Chapter 305 Ascension to a Demon King and the birth of demon spirits?
Isadora Interlude Arc
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(POV: Akashic Records)
As Vyndariel emerged from his trance-like state, his eyes flew open, the realization of his newfound knowledge made every fiber of his being vibrate with excitement.
With an urgency that consumed him, he dashed towards the main hall, where his first and second wives, Eistel and Ashia, awaited in confusion.
Concern etched across her features, Eistel questioned, "Vyndariel, what troubles you?"
Breathless, Vyndariel addressed them.
"I've found it..."
"Found what?" Ashia asked.
"Pant~! Pant~! Pant~! Pant~! Pant~~! The answer I've been looking for.."
Eistel raised an eyebrow. "Uh, my Lord. Can you be a little less vague?"
"I've discovered the way to become a Demon King."
The corners of Ashia's lips curled up into a smile as she queried, "And how do you plan to achieve this, my love?"
Vyndariel's grin widened as he responded, "I'd rather show you rather than tell you. Gather a sizable number of our loyal demons, so that they may witness the transformation that is about to take place."
Without wasting another moment, Vyndariel and his wives hurriedly departed, summoning the vast host of more than five hundred demons who pledged their allegiance to him.
Each step forward solidified Vyndariel's conviction.
This was the moment that would forever change his life.
A sense of euphoria washed over him as he admired his hands, an eager hunger evident in his eyes.
The prospect of evolving, of ascending to new heights of power, consumed his every thought.
"Women at my beck and call, unimaginable riches, incomprehensible power and authority. All these and the world will be at my feet... Yes~! I said it, at my feet!!"
A cynical grin crept upon his lips, accompanied by a laugh that resonated throughout the hall, echoing off the walls like the haunting cackle of a madman.
This was the reason Malphas saw him as the perfect pick. He had an insatiable hunger for power, and he knew one thing would never change as things went on — and that was the fact that the stronger Vyndariel got, the more malice he'd take into his being. His hunger for power would be expedited.
It was a rather straightforward matter.
Malphas conveyed to Vyndariel his desire to bring forth a new race, aptly named demon spirits.
These ethereal beings would originate from the dark souls that inhabited the mortal realms, only to have said souls stripped away within the depths of the Abyss.
Subsequently, they would migrate to the designated location where the summoner chose to invoke their existence. Following this, the demon spirits would require both the body and soul of a demon with whom they would merge, thus becoming part demon while retaining their corporeal form.
The demon heritage was required for Demon Kingship.
The crux of this intricate plan lay in the hierarchical structure of the demon spirits, wherein a demon lord (supreme demon spirit) would reign supreme.
Consequently, should Vyndariel create such a demon lord, he would undoubtedly ascend to the exalted position of a Demon King.
But of course, making a deal with the devil didn't come without a price.
Malphas explained to Vyndariel that he was to find a way to break the seal that was placed on him by the Hero Goddess, Aurelia.
Of course, the most efficient way to break the seal would be to kill her, but being a cautious fellow, Malphas believed that it was likely that even if Aurelia was killed, it wouldn't guarantee his freedom. Vyndariel didn't have enough power to challenge and force her to break the seal either, because challenging her would mean challenging the Five Orders and that too would be catastrophic.
Hence, Vyndariel needed to find another way.
In the future, he did think to use the destruction core of Valtara to break the seal as destruction energy was theorized to destroy anything in existence.
But, it went sideways because of a certain effeminate young man.
Soon, the demons filed into the grand hall.
Their numbers swelled until it was filled to the brim.
Vyndariel stood at the center, his gaze scanning the room, his heart pounding with anticipation.
"High"-ranking demons (High demons), adorned in regal attire, surrounded him.
They looked at him with fierce loyalty.
Eistel, ever graceful, approached Vyndariel, her movements elegant and poised. She lowered herself into a deep bow before speaking, "My Lord, all that you require for your evolution to Demon King has been gathered. Is there anything else you need?"
Vyndariel raised an eyebrow, a sly smile curling his lips as he replied, "No, my dear Eistel. I will handle the rest."
With a radiant face, Ashia spoke.
