True Hell.
The term made Luo Shu's gaze turn solemn.
During last night's coordinated waist exercises, Luo Shu had managed to extract some information about True Hell from Nia Honjo.
Thus, Luo Shu had gained a certain understanding of True Hell.
In his view, True Hell was a terrifying world that resembled a reinforced amalgamation of mythological descriptions about demons.
In True Hell, strength dictated hierarchy among the powerful—might was their social class.
Under this premise, the denizens of True Hell were exceptionally fearsome.
Under normal circumstances, even the lowest-ranking demons born in True Hell were at the Excellent rank by human mystic-side standards, making them one in ten thousand among humans.
A select few descendants of high-ranking demons were born at the Elite rank, while some purebloods entered the world at the Hero rank. With minimal training, they could approach the level of a Demigod.
Therefore, within True Hell, the true elite—those who could rightfully call themselves demons—were only the Demigod-ranked demons who had earned noble titles.
Demons below the rank of nobility are considered mere commoners among demonkind—the ruled masses at the bottom of the hierarchy.
Truth Astronomy and the Hell Sect most frequently interact with these commoner demons, with only rare encounters involving those of noble bloodline—a truly scarce occurrence.
This is precisely why Truth Astronomy has those lawless factions who seize demonic power as their foundation to develop their own Class system.
Although the Hell Sect shows slightly more respect towards demons, they, too, would not hesitate to use them as cannon fodder when necessary.
The core reason humans treat demons with such arrogance is precisely because these demons are the disadvantaged, the voiceless majority.
These commoner demons can only claim their race as "demon"—far from being qualified to style themselves as "so-and-so demon."
To truly call oneself a demon, one must at minimum complete the demonic ascension ritual, becoming a Demigod, and only after being granted the title of Baron.
Hence, the situation where commoner demons are ruled by noble demons, oppressed by humans, and stripped of their power.
Often, these commoner demons love nothing more than styling themselves as "so-and-so demon" or even "Baron so-and-so" to satisfy their craving for power.
But to true noble demons, these commoners are no different from inferior humans who boast about being "God's chosen."
Both are those who, knowing full well they lack status, desperately crave it—hence their constant empty boasts.
Noble demons disdain such behaviour. And since such demons rarely descend into reality, most active demons in Luo Shu's world are commoners.
Only someone like Kisara, a pureblood demon, holds a slightly higher status—roughly equivalent to an illegitimate daughter of some Viscount or even Count.
"Still, I didn't expect the one targeting Kotori would be a Viscount."
Considering what a Viscount represented gave Luo Shu a headache.
Barons, as the first tier of demon nobility, are neither rare nor common in True Hell—typically governing an entire demonic town, standing out among tens of thousands.
Viscounts rank even higher.
They are beings who have comprehended unique demonic authorities and undergone further evolution.
In the SDS's evaluation system, a Viscount equates to a high-tier Apostle.
They are superior beings capable of overwhelming even Demigods.
Even in True Hell, they're regional warlords—petty tyrants ruling their domains.
Yet now, a Viscount—an Apostle-tier existence—had targeted Kotori Itsuka, going so far as to pursue her despite being unable to manifest physically.
Even someone as dull as Luo Shu could grasp the implications.
"By the way, how did you deduce it was about the ascension ritual?" Nia Honjo brimmed with curiosity.
She'd barely given any hints, yet Luo Shu had figured it out—completely robbing her of the mentor's sense of accomplishment!
"Under current circumstances, there are many possibilities, but the two most likely stand out."
Between bites of food, Luo Shu explained his reasoning to Nia Honjo.
"There are two possibilities. One is that a high-ranking figure from True Hell ordered this viscount to capture Kotori Itsuka."
"The other is that this Hell Viscount has some personal need for Kotori."
"If it were the former, you would have mentioned it alongside the Star Gate being targeted by the Grand Duke, without specifically bringing up the Hell Viscount. That's why I believe the second scenario is more likely."
"In other words, this Hell Viscount has some inherent need for Kotori Itsuka's existence."
"Now, for demons who classify hierarchy by strength, what would be their greatest need?"
"The answer is self-evident."
Luo Shu exhaled softly, picked up the coffee drink beside him, unscrewed the cap, and took a gulp before continuing:
"Only advancement is a demon's ultimate pursuit!"
"That's why I suspect Kotori Itsuka's existence is related to this Hell Viscount's promotion ritual."
"Heh, the power system I'm familiar with is very similar to True Hell's, so some things shouldn't differ much."
"Thus, the leap in life essence when a Hero advances to Demigod, or when an Apostle becomes an Angel, should be the same for demons."
At this point, Luo Shu's expression turned contemplative:
"A Hero becoming a Demigod is the first step beyond humanity, while an Apostle ascending to Angel is true transcendence, becoming a higher form of life!"
"That's why both steps require rituals to assist!"
"Comparatively, the Apostle stage is simpler—no elaborate rituals, just sufficient accumulation and understanding of one's power nature to take that step, condense the embryonic form of authority, and become an Apostle wielding divine power."
Here, Luo Shu couldn't help but scoff:
"Though I acknowledge Spirits have great potential, even Kurumi and Mukuro—who've realised some of that potential by joining my Familia—are only newly minted, unstable Demigods."
"As for Kotori Itsuka, who isn't part of my Familia, her power must be even weaker, likely only at Hero Rank."
"A Kotori of that calibre shouldn't qualify as material for a Viscount's Apostle's ascension to Angel, should she?"
Hearing this, Nia Honjo, lying on the bed with her cheeks propped in her hands, swung her legs and said:
"Just as you said, a Hero Rank Kotori isn't particularly significant."
"That's why the Hell Viscount demanded the Hell Sect prioritise recovering Kotori's Sephira Crystals."
"Recover the Sephira Crystal?" Luo Shu recalled the source of a Spirit's power—the object called a Sephira Crystal. "What could that Viscount achieve by obtaining it?"
"Could he be trying to cultivate a Spirit capable of serving as his ritual sacrifice?"
"Realistically, such sacrifices usually require beings of equivalent rank, no?"
"Meaning that Hell Viscount would have to kill Kotori, then nurture a Spirit at Apostle level?"
"Why go through such trouble?"
Luo Shu didn't bother hiding his disdain.
After all, Sephira Crystals had compatibility evaluations too.
And Kotori Itsuka was, in Luo Shu's eyes, the most suitable candidate for the Fifth Sephirah, Gevurah.
To consider killing Kotori just to replace her—wasn't that sheer recklessness?
Hearing Luo Shu's disdainful tone, Nia Honjo swung her little feet and couldn't help but laugh:
"Haha, that Demon Viscount doesn't have intelligence sources like you and me."
"So for him, it doesn't matter who becomes the Flame Demon. What's important is being able to wield that power at the Apostle level to meet his ritual's conditions."
"Actually, if his intelligence network were broader, targeting Kurumi or Mukuro would also work. After all, both Kurumi and Mukuro meet the standards for his ritual requirements."
At these words, Luo Shu's eyebrows twitched: "You mean the ritual requirement isn't limited to Kotori, but to Spirits in general?"
"Any Spirit would suffice for that Demon Viscount's ritual?"
Suddenly, Luo Shu thought of a possibility and blurted out:
"Wait, wait, could that Demon Viscount's promotion ritual require killing an Angel belonging to the Almighty God Class?"