DxD: Building A Demon Clan From Scratch.

In the end, Kikuri opened her kimono, a shameful expression on her face.

[Kikuri]

Rank: Mid-Class Devil

Race: Devil

Master: Lynn Valefor

Stats:

Strength: i0

Agility: i0

Durability: i0

Magic: i0

Innate Abilities:

[Two-Faced Witch]

Disguises herself as a harmless young girl by default. When in danger, her spirit splits into good and evil personas. The good side heals allies, while the evil side unleashes cursed shockwaves.

[Spider Devil]

Web Control – Fires translucent, soul-based spider silk from her fingertips. The form can be freely manipulated.

Eight-Leg Pact – (Unlocked: Flaying Leg, Venom Fang Leg, Cursed Leg)

Devil Transformation – Spider Matron's Cocoon

——

Another special-type devil added to the collection.

Lynn's lips curved slightly. He didn't expect this trip, besides acquiring Ai Enma, would also bring such additional gains.

After copying Kikuri's Blessing info, she quickly dressed again.

Lynn glanced over and said casually, "Relax, I'm not into little brats."

Kikuri's expression froze. Her purple eyes filled with resentment, but she didn't dare talk back. She could only force a smile.

Ai Enma also instinctively looked down, then remained silent.

Kotoko lowered her head and mimed air-holding in front of her chest, falling quiet.

Lynn's one-liner shattered the confidence of all three girls present.

Inukimi scoffed from the side, then lifted her head proudly.

Her human form had a far more acceptable figure. At least she was better off than those three.

Lynn didn't pay their reactions any mind and shared Kikuri's Blessing info with her.

"So this is my new power…"

Kikuri studied the skill set, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Before this, she was only a puppet watching Ai Enma. Now, after receiving Lynn's Blessing, she had become even more spider-like than the Three-Eyed Spider itself.

Kotoko curiously glanced at the screen but refrained from digging deeper—it was personal, after all.

After Kikuri finished reviewing, Lynn said, "Alright, time to head deeper into Hell."

"Yes!"

Kikuri responded immediately and offered, "Master Lynn, I'll guide the way."

—

At the same time, deep within Hell.

A tiny spider with three eyes sat suspended in darkness, observing every soul that entered.

It spun silk, entangling a soul in its threads.

Fwoosh—

Black flames ignited, burning away the soul's sins.

Suddenly, the spider paused.

"…Connection to the avatar has been severed?"

Its voice carried confusion. "Dead? Or something else?"

It wasn't clear. But…

"There's a problem with Ai Enma's operations!"

The Three-Eyed Spider immediately ceased its work and began heading toward Hell's boundary.

But before it could move.

Whooosh!

A violent gust swept through, and Hell's flames roared into life.

Red spider lilies swayed violently in the wind, rustling.

Before the spider could react, everything dimmed.

A towering figure stood before it, casting a shadow that consumed what little light Hell had.

Lynn had arrived, crossing layer after layer of Hell to its core.

Over his shoulder, Ai Enma and the others hung limp, dizzy from the speed.

Kotoko, pale-faced, gagged. "Urgh… I think I'm gonna hurl…"

Lynn casually pushed her aside, then raised his hand.

Snap!

He gripped a strand of spider silk. With a light tug—

Boom!

An explosive force traveled through the thread. The Three-Eyed Spider's massive form was flung backward, crashing violently!

"Bastard!"

The spider roared, dark flames racing along its silk.

"Intruder! Taste this hellfire strong enough to burn your sins!"

Lynn narrowed his eyes. With a thought, he sent his own hellfire along the strand.

Fwoosh!

The Three-Eyed Spider: "?!"

"You… You also know karmic fire?!"

Was he… from Hell too?

No time to ponder.

Lynn's flame devoured the spider's hellfire and surged forward, trailing both their flames.

Panicked, the spider severed the silk, its body crashing to the ground with a thud.

It scrambled upright, its eyes glowing red. Spiritual pressure surged!

Rumble—

Magma from the depths of Hell erupted like a tidal wave.

Kikuri cried out, "Master Lynn! The Three-Eyed Spider controls the terrain here. It has full authority over this Hell!"

Hearing this, the spider turned its murderous glare toward her. "You filthy traitor! How dare you betray me?!"

It tried to crush its incarnation.

But…

Nothing happened.

What?!

Then it remembered—the broken connection earlier.

That man… did something!

Kikuri only smiled, her voice soft but chilling. "Sorry, Spider. I'm done being your pawn."

Ai Enma looked toward her, silently.

Kikuri flushed and averted her gaze awkwardly.

Across from them, the Three-Eyed Spider let out an anguished roar.

It had invested everything into Hell, yet its plans were now ruined… by its own creation!

Just a little more!

It was so close to becoming Hell's master!

"Four hundred years of effort… destroyed in a moment!"

"Unforgivable—!"

Before it could finish, Hell itself quaked. The magma storm surged like a tsunami.

It was trying to mobilize all the energy in this Hell to strike!

"UNFORGIVABLE!!"

Kotoko shrieked. "Ahhh—!"

Ai Enma reached out, supporting her calmly.

The three girls stared at the incoming crimson tide in stunned silence.

"So strong…" Ai Enma's hands trembled.

It was this overwhelming strength gap that had bound her to the contract all this time.

Kotoko's heart thumped anxiously.

She finally understood. Events tied to Hell were anything but simple.

But then she looked up and saw Lynn's back.

And just like that, she felt calm again.

Lynn's expression remained unchanged.

