Chereads / NINE Supreme - THE CONQUEROR / Chapter 8 - The Hunt

Chapter 8 - The Hunt

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The sun had barely set when Algernon finalized his preparations, his mind sharp and focused. To start his objective, he first applied to visit the Familiar Forest, a common destination for young devils to bond with familiars.

The request was approved the next day, conveniently aligning with the full moon that night—a perfect opportunity to begin his plan.

Under the mystical glow of the moon, Algernon ventured into the Familiar Forest, ignoring the ferocious creatures and seeking bat-type familiars.

These familiars, known for their ability to share real-time visuals, were essential for his reconnaissance. After a seamless process of contracting several bats using his growing control over demonic energy, Algernon immediately deployed them.

"Spread out," he commanded, his voice calm yet firm. "Search for any secluded properties marked by Naberius Clan magic. Keep your distance and report back immediately if you find anything suspicious."

The bats scattered into the night, flying toward regions rumored to harbor the Naberius Clan's hidden experimental sites. Algernon had already identified these locations beforehand, knowing they would be concealed with layers of protective arrays and enchantments.

To ensure swift action, he had also prepared pre-activated teleportation circles linked to his magic reserves near each potential site. This would allow him to arrive instantly when the moment called for it.

Back in his room, Algernon activated the connection to his familiars, their shared vision projecting a cascade of images into his mind. He observed dark forests, misty hills, and ancient ruins—places forgotten by time yet ideal for the Naberius Clan's hidden activities.

Hours passed as he reviewed the visuals, his patience unwavering. He knew Kuroka would only act when the Naberius Clan threatened her younger sister, and that moment would be his chance to intercept her.

"The cat will move when the fish is in danger," he muttered to himself, his eyes glinting with determination. "And I'll be there to catch her."

Everything was in place. The bats would uncover the experimental site, and Algernon's teleportation circles would ensure he arrived at the right time.

For now, it was a waiting game, but he had learned from his training that patience often decided the victor.

Algernon's patience was rewarded sooner than expected. Only three days had passed when one of his bat familiars sent an alert, the shared vision showing smoke rising from an ancient ruin nestled deep in the forest.

Without hesitation, he activated the one-time teleportation circle he had meticulously prepared in his manor's basement.

Kuroka's condition was worse than he had expected. Though a mid-class devil herself, she was clearly injured, her steps faltering slightly as she weaved through the dense forest.

Her Youjutsu abilities allowed her to momentarily outmaneuver her pursuers, but Algernon could see the strain on her body and the desperation in her movements.

"She's strong," Algernon thought, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation. "But even she can't hold out much longer in this state."

He kept his distance, using the shadows of the forest to mask his presence as he followed them. Kuroka's instincts were sharp—if she sensed him now, she might mistake him for another enemy, and any chance of recruiting her would vanish.

The forest grew thicker as Kuroka led her pursuers deeper into its embrace. She suddenly stopped, turning on her heel and releasing a burst of Youjutsu energy that created a powerful wave of destructive force.

The attack forced the Naberius devils to halt, their defensive barriers shimmering under the impact.

"Still putting up a fight, huh?" one of them sneered. "You should've just surrendered, little kitty. It'd have been less painful that way."

Kuroka smirked despite her visible exhaustion, her golden eyes gleaming with defiance. "You think I'd ever let you bastards touch my sister? Over my dead body."

Her words stirred something within Algernon. This was the spirit he admired—the unyielding determination that made her worthy of being part of his peerage.

As the Naberius devils regrouped and prepared for another attack, Algernon made his move, silently closing the distance. The time for observation was over. Now, it was time to act.

Algernon silently emerges from the forest, a black mask concealing his identity as he surveys the chaotic scene ahead. Kuroka, battered and bleeding, struggles to fend off four mid-class devils from the Naberius Clan.

