Enlightment

"It seems you humans are truly an interesting species. It would have been a shame if you had all perished... Now, let's talk!" The Demon Lord spoke with an elegant demeanor, crossing his legs in a deliberate, almost regal manner.

"You did say it might benefit humans. I'd like to hear what you're so desperate to discuss," the princess replied, her curiosity piqued.

Luseraph leaned forward, his expression sharp. "How about a little question? Why don't you give me the ranking of the top five races in terms of power and authority?" His voice held a sense of curiosity, as if eager to test the princess's knowledge.

The princess raised an eyebrow, confident in her answer. "Well, it's quite obvious: gods come first, then angels, demons, fallen angels, and finally, humans."

She delivered her answer with the conviction of someone stating a simple fact, but much to her surprise, the Demon Lord let out a wild laugh. The sound seemed to confuse her.

"Well, the only thing you got right in that list were the gods," Luseraph began, his voice dripping with amusement. "After that, you simply named the five great races, as if they're the only ones that matter. But let me enlighten you—there are other powerful races out there that could annihilate you humans with ease. And why do you assume demons are inferior to angels? That's quite the overestimation if you ask me."

The princess blinked, unsettled by his words.

"The only advantage angels have over demons is their divine order, a trait inherent to their very creation. But just because demons are at a disadvantage doesn't mean that other races couldn't easily kill angels. Have you ever heard of spirits?" Luseraph asked, his smile widening, waiting for her response.

"I've heard of them, but I don't know much," the princess admitted, her curiosity growing. "One thing I know is that they're related to fairies, if I may assume?"

Luseraph nodded, his smile not fading. "Well, fairies are indeed a type of spirit. But spirits are far more complex than that. Just as gods are born with absolute order and existence, spirits share a similar origin. Even the strongest of spirits are unmatched, their power a thing of legend. Now, here's where it gets interesting. Demons are strong against spirits. Spirits are strong against angels, and angels are strong against demons. It's like a love triangle, if you ask me."

The princess tilted her head in confusion. "But why are you telling me all this?"

Luseraph leaned back, his gaze never leaving hers. "Because what I'm about to tell you is beneficial. But enough with the unnecessary talk. Do you know that when I arrived here, I sensed the presence of many powerful humans? Perhaps not from your kingdom, but certainly from somewhere. These humans, though few in number, are so powerful that with their help, you could have easily overcome the fallen angels."

The princess's eyes widened in disbelief. As far as she knew, humans were limited by an inherent weakness, their powers never exceeding certain boundaries.

"I've already uncovered nearly every secret of humanity by reading the minds of nearly every individual in this region. From that, I deduced that the highest potential of a human is about the 8th order, meaning they're comparable to 3rd Hell demons. But there are a few humans who have reached the 9th order, and even fewer who have reached the 10th order—on par with 4th or 5th Hell demons."

The princess's heart raced at the implications of his words. Could it be true? Humans reaching such levels of power?

"From what humans believe, your magic comes from the universe through magic hearts, right? Well, that's not entirely accurate. Yes, your magic comes from magic hearts, but it wasn't the universe that gave them to you. It was humanity's ancestor—the human god."

The princess's brow furrowed. "I have never heard of this human god," she said, her voice tinged with both skepticism and awe.

"Neither had I, until I found traces of this being," Luseraph continued, his voice growing casual, almost as though he were explaining the most mundane of facts. "With a bit of magic, I was able to glimpse the events of 10,000 years ago. The truth is that this human god wasn't always a god. He was once a normal human, just like any of you. He sought power, a power to rival all other races—not the gods, of course, but everyone else. His journey led him to an ultimate source, a mere exposure to the divine essence that elevated him to godhood. From there, he transcended humanity's limits and unlocked a power that none before him had ever reached."

The princess listened in stunned silence, her mind struggling to grasp the enormity of Luseraph's words.

"Through his transcendence, this human god gave the rest of humanity the ability to break through their own limits, to transcend like him. But even now, only a few humans have succeeded in doing so. No one has ever transcended more than once."

Luseraph's eyes gleamed as he continued. "And here's the key: there is a place known as the Retribution. Anyone who can successfully cultivate their magic heart there will transcend the limits of both their magic and humanity itself. What the Retribution is, though, remains a mystery. It could be a place, a concept, or something else entirely. Even I cannot say."

The princess sat motionless, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and awe.

"We've finally reached the end of our discussion," Luseraph said, standing up and brushing his robes. However, before he could turn to leave, the princess stopped him.

"Once again, you have our thanks. If there is anything you want, anything at all, within my power, I swear I will do it," she said with a fierce determination in her voice.

Luseraph turned, a slight smile on his lips. "I see. Well, in that case, there are two requests I would like to make."