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Chapter 282: 282
Malzor’s eyes narrowed, trying to gauge the sincerity behind Phantom’s words. There was something in the way Phantom spoke, a conviction that was hard to ignore.
When Phantom first noticed Malzor’s exceptional behavior, he began subtly and gradually informing him about the demon kings and how they rose to their strength and status.
"And what makes you so certain? What do you see in me that you don’t see in yourself?"
Phantom allowed a brief smile to flicker across his lips before it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He knew he had to be careful, to reveal just enough to convince Malzor without betraying his true intentions.
"It’s not about what I lack, but what you possess. You have the drive, the ambition, and the charisma to unify our kind in a way that few others can. But more than that, you have the potential to learn and adapt, to see beyond the immediate struggle for power and recognize the long game."
As Malzor’s expression softened slightly, Phantom seized the opportunity to plant the seeds he had been carefully cultivating.
"In the abyss, where power is the only currency, individual strength can only take you so far. You might rise quickly, but you’ll be alone, and alone, you’ll be overwhelmed. But if you gather those around you, if you lead them with a vision—like the demon kings and the spider queen did—you’ll create a force that can’t be easily toppled."
Malzor listened intently, his earlier suspicion giving way to a contemplative silence. Phantom continued, sensing that he had Malzor’s full attention.
"Look at the demon king, Malzor. They didn’t rise to power by simply crushing those around them—they unified their kind, spreading the idea that the success of one is the success of all. Their armies are not just made up of loyal followers, but of their own race, who see the benefit of collective strength. By aligning their goals, they’ve turned themselves into the most formidable forces in the abyss."
Phantom paused, letting his words sink in. He could see the wheels turning in Malzor’s mind, the slow realization that there was more to power than brute strength.
"If you continue to see your brethren as rivals, you’ll only limit your own growth. But if you see them as assets—those who can push you higher—you’ll not only strengthen yourself but also create a legacy that will endure."
Malzor’s gaze drifted over the horizon, his mind now contemplating the possibilities that Phantom had laid before him. The idea of transforming his rivals into allies, of using their collective strength to elevate his own status, was enticing. It was a perspective he hadn’t fully considered before, but now, it seemed like the key to his ultimate goal.
With this in mind as he new goal, Malzor led his new army together with phantom back to their outpost. As Malzor led his new mutant army back to the outpost, Phantom floated silently beside him, observing the shift in Malzor’s demeanor. The newfound determination in Malzor’s eyes indicated that Phantom’s words had taken root, and now the gargoyle leader was fully committed to his new vision of power through unity.
When they arrived at the outpost, the regular gargoyles stared in disbelief at the approaching mutants. Shock quickly turned into laughter and ridicule, their voices echoing through the stone corridors.
"Look at this! A bunch of weaklings and freaks think they can march in here with swag, To what? claim our territory?" A gargoyle mocked as he pointed at them. 𝔫𝔬𝖛𝖕𝔲𝖇.𝖈𝖔𝖒
Another Gargoyle laughing "Pathetic! Go back to cooking our meal like before else we will crush you like the vermin you are!"
Phantom and Malzor exchanged a brief, knowing glance. Neither reacted to the taunts, their expressions remaining calm and unbothered. The laughter and jeers continued until Malzor, with a single, deliberate motion, raised his hand. The gesture was subtle, but its effect was immediate.
Malzor’s voice was cold and commanding "Silence."
With that, his small mutant army surged forward, descending upon the outpost with brutal efficiency. The regular gargoyles, caught off guard by the sudden attack, scrambled to defend themselves. But despite their individual strength, they were no match for the mutants who fought as a cohesive unit.
"Fight back! Don’t let these mutants overpower us!"
But the regular gargoyles found themselves overwhelmed. Each time one tried to assert dominance, another mutant would intervene, working in perfect tandem with their comrades. The mutants’ movements were coordinated, their strikes precise, and their tactics flawless—a stark contrast to the disjointed and chaotic efforts of the outpost’s defenders.
