I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 666: INTRUDER!!!

The palace corridors became a blur as Jack moved.

In an instant, Jack moved fast enough that the elite guards tasked with monitoring his movements lost his position within seconds.

One moment, he was accompanied by Faye, an ethereal presence emanating from her with each passing second. Next, the corridor was devoid of any presence.

The guards exchanged confused glances, hands instinctively moving to weapons they understood would be useless against a target moving at such velocity.

Jack didn’t care about their confusion. His mind was already three moves ahead, processing the implications of what Loryn had transmitted through the Soul Link.

The dark mana sigil for binding dark mana to his soul. A key to unlocking what should have been his birthright.

He didn’t slow until he reached an empty chamber deep within the palace’s administrative sector.

His hand moved quickly, drawing mana from his core and shaping it into a spatial gateway. The portal opened with a sound like reality tearing, dimensional seams peeling back to reveal the throne room of his castle on Floor 25 of the Tartarus Spire.

But as the gateway stabilized and Jack prepared to step through, a wind current disrupted the air behind him.

Faye Vesper emerged from the dimensional seams.

Her divine wind affinity had allowed her to slip through the closing portal, hitching a ride on dimensional currents that should have been impossible to navigate.

She stepped into the throne room of the Spire with the bubbly enthusiasm of someone arriving at a party, not a fortress of bound demons and corrupting mana.

"Hubby, we’re here!" She announced, her voice conveying a certainty that her uninvited arrival at the demonic castle was a premeditated action.

The moment her feet touched the floor of the Spire, every demon within a hundred yards of the throne room felt it.

A non-contracted being stepping into demonic territory.

Loryn’s form materialized from the shadows with the speed of someone who had spent centuries perfecting the art of lethal response.

His skeletal hands were already channeling dark mana, corruption erupting outward in a lance of pure destructive intent aimed directly at Faye’s position.

The ancient mage’s voice was absolutely emotionless: "INTRUDER! PURGE!!!"

Faye’s hand moved.

There was no visible motion, no indication that she had reacted. One moment, Loryn’s dark mana lance was accelerating toward her.

The next moment, her palm was open against the energy, and her divine wind dissolved the corruption with the ease of someone brushing away dust.

The dark mana disintegrated.

Loryn’s form froze mid-attack, his hollow eye sockets burning with confused rage as he processed the impossible.

A human woman had just casually negated centuries of accumulated demonic power without any visible effort.

"Young Master!" Loryn’s voice carried raw confusion and fury. "This contamination must be eliminated! A human presence in the Spire without your approval is vile! I shall kill her..."

"Stand down," Jack commanded, his tone carrying absolute authority that transcended simple words. The command resonated through the soul bonds that connected every demon on this floor to his will.

Loryn’s posture became rigid, his inherent nature compelling him to adhere to a direct directive from his contracted master.

Nevertheless, his gaze continued to convey a fury he was barely holding back.

"Faye," Jack said flatly, turning to face the Chosen One who was still beaming with her characteristic bubbly enthusiasm despite having just casually negated an attack that would have annihilated most beings. "You followed me through the portal."

"Yes!" Faye said happily, completely unbothered by the fact that she had nearly been incinerated. "I wanted to help! Zephyros said..."

"I know what Zephyros said," Jack interrupted. His golden-orange eyes fixed on her with cold analysis of someone reconsidering every assumption he had made about her capabilities.

A Chosen One backed by a god. Moving at speeds that matched his own. Casually dismissing dark mana attacks that should have been lethal to any mortal creature.

He turned back to Loryn, whose entire skeletal form was trembling with fury at the violation occurring in his master’s domain.

"Loryn," Jack said, his tone acknowledging the demon’s rage while establishing a clear hierarchy. "This Chosen One is under my protection. She will remain in the Spire. You will accommodate her presence. This is not negotiable."

Loryn’s eye sockets flared with additional fury, but the soul bond prevented him from articulating his obvious objection. His raspy voice emerged strained through gritted teeth: "Young Master, I must protest. What if she tells everyone back in Erebon? Or she decides to kill us all?"

"I’m aware of the complications," Jack replied flatly. "Manage them."

’S, I need you to bring to bring Annabelle here. I need her help with something.’

Faye’s demeanor subtly altered as she processed her dismissal, displaying a fleeting moment of disappointment before her characteristic enthusiasm resurfaced.

"But I want to help!" she protested, stepping closer to Jack despite his obvious intention to exclude her from whatever was about to occur. "I could..."

"You’ll remain in the laboratory with Loryn," Jack replied, his tone carrying absolute authority. "This is not negotiable."

Loryn’s hollow eye sockets fixed on Faye with an intensity of someone mentally calculating exactly how quickly he could kill her if his master’s protection were removed. But the soul bond prevented him from taking action.

"The laboratory is prepared," the ancient demon said, his voice dripping with contempt. "I will ensure the contamination remains isolated."

Jack opened another portal, and S materialized in the throne room.

The contract demon was eating a tangerine.

He held the fruit in one clawed hand, methodically peeling segments while his other hand remained relaxed at his side. His crimson eyes immediately registered Faye’s presence and, more importantly, the suppressed rage radiating from Loryn.

"Master," S greeted, his tone carrying the refined eloquence of someone accustomed to navigating complex hierarchies with diplomatic precision. His words flowed like honey, each syllable carefully placed. "I perceive there has been an unexpected development. The Chosen One’s presence in the Spire interior means the circumstances have evolved in an unanticipated manner."

"Faye followed me through the portal," Jack confirmed. "She will remain in the laboratory. My sister is required here."

S’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his crimson eyes. Recognition that Jack had deliberately brought a complication into his domain and was proceeding anyway with absolute certainty.

"Your sister remains engaged in protracted negotiation regarding her artistic materials," S stated, meticulously consuming the tangerine. His demeanor resembled that of a butler discussing afternoon tea arrangements. "She will, undoubtedly, inquire as to the specific nature of her summons to this location. How shall I address her inevitable questions?"

"Inform her it is urgent," Jack replied. "Inform her that her brother required her help, and it’s urgent."

S inclined his head with graceful acknowledgment. "I shall facilitate her immediate descent. She approaches with her comprehensive sketchbook collection, as your mother’s objections proved insufficient to prevent such a measure."

He popped another tangerine segment into his mouth with the casualness of someone completely at ease, no matter where he was.

Annabelle appeared moments later through the same portal.

Her artist’s sketchbooks clutched against her chest. Her hair was slightly disheveled from interruption mid-creative process, and her expression carried the unique blend of confusion and irritation that came from being summoned to an unknown location without explanation.