Tres walked up to the receptionist as the receptionist greeted him with a kind smile. Tres said, "Good morning. Actually, I have recently gone through the portal, and well… I was told to come to this branch."
The receptionist nodded as she said, "Let me just check your name in the list."
"Eh?" Tres looked at the receptionist as he thought, I am sneaking here. She won't have my name… Fuck, I need an excuse really fast.
"Oh, uhm—excuse me," Tres interrupted her. "I think I had an exam to give here. I'm getting late, you know. Can I first give it and then come back?"
The receptionist looked at the time — it was 9:56 — as she said, "The exam is at 10. Why are you so late?" She got up quickly. "Hold on, follow me quick." She looked at her coworker. "I'll come back in a second."
Tres sighed as the receptionist said, "Follow me, quick," and started hurrying. Tres followed her. He saw Luke in the distance, confused by where Tres was going, as Tres gave him a thumbs up.
He thought, Thank God Luke told me that he had to give an exam on the first day when he went through the portal and got the Demonic System.
The two reached a room where the receptionist opened the door. There were around four people sitting in what seemed like a classroom filled with benches. She looked at the bald instructor and said, "This kid came late for the exam. He is new. Take care of him," before she left Tres in the room.
The bald man walked over as he said, "I'm Nikolav. Go take a seat there." He handed Tres a pen and paper as Tres went to the seat and sat down.
The second the clock hit 10, he said, "Alright, start writing."
Tres turned over the paper as he read the five questions:
1. "Describe the resonance pattern your Demonic Core emits during a Calm Hunger state."
2. "At what corruption threshold does your aura begin producing Echo Shadows, and how do you suppress them?"
3. "Which Demonic Bloodline reacts most violently to your blood—Feral, Abyssal, or Sovereign?"
4. "During your last evolution, what instinct was the strongest: Devour, Dominate, or Conceal?"
5. "If your Demonic Fragment were to destabilize, what is your immediate containment ritual?"
Tres stared at the paper for half an hour without writing anything…
Nikolav was walking around like an invigilator, reading the answers of the other examinees. When he came to Tres, he asked, "How is your work going?"
"Good," Tres replied as they both stared at his blank page.
Nikolav looked at Tres. Tres said, "I'm finished with the paper. Can I leave?"
"You fail," Nikolav said. "Get out…"
Tres nodded as he left the room, with the others staring as Tres walked out.
He exited the room, closing the door behind him. Now… I should look for Luke… right?
He walked away from the room, going upstairs using the elevator to the 18th floor. He was strolling around at the 18th floor as A man in a red suit noticed him and said, "Hey you! What the hell are you doing here?" Tres noticed the guy and panicked for a second but said, "Oh, yes, thank God I found someone. Dude, what's your rank?"
"My rank?" The man looked confused. "Who the fuck are you to ask that?"
"Oh wow, rude," Tres said, taking a small notebook out of his pocket as he used the pen he stole from the exam room to scribble something. The man saw him writing and suddenly felt scared.
"Uh—sir, wait! Wait! I am Terrance Pensworth. I am an overseer. Sorry! I was appointed this month itself. I didn't expect the main branch envoy to arrive so soon. I thought you were coming in the evening."
Tres smirked as he thought, Shit, he gave me the perfect excuse, and said, "Do I really need to come at the time I said I was coming?"
Terrance bowed down. "N-not at all, sir. I apologise for my disobedience. If you want, should I report to t—"
"No," Tres said. "I don't need you to do that. What I want is for you to act as my guide. I was told that today they were about to use the Tier Zeros?"
"Ah, you mean extracting the parasite? Of course, sir. Today we actually had one sent from one of the other buildings. Were you here to check on that?"
"No… but I will check on it since I am here. Take me there."
Terrance nodded quickly as he walked to the elevator, Tres following him like some sort of CEO. This feels nice… the feeling of being a higher-up, Tres thought.
The floor reached the parking area as Terrance tapped a combination — 0910 — as the floor order. The elevator descended lower.
Tres quickly memorised the code, repeating it in his head multiple times.
Terrance saw the silence and panicked. "T-today we actually had one Tier Zero we gave the parasite to two years ago. We regularly monitored him and found out he has a lot of energy. Today we will be extracting the parasite and his fragment…"
Tres heard him and said, "Good job."
Terrance lit up, thinking he did well.
Are they talking about Luke?
The elevator stopped as the two exited. It seemed like an advanced research lab, with multiple researchers hurrying around. One of them saw Terrance and said, "Sir, we have extracted the fragment. The fr—"
Terrance glared at the researcher. "Shut up, not in fron—"
Tres said, "Wait. You. Show me the fragment."
