Devil's Rise 21 The Fraud

The book woke up when he placed Sybil on top of it. A flood of information came to James.

[Quest completed: Find Sybil.]

[Rewards distributed: Soul Refinement Scripture Vol. 1-3, Auxiliary Art: Soul Reading, Auxiliary Art: Contracts]

[Host: James Hudson

Race: Devil

Age: 16

Cultivation: Tier 2 (1/4)

Cultivation Arts: Flint & Tinder Art (2)

Battle Arts: None

Minor Daos: Soul (22%), Devil (20%), Fire (14%)

Inborn Ability: Soul Eyes (Suppressed)

Auxiliary Arts: Blacksmithing (1), Soul Refining (2), Soul Reading (3) Contracts (3)]

[Quest: Attain Sybil's approval.]

[Reward: Realm portal to Tier 2 Pocket Realm and access to book "Exploiting Pocket Realms"]

[Host must gain Sybil's approval through own efforts.]

[Host is in a subservient contract. Purging contract from host.]

[Meow, you can't cancel this cat's contract stupid book.]

[Purge failed. Changing contract to be equal.]

[Contract as equals established.]

[Congratulations host has a new companion: Jurrath, Aspect of Mischief]

[Aspect Contract: Host must cook for Jurrath. In exchange, Jurrath will have a chef.]

[Meow, stupid book. He is a chef.]

[Host occupation changed to chef]

[Meow, excellent book.]

James was at a loss. It seems this mischievous cat even swindled his Codex. Even the Codex now had him listed as chef. ~I am a young master, not a chef!~

"Meow, right, you are a chef."

He ignored the cat. He looked at the little silver seed that was apparently Sybil. Somehow he had to bind with it. He placed it in his hands and poured a bit of Soul qi into it.

A flash of light happened and soon a sleeping beautiful little woman was in his hands. She was only 2 inches tall, fitting in the palm of his hands. She had insect like wings on her back. She soon awoke and flew around looking at James questionably.

"Hey! Why did the stupid book choose you?"

"Hey, stop calling my Codex stupid! It has a great taste for choosing this young master!"

"Watch Out! The mighty Codex of Souls is now in the hands of a little devil, barely even in the Knight realm."

"Listen! I bet the previous hosts are rolling in their grave." laughed the little woman looking at the cat.

"So will you join me little beauty? The Codex says I have to get your approval."

"Hey! Why do you deserve my approval devil?"

"Because I am a chef."

"Meow, right, he's a chef."

James quickly wiped up a delightful meal for the little beauty hoping to impress her. The little beauty enjoyed the meal became elated.

"Hey! I acknowledge your efforts and approve of you."

[Quest completed: Gain Sybil's approval]

[Congratulations host has a new companion: Sybil, Aspect of Hope]

[Reward distributed: Realm portal to Tier 2 Pocket realm.]

What is a Tier 2 Pocket realm?

"Meow, Tier 2 Pocket realm means it's a realm that only allows strength up to the peak of Tier 2"

"What happens if a Baron enters this realm?"

"Meow, it restricts them to Tier 2 completion realm when in it."

"Listen! The cat is right, rarely would anyone at Tier 3 or above enter because people like you could kill them."

"Word, so if I go to this place I could become king? Why would anyone ever leave?"

"Meow, you can't grow past Tier 2 there."

"Listen! It's much harder to raise Dao comprehension in a Tier 2 pocket realm than a realm such as Xertzul Abyss. People there spend their entire lives to reach Tier 2 realm. Where you are only 16 and not even very talented and a Devil Knight."

"Then why would the stupid book reward me with a portal to the realm."

"Meow, the stupid book wants you to get one of its pages."

"Look! The stupid book only issues quests to help itself."

[Codex issues quests to foster hosts growth. Please ignore the Aspects.]

[Chain quest issued: "Investigate the Tutan realm."]

[Meow, this book has always been stupid ignore it!]

[Listen! Ignore the book, it's a glorified McGuffin!]

"Jurrath are you a part of the book like Sybil?"

"Meow, you found me out! But you are forever chef!"

[Can not change Host's occupation from chef.]

"Hey! You let the stupid cat swindle you to being his chef when he is an Aspect of the Codex… You are a terrible host… Thats like letting the servants run a house!"

