Chapter 97: Learning about the Demon’s Hierarchy!
Chapter 96
"Now tell me what I want to know." Max demanded, sitting stiffly inside his room after completing the mission with the others.
The night had already fallen, cloaking the city in darkness. His room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the streetlights outside.
Jake was nowhere in sight, thankfully, which gave Max the privacy he needed. He sat on the edge of his bed, arms folded tightly, his gaze fixed forward as he waited for Pix to finally explain the truth about the enemies he was bound to face.
"You’re really so impatient. Tch!" Pix scoffed as her small figure shimmered into view, floating lazily in front of Max like she had all the time in the world.
"Not my fault. I need to know what I’m getting into. My foes already know everything about dragons, but I know nothing about them." Max shot back, his voice firm, and Pix’s playful eyes softened with a brief nod.
"Fair enough. But listen carefully. I’m only going to tell you about the demon hierarchy, their levels of strength, and I’ll measure them against beast and hunter standards so you can get a clearer picture. Nothing more, nothing less." Pix declared.
Max exhaled slowly and nodded. ’I’m satisfied with that right now. There’s no need to overwhelm myself with too much information at once. I’ll take things slowly and steadily.’
"Alright, let’s get straight to the point then." Pix clapped her tiny hands and floated in circles before facing Max with a spark of seriousness. "There are five demon hierarchy."
’Huh? Just five? That sounds a bit small for something so terrifying.’ Max frowned slightly at the simplicity.
"The first on the list is the Lesser Fiend. These ranks of demons are the weakest there is, so weak that they’re often considered cannon fodder. A D-rank hunter can easily defeat one of them." Pix explained clearly, and Max leaned forward, drinking in every word like it was gold.
"Next is the Greater Fiend. An example is the demon you fought in the alleyway, the one that nearly killed you. I don’t think I need to remind you how dangerous they can be after what you faced."
"Sure." Max muttered grimly, his mind replaying the bloody clash. "I was on the brink of death and probably would have bled out if it wasn’t for Hunter Elijah stepping in."
"And it’s still a surprise that you managed to defeat one at all, considering how weak you were at the time. But that alone shows the potential and raw power of a dragon, even at its lowest point." Pix said, her tone carrying a rare trace of admiration.
"Next on the list are the Archfiends. And Max, if you encounter one of them at your current level, without evolving first, you’re doomed. Just one Archfiend is strong enough to level slums and even small towns. In fact, I’d say they’re equal to a King-tier boss."
"Huh? But I can already take down King-tier beasts without much problem. How would I suddenly struggle against them?" Max’s brows knitted as his glare fixed firmly on Pix.
"You don’t understand." Pix shook her head. "They don’t move alone. Archfiends travel in groups. Forget the King-tier comparison—these creatures are far more durable, far more relentless.
Imagine facing an enemy with the strength of two King-tier beasts, but multiplied and organized in groups. That’s the reality of Archfiends."
Max pressed his fingers against his temples and shut his eyes for a moment. ’She’s right. That will be troublesome. Still, I feel like I can handle it... especially if I don’t hold back.’
"The next rank is called the Proto-Echelon." Pix’s voice dropped, all traces of her usual teasing gone. Her tone was sharp, cutting, and full of gravity. Max’s eyes narrowed as he studied her closely.
"I know how stubborn you are," Pix continued firmly. "When I warned you to run if you see an Archfiend, I already knew you’d try to fight one anyway. But listen carefully, Max.
The day you lay eyes on a Proto-Echelon is the day your life ends. You won’t even have time to blink twice before your head is rolling on the ground."
The words struck Max harder than any blade, and a cold chill ran down his spine. He clenched his fists silently, forcing himself to absorb her warning.
"Huh?" Max muttered with a raised brow as he felt his heart thumping harder and louder with each passing second.
"They are so strong that they stand just below the Twelve Echelons in strength. In fact, these demons aspire to join the Twelve Echelons. Their power is terrifying—one Proto-Echelon has enough strength to completely annihilate a tier-three town or even a city on its own. Luckily, they are rare."
’Strength to wipe out a tier-three city? That’s insane. Wait, did she just say they’re directly below the Twelve Echelons? I’ve heard that name before. Elijah mentioned it once during his tales. Wh...’
"And finally, we have the Twelve Echelons." Pix’s voice cut sharply into his thoughts, her tone deadly serious. "I don’t even think the Devil himself would risk letting them run free just yet.
The power they hold is so immense that humanity never even laid eyes on the true ruler of the demon race. The war was already decided the moment the Twelve Echelons appeared. That alone was enough to force the humans into submission. That’s how strong they are."
She folded her arms, hovering in midair with an unusually grim expression. "To be honest, I believe even the so-called kings of this world would struggle against them. The outcome would depend entirely on the echelon they face."
"Meaning? Aren’t all echelons strong?" Max asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Indeed, they’re all strong to you," Pix replied, shaking her head. "But for the kings, it depends on the type and rank of echelon. Some are worse than others."
"Explain." Max demanded, his brows furrowing.
Pix sighed before answering. "The Twelve Echelons are divided into two groups—Lower and Upper. Each group has six demons.
From Echelon Twelve down to Echelon Seven, you have the Lower Echelons, while from Six up to One, you have the Upper Echelons. And believe me, the difference between the two is like night and day."
Max’s frown deepened as he rubbed his temples, his mind flashing with comparisons. ’Huh? Why does this setup remind me of something I once watched? Damn, this feels like one of those ranking systems from an anime.’
Pix’s expression hardened further. "So for your sake, let me repeat myself. Once you encounter any demon from the Proto-Echelon or above, do not—under any circumstances try to confront them.
And remember this, Max: they can mask their auras at will. You won’t even know they’re there unless they choose to reveal themselves. And when they finally do, it will only mean one thing and which is that they’re ready to bring chaos. That day will mark destruction."
Her words echoed through the room like a curse, and Max felt a chill crawl across his skin.
"I hope that answers all of your questions," Pix finished, her tone softening only slightly.
"Not all." Max narrowed his eyes. "How do you know so much about them?"
The floating guide only smiled mischievously. "My job here is done. You’ll find out when the time is right. Bye now!"
Before Max could press further, Pix’s figure shimmered and slowly dissolved into fading sparks of light, leaving him behind with nothing but silence and a pounding headache.