Elgard Citadel.
The bustling capital of Falrynth Kingdom.
The city was veiled in the embrace of a moonlit slumber.
The majority of its three districts had bid farewell to the day, now in the tranquil nightʼs embrace.
However, pockets of activity still persisted in the hidden corners of the marketplaces that refused to succumb to the darkness.
Among the districts, the Red District stood as an enigma, existing on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, yet whispered to be intricately connected to its esteemed prominence. In truth, only two districts held significance—the Green and Yellow Districts.
Within the Yellow District, nobility and royalty roamed freely.
The Green District, nevertheless, was reserved for those in close proximity to royalty, such as esteemed Dukes, Earls, Counts, and their esteemed progeny.
A realm that pulsed with privilege.
Still, on rare occasions, such as during jubilant festivals, these social barriers would momentarily dissolve into a shared experience of revelry and camaraderie.
The Red District stood as an anomaly—an enclave of shadows, shunned by the opulence of its counterparts. Here, the scent of desperation lingered, and whispers of clandestine dealings weaved through its narrow alleys.
It lacked the legality the other districts prided themselves by.
...
In the expansive underground facility, Dick Hed, the dedicated scientist, continued to carry out his duties.
He already collected a substantial amount of Velice's blood, but before they could proceed with the surgery, the surgeon insisted on witnessing her abilities in action.
With cautious steps, Dick approached Velice.
She remained the same—eyes devoid of life.
Silently, she sat upon a small platform.
"Velice, how're you feeling?" Dick asked softly.
Velice's response was a slow nod.
He leaned in slightly to gently caress her chin. "Good girl," he said. His touch lingered for a moment as he kissed the top of her head, "my precious little girl.."
"T... Thank you... for calling me that," Velice responded monotonously, her gaze on the ground, without any connection or response.
This was what Dick wanted.
A nobody who would do whatever she asked. Just an empty shell of her non-existent self.
"My sweet, I need you to do something for me..."
In a drab tone, Velice replied, "I'll do anything for you."
"Excellent."
Carefully, Dick handed her a vial of red blood.
Velice's frail hands accepted the offering, and as she poured her magical energy into the fabric, her eyes ignited with a brilliant azure glow. In an instant, the once vibrant red vial transformed, its new hue displaying a deep, ominous shade of scarlet.
Eyes widened, Dick stepped back a bit.
"Impressive!! Your abilities have indeed manifested!!"
There was already a crazy stare in his eyes. Never had he anticipated that his theory would work.
"Your magic's beautiful, the current potency of this demon blood has been elevated to over a century."
"...okay..." Velice replied.
Triumphantly, he snatched the vial from Velice's grasp. The cynical shine in his eyes never vanished.
There was something known as 「Demon Blood Rankings」.
『 Red Blood (0-100 years): The weakest type of demon blood, the red blood signifies a young demon or one with minimal power and experience. Demons with red blood are often easily defeated and pose little threat to even moderately prepared opponents. Their powers usually consist of minor illusions or weak elemental abilities.
2. Dark Red Blood (100-500 years): As demons gain experience and mature, their blood deepens, transitioning into dark red. This signifies a moderate increase in power and capability. Demons with dark red blood possess stronger magical abilities, such as summoning small minions or casting low-level curses. They can also display enhanced physical attributes, such as heightened speed or strength.
There were several others such as: Green, Purple & Black Blood... 』
Dick stood up, a sinister smile on his face as he gazed down at the young girl, Velice, who remained seated in the small lab-esque prison room.
"Now... where is it..."
His eyes scanned the room, searching for something that would serve his purpose.
Finding a pile of rusted chains tucked away in a corner, he made his way towards it.
"Velice," Dick spoke in a tone that was chilling, "I hope you understand... I'm not trying to make you a slave or anything... I'm simply preserving you so you give your life for the greater good."
Velice, emotionless as always, met his gaze unwaveringly.
"My life belongs to you," she replied almost robotically.
She resigned completely to this twisted manʼs control.
Satisfaction danced across Dick's eyes, his dark intentions laid bare. "Not just to me, Velice," he emphasized. "Your life also belongs to the Order of the Divine Flame. You'll do whatever is asked of you, right?"
Velice's nod was slow, as if trapped in a haze of compliance.
"Yes," she monotoned, offering no resistance.
Dick's fingers traced the delicate strands of Velice's long, blue hair, his touch gentle yet possessive. His smile deepened, revealing the twisted pleasure he derived from molding her into his instrument.
"Good girl," he murmured.
