Cherreads

Chapter 10 - The Mask of a Demon

Yadav Clan – Back Courtyard

The other disciples were sparring loudly, spiritual energy crackling through the air.

Meanwhile, Priyanshu was crouched in the grass, quietly picking spirit weeds.

To outsiders, he was still the same: slow, untalented, barely holding a broom right.

"Tsk, can't believe he's part of the main bloodline.""He's so quiet it's creepy.""Maybe he's cursed?"

But as they mocked him...

Priyanshu was reading a secret scroll hidden inside his sleeve — glowing with ancient runes only he could see.

System Interface – Emergency Upgrade Mode

❖ [Heaven-Rank Threat Detected: Azure Judge – Arcanis]❖ Abilities: Karma Sight, Truth Pulse, World Reversal❖ Danger Level: [Fatal]❖ Your [Cloak of Irrelevance] is only 31% effective against him.

❖ Recommended Countermeasure:➤ Create an alternate identity: [Shadow Demon Persona]➤ Required Materials: Cursed Bone Mask, Demon Blood Ink, Soul Shadow Thread➤ Activation Effect: Creates a fully independent villain aura that misleads Karma detection and Spirit Fate Sight

Reward: Immunity to Heaven Rank Divination (Low)Chaos Points Cost: 3,000 CPAdditional Bonus: Unlock Title [Masked Demon of Midnight]

Priyanshu didn't hesitate.

✔ Purchased: Shadow Demon Persona Crafting Kit✔ CP Remaining: 5,620✔ Side Mission Unlocked: Find Cursed Bone Mask

He closed the scroll and stood.

"I'll go deliver herbs to the outer disciples, Elder."

"Finally being useful, huh?" the elder snorted.

Priyanshu bowed politely and walked off.

Once around the corner, he vanished into the shadows.

Scene – Forbidden Catacombs beneath the Eastern Hills

Few knew of the catacombs buried under the spirit mines.

Even fewer dared to enter — rumors said the dead whispered here.

But Priyanshu walked fearlessly, his torch blazing black flame.

He followed system-guided glyphs etched on the walls. Skulls lay scattered across the mossy floor.

Until he found it.

A black stone coffin.

Inside:

Cursed Bone Mask❖ Made from the skull of a demon general❖ Reacts only to villains who've caused mass karma imbalance❖ Current Affinity: 89% Match✔ Acquired

✔ New Skill Unlocked: [False Karma Aura Lv.1] – Mask your intent with believable spiritual illusions

Dark Heaven Society – Ritual Chamber

Back in the base, Priyanshu stood before an obsidian altar.

Beside him:– Meera, holding the Demon Blood Ink– Anaya, chanting forbidden incantations– Aaravi, controlling a caged divine fire to forge the thread– Vaidehi, engraving the final runes on the mask

Together, they completed a powerful ritual.

And at the final moment, Priyanshu placed the mask over his face.

A demonic pressure flooded the hall.

The mask reshaped his presence.

Gone was the quiet background boy.

In his place stood something darker.

Older.

Ancient.

System Notification:

✔ [Shadow Demon Persona Created]✔ New Name: Raavan the Midnight Mask✔ Karma Signature: Twisted (Unreadable)✔ Cultivation Illusion: Late Nascent Soul Realm (Projected Aura)✔ Real Cultivation: Mid Foundation Realm (Hidden)

✔ Passive Ability: [Fear Shroud Lv.1] – Enemies below Gold Rank experience subconscious hesitation✔ Title Unlocked: [Masked Demon of Midnight]✔ Azure Judge Karma Link: Severed✔ Suspicion Level: 0%

Meanwhile – Azure Judge Observation Deck

Arcanis, hovering thousands of meters above the continent, frowned.

"The karmic ripples… they shifted."

He focused harder, narrowing his gaze to the Yadav Clan's region.

Still… no signature.

But one new ripple caught his attention.

A dark, ancient presence — "Raavan the Midnight Mask."

"Strange," Arcanis muttered. "He wasn't in the records before…"

He floated back into the skyship, eyes narrowed.

"I'll pay him a visit soon."

Back in the Shadows

Priyanshu removed the mask.

His breathing was calm. Cold.

The girls around him looked shaken.

Meera whispered, "It felt like you weren't even human for a second."

Priyanshu smiled faintly.

"I wasn't."

System Update – Territory Status

✅ Southwater: 100% Controlled✅ Eastern Hills: 80% Mined✅ Moonfall Sect: Infiltration 61%✅ Crimsonfang Tribe: Bound by Pact✅ Aranya Family: Power Shift in Progress⚠ New Zone Unlocked: Demon Ruins (Locked – Mid Sky Realm Required)

Total CP: 5,620Daily CP Income: 370Loyal High-Tier Female Agents: 4/4Special Resource Accumulation: [Divine Flame] 3%, [Beast Contracts] 5%, [Forbidden Pill Recipes] 2%

Final Scene – Rooftop Reflections

That night, Priyanshu stood under a quiet moon, mask in hand.

The mask radiated darkness.

Power.

Freedom.

But also something else — loneliness.

He looked toward the horizon where Arcanis had first appeared.

"One day, you'll see me clearly, Azure Judge."

"Just not today."

He put the mask on.

And vanished into the night.

More Chapters