Chapter 24: Li Qui’s Faustian Bargain

“Lin Qui… what is the meaning of this?!”

The voice exploded across the dark realm.

Its fury rolled outward in violent shockwaves, shaking the blood water, rattling the red gate, distorting the very space around them.

Lin Qui did not even glance back.

Damian ignored the thunderous rage as well, his eyes locked onto the floating contract before him.

“What the hell is this?” Damian asked coldly.

Lin Qui remained calm.

“The only way I can protect my wives from the vile creature behind me.”

He released the scroll, yet it remained suspended in the air. With a casual wave of his hand, it flew straight into Damian’s grasp.

Damian studied it closely. Then Lin Qui spoke again.

“I am the one who killed the Demon Lord.”

Buzz.

Damian’s head snapped up.

“I am the one who killed him,” Lin Qui repeated evenly. “His most trusted subordinate stabbed him in the back at the most critical moment of the battle against the Supreme Deity.”

His violet eyes darkened.

“I stole the Abyssal Inheritance, a power bestowed only upon those who become Demon Lord, and sealed it in a fragment of my soul. I hid it here, along with remnants of my power, to help speed up your growth.”

Damian’s pupils widened.

Back then, Hazel had mentioned suspicions. The Seven Sins were believed to have set up the Demon Lord and her husband. Because he was favored and was believed to be the best candidate to replace the old demon lord.

But this?

The Demon Lord killed by his most trusted ally?

’Hazel wasn’t exaggerating when she said our treachery is nothing but child’s play compared to demons.’

A chill ran down Damian’s spine. To think this beautiful, gentle-looking man had orchestrated the fall of the almighty Demon Lord.

Looks could truly be deceiving.

“Can I ask why you betrayed him?” Damian asked carefully. “I thought you were his favorite.”

Lin Qui revealed a bitter smile.

“Truly, I was.”

His expression hardened.

“But that does not secure the safety of my wives. My wives will never be safe if I cannot open that gate and walk out victorious. I cannot hand my body over to that thing, so I dedicated my life to creating an opportunity for my successor to achieve what I could not.”

“LIN QUI! DAMN YOU, TREACHEROUS SWINE!”

The voice beyond the gate roared and the shockwave this time was brutal. Damian had to brace himself to avoid being knocked off balance as the blood water trembled violently beneath him. Still, Lin Qui treated the rage as if it were nothing more than background noise.

He did not have much time left.

“Share your plan,” Damian said firmly, noticing how each word from Lin Qui agitated Asmodeus further.

Lin Qui nodded once.

“The power of the Abyss is too unstable and the backlash is fierce. I did not acquire it so you could rely on it immediately. Treat it as your trump card against my brothers and their demon generals.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Slay my brothers. Merge the power of all Seven Sins.”

“Your goal,” Lin Qui continued, “is to become the Deity of Calamity. A being capable of toppling the Supreme Deity, only that can protect my girls. Not a mere Demon Lord.”

Damian frowned and threw his hands up.

“Slow down, pretty boy. I don’t know shit about any of this. Kindly explain what a Deity of Calamity is.”

Lin Qui sighed, exhausted, but continued nonetheless.

“It is said that only when the Seven Sins are merged can the true inheritance of the Demon Lord awaken. Calamity.”

He paused.

“However, no Prince has ever succeeded in defeating all six of his brothers. That is why the Underworld has been losing ground to the Heavens for eons.”

His voice lowered.

“But now, you possess a trump card.”

“The Inheritance of the Abyss gives you an edge. With it, defeating your brothers and gathering all Seven Deadly Sins should be within your capabilities.”

Damian studied Lin Qui carefully as he spoke. There was no greed in his eyes. No hunger for power. Only determination. It was difficult to believe that love alone had driven him to such madness. Damian was genuinely stunned.

But then again, thinking about the lovely soul Hazel is and remembering her beautiful smile, he could understand why he would go this far to protect them.

“So,” Lin Qui asked quietly, “what will it be?”

His violet gaze locked onto Damian’s.

“Will my gamble pay off… or did I waste one life on a fruitless venture?”

Damian did not answer immediately. He turned his gaze toward the massive red gate again. The darkness beyond it pulsed faintly. With the Sin of Lust, his fate was simple.

Be devoured by Asmodeus.

Or be killed by his siblings.

Lin Qui was offering solutions to both. His only fault with the contract was the clause about ending his life if he failed against Asmodeus. It sat bitterly in his stomach.

But pushing emotions aside, the truth was simple. If he lost, Asmodeus would take over his body. That was death in every way that mattered.

“Alright,” Damian said at last.

“I’ll give your plan a try.”

Silence lingered for a few seconds and then the system responded.

[Damian has agreed on the terms of the contract.]

[Please sign]

“Sign? With what?”

Damian flipped the scroll over, searching for a pen or anything usable.

Suddenly…

His finger sliced open against the edge of the document. Blood splattered directly onto the designated signature space. The scroll reacted instantly. Without hesitation, it shot from his hands and returned to Lin Qui.

Lin Qui bit open his own finger and signed with blood.

Brrrr!

The scroll burst into flames and vanished while notifications flooded Damian’s vision.

[Congratulations, Faustian Bargain completed successfully]

[Warning: Should you default on the terms of the agreement, your soul will burst into a million particles and scatter across the universe, never to be reunited again.]

[Congratulations, you have acquired the following:]

[300 Talent Points]

[Inheritance: The Abyss]

[Name: Damian]

[Race: HumanDemon] [Hybrid]

[Rank: Lesser Demon]

[Sins: Lust/abyss]

[Talent Points: 315]

[Talent Tree:][Lust/Abyss]

[Level: 50] [1%]

[Strength: 5.5] [Agility: 5.5] [Constitution: 6.0] [Charisma: 5.5]

[Demonic Force: 215/215]

[Skill]

[Name: Charm]

[Type: Passive]

[Description: A skill that makes people feel drawn to the user. People become more open, trusting, and easier to influence. Strong will or higher rank reduces the effect.]

[Name: Predatory Instinct]

[Type: Passive]

[Description: A skill that grants the host access to a sixth sense, allowing him to taste emotions, smell intentions, and read subtle meanings most would overlook.]

[Name: Demonic Force: Unleash]

[Type: Active]

[Description: A skill that allows the user to unleash stored demonic force.]

[Name: State of Iniquity]

[Type: Passive]

[Description: A skill that amplifies the user’s power when they are in the midst of evil and immorality]

[Name: Minor Regeneration]

[Type: Passive]

[Description: A skill that amplifies the user’s regeneration speed.]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep