"Ian, are you sure just seeing them is enough?" Nya''s voice cut through the rushing wind as Adrian soared through the air, his body enveloped in crackling ck lightning that seemed to surge with each passing moment.


    "Yeah... seeing them for now, safe and sound, is enough. Any more than that might lead to a problem," Adrian replied, his tone weighted with a sense of caution.


    Though he longed to reach out to the girls, to assure them of his safety and well-being, he knew that now wasn''t the right time.


    Theplexities of the war, his own transformation, and the intricacies of his family''s situation made it difficult to exin everything, especially to Louise and Ana.


    Adrian''s options were limited, but that didn''t mean he was powerless. Even as he flew through the skies, he was keenly aware of the world''s turmoil, the ongoing conflict that threatened to tear it apart.


    With the war still raging, it was imperative to assess the situation firsthand, to understand the full scope of the chaos that enveloped thend.


    Adrian knew that waiting idly by was not an option. He had to take action, to do whatever he could to bring an end to the suffering and turmoil that gued their world.


    Adrian knew that the damned goddess was already probably aware of his awakening. Since his transformation, he could feel watchful gazes all around him, though they didn''t emanate from the goddess directly. It was something of a simr nature, a divine presence in its own unique sense.


    A part of Adrian wished to confront the goddess head-on, to challenge her authority and defy her will. But he was also well aware that his current level of strength wasn''t enough for an all-out battle. He needed to get stronger, to hone his abilities and push himself to new limits. And what better way to do that than by making himself bait in the battlefield?


    Adrian couldn''t help but smile at the thought of the damned goddess slipping up, of underestimating him and falling into his trap. With a calcted strategy and a fierce determination burning within him, he was ready to turn the tables on his divine oppressor.


    As his dark eyes scanned his surroundings, Adrian focused on one thing: death. He could sense the impending onught of lost souls on a certainnd, their anguished cries echoing in his ears. His formless void-like body twisted in anticipation, a hunger stirring deep within him.


    With a predatory grin, Adrian''s mouth appeared in all directions, his senses sharpening as he prepared to unleash his wrath upon the battlefield.


    With a deafening roar that echoed across the battlefield, Adrian materialized in a sh of ck lightning at his designated location. His arrival was as swift and ominous as a thunderbolt, striking fear and reverence into the hearts of demons, monsters, and humans alike. To them, he embodied the very essence of the abyss itself.


    As Adrian surveyed his surroundings, a twisted smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Thendscape bore a faint resemnce to the ce where he had first arrived in this world, a cruel irony that brought a sense of satisfaction to his darkened soul. But to those around him, his grin was anything butforting, sending shivers of dread down their spines as they recoiled in fear.


    The air crackled with energy as thousands upon thousands of purple wisps swirled around him, the lost souls of the fallen waiting for their journey into the afterlife. But for Adrian, who feasted on souls with insatiable hunger, there would be no such release for them. With a predatory gleam in his eyes, he opened his monstrous mouth and sucked in everyst one of them, their anguished screams music to his ears.


    As the souls vanished into the void of his being, Adrian felt a surge of power coursing through his veins. Though the taste was bitter and foul, the strength he gained from consuming them was undeniable. With each soul devoured, his abilities grew stronger, his essence pulsating with newfound vitality.


    Barely suppressing a belch, Adrian savored the sensation of his strength increasing with each passing moment. Though the souls may have tasted vile, the benefits they bestowed upon him were more than worth the difort.


    "My lord," a demon with hair like tentacles and the body of a woman approached Adrian, offering a slight bow of respect.


    Adrian couldn''t help but be repulsed by her appearance, even as he detected the sweet scent of the soul hidden within her. With a simple nce, he could see the subtle reddish-ck hue of her essence, a telltale sign of her demonic nature.


    ''So, demonic souls smell sweet, huh? Should I eat her?'' The thought crossed Adrian''s mind, but he quickly dismissed it with a shake of his head.


    "Is the battle here over?" he asked instead, focusing on the matter at hand.


    "Yes, my lord. It ended approximately five hours ago," the demon replied, her voice smooth andposed. "Though there are still pockets of resistance along the empire''s marquis border, they won''t hold out for much longer. As for the overall survivors, as you can see, we—"


    Before the demon could exin further, Adrian gestured for her to stop, his tentacle-like hand cutting through the air with a sense of authority. Intrigued by his sudden action, the demon followed the movements of his dark tendrils, awaiting his nextmand with bated breath.


    "That birdcage—is Lilliana in there?" Adrian''s voice was calm but tinged with a hint of urgency, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the structure in question.


    Surprised by her lord''s question, the demon nodded eagerly. "Yes, my lord. As ordered, she has been well taken care of." A sigh of relief washed over her, a wave of reassurance flooding her soul as she witnessed the somewhat positive reaction from Adrian. It seemed that ensuring Lilliana''s safety had been the right course of action after all.


    "Did you harm her?" Adrian''s inquiry was direct, his gaze piercing as he awaited her response.


    "No, my lord," the demon replied quickly, eager to assuage any concerns. "She remains unharmed."


    "And is she hurt?" Adrian pressed, his concern for Lilliana evident in his tone.


    The demon hesitated for a moment before responding. "Except for some minor injuries—bruises and scratches—she is rtively unscathed, my lord."


    "Good," Adrian murmured, a sense of relief washing over him as he absorbed the news. Though the war raged on and chaos engulfed thend, knowing that Lilliana was safe brought him a measure offort,


    staring at her from a distance and seeing her somewhat ok face he smiled… looks like she really wasn''t hurt that badly.


    Noticing the dark chains restraining her, Adrian''s eyes scanned them with a sense of recognition. They were the same dark chains his mother had used to confine him in the past, a cruel reminder of the imprisonment he had endured. It seemed they were now being used to suppress Lilliana''s mana, keeping her abilities in check.


    With a determined stride, Adrian approached her, his presence alone causing her to take a step back, her breaths ragged with apprehension. He realized he had forgotten to suppress his own powers, the excess energy radiating from him like a palpable force.


    Gathering his strength, Adrian contained the overflowing power within him as he drew closer to her, a warm smile gracing his lips. As he neared, his form began to shift and contort, the darkness around him coalescing into a familiar shape until he stood before her in his physical human form.


    Lilliana''s eyes widened in disbelief as she beheld the transformation before her. The monstrous creature had morphed into someone she knew and loved dearly.


    "Impossible..." she whispered, unable toprehend what she was witnessing. This couldn''t be real—there was no way.


    "Adrian?" Her voice trembled with disbelief and awe as she spoke the name of the person she had spent her entire childhood longing for. Despite the odds, despite the chaos surrounding them, her beloved Adrian stood before her


    And it wasn''t just her physical eyes that confirmed it; rather, it was her gift, her innate ability, that told her the truth. Her silvery eyes glowed with an ethereal light as she scanned him from head to toe, every detail confirming what she already knew deep within her soul. Everything about him was indeed Adrian, and she could feel the truth of his presence with every fiber of her being.


    "Are you alright, Lilliana?" Adrian''s voice broke through her thoughts as he stood before her, concern etched in his features. Seeing her shocked expression, Adrian effortlessly broke through the bird-like gigantic cage, his movements fluid and graceful, and watched as Lilliana stumbled to the metallic floor below.


    Crouching down beside her, Adrian met her gaze, his own eyes filled with warmth and understanding as her silvery eyes continued to glow with intensity.


    "Long time no see, right?" he remarked, a smile ying at the corners of his lips as he observed her reaction. Despite the chaos and uncertainty surrounding them, her presence never failed to bring him a sense of peace and familiarity.


    "You... you''re really Adrian, right?" Lilliana''s voice was barely above a whisper, her disbelief palpable as she searched his eyes for confirmation.


    "Yes, Lilliana. It''s really me," Adrian affirmed, his voice gentle yet firm as he reached out to gently touch her hand, the connection between them sparking with a sense of familiarity and warmth.


    "But how? I thought you were dead... And what have you be?" Lilliana''s voice trembled with disbelief and confusion as she struggled toprehend the reality before her.


    "Hmm, it''s a bit hard to exin, so... please forgive me for this," Adrian replied cryptically, his tone tinged with regret. Without waiting for her response, he gently ced his index finger on her forehead.


    "What—" Lilliana began, but before she could finish her sentence, a torrent of information flooded her mind, overwhelming her senses. The sheer volume of knowledge was too much to process, and she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.


    Adrian knew that Lilliana wasn''t the type to handle overwhelming information well. Whether she epted the truth or not was inconsequential at the moment; what mattered was ensuring her safety and well-being.


    Once Lilliana had passed out, Adrian lifted her into his arms with ease, cradling her like a princess as he surveyed the battlefield once more. His gaze settled on the demonicdy beside him.


    "Where is the duke?" Adrian inquired, his voiceced with a hunger that sent shivers down the demon''s spine.


    "He''s currently being tortured, my lord," the demon replied promptly, her demeanor deferential in the presence of such power.


    "Bring him to me," Adrianmanded, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    With a swift nod, the demon hastened to obey, eager to fulfill her master''s wishes. Adrian licked his lips in anticipation, his hunger growing as he awaited the arrival of his next meal.


    "If the quality of the soul also depends on one''s strength, I wonder how tasty a strong human''s soul is," Adrian mused to himself, a predatory grin spreading across his features.