socalfunplaces Chapter 364: Mind What You Say
Chapter 364: Mind What You Say
[Third World.]
Lamashtu, Marriott, and the Skeleton King materialized in a desolate, open space filled with nothing but shifting black soil. The ground beneath their boots hissed faintly, radiating a volatile corruption that corroded any common organic matter on contact.
"Where exactly is this?" The Skeleton King asked, its jawbone clicking as it stared at the violently shifting space warping before it, where reality seemed to bend like warped glass.
"My Lord, this specific region here is the ancient dimensional barrier connecting the second world and the Third World." Lamashtu answered respectfully, keeping her posture lowered to avoid offending the undead monarch.
The Skeleton stepped closer towards the shifting space, its hollow eye sockets flaring with red soul-fire. It frowned as a small, jagged spatial hole violently tore open directly before them.
"It seems someone on the other side is trying to forcibly summon something from the Third World." Marriott said in genuine surprise, analyzing the raw, erratic energy pooling around the rift.
"With the dark energy radiating from this... It’s undoubtedly the most ruthless blood ritual. I wonder how many innocent creatures were brutally killed just to open this single, tiny hole." Lamashtu muttered, tracing the faint lines of sacrificial blood-magic binding the rift. She paused, before continuing:
"But any creature who follows this hole and crosses over will be placed under the absolute control of the one who is running the ritual... That’s exactly why most sensible monsters are staying far away from it. Only stupid, ravenous ones will fall into this trap."
The skeleton lightly shook its skull, dismissive of mortal caution: "Where does this hole lead?"
"The Abyssal."
"Huh? You mean that pathetic, fake Abyssal down in the second world?" The skeleton asked in surprise, a rasping chuckle echoing from its chest. Marriott immediately nodded his head to confirm:
"Vassago is one of the biological son of the main Abyssal sovereign from the fourth world. After the great war, he crowned himself emperor in the second world."
"Hahahaha! Even someone like Vassago, who was completely trapped and used as a living seal during the ancient war, is actually an emperor down there!!" The skeleton laughed out loud, stretching its pale bone hand directly towards the bleeding crack in the air.
Lamashtu hesitated, her fingers trembling against her robes as she looked up at the monarch. "My Lord, about Julian... Can... Can’t we help him?"
The skeleton snapped its skull violently towards her, its burning red eyes fixing entirely on her. Instantly, a suffocating, crushing wave of endless demonic energy smashed into her form, the gravitational pressure forcing Lamashtu down on her knees into the black soil.
"I am deeply sorry, I completely misspoke!!" She quickly yelled, bowing her head low until her forehead touched the corrupt earth.
"I truly hope so... If the Supreme King heard what you just said, you would be dead on the spot... Julian, this surviving Angel Clan, and the Sun family... They are the Supreme King’s main, eternal issues!! How dare you make such a reckless request?!!" The Skeleton King hissed.
"My Lord!! Please forgive her momentary lapse in judgment!!" Marriott said, immediately bowing his head deeply to appease the undead’s wrath.
"Hmph!! Watch the way you speak in my presence in the future." The skeleton placed its skeletal hand firmly on the vibrating crack:
"I should visit that fake Abyssal myself, and see exactly who is leading this ritual." With that said, his physical form vanished right into the hole, leaving the two leaders behind in the quiet wasteland.
Marriott stood up, dusting off his robes, and looked down at the trembling woman. "Lamashtu, I know you still have feelings for Julian, but you should know what to say... Besides, Julian hates you more than anything in existence!!" Marriott walked away, paused at the edge of the clearing, and looked over his shoulder at her:
"Or did you completely forget what you did to him in the past? If he ever comes out of that seal, you will be the absolute first one he will kill." He said coldly. Lamashtu’s eyes widened in profound horror at his words, the painful memory striking a nerve. Without another word, Marriott vanished into the mist, leaving her entirely alone in the dark.
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[Second World.]
[Competition Arena.]
Inside the massive coliseum, everyone stared at Carl in absolute, paralyzed shock, his radiant golden wings catching everyone’s undivided attention. The light of the arena seemed to bend toward him, bathing the stage in divine splendor.
"You should get going, this is just a minor competition. Don’t distract me." Carl said calmly, staring down at the towering Angel of Illusion.
"I understand, My King!" The celestial entity replied without a hint of hesitation, her head bowed in reverence.
"Huh?!! Hey!! I am the one who summoned you here! Are you seriously going to listen to my enemy?!!" Blade yelled at the Angel, his face turning pale as his contract magic began to fracture.
"Enemy?! If the King is truly your enemy, then your whole family line are my enemy." The Angel said, lowering her terrifying gaze down to Blade, her unblinking white eyes instantly turning a deep, bloodred color.
’This?!!’
Blade was utterly horrified. In all his years summoning and contracting this specific Angel, this was only the second time he had ever seen her eyes turn completely red.
’This unique shift only happens when she is truly angry and filled with genuine killing intent... It also means, she can easily kill me right now despite the contract.’ He thought, swallowing hard as a cold sweat broke out across his neck:
"Alright, you can go." He said quickly, nervously waving his hand at her to dismiss the summon, and hurriedly added: "I just said the word, we aren’t actually enemies."
The Angel stared intensely at him, judging his intent, then turned back to Carl, who gave a brief nod in agreement.
"That’s good then." Her bloodred eyes turned back to pure white again, and she slowly stood upright, her divine aura retracting.
"I wish to see you again, My King." With that final word, her three-meter form dissolved into thousands of shimmering light particles.
".....?!!!"
DEADLY SILENCE...
The whole Arena stared at one another, all speechless and horrified by the display. Their gazes were fixed entirely on Carl, watching in awe as his two majestic golden wings slowly vanished into thin air, returning him to his human appearance.
"So Blade, do you seriously want to fight me?" Carl asked, staring at him with a small, inquisitive frown, his daggers still resting in his hands.
Blade stared down at his sword, his fist clenched tight as his breathing stabilized.
’I am completely defeated. I am actually incredibly lucky meeting Carl in this specific round... If I had met Hitachi, or maybe Jessica, I might not even be standing right now.’ He thought, realizing the pure difference in their baselines, and slowly exhaled his tension.