Syndicate Dust manifested Demon's silhouette behind a metal shop. The workers inside were too busy hammering their freshly mined materials into usable pieces of equipment to notice the sound of whispering dust.
While they worked tirelessly, he slipped away from the shop's shadow. Making his way onto the lively streets, where Variants tread in order to fulfill their daily jobs.
Demon paused by the open walls of the shop, watching some of the older troopers discuss the upcoming war with great interest. Most joked about how Yarno had always historically been submissive to mega-Legions.
Even said if Infinus knocked down their doors and roughed their warriors up a bit they'd submit. Unaware of this had already happened, and plenty of Yarnin forces were ready to invade Imbushko.
All they were waiting for was the go-ahead from Volatile. Except for Conqueror forces, who were already up to something different. This Demon knew.
He had been watching the world through Hitirus' eyes, seeing what he did on a daily basis and even learn just how weird his body was. It was unstable, unsure of what exactly it was.
Something Demon was plotting to exploit. While he watched them talk, he overheard one of the shop keepers talk to a client. He glanced over to them, which was when he smiled.
There was someone he was interested in right inside this shop. Waiting for a piece of equipment to be forged and delivered.
Demon walked inside, greeting the shop keeper and picking the seat beside the elite. He waited for them to finish talking before he made his move.
"What are you getting?" Demon asked.
"Hmm? Oh, hello. I'm waiting for a special weapon that I requested," the elite answered. "I'm Ty, by the way. What's yours?"
In response, Demon smiled. "I am Demon Coros, sibling to Ether and Jakery Coros." He was happy Ty did not recognize him at all. "So, what is this special weapon?"
Ty smiled back. "Well, I didn't think one of the leaders was going to show an interest in my little stay. The Hunings have discovered a way to make some kind of 'switch' weapon. Difficult to describe it in one word."
Demon leaned back on the wooden chair, he relaxed his shoulders over the arm rests and planted his right ankle over his left knee. "Well then, what's stopping you from describing it?"
"Ah, right - right," Ty nodded. "Its a dagger, straight edge. But it comes with an upper body. Basically, if I put the dagger inside and twist it, I can turn it into a short-sword instead."
"Mmm, interesting. So," Demon rose an eyebrow. "Is this in preparation for war?"
"You mean the one against Yarno? Yeah," Ty sucked his teeth. "I have a feeling they are coming over right now and we need to prepare ourselves. I've had the little group of men that heed me ready themselves as well."
The shop keeper from earlier approached the Variants, carrying a tray with a dagger on it. She introduced it to Ty, which he thanked her deeply for.
He picked it up with one hand and admired the beautifully made leather sheathe that housed the weapon. It felt just as good as it looked, keeping it clean and professional.
Before she left, the shop keeper turned to Demon. "Hey, are you here to request a weapon to be made?"
Demon shook his head. "No, not yet. I'm still thinking of what to get. With such a wide array of weapons to choose from, how could I think of one on the spot?"
With his response, the shop keeper returned to the back of the shop. Where her siblings were hard at work getting weapons ready or shaping the next batch of equipment.
"You've got a fine edge right here," Demon returned to Ty. "Good size, freshly made. Professionally woven leather sheathe, it is impressive what they can do here."
Syndicate Dust began to swirl and prepare to exit out of Demon's body. The second they shifted, several Variants all around started to feel uneasy.
Causing most to get out of the area until it was all over. Others chose to walk into one of the several shops in the Armory and wait it out.
"Oh, yeah. I'm thrilled to see this in action," Ty tried to ignore the creeping sense of dread.
Demon pointed at the weapon. "I bet I can make that better than this shop could ever make it."
"How?" Ty was curious.
"I'm tainted, corrupted by Syndicate Dust. Now it's part of me, and I am willing to give you that kind of power with no fee," Demon explained.
Ty paused, he looked Demon up and down. Ever so slightly budging his head. Despite it being tempting, he was unsure if he should do the offer. After all, this was an odd one.
"Wh - what can you do?" Ty stuttered.
"Ah," Demon nodded. "Before I can do that, I want to know. Are you against fighting Yarno or with fighting Yarno?"
Despite already knowing what his answer was going to be, Demon wanted to pretend like he was unsure of what Ty wanted to do.
"I... want to fight against Yarno. What they did was ruthless, especially after pretending like they were peaceful," Ty answered.
That's when Demon stood up. "Very well, I am going to give you my tainted strength. So that weapon becomes -"
A black arm extended over Demon's vision. "You escaped. I will not let. Corrupted I have become. You will pay."
He instantly recognized who this was, but Ty didn't. Ty reached for the dagger, ready to drive it into the white mask of the attacker. Only to realize the Seeker had pulled Demon out of the shop.
It lifted Demon high above the streets, where it opened a rift in reality to the world between the Nine's reality and their reality. Where the Seeker intended to carry out its revenge.