The Three-Eyed Spider, powered by Hell and bolstered by its terrain, was indeed formidable.

But…

Still lacking.

He murmured softly, "Snow Devil… Ode of the Ice Mirror World."

Buzz—

A soft sigh echoed through the realm.

Crack—!

The entire layer of Hell froze over in an instant!

The quaking stopped. Frigid cold filled the air.

The change stunned Kotoko and the others, who shivered violently.

Kotoko wrapped her arms around herself and trembled. "S-So cold…"

She looked around, eyes wide.

Icy blue covered everything. Only the space around them remained untouched.

It was like they had entered a different world entirely.

Before Lynn, the Three-Eyed Spider had been encased in crystal-clear ice, along with the magma tides it had summoned.

Lynn tapped the surface lightly.

Bang!

The ice shattered into fine powder.

The spider and magma disintegrated along with it.

Rustle—

Snow and frost blanketed Hell.

A streak of silver light flickered overhead, falling to the ground.

Lynn's eyes narrowed.

Kotoko and the others watched, dumbfounded. Their throats went dry.

In a single moment, the battlefield had flipped.

Sure, the Three-Eyed Spider was Hell's manager, with complete authority.

But Lynn…

Lynn had power on an entirely different scale.

Kotoko took a deep breath and finally understood the true weight of the title "Maou."

Once they composed themselves, Kikuri quietly observed the aftermath.

Although she had broken away from the spider, a sense of finality settled in her heart.

Then she looked up and said respectfully, "Master Lynn, shall we go free Ai's parents next?"

Lynn nodded.

With his permission, Kikuri led Ai Enma away.

Kotoko's curiosity flared again, and she quickly shouted, "Wait, bring me too!"

Kikuri looked to Lynn. Seeing he didn't object, she hesitated, then nodded.

Once they left, Lynn looked down.

A silver badge had fallen into the snow—emblazoned with a Hell sigil and the words Hell Manager.

He picked it up.

So this was the spider's identity token?

As he pondered, the badge flickered faintly.

"Former Hell Manager has perished. Identity unbinding…"

A mechanical voice echoed from the badge.

Lynn raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Unbinding successful. Searching for qualified successor…"

The light pulsed, then steadied.

"Qualified individual detected. Bind identity of Hell Manager?"

Lynn chuckled.

So it found him, huh?

He narrowed his eyes.

Having this position could be useful in Hell.

But…

"What responsibilities come with this position?"

"Must carry out all tasks and maintain the functions of Hell…"

Lynn listened for a moment, then lost interest.

So it was just an employee role.

He had no plans to stay here, nor did he want to do any work.

"Is there a higher rank?"

"…Upon meeting requirements, the title of Yama may be unlocked."

"What does a Yama do?"

"Oversees Hell and judges souls…"

Lynn listened silently.

Still just management.

He wanted the authority. Not the duties.

He relayed his thoughts.

The badge's light flickered wildly.

Then went out.

Lynn: "…"

"Whatever."

He pocketed the badge.

Might be useful for someone in his Peerage.

An ownerless Hell shouldn't go to waste.

—

Later, Lynn arrived to witness Ai's parents being freed.

Ai Enma stood there in a daze.

Then she looked at Lynn, bowed slightly, and whispered, "Master Lynn, my life from now on is yours."

There was a faint hope in her eyes, a longing for her new life.

Lynn placed a hand on her head and stroked gently.

Ai blinked in surprise.

It was her first time being touched like that…

A strange warmth spread in her heart.

"Let's return to the hut. I'll reincarnate you as my Peerage."

"…Yes, Master Lynn."

—

Inside the hut.

Having seen Kikuri's process, Ai Enma disrobed just enough to reveal her back.

Even so, she felt a rare sense of shyness. This was a first for her.

Seeing she was ready, Lynn pressed the Evil Piece onto her back.

"Mm…"

She let out a soft hum as the magic spread through her body.

Soon after, her Blessing info appeared.

[Ai Enma]

Rank: Mid-Class Devil

Race: Devil

Master: Lynn Valefor

Stats:

Strength: i0

Agility: i0

Durability: i0

Magic: i0

Innate Abilities:

[Hell Correspondence] – Uses spiritual power to construct a website and establish a channel between Hell and the real world.

[River Ferry] – Summons a ghost boatman to ferry the target's soul.

[Hell Devil]

Hell Wedge – Transforms a 100-meter area into a projection of Hell, forcibly overlaying reality with Hell River, red spider lilies, and bone mountains. All within are suppressed by Hell's rules.

Army of the Underworld – Tears space to summon Hell creatures.

Devil Transformation – Yama Hall, Throne of the Unending Heaven

—

"A Hell Devil…"

Lynn examined Ai Enma's new skills.

Hell Wedge in particular caught his interest.

A domain skill that brings Hell into the real world. Not bad.

After some thought, he pulled out the badge and handed it to her.

"Try it. See if you can inherit the title of Hell's manager."

A Devil from Hell managing Hell itself—seemed appropriate.

He also wanted to see if it enhanced her powers.

"…This is?"

Kikuri recognized it immediately.

"…Hell Manager's badge."

Ai Enma accepted it. The badge flashed softly.

"Qualified candidate detected. Assign Hell Manager role?"

She looked to Lynn. He nodded.

"…Yes."

Buzz—

The badge turned into silver light and vanished into Ai Enma's body.

At that moment, a system prompt echoed in Lynn's ears.

[Ding! Your Peerage member has acquired the role of Hell Manager. Attribute linked—You have gained traits related to Yama!]

(To be continued.)