Velice's dull nod marked her acceptance, a sense of resignation enveloping her being.
She was a pawn in this game, doing exactly as her captor commanded.
With a swift motion, Dick fastened the chains he retrieved. The cold metal bound her neck, wrists, and ankles, effectively immobilizing her.
Velice's eyes remained fixed on the ground.
She showed no defiance or struggle.
She was a mere puppet, willingly surrendering herself to the cruel hands of fate.
Once satisfied with his task, Dick slid the precious veil of demon blood into his pocket and straightened his glasses.
( ...Yes, this is just what I wanted.
She's terrified of rejection, and because of that— she's completely under my control.
She's willing to do anything to please me, even sacrificing her own life or committing unthinkable acts.
It's quite intriguing, really.
Perhaps I should take advantage of the situation and indulge myself in whatever I desire... although, the Order might not approve.
...But who cares about them anyway...? ) [Dick]
Dick stared at Velice, a sinister smile twisting his lips as his dark desires surged through him.
"I've been stuck in this underground facility for so long that my boner's been having a boner.."
The bulge in his pants a perverse proof to his words.
As he slowly removed his belt, his gaze never didn't falter from the young girl before him.
But just as he was on the brink of satisfying his sick fantasies, the sound of footsteps interrupted his depravity.
The door swung open, revealing the surgeon in charge of the operation accompanied by a guard.
"Greetings, Mr. Dick..."
The guard greeted Dick, who let out a frustrated sigh and hastily buckled his belt back into place.
He turned to face the two intruders, irritated.
"What're you doing here?" he asked.
The surgeon spoke.
"I wanted to check on the progress of her abilities."
He knew Dick was eager to extract Velice's heart, and he wished to ensure she possessed enough control over her powers to be of use.
Dick's frustration seeped into his voice as he replied, "From what I've observed, her abilities seem to be progressing well. She's displayed a remarkable command over them."
The surgeon raised an eyebrow, his doubts evident on his face.
"Can you provide proof?" he inquired, desiring clear verification.
He knew Dick could potentially lie about Velice's progress, as his impatience to harvest her heart was no secret.
Letting out a weary sigh, Dick retrieved a vial filled with dark red blood from his pocket.
"Take a look at this," he muttered, holding the vial out to the surgeon.
Velice sat there in silence.
"She easily increase the grade of the demon's blood by accelerating its aging process."
The surgeon's eyes widened in astonishment as he tentatively reached out to snatch the vial from Dick's grasp.
He examined the contents religiously.
"Amazing," he exclaimed, his voice quivering with excitement.
Sensing an opportunity to reclaim his possession, Dick snatched the vial back, his possessiveness evident.
"That's mine!"
The surgeon adjusted his gloves, a devious smile forming on his lips.
"Once we extract her heart, we'll be able to mass-produce high-grade magic weapons and creatures."
"Certainly.."
The surgeon approached Velice.
He grabbed her by the cheeks, squeezing them tightly as her lips pushed outward. The pain was intense, but Velice remained silent and stoic, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
The surgeon, growing irritated, struck her head with force.
"I hope you'll be a good dog... or maybe bitch!!"
Still, Velice remained unresponsive, refusing to give in to his cruelty.
His cynical grin widened, and he struck her again, this time shouting.
"WILL YOU BE A GOOD DOG?!!"
The chains that bound Velice's neck rattled as the surgeon yanked on them, his frustration mounting.
He demanded a response, desperate for any sign of submission.
But before he could continue his torture, Dick intervened.
"That's enough," Dick's voice cut through the air.
He turned to Velice, his eyes softening, "you'll do it for me right?"
Hope sparked in her eyes, and she nodded, "I will."
The surgeon scoffed, his bitterness evident, and left the room, muttering insults under his breath.
The guard, who was observing the scene with confusion, stood there uncertainly.
Dick's attention shifted to him, and he barked impatiently, "What the fuck are you still doing here?!"
"N-nothing," the guard stammered, taken aback by Dick's sudden outburst.
"Then get out! Go do your job!"
"Y-yes sir!"
He started to leave, but Dick called him back, causing the guard to turn around, confusion written all over his face.
"Wait," Dick commanded.
The guard obediently returned, awaiting further instruction. "Sir?"
"Fetch some food for her, even animals need to be fed right?"
"S-sure sir..."
When the guard left, Dick placed one hand over his face.
"I can barely contain myself," he said.
From small spurts of laughter, it exploded into a psychotic laugh that echoed across the subterranean excavation and bounced off the walls.
"PERFECT!! ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!!"