At the end of that day, Councilman Granz's proposal was supported by the majority of the councilors.

A few weeks later, the Baratrense commanders arrived in the demonic territories on the borders and stripped the low- and mid-level noble demons of their power and authority.

Governors were installed in each territory that was taken under the Republican Council's regime.

The governors would have the authority to rule over the territories under their charge and would only be subordinate to the Republican Council, to which they would be accountable and obedient.

Those same governors were mostly nobles who had in the past abandoned their titles to swear allegiance to the Republican Council.

••••

At the Danteriar Academy.

In a large room with a large table, all the executives were gathered together for the first time.

The meeting was in response to a request by the Republican Council that the Academy become an institution under the control of the Republican Council. With this request, the Republican Council sought to consolidate its power by gaining authority through the recognition of an institution that had been autonomous for more than five centuries.

In one of the seats was the executive Kariz. She was checking her black nails to make sure they were neatly trimmed. She was wearing her gothic-style dress, and although she had always been neutral in her decisions, everyone knew that she would act if anything threatened the order of the Academy.

Another person present was Senjar Sevec, with his characteristic simple style of dress that made him look more like an adventurer than an executive. However, now his presence was more imposing since he had reached the seventh rank, added to the high-level demonic gem rings he wore on his fingers, with which he was able to unleash even more power than he already possessed.

No one on the Executive Council was unaware of the fact that Senjar had changed his neutral stance and, following recent events, had decided to support Director Persec.

At one end of the table sat a handsome demon with long black hair and gray horns on either side of his forehead. The demon, with purple eyes and white skin, whose presence in the seventh rank (starting point) was imposing, wore an elegant white tunic with some black details. He was the deputy director, Cain Asral.

Seated on either side of Cain Asral were two executives from his faction, one of whom was Andelión Sedtiner, who wore an elegant dark blue shirt, black pants, and the rest of his attire was dark in color.

Andelión was a sixth-rank demon warrior (maximum point), with tanned skin and black hair. He had a black horn in the center of his forehead and two gray horns on either side. His face was that of a warrior, commanding respect with his steady gaze.

The other executive next to Cain Asral was an old-looking demonic sorcerer with grayish skin and some spots. He had three eyes, one in the middle of his forehead, and his hair was mud green. He was a respected demon, having been at the academy since its inception and holding the seventh rank (mid-level). He had also been Cain Asral's teacher. He was Abraj Deseret, who at that moment carried a staff resembling a grayish branch with a demonic gem that had multiple points, and wore a black and green robe.

At that moment, everyone was waiting for Director Persec Merliano to arrive, as he was always the last to show up.

...

In the executive council, some executives were outraged by what they considered to be Persec Merliano's arrogant attitude, as he was always the last to arrive.

The doors of the spacious hall opened, and Persec Merliano entered wearing a black robe with red symbols, carrying the Abkabram staff in his right hand.

One of the reasons Persec was feared was because of his variety of cursed spells, but beyond that was the powerful "named staff."

With Abkabram in Persec's hands, no one doubted that he could wield at least eighth-rank power (midpoint), even though he was only in the seventh rank (maximum point).

Persec sat at the head of the table opposite Cain Asral.

With his red sclera and golden irises, Persec looked at most of the executives and finally looked at Cain Asral, who maintained a calm gaze despite a drop of cold sweat running down his forehead.

-Let us begin the council meeting. You may present your different positions or proposals. -Persec Merliano said in a solemn tone that almost everyone found oppressive.

At that time, the council was composed of 11 executives, after the traitorous executive died in the Marrac Mountains. Of the 11 executives, three belonged to the faction of Deputy Director Cain Asral; three belonged to the Republican Council faction; one belonged to Persec Merliano's faction; and the rest of the executives called themselves neutral.

Even so, after Persec's words, they all felt that if they were not careful with their words, they would die on the spot or shortly thereafter.

Heeding their instincts, on that day, the executives unanimously decided that the Danteriar Academy would remain an autonomous entity.

••••

Months passed.

In the cursed canyon, demonic energy swirled around Rens. By then, Rens' hair had turned dark, as had his horns, and the appearance reflected by the impostor's mask was still that of an average demon.

In his mind:

Rens drank a large amount of water from the puddle next to the clay jar containing the pills. After recovering, he unhesitatingly devoured one demonic pill after another. At that moment, he was already ingesting more than 50 demonic pills each round.

On the outside:

Rens' body showed cracks through which demonic energy and some dark-colored blood escaped.

Although the whole process was extremely painful, Rens had already become practically insensitive to pain.

...

Other months passed.

The demonic energy in the area surrounding Rens was very thin, and even the ground that had once been dark had now turned brown or grayish.

Rens remained in a meditative position, the vivid recollection of seclusion now over. But at that moment, he was experiencing a kind of residual imagery from the battle between King Asferyiac and the powerful Emperor Acad I.

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