Several days passed after Noctis's meeting with Vampire King Veyrion before the Covenant finally completed the final arrangements regarding the Demon Academy transfer. During that time, Noctis rarely left his chambers. Most of his time continued dividing between circulation refinement and combat training inside the pet space alongside Bahamut and Rengar. The synchronization between the three of them had continued improving steadily following the northern expedition, especially after Bahamut's evolution stabilized completely.
Inside the pet space, the Primeval Sanguorath adapted rapidly to his transformed physiology. Bahamut's movements had become smoother with each passing day despite the massive increase in size and circulation density accompanying his evolution. The dragon no longer fought like the serpentine hybrid creature he once resembled. Every movement now carried the natural weight and authority of a true dragon. His wings generated violent pressure with even casual movement while the blood energy flowing beneath the black scales covering his body had become increasingly refined during combat.
Rengar adapted equally quickly.
The lycanthrope's combat instincts continued evolving through repeated synchronized sparring sessions against Noctis and Bahamut simultaneously. His manipulation of blood, ice, and lightning had become far more fluid than before while his movement patterns grew increasingly difficult to predict. Even Noctis occasionally found himself forced to adjust more carefully against Rengar's attacks now that the lycanthrope had fully integrated sovereign-level circulation into his combat style.
The training itself remained controlled despite the overwhelming destructive force involved.
Noctis no longer trained to increase raw power. That phase of his growth had largely passed already. Instead, he focused almost entirely on refinement. Positioning. Timing. Circulation efficiency. Combat adaptability. The stronger he became, the more important those aspects grew.
By the morning of departure, the atmosphere throughout the Covenant had settled into something calmer than before. Veyrion's awakening stabilized much of the political tension lingering throughout the city, and the Council itself seemed noticeably quieter beneath the ancient sovereign authority now resting above them. Even the nobles throughout the Covenant carried themselves more carefully than when Noctis first arrived.
Noctis stood near the chamber window while looking out across the city below.
The artificial crimson lights illuminating the Covenant streets reflected faintly across the black architecture stretching throughout the massive demonic city surrounding the vampire district. Countless circulation signatures moved throughout the streets below while distant aerial transports crossed between towering structures far beyond the Covenant walls.
Behind him, crimson distortion rippled briefly through the room before Rengar emerged from the pet space.
"So today's the day."
Noctis nodded slightly.
"It looks that way."
Rengar crossed both arms while leaning against the nearby wall.
"The Academy should be interesting at least. If half the rumors about it are true, there'll be plenty of strong opponents there."
"There should be."
Rengar smirked faintly.
"You sound more interested in Kaeltharion than the Academy itself."
"That's because I am."
The answer came naturally.
Noctis had no reason to pretend otherwise at this point. Entering the Academy served several purposes, but Kaeltharion remained the largest reason among them. Maltherion was already dead. Kaeltharion was the final major piece left unresolved from the betrayal that destroyed his former life.
A low rumbling growl echoed throughout the room moments later before Bahamut emerged partially from the pet space itself. The massive dragon lowered his head slightly while his crimson eyes observed the Covenant outside the chamber window.
"I still dislike the idea of hiding."
Noctis glanced toward him.
"You're not hiding. Keeping you inside the pet space is simply easier right now."
"It is unnecessary."
"It's practical."
Bahamut exhaled slowly through his nostrils while crimson circulation drifted from between his fangs.
The dragon disliked restraint by nature, but even he understood the logic behind remaining concealed for now. Revealing a creature like Bahamut openly inside the Demon Realm without understanding the political structure first would attract unnecessary complications immediately.
"We'll have opportunities later," Noctis continued calmly. "There's no reason to expose everything the moment we arrive."
Bahamut eventually lowered his head slightly in acknowledgment.
Before the conversation could continue further, a knock sounded against the chamber door.
Noctis sensed Emeralda's circulation outside almost immediately.
"Enter."
The door opened moments later.
Emeralda stepped into the chamber alongside two Covenant escorts before bowing respectfully.
"Lord Noctis. The transfer preparations are complete."
Noctis nodded once.
"I assume we're leaving now."
"Yes."
Emeralda's gaze shifted briefly toward Bahamut before returning toward Noctis. Despite everything that happened during the northern expedition, portions of Bahamut's presence still unsettled the escorts instinctively. The dragon's circulation no longer resembled anything remotely ordinary even while restrained.
Noctis turned toward both battle companions afterward.
"Return to the pet space for now."
Rengar nodded immediately before dissolving into crimson light.
Bahamut lingered slightly longer before his massive body gradually dissolved into blood circulation as well. Moments later, both presences vanished completely back into the sovereign domain connected to Noctis's forehead.
The room suddenly felt significantly quieter afterward.
Emeralda straightened slowly while watching Noctis.
"The Academy transfer documents were approved personally by the Council shortly after the Vampire King's decision."
Noctis walked calmly toward the doorway.
"That was faster than I expected."
"The Council has little reason to delay matters anymore."
