NOVPUB
Chapter 271: 271
Zarvok’s smile softened slightly, though his eyes remained calculating. "They are the key to our success. If we protect them, they will look to us as their saviors, their new rulers. But make no mistake—they are a means to an end. Their loyalty will ensure the world’s submission, and with it, our victory."
"You make a great offer; we both get what we want at the end of the deal," Ikenga said, with a thoughtful look on his face.
Stretching out his hand for a handshake, Ikenga said, "We will accept your offer."
Zarvok smiled as he took Ikenga’s hand. "That is good to hear." Opening his other hand, a flame combusted from his palm, only to disappear and be replaced by a large, pulsing ear, which he handed to Ikenga.
"This will be our means of contact. I will inform you when it’s time to begin," Zarvok said as he turned to leave, obviously in a hurry.
Ikenga spoke up to stop him. "Why don’t you stay with us for a while? There is much I would like to learn from you."
Zarvok halted at Ikenga’s words, a smirk forming on his face as he turned around. "Are you sure about that? The Abyss will play no part in our further conversations, and the price will be paid between us alone."
Ikenga stood still, gazing at Zarvok before waving his hand, causing the door to open. Laughing, he put a hand on Zarvok’s shoulder as he led him to the exit. "As it stands, I am truly poor and have nothing to exchange with you."
"Hmm," Zarvok scoffed and said nothing, leaving the house. He transformed into his imp form and took off into the sky. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Keles stood beside Ikenga as they looked up at the layered red clouds. Ikenga spoke first. "I might have been too arrogant in my earlier decision to engage with the Abyss. I thought that my observations of the lower-tier demons and my encounter with Murmur gave me a certain grasp of their race."
Keles remained silent, her gaze still fixed on the spot where Zarvok had disappeared into the sky. The uneasy feeling in her chest hadn’t dissipated, despite Ikenga’s attempt at levity.
After a long pause, Keles finally spoke, her voice low but firm. "You’re right to question your earlier assumptions, Ikenga. This encounter with Zarvok has made me see all demons in a new light."
"The weak ones with no power, even with all the knowledge bestowed upon them, have no choice but to use brute force because it does nothing for them to play a game of intrigue. The powerful ones, while still brutal, understand that brute force isn’t everything and begin to use the innate knowledge granted to them."
Ikenga nodded, absorbing Keles’s words. "It’s clear now," he said thoughtfully. "The Abyss is more than just a pit of chaos and violence. It’s a crucible where power and cunning are forged together. Those who survive its depths are not just strong; they’re sharp, adaptable, and relentless."
Keles turned to him, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "We’ve been treating these demons as if they’re mere beasts driven by primal urges. But Zarvok showed us something different—a level of strategy and foresight that we hadn’t anticipated."
"Knowing that the layers of the Abyss are uncountable and that there are more like him, or even more powerful, is truly unsettling."
Ikenga’s gaze hardened, his earlier arrogance replaced by a sober understanding. "We’ve underestimated them, Keles. And that’s a mistake we can’t afford to repeat. Zarvok’s offer may be an opportunity, but it’s also a warning. We need to be prepared for challenges that go beyond simple battles."
Turning to Ikenga, Keles asked, "Do you still plan on creating a third Demon King to disrupt this game?"
Ikenga looked at his sister and laughed. "Of course, I still plan on doing that. Only this time, I’m lacking the confidence to win. Nonetheless, I’ll take it as a good learning opportunity."
sed an eyebrow, a mix of surprise and concern flickering across her face. "You’re willing to risk it, even knowing what we’re up against now?"
Ikenga smiled, though there was a hint of steel in his expression. "The risk is higher, but so are the potential rewards. Besides, if we’re to truly understand the depths of the Abyss and navigate its dangers, we need to engage with it fully. Creating a third demon king will not only disrupt Zarvok’s plans but also give us a chance to observe how the Abyss reacts to such a move."
Keles crossed her arms, contemplating his words. "It’s a bold strategy. By introducing another player into this twisted game, we could either tip the scales in our favor or unleash something even more unpredictable."
Keles sighed, though there was a hint of admiration in her tone. "You always were the risk-taker between us. But this time, we need to be even more careful. We’re walking a fine line, and one wrong step could lead to disaster."
Ikenga nodded, Smiling as he said . "I know, sister. But this is the path we’ve chosen. We came to the Abyss for knowledge, and knowledge often comes at a price. We just have to make sure that the price isn’t too high."
Walking back Inside and closing the door behind them, Ikenga waved his hand as the scene of the house changed again showing Phantom’s point of view.
Back in the world of Nana, a year had passed since the war between Erik and Silas. Humanity rejoiced in their hard-won victory, with the nobles of Erik’s kingdom particularly eager to capitalize on the power vacuum left by Silas’s demise. They saw the unclaimed territory as an opportunity for expansion and wealth, envisioning a future where their influence would spread far beyond the borders of Erik’s kingdom.
However, their plans began to unravel two months after the war, when an unsettling event occurred. A ship arrived at the port, carrying a priest unlike any other. Instead of the usual serene demeanor and immaculate robes of a holy man, this priest bore an ominous presence. His robe was a deep, blood-red hue, and on his back was a terrifying mark—a symbol of dread that sent shivers down the spines of those who glimpsed it. In his hand, he carried a bloody axe, the dried crimson stains a testament to the violence that followed him wherever he went.
The mark on his back was dominated by a large, haunting eye at the top center. The iris was a swirling vortex of chaotic patterns, an embodiment of madness itself. The eye was bloodshot, its veins spidering outwards, giving it a crazed, unhinged appearance. It gazed upon the world with a sinister intensity, as if seeing through the veil of reality into the very souls of those who looked upon it.
Below the eye, a desolate battlefield was etched into the fabric of the robe. The ground was soaked in blood, dark red pools spreading across the landscape like the aftermath of a massacre. Shattered weapons and armor littered the ground—swords broken, spears splintered, and shields cracked and discarded. Torn banners lay among the debris, the remnants of once-proud armies now reduced to memories. Thin streams of blood flowed from the eye, merging with the blood on the battlefield, symbolizing the connection between the madness of the demon god and the chaos of battle.
As the priest stepped off the ship, a lone guard awaited him at the small port, sent by the king of Valio from the western continent. The priest’s arrival did not go unnoticed. It was as if the world itself held its breath, sensing that something momentous was unfolding.
Soon after, rumors began to spread across the western continent of a disturbing new movement among the "Children of the Gods." These beings, revered and feared, had always kept to their lofty abodes—the harpies in particular were known to dwell in the highest mountains, far from the reach of mortals. Yet now, they were descending from the skies, their wings folded behind them as they walked the earth like common men.
Their sudden appearance sowed confusion and fear among the people. The small kingdoms, in their ignorance and desperation, saw the arrival of the harpies as a divine blessing. They opened their gates wide, welcoming the Children of the Gods with offerings and prayers, unaware of the true nature of what they were inviting into their lands.
The western continent wasn’t the only one visited by strange priests. The eastern continent was also paid a visit, with the southern continent being the only exception.
Just like the children of gods in the western continent, the apelings have also left their paradise deep in the mountains and started walking among common men.
In the northern region where the priests originated, there was also an increase in the movement of the children of gods, who, in this case, are werewolves.
Currently, on the eastern continent, Ikem sat on his throne as Zephyr, his son who had grown over the years, read out reports and information gathered.
