I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 610 610: Yes, Soul Warden

The Baron remained conscious for three more seconds, his eyes locked on Jack's face with an expression that mixed disbelief and fading.

But worst of all, he felt an emotion he hadn't felt before, except on the face of one individual, regret.

His mouth moved, trying to form final words that his destroyed cardiovascular system couldn't support. Only bubbling sounds emerged, blood pouring from his lips to run down his chin.

His hands fell away from Jack's arm, fingers going limp as strength fled his body.

His runes flickered and died, the crimson light fading to darkness as the magic sustaining them lost its power source.

His pupils dilated, consciousness retreating as his brain recognized that death had arrived and resistance was futile.

'If only I could speak, you'd know what a mistake it was to kill me. When he learns that you're hunting in his kingdom, he'll send his army.' The Infernal Baron thought as the light faded from his eyes.

Then his eyes dimmed completely, the red light extinguishing like candles being snuffed.

His massive frame slumped forward, held upright only by the chains still wrapped around his body.

Consciousness faded as death claimed an Infernal Baron who'd made the mistake of underestimating a half-demon's willingness to enforce his authority through overwhelming violence.

Jack's hand clenched, fingers digging into the heart's muscle tissue, exerting pressure beyond what the organ could withstand.

The heart exploded between Jack's fingers, compressed tissue and dark blood spraying across the throne room's floor in patterns that looked almost artistic.

Chunks of cardiac muscle scattered across stone, some pieces large enough to still show individual chambers, others reduced to unrecognizable fragments.

He held the crushed remains for a moment, letting the Baron's blood drip from his hand in slow rhythm.

The dark liquid ran between his fingers, pooling in his palm before overflowing to fall toward the floor in thick streams.

Then he released the destroyed organ, opening his hand to let the pulped tissue fall beside the corpse.

The remnants hit stone with a wet sound, splattering on impact to spread the destruction across a wider area.

A notification materialized in Jack's vision, text appearing with clinical precision that contrasted sharply with the visceral reality of what he'd just done.

[Quest Complete: Dreknar's Favor Part 4]

[Objective 1: Reach 1,000 Demonic Essence 1000/1000 - Complete]

[Objective 2: Kill 2+ demons ranked Infernal Baron or higher - Complete (2/2)]

[Objective 3: Form a contract with a beast in Tartarus Spire - Complete (1/1)]

[Calculating Rewards...]

[Rewards Unlocked:]

[Demon Arts Compendium Vol I - Received]

[Demon Arts Compendium Vol II - Received]

[Demon Arts Compendium Vol III - Received]

[Demon Arts Compendium Vol IV - Received]

[Demon Arts Compendium Vol V - Received]

[Hidden Reward 1 - Unlocked: The Silent Decree]

[Effect: Upon activation, all magical energy and skills originating from any entity with the [Demon] or [Infernal] tag within a 100-foot radius are immediately nullified for 60 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.]

[Hidden Reward 2 - Unlocked: Sovereign's Command]

[Effect: Issue a single-word command to any demon with lower Demonic Essence than your current total. Target is physically and spiritually compelled to obey for 10 seconds without resistance. Cooldown: 1 hour.]

Jack's eyes tracked across the notification, his mind immediately processing the implications of both hidden rewards.

The Silent Decree would nullify all demon magic within range, creating tactical advantage in situations where he faced multiple supernatural threats simultaneously.

Sixty seconds was an eternity in combat. More than enough time to eliminate opponents who relied on magical abilities for survival.

Sovereign's Command was potentially more valuable despite the shorter duration.

Direct control over weaker demons enabled him to turn enemy forces against each other, create openings in defensive formations, or force critical mistakes at decisive moments.

The single-word limitation was restrictive, but not crippling; commands like "kneel," "stop," or "die" required no elaborate phrasing to achieve devastating results.

The notification faded from his vision as he dismissed it without thought, his attention returning to the throne room and the Blight Clan members still frozen in their positions.

Their bark-like faces were pale, dark fluid leaking from cracks in greater volume as stress manifested through their corrupted physiology.

Jack's blood-covered hand gestured toward the Baron's corpse, his voice carrying across the throne room. "Dispose of it."

The Blight Clan leader rose from her kneeling position, her movements careful as she gestured to four of her subordinates.

They approached the corpse, their gloved hands gripping the Baron's massive frame to lift it from the floor.

The body was heavy, nearly a thousand pounds of muscle and fat going limp, which created a weight that required vast amounts of strength to maneuver.

"Remove your gloves," Jack added, his tone making the instruction clear despite its brevity.

The four demons exchanged glances, their eyes communicating a silent question about whether they'd heard correctly.

Then understanding settled across their features, quickly replaced by resignation as they recognized this was a test of obedience rather than practical instruction.

They began pulling off their protective leather, which revealed bark-like skin leaking dark fluid in greater volume once exposed to air.

The liquid seeped from cracks that spread across their hands and forearms, each droplet carrying the magical disease that defined their clan's existence.

Their fingers trembled slightly as they removed the final pieces of protection, leaving their corruption completely exposed.

They positioned their bare hands against the Baron's red charcoal flesh, and the Blight's corruption began its work immediately.

The corpse decomposed at an accelerated rate that defied natural law, flesh evaporating as the magical disease attacked the boundary between matter and decay.

The Baron's runes flickered one final time before dying completely, the enchantments carved into his skin unable to resist corruption that operated on a fundamental level beyond simple magic.

Within thirty seconds, the body had been reduced to ash.

The four demons replaced their gloves, their bare skin disappearing behind protective leather that prevented accidental contact with anything they might touch.

Their faces carried relief that the task was complete, that they could return to the relative safety of keeping their corruption contained.

Jack's attention shifted to Loryn, his yellow-orange eyes meeting the ancient mage's purple gaze. "Prepare the tree like before."

"Understood," Loryn confirmed, his skeletal features carrying no particular expression as he gestured to the four Blight demons still holding the God's Blood tree's massive planter. "Follow me. We'll establish it in the garden where the Umbral Lotus is cultivated."

The demons moved immediately, carrying their burden toward the throne room's side exit that led to the castle's interior passages.

The planter was heavy, but they managed it without visible strain. Their supernatural strength made the load manageable despite its awkward dimensions.

Loryn followed behind them, his dark robes swirling as he departed to oversee the tree's proper placement and preparation.

His footsteps made no sound against stone, the ancient mage moving silently.

Jack turned his full attention to the remaining Blight Clan members, his blood-covered hand gesturing for their leader to approach.

The female demon stepped forward, each step was perfectly placed and measured as if she were walking across thin ice that might break at any moment.

Her expression remained neutral despite the fear and grief bleeding through her eyes, the dark fluid leaking from her cracks, leaving wet trails down her face.

"Your clan demonstrated competence," Jack stated, his tone carrying assessment rather than praise. "You acquired what was requested, delivered it intact, and understood the consequences of failure clearly enough to ensure compliance."

The leader's head dipped in acknowledgment, recognizing the words as observation of fact rather than a compliment requiring gratitude.

Her shoulders remained tense. She was waiting for additional punishment even after fulfilling the requirements.

"That competence has value," Jack continued, his yellow-orange eyes tracking across the assembled demons. "Which is why the Blight Clan now works for me. When I call, you will answer. When I issue commands, you will execute them without question or delay."