Her movements, though agile, are faltering from exhaustion. The devils close in, sensing her vulnerability. Algernon knows this is his moment. With a wave of his hand, three small, glowing orbs of demonic energy form above his palm, flickering like predatory embers.

He acts without hesitation. The first orb reshapes into a sharp demonic blade, streaking through the air with pinpoint precision and embedding itself into the throat of the closest devil. The unfortunate target gurgles and collapses before anyone realizes what has happened.

The sudden attack halts the remaining three devils. They whirl around, searching for the source. Before they can react, Algernon steps forward, his black aura radiating like an oppressive storm.

"Four against one was a coward's game," he says coldly, his voice distorted by the mask. "Now let's see how you fare when the odds shift."

The devils snarl, regrouping as two charge at him while the third unleashes a torrent of fire spells. Algernon weaves through the flames with short-range teleportation, reappearing behind one of the charging devils.

He channels his demonic energy into his leg and delivers a brutal magic-enhanced kick to the devil's side, sending them hurtling into a tree with a sickening crunch.

Kuroka, sensing the shift in momentum, takes advantage of the distraction.

"Well, well, masked hero, nya," she purrs despite her injuries, forming a poisonous mist around her hands.

"Let me join the fun, nya." She vanishes in a blur of movement, reappearing behind the second charging devil. Her claws, laced with her signature mist poison, rake across their exposed back. The devil screams in agony, their movements slowing as the poison takes hold.

The final devil snarls in rage and desperation, launching a barrage of enchanted spears toward both Algernon and Kuroka. Algernon conjures a shimmering energy shield, absorbing the attack effortlessly.

The moment the barrage ends, he dissipates the shield and splits his remaining two orbs into dozens of needle-like projectiles. With a flick of his wrist, the needles rain down on the devil, piercing their arms and legs to immobilize them.

The devil Kuroka had poisoned, still barely alive, tries to crawl away. Kuroka smirks, walking slowly toward them.

"Where do you think you're going, hmm? nya. You're not done playing yet." With a graceful motion, she summons tendrils of earth using her Senjutsu, binding the devil in place.

She glances at Algernon. "Care to finish this one, mysterious savior, nya?"

Algernon steps forward, conjuring another bladed projectile in his hand. "Consider it a gift for your courage," he replies. With a single fluid motion, he hurls the blade, ending the devil's misery.

The last remaining devil, pinned to the ground by Algernon's needles, glares at the pair with unrestrained fury.

"You'll regret this," he hissed, blood seeping from his wounds.

"The Naberius Clan will hunt you both—"

Before he can finish, Algernon clenches his fist, and the needles embedded in his body pulse with a burst of energy. The devil convulses once before collapsing lifelessly.

Kuroka leans against a tree, her breathing ragged but her golden eyes gleaming with amusement and relief.

"You're good, masked man, nya. I owe you one, though I don't trust people who hide their faces," she says, eyeing him suspiciously.

Algernon approaches, maintaining a measured distance. "Trust isn't necessary," he replies, his voice steady.

"What matters is that I stopped them. I believe we have mutual goals, Nekoshou." He gestures toward the fallen bodies.

"You'd have won eventually, but you're clearly in no condition for prolonged fights."

Kuroka chuckles, despite herself. "Fair point, nya. So, what now? You saved me, but I'm not one to follow orders blindly, nya."

Algernon tilts his head. "We'll talk, but not here. This place reeks of blood and ruin. Let me help you heal first."

As Kuroka raises an eyebrow, Algernon discreetly uses his magic to clear the area, ensuring no reinforcements arrive. Together, they vanish into the dense forest, leaving behind only the broken remnants of their enemies.

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As the forest around them remains quiet, the distant sounds of nature the only interruption, Algernon sits on a fallen log, his demeanor calm yet intense. His eyes meet Kuroka's, the golden glow of her gaze locked onto his with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity

She still doesn't fully trust him—understandably so—but he knows now is the time to show her the depth of his knowledge and the potential he can offer her.

