Chapter 556: Still Stirring
With the Demon Spirit Machi slain by Shien, receiving her just deserts, the Tegor Forest finally returned to complete tranquility.
The magical beasts driven into a frenzy by Lilithâs power had also calmed down, returning to their respective habitats to recuperate.
Everything seemed to have returned to normal.
However, this was only on the surface.
In the shadows of the ancient forest, darkness was still stirring.
A gentle and refined-looking demon man, accompanied by several black-robed figures, arrived at a cliff face reduced to rubble.
This was the cave where the Demonic Refining Ritual, destroyed by Shien, had taken place.
The gentle demon man looked at the ruined cave and murmured,
âCome out, larva.â
Following his murmur, the rubble in front of him suddenly exploded.
Countless fragments of rock and dust were thrown into the air, instantly enveloping the surrounding area.
Some of the debris and dust drifted towards the demon man, but were blocked by the black-robed figures around him.
These figures merely stepped in front of the demon man and released their magic power. The incredibly dense and powerful magic blew away the incoming rocks and dust, leaving the demon man unharmed.
The demon man remained motionless throughout, his expression unchanging, standing calmly as he was protected by the black-robed figures.
His gaze was fixed ahead, clearly seeing the enormous figure looming within the dust and smoke.
Before long, the dust dispersed.
âGaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaâ!!!â
A terrifying roar echoed from within, stirring up a massive wave of sound.
Amidst the sound waves, a gigantic and imposing monster appeared, with dragon wings, a human upper body, and the lower body of a centipede.
An aura that made the atmosphere tremble fluctuated around it. Even though it was fleeting, it was enough to alarm any sensitive magical beast within a thousand kilometers.
Thus, the magical beasts within a thousand-mile radius fled in panic, making the sky seem like countless birds had been startled, flapping their wings and hurriedly escaping.
Sensing the monsterâs aura, the demon man not only showed no fear, but instead smiled.
âVery good.â
With this assessment, the demon man chanted a strange and profound magic spell towards the monster.
The magic spell materialized, floating out one after another, surrounding the monster before branding themselves onto its body.
âClang!â
A blinding light suddenly shone from the monster.
The monster erupted in a dazzling radiance, black smoke rising from its body as it gradually shrank, transforming into a sparkling, conspicuous stone.
The demon man stepped forward, picked up the stone, and after examining its quality, nodded in satisfaction.
âAs expected, it has been cultivated to Limit Level and is ready for use.â
Leaving these words, the demon man turned and beckoned one of the black-robed figures.
The figure approached, then pulled open their black robe, revealing the body beneath.
The body appeared no different from an ordinary demon.
However, there was a hollow cavity in its chest, a rather disturbing sight.
The demon man then stuffed the sparkling stone into the cavity.
Upon insertion, the stone melted into the dark cavity, merging with the black-robed figure as if becoming flesh and blood, completely filling the void in their body. s̩
âBoom!â
A terrifying aura surged from the black-robed figure.
That aura easily surpassed Legendary Level, instantly reaching Limit Level.
Yes.
Limit Level.
This black-robed figure had become a Limit Level super expert.
The demon man witnessed all of this and laughed with delight.
âWith this, the four Limit Level Magic Fighters are complete.â
The demon manâs gaze swept over the other three black-robed figures.
From these three, auras no less than Limit Level faintly emanated.
No one knew that at this moment, in a remote corner of the Tegor Forest, there existed four Limit Level beings.
Even if these four Limit Level beings were merely manipulated puppets.
âQuite the extravagant undertaking.â
A somewhat ethereal female voice suddenly rang out.
âUnexpectedly, you actually repurposed the Demon Lord Larvae painstakingly cultivated by the organization, transforming them into fusion material for magical lifeforms, allowing the four Magic Fighters by your side to merge with Limit Level Demon Lord Larvae, absorbing their power to evolve to Limit Level. Truly worthy of being the strongest Bio-Creation Magician in the world, an Apostle of the Old Demon Factionâs Original Demon, and the only son of the leader. Iâve gained a newfound respect for you.â
Accompanying this voice, a woman appeared as if from nowhere.
She wore only a white garment, stood barefoot, had fair skin, long, straight black hair, and a tall figure, like a ghost, her presence flickering and uncertain.
The woman looked at the demon man, then at the four terrifying Magic Fighters beside him, and couldnât help but laugh.
âHowever, for the sake of cultivating your own Magic Fighters, you privately misappropriated the precious Demon Lord Larvae. Arenât you afraid your father will find fault with you, or that the other two Apostles will seize this opportunity to lodge a complaint against you to your father, Young Master Danas?â
Hearing this, Danas shrugged.
âNo need to try and scare me, Lady Mara. I naturally obtained my fatherâs permission for this matter.â Danasâ expression remained calm, even teasing her back playfully, âItâs you, isnât it alright for you to casually come to a place like this? You are currently the Imperial Consort of the Ragna Empire, you know? I heard thereâs a prince in the Imperial Capital scheming against you.â
Mara seemed unconcerned by Danasâ teasing.
âThatâs what makes it fun.â Mara chuckled softly, as if finding some amusement, âI enjoy seeing those Hero descendants put up a tenacious resistance in front of me. That way, after I drag them into the abyss and they witness true despair, their pain will bring me joy.â
These words sent a chill down oneâs spine.
Danas, however, was unfazed.
âWhat a morbid hobby.â Danas said indifferently, âThis morbid hobby can even rival that of my useless Apostle.â
âThat Demon Spirit?â Mara raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips, âYou just abandoned her like that? Donât you find it a pity?â
âNot entirely.â Danas replied with a smile, âAfter all, she was the only remaining Demon Spirit in the world, and her strength was quite decent. It is indeed a pity to abandon her like this.â
Despite his words, Danasâ face showed no sign of regret.
There was no helping it.
âThat Demon Spirit appeared obedient on the surface, but in reality, she was a restless woman.â Danas explained, âShe claimed to want to destroy the Elven Homeland and wipe out the Elves for the future of the Original Demon, but in reality, it was just to satisfy her own pathetic morbid hobby that she proposed such a suggestion. Did she really think I wouldnât see through it?â
âSo, you pretended to tell her that you would support her plan, even willing to lend her the fully cultivated Demon Lord Larva and those Legendary Level Demonized Beings. You let her attack the Elven Homeland, but secretly manipulated things, exposing this location and letting that Hero come knocking, to eliminate this troublemaker for you?â Mara said admiringly, âTo ensure that the Hero would kill the Demon Spirit, you deliberately told her to target the women around him. Truly meticulous planning.â
âI couldnât very well kill her myself, could I?â Danas said nonchalantly, âThat Demon Spiritâs ability to escape was quite impressive. Even with my three Limit Level Magic Fighters, the chance of capturing her was less than fifty percent. And if she escaped, with that Demon Spiritâs morbid hobby, she would probably fixate on me forever.â
Danas clearly didnât want to be targeted by a naturally evil Legendary Level Demon Spirit.
If that happened, he didnât know when he might fall.
Therefore, Danas simply employed a strategy of borrowing a knife to kill.
âShien Buztout has so many Demon Lords around him, and thereâs also the Evil God Lilith. With them taking action, even if that Demon Spiritâs escape skills were exceptional, she couldnât possibly escape.â
Danas sighed.
âActually, that Demon Spirit was quite useful, but her personality was too vile and difficult to control. Plus, she knew our internal information, and who knows when she might betray us. Eliminating her now is not a bad thing.â
Surely, Machi would never have imagined that her current predicament was all thanks to Danas.
âEnough about me, letâs talk about you.â Danas changed the subject, looking at Mara with a smile, âI heard youâve recently set your sights on a little girl, but you havenât caught her yet and have been quite annoyed by her, havenât you?â
âHmph.â The smile on Maraâs face vanished, replaced by displeasure, âThat brat is indeed very good at hiding, and sheâs extremely wary of me. Every time I make a move, she disappears without a trace, without revealing any openings. Itâs truly irritating.â
âI see.â Danas suddenly realized, âNo wonder you came out here. So you deliberately disappeared to make that little girl lower her guard and reveal herself?â
âSomething like that.â Mara said discontentedly, âAlthough I donât know if that brat will fall for it, my plans in the Empire are nearing their final stages. If she doesnât take the bait soon, Iâll be in trouble.â
âYouâre also having a hard time.â Danas said sympathetically, âWhile Iâve invested a lot of effort in cultivating four Limit Level Magic Fighters, the path youâve chosen is even more painstaking, and one wrong step could cost you everything.â
âThen Iâll gamble everything.â Mara stared at Danas, saying each word deliberately, âIsnât that what youâre thinking too?â
âIndeed.â Danas said softly, âIn order to have a place for ourselves in the future, we can only gamble everything.â
For this reason, the darkness was still stirring.
Never to cease.