When they got back with Clarisse in tow after her investigation, it was a little awkward for everyone, especially given the lack of sensitivity or shame that only Leanna seemed to have in regards to sex and whilst Clarisse was far from the worst, everything the daughters of Lillim do is visceral.

"Do you three really think it's appropriate to make your friends wait outside, while you get hot and sticky? Come on, this isn't your world, if Mum hadn't come down when she did Gillian could have been in real trouble while you were hold up getting it wet."

"Gonna say this now you three, we did not want this to happen either." Gillian said with a slight wave, before Clarisse glared at him.

"Watch your tone little girl. Don''t forget that you aren't part of the faction, was it a good decision? No and for that we apologise, but don't think for a second I will sit quiet and let someone berate us for doing it."

"You should know better Kyubi, gates open on earth more than anywhere else and plenty of twisted souls were created on incursion day."

"How many of them did you create, little girl? Do I need to remind you that you and your sisters killed more than your fair share? At least my people did something to stem the bloodshed, even your mother has the courtesy to admit she was a villain in that story and carry her share of the guilt."

"So because of that, you get a free pass to do whatever you want and put people in danger now?"

The moment the words were spoken a familiar chill immediately covered the room and Lillim was suddenly behind her daughter holding her head in a massive demon hand and lifting her off the ground.

"Clarisse. I don't remember giving you permission to make a fool of yourself..." Lillim sighed then forced her into the ground and held her in complete submission. "...It was you who killed your father, you who failed to destroy him mind, body and soul, and you who put Gillian in danger. Don't try to shift the blame because you and your sisters dote on Mr. Remus. Apologise."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have called you on putting him in dan- Argh!..." Lillim crushed her into the ground more, the scene reminding them that she had been keeping daughters in line for millennia. "...I'm sorry for projecting my guilt. I was too weak to carry it alone."

"Good. Now get stronger. Fast. Carl, let her tag along, maybe she can learn with you, what I failed to impart. I'll have Tiamutael's eyes glued to her, if she so much as lovingly grazes Gillian's hand, I'll remove hers."

"Grand-"

"Carl, do not compound her shame by running to her defence. You have done a fine job thus far raising your children, but do not presume to instruct me on raising mine."

Lillim had assumed the demeanour for which she was known and one not to be opposed lightly, yet Carl was also acutely aware of the fact that as his subordinate's subordinate, the daughters of Lillim were effectively under his command in the end.

"Lillim, I don't think that forcing her to tag along and hoping she learns is the right choice. It just won't work if you and Mum are anything to go by."

Lillim's eyes flared dangerously at the challenge to her authority and her claws were growing out. "Choose then, remain silent and be thought a fool, or speak and be proven one."

"Fine. I suggest that I make her want to trust in me the same way I did you and Mum. Show her that I'm worth following and have something they can learn from."

Lillim considered his formless strategy, then looked at Clarisse growling at what she had accurately seen as a challenge to Lillim for control of her daughters, then whipped her with her tail.

"Interesting, but if you wish to challenge me for control of my daughters, then you do it one-by-one. Any daughter you beat will be contractually assigned as your subordinate, of course I know my grandson and you'll just tell me to command them anyway..." Lillim shrugged and chuckled, before looking down at Clarisse. "...Gaia, do you mind if Carl and my daughter spar?"

Transported by Tiamutael, Gaia looked between Carl and Clarisse. "Fine, but only once, after this you can flatten your own worlds. I also insist you at least make yourselves useful and flatten those grotesque ruins. I'll sign them over to you temporarily so you can breathe some life began into the soil when you're done."

Carl groaned at having talked himself into more work, then they all made their way over to the field of battle, Lillim taking Clarisse to the far side, Klaire and Kyubi standing in Carl's corner at the closest and Gaia lifting the others with an aura platform and talking the newly ascended to use far-sight.

"Carl, are you sure about this? I know you have some tricks up your sleeve, but in terms of stats she has you beat five ways to Sunday." Klaire's evaluation was pragmatic and it remained true that none of them had ever beaten one of the daughters due to their unequalled experience fighting a multitude of enemies.

"Don't worry, I got this, I know exactly how to beat Clarisse at least."

"Carl, do me a favour and wipe the floor with your aunt." Klaire and Carl couldn't help but chuckle, they had noticed a pattern regarding Kyubi's irritability after getting intimate, it was simply a mistake to rain on her parade.

"Clarisse! Carl! I shouldn't need to say this, but attempted murder will not be tolerated. If I feel either of you is in life-threatening danger I will intervene, if either of you tries to continue after intervention I'll banish you from my lands forever. Now begin!"

Carl only took a single step then created a solid trip wall, using the law of Infinity to time its creation perfectly and making Clarisse smash into the floor. It was enough to make Kyubi happy at least, even if it didn't actually do any damage, then he simply sat cross-legged and turned into traitor's ice as she picked herself up and continued her charge.

In her fury, she had barely managed to hold back from making contact and left herself wide open for Carl to bat her fist away and then transform into his wolf form and go on the offensive whilst it spread up her arm.

"So you have the power of a crown? Don't get carried aw-"

"While I was stealing Cocytus', I had the pleasure of meeting Eckro as well, but I think it's time for another crown..." Carl flicked his wrist and dodged to the side as a metal anchor like he created for the towers on Mirage burst into existence and drove Clarisse into the air.

He didn't use the opening to continue attacking though, he used it to close in on Lillim, but when he reached her she shook her head. "Don't do this Carl, you're struggling with the wolf and you want to take on my nature?"

"I have to Grandma, if I don't how can I understand what it means to control their nature, I can't lead them and I can't keep making you act as a bridge."

Lillim shrugged. "I can't stop you, doing so would be interfering, but I suggest you remember what it means to restrain your blood lust."

Carl nodded and used the law of Divinity to copy the nature of the most sadistic of the crowns.

His body grew to about four metres tall, then each of his arms split into two and talons shorter but thicker pierced through the flesh of his fingers.

His skin turned blood red and his eyes turned orange with blood-red specks and his hair turned to pitch black as it grew into a messy mane framed by crow of four horns of what looked like black marble veined with a regal purple.

The last change was his legs, which became thick and heavy, ending in feet which looked more like a dragon's.

"Strange. I don't feel anymore blood lust than normal."

"Then you need to join Blanc and Sophie in therapy, it is radiating off of you my dear. I will say though, you make for a handsome demon."

Carl took a quick look at the stats section of his system just to try and gauge what he could feel was a pretty substantial power increase.

[ VIT = 5,000,000,000 ] [ DEF = 14,000,500,000 ] [ INT = 3,000,000,000 ]

[ STR = VIT + DEF ] [ DEX = 3,000,500,000 ] [ CHA = 2,000,500,000 ]

[ MP = UNQUANTIFIABLE ] [ HP = UNQUANTIFIABLE ] [ DIV = 1,000,000 ]

"What the hell, Grandma!? What kind of power are you packing if your form alone is this strong at my level?"

"More than you can imagine, never forget that you got lucky with the crowns and the other immortals Carl. You were a big fish in a little pond as a mortal, but now you're a tiny fish in an ocean."

"Right, sorry for acting arrogant."

"No, you did what a good leader would do. Now you have to prove it was more than a mere act."

Carl nodded then started walking back towards Clarisse, picking up the pace gradually to give his body and senses time to adjust and not reenact the failure that Blanc and Gillian had described to him.

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