The chapter opens with a solemn, crackling silence.

  Kairyuuha stood atop a jagged cliff, gazing toward the edge of the horizon. Through telepathy, his voice resonated clearly to his three loyal demons—Zalfus, Sith, and Velva.

  "Status report."

  One by one, the replies arrived in his mind.

  "No orbs found. Just residual traces," Sith responded, his tone curt.

  "Same here," Velva added, her voice a calm, analytical whisper.

  "My area was void too," Zalfus concluded.

  Kairyuuha's glowing eyes narrowed slightly. "Abandon the search. Return home."

  In an instant, all three demons appeared beside him, shadows swirling at their feet. Without another word, Kairyuuha raised his hand. Space distorted and cracked before them, tearing open a path to the Demon Realm.

  They stepped through.

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  As they arrived, thunder rumbled behind them. The Demon Realm was as vast and grim as ever—red skies with black clouds, floating stones, and citadels made of obsidian. Kairyuuha’s expression was no longer playful or amused; it was cold, focused.

  As he walked through the streets of the capital, crowds of demons dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in reverence. He passed them without a word, his coat billowing behind him.

  Within the towering Demon King’s castle, silence fell the moment he entered. Demons parted like a tide before him. No one dared breathe too loudly. He ascended the obsidian steps of the throne and sat upon it like it was made for him. A devilish smirk curled his lips.

  "The downfall of humans… is yet to begin."

  The throne room echoed with the weight of his words. Zalfus, Sith, and Velva stood at attention beside him, each one radiating deadly presence.

  Moments later, a robed demon entered and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty."

  Kairyuuha raised one hand, summoning a violet and purple status screen. The interface shimmered with power, revealing a world map outlined with the borders of the Seven Great Kingdoms:

  Tardralis

  Vordania

  Zarneth

  Arviel

  Drokarin

  Sungrath

  Astrea

  Each name glowed ominously as he looked over them.

  "We strike each empire one by one," he said, his voice calm yet absolute. "Astrea will be last. There’s someone there who has yet to awaken."

  The robed demon nodded and bowed out of the room to relay the orders.

  Kairyuuha then turned to his loyal demons. "Step forward."

  They obeyed.

  He raised his hand again. A glowing magic circle spun to life beneath them. A hum of ancient energy reverberated through the room. Suddenly, a new kind of status screen appeared before each demon—in their favorite colors, personalized, shimmering with untapped potential.

  Kairyuuha stood from his throne, his expression unreadable. "The deities miscounted the demons. They denied the status system to y'all. But no longer."

  The screens flickered and finalized. Each demon now had access to a new set of skills.

  "Among your new skills is Analysis—refined and upgraded. Use it to locate the orbs. Search not blindly, but with purpose."

  "Yes, my King," they said in unison.

  The Demon King sat again, his fingers steepled, a quiet flame in his eyes. The beginning of his campaign was in motion, and the seven kingdoms… would soon tremble.