She too bowed before Vyndariel, "I am overjoyed that you will finally become what you have dreamt of all these years, my love."
"Indeed, Ashia. But, this is just the beginning."
As it was, Vyndariel was already arrogant, but now he appeared even more than that, however, he always made sure to keep his insight intact.
Arrogance always brought the fool to his knees.
He wasn't going to settle to be one of them.
With a commanding gesture, Vyndariel beckoned his wives and the assembled demons to step back.
The hall fell into a hushed silence as Vyndariel extended his hands, veins pulsating with raw power.
When it came to delicate matters of the soul, Vyndariel was an absolute sage at how it worked. However, some called it [Soul Magic] but it wasn't, instead, one could picture it as conceptually understanding the soul by relating magic to it.
Using [Fire Magic] he traced intricate patterns on the floor with fiery runes.
As the Dark Soul Summoning Circle took shape beneath his feet, Vyndariel focused his mana and his very concept of summoning.
A Dark Soul Summoning Circle was used to summon dark, poisoned or malevolent souls.
A White Soul Summoning Circle did the opposite, usually used by kingdoms to summon the souls of righeous heroes.
And a Soul Summoning Circle which summoned randomly. It wasn't the ideal choice.
The room grew tense with energy as Vyndariel tapped into a different plane, a realm beyond mortal comprehension.
From the Abyss, he drew forth the souls of three hundred beings, their essence stripped bare of consciousness and physical presence.
The souls materialized within the expansive circle, their disembodied forms shimmering with darkened aeriform hues.
Vyndariel cast a barrier around the circle, ensuring their containment.
The trapped souls writhed within their confines, a twisted ballet of longing and despair.
Vyndariel then came to a halt.
Ashia, sensing his unease, moved closer and gently placed a hand on his chest. "What troubles you, my love?" she asked.
Vyndariel sighed, his gaze fixed on the swirling souls in the Dark Soul Summoning Circle.
"To complete the fusion and transform these souls into demon spirits, I need a vessel for their essence," he explained.
Ashia didn't waste anytime at all.
"You... you can use me," she offered, placing a hand confidently on her chest. "I'll gladly give up my body for the ritual, if it means helping you achieve your goal."
"No, my dear Ashia," he replied gently, shaking his head. "Your sacrifice is not required. I can't bear to see harm befall you."
In that moment, Vyndariel snapped his fingers, directing all the demon souls towards him. The hundreds of demons present in the grand hall trembled as their bodies and souls were forcibly consumed by Vyndariel's power. The room filled with a swirling vortex of energy as the trapped souls merged with the demonic essences.
However, as the seconds ticked by, a realization dawned upon Vyndariel.
It became clear that the current number of demons present wouldn't be sufficient to complete the fusion for the demon lord candidate's soul.
Later known as, Isadora.
Eistel spoke up.
"My Lord, there're still a few more demons waiting outside the hall. Should I retrieve them?"
A cunning smile curled upon Vyndariel's lips as he turned towards Eistel.
"That won't be necessary, Eistel. I have a different plan in mind."
With a swift wave of his hand, Eistel found herself ensnared within a barrier.
"My Lord, what... What is the meaning of this?" she protested, slamming her fist against the barrier in frustration.
Vyndariel's gaze shifted from Ashia to Eistel.
"I'm a demon lord, and I demand absolute loyalty. Only a woman who's willing to sacrifice everything for my happiness holds any worth in my eyes. Anyone who dares to be selfish and cling to their own desires is useless to me."
Tears streamed down Eistel's face as she pleaded with Vyndariel.
"No, my lord, please! I'll change, I promise! Just give me another chance!"
Vyndariel laughed.
"Oh, Eistel, you misunderstand," he said coldly. "If you truly want to prove your devotion to me, then sacrifice yourself. Show me just how far you are willing to go for my happiness."
Eistel's cries grew louder, echoing through the main hall.
"Please, my lord, I don't want to die. I'll do anything else, anything you ask of me," she begged.
"Anything else? How boring," he scoffed. "A true servant would gladly offer their life, without hesitation or reservation."
Tears ran down her eyes and mucus down her nostrils. "No, please..."
"Goodbye..."
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