The armor stand was located in the corner of his room beside the alchemy table void of any armor. Before equipping the armor through the system, he willed the system to put the armor on the armor stand.
The next moment, the Lucifer armor was put on the armor by the system for display. Vedora noticed several changes in the armor such as the armor being darker than before, the armor linings were painted in crimson red, the material of the armor seemed sturdy and the long blades sticking out of the wrists.
These were all visible changes. In addition to them, Michael equipped the armor with the upgraded APD and Mark 3 grappling hook while Elidyr placed invisible runes that increased the armor’s resilience to withstand an immense amount of both physical and magical attacks. Thanks to the runes, now his armor was resistant to fire except Primordial flames.
The upgraded version of APD enabled him to not only inject himself with potions and pills but also inject others using a retractable needle and spray potions through a sprayer attached to the center of his gloves.
”You made some changes” Ayag commented at the armor,
”I call this, Dark Suit 2″
Michael planned to forge a new more powerful armor in the future but for now, he had to make do with this armor. He made all the changes he did to his suit to Gaya’s suit too. Except for the chest area in her armor designed to fit her bosom, both armors looked identical.
For a few moments, he just stared at the armor, feeling the armor. Instead of willing the system to equip the armor in an instant, he manually wore the armor piece by piece.
Sling!
Sling!
After fitting the gauntlets around his wrist, Michael clenched his fist as the hidden blades came out producing a sharp ‘sling’ sound. He then raised his hand. A green mist sprayed out of his wrists,
”What the heck is that?” Ayag frowned,
”Fear toxin,” Michael said, checking the APD by injecting himself with a healing potion. Several tests later, Michael put on the mask and finished putting on the armor.
He walked towards the mirror to check himself out. To be honest, he looked frightening in the armor. So he decided to shroud himself with the cloud of darkness and light his eyes with eyes of darkness. Unlike before, his eyes were now flaming in Dark Flames. Since he was standing in his room, near the bed, he avoided conjuring the Dark flames around him.
Nonetheless, the little bit of dark flames coming out of his eyes was enough for Vedora to sense its overwhelming power. Sarba who now possessed the god-level senses noticed the violent surge of energy within him.
Just looking at the dark energy within him gave him a headache. He quickly retracted his senses.
”So that’s the Dark Flames? One of the Primordial flames” Sarba asked as Michael nodded,
”Cool isn’t it? Or should I say hot?”
Michael chuckled before putting off the dark flames. Soon, the shroud around him and the fire in his eyes vanished.
”Let’s go” Michael put on the hood. It was time for him to meet Aria and her two brothers; Titus and Optimus. Vedora jumped back on his shoulder with a swift leap. He made his way to the throne room where he planned to meet the trio.
****************************************
In the dark forest, two men with jacked-up bodies were treating a giant tree as their personal punching bag while a girl with short hair sat on the branch above them and plucked the dark leaves one by one.
”Are you becoming slow Titus?”
”Still faster than you”
The two men breathed heavily as they were training in the dark forest for almost ten hours. They were identical twins and except for their hair color, nothing different about them. Even Aria would have a hard time if it wasn’t for Titus having blond hair and Optimus having brown hair.
They had scars that many used to differentiate between the brothers. However, the healing potions and the rebuilding process healed all their scars. As a result, their skin was now smooth and scarless as a baby’s bottom.
Life in the Dark forest was difficult for the brothers. Mainly it was boring and they were prohibited to go on a murderous spree on those who enslaved them and killed their family. They still couldn’t believe someone resurrected them and healed their bodies completely.
The more they heard about this Lucifer from Aria, the more they were astonished by him. The tales Aria told them were simply mind-blowing.
Deep down in their hearts, they were glad Aria found a god-like figure to protect her. She had grown so much, they could tell that. She was not a meek scared little girl anymore as she defeated both of them in a fair fight.
Titus and Optimus couldn’t wait to see Aria’s lord and Tiberius who trained alongside them in the Ludus under Doctorus.
