Chapter 751 The Demon Lord
Dominion Thirst!
This Spell was recently extracted from Greed!
It summons a spectral chain that binds the wills of others, turning them into subservient pawns.
It manifests invisible chains that wrap around the target, linking them to the caster.
The chains are not physical but are felt as an overwhelming pressure to obey and serve. The Dominion Thirst Spell was particularly dangerous as it strips away autonomy! This was a more forceful method of controlling the target, unlike the Slave Mark spell, which was meant to be stealthy.
"This…"
Kougar, with every fiber of his being, resisted the encroaching control, his essence writhing in rebellion.
'Too strong! No, I'm too weak right now!'
He used all of his energy to resist the control. Yet, as the Dominion Thirst took hold, his struggles grew weaker, his once formidable power now a dwindling flame against the encroaching dimness in his mind.
'I'm losing control… I need to---'
As the final vestiges of resistance faded, Kougar's form began to shimmer, the spells binding him tighter than any chains.
With a last, guttural cry, he succumbed to the inevitable, his will bending to that of Vale's indomitable will
Thud…
Now a mere specter, a servant bound by arcane shackles, Kougar's thoughts slowly disappeared, replaced by the Dominion Spells' authority.
Vale, sensing that the Spell had already taken over, merely nodded.
"Welcome to your new reality, Kougar. May you serve well in the shadows…" He softly said, his voice a blend of command and an eerie promise of redemption.
In any case, Kougar's physical body was already destroyed… Right now, he was only a Demon Saint in a tangible spectral form.
That was also the reason why Vale was able to use his Slave Mark and Dominion Thirst…
After all, the Demon Saints rely on their unusual physique to defend against mind control spells. Since it was gone, they were stripped of such immunity!
And with that, Vale's Avatar, alongside his newly acquired servant, vanished into the air.
Although the Demon Generals he captured recently had provided him with important information about the Abyss Realm, this Demon Saint would surely give him more information.
However, interrogation and such weren't the Avatar's matter.
Because of that, Vale ordered the Demon Saint to heal himself in the castle and inform the real Vale about the situation in the Abyss and, if possible, all the information he had about the mysterious Demon Lord.
***
In the heart of the Abyss Realm, where the surrounding space felt unstable, there stood a castle as ancient as the chasm itself.
Its towering spires, wrought from obsidian and bone, pierced the smoldering skies, while the walls, lined with ancient runes.
It hummed with an energy that was both foreboding and awe-inspiring. This was the sanctum of the Demon Lord, a being whose name was whispered in fear across countless worlds.
Upon the mystical throne, the Demon Lord sat, his form shrouded in the vestiges of time.
His majestic robe was no longer in sight, and he was no longer covered by mystical energy.
His once formidable physique had withered, leaving behind a frail silhouette that belied the immense power he wielded.
In the solitude of his grand hall, he appeared as nothing more than an aged demon, his humanoid features etched with the eons of dominion he had.
Whoosh~
As he exhaled, a breath that seemed to carry life, something unexpected happened.
The air before him shimmered and coalesced into the figure of a young man.
Clack… Clack…
This figure stepped on the floor with shoes that formed out of nowhere.
His hair was dark, his skin fair as the untouched snow of the mortal realms.
"Mhmmm…"
Clad in the attire of a human nobleman, complete with a finely crafted cane, he surveyed his reflection with a critical eye.
He didn't look satisfied with his appearance, so he waved his hand.
A vest materialized over his suit, the final touch to his impeccable guise.
"This should suffice…" The young man, the Avatar of the Demon Lord, declared with a tone of finality. He spared no glance to his original form, who could barely handle the immense power contained in his body.
He strode with purpose toward the castle's grand archway.
The castle itself was a labyrinthine creation, its corridors adorned with various paintings and statues that depicted the conquests and calamities of the Abyss.
Of course, these weren't made by Demons but by slaves, they had taken from other realms.
