Chapter 683 Unholy Reckoning
Salister's lair was like a chamber carved out of the very bedrock of the earth, deep within the hidden recesses of the dungeon.
The ceiling soared high above, shrouded in darkness as if it yearned to touch the heavens but was forever kept in the realm of shadows.
Massive stone columns adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes of demonic rituals and ancient curses supported the weight of the world above.
The air was thick with an otherworldly chill, causing a shiver to run down the spine of anyone who dared to enter.
In the heart of this vast, dimly lit chamber stood Salister Kane, the malevolent sorcerer, garbed in robes as dark as the night itself. His eyes glowed with an unnatural crimson hue, reflecting the malevolence that resided within his very soul.
He was surrounded by a circle of eerie candles, their flickering flames casting eerie, dancing shadows upon the walls.
These candles were strategically placed to form a colossal pentagram etched onto the cold, stone floor, its lines drawn with precision and purpose.
The pentagram glowed with a sinister energy, pulsating with every beat of the ritualistic drum that echoed through the chamber.
Arcane symbols and sigils were inscribed within the pentagram, glowing with an ominous light that seemed to seep into the very stone itself.
Each candle, placed meticulously around the pentagram, held an unholy flame that burned with colors not found in the natural world –– hues of sickly green, deep purple, and blood red.
The air was heavy with the scent of incense, a pungent aroma that mingled with the metallic tang of blood, further enhancing the eerie atmosphere.
Strange artifacts and relics adorned the walls, their surfaces imbued with curses and whispers of ancient evils. Sinister runes etched into the stone walls seemed to writhe and twist, casting a malevolent aura that pervaded the entire chamber.
As Salister chanted the incantations of his ritual, his voice resonated with power, echoing off the walls like the whisper of a vengeful spirit. His hands moved gracefully, tracing patterns in the air as he called upon forces beyond mortal comprehension.
The very fabric of reality seemed to tremble under the weight of his dark magic, and the pentagram on the floor glowed brighter with each word of the forbidden incantation.
Elena heaved a sigh of relief. "We've finally made it." Her eyes narrowed at the figure in the center of the room. "Is that . . . ?"
"Salister Kane!" Princess Lorelai's voice thundered.
Before anyone could intervene, she sprinted toward Salister, her sword Demonsbane gleaming in the eerie light, ready to strike.
In a swift and determined motion, Princess Lorelai charged at Salister Kane, her eyes ablaze with the fires of justice and her sword held high. The air crackled with anticipation as she lunged forward, the blade aimed at the heart of the devil.
With an echoing clash, Demonsbane met an invisible forcefield, an unseen barrier of immense power that surrounded Salister. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, rattling the very stones of the lair.
Princess Lorelai's eyes widened in surprise and frustration as she was repelled by the sheer force, her form tossed back like a leaf caught in a tempest.
Salister was now on his feet and stood with an air of triumph. His dark robes billowed around him as he faced the Princess, a sneer of arrogance playing on his lips.
The barrier that had shielded him shattered into a thousand glimmering shards, vanquished by the sheer might of Princess Lorelai's assault.
The remnants of the barrier hung in the air for a moment, like fading echoes of a once-impervious defense, before dissipating into nothingness.
"Salister! It's true, then! You've orchestrated all this madness! The deaths in towns and villages . . . all of it is your doing!" Princess Lorelai's voice trembled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
Salister's expression remained cold and unfeeling before he let out a menacing laugh, his features contorting with malevolence. "Yes, every bit of it was my doing. So what of it?"
Aghast, Princess Lorelai's face hardened, her voice laced with betrayal. "Why? We trusted you! You've become the right-hand man of my father!"
Salister sighed as if her trust was an inconvenience to him and nonchalantly shrugged. "That's your problem, not mine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a realm to conquer. I don't have time to waste on you."
Princess Lorelai clenched her fists, her teeth grinding together. "Salister . . ."
Salister paused, then turned to the Princess, a menacing grin twisting his features. "That's right. I have a gift for you, Princess. I've prepared this specifically for you. Though it pained me to use it, you've left me with no choice. This is the only way to defeat you, after all."
In the heart of the lair, Salister Kane's eyes glowed with an unholy fervor, an unsettling light that reflected the depth of his dark intentions.
With ancient incantations that resonated with the very essence of the abyss, he began a ