The sky wasn't the usual shade of blue, but instead a clear aquamarine, like the surface of a tranquil lake.
A gentle breeze blew through, neither too cold nor too hot.
The ground below was dazzlingly colorful!
There were vast, emerald-green plains!
Lush, dense forests!
Endless crimson mountain ranges!
And a massive medieval European-style castle, steeped in ancient ambiance, sat upon this boundless landscape.
Without a doubt, this scenery would inspire awe in anyone who laid eyes on it.
It was nature at its most primal and pure—a sight almost impossible to find in Earth's rapidly industrialized age.
But at this very moment—
The once-clear sky underwent a terrifying transformation. A jet-black sun blazed in the heavens.
Its scorching heat warped the surrounding space.
The sky around this black sun darkened, and cracks like shattered glass spread outward from it.
Ominous, horrifying, evil.
It was like gazing into a sinful abyss from hell—just looking at it would plunge one into eternal darkness.
And yet, despite such terror—
The people in the city acted like it was completely normal.
Calmly, they ushered their weaker children back indoors, shielding them from the black sun's rays.
Then, the adults resumed their daily routines, as if nothing unusual had occurred.
At the same time, within the towering castle—
Just like the castle itself, the courtyard was excessively vast.
And in this courtyard—
A team of maids, straight out of medieval Europe, stood in two perfectly aligned rows.
Each wore a refined maid uniform that accentuated their voluptuous figures. Their beauty rivaled that of top international supermodels.
In the center of these two rows—
Stood an incredibly handsome young man.
With short, coffee-brown hair, fair and smooth skin, and sharp, noble features—dark, enchanting eyes, thick brows, a straight nose, and perfectly shaped lips—he exuded elegance and dignity.
"Radix, that means it's a success, right?"
The man spoke slowly and calmly, his lips barely moving.
It was strange, considering the maids stood quite far from him.
It seemed like he was talking to thin air.
But then—came a reply.
"Yes, Master. You have successfully merged with the Devil King's Core of my former master."
The voice came from a small book hanging like a pendant on the man's chest.
The book was no larger than a woman's palm.
Its cover featured four connected diamond shapes, and the corners were bound with silver material of unknown origin.
At first glance, it seemed ordinary.
But upon closer inspection, it was clearly sealed with silver chains.
"Alright, return to human form."
With elegant movements, the man lifted the book from his neck.
"Yes, Master."
The voice remained emotionless.
As she finished speaking, the book floated from his hands.
A powerful white light enveloped it, and three black ribbons of light began to swirl around it.
"Form."
"Retrieve."
—Clink!
The sound of chains breaking echoed out—the silver bindings shattered, the seal broken.
"Transform."
The pages flipped rapidly, flashing with arcane symbols.
The light intensified, concealing the book entirely, and expanded until it matched the man's height.
"Assemble."
A pair of delicate arms extended from the light.
"Activate."
Then came a pair of shapely, flawless legs.
The dazzling light faded. A magical outfit now covered what was once a momentary vision of beauty.
The book had transformed—into a gentle, graceful woman.
Radix had refined, symmetrical features. Long, water-blue hair flowed to her waist, tied with a black ribbon.
A black choker circled her slender neck, and she wore a black strapless evening gown that revealed an ample bust and a deep, shadowed cleavage.
Connecting the choker and the dress was a round, silver ornament.
Radix slowly opened her eyes.
She looked at the man with golden pupils and smiled faintly.
Then, she stepped forward.
"Congratulations, Master."
The man calmly sat down beneath a nearby pavilion.
"Not just me. You should be congratulated too. After all, only because I successfully integrated the Core can you fulfill your previous master's wishes."
Radix smiled still.
She stepped forward and knelt on one knee beside him.
"Yes. In accordance with my Previous Master's command and the agreement with Lord Vitan— From today on, Radix Astil shall dedicate everything to you, Lord Vitan Asmodeus."
Vitan nodded in satisfaction and curled his finger.
Radix, understanding his signal, rose and stood behind him obediently.
Just as Vitan was about to speak again—
A silver-white beam of light shot through the blackened sky, striking the black sun directly.
Vitan twitched involuntarily.
At that moment, one of the maids stepped forward.
"Reporting to Lord Vitan—Satan Beelzebub and Satan Asmodeus have sent word of their imminent visit."
The maid knelt respectfully.
"Wasn't that obvious? That beam just blew up my magic."
Vitan replied, slightly annoyed.
Still, he didn't blame the maid.
He waved her away.
Then, ribbon-like structures appeared midair, covered in glowing Arabic numeral 7s.
Radix stepped into the ribbon's glow with a smile.
"Let's go. We'd better meet the two Satans. If my sister fires that cannon again, my spell will have been a waste."