Along the way, there were Gargoyles with eyes of ember stood sentinel, their gazes following the Avatar's passage.
The surrounding air in the castle was thick with the scent of brimstone, but none of it mattered now.
After getting out of the castle, the young man, or the Demon Lord's Avatar, was finally able to use his Spell.
Whoosh~
The Demon Lord's Avatar vanished.
In just a few moments, he found himself in front of a huge a Rift
—a tear in the very essence of the realm that leads to the Human.
The Rift pulsed with energy that controls space, it was filled with mysterious darkness, an enigma that defied the senses.
"I can't believe I'll have to work as well." The Demon Lord muttered as he glanced at the gateway leading to the Human Realm…
He didn't immediately enter since he was actually quite worried that his Avatar would fail to pass through the Rift due to the rejection of the Human Realm.
After all, his strength was just too strong. Even the Rift itself may collapse in the middle of his transportation!
'Malevolent Energy should've spread a lot by now… Numerous strong beings in that realm should've died… Furthermore, Halvor, that celestial who calls himself Eminence of the Sea, should've paved a path for me… I can do survive this…' The Demon Lord thought as he made up his mind.
"Let me discern the cause of this struggle for dominion… The Human Realm shouldn't be this difficult to control…" He murmured, his voice a blend of curiosity and amusement with the situation.
With a mere thought, the Rift expanded, its edges swirling with the brilliance of the space.
The Avatar stepped through the portal, his form dissolving and reforming as he traversed the boundary between worlds.
After some time, on the other side, the Human Realm lay open before him, its landscapes vast and varied, it seemed to be inviting him!
Whom~
As soon as he was spat out of the Rift, the Demon Lord swiftly vanished appeared in the sky to have a better look of the surroundings. At this time, he also remained undetected by anyone…
He wasn't even pressured by the will of the Human Realm!
'Hmm… This realm is really rich with Arcane Energy… It's a perfect place for Celestials Spirits…' The Demon Lord thought while observing the landscape from above…
After scanning a huge area, he finally decided to descend.
He was planning to join the humans for now and avoid causing trouble…
Well, he doesn't really like killing too many humans here who would breed more slaves for him. He felt that it was enough to leave at least a quarter of the human Arcanists. As for the ordinary humans, they would just become laborers…
It was possible to keep them alive, but the Demons under his command would surely want to eat humans and arcanists, so he had to satisfy them. He could not be selfish so he decided to just let the Demon reign terror…
'Hmm… This city doesn't seem to be that bothered by the invasion…' The Demon Lord thought as he looked at the peaceful city ahead of him.
Without hesitation, he decided to enter the place and act like a regular nobleman.
"Interesting…" The Demon Lord muttered.
It was there, amidst the calm, that he discovered the city's true nature—it was the Holy City, the bastion of the Church of the Fortune Goddess!
The city was a fortress of faith, patrolled by Holy Knights clad in armor that gleamed with sacred enchantment.
Their presence was a testimony to their firm vigilance against the invaders.
"Ohh~ Not bad…"
Their eyes were sharp and discerning, missing no detail in their sacred duty.
There were also Exorcists roaming the streets, their senses attuned to the slightest whisper of malevolence, ready to expel any taint with incantations and holy relics.
The architecture of the city reflected its celestial patronage, with spires reaching towards the sky and stained glass windows depicting the benevolence of the Fortune Goddess.
"Fortune Goddess, huh… A troublesome Celestial… I wonder if she's really here." The Demon Lord muttered to himself.
He also didn't dare utter the true name of the Fortune Goddess as he might be sensed by the Celestial.
Nonetheless, the Demon Lord felt quite excited at the fact that he arrived here.
The city was filled with the harmonious chimes of sanctified bells, calling the faithful to prayer and reflection.
The Demon Lord, now in the guise of a nobleman, observed the rituals and routines of the city's inhabitants.
However, after several days had passed, he finally showed an evil smile on his face.
"I guess this city would be a great sacrifice to announce my presence…"
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