James was livid. No wonder the stupid cat found him and started following him. He was an Aspect of the Codex all along. He made him sign that contract before he awoke Sybil. That way James wouldn't find out. James got swindled into being his chef forever. ~No wonder he could read my mind!~

"Meow, this cats too smart for you chef."

"Meow, this cat's skill is Illusion Dao. I am not a fighting Aspect. So you better stay out of trouble!"

"Sybil what can you do? Jurrath seems powerful."

"Listen, I can heal you if anyone injures you. Much more useful than the stupid cat that only knows how to eat, steal, and turn things into dogs!"

"Meow, this cat isn't a thief!"

"Hey! The stupid cat even bl.u.s.ters as a powerful demon, faking a 'hidden strong demonic aura'. His six legged look is even fake! He's nothing but a mischievous fraud!"

"Meow, you're a fraud pixie. I don't know why I bothered to go get you. You're the least fun of the Aspects!"

"Watch Out! His dog skill doesn't work on anyone who believes it will fail. So he bl.u.s.ters around having a mysterious 'fake demonic aura' on him. He turns the weak-minded into a dog first, giving him credibility as 'powerful and mysterious'."

"Listen! He attacks no one because that would give him away."

"Meow, stop letting him know this cat's playbook!"

"How many Aspects are there?"

"Meow, not sure."

"Look! The book has existed for a long time. Much longer than you could comprehend."

"Aspects like us are born from the book. There are innumerable Aspects."

"Do you guys know the location of any?"

"Meow, you are too weak to look for more Aspects! Be happy you are lucky enough to have two. Most hosts to the book have never even seen two."

"Listen! You should read over 'Exploiting Pocket Realms' before heading there"

"Well, I guess that answers things." I guess ill dive into my quest rewards.

James looked over the [Soul Refining Scripture], as a Baron level Scripture it was much more comprehensive than the [Flint & Steel Art] he was using before. It would allow him to create a second Soul Servant with the [Electros Tortallis Art]. He required understanding of the Electric Dao and a turtle demon beast soul.

He could even refine souls to create skeleton minions with this scripture! ~This young master can become a necromancer now!~

James would put learning the [Soul Refining Scripture] behind him for a while. It seemed before he could start it he would have to gleam insight into the Electric Dao. That would require closed door devilry and much study. He wasn't ready for that commitment when the [Flint & Tinder Art] could already take him to the top of the Knight realm.

The Soul Reading Art was more of an auxiliary art than a battle one. It let James look through the memories of recently departed souls. Soul searching someone who was still alive was much more difficult. It was easy looking through the memories of a soul after he refined it and made it docile. The Soul Reading Art would serve him well going to such a strange place as the Tutan realm.

"Why does the book want me to learn another Dao? I thought I only needed to learn Soul Dao to improve my devilry fast."

"Meow, Daos have many complementary aspects. You learn supplementary Daos to improve your understanding of your primary Dao."

"Listen! The books stupid but it wouldn't give you anything that wasn't helpful to you in improving your Soul Dao."

"Look! Only through doing that could you help repair it. It is a selfish book, remember?"

I guess James looked over the Contracts Art. The book engraved into his head. James now knew how to establish contracts that bound the users by their soul easily. He could now officially start his organization!

I wonder what I should name my organization?

"Meow, call it cat's Sou Chefs."

"Shut up, stupid cat!" James finally could go against the cat that had bullied him for so long. Now that he knew this cat couldn't turn him into a dog anymore, he would no longer stand for its none sense. He would put this cat in its right place!

"Meow, you still don't understand. You are a dog."

James quickly found himself a dog again.

"Listen, even if you understand the workings of the stupid cat's trick you can't escape the technique. You do not understand your Dao or the Illusion Dao enough to break it."

"Meow, just remember you are a chef."

James felt he must one day learn the Illusion Dao, if only to make sure he would never be a dog!

"Oh, great and powerful cat lord. I will serve you faithfully as chef!"

"Meow, as long as you understand chef."

Sybil was rolling her eyes. She didn't know how her new host got swindled by such a mischievous cat. She must stay by his side and make sure no one else takes advantage of him. Sybil had an upright and responsible personality.

That's why the book told him to find her and not Jurrath. Jurrath had no regard for civility. He would be a corrupt influence on his host. Decreasing the chance they would repair the book. Together they made a wonderful team, though. Sybil could restrain Jurrath.

~I should go check on Kyle, it's almost been three months and I should have my first delivery of fel shards. It's time for this young master to have his first official follower!