The grand training hall of the Valvas estate echoed with the hum of magic and power. Roy, now eight years old and an Ultimate-Class Devil, stood before Kuroka and Koneko, the Nekomata sisters he had been training for months.
"Kuroka, Koneko… I want you both to be part of my Evil Piece peerage," Roy said, crimson-gold eyes calm but firm.
Kuroka's eyes widened slightly, tail flicking nervously.
"Roy-sama… you… want us?"
Koneko, small and serious as always, nodded quietly.
"I… I'll do it."
Roy smiled.
"Good. Kuroka, you'll be my Bishop, Koneko… my Rook."
The Bloodline Upgrade
With a flick of his system menu, Roy purchased Bloodline Upgrade Cards from the System Store.
Koneko, formerly an Intermediate-Class Devil, surged in power, her chakra flow optimized, her body now humming with high-class energy.
Kuroka, already a High-Class Devil, ascended to Ultimate-Class Devil, her senses sharper, reflexes faster, and instincts deadly.
"R-Roy-sama… this… this is incredible!" Kuroka gasped, feeling her body filled with overwhelming strength.
"My strength… feels… amazing," Koneko whispered, blinking in awe.
New Techniques
Roy continued, showing his care for their growth.
Koneko was taught Lightning-Style Ninjutsu and Eight Inner Gates (perfected, defects removed), drastically boosting speed, combat endurance, and reaction.
Kuroka received Illusion Techniques and Shadow Manipulation (Kagemane-style), making her perfect for tactical operations and deception in battle.
Both sisters blinked, impressed by the thought and power Roy had put into their development.
"R-Roy-sama… you really prepared all this for us?" Kuroka whispered, blushing.
"Yes… and I want you both to fight at my side," Roy said softly.
Overcome with gratitude and affection, the sisters kissed Roy on the cheeks simultaneously, cheeks burning crimson.
Roy chuckled and pulled them into a gentle hug.
"I love you both. Always remember that."
Kuroka and Koneko's faces glowed with happiness, their trust and admiration for Roy deepening.
The First Evil Piece Set
Roy raised his hand over the orb of Evil Pieces. One by one, he assigned roles:
Queen – Grayfia Lucifuge
Bishop – Kuroka Tōjo
Rook – Koneko Tōjo
Knight – Vacant
Pawn ×8 – Vacant
The first set of Evil Pieces was now fully functional, loyal to Roy, and imbued with immense power thanks to his system upgrades and personal training.
The second set remained hidden for future allies, ready to expand Roy's influence as his circle of talented devils grew.
A Growing Circle of Power and Bonds
With this first peerage established, Roy had not only secured powerful allies, but also strengthened the emotional bonds with those closest to him.
Grayfia, Kuroka, and Koneko now recognized Roy not only as a leader, but as someone who cared deeply for them, both strategically and personally.
The sisters, feeling their power and confidence soar, blushed with affection, their loyalty intertwined with love.
Roy looked at his first Evil Piece peerage with pride.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered."We'll grow stronger… together."