Chapter 841 Heart of the Demon King (2/2)

Goliath picked up the chains, which at once wrapped around its hands the instant he did as if a serpent. The Abyssal Liege, however, did not resist, but continued, ”That's a part of my soul which would guide you there. However, Mycroft champion, not even I had truly reached the place where no light touches. Unlike Abysses where demons like us lived, that is the true Dark Abyss!”

”Is that so.”

Joshua looked down on the shadow that he had caught, and realized that it was a bundle of solid soul that kept squirming and shifting—it was certainly the soul of a Demon King, with no tricks put in. Pocketing the shadow soul and leaving without turning back, the warrior headed for the depths of the Abyss, leaving a faint but calm voice that echoed behind him.

”We will illuminate it.”

Having achieved his end, Joshua hence left the Void around the Sixth Abyss without hesitation.

Leaving Goliath the Demon King where it was, bound by the Steel Strength chain.

The chain was actually fragile to an Extraordinary champion such as the Demon King. It would only have worked on an ordinary Demon General that had just risen to Legend—Helm or Saluka would have easily torn it apart.

Still, that was Joshua's intention: if Goliath burst in full strength, the shockwave alone would tear the chains apart, and the warrior would know at once that the King of Demons was acting unusually.

”…”

Silently stroking the runes carved on its right horn, Goliath was unaware of its meaning, but the Abyssal Will and instincts told him that it was not harmful, like a monitor, seal or lock. In fact, it could faintly feel that the rune was helping it, although it was very discreet and imperceptible.

Goliath did not ponder for long, and its body soon disintegrated into countless fragments: limbs, backbones, ribs and innards—all body parts that contain boundless powerful Shadow and Abyssal force darted as if a storm of flesh towards different directions in the Void. A single burning dark red heart that was wrapped in a silver chain was left circling the Void once, before it, too, flew towards the Sixth Abyss.

***

The top of the Valley of Tears Fortress, the Sixth Abyss.

Saluka, the only Demon General standing guard looked up at the skies as the dark red heart of the Demon King descended upon the land like a meteor. It streaked through endless smoke and dark clouds to return to the center of the Sixth Abyss through a rift—Goliath's heart pulsated, maintaining the last vigor of the Sixth Abyss core. While its departure had been short, it caused the core's vigor and warmth to decrease rapidly as if falling off a cliff.

”My king…”

Watching as Goliath appeared before itself in pure smoke form, the Insectoid Demon General knelt reverently in show of loyalty, but it spoke in bewilderment and rage. ”I heard that human's ravings—ought we bend ourselves without resisting? We are demons, and our name leave worlds trembling in fear!

”And you are our king—”

”Enough, Saluka.”

Because its very flesh was the Sixth Abyss and it had kept nothing for itself, the Demon King stood over its own castle, shaking its head and cutting short its minion's questioning and complaint.

It overlooked the dark iron skies of the Sixth Abyss, as well as the mountains and plains that were filled with toxins, dust, smog and the presence of death.

”Do you not understand?” It said quietly after a long time. ”It is precisely because I am the King of Demons that I must never be as shortsighted as one, to do as demons did.”

Beyond that, Goliath did not explain or did anything else.

But that was enough.

Saluka lowered its head deeply and said nothing else. It might not understand, but it knew that it must obey the Demon's King's command.

***

Thousands of years ago.

Demons General would never serve any experience, much less vow allegiance.

Over the Abyss, countless Demonic Lieges divided the lands, killing each other and invading opposing lands. They exhausted the last shelters on their world without restraint, slaughtering their own kind simply because it was fun and interesting, convinced that it was their nature.

A powerful Demon Liege may temporarily rule over a flock of Demon Generals to invade other worlds or Abysses, but that was all there is to it. When the Liege dies, its empire, dynasty, tribe or court—whatever name or form it once held, all that it ruled would be left in shambles, with no rule or unity left behind.

A Demon General would rule a single Abyss, but two would fight against each other. No demon would bow their heads to another, and would endlessly fight amongst themselves to their last drop of blood—even if there were the occasional demon that could obtain the favor of an Abyssal Will, it would at most stabilize the Abyss for a bit.

The immeasurable darkness embroiled in an age of blood and evil hence kept prolonging… until a soul of greed opened its eyes.

Goliath, Demon King.

No demons would know what it sought apart from the Demon Generals that served it. Still, they had to know that even the Demon Generals, the champions who never served and would rather fight amongst themselves were united under a single flag for the first time.

Warm breeze, acid rain, dark clouds of gloom, lightless heavens and sun without heat. Everything swirled around faint black mists over Greystone mountains, stretching over the Nether River of the entire realm.

Those were the sceneries of the Sixth Abyss, a long dead world.

The Demon King that was only shadows stood over the Valley of Tears Fortress, forged from its own bones and dark steel. It was indeed a valley that was formed as tears flowed from all lives over thousands of years of anguish, although none would know why the Demon King would name its own fortress as such.

But like how all demons are unaware and did not want to know what the Demon King desired, humans and demons would not care.

Now, the Demon King closed its eyes as it looked out upon its domain and home.

Even if they were born in a dark world, demons would not innately enjoy the shadows while not yearning for Flame and Light.

It was the same for demons, even if the Flame burns and the light blinds, or the heat incinerates everything that no shadow could remain.