Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

The rhythmical pulsating sound of my heart beating resounded in my ears as my vision was enveloped in darkness.

Apart from the sound of my heart, I could feel, smell, and see nothing.

But this sensation did not last for long, though. An uncomfortable energy dug into my muscles. I could feel it forcefully making its way through my body, tearing into me.

I could feel the sinister and dark energy trying to change the structure of my body as it entered me. It wasn't pleasant.

Many times, my body tried to reject it, but as though it was bound by something, the energy continued to claw its way in, and before I knew it, the sinister energy had completely settled, making itself a new home inside me.

And it wasn't long before the energy reached all the way to my brain, and when it did, my head started to hurt like crazy.

Several different flashbacks went through my head as the pain inside increased with each passing second. It felt as if the demonic energy was banging the sides of my head, trying to break through the skull to make its way outside. It was excruciating.

"Haaa!!

"

Before I knew it, my eyes shot wide open and I stood up.

"Haa…haa…

"

"You're awake?

"

Breathing heavily, it was only upon hearing Angelica's voice that I remembered what had happened.

"Shit…

"

Leaning back and sitting down on the ground, I tried to catch my breath.

Lifting my head up, I looked at Angelica and mustered the strength to ask a question.

"...How long was I out for?

"

"Half an hour.

"

Standing up, Angelica softly replied.

"Only?

"

It honestly felt like a whole day passed.

"Do you feel any different?

"

"…A little bit.

"

Clenching my fists, I realized that something was indeed a bit different.

I was a lot stronger than before.

"I've broken through to rank.

"

It was then that it finally dawned on me.

I had broken through to the next level.

Propping my body up with the aid of the table next to me, I raised my hand and channeled some wind psyons.

Shuu!

The moment I channeled the wind psyons, a green hue enveloped my hand. However, contrary to the usual pale green color that would arise whenever I channeled my mana, black threads of demonic energy circled the chartreuse-like hue.

Staring at the black threads of demonic energy, my eyebrows furrowed.

"It worked…

"

I was now officially a contracted individual.

Angelica, who was watching by the side, reminded,

"Use as little mana as possible.

"

I felt concerned by Angelica's words. Something about it nagged my mind as if I should pay attention to it. Turning my head to face her, I asked,

"Why's that?

"

"Because the more you use your mana, the faster the demonic energy in your body will corrode your brain.

"

"…That's problematic.

"

Staring at the mask of Dolos in my hand, my brows knit even more tightly.

"Then I better finish this next part quickly.

"

Putting the mask back on my face, I felt a familiar wiggling sensation and my face soon morphed into that of Karl's appearance.

Heading towards the door, I spoke inside of my head.

'Angelica, stay here. Knock anyone that enters this room out.'

Since everyone here was contracted to a demon, upon killing them they would immediately be alerted. I had no choice but to refrain from killing.

At least for now.

Understood.

"Good.

"

Click! Clank—!

Opening the door of the room, I took a step outside.

Greeting me at the entrance of the room was the same duergar from before.

"Karl? Is there anything that I can help you with?

"

"Yes. I've managed to extract some information. I'd like to meet up with the elders.

"

The guard's eyes instantly lit up in joy.

"Understood! I'll relay the information right now.

"

Taking out a small communication device, the guard communicated with someone else.

Before long, putting the device away, the guard turned towards me and gestured me to follow along.

But just before leaving, I opened my mouth to speak,

"Tell the guards that will patrol this area to never enter the room.

"

"Huh?

"

"Let me repeat, if anyone tries to enter that room, I will kill them. I do not want anyone touching my equipment. If something goes wrong, who will take responsibility for calming down the elders' wrath?

"

Listening to my words, a frightened look appeared on the guard's face as he repeatedly nodded his head.

"Yes..yes, understood!

"

Ci- Clank!

Walking towards the door, the guard pressed his hand by its side. Moments after, a clicking sound rang.

Turning his head to face me, he said.

"I've locked the door. Unless I'm present, no one should be able to break into the room.

"

"Good.

"

I nodded my head with a satisfied look.

"Alright, let's get moving then.

"

Interlocking my hands behind my back, I urged the guard to move.

***

The location wasn't too far. I was led inside of a large hall within a matter of minutes.

Right as we arrived at the hall, the guard stopped at the entrance and didn't dare walk in.

His status was too low to enter the hall.

Walking inside and standing in the middle of the large hall, I stood face to face with some of the higher-ranking members of Inferno. Judging from how they were all already present, it seemed as though they had been expecting me.

The pressure oozing out of their body was terrifying, but I kept my cool.

"So you've found a way to disable the defensive system?

"

Staring back at them, I nodded and replied in an unconcerned tone.

"That is correct. I've managed to extract the memories of that bastard, and so I know exactly how to disable their defensive system. If you grant me access to the system, I will be able to disable the defenses from right here.

"

"Oh?

"

My words instantly caught the interest of the people present.

In particular, the interest of an old duergan lady with thin white hair seemed piqued. She gave a sinister smile and mumbled quietly, but I was able to hear her words.

"How interesting…

"

With her eyes fixed on me, the same lady asked,

"How long do you need to disable those bastards' defensive system?

"

"Two days per beacon.

"

I replied without the slightest hint of hesitation.

There were a total of fifteen beacons installed around the walls.

Each beacon connected with each other to create the massive barrier that protected the whole shield.

"If nothing goes wrong, perhaps maybe even one day.

"

"Two days, and if nothing goes wrong, one day?

"

The answer did not seem to please the lady. Her face scrunched up in annoyance. She spoke in a demanding tone,

"That's quite a long time, don't you think?

"

"It is not,

" I calmly shook my head.

"If we take into consideration the fact that all the information I have regarding the disablement of the beacons has come from a bunch of fragmented memories, the half a day estimate can only be considered fast.

"

"That makes sense.

"

An older Duergar muttered from the side.

He, like Karl, had no hair on his head. His beard, which was gray-colored, extended all the way down to his chest, and he had two blood-red eyes that exuded a terrifying bloodlust. He didn't seem like someone I could take lightly.

Turning to face the old lady, the old Duergar spoke,

"We should already be satisfied with this development. Who cares if it takes half a day or more? At the end of the day, what matters is the destruction of those bastards…

"

Clenching his fists tightly, he continued, his face full of anger, his expression hateful,

"We've waited for this moment for years. We're so close to our goal. We mustn't mess it up. What is this little bit of extra time to us?

"

"…You're right, I was being hasty. The sight of the end clouded my judgment,

" the old lady replied with a sentimental look, recomposing herself right after.

Turning her attention back to me, she ordered,

"I, Durara Locklom, the third elder of Inferno, hereby grant authority to Karl Kullam equivalent to that of a senior advisor. You may be granted access to as many resources as possible.

"

Pausing, the old lady, Durara, glared in my direction and slowly opened her mouth,

"You understand what I just did, right?

"

"I do.

"

I replied back.

Of course, I knew what just happened.

I didn't infiltrate the place here without making any preparations. Whilst waiting for them to make a move, I spent the month training with Waylan as well as absorbing everything that was available regarding Inferno.

I knew who the people in front of me were, the way they behaved, their hierarchical system, and a little bit more.

It would've been stupid of me to come here without knowing at least this much. I had to prepare myself thoroughly. A covert operation had a thousand different ways to go wrong, and I couldn't afford a single one of them.

This was also why I knew what kind of authority I was just granted.

"If you understand, I'd like for you to get to work.

"

Pausing, Durara looked towards the other duergars seated in the hall.

"I believe that no one has problems with my arrangements.

"

"…

"

She was met with silence. Believing it to be an act of silent affirmation, she scanned the room once with a sharp gaze. Durara turned her attention back to me.

"I'll take that as a ye—

"

"Wait.

"

But before she could finish her words, someone interrupted her.

"What is it?

"

This obviously annoyed her. She glared towards the one who interfered.

Soon, her eyes paused on another duergar seated in the hall. He had short white hair and a long braided beard. A terrifying and chilly aura spread out from his body.

"Hutrud? Do you have a problem with what I said?

" Durara spoke with an annoyed tone.

Raising his hand to gesture her to calm down, Hutrud replied,

"Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with your arrangements.

"

"Then, why did you interrupt me?

"

Durara raised her voice. Even as another elder, she wasn't willing to tolerate an act like that.

Turning his attention towards me, Hutrud pointed at me,

"I have no problem with your arrangements, but the rate at which you're going about implementing them... now that's another story. To put it bluntly, I think you're being too hasty.

"

"Too hasty?

" Durara raised her brow,

"What do you mean?

"

Seeing that he had managed to get the attention of Durara and everyone present, Hutrud continued,

"What I'm trying to say is that we still don't know whether what he said is true or not. What if the dwarves purposely altered Jomnuk's memories to throw us off? Even something similar is a threat to us right now.

"

Hutrud looked into the eyes of everyone present.

Then, pointing at me, he stated,

"Before granting him such high authority, we should verify whether or not he is actually capable of removing the defensive system.

"

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tapping on the table, Hutrud squinted for a second. He looked in my direction, asking me,

"You're okay with such arrangements, no?

"

"Yes, no problem.

"

I replied back without a hint of nervousness.

My response seemed to have pleased Hutrud who clapped his hands and looked towards the other duergars seated in the room.

"Good, good. Is everyone else in favor of this?

"

"I am fine with it.

"

The first to speak up was a relatively younger duergar. He had no beard and short brown hair on his head.

Unlike the other duergars present in the hall, he set a bright impression. But none of the Duergar present were fooled by his outer appearance.

Everyone knew just how sinister and insidious the young-looking duergar was.

"So am I.

"

After the younger Duergar spoke up, the others in the room also showed no signs of resistance as they agreed to go with Hurtrud's proposition.

Seeing everyone joining Hurtrud's side, clenching her fists, Durara had no choice but to also agree.

"Fine…

"

Turning her attention back towards me, she ordered once more, this time with a different directive.

"Karl, you've heard them.. Prove your worth and disable one of the beacons of the defensive system. Send those bastards into a panic!

"