Evolution: A Warlock’s Rise To Power

It took most of the day for Lucan to clean the small manor. Whenever he stopped for a moment, Gilbuzz would appear behind him to get the warlock back to work.

"This is acceptable." Gilbuzz said while standing at the entrance to his fully cleaned house. "We will be heading to the citadel in a few hours. You are to remain inside the house until then." The horned devil said before turning around to head back into the city.

Lucan was familiar with the place since he had just cleaned it from top to bottom. After he ate a stored sandwich from his bag, he headed to the second floor.

Pushing open the door, he stood in a library. A library in hell.

Devils may be on the evil side of things, but that didn't change the fact that as long as they didn't die in the nine hells or gave up their true name, they were immortal. They were existences that stood outside the effects of time. And this was a collection of knowledge that a general level devil had collected. It was amazing.

There were books from many different realms, besides a few of the celestial realms, where hadn't the devils been.

With the ability to capture screenshots, Lucan's goal was to catch as many books as he could.

With one more quick glance around the room, he got started, heading straight for the maps first.

***

Gilbuzz took a seat in an armchair at the Palagar military headquarters. Another horned devils sat in the seat beside him.

"Gil."

"Ron."

When the general who he would be competing against sat down beside him, his eyes flicked to his horns before he looked into the face of his regular rival.

"I see you are still as short as ever Ronbellus. How can they let someone who is only nine and half feet tall be a general?"

"And I see that you are still jealous of the perfect curve of my horns. I hear that some pathetic indivuales have had success with surgical alteration. Maybe that is a path suited for you."

Gilbuzz snorted and cursed at himself inwardly. He had been seen checking out his horns.

They both smiled and let out a laugh.

""Ha, ha, ha.""

They could be considered best friends if devils actually had friends.

The entire devil structure was based on a strict hierarchy, and the paths for advancement had been paved. Any devils could rise up the ranks if the preformed well for the cause. In a system with promotions, there is also demotions.

When a devil dies outside of the nine hells, they are demoted a rank when they revive.

This, combined with the cut throat backstabbing nature of devils make it a deadly game to try and climbs ranks. One needs to be smart, strong, resourceful, and able to adapt.

"It has been almost 200 years since our last clash." Ron said. "don't forget who one last time. You can expect to go home with defeat again."

"Wow, 200 years, was it really that recent. I don't remember much about that incident you are referring to. Perhaps it was a dream of yours."

"He, he, sure, we can call it that. Come, I want to see what mine is up to. They only have a few hours to prepare, let's see what they decide to do with their time."

Ronbellus conjured in image in the air in front of the two generals. It was a sorcerer player, alone, in a house remarkably similar to the one Lucan was currently in.

The sorcerer had just finished putting the cleaning products away and was looking around the house. He went down into the basement and began making a staff with the tools in the workshop.

"Aye, not bad. At least he is improving himself." Ron said to Gil. "Ah, and it looks like he is going to try for one of the harder to make, high attack power staves."

"Didn't you tell him, he wouldn't be fighting directly, only supporting? Did you break our rules? Have I already won?"

"Stop yammering. You know damn well that our blood pact is still active. How could you have already won? Don't be jealous that my guy will be more prepared for what we have in store for them. Or are you just trying to build up excuses to use when you try and give your guy a hand. Speaking of, isn't you guy missing one… a hand I mean."

"He might only have one, but it will be enough."

"How risky, with so many higher rank generals watching, you still bring damaged gods. You aren't usually this bold."

"I am confident with this one. He has his ways."

"Hmm, let me see what he will do then."

Gilbuzz summoned an image of Lucan. It started the moment he left the house.

"Satisfied?" Gilbuzz asked after they had watched for half an hour.

Lucan had gone straight to the library and was flipping through every book and map he could find. He only glanced at each page for a moment, but that was all it took to take a screenshot

"It seems that your won't be un prepared either." Ronbellus remarked.

The two generals were served a few drinks and they smoked a couple of cigars while they watched their participants in their remaining time before things got interesting.

***

Lucan put in an hours' worth of work when Silent sent him a message. He kept working through the books, taking the pictures as fast as he could, but his second mind was directed towards his interface chat function.

[Silent Night: ;D]

[Lucan Quilldrake: You are so amazing; I didn't think it was possible for someone to be so gorgeous.]

[Silent Night: So you liked them?]

[Lucan Quilldrake: Of course, I love the pictures. You should take some more and send them to me.]

[Silent Night: Don't be greedy. I will take pictures if I want. ;) Don't pressure me.]

[Lucan Quilldrake: Alright, alright, I won't nag you. But if you ever need a photographer, you should give your husband a chance. I could spend hours, no days, watching you get dressed and undressed over and over. I will ready a thousand poses for you.]

[Silent Night: Keep dreaming. I contacted you for a reason.]

[Lucan Quilldrake: What's up?]

[Silent Night: Raze is holding a banquet and invited you to watch the selection of his next hand, but you wont be back yet. I arranged it so that I will be going to represent you. Ash has gotten back to me and said that Raze doesn't have a problem with that. On top of that, I am allowed to bring five people.]

[Lucan Quilldrake: Have fun with that. And be sure to take Super with you. He loves those kinds of crowded events.]

[Silent Night: Sure, I will invite him. I was thinking of taking my sister too. That wouldn't be a problem would it?]

[Lucan Quilldrake: That is no problem at all. Have a good time.]

[Silent Night: Good, I will talk to you later. I love you.]

[Lucan Quilldrake: I love you too.]

Lucan got back to reading the books that he had copied.

[File transfer complete]

He saw that Silent had sent him a file. He opened it up to find a single picture.

Her hair was tied up and a towel was tossed to the side. A set of pajamas were laid out across the bed. She was bent over, pulling her panties up her legs while topless.

Lucan sucked in a breath of cold air.

[Lucan Quilldrake: Do you have to torture me so much. Wow! That is all I can say. Wow!]

[Silent Night: He, he, if it is so torturous, I guess I will stop.]

[Lucan Quilldrake: NOoooo, This one was dumb. This one was foolish. Just ignore my silly whinning.]

Silent didn't responded again. Lucan moved the picture to the heavily guarded file folder where the others stayed.

It took Lucan a few minutes to reorganize his mind and focus on the task in front of him. He had already read through half the books in the library.

If he wanted to finish them by the time Gilbuzz returned, he would need to pick up the pace.

Regardless of if he completed his task, he had made great games. He was most excited about the maps. There were maps for at least 30 different realms.

There was a good chance they were old and probably outdated, but it was still a great thing to have. When Luke and went to different realms in the future, he would not be entirely lost. Using landmarks he would be able to find his way even if the cities on the map didn't exist anymore.

Lucan was able to keep taking screenshots for another 40 minutes before he heard a sound at the front door. Walking out of the library he found the horn devil waiting for him.

"It is time for us to go." Gilbuzz said.