”My Lords, My Lady” Titus, and Optimus stopped their training when they heard Azazel’s voice. The first time they saw Azazel, they freaked out. Now they got used to the sudden appearances of Azazel.
”Lord Lucifer is here and he wants to meet the three of you in the throne hall”
Aria immediately jumped down from the branch and landed on the ground nimbly. Titus and Optimus looked at each other. They seemed a bit tense.
Still, they followed Aria and Azazel behind to the underground mansion.
The hallways were as usual dimly lit with crimson red orbs fixed onto the walls. The eerie silence would freak anyone out and the two gladiators weren’t an exception.
As the narrow hallway opened up to the hall, they saw a figure gracefully sitting on the throne clad in dark armor. With one leg over another and head resting on his fist, he looked relaxed yet dominant. They noticed the three-headed creature atop the throne handle, looking down on them.
”My Lord” Aria immediately dropped to one knee and bowed. She gave a stare to both of her brothers, wordlessly ordering them to do the same.
”Titus and Optimus, how are you two feeling?” Titus and Optimus heard Lucifer talk in a demonic voice that perfectly suited him.
”Feeling well, thanks to you, my lord” Titus bowed his head. Considering Titus and Optimus were soldiers, they showed no lack of respect to their lords.
”Good” Michael used the X-ray eyes to see their cultivation level. It was no surprise to Michael that they were still at Arch sensing stage level 1. They barely had any arch energy circulating in their veins. Fortunately, they looked extremely fit and healthy.
”Are you two willing to be my subordinates and put an end to the slavery once and for all?” Michael asked them directly without beating around the bush.
Since Aria had already talked them down to accepting Lucifer as their lord, the two brothers didn’t ask any questions.
”Yes my lord”
The two brothers said, bowing in unison.
[Does the host wish to accept Titus Atronius as a subordinate?]
[Does the host wish to accept Optimus Atronius as a subordinate?]
As soon as the brothers agreed to serve him as his subordinates, the system’s notification sounded in his mind,
”Yes”
At the current level of the system, he was allowed to have eleven subordinates. Currently, he had nine subordinates and with Titus and Optimus, he had reached the maximum level of subordinates. Of course, he could have more subordinates but the system rules for a subordinate wouldn’t apply to them and he wouldn’t be able to see their loyalty level.
He planned to make Daniel his subordinate, except now he had no slots remaining for him. That wasn’t a problem as Daniel and Ricky were absolutely loyal to him. Michael quickly took a look at their loyalty level to see the brothers harboring 56% percent loyalty towards him while Aria had 87%.
Her loyalty level pleased him, contrary to her low cultivation level. She was still at the Body Strengthening stage despite taking all the potions and pills he was providing her.
She couldn’t blame her though because her body was still adapting to the conditions of cultivation continents. It would take years for her to absorb all the arch energy provided by the pills and potions and she was considered a genius compared to the rest of the Southerners. So unless he finds a way to quicken the cultivation speed of all his southern continent subordinates, it would take decades for them to even reach the Core Formation stage.
Showing all these thoughts and future plans to the corner of his mind, he stood up.
”Families can be your strength and weakness, remember that” Michael stood from his throne after speaking those words,
”Now that you three spend time together, it’s time to get back to work. Aria” Michael looked at Aria,
”My lord”
”Take your brothers to Bradford. Sadie will use her connection there to get them into the army”
Michael started his long-term plan of army building by sending Titus and Optimus to Bradford where they would be trained by Ghost, in other words, by himself.
”As you wish my lord” Deep down Aria was glad to hear Lucifer’s order. Compared to serving Lucifer directly, getting appointed as soldiers under the new king Ghost was much safer. According to the information Aria gathered, Bradford was managed by the Sunrise sect rather than the new king who goes by the name ‘Ghost’.
Due to the agreements Ghost signed with King Bredia, Bradford was immune to invasions and wars. Thus, she knew her brothers would be much safer in Bradford.
After Aria and her brothers left the hall, Michael activated the runic teleportation to teleport to Caius’s home with Vedora. Sarba’s help would be vital for the task he was about to undertake.