Mind Demon's Path of Domination

Laying in the silent cave, both injured, the former enemies—Mark and the Armor—had a conversation with each other. Not moving from their locations as they spoke.

Mark was the one to speak first.

What did the Armor mean when it said it was made out of an angel’s heart?

That question of Mark’s was met with a chuckle. Apparently, the armor truly was made using an angel heart as a material, and due to that reason—it had a very different way of seeing the world than a demon.

Until Mark used his Ultimate Demonic Art "Dream Input," the Armor had been a slave to its purpose. As long as it was for that purpose, it would do whatever was required to complete its purpose. If it had to not care about its own conscience, it would do that, too.

Until today, it had been killing around when killing was the hardest thing to do for it. Because that had been the binding of its purpose. Yet now, it was free to do whatever it dreamed—because its dream had defeated its purpose.

Now, being a benign creature, it just wanted to retire.

Apparently, that was its true nature.

Now that Mark thought back to how it acted, he could notice some hints about that attitude.

When it needed to, it had killed the savages without any pity, but after that, it didn’t kill any mortal or savage and just killed a demon who was making trouble for it, the Mist Demon. And when it entered this dungeon, it didn’t hurt Mark until he went to it for a fight.

Even then, it was willing to let go of him multiple times.

There was a benignity in its very nature, even when it was but a mindless armor before.

Mark still took the words with a pinch of salt but he couldn’t help but feel for the story. Yet, at the moment, he was way too injured and pain was also dulling his senses now that the adrenaline was gone. His eyes had been gauged out, and his hands had been torn apart!

Of course, he was in pain and the pain was now messing with him from multiple angles. Yet, drinking the Black Water did reduce the intensity of it and he was drinking more. And he couldn’t leave this place when the armor was before him, ready to speak.

Finally, he thought he might be able to learn more about the Suffering.

Mark asked, suppressing the pain: "Armor, have you ever heard of the Sufferings of Misfortune?"

"The Six Sufferings?" The Armor asked. "Hm, that’s a weird question for a Middle Demon to ask. But well, there is a river in this world. It’s called the River of Destiny—it determines the destiny of all creatures from the moment they are born.

"Basically, a person’s death and so on is destined from the moment they are born, and the River does that. In fact, for us who walk the path of greatness, even our magical abilities are destined by the River of Destiny."

Mark couldn’t help but be intrigued.

The Armor continued: "In fact, all things below a certain level are said to move towards their destiny. Maybe your destiny might be to save a world from destruction—then you will do that even if you want to or not. You can’t even die before you fulfill that."

"How is this related to the Sufferings?" Mark asked, even though he had a vague understanding of it himself.

"Well, as you see, a person’s life is meaningless if they are forced to live and reach a certain destiny no matter what they do." It chuckled at that part. "But that tyranny doesn’t last forever for us who walk the path—if we reach Tier 5, we can detach ourselves from the control of destiny."

Mark nodded, motioning to continue.

"The River doesn’t support such an action, letting a person without any destiny live is equal to ruining all its plans."

Mark frowned, not getting it; his mind was a bit muddled due to injury.

The Armor explained. "For example, what do you think happens to people who want to destroy a kingdom if another person is destined to save that kingdom? Of course, the attackers are then destined not to destroy that kingdom, destined to fail."

"Right," Mark nodded. "Because destruction and protection cannot coexist at once—it’s a paradox."

"So what would happen if a person with no destiny falls into this kingdom?"

Mark wondered and soon came to a conclusion. If that person was capable enough to kill or destroy the protector of the kingdom, the destiny would fail. All things would gain a certain breath of freedom.

The River of Destiny’s plans would fail. At least, have a chance to fail.

"So, when a person reaches Tier 5 and detaches themselves from Destiny, the River tries to kill them. It does so six times, and if you survive all six attempts, that means you don’t have to worry any longer. Well, it also means that you can evolve into Tier 6."

"What are the survival rates?"

"Even talented Tier 4 creatures generally don’t dare to evolve and become Tier 5," it said. "Because most Tier 5s would just die in their Sufferings. It’s a filter—only a few people ever pass by that. Very, very few even among Tier 5."

