Spending time with Yuzuru and Kaguya, Novak felt some of the tension from the past few days of relentless fighting ease.
With a thought, he dismissed the spiritual energy that surrounded the Ring of the Hell King, and a moment later, an ethereal figure materialized. The figure, dressed in traditional Western attire, bowed deeply.
"It is my honor to see you again, Honored Novak!"
Novak waved him off, getting straight to the point.
"Enough with the formalities. You once tried to claim the power of the Abyss—do you truly understand the authority that comes with it?"
Satan's expression turned grave. "My Lord, the authority of the Abyss now lies in your hands, along with powers I cannot fully comprehend. My own existence is insignificant before your greatness..."
Novak cut him off. "I'm not accusing you; I need straightforward answers. Skip the titles and the pleasantries."
Satan nodded quickly. "Yes, I understand the nature of the Abyss Master's power. The Abyss is a fusion of the universe's boundless darkness and all that exists within it. To manage such power, a supreme personality requires a vessel."
Satan continued, "The Abyss is the ultimate vessel. The greater the Abyss's power, the stronger its Master becomes. When I realized I could not fully control it, I carved out the 600th layer to create Hell, yet even Hell could not contain such force... and eventually, both I and the ancient God of the Underworld succumbed to its weight."
Novak dismissed Satan's historical recounting. "So, the Abyss Master's primary purpose is to strengthen the Abyss itself, which, in turn, strengthens the Master?"
"Exactly. The Abyss's power depends on various factors: the deities within, the number of powerful entities, its layers, and the ability to consume and assimilate diverse species."
Novak nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now, what suggestions do you have for improving the current state of the Abyss?"
Satan, discerning Novak's intent, considered this carefully before replying. "You are well aware of the Abyss's condition, my Lord. Why not first share your own vision?"
Novak laid out his concept of a "safe zone." Satan listened, nodding thoughtfully.
"My Lord, your thoughts are reminiscent of ideas I once entertained. Bloodshed is essential for growth, yet in the Abyss, this slaughter lacks boundaries and justice, leading promising demons to die unfairly. A safe zone is indeed wise, but implementing it on every level may not be ideal. What if we establish a safe zone on every tenth floor?"
He explained, "The chaos of Abyss battles has its merit. It allows demons to grow from eggs into mighty forces. But to balance order with strength, we might create safe zones on the tenth floor of each layer group. Each demon lord of the tenth floor could represent not only their floor but also the nine above it. This would keep the rules of bloodshed intact while creating a sanctuary for growth and advancement."
Satan continued, "Within each tenth-floor safe zone, we could build something akin to an arena—Baphomet is well-versed in such matters. Through these rankings, challengers could ascend by defeating the reigning demon lord of each tenth level. This system would not only allow stronger demons to rise but also open pathways for deeper Abyss levels, creating a cycle of power and progression."
Satan paused, his smile unwavering, and remarked,
"In this way, we not only ensure that the Abyss blood battles become a proving ground for the truly strong but also encourage demons, who know only slaughter, to gain a sense of civility. At the same time, this preserves some of the strongest seedlings to their fullest potential.
Many of those who have risen to godhood have come from the Abyss—the Beholder Salisbury, the Abyss Dragon, even the Ghoul King of the two-hundredth floor. Each one holds a chance to ascend."
Novak's eyes brightened. As he had suspected, "This cunning ancient Hell's Lord is really something else!"
This vision of the Abyss felt closer to the one Novak had imagined.
Satan studied Novak's expression, observing carefully, then relaxed. It seemed Novak wasn't blinded by arrogance, nor would he reject wise counsel.
After a thoughtful pause, Novak responded,
"In that case, elevate the status and authority of the Demon Lords throughout the Abyss to give the demons a clearer sense of hierarchy. This should drive them to covet the title of Demon Lord, sparking ambition in Abyss creatures to strengthen themselves—not simply feed their bloodlust.
And for those who have truly reached godhood within the Abyss, grant them special privileges—some level of autonomy and perhaps a share of Abyss authority. They could influence and reshape the Abyss environment, yet still remain bound by my commands and bring offerings periodically."
"My Lord," Satan interjected with a glint of admiration, "Your wisdom astounds me. Yet, all of this hinges on your ability to surpass and subdue the Abyss Lords. Strength, therefore, remains paramount."
Satan's words sparked an idea in Novak. In ancient times, the Faeloria Country ruled through two primary systems: an enfeoffment system, like the Zhou Dynasty during the Spring and Autumn Period, and the prefecture system, where centralized power resided with the emperor.
[Note: The enfeoffment system was a way of transferring land in exchange for loyalty and service]
Perhaps he could structure the Abyss similarly.
For those who attain godhood, grant full autonomy over their regions—making them the equivalent of vassals. For the rest, each ten-floor gathering could form a self-contained social unit, akin to counties, with Novak as the central authority.
With such a structure, Novak's rule over the Abyss would be unquestionable, as its authority flowed solely through him. As long as the Abyss endured, so would he.
He could bestow authority when it suited him—and reclaim it just as easily.
When the time came to conquer other realms, or even stand against the GODS, a single command would rally the Abyss Lords under his banner!
At this thought, Novak's gaze sharpened. "Indeed, the wisdom of our ancestors is timeless."
Drawing back his gaze, Novak looked at the humbled king of hell before him and allowed a faint smile to emerge.
"Precisely. You truly are the ancient King of Hell, the lord of demons, and one who stands closest to the power of the Abyss. Your insights are precise.
I can make you a promise: if you remain loyal, reclaim Hell on my behalf, and return to the six-hundredth layer of the Abyss, I will release the imprint binding your life, craft a divine body for you, and rekindle the divine fire within.
I'll grant you Hell once more, restoring you as its king and Abyss Lord of the six-hundredth layer. So long as you submit willingly."
For a moment, Satan froze. Then, a glimmer of joy lit his eyes.
"Yes, Master. Rest assured!"