The demon army “escorted” Mike and his companions to the grand entrance.
“Please wait here for a moment,” the demon representative said politely. “I’ll inform my master of your arrival.”
He strode into the Demon Emperor’s Hall, his form disappearing amidst swirling demonic energy.
Mike took this opportunity to observe his surroundings.
He had seen Demon Emperor’s Halls before.
The Archdemon’s hall had been reduced to rubble by Old Calderon.
The Fifth Demon God’s hall, though grand and imposing, was dilapidated from years of neglect.
Unlike the Fifth Demon God’s, the Ninth Demon God’s hall was smaller in scale but more refined, with intricate details and even hints of human architectural influences.
Moreover, this Demon Emperor’s Hall was a formidable fortress, meticulously fortified by the Ninth Demon God over the years.
Although the Ninth Demon God was only level 996, within his hall, he was practically invincible to anyone below level 1,000.
…
Meanwhile, deep within the Demon Emperor’s Hall, a demon creature knelt before the throne, reporting his findings.
“Are you certain you saw him?” the figure on the throne, the level 996 Ninth Demon God, asked, his voice a raspy whisper.
Beneath his calm demeanor simmered barely suppressed rage.
Clearly, the Ninth Demon God harbored a deep grudge against Shadow Three.
“Absolutely, my master.”
The Demon God on the throne fell silent.
After all these years… after searching for so long… to think that his nemesis had been hiding within the [Guardian Shadow] all along!
“Shadow Nine, you have some nerve!” the Ninth Demon God hissed, his anger slowly receding. “Open the gates. We shall extend a warm welcome to our guests.”
“As you command.”
…
The massive doors of the Demon Emperor’s Hall creaked open, revealing a grand hall filled with powerful demon creatures. Their gazes, predatory and unwavering, fixed upon the three figures standing at the entrance.
Joseph really wanted to explain that he had no idea how he ended up here.
But… he was here now.
If he managed to survive this encounter, he’d have one hell of a story to tell.
Before they could even step inside, a chilling voice echoed from within the hall. “Heh heh heh…”
Mike’s expression remained unchanged, his heart rate steady.
Inwardly, however, he was far from calm.
Was that the signal?
Was Shadow Nine’s mole about to make contact?
Would they join forces, a coordinated strike to take down the Ninth Demon God?
As Mike’s imagination conjured up a Hollywood action sequence, the entire hall erupted in laughter.
“Heh heh heh…”
“Heh heh heh…”
Their laughter was identical, only the rhythm varied, creating a cacophony of demonic sounds that reverberated through the hall.
Damn it! He couldn’t isolate the mole’s signal!
“Heh heh heh…”
The unsettling laughter continued.
Mike hadn’t expected such a “warm” welcome.
“Surely, not all of these demon creatures are moles, right?”
He shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought.
He needed to find another way to confirm the mole’s identity.
He caught Ace’s eye, signaling him to activate his passive skill.
Ace, understanding the unspoken command, approached the nearest demon creature, his face
a mask of cold.
“Fuck you! What the hell are you laughing at, you stupid piece of shit!”
The Lord tier demon creature abruptly stopped laughing, its body trembling.
Ace glared at it. “Laugh, damn it! Why did you stop laughing?”
The demon creature: “…”
Under duress, it resumed its “Heh heh heh” laughter.
Ace glanced at Mike, receiving confirmation before releasing the unfortunate demon.
Mike shook his head. This was the worst-case scenario.
That’s how all demon creatures laughed!
On the bright side, the signal was more covert, ensuring the mole’s safety.
On the downside, Mike had no way of identifying the mole.
The Eye of Truth had been analyzing the laughter since the moment they entered the hall, visualizing the sound waves and comparing them to Shadow Nine’s signal.
No match.
They walked across a black carpet, surrounded by swirling demonic energy and hostile gazes.
Even Joseph, a seasoned Nine-Star Lord, had rarely witnessed such a display of power.
They reached a massive platform at the far end of the hall.
A throne sat atop the platform.
The Ninth Demon God awaited them.
“You have arrived,” a raspy voice echoed through the hall, laced with barely suppressed fury.
A grotesque face, contorted in a horrifying grimace, emerged from the shadows. Its ugliness
defied description.
This Demon God was hideous!
But that wasn’t what caught Mike’s attention.
He saw a massive scar, a jagged blade wound, stretching from the Ninth Demon God’s
forehead down to his stomach…
What kind of being could inflict such a grievous injury?
[That scar is the handiwork of an old friend of yours.]
[That’s all I can reveal.]
[My advice: run!]
Could that scar be from Shadow Nine?
Mike glanced at his shadow, a shiver running down his spine. A terrifying thought crossed his
mind. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Shadow Three, as if reading his thoughts, nodded.
“Yes, Shadow Nine carved that scar on this fool.”
Mike: “…”
Why hadn’t Shadow Three mentioned this before?!
If he had known shadow Three had a personal vendetta against the Ninth Demon God, he wouldn’t have set foot in this hall, even if Ace begged him!
…
As Mike and his companions faced the Ninth Demon God, the Blood Sea Corps, following the original plan, arrived at their designated location.
“It’s about to begin. Are you nervous?” the Blood Sea Corps Leader asked James, his gaze
filled with admiration and trust.
“You’re Richard Sterling’s son. Your father would be proud of you.”
James was surprised.
He had always believed his father was just an ordinary soldier in the Blood Sea Corps.
When the Fifth Demon Cult contacted him, he didn’t know who to trust.
Desperate, he had taken his father’s relic and approached the Blood Sea Corps, hoping for a
miracle.
To his astonishment, they had rallied behind him, offering their unwavering support.
And now, they had ventured deep into enemy territory, risking their lives to open a passage between the two realms for him.
“You knew my father?” James asked, his voice barely a whisper.
“More than just knew him. He saved my life. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be standing here
today…” The Blood Sea Corps Leader trailed off, patting James on the shoulder. “The details
are… complicated. It involves the Old Corps Leader. I’ll tell you everything when the time is
right.”
The Old Corps Leader referred to the only Corps Leader in the Blood Sea Corps’ history to have
died in battle.
“Get ready. It’s almost your turn.”
With those words, he departed, leaving James alone.
James narrowed his eyes, staring at the Blood Sea Corps badge in his palm.
He flipped it over, red on one side, black on the other.
In just one day, the Blood Sea Corps had embraced him like family.
They had showered him with trust, encouragement, and support.
He had found a second home.
He had so many questions, so many unanswered doubts.
How did his father die?
Where was this compassion and support when his mother succumbed to despair and passed
away in that hospital bed?
After his mother’s death, he had become an orphan.
He had lived on meager government assistance, spending countless lonely nights in a
cramped, empty room.
Then, at eighteen, his talent awakened, offering a glimmer of hope.
But his pride was short-lived. Life had dealt him a cruel blow when he lost to Mike, a D-rank
talent, during the summer camp qualifiers.
James had persevered.
He had dominated his peers in Florida, earning his place in the summer camp…
The past month had been a whirlwind of emotions, more eventful than his entire life up to
that point.
And now, he was lost.
What was the point of it all?
The badge in his hand offered no answers.
Nor did the shadow at his feet.
“James, get ready!”
A Lord called out his name, his voice firm. “Once the passage is open, you’ll be transported to
the Fifth Abyss. Complete your mission and return as quickly as possible. Understood?”
James nodded silently.
If he chose to betray humanity and remain in the Fifth Abyss, he would become the leader of
the Fifth Demon Cult. The Demon God would grant him Lord tier, even sharing the Fifth Abyss’s source with him.
This wasn’t an empty promise. The Fifth Demon God could deliver.
He could rise to power overnight, becoming a figure of immense influence in both the human
and demon worlds…
If he returned through the teleportation array, he would be hailed as a hero, receiving a handsome reward. He would join the Blood Sea Corps, eventually dying on the Abyssal
battlefield, just like countless others before him.
Two choices, two paths. Heaven and hell, separated by a single decision.
This burden of choice, for an eighteen-year-old, was too heavy to bear. Even seasoned veterans within the corps doubted James’s ability to resist such temptation.
The test was real, the stakes were high, and that made the choice even more difficult.
As he stepped onto the teleportation array, James was still lost, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
The moment the array activated, a familiar voice echoed in his ears. Twenty-one days ago, an instructor, on the verge of death, had spoken these words to him:
“Study hard and be a decent person.”