...Then, I have no choice but to..."

"Observe the challenge as is our law!" another Archdevil spoke in a powerful voice.

"Lord Yamon!" Yama exclaimed in surprise.

"There are only 13 Counts in our galaxy, Lord Yama. Of course I have to witness a challenge for a Count rank. And Baron Pef seems strong enough to take and keep this rank, right?" Yamon spoke in a mild voice.

"It would seem so, Lord Yamon. We will observe the challenge together." Yama muttered in a sad tone.

Pef sighed in relief. It seemed Yama was about to attack him just before.

Count Tarkin flew out from his palace, arriving in from of the two Archdevils. "My Lords. I will defend my station in person." he said meekly.

"Proceed!" Yama allowed with a nod.

A long tube appeared in Tarkin's hand, pointed right at Pef.

'Don't let the liquid splash you, Soldier. You will die.' the glove warned him just as Pef Blinked to side and began unleashing a thousand beams of sword qi at the Count.

Although the Count was also only a Tier 3, he seemed to endure the barrage without harm.

'Enchanted armor?' Pef suspected inwardly and drew out his Legion knife.

'Yes. Tier 4 armor, made by Yama. You cannot pierce it with your crappy sword skill.' the glove said in a mock voice.

Pef sighed and Blinked again, dodging another globe of liquid. It smelled of death qi and venom, so it would likely hurt a lot, if it didn't kill him immediately.

Slowly, his energy reserve began to dwindle, while the Count wasn't even breathing hard.

Then Pef smiled, and Blinked again, lining his Voidcutter skill to bisect Tarkin and Yama behind him.

Yama's eyes widened in surprise and he tried to dodge, but the void space was locked.

Tarkin and his armor parted like air in front of the planar sword skill, which went on to impact Archdevil Yama just above his dantian.

The Archdevil fell into two pieces, qi flowing like blood out of ruptured meridians. The devil tried to grasp and reattach his other section, but another Voidcutter flew out forming a cross, bisecting him vertically.

Pef sliced casually to decapitate Tarkin and then stabbed Yama's head with his Legion knife.

Just then, a Heavenly Lightning fell, as retaliation for breaking the rules. Pef endured the punishment, while watching Yama die in front of his, brain fried by lightning and body chopped into four bits.

"Well...That was the most absurd Count challenge I have ever seen." Yamon said in wonder.

Yama's legs began fleeing towards the nearby planet, although much slower than a Tier 4 normal speed.

Pef Blinked again and stabbed the attached dantian, just as the next Heavenly Lighting bolt fell from the sky.

With a silent scream, the Archdevil died, and his dantian cracked open, releasing huge piles of jade, coins and artifacts, as well as warships, soldiers and slaves.

Pef grinned and swiped them all inside his inner galaxy, while staring at his own prize.

Another Veritas Legion power word gun, if one desecrated by decryption arrays and blood inscriptions.

Pef bit his finger and grabbed the gun stock.

"What took you so long, big idiot!" a woman's voice quipped at him.

Pef turned to observe the weapon's avatar, dressed like a Buddhist nun, even the shaved head. Being assailed by Yama for a million years must have been hard.

"You have endured much, my dear. But don't worry. I am here." Pef said in a soft tone.

"I had faith in our General and I was saved. Nothing to do with you, lazy moron! Now give me some red jade and let me rest." the weapon demanded arrogantly.

Pef sighed and broke the immersion. Women were always so fickle.

He glanced around to find Yamon watching him with wary eyes.

"Congratulations, Count Pef." the Archdevil said in a polite voice.