"Kuroka," Algernon begins, his voice low but steady.

"I know what you're running from, and I know what you've been through. Your father… he never cared about you. He only used you as a pawn in his twisted experiments. He never saw you as a daughter—only as a tool for his research."

Kuroka's body stiffens at the mention of her father. Her eyes flicker with a brief moment of pain, but she quickly hides it behind a mask of indifference.

"You don't know what you're talking about, nya," she growls. "No one knows what it's like to be in my shoes."

Algernon's lips curl into a knowing smile. "I know exactly what it's like. Your father's experiments, the way he discarded your mother once she was no longer useful, all while playing the perfect devil in front of everyone. But deep down, he couldn't care less about family—about you."

Kuroka's tail twitches with a flash of anger, but she says nothing. Algernon presses on, his voice unwavering.

"I've also been keeping an eye on the Naberius Clan. They won't stop hunting you. But if you join me, Kuroka, things can be different. You won't have to run anymore. You can exact the revenge you crave, not just on the Naberius Clan, but on everyone who has wronged you."

Kuroka scoffs, but there's a hint of intrigue behind her expression. "And how exactly would you help me with that, nya? I don't even know who you are."

Algernon stands slowly, his body language filled with purpose. He reaches into his cloak and retrieves a small, intricate box—his Evil Pieces.

He opens the box, revealing the pieces glowing a deep crimson-black, their energy rippling with power. The air around them seems to grow heavier with their presence.

"I have power, Kuroka," he says, his tone dark and commanding. he gestures to the pieces, "These are mutated Evil Pieces they are the key to building the strongest peerage in history."

Kuroka stares at the pieces in disbelief, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Mutated Evil Pieces? how did you managed to get the whole set of these, nya?"

Algernon smirks beneath his mask. "These pieces are different. Not only can they empower the devil power my servants, but they also empower their original racial abilities. These pieces are proof of my peerage's potential. I can help you take down the Naberius Clan, but it won't stop there."

He steps closer to her, his voice lowering to a whisper, yet the words carry weight that reverberates in the air.

"I'm not just talking about revenge, Kuroka. I'm talking about conquering the Demon race itself. And from there, I'll turn my sights on the entire world."

"I'm not bound by the limits of my current form. I am destined for far more than anyone can imagine. The throne I seek is not just of the Demon world, but of everything."

Kuroka's expression shifts. Her body language tightens, and she looks away for a moment, lost in thought.

She doesn't want to admit it, but Algernon's words resonate with her—a dream of power, of revenge, of taking everything she deserves. Everything she's been denied.

She turns back to him, her gaze sharp but calculating. "You're saying you have the power to help me tear down the Naberius Clan, to make them pay for everything they've done to me and my family, nya?"

Algernon nods, the quiet confidence in his demeanor making it clear he's not lying. "Not just the Naberius Clan. I can give you the power to crush them. And with me, you will be unstoppable."

He takes a step back, letting his words sink in. "But more than that, Kuroka, you will be a bishop in my peerage. You won't just be some lowly soldier in a war—you'll be someone who shapes the future. Together, we we'll build a new world where power is determined by potential, not birthright."

Kuroka's eyes flicker between the Evil Pieces and his face, now more serious than she's ever seen him. She can feel the raw power emanating from him, and she understands—he is not offering her just a fleeting chance for revenge.

He's offering her a chance to become someone greater than she ever imagined.

"You really think you can do that, nya?" she asks, her voice low but laced with intrigue.

"I don't think," he replies firmly. "I know."

Finally, she takes a deep breath and nods, her voice carrying a sense of resolve. "Alright. I'll join you, but you better keep your word, nya. If I'm going to work with you, you better be able to show me that you can back up all that talk."

Algernon smiles beneath his mask, feeling the bond between them solidifying. "You have my word, Kuroka. Welcome to the beginning of our new world."