Anything to Survive in Hell: From Weakling to Tyrant-Chapter 9 Divine beast

"Alright! This is the beginner’s ether introductory book! The exact one lower-to-middle-ranking bloodline kids usually start studying around their third year!"

Karla handed me the slim volume with a proud little flourish.

"Oh!"

This! I remembered seeing it before. One of those books the other demon kids used to carry around while I was still struggling to string basic sentences together.

Back then the other children — excluding me — would sit in groups with these books open, happily chatting and practicing while I was stuck alone, desperately trying to guess what every single word meant inside my head.

"But third year?"

"Older Brother Knull shouldn’t let his pride get hurt over something like this. That really is your current level."

Karla folded her arms and spoke like a tiny professor giving a lecture.

She was right. I always had to calmly accept exactly what kind of being I was right now. Only then could I survive.

"I understand, Master Karla! Please teach me! I’ll master it no matter what!"

"Good motivation!"

Karla looked extremely pleased.

"As expected, demons who love books also love to learn! So open it!"

"Yes!"

I flipped the cover immediately and started from the first page.

First thing I noticed:

"Oh."

The preface gave a quick overview and explained why the book was written. After skimming it I jumped straight to Chapter 1.

"What’s this?"

A detailed demon anatomical diagram appeared, followed by several strange magical sigils and flow charts.

This was basic?

"This book is tailored specifically to our bloodline. Only Mother’s children can properly master it. That includes you too. Shall we start with practical training? Sit here please."

"Yes."

I sat down cross-legged on the floor.

"Relax your body. Close your eyes."

I obeyed.

"In that state, you just need to feel the ether inside your body."

"Huh? How do I do that?"

"Just do it."

"..."

I tried.

Intellectually I knew there was ether in me somewhere. I could sense it existed, like a faint warmth, but actually using it? No clue. That’s why I’d been stuck doing nothing but physical strength training for years.

Nothing happened.

"I don’t feel anything. I’ve tried so many times on my own to sense it. Always failed."

"It’s hard at the beginning for everyone. More than anything, your ether pool is tiny, so even feeling it must be difficult. Doing it completely alone is usually impossible."

Just as I opened my mouth to ask something, Karla declared with sudden majesty:

"But that’s why there are teachers and an education system! Today Karla will be your teacher!"

"Ooh!"

"It’s hard alone, but if a smart teacher like Karla helps, you can break through the wall much faster than you think! Especially at these beginner stages!"

Ooooooh!

It really was always faster when an experienced player guided a newbie instead of letting them blindly fumble around.

"To think it could be this systematic!"

"Of course it’s systematic. Most of our bloodline exists to serve as Mother’s soldiers. Teaching them battle knowledge is extremely important."

"Stay still. Karla will help."

"Yes!"

Karla stepped behind me and placed her small hand firmly against the center of my back.

The moment she did—

Something! Something entered!

"Ugh, kkheuuu...!"

I felt it!

Something was wriggling inside me!

It came in through my back and was moving!

"Ugh!"

That intense energy slithered like a loach, then prodded somewhere deep inside. With that single touch I suddenly knew exactly where my ether was concentrated.

Right near my heart.

The foreign energy passed through my heart and tugged my own ether along with it. The sensation was crystal clear. Was this what controlling ether actually felt like?

"Do you feel it? Your ether?"

"It’s moving..."

"Remember that sensation very well. This is how you wield ether. From now on you just need to keep repeating this motion and get used to the feeling. That’s Stage 1." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Karla withdrew her hand. At the same instant the guiding energy vanished.

"Ah!"

I immediately tried to recreate the feeling on my own. I focused hard, searched for that tiny spark near my heart, and tried to move it directly...

Something! It felt blocked and clumsy, but it wasn’t completely impossible! It was like being in sleep paralysis and trying to twitch a finger — it didn’t quite work yet, but I could sense the edge of control.

"I’ve got the hang of it! I’ve got the hang of it! Karla! I’ve got the hang of it!"

"Hehehe, quick learner. If you’ve grasped the feeling you’ll be able to interpret the book on your own soon."

"Thank you!!!"

"Once you’re used to moving it, practice expending it. Pay attention to your breathing... like this. I’ll help with that too."

And so Karla guided me step by step.

I poured every ounce of focus into the lesson. What she was teaching was the absolute foundation — the skill every demon learned unless they were born completely defective.

I had to master this to survive.

If I could just get good enough at it, I’d be able to develop on my own without a teacher — the same way I’d built my physical strength through endless solo workouts!

"Haa... Then we’ll stop here for today. Karla has to go now."

"You’re leaving?"

"Karla has various things to do."

"Hehehe, as smart as you are, of course you’ve got a lot on your plate. Thank you so much, Karla! Thanks to you I’ve improved so much already!"

