Asmodeus System: Stealing My Bully's Mother

​The transparent magical ripple sliced through the freezing air, rocketing straight toward the balcony where Ethan Valen was hiding.

​Swallowed by the tower’s shadows, Ethan’s breathing practically ground to a halt.

​If that ripple so much as grazed his Sin Concealment layer, Sage Cornelius would instantly detect the anomaly of his demonic energy. Attempting to deploy a defensive ward or physically dodging it would only confirm the blind old man’s suspicions.

​In the presence of a Sage, the slightest unnatural movement was an admission of guilt.

​Ethan’s brain fired at breakneck speed.

​[Critical Alert! Spatial Tracking Ripple arriving in 1.2 seconds!]

​Shut down Sin Mana. Use my original circuit! Ethan commanded internally.

​He forcibly suppressed the flow of his Rank B Sin Mana, burying it deep into the very core of his being. He locked it tightly beneath the superficial layer of his original, defective mana circuit.

​In a fraction of a second, Ethan called upon his innate magic. Aroma Magic. The trash energy that had branded him an F-Caste failure for over a decade.

​Ethan condensed a completely neutral pheromone—the scent of wild pine and wet fur—and shot it directly at a magical messenger owl that happened to be perched on the balcony’s roof, just a few meters above his head.

​Ping!

​Cornelius’s spatial ripple struck the owl. The air vibrated faintly.

​Hoot! Startled by the sudden disturbance, the owl flapped its wings wildly and flew off into the night.

​Down in the courtyard, Sage Cornelius furrowed his wrinkled brow. The old man in the dull gray robe pulled his oak staff back. His blind left eye remained fixed on the balcony, which now felt completely devoid of human presence.

​”A wild owl?” Cornelius murmured softly, a hint of doubt lacing his voice.

​His god-like senses had picked up an inconsistency. The spatial refraction felt entirely too smooth, too deliberate to be caused by a mere animal. Something, or someone, had just brilliantly deceived his perception.

​”Sage Cornelius?”

​Prince Edward’s arrogant voice shattered the Headmaster’s focus. The blonde prince glared at Cornelius with a demanding stare.

​”Is there a problem? Ugh... this freezing Northern weather makes me sick. I want to get to the banquet hall immediately.”

​Cornelius lowered his gaze, seamlessly hiding his suspicion behind a mask of serene indifference.

​”It is nothing, Your Highness,” Cornelius replied, his hoarse voice perfectly polite. ”Just a small rat scurrying on the tower roof. Please, follow me. The Golden Hall has been prepared to welcome you.”

​Up on the balcony, Ethan finally let out a long, heavy exhale.

​Cold sweat dripped from his temples. His heart hammered brutally against his ribs. That was the closest brush with death he had experienced since awakening the Asmodeus System.

​A Sovereign Mage might rely on pure, destructive power. But a Sage... they are truly one with the laws of nature, Ethan thought, wiping his brow.

​A demonic smirk slowly crept back onto his lips. This game was getting infinitely more interesting.

​That night, Zenithar Academy’s Golden Hall shone with blinding brilliance.

​Hundreds of crystal lanterns floated gracefully near the ceiling, illuminating long tables laden with lavish feasts. An orchestral symphony accompanied the chatter of nobles, instructors, and VIP students who had gathered to curry favor with the Heir to the Throne.

​At the table of honor, situated on a slightly elevated dais, Prince Edward sat like a tyrannical king inspecting his conquered territory.

​To his left sat Kaelia von Ashford.

​The Fire Queen looked breathtakingly gorgeous in a maroon evening gown that accentuated her curves. Her back was perfectly straight, a rigid, polite smile plastered flawlessly on her lips.

​In a dimly lit corner of the hall, Duke Alaric von Rosenberg sat alone. He downed a goblet of wine with a furious scowl, utterly disgusted by the Valois and Ashford factions flaunting their power while his son lay comatose in the medical wing.

​Meanwhile, Ethan Valen sat quietly at the furthest VIP table. One hand lazily swirled a glass of wine, while his crimson eyes stared straight through the crowd, locking onto Kaelia.

​”The future union between the Valois and Ashford factions will bring eternal prosperity to the Kingdom,” Edward announced loudly, deliberately ensuring his voice reached Duke Alaric’s ears.