Piers practiced Sol Invictus for a while before stopping. He took out the blank copy—the Dendrogram—he had acquired. Wondering what it was, he decided to write in it: Is this a dendrogram?
The book immediately replied, Yes, this copy is a dendrogram of Lord Nido.
Nido? Who is he? Piers wrote.
The book replied, To explain about Nido, I have to delve deep, deeper than any history this world has ever made.
Piers's eyes widened. I want to hear it.
The book wrote: Nido was no ordinary person; he was the Dark God of the world. Suez, his alternate, was the Light Goddess of the world. When the universe was made, it was given to those two. Nido liked humans—he liked how unpredictable they were and how adaptable they were. But Suez did not like it, which made her interfere with the world in more ways than one. Nido did not stop Suez from doing it. Suez kept making different things, kept changing fate, but Nido did not do anything. And the fateful day came. Suez created a chain that would hold all the gods in place; some gods obeyed her with respect, others with fear. Nido, however, knew what was coming, and one day it came. The entire heaven turned against him. Nido neither ran nor fought; he just let her do whatever she wanted. She bound him, sealing his powers with a chain, turned him into a girl, and erased his memories, telling him that he was an ordinary god. However, before Nido was turned, he left a dendrogram—not to revive, but to let someone replace him. He has faith that mortals are way more capable of getting stronger than the god itself.
Piers took a deep breath, composed himself, and wrote, How will he then pass his powers?
The book replied: There is no need to pass power. When the time comes, the person who is worthy will show itself, but this book can guide the person.
Then will you guide me on how to become the strongest person? Piers wrote.
The book shone a light that passed through Piers's body and wrote: Then I will guide you to become the strongest. There are a few ways to become stronger. First, we make your plans. The first thing you need to do is practice the Phantom Sword Technique.
Piers immediately went to the training hall. He found the hidden door, went through the alley, and began training, using his Mephisto's power to jump from place to place. He continued practicing the Phantom Sword Technique even when drowsy, driven by his desire to become the strongest.
The book wrote: Now train your purified Hellsfire. Piers began using Hellsfire, combining it with his sword and practicing everywhere. After a brief rest, he headed to class.
Watching his peers sitting themselves, Piers said, "Who told you you can sit before me?" Hearing his tone, everyone immediately stood up. Piers knew he needed to establish dominance. He went to his seat, sat down, and then gestured for everyone else to sit.
As the days passed, Piers established total control. In the mornings, no one sat until he did. During class fights, he dominated. If anyone challenged him, his classmates would beat that person up before they could reach Piers. Within ten days, Piers had complete control of the class; his classmates followed him not as their leader, but as their king.
One day, as Piers walked with his peers behind him, they encountered the Death Vulture house. Astarte, their leader, looked at Piers and said, "So we meet again." Piers didn't even glance at her and continued walking, humiliating her. She attacked from behind. Piers instantly used Hellsfire, which burned her, forcing her to retreat. The Death Vulture disciples got into fighting positions, and the Black Serpent disciples drew their weapons.
Astarte stopped them. "No need. How about we solve this by fighting individually—you and me."
"Fine by me, but if I win," Piers said, moving so close to Astarte that they were inches apart, "you would have to become my slave, and your entire Death Vulture house will come under me."
Astarte countered, "Then if I win, you will become my slave, and your Black Serpent house will come under me."
The match was highly anticipated, with students from all houses watching. In the training hall, Piers and Astarte faced each other.
"Start the match!" the referee announced.
Astarte's pupils turned yellow, her cornea black, and black tattoos covered her face as demon horns grew. She took out her sword and moved with lightning speed. Piers used Umbrae Vocare to summon black spirits, which swirled around him like a cloak. He drew his Phantom Insignia and blocked Astarte's attack from behind. Astarte vanished with quick speed. Piers used Umbrae Vorax and sent several spirits after her, but she easily cut them down and attacked Piers with her sword technique. Piers used his Phantom Sword Technique to block every blow.
Realizing he couldn't win with his current power level, Piers activated his Mephisto power, matching her speed. They traded sword attacks, sending sparks flying. Astarte created a black mist to cover the area, but Piers cut through it, moving to the roof. They continued exchanging powerful slashes, blocking and attacking simultaneously, until the final sword lock pushed them apart.
Astarte smirked. "If this is your best, get ready to become my slave." Her sword instantly covered in black energy.
Piers, with an air of cold superiority, said, "Fine, let's see who wins." His sword became covered in Hellsfire.
Astarte and Piers both slashed, sending a wave of black energy and a slash of Hellsfire that collided, devastating the space. Hecate and Severin watched from a hidden room, intrigued by the fight between their disciples. The two fighters continued to exchange energy slashes and engage in close combat, sending tremors of energy through the room.
When the dust settled, Piers and Astarte were distant from each other, apparently in a stalemate. However, Astarte was huffing and running out of energy, while Piers was brimming with energy that was leaking slightly from his body.
"How?" Astarte gasped. "How is it that you are still so powerful even after all that?"
Piers just looked at her with superiority. Astarte noticed his ring glowing. "I see! The ring is providing you with your endless energy! This doesn't change anything! I will still defeat you!" She took a stance, her body and sword covering in pressurized black energy. "I will defeat you in this one move!"
Piers took a sword-piercing stance, his body covered in Hellsfire that condensed onto his sword. "We will see who will defeat who," he replied.
Astarte made a vertical slash, sending a dark energy slash, while Piers thrusted his sword, sending a pillar of Hellsfire. The two energies collided, resulting in a loud explosion. Severin and Hecate rushed in to protect the watching disciples.
As the dust settled, Piers was a mess—his shirt and cloak were burning, and he had several wounds, but his Mephisto regeneration quickly healed them. He was still standing with his air of superiority. Astarte was also standing, but even as her eyes were open, she was unconscious. A smoking wound on her stomach showed where the flame had passed through her. She fell to the ground with a thud. Piers has defeated Astarte and taken control of the Death Vulture house.