There was obvious meaning hidden beneath those words.
After everything that happened recently, even the Council understood keeping Noctis inside the Covenant indefinitely no longer made much sense. His existence had already outgrown most of what the Covenant itself could realistically offer him.
The group departed the chamber shortly afterward.
The atmosphere throughout the Covenant remained subdued as they traveled through the corridors toward the city outside. Guards stationed throughout the halls lowered their heads respectfully while nobles quietly stepped aside whenever Noctis crossed their paths. Unlike when he first arrived, very few vampires still looked at him with suspicion now.
Most simply looked cautious.
The Covenant escorts accompanying him this time also behaved differently compared to earlier expeditions. Their movements carried significantly more respect now, particularly after the northern expedition revealed the extent of Noctis's strength.
Eventually the group exited the Covenant district entirely before entering the larger demonic city surrounding it.
The city itself remained active despite the absence of sunlight overhead. Artificial crimson moons floated high above the skyline while circulation-powered lighting illuminated enormous streets filled with countless demonic races moving throughout the capital.
Vampires walked openly among the population here without needing concealment.
That alone created a strange contrast compared to human civilization.
Throughout the city, vampires clearly occupied higher social standing than most surrounding races. Mid-level demons and demonoids instinctively gave way whenever elder vampires passed nearby while lower-class lesser demons immediately lowered themselves whenever noble bloodlines moved through the streets.
The social hierarchy throughout the city felt obvious almost immediately.
Lesser demons served primarily as laborers throughout the capital. They transported materials, maintained infrastructure, operated market districts, and handled much of the physical work required to sustain a city of this scale. Mid demons occupied the majority population while higher demons and noble races controlled most political and military authority spread throughout the districts.
The city itself resembled an enormous imperial capital more than the chaotic hellscape humans often imagined when describing demonic civilization.
Ancient black towers stretched throughout the skyline while circulation-powered rail systems crossed above major districts. Massive aerial creatures occasionally passed overhead carrying noble transports between elevated structures floating through portions of the city. Markets filled with countless races spread throughout enormous streets lined with demonic architecture older than most human civilizations entirely.
Noctis observed everything calmly while walking beside Emeralda.
"This place is larger than I expected."
Emeralda nodded slightly.
"The outer city alone houses several million residents. Most visitors never realize how large the Demon Realm infrastructure truly is."
One of the escorts glanced toward Noctis afterward.
"The Academy itself is even larger."
Noctis looked toward him briefly.
"So the stories were true then."
Emeralda's expression shifted faintly.
"Not entirely."
Noctis noticed the wording immediately.
"What does that mean?"
Emeralda hesitated briefly before answering.
"The Academy visible in this city isn't the real Academy."
Noctis's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Explain."
"The structure most people know as the Demon Academy is only an outer administrative institution," Emeralda explained carefully. "A diplomatic shell used for processing, filtering, and external relations. The true Academy exists elsewhere."
That immediately drew Noctis's attention.
"Elsewhere?"
"Yes."
The group continued traveling deeper through the city while Emeralda spoke.
"The actual Academy exists inside the true Demon Realm. Only accepted candidates and authorized personnel are allowed access."
Noctis remained quiet while processing the explanation.
That certainly explained several inconsistencies he noticed while reviewing information regarding the Academy earlier. Many historical references surrounding the institution described spatial distortions and sovereign-class circulation structures far beyond what should realistically fit inside the current city.
Now the reason became obvious.
Eventually the escorts guided him toward an enormous black structure positioned near the center of the capital. From the outside, the building resembled a massive academy complex surrounded by layered wards and towering walls reinforced through ancient circulation arrays.
At first glance, it appeared impressive enough.
Yet Noctis immediately noticed something wrong.
The circulation density surrounding the structure felt restrained. Artificially limited. More importantly, several spatial distortions hidden beneath the layered wards suggested the visible structure concealed something much deeper below.
"You noticed it."
Emeralda sounded unsurprised.
"This place is intentionally misleading."
Noctis nodded once.
"The circulation doesn't match the scale people describe."
Emeralda guided the group past the visible academy grounds entirely before leading them toward a restricted underground section hidden beneath the structure itself.
The atmosphere changed immediately after entering.
Ancient sovereign wards covered the walls while enormous circulation seals pulsed throughout the underground corridors. Spatial pressure grew increasingly unstable the deeper they traveled beneath the false Academy structure.
Eventually the corridor opened into an enormous underground sanctum.
At the center stood a massive inter-realm portal.
Crimson-black energy churned throughout the structure while floating runes rotated around layered circulation restraints designed to stabilize the enormous spatial distortion occupying the chamber. The portal itself towered nearly fifty meters high while abyssal energy spread throughout the surrounding atmosphere in violent waves.
Even Noctis paused briefly while observing it.
The circulation density surrounding the portal surpassed anything he encountered within the current city.
"This connects directly to the Demon Realm?" he asked.
Emeralda nodded.
"Yes."
Noctis continued studying the structure quietly.