"That Demon Emperor we saw earlier..." Mark said. "He is Tier 5, so has he passed any of the Sufferings?"

The Armor looked up at the cave wall. "That guy... sigh, he is very old. But I do not know if he has passed any Suffering or not."

"Do you know what you have to do to win against the Six Sufferings?"

"To win against destiny, you ask?" It shook its head. "I never had to go through that. I was born as a Tier 7 existence, born to fight in wars. If I leave this world, my power will also reach back its peak as long as I slowly absorb energy."

Mark was stunned.

Tier... what again?

7? Seven? SEVEN?!

He coughed up a mouthful of clogged blood and stared at the Armor with lightless eyes. No wonder he was defeated—no wonder!

Now, Mark felt a lot more satisfied with his performance.

Fucking old monster bullying young kids like me. This guy has no shame!

Not that Mark himself did.

"Well, forget about how to win. Do you know what the Sufferings will be about?" Mark asked. "Any idea?"

The Armor nodded. "I will tell you, but let me ask you first. Why do you need it?"

Mark smiled. "Well, no need to hide it from you. You sensed the Heaven Soul inside me, right?"

"Hm, indeed. I had sensed a Heaven Soul connected to your soul when we were battling—as if you both shared one soul. As if it was bound by a powerful thread of destiny."

It then turned and looked at Reol’ran’s physical body that was trapped inside the ice. She was essentially sealed, completely incapable of leaving.

"Isn’t this that Heaven Soul?" it asked calmly, not at all interested in Reol’ran’s otherworldly beauty. To it, both beautiful and ugly were the same thing.

Mark removed the Hamster from his World Space and absorbed Reol’ran’s sealed body back into his World Space. Then, he nodded.

"Indeed, that’s her. She is Reol’ran, my wife. As you might have noticed, she is a Rank 4 being and she is currently meditating inside that ice to practice a unique technique. Soon, she plans to evolve to Tier 5, but I am a bit afraid..."

The Armor nodded. "So it’s not for you but your wife—indeed, she is a powerful Tier 4 being. But do not try to fool me, that ice is a seal for her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to enter this world, this world’s limit is Tier 2 after all."

Mark coughed gently, not at all ashamed at being caught lying.

He couldn’t reveal that he, a Tier 2, had already detached from Destiny after all. That would also reveal the truth about the violet mirror and Mark despised telling his secrets unless there was a use, especially not to a stranger at that.

Reol’ran said from his mind: "And now I am being used in your lies. Great. Try to heal somehow by the way."

Mark smiled. "So you care, damn, I could do with a kiss right now."

"You really feel like kissing when you are so wounded?" Reol’ran asked, exasperated. "You... the pain alone must be making you vomit."

Mark sighed. It was true, to even think of anything sexual at this moment was but a joke. He was too hurt for his thing to rise for now—but his women’s company was nice for his soul.

He said to the Armor: "Well, my dearest would have to evolve soon anyway. So, tell me about the Sufferings for her—what are those, how do they work, and how can you improve your chances?"

The Armor nodded. "Truly, you are a specimen. To have a Tier 4 woman as your wife when you are just a Tier 2—very amusing. It is a first sight for me."

This time, Mark couldn’t help but crack a genuine grin.

"Right?" he said, momentarily forgetting all the pain. "And Reol’ran is such a baddy."

"Baddy?" The Armor frowned, not understanding.

"Well, you won’t understand..." He sighed.

Inside his mind, Reol’ran was clicking her tongue and snorting but Mark was happy.

He was very proud of his women, even though he didn’t have anyone to boast that with.

Reol’ran?

Absolutely one of the most beautiful creatures he had laid eyes upon.

And she was his.

"Humph, I can guess your thoughts," she said but Mark didn’t mind.

Yuri?

One of the smartest and boldest women he knew. And she was his, too.

Dona?

Just too cute, and so amusingly explosive. And his.

There was even Yasna.

"Well, I am too hurt to be boasting about all of them. So let’s focus on the main matter. What will the six sufferings be like?"

The Armor clicked at its bald head with its fingers. "The first of the Six Sufferings, as far as I know, is the Suffering of Man."