Chapter 31: The Ceremony Begins (Part 1)
Arc II: Rise of Evil Pieces
( MC age - 13 to 15)
The moon hung high over the grand spire of Erebus Hall, its soft glow dancing across glass domes and runic etchings carved into obsidian stone. Inside, a dazzling constellation of magical lights illuminated the vaulted ceilings, each one forged from spellwork centuries old.
Crimson banners representing the Great King faction flanked the marble pillars, and floating chandeliers shimmered with devil fire.
Tonight was a night of prestige and legacy—a celebration of new power being handed to the next generation of high-class Devils.
The venue bustled with noble families and their entourages, the air alive with polite conversation and veiled judgment. Robes of black and gold brushed against enchanted tiles.
Wine poured itself. Magical sigils hovered near balconies, recording the event for noble documentation. The ceremony, though not publicized in mass media, was open to all nobility under Devil Number regulations, and nearly every powerful house had sent a representative.
From the balconies, veteran lords observed in silence while heirs clustered in small groups—some talking politics, others pretending not to measure up rivals.
For many here, this ceremony was a turning point: the day they received their Evil Pieces and began their march toward power, glory, and influence.
All conversation stilled when Maou Ajuka Beelzebub entered.
Dressed in layered robes woven with complex enchantments, Ajuka carried no crown yet stood above kings. His presence was quiet, not demanding attention—yet none could look away.
The architect of the Evil Piece system himself had come to oversee the ceremony, and that alone signaled its importance.
"Let the rite commence," Ajuka's voice echoed, calm and layered with magical authority. Ancient runes etched into the ritual floor glowed softly in response.
One by one, the names were called.
Young Devils stepped into the ritual circle, each greeted with measured applause. A black velvet box, sealed by arcane magic, was handed to them by Ajuka himself. The boxes contained their future—their 15 Evil Pieces. Queen. Rooks. Bishops. Knights. Pawns.
A murmur rolled through the crowd when the next name was spoken.
"Volundr Agares."
Footsteps rang clear as Volundr stepped forward. At 13, he stood tall and calm, dressed in ceremonial dark silver lined with deep violet—colors of House Agares. His gray eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the crowd once before focusing on the Maou.
Behind him, his younger sister Seekvaira watched with narrowed eyes and crossed arms, while the household retainers flanked her in silent formality.
Volundr's quiet entrance, confident but unassuming, somehow demanded more attention than any theatrical display. Nobles leaned in. Whispers surged like wind through dry grass.
"That's the Agares heir?"
"He's the one who's been training in isolation for years."
"Didn't he master Senjutsu at ten?"
"Isn't he the one Seekvaira always praises?"
Ajuka met Volundr at the circle's center, studying the boy as if appraising a new system waiting to be tested.
"You are ready?" he asked.
Volundr nodded. "Yes, Maou Beelzebub."
Ajuka extended his hand, and a box—deep black, with silver threads pulsing like veins—manifested in the air. It floated down into Volundr's grasp. The runes beneath his feet shifted, changing to match his soul's resonance. Light trembled at the edges of the ritual.
"Then receive the system," Ajuka intoned. "And shape the world as you see fit."
The box pulsed in his hands.
The ritual had begun.