As the battle raged, Phantom hovered just above the fray, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. He observed how the regular gargoyles fought individually, each trying to prove their superiority without regard for the others. This was exactly what he had warned Malzor about—strength without unity was nothing but a fleeting advantage.
Phantom murmuring to himself "Just as I expected..."
Meanwhile, Malzor moved through the battlefield with purpose, his presence alone commanding attention. He didn’t need to engage directly; his army did the work, overpowering the outpost’s defenders with relative ease.
When the last of the resistance was crushed, Malzor signaled his mutants to halt. They obeyed instantly, stepping back from their fallen foes. The outpost was littered with the defeated, many of whom groaned in pain, their pride wounded more than their bodies.
Malzor began addressing the defeated gargoyles "Listen well. Today, you’ve seen the strength that unity brings. We could have killed you all, but I have other plans. Those of you willing to submit, to join us, will be spared. Together, we will be stronger than any of us could be alone."
The remaining gargoyles, now silent and humbled, exchanged uncertain glances. They were defeated but still found it hard to listen to a mutant, especially one who used to be their servant.
A defiant Gargoyle spitting blood, still resisting, spoke out "I’ll never bow to a mutant freak like you!"
Malzor’s eyes narrowed. With a swift motion, he dispatched the defiant gargoyle, his expression unchanging as he wiped the blood from his claws.
"Let this be a lesson. Defiance will be met with death. But those who stand with us will rise."
The rest of the gargoyles quickly lowered. Their heads bowed, their defiance broken. Some still held their heads high, but these were quickly dealt with—their bodies divided and shared among the mutants and other gargoyles. Having witnessed Malzor’s power, they now had little choice but to follow.
Phantom landed beside Malzor, speaking quietly, "Well done. They’re beginning to see the truth in your leadership. Now, we build them up, train them to fight as one. With every battle, they’ll grow stronger, more loyal, until no one in the abyss can stand against us."
Malzor nodded, his gaze sweeping over his newly acquired army. The ridicule and laughter that once filled the air were gone, replaced by respect and fear. He could feel the power he had been seeking, the influence that would only grow as more gargoyles joined his cause.
As Malzor settled into his role as the leader of the gargoyles, the outpost began to transform. New buildings rose from the desolate landscape, and gargoyles, once divided by rivalry, now worked together with a shared purpose. The change was palpable, not just in the physical structures but in the very atmosphere of the place. The outpost, once a chaotic gathering of individuals, was evolving into a well-organized and disciplined stronghold.
However, it wasn’t long before Ikenga, Keles, and Phantom noticed something strange about the passage of time in the abyss. What seemed like mere days would stretch into weeks, forcing them to adjust to this irregular flow.
After Malzor ascended to his new throne as the undisputed leader of the gargoyles, both he and Phantom knew that their current forces were insufficient. The gargoyles they had rallied were strong, but they needed more—many more—to form a complete and formidable army.
It was during this time that a disturbing secret was revealed to Phantom and the two gods who watched over him. The population of demons in the abyss had always been a mystery. While it was known that demons rarely mated or formed lasting bonds, the question of how their numbers continued to grow had remained unanswered—until now. This knowledge, while a secret to the gods and Phantom, was no secret among the demons themselves.
One day, as Malzor and Phantom explored the depths of their layer, they came upon the River Styx, a dark, churning body of water that ran through the abyss. The river’s black waters seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy, and as they watched, they witnessed something horrifying.
Along the riverbank, with each wave that lapped against the shore, millions of demon eggs were pushed onto the land. The sight was both mesmerizing and grotesque as these eggs, varying in size and appearance, began to hatch.
Phantom, led by Malzor, observed the scene with a mixture of fascination and disgust. The eggs cracked open one by one, and from each emerged a demon, twisted and malformed, already displaying the cruelty and viciousness that would define their lives.
