Chapter 347: Temple of Endless Darkness - The Seven Concepts (1/2)

Recovering my lost Qi, the sounds of trickling water echoed endlessly through my mind. Many would assume such a sound would be comforting, but with each drip, I felt my heart scream in terror.

The air was foul, littered with impurities, and corrupted by the dense demonic energy emanating from the very rocky walls. I had thought that such an evil power would diminish over time, but as the seconds trickled by, the dense demonic Aura only grew to cling to my dark shadowy flesh like leaches.

Kneeling against the wall to support my weary form, I continued. I had no idea of the state of my original body, but since I have not returned to my human appearance, I needed to move on. No matter what may happen.

Taking it a step at a time, the echoes of trickling water continued to grow stronger, pulling me deeper into the darkness... Into my home. The longer I remained, the softer the echoes became, until there were like a breeze of sweet honey.

It was calling for me. I did not know who, but someone was calling for me—the fools. Did they actually think a monster such as I could be fooled? For an entire year, I slaughtered till my throat began to bleed. I killed without discretion and swam within the lake of my creation. Most of my victims were up close and personal. I felt their lives drain by my hands, watched as their very eyes popped like ballons leaving only my laughter and their wails.

Did these fools truly believe this water noise could affect me? That it could make me reflect or lower my guard?

Pressing through the hallow caves, I could feel the years begin to pass, but I knew only seconds or days could have. Simply counting the amount of time that could have happened, I knew Sitri himself would have appeared to kill me.

So I continued, simply counting the years passing like seconds, enjoying the darkness I considered to be family. I would speak to Mother, knowing she would not answer. She would not answer a shadow, but I still continued to talk to wain my loneliness.

My qi had long returned. Through the countless years, I continued to walk. Without stopping, no matter how enticing the echoes of water became. There was even a moment where I had heard Lilith's voice. Yet, for some reason, such a voice never echoed again.

”Why not give up?” A cryptic voice resounded, filled with a dark undertone. It sounded muffled, even weak as if one was on the verge of death itself. ”You will never break out the Darkness.”

”The Darkness?” I responded with a condescending scuff. ”You call this darkness? Darkness has no sound, no image, no thought. It is both everything and nothing. She does not need to do such tricks, for being within the darkness itself is both an honor and a torment.”

”A mortal wishing to argue the laws of darkness? Then come with me, boy,” The voice said as I felt the Dao of Darkness twist around me. It was disgusting, contaminated unlike what I saw earlier. However, I still allowed it to teleport me.

Appearing in front of an aged man that appeared nothing more than bones, I could not help but feel contempt. Contempt for the man that held such an ignorant path of darkness.

”A Demon?” he spoke with shock, gazing into my dantian overflowing with demonic Qi. ”Such a rare sight. Which layer do you hail from, boy?”

”None,” I swiftly told, peering into the Mist of Darkness that hid something profound. Holding the intent of Mother behind the veil, I bowed in reverence.

”You can sense it, can't you. The will of Tenebrae.” The crippled old man said, with nothing but skin and bone. Getting a faint thud from his heart pressed against his chest, I nodded.

”Of course, but it was your Demonic Qi that brought me here. To think I would meet my first... What do they call you? Your race, that is?” I asked.

”Hellion, Devilkin, we go by many names, boy. But you may call me, Gurvel,” He spoke with short utterances.