Chapter 111: Confrontation

Above the city buildings, an ever-growing sphere of black swarms churned and expanded.

Boom!

[Infernal Ember]

A beam of scorching red flames tore a hole through the sphere as a lone figure shot out, attempting to escape the encirclement, only to be swallowed once more. The sphere moved with him, keeping him firmly within its grasp, while the hole he blasted open was instantly sealed by motor devil vultures.

Several crimson beams tore through the sphere one after another, yet no matter the damage inflicted, the devil vultures simply would not die. Even those burnt beyond recognition healed at an unnatural pace that made Damain’s regeneration seem like child’s play. Those completely destroyed were replaced in an instant. It felt as though he struggled against the ocean with a boulder chained to his waist. No matter how fiercely he fought to swim free, he only sank deeper.

For a moment, it became almost certain he would never escape the encirclement.

Until…

“Die then!” Damain’s voice dropped, heavier and deeper than before.

[Ninefold Samsara Firefox Activated]

Buzz!

A pillar of intense white flames erupted, piercing the clouds while scorching the earth below. The black swarm was instantly consumed, each devil vulture bursting into white dust one after another. A massive chain reaction followed as the creatures desperately tried to flee, only to implode upon contact with the flames. Escape was impossible.

Swoosh!

From the towering pillar, a small, tightly packed cluster of devil vultures burst forth, only to disintegrate into white dust mid-flight. Yet in that brief moment, something within their ranks was revealed.

It was twice the size of the others, its black skin making its gray feathers appear unnatural. The bald vulture fled barely ten meters before freezing midair. Its body trembled violently as it struggled to move, but it simply could not respond.

Dozens of meters behind it, Damain stood with his hands outstretched, his demonic aura completely engulfing the calamity vulture.

Yet he did not kill it.

Instead, his gaze shifted.

A naked man stood there, towering over eight feet tall. He bore three heads: one of a serpent, one of a man with two stars etched upon his forehead, and one of a cat. His skin was a deep reddish hue, and he sat astride a massive emerald serpent over twenty meters long and five meters wide, holding a burning torch in his hand.

[Name: Duke Haborym]

[Race: Demon]

[Rank: Demon Noble]

[Description: A Great Duke of Hell who commands 26 legions of demons and is considered a destructive strategist and fire-bringer]

Duke Haborym studied the human intently, his eyes narrowing. If not for the certainty that Lin Qui was dead, he might have been shaken to see him here in a different form. Instantly, he understood. The human who had inherited the sin of lust must be concealing his identity, hence the altered appearance.

This was the disguise skill of a prince of hell.

To make matters worse, he wore the betrothal ring Lin Qui always carried whenever he left the underworld. With it, one could come and go undetected. Not even his brothers knew when he slipped out for his excursions. It was a treasure the other princes of hell had long coveted, offering trades and bargains for it, yet Lin Qui had always refused.

Now, Duke Haborym could not sense even a trace of aura from Damain, despite him floating in plain sight.

Only that power could achieve such concealment.

Duke Haborym had often wondered why he had not yet been found.

Now he understood.

’They got to him first.’

His eyes narrowed further. Only a select few could possess such a priceless artifact.

’If that’s the case, this will be tricky.’

His frown deepened.

Across from him, Damain stared with a cold, murderous gleam in his eyes. Unlike Bathin, whose presence was overwhelming and omnipresent, this demon noble felt like nothing at all. He stood above like a deity, mounted upon his serpent, silent and unreadable.

Which made him all the more dangerous.

“My Prince, this loyal servant has finally found you.” Duke Haborym bowed from atop his mount, which mimicked the gesture, lowering its massive head.

The display did not move Damain. He simply stared, his expression blank as he spoke.

“Who do you serve?”

Buzz!

Duke Haborym’s eyes narrowed slightly at the question, but he answered without hesitation.

“The third prince of hell and the wielder of the sin of lust, of course. I have served your house for three thousand, seven hundred, and twenty-two years!”

His tone carried a hint of wounded pride, like a man falsely accused. Yet the effect was lost on Damain. What stood before him was no man, but a towering demon, and he had no intention of trusting a single word it spoke.

“Why have you come then?” Damain asked, suspicion flickering across his face.

“To take you back home, where you belong.” Duke Haborym replied, his voice stiff and unwavering.

“I’m good here. I have my wives to protect me. Go.” Damain hissed, his fists tightening as the calamity vulture began to shriek.

Its body convulsed violently as the sound of bones snapping echoed through the air. Slowly, it was crushed under an unseen force, reduced to a grotesque mass of flesh as fluids poured from it like water wrung from soaked cloth.

The brutal display did nothing to intimidate Duke Haborym.

He watched in silence for several seconds before responding, his expression cold and indifferent.

“You are but a mortal with no understanding of the universe. For your own good, you will leave with me, willingly or by force. How this unfolds depends entirely on you.”

Damain’s eyes flared with a terrifying violet light as his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his skin, drawing thin streams of blood. Even this demon dared to look down on him.

“Use force?” Damain let out a quiet chuckle. “I would like to see you try.”

He can stomach his wives looking down on him. But the same grace does not apply for everyone, especially not demons!

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