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Chapter 268: 268
Ikenga and Keles, in a hidden house not too far away, were both biting into apples as they watched the demons running around, looking for them.
Ikenga noticed a small drain of his divine power, and the hounds contributed the most to it. He was confident they wouldn’t find the house, but the hounds’ noses were too good. Even though they saw nothing, their instincts and noses told them that what they were seeking was near.
Suddenly, Ikenga and Keles turned serious, as did every available demon, when two heavy presences descended into the valley trench where everyone was gathered.
Ikenga and Keles were tempted to spread out their divine senses to see which demons had made their appearance.
Thankfully, they had Phantom for that, who was now observing the two new demons that had made their appearance.
The first demon that caught Ikenga’s attention was the son of the Abyss, known as "The Imp Demon."
This imp was small in stature, typical of its kind, standing no taller than a child. However, what it lacked in height, it compensated for with an intimidating presence. Its eyes glinted with a malevolent intelligence, hinting at a cunning far beyond its size. The dark feathered wings, a stark contrast to the leathery or bat-like wings of its brethren, gave it an eerie, almost angelic appearance, twisted by its malevolent nature. These wings, although not vast, were powerful and allowed the imp to hover menacingly above its victims.
Clutched tightly in its clawed hand was a pitchfork, its prongs glistening with a dark, ominous sheen. It took a slow glance at the demons gathered around, its senses spreading out like radar, trying to locate the hiding place of the two gods.
Not far behind the Imp Demon was another demon perched on a wall. She stood with an otherworldly grace, her form undeniably humanoid but laced with unmistakable spider features. Her skin was a pale, almost luminescent hue, accentuating her ethereal beauty. Delicate patterns, reminiscent of a spider’s web, traced intricate designs across her flesh, glistening subtly as she moved.
Her eyes were perhaps her most striking feature—large, dark, and multifaceted like those of a spider, yet capable of expressing a haunting, almost hypnotic allure. Those eyes, set above high cheekbones, shimmered with a mixture of intelligence and malevolence.
Her hair cascaded down her back in thick, glossy waves, as black as a moonless night, often appearing to move with a life of its own. Extending from her back were several slender, segmented legs covered in fine, velvety hairs. Despite her monstrous aspects, her beauty was undeniable—a captivating blend of human allure and arachnid mystique.
Like the Imp Demon, she spread out her senses, accompanied by unseen thin webs spreading across the trench valley. Yet it gave no result as the gods weren’t found.
Ikenga and Keles paused mid-bite, their senses on high alert as the oppressive presence of the new demons descended upon the valley trench. The air grew thick with tension as every demon present turned their attention toward the newcomers.
Phantom, hidden among the shadows, observed the arrival of the two formidable demons and relayed what he saw back to Ikenga and Keles.
Ikenga’s grip on the apple tightened. "This complicates things," he muttered to Keles. "Their abilities to sense us are far superior to the others."
Keles nodded, her eyes narrowing as she tried to gauge the situation. "Whatever it is, maybe it’s the Abyss itself, but the demons gathered in this trench truly believe that this is where we are."
The Imp Demon spoke first, its voice a low, guttural growl. "I know they’re here. Their divine scent lingers. This realm isn’t large enough to hide them from me."
The Spider Queen’s voice was smooth, almost hypnotic. "Your arrogance will be your downfall, Imp. If they are here, I will be the one to find them."
The Imp Demon snarled, glancing at the Spider Queen. "Don’t think for a moment that I will let you claim them, Spider."
The Spider Queen’s lips curled into a sinister smile. "Likewise, Imp. The throne will be mine."
While the two demons were arguing, Ikenga took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Outside, where Phantom was, his body shook slightly as Ikenga took over. Calmly observing the two demon kings, Ikenga, using Phantom’s body, reached out into the void.
The presence of the two demon kings put heavy pressure on every available demon. Even those who had claimed to grab a big piece of the pie were restrained as they bowed their heads.
At the same time, demons being what they are, still had reverence for the power of the demon kings they hoped to achieve one day. The arrogance and pride was exactly what Ikenga needed, Phantom was unable to exert this level of influence with his current strength, but Ikenga had no such restriction, even with the realm suppression. He still is able to do something like this.
Tugging at the arrogance and pride of the other powerful demons, Ikenga managed to provoke a reaction. One Balrog, known for its fiery temper, stood up in defiance, its flames flickering angrily.
"What makes you both think you can easily grab food out of our mouths?" the Balrog roared, its voice echoing through the trench. "You think you can come here and seize what we’ve already claimed?"
The Imp Demon’s eyes flashed with irritation. "Insolence!" it growled, raising its pitchfork, dark energy crackling ominously at the tips.
The Spider Queen, unmoved by the confrontation, observed with a cold, calculating gaze. Her multifaceted eyes shifted between the Balrog and the Imp Demon, her lips curled into a smirk. She had her own agenda and cared little for the squabbles of lesser demons.
As the tension escalated, more powerful demons began to stand up, following the lead of the defiant Balrog. Gargoyles and other formidable entities, previously fixated on the search for the gods, now turned their attention toward the confrontation between the two demon lords.
The scene grew chaotic as the demons’ attention shifted from hunting to the brewing conflict. The trench erupted into a cacophony of roars and shouts, as rivalries and grievances were voiced openly.
One of the powerful gargoyles, its eyes glowing with a mix of anger and defiance, stepped forward. "Both of you claim to be worthy of the throne, but neither of you can control us!"
The Imp demon snarled, dark energy crackling from its pitchfork. "You dare challenge me? I have the power of the abyss at my command!"
The Spider Queen’s voice cut through the tumult, smooth and chilling. "Why waste your strength on petty arguments? We should be focusing on the true prize: the gods."
Seeing the tension rise, Ikenga reached out again, tugging at the small threads of animosity between the mutants and hellhounds. Almost like there was a long lasting enemity between both parties, and before anyone could react, a mutant’s head was viciously bitten off and swallowed by a hellhound.
The sudden clash between the mutants and the hellhounds drew every demon’s attention. Many demons, realizing the danger of losing their best chance at finding the gods, quickly moved to defuse the situation. The hellhounds, after all, were their most reliable trackers. But Ikenga wasn’t about to let them regain control so easily.
With the emotions of the demons at his command, all Ikenga needed to do was pull a string slightly and wait for the chaos to explode.
A Balrog, one of the more powerful demons, stepped forward, intending to separate the mutants from the hellhounds. As it moved, a hellhound launched a fireball that exploded at the Balrog’s feet, causing a small crater. The Balrog, caught off guard, stumbled into the hole.
Ikenga sensed the Balrog’s embarrassment and shame, and with a subtle mental nudge, he amplified those emotions. The Balrog’s pride turned to rage, and a long whip of fire materialized in its hand. Enraged, the Balrog began swinging the whip wildly, lashing out at any demon within range.
The valley trench descended into utter chaos. The once-unified pursuit of the gods shattered as demons turned on each other, driven by the amplified emotions Ikenga had manipulated. The two demon kings noticed the abnormality of the situation. This level of chaos, this lack of control, was unheard of, especially in the presence of beings with with their high status.
The Spider Queen, her usual calm demeanor replaced by tension, no longer wore the relaxed smile she had before. Her multifaceted eyes darted around, trying to make sense of the sudden madness. "Hey, Imp," she called out, her voice laced with unease. "This is the work of one of the gods."
When the Imp demon didn’t immediately respond, still preoccupied with extending its senses to locate the gods, she repeated herself more urgently. "This is their doing."
The Imp demon, finally tearing its attention away from the search, met her gaze with a grim expression. "I know," it hissed. "But knowing doesn’t help us. They’re using our own against us."
