Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 646: New market: demon souls

Chapter 646: New market: demon souls

Elder Damian’s eyes immediately sharpened upon hearing Vlad’s words. He leaned forward slightly, fixing the young man with a penetrating gaze.

"What modifications exactly?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral, yet edged with subtle suspicion.

Vlad met the elder’s stare unflinchingly, responding in a voice that was calm yet carried a deliberate firmness. "Nothing substantial. The runes will function perfectly, enabling full use of the Demon Soul Master Strength System. However," he continued, his tone sharpening slightly, "should anyone attempt to reverse-engineer these diagrams, searching for the key components to forge Sage-Tier Demon Cages, they’ll encounter quite the unpleasant surprise."

A complex expression flashed across Elder Damian’s face at Vlad’s words. Damian couldn’t deny that he’d considered assigning skilled runemasters to study Vlad’s diagrams closely, seeking methods to produce more advanced formations independently.

Although such actions would not explicitly violate their current agreement, Damian recognized it as ethically ambiguous—a gray area in which he usually excelled. Unfortunately, it seemed he’d encountered a young genius familiar with the subtle tactics and maneuvers of negotiation.

Curiosity burned within the elder’s mind regarding what this ’unpleasant surprise’ might entail. Nevertheless, openly asking about it would directly reveal his underlying intentions, effectively branding him as someone scheming to exploit Vlad’s efforts.

Elder Damian realized he had no choice but to abandon that path for now, sighing softly as he offered Vlad a conceding nod.

"I understand," Damian finally acknowledged, his tone measured but respectful.

Seeing the elder’s acceptance, Vlad’s expression relaxed into a friendlier smile, aware he’d effectively secured his intellectual property.

Seizing the opportunity, Vlad promptly added, "By the way, once I successfully forge the Legendary Demon Cage Runic Formation, I’d be more than willing to partner with the Empire to distribute the Sage-Tier Demon Cages."

"The stick and the carrot," Elder Damian thought wryly, understanding Vlad’s strategy perfectly. The young runemaster had skillfully delivered a subtle warning while also offering enticing future cooperation. Damian couldn’t help but smile appreciatively at Vlad’s astuteness.

"Then it’s settled," Damian announced, clearly pleased. "I’ll ensure your commissions are deposited every two weeks, always in military credits."

With a mutual acknowledgment of respect, Vlad and Elder Damian exchanged courteous bows.

Vlad then followed Marshal Maximo out of the room, quickly attending to the scheduled engraving of a Darkness Devouring Runic Formation upon yet another unconscious warrior.

Once that task was completed, Vlad swiftly returned to his residence, diving straight back into his meticulous experiments alongside Tyron.

In the following weeks, changes occurred within the Golden Sky Fortress, largely driven by the introduction of Vlad’s revolutionary Demon Soul Master Strength System.

Previously, only a small number of elite individuals had access to the system, but that changed dramatically once the Military Logistic Center officially began selling the Mortal, Champion, and Guardian-Tier Demon Cage Runic Formations.

Initially, excitement surged among the fortress’s cultivators, but it was soon tempered by the realization that Sage-Tier Demon Cages remained only available through meetings organized by Janus and Agamenon.

Despite their disappointment, cultivators quickly recognized the significant benefits even the Guardian-Tier formations offered. While the Guardian-Tier formations typically provided power enhancements of only about ten percent for Sages, they still bestowed useful demonic abilities and, crucially, provided a Guardian-Tier demon soul that could act as a human shield in emergencies.

As these practical benefits became more widely recognized, demand surged explosively. Every day, newly created Demon Cage formations rapidly sold out, compelling runemasters to work tirelessly to keep up with the fortress-wide enthusiasm.

It wasn’t limited solely to the Guardian-Tier either; cultivators began purchasing Champion and Mortal-Tier Demon Cages in bulk as well.

Though Mortal and Champion Tiers offered little direct advantage to the fortress’s elite warriors—who were already beyond those levels—the formations proved invaluable to their family members and descendants living outside the harsh conditions of the Doomsday World.

The Demon Cages quickly became treasured gifts, sent to relatives to significantly bolster their strength and security.

This surge in demand for Demon Cage formations inadvertently gave rise to an entirely new market: demon souls.

People from diverse backgrounds began capturing, shackling, and selling demons or extracting their souls directly to supply the fortress’s hungry market. Merchants selling demon souls quickly amassed considerable wealth, greatly enriching the fortress’s internal economy.

Observing this burgeoning new market, Elder Damian contemplated selling demon souls through the Military Logistic Center as well, but he deliberately refrained.

Damian recognized the strategic value of encouraging private demon soul trading. Every demon soul captured and sold represented one fewer enemy in the Abyss, indirectly strengthening the position of Graecia and its allies among the forces of The Light.

Throughout these significant developments, Vlad remained largely oblivious, engrossed entirely in his runic studies and experiments. He rarely left his residence, wholly focused on perfecting his craft. Even when he had to go to the Marshal’s castle, he swiftly returned to his research, indifferent to the bustling changes occurring around him.

Then, after weeks of tireless experimentation, a breakthrough finally came.

"Eureka!" Vlad shouted, nearly leaping from excitement.

"We’ve done it!" Tyron echoed, his elderly face alight with joy and triumph.

Together, the Runic Masters stared proudly at the intricate runic diagram they’d painstakingly developed. The newly devised runic formation was flawless in theory, designed specifically to seamlessly fuse a demon soul directly into a weapon.

This innovative approach promised to imbue the enchanted artifact with select demonic powers and abilities—a groundbreaking achievement in runic weaponry.

Yet Vlad and Tyron understood that theoretical success alone wasn’t enough; practical testing was required to confirm their achievement. Exchanging resolute nods, they retrieved a carefully stored Sage-Tier weapon, placing it reverently before them.

With extraordinary care and surgical precision, the two skilled runemasters painstakingly inscribed the Demon Soul Weapon Runic Formation onto the blade.

Given that their current formation was calibrated at the Guardian-Tier, a Sage-Tier weapon could effortlessly withstand it, ensuring a high probability of success during the infusion process.

Once the intricate engraving was complete, the only remaining step involved introducing a suitable demon soul. Luckily, with the fortress’s thriving market, obtaining a demon soul was easier than ever. Demon soul merchants had become commonplace in every bustling street of the Golden Sky Fortress, ready to supply their eager customers.