Agamenon didn’t hesitate before revealing his chest. Taking a deep breath, he consciously restrained every muscle in his body, determined to avoid any involuntary reaction that might disturb the delicate engraving process.
Vlad showed absolute focus, his expression serious and his movements precise, as he carefully loaded a vial of a runic agent into the legendary runic pen and began his meticulous work.
Agamenon couldn’t help but clench his teeth. Each stroke of the pen felt akin to a sharp blade carving relentlessly into his skin. Despite the intense discomfort, he maintained unwavering focus, refusing to move or flinch even as the agony surged throughout his body.
With every passing second, a new runic line took shape, carefully drawn and intricately woven into his very flesh. Finally, after an excruciating hour filled with concentration and pain, the Demon Cage Runic Formation was completed.
"Done. Go ahead," Vlad announced calmly, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead and signaling Agamenon to proceed with the sealing.
Vlad sat down immediately afterward, feeling drained. Despite his enhanced energy and formidable stamina brought by his demon soul, crafting two Sage-Tier Runic Formations consecutively was undoubtedly demanding, and pushed him to near exhaustion.
Agamenon paused momentarily to catch his breath, as the engraving had drained him physically. Yet his excitement outweighed his exhaustion.
Without further hesitation, the scion of the Solaris Family grasped the dark plasma orb containing the demon’s soul and brought it closer to his heart. Immediately, the Demon Cage Runic Formation activated, tendrils of runic energy swiftly latching onto the dark orb and beginning the sealing process.
Once more, a wave of intense agony assaulted Agamenon. Burning sensations surged through his veins as if molten metal flowed within them. Yet amid the severe pain, a smile gradually spread across his face, because alongside the torment, an immense influx of raw power and energy flooded his body, strengthening him from within.
The sealing didn’t take long, and when it finally ended, Agamenon stretched out his palm. Immediately, an ominous dark flame appeared, dancing fiercely above his hand.
"Hahaha! Amazing," he exclaimed with exhilaration. "This fire is just as potent as the one I naturally produce!"
But the surprises didn’t end there. Agamenon’s eyes widened further as he felt the sealed demon soul actively nurturing his energy pool and soul force.
"Incredible," he muttered, his excitement now reaching its peak. "This won’t just amplify my combat prowess; it’ll significantly enhance my cultivation speed and overall potential!"
Agamenon turned toward Vlad, admiration and awe filling his eyes. It was clear to the young man that this was not merely a simple power-up—it was a Strength System that perfectly complemented the Level System itself.
"Brother, your abilities are truly marvelous," Agamenon said sincerely.
Vlad smiled slightly, rising steadily from the ground. "The price for the entire process will be one thousand credits."
At this announcement, Agamenon’s enthusiastic smile froze instantly. Even for a scion of the Solaris Family, a thousand military credits wasn’t insignificant—it was roughly the price of a Sage-Tier weapon.
Nevertheless, aware of Vlad’s unique abilities and valuable expertise, Agamenon quickly recovered his composure and nodded firmly. "Yes, I’ll transfer the credits to your military account as soon as possible."
"Excellent," Vlad responded, satisfied with the swift agreement. He proceeded to guide Agamenon toward the residence’s exit.
Just as Vlad opened the door, expecting the smooth departure of his friend, another unexpected visitor appeared: Janus, the Imperial Prince. Standing beside him was a tall, elderly figure dressed in dark robes, holding a massive golden cage.
Janus was initially smiling warmly at the pair, ready to greet them. Yet, the moment his eyes landed upon Agamenon, his expression sharpened noticeably.
Historically, the two cousins had maintained relatively equal strength, though Janus usually had the slight upper hand. But now, as he observed Agamenon carefully, Janus felt an instinctive sense that his cousin had somehow grown significantly stronger.
Noticing Janus’s reaction, Agamenon couldn’t help but smirk mischievously. Seizing the opportunity, he decided to provoke his cousin lightly.
Turning deliberately toward Vlad, Agamenon spoke with exaggerated gratitude, loud enough for Janus to hear clearly: "Once again, thanks for your incredible help, brother. The three thousand military credits should already be deposited in your account. Apologies for not paying earlier—it was an oversight on my part."
Only after delivering these words with clear intention did Agamenon turn toward Janus. He smiled innocently and remarked, "Cousin, you’ve finally arrived as well, though perhaps a bit late. If one didn’t know better, they might suspect you doubt our brother Vlad’s abilities."
Janus’s eyes twitched involuntarily at the deliberate provocation. He knew Agamenon well enough to understand his cousin’s tendency to tease and provoke others whenever an opportunity presented itself. Although Agamenon was a courageous and honorable warrior on the battlefield, off it, he enjoyed these playful manipulations.
Janus glanced briefly at the tall elder beside him, who instantly understood and discreetly withdrew from view. The Imperial Prince, maintaining his dignity, smiled and calmly replied, "Of course, I trust Vlad’s skills implicitly. It just took me slightly longer to secure a suitable demon."
He then turned toward Vlad and waited until his ring glowed brightly, confirming the transaction. Janus smiled confidently. "The three thousand military credits have already been deposited into your account. We can begin whenever you wish."
The transaction occurred so quickly that Vlad barely had time to react. Shaking his head slightly, Vlad smiled and clarified, "Actually, Janus, I only charge friends one thousand credits."
Janus’s confident smile faltered, freezing instantly. Immediately, his sharp gaze swung accusingly toward Agamenon, only to see his cousin casually strolling away, laughing openly at Janus’s reaction.
"Ah, whatever," Janus sighed in resignation, turning back toward Vlad. "Consider the extra two thousand credits as a rush fee."
He didn’t blame Vlad for the overcharge, as he had neglected to confirm the price beforehand, and now asking for a refund would feel embarrassing. Vlad simply smiled, shaking his head again with amusement, before signaling Janus to enter the residence.