Chapter 298 (1/2)

Darkness filled Dorian's vision as he awoke. It was clear to him that he had something in the form of a sack tied to his head. It made things hard to breathe and very uncomfortable.

He was just a regular farmer's son that had been out on the field all day. The last thing that he remembered was going back home after working. The sun was setting as they had to hurry up with this month's harvest. Then things became blurry, something happened between the time of him walking home and arriving here.

”Ughhh…”

When he tried to speak something compelled him to not. There was nothing inside of his mouth but when he tried to open it, he couldn't. It was as if his lips were glued together and the only thing he could do was to mumble. Soon he heard rustling from the sides and similar mumbling and groaning were heard by him. It looked like he wasn't alone in this place.

”The sacrifices are waking up high priest.”

”It matters not, the ritual is ready to begin, the Lord of Terror will be pleased with us!”

In the silence there were voices, the young farmer had no idea what was happening but this had something to do with the demon worshipers. His parents had warned him about them when he was younger.

There were certain people that worshiped the devils that were banished from these lands. They would perform strange rituals to open the rifts in the barrier in hopes of getting power in return. This could come in many forms but mostly they would turn into demonic beings themselves then serve the demon that they worshiped till the end of their life.

”Remove the sacks, let the sacrifices bask in the Lord's glory!”

Footsteps followed the man's words and the bag on his head was removed. What he saw was many people like him. Hands bound and curled up on a strange red circle. He wanted to scream but couldn't after realizing that this magic writing was painted in human blood. There were multiple headless corpses to the side that were used for this purpose.

The other people looked to be mostly commoners from the villages just like him. They were of various genders and ages, even of mixed races as apparently no one was spared. The women were crying while the men were looking with anger in their eyes at the massacred people and the demon worshipers that were responsible for this.

”Be glad sinners, you will be graced by the Lord's love! He will devour your very souls and use it as nourishment to cleanse these lands from the rot that covers it!”

A man in dark robes and various strange accessories stood out on a dim-lit platform above them. There were others like him gathered in this place around them. It was clear that they wanted to sacrifice them to some kind of demonic being. Running was the only option for survival.

Dorian's struggles didn't bore fruit, his body felt sluggish and he just couldn't untie the ropes that bound him. The same thing happened to the others as even the more robust-looking men couldn't break free. Something was sapping their strength already and soon some kind of strange portal appeared. It was right in the middle of this dastardly demonic circle and looked like it was made from blood.

”Yes! YES! The Lord is coming through!”

”Behold the lord's glory infidels, bask in his light!”

The cultist started mumbling some strange incoherent chants while the people on the ground tried to flee. Soon the portal started expanding in size and with time something started to push through.

A large hooved leg appeared, it was covered in some tight red leathery skin. With a thump, this leg slammed to the ground below and caused it to tremble. Soon the demon's form was revealed. It was many times larger than a human, close to ten meters tall. Its lower half looked like it belonged to a goat while the top half was more human-looking.

This being had similar characteristics to the first Demon Lord of Pain. The torso was muscular and covered in red leather. Its head didn't possess eyes instead its brain was sticking out, below it a large toothy mouth with black teeth that were covered with blood. Various horns and spikes were coming out of its spine as well as from its fists.

”We greet the Lord of Terror! We present you these sacrifices, please feast on their immortal souls!'

The giant demon lord was able to get through the demonic gate of blood fully revealing itself. Even without any eyes, it seemed to be looking deep into everyone's soul that was here.

”Inadequate…”

The monster's shrill voice filled the area without it even talking. It pointed out towards the cultists with its large digit. The person that was getting pointed at evaporated into dark gas that was then absorbed into the creature's mouth.

”T-the sacrifices weren't enough, we have angered the lord!”

The person that looked like the boss of the bunch started backing away but it was too late. It looked that the monster was unhappy with the number of sacrifices. The moment it stepped through the portal it started to devour its own worshipers. Some of them tried to escape while some just kneeled down with opened arms as if happy that they could be of use to this demonic being.

It went after the cultist first, even devouring the main priest. Soon it turned to the people in the magic circle that were still alive. It didn't point with its finger but instead started moving towards them. For one reason or another, it grabbed Dorian with its massive hand and raised him up towards its toothy mouth.