Several moments later, the doors slowly opened. Three girls and one boy entered the chamber casually, Lucien’s eyes immediately sharpened.

Without hesitation, he activated Rank Vision, instantly, glowing information appeared before his eyes.

The first girl possessed crimson hair and scarlet eyes filled with arrogance.

*Devil Rank: Mid Stage Abyssal Demon.*

*Unified power ranking/Ethereal Hierarchy: Mid stage Monarch.*

The second girl had silver-blue hair tied behind her back with seductive golden eyes.

*Devil Rank: Early stage Arch Devil.*

*Unified power ranking/Ethereal Hierarchy: Early stage Transcendent.*

The third girl was shorter, with dark purple hair and sleepy-looking eyes that hid dangerous mana pressure.

*Devil Rank: Mid stage Arch Devil.*

*Unified power ranking/Ethereal Hierarchy: Mid Stage Transcendent.*

Lucien’s gaze finally shifted toward the only boy present. Black-haired, calm-looking, but carrying overwhelming pressure.

*Fallen Angel Rank: Peak Stage Transcendent demon.*

*Devil Rank: Early stage Arch Devil*

*Unified power ranking/Ethereal Hierarchy: Late Transcendent.*

Lucien’s expression changed slightly. *They are pretty powerful, I haven’t use this on Dahlia or Nyx.*

He used it on Nyx and Dahlia and it was so remarkable. *Devil Rank: Late stage Grand Devil.*

*Unified power ranking/Ethereal Hierarchy: Late Stage Exarch.* This was for nyx.

*Devil Rank: Early stage Grand Devil.*

*Unified power ranking/Ethereal Hierarchy: Early Stage Exarch.* This for Dahlia.

*So this is the real rank of Dahlia it’s actually incredible, and surprising, how come the system told me something else.*

Nyx calmly introduced them one after another. "This is Mira Dale." The crimson-haired girl smirked proudly.

"This is Riley Clark." The silver-blue-haired girl gave a small nod.

"This sleepy creature is Sari Moratti." The purple-haired girl yawned lazily. "I heard that."

"And this is Ryan."

The black-haired young man folded his arms quietly. "So this is the human Dahlia kept talking about."

Nyx finally gestured toward Dahlia herself. "Dahlia Gadreel," she said calmly. "My right hand." Then she finally introduced herself fully. "And I am Nyx Lucifer Jurgen."

The room became quiet afterward, Lucien processed the names silently before eventually asking another question.

"Why does that guy have two alignments?" Lucien suddenly asked, his eyes narrowing slightly toward the black-haired boy standing quietly beside the wall.

Ryan clicked his tongue and folded his arms. "And how exactly is that your business?" he said flatly. "More importantly... how the hell did you even notice?"

Lucien shrugged lazily. "I can see ranks, it’s one of my abilities." His gaze lingered on him for another second. "You’ve got both devil and fallen angel rankings, so I got curious."

Ryan’s expression darkened instantly at the mention of fallen angels. Before he could speak again, Nyx answered instead. "Ryan is originally a fallen angel."

Lucien looked back at her, Nyx slowly adjusted the white blindfold over her eyes before continuing calmly, "His clan was betrayed by their own people years ago. The fallen angels tortured his family over some internal conflict involving authority inheritance." Her voice lowered slightly. "He survived... barely."

Ryan looked away quietly, his jaw tightening. "He hated them after that, because he actually ran from where he came from, seeking what I dont know in the wilderness," Nyx continued. "So I saw him, his potential was outstanding so I offered him a deal. I gave him my blood and changed his alignment, he became both a devil and a fallen."

A faint exhausted smile appeared on her lips afterward. "That was many years ago."

Lucien blinked once before something suddenly clicked inside his head. "Wait..." he muttered. "How long has it even been since Lucifer died?"

The room became oddly quiet for a moment. "Eighteen years," Nyx answered.

Lucien’s eyes widened immediately. "Eighteen?!" He let out a breath and rubbed his hair back in disbelief. "Why does everyone talk about it like it happened yesterday then?" He looked around the room. "You people really don’t age normally, huh?"

Mira, the sleepy purple-haired girl, yawned from the couch. "You just noticed?"

Lucien ignored her and looked back toward Nyx again after a few seconds. "If I join you people..." he started carefully, "...am I eventually turning into a devil too?"

Nyx shook her head almost immediately. "No." Lucien frowned slightly. "You’ll remain human," she explained calmly. "Your path will simply stop being normal."

"Which already sounds problematic," Lucien muttered under his breath, a faint smile touched Dahlia’s lips.

Nyx continued anyway. "Human ranking systems have limits. Priests eventually reach Celestial Priest while Dominion users stop at Peak Devil Dominion. Those are the highest stages ordinary humans can naturally achieve."

"And after reaching that?" Lucien asked.

"They wait."

"For what exactly?" he questioned with a puzzled look on his face.

"To be acknowledged."

Lucien raised an eyebrow, Nyx leaned lightly against the table behind her before explaining further. "Priests wait for acknowledgment from angels. Once chosen, they ascend into the Ethereal Hierarchy."

Lucien repeated the name slowly. "The Ethereal Hierarchy..."

*Oh,* he muttered afterward, finally understanding. *So that’s basically the unified ranking system.*

Nyx nodded lightly. "It’s the ranking system used by higher beings. Angels, devils, fallen angels, ancient races... anything beyond mortal existence belongs to that hierarchy."

"Except humans," Ryan added calmly from the side.

Lucien slowly nodded, "Priests acknowledged by angels become Minor Gods," Nyx continued. "That’s the lowest stage within angelic existence then they continue their ranking path."

"And Dominion users?"

"When Dominion users reach Peak Devil Dominion," she explained, "they usually need the essence of a higher being to ascend properly. Otherwise, their growth ends there."

Lucien frowned slightly. "Essence?"

"A devil’s essence, fallen angel essence, angel essence." Nyx shrugged lightly. "Depends on what path they want."

Lucien stared at her for a second before letting out a quiet laugh. "So people are literally stealing higher beings’ powers just to evolve?"

Ryan smirked slightly. "That’s the world."

"And it works?" Lucien asked.

"It’s the fastest method," Nyx answered. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Then her expression shifted slightly as she turned fully toward him again. "But you are different."

Lucien’s eyes met the white cloth covering hers.

"You possess dual alignments naturally," she said quietly. "If you reach the peak of both paths simultaneously, your body may enter the Ethereal Hierarchy on its own without needing external essence."

Lucien’s relaxed expression finally cracked a little. "...That’s actually possible?"

"For you?" Nyx said softly. "Yes." Then after a small pause, she added, "Especially since I’ve already chosen you."

Lucien blinked. "Chosen me?"

"If you drink my blood," she explained casually, "the process becomes easier."

Lucien immediately stared at her. "...Uhhh?"

Dahlia laughed softly under her breath while even Mira looked slightly amused. Nyx remained completely calm. "It’s the simplest method to make you a devil after ascending from the dominion rank, and an official contract of joining my crew."

Lucien narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "The fact you said simplest means there’s another method."

"There is."

"And?"

"I’ll explain it another time." Lucien clicked his tongue in annoyance while the others quietly laughed at his reaction.

After the room settled again, Nyx continued more seriously. *However, even if your Dominion side evolves naturally, your priest alignment still requires angelic acknowledgment. Without that, you won’t fully ascend to the ethereal Hierarchy."

Lucien rubbed his forehead slowly. "So basically I’m stuck balancing both sides."

"Exactly."

Nyx gave a faint smile afterward. "That’s why I suggest you enroll in the Dominion Academy while continuing your studies within the Divine Academy." Her voice lowered slightly. "It’s the safest way for someone like you to grow."

Lucien still looked unconvinced, Nyx added one final thing. "And if you ever decide to take an angel’s essence instead or an angel acknowledgment..." her lips curved faintly, "...the Divine Academy is the easiest place to encounter one."

Lucien stared at her for several long seconds. "...What kind of life are you people dragging me into?"

A/N: Please leave a review, add to collection and vote with power stones to keep me motivated. }⁠:⁠‑⁠)