The researcher looked at Tres. "Who the hell do you thi—"
Terrance grabbed his mouth as he turned to Tres. "Of course, sir." He was crushing the researcher's mouth as he glared at him. "Show us the fragment."
The frightened researcher quickly hurried to a room. "The host was in really good condition and the parasite and fragment have developed really well. It seems like we might have reached a breakthrough. The fragment we obtained is Tier 6."
Terrance's eyes widened as Tres said, "Hey… does this mean you killed him?"
The researcher nodded. "Yes… that's how we extract pure fragments."
Tres's eyes widened as his thoughts raced. They… killed Luke?
They reached the room as the door opened. Tres felt immense demonic energy flooding out. The researcher, wearing protective gear, struggled to walk. Even the overseer was amazed and struggling.
---
REPLICATION SYSTEM
Activating Skill: White Door
---
Tres didn't feel anything. It's because of my system, he thought as he moved toward the fragment, putting his hand forward near the machine holding it.
They killed Luke for this…
"Wait, sir!" Terrance looked up. "Why are you taking it?"
His thoughts ran wild. Shit, he really is the branch envoy. He must be Tier 4 or Tier 5 to move this casually. I should mind my words… but still, what is he doing?
"I'm taking this fragment. Well done on your efforts."
Terrance's eyes widened. "Sir, why? Were you told to get it?"
"Yes. I was told if it's anything above Tier Five, I have to seize it and bring it to HQ."
Terrance was feeling weak. "Can I at least confirm it with the Branch Sovereign?"
Tres nodded. "Until then, put this in a briefcase and show me the body of the specimen."
The researcher put it in a heavy briefcase, handing it to Tres. The overseer quickly ran out to the elevator to talk to the Branch Sovereign. Tres stood looking at the briefcase as the researcher said, "I'm sorry sir, but we cremated the specimen…"
Tres gripped the handle tight. "I see. I still wish to see his ashes. I need to sense if you wasted any energy."
The researcher nodded, taking him to the room where the body was still burning in a huge oven.
Tres grit his teeth. "Leave me here… I'm checking it."
The researcher closed the door and left. Tres went ahead, seeing the burning corpse. He couldn't even recognise it.
I am sorry, Luke… I won't let them continue this anymore…
He went to the door and locked it, then opened the suitcase.
…
Terrance reached the Branch Sovereign's office in a hurry. The Branch Sovereign sat there — wrinkled face, bald spot visible — talking to someone. The well-built, powerful-looking man turned as Terrance said, "The envoy from the main branch is here, sir. He said he wants to take the fragment since it's a Tier 6 fragment. He has orders. Should we let him?"
The old man looked at Terrance. "The envoy from the main branch?"
"Mr. Desmond," the well-built man said, "it seems like you are lacking in security, aren't you?"
Terrance looked at the man, annoyed. "And who the fuck do you think you are?"
The man smiled down at him. "Pleasant to meet you. I am Sebastian, the envoy from the main branch."
Terrance stood there. "B-but then him? And you? Both?"
Desmond slammed his hand on the desk. "TERRANCE, YOU FOOL! THAT'S AN INTRUDER! MR. SEBASTIAN IS THE ACTUAL ENVOY!"
Terrance's eyes widened as Sebastian said, "It's alright. Mistakes can be made. It's not like the intruder can use the fragment — he must be planning on selling it. Just go capture him, will you?"
Terrance nodded, but Sebastian said, "Not you, boy." He turned to Desmond with a cold glare. "I meant you, Mr. Desmond. Go capture the intruder."
Desmond looked at him in fear and nodded. "Yes…" In a single motion, he dashed outside. Sebastian looked at the terrified Terrance. "I'll be waiting for good news."
…
I'll eat it… using Devour Fragment… Tres said, holding the fragment. Even with White Door, he could feel immense pressure in his bones. Suddenly he heard an alarm. Tres looked up and panicked.
Did they find out about me?
People started banging on the door. Tres, terrified, instantly swallowed the fragment.
---
[Warning!]
A Tier-6 Demonic Fragment has been devoured.
Unfiltered demonic energy detected.
REPLICATION SYSTEM
[Skill: WHITE DOOR — ACTIVATED]
Purifying hostile demonic essence…
Extracting negative components…
Nullifying corruption…
Stabilizing host soul…
Progress: 12% → 29% → 54% → 71%…
[System Notice]
Do NOT lose consciousness.
---
Tres felt the fragment slide down his throat. He felt extreme heat in his body — as if molten lava was being poured into his esophagus. Tres's vision was blanking out. He was losing consciousness…
I… think… I shouldn't have eaten it…