Devil Gambit
Chapter 88 : Not As Prey

Chapter 88: Chapter 88 : Not As Prey

Dirga leaned against the balcony, the low twilight of Sector A washing the city in shades of amber and iron.

The air here was quieter, less soaked in chaos than Sector X, but the stillness didn’t bring peace.

He was thinking.

He had two weeks before the Hell Roulette.

Enough time to grow. But how?

More fighting in the Gemspire Ring?

Tempting. He could keep rising through the ranks, earn more Devil Gold, stack his name higher on the board.

But with every match, eyes followed. Cameras. Speculation. Records.

Too much exposure.

Dirga wasn’t arrogant. Not yet.

Not when he knew what kind of monsters waited at the top.

He wouldn’t be stupid enough to hand his enemies a front-row seat to his abilities.

He pulled the Ortheva ID card from his Jacket and flicked it open with a thumb.

The screen came to life with a soft chime—liquid crystal dancing across the interface. Real-time feeds, local events, mission boards, and city-wide updates scrolled past his vision.

And there it was.

[Hunting License: Dusk Forest – Map & Mission Access Available]

[Bounties Active in Outer and Intermediate Zones]

He could go back to the Dusk Forest—but this time, with structure.

With maps. With purpose. With targets.

Whether through bounty hunts or contract missions, it would lead him to the same place.

Dusk.

But to take on any of them, he’d need to register first.

The guild system in this city—just like in the wider multiverse—managed all official hunts and mercenary work. And the nearest headquarters? Right here in Sector A.

...

Dirga stepped out of Sasa’s estate without a word.

The devil didn’t stop him. He just floated in the lounge, watching with lazy eyes, not even asking where Dirga was going.

He knew.

Dirga hit the streets, the breeze of Sector A brushing his Jacket. The difference between this sector and the others was immediate.

It was quiet.

No chaos. No crowds. Everything was smooth marble, golden light, and artificial waterfalls.

The scent of polished stone and filtered air. The people here walked slower, dressed sharper. Everything about Sector A whispered one thing:

Exclusivity.

No noise. No trash. Just luxury.

And after several turns through manicured streets and clean intersections, Dirga found what he was looking for.

The Guild.

There were countless guilds in this multiverse—some built on ideology, others on race, some on pure profit. He’d already read about some of them:

The Discipline

The Heaven Below

The Gaia Circle

The Ancient Beast

The Elf Link

Even The Gemspire Ring itself was technically a guild.

A guild, at its core, was simple: a gathering of aligned power.

Some gathered for war. Some for faith. Some for gold.

This one? It was all about the gold.

Order of the Infinite Coin.

"Where there’s money, there’s a quest."

A slogan carved into the glass doors in gleaming gold.

The headquarters looked like it had been dipped in currency—vault-like walls, polished bronze statues, and the unmistakable scent of wealth.

Dirga stepped inside.

Gilded chandeliers flickered above, casting shadows that shimmered like liquid gold. The marble beneath his boots was veined with threads of platinum.

At the front desk stood a humanoid receptionist—sleek, chrome-bodied, with a face like polished glass and golden eyes that flickered with data.

"Welcome. How may I assist you today?" The voice was smooth, synthetic, and perfectly neutral.

Dirga stepped closer and handed over his ID card. "I want information on available quests."

A soft beep as the bot scanned his card.

"Registered: Dirgantara. Sector A Resident. Clearance Level 8."

"Available categories include: bounty hunts, creature subjugation, rare material acquisition, resource exploration, and escort contracts. What is your preference?"

Dirga tapped his chin, thinking.

He didn’t want money. Not just yet.

He wanted growth. Power. Something to deepen his connection to the Black Star—to push his telekinesis and gravity further.

"Anything related to natural boosters? Fruits, liquids, minerals... something that enhances strength or mind?"

The receptionist’s eyes flickered again.

"Compiling. Filtering by rarity and high-reward growth potential."

Three quests appeared, projected midair in translucent golden screens.

[Fruit of Knowledge – Meditation Enhancer]

Type: Resource Recovery

Location: Dusk Forest

Details:

A rare, glowing fruit said to enhance neural clarity, mental focus, and conceptual comprehension. Especially effective during meditation. Grows only near ancient Zarion veins.

Status: Unclaimed

Warning: Guarded by creatures attuned to mental interference.

[Azoth – The Water of Life]

Type: Dungeon Exploration

Location: Subterranean Ruins – Beneath the Dusk Forest

Details:

A newly discovered underground dungeon, suspected origin of ancient alchemy. Contains Azoth, a primordial liquid that enhances life force and healing ability.

Status: High Risk

Warning: Environmental instability. Unknown guardian presence. Teams have not returned.

[Ore of Origin – Primordial Metal]

Type: Beast Guarded Resource

Location: Dusk Forest – Crater Path

Details:

Recently unearthed ore said to enhance weapon compatibility and energy conduction. Suitable for forging Soulcraft catalysts.

Status: Extreme Risk

Warning: Guarded by a Level 3 class entity. Five elite parties confirmed wiped.

Dirga’s eyes scanned each option.

The Azoth was tempting. Power in the form of regeneration. But dungeons meant unknowns—and he didn’t want to vanish before the tournament.

The Ore of Origin would be valuable, no doubt. But he didn’t need better weapons yet. He needed to sharpen what was already his.

His gaze landed on the Fruit of Knowledge.

Meditation enhancer.

Mind expansion.

Deeper connection to Concepts.

His Black Star stirred within him, sensing the potential.

Perfect.

"I’ll take this one," Dirga said, tapping the Fruit of Knowledge quest.

"Quest accepted. Generating navigation path. Estimated difficulty: Level 2.

Your quest seal will now sync with your ID. Please retrieve the target fruit within seven days."

A glowing map bloomed across his ID card—Zarion-colored lines tracing a path deep into the heart of the Dusk Forest, toward a marked zone called the Radiant Glade.

Dirga’s eyes narrowed.

Level 2.

One thing he’d learned in Hell: quests were ranked from Level 1 to 9—and each jump in number could mean the difference between a bruise and death. Level 2 wasn’t easy.

But it wasn’t above him.

Not anymore.

He slipped the card into his pocket.

Turned on his heel.

And headed for the exit.

He would return to the Dusk Forest.

But this time... not as prey.

This time, he would carve power from the wild.

One step closer to the Black Star’s second awakening.