The portal didn't feel like ordinary teleportation magic. The circulation surrounding it carried traces of layered spatial laws far older and more complex than standard transportation arrays.
"The current city functions primarily as a gateway layer," Emeralda explained. "Most races lacking authorization never gain access beyond this point."
Noctis finally understood why the Academy held such influence throughout demonic civilization.
The true institution wasn't merely hidden politically.
It was physically separated from the mortal layer entirely.
One of the escorts stepped toward the portal controls while sovereign circulation surged throughout the surrounding seals. Moments later, the entire chamber shook violently before the portal fully activated.
Crimson-black light erupted throughout the sanctum.
The abyssal pressure radiating from the gateway intensified immediately afterward.
Emeralda turned toward Noctis.
"We'll arrive near the outer district of the Demon Realm capital."
Noctis nodded calmly.
"Understood."
Without hesitation, the group stepped through the portal together.
The transition felt vastly different from ordinary teleportation.
For a brief moment, spatial pressure crushed inward from every direction simultaneously before the circulation surrounding Noctis stabilized automatically against the strain.
Then the environment changed completely.
The group emerged into another city entirely.
Noctis's eyes narrowed slightly while observing the skyline surrounding them.
The Demon Realm capital dwarfed the previous city almost immediately.
Enormous black towers stretched endlessly throughout the distance beneath a dark crimson sky lacking any trace of sunlight entirely. Floating fortress structures hovered above portions of the city while massive circulation constructs illuminated streets crowded with countless demonic races moving throughout the capital below.
The circulation density throughout the atmosphere alone exceeded the previous city several times over.
This was the true center of demonic civilization.
And unlike the outer city, the population here carried far greater strength overall.
Mid demons, higher demons, demonoids, beastkin, abyssal races, vampires, and countless hybrids moved openly throughout the enormous streets below. Lesser demons continued serving primarily as laborers and infrastructure workers while noble races occupied visibly higher social standing throughout the city.
Vampires walked openly among the population without concealment.
More importantly, most surrounding races instinctively treated them as nobility.
The absence of sunlight throughout the Demon Realm eliminated one of the greatest limitations vampires normally faced within mortal civilization.
"This is the true capital," Emeralda said quietly while observing Noctis's reaction.
Noctis continued scanning the city calmly.
The scale exceeded even his expectations.
"This place feels completely different."
"It should," Emeralda replied. "The strongest bloodlines in demonic civilization gather here."
The group traveled through the city afterward while Noctis observed the enormous capital surrounding them.
Everything about the Demon Realm felt ancient beyond comparison.
The infrastructure itself carried circulation signatures older than entire mortal kingdoms while countless sovereign wards layered throughout the city maintained order across districts large enough to rival independent nations.
Eventually the Academy itself became visible in the distance.
Even from several kilometers away, the structure dominated the skyline.
The true Demon Academy resembled an enormous sovereign fortress more than any educational institution. Massive black towers stretched high into the crimson skies while floating fortress segments rotated slowly around the primary structure beneath layers of abyssal wards and bloodline barriers.
The circulation density surrounding the Academy felt monstrous.
"This place trains students?" Noctis asked quietly.
Emeralda almost smiled faintly.
"The Academy trains survivors."
The statement carried enough meaning already.
As they approached the Academy district itself, the escorts gradually grew quieter.
Finally, one of them spoke carefully.
"There's one final matter regarding entry."
Noctis looked toward him.
"The Academy admission process isn't automatic," the escort explained. "Every candidate must complete the Grand Arena qualification."
Noctis's expression remained calm.
"What does that involve?"
"Five consecutive victories inside the Grand Arena."
That immediately drew his attention.
"Consecutive?"
Emeralda nodded.
"A single loss resets the entire sequence."
Noctis looked toward the enormous structure visible near the center of the city beyond the Academy itself.
The Grand Arena towered above the surrounding districts like an ancient colosseum reinforced through sovereign circulation and abyssal stone. Even from a distance, the atmosphere surrounding the structure felt violent compared to the rest of the capital.
"So the Academy filters candidates through combat."
"Yes."
Noctis continued observing the Arena quietly.
Honestly, the requirement made sense.
An institution gathering elite demonic bloodlines from across multiple realms would naturally prioritize strength above everything else.
The escorts exchanged uneasy glances afterward.
They clearly understood something Noctis himself remained indifferent toward.
Once he entered the Grand Arena, attention throughout portions of the Demon Realm would shift toward him almost immediately.
A Progenitor Inheritor entering the Academy could never remain completely unnoticed for long.
The group eventually arrived near the Arena registration district positioned beneath the colossal structure itself.
Countless candidates moved throughout the surrounding streets while bloodline officials processed combat registrations beneath enormous circulation arrays covering the entrance halls.
Noctis stepped forward calmly while observing the massive Arena towering overhead.
Somewhere inside the Academy beyond the city, Kaeltharion was waiting whether he realized it yet or not.
And now, for the first time since the betrayal years ago, Noctis had finally arrived close enough to reach him.