At first, Shendu had thought Drago's rebellion was just a phase.
A little youthful defiance, perhaps.
Now, looking at him…
It wasn't just a rebellious streak anymore—his bones were practically mutating from it.
"Old man, are you just screwing with me now?!"
Drago stormed back into the tavern, curses under his breath.
He looked ready to start another father-son deathmatch, but the moment he remembered the man even Shendu treated with caution—Ron—he gritted his teeth and dropped it.
"No… I'm really tired, son."
Shendu took a deep gulp of wine, the bitterness between his brows deeper than ever.
They'd fought for two and a half straight years—no day, no night, just battle.
Even the fiercest warriors would grow weary.
Let alone a father and son.
"Hmph. And I'm supposed to believe that?"
Drago snorted and turned away, stalking out the door.
Watching his son's back fade, Shendu felt equal parts anger and relief.
At least now, they could talk instead of immediately trying to kill each other.
Sure, his slap earlier had been a little heavy-handed—but it was progress.
He had faith that someday, they'd be able to reconcile for good.
From his seat, Rayleigh finally broke the silence.
"So your son wants something… why not just give it to him?"
Shendu shook his head slowly.
"You don't understand. If I hand that power over, I won't live to see tomorrow's sunrise."
Demons were like that.
In the face of strength and profit, family meant nothing.
Rayleigh blinked, then sighed.
"Then I guess… all I can suggest is that you make a new 'account.'"
Ron almost choked on his drink.
Good grief, Rayleigh—say that any louder and you'll get your legs broken.
But Shendu's eyes suddenly lit up.
"That's… a good idea!"
He didn't plan to abandon Drago as his main character, of course.
But a side account for entertainment? Not bad.
Rayleigh grinned and pointed toward a particular cabinet behind the counter.
"Ron's got just the stuff for it. I won't promise it'll make you burn brighter than the sun,
but fallen warriors have been known to rise again after a few sips."
Shendu followed the pointing finger and immediately caught a faint, earthy aroma wafting from one of the bottles.
Even a demon king who'd ruled for centuries could tell at a glance—
that was a tonic wine, the kind that… reinvigorates.
The Horse Talisman could heal wounds and purify illness,
but it didn't do a damn thing for… stamina.
"Boss, bring me that bottle with tiger… tail inside."
Shendu rubbed his claws together.
Ron fetched a bottle of Tiger Whip Wine and passed it over.
"If Drago finds out, he's going to come after you."
"Hmph. One slap and that ungrateful brat's finished."
Shendu snorted, popping the cap and chugging deep.
When the bottle emptied, only a long, spiny something sat at the bottom.
And Shendu—felt it.
A sudden, volcanic warmth rising from deep within his body.
Dormant for years, his instincts roared awake like wildfire.
Hormones. Dopamine. Adrenaline.
All flooding his veins.
Ah, yes…
The taste of spring.
If Drago were still here, Ron would've said:
"Your dad got bit by a centipede. Go find a chicken to cool him off—
and make sure it's an old one, extra anti-inflammatory."
Dropping a few gemstones on the counter, Shendu straightened up.
"Boss, I'd better start 'training' this new account while the heat's still on. I'll be back for more tomorrow.
Oh—and put the old man's tab on me."
Before Ron could reply, the demon blurred out the door, vanishing toward his realm.
Just then, the mechanical voice in Ron's mind chimed:
[Ding — Customers Shendu and Drago have completed their confiding.]
[Shendu rewards: Monkey, Dragon, Tiger, Pig Talismans — select one.]
[Drago rewards: Chi of Demon Chu, Demon Bo, Demon Xi… — select one.]
Ron tapped his chin, curious.
"If I merge one of these Chi essences, will I… grow horns or something?"
[Ding — No.]
Satisfied, he nodded.
"Then fuse the Tiger Talisman and Demon Chu's Chi."
[Ding — Optimizing demonic Chi. Patching ability flaws… fusion complete.]
An arc of lightning exploded through his body, raw and brutal, scouring every cell, every bone.
Power surged through him like a living storm.
When it settled, electricity still danced across his fingers.
He could feel it—this wasn't the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
It was far beyond that.
A moment later, an eight-sided talisman etched with a tiger appeared in his hand.
Tiger Talisman: Power of Balance.
It can divide or harmonize yin and yang—split the user into good and evil halves.
Ron's lips curled into a grin.
If he used it on Rem or Ram… wouldn't that be double the fun?
Maybe he'd test it tonight.
By noon, Rayleigh was still around, freeloading lunch as usual.
Ron, browsing the system's store between bites, spotted something interesting—
Demon Summoning Ritual — 100 points.
He arched a brow.
"Worth a gamble… what if I pull a succubus?"
[Ding — Purchased. Remaining points: 1,900.]
A clay pot of green liquid, a bundle of white candles, and a scroll of incantations materialized before him.
"Kid, what are you up to now?" Rayleigh asked, frowning.
"You'll see," Ron said with a smirk.
He followed the instructions carefully.
When all was ready, he lifted the parchment and began reciting—
each syllable old, sharp, and wrong to the ear.
The final tone left his mouth—
Whooom.
A violet magic circle ignited, the pot flared with light—
—and a sultry, velvety voice drifted through the air:
"Heh~ little brother… did you summon me?"
The glow dimmed, revealing a tall, impossibly curvy silhouette.
For a moment, Ron's brain short-circuited.
Only three words floated through his head:
Big. Big. Bigger.
Beside him, Rayleigh's jaw fell open—eyes wide with horror.
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