"You looked pitiful earlier, but now you look happy."

"It’s all thanks to you!"

"Hehehe, yes. You mustn’t forget Karla’s grace. Then come back to the library tomorrow. Ah! And I’ll give you homework! Selected by Karla!"

"Books you absolutely must read before you die!"

"Yes!"

When I answered loudly Karla beamed, clearly delighted. She really was adorable. How could someone this cute come from that inhuman Mother?

"Choose one of them, read it, and write a book report! Then Karla will teach you something else!"

"I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll write it like a professional commentary."

Suddenly Karla tilted her head.

"Commentary? Knull, do you know that word?"

"Huh? Uh. Yeah, I know it. It’s not super rare. I’ve heard it before."

"Really? Anyway! See you tomorrow!"

After saying goodbye Karla ordered her familiars to tidy up. I left the library first, escorted out by the strange flapping creatures.

"Ah."

For the first time in years I’d had a real, kind conversation with someone. That simple fact felt more precious than anything else right now. Thinking about what came next made my stomach twist, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

"I’ll start by reviewing what I learned today."

I had to lock today’s gains into muscle memory as fast as possible. Only then could I escape the level of a literal demon toddler.

"I’ll do exactly what I planned, then read one of the novels Karla picked for me."

Let’s assume my current ether pool is roughly 3 units. I’ll move and expend every last drop of that 3 as much as possible today. Then I’ll study the ether introductory book again.

"Hoo."

I headed straight back to my room.

"No! Isn’t that the sacrifice!"

"They say it’s the biggest piece of trash chosen from our territory!"

"Khahahaha! You there! Was it Knull? Hurry up and become the Demon King already! Conquer the Mortal Realm for us!"

Of course, demons recognized me on the way and hurled mockery and laughter. I just gave them the bare minimum response and kept moving. No time to waste on trash talk right now.

"You dog-balls-looking bastards...! If I actually go down there and become the Demon King, every single one of you motherfuckers is dead!"

Just focus on what needs doing!

***

"He’s truly a unique older brother."

Karla didn’t have much interest in the sacrifice at first, but after meeting him in person and talking for a while, he was... quite intriguing.

He was clearly born from a high-grade egg.

Mother laid various types of high-grade eggs, but most male offspring from that lineage shared similar personalities and abilities.

Aggressive. Violent. Warriors through and through.

"To actually make Karla feel sympathy..."

In contrast, Knull was completely anomalous. She knew he had a servile side, but other parts of him were truly unique.

"Hehehe, if he doesn’t bring a book report tomorrow, Karla will have to scold him."

It was then, while she was still thinking about Knull, that the library door creaked open.

Kkiiik.

A grotesque monster walked in on two grotesquely swollen, muscular forearms.

It had no legs — no lower body at all. Just a round torso like an anglerfish, a massive mouth lined with jagged teeth, and those two oversized arms.

One of her familiars.

"Kkaaaaaaak! Kkaaaaaaak! Karla! Karla!"

The creature had the vocal cords of a young angel stitched into its throat.

"Quiet. The prisoners?"

"Prisoners! Prisoners! Interrogation complete! Interrogation complete!"

"Good work. Give me the summary report."

"Heaven! Heaven seems to have found our location! Dragon Divine Beast deployment plan! Acquired from angel prisoner!"

"What!!!"

"Acquired from angel prisoner! Acquired from angel prisoner!"

"Haa... I hoped it wasn’t true."

Karla sighed and pressed her palm to her forehead.

"Incompetent bastards. This is why Karla didn’t want to work with those Ozvalka idiots. What are we supposed to do if they get crushed there?"

"Awaiting orders! Awaiting orders!"

"...But is it true? Are you lying to Karla or not?"

"Can’t lie! Can’t lie! Awaiting orders! Awaiting orders!"

"Block them. We need to buy time, at least."

"Kkaaaaaaak! Defend order! Defend order!"

"And make sure those bastards get deployed."

"Ozvalka bastards! Ozvalka bastards!"

"You can go now."

As Karla waved her hand, the squawking familiar turned around.

Instead of a tongue, an angel’s severed forearm shot out from its mouth, grabbed the doorknob, and twisted it open.

"Ooooooz-valka bastards! Ooooooz-valka bastards!"

"I said be quiet..."

The familiar left. Karla was alone again.

"Haa."

As expected, only reading brought real peace. Maybe she should stack the books again and build a new little house?

Reorganizing all the shelves under fresh rules wouldn’t be bad either.

However. Reading, huh.

"Hmm, Knull said he wanted to live."

If Heaven really deploys the Divine Beast, there’s nothing they can do except buy time. Now even the angels might start imitating the demon Descent Rituals. If that happens... won’t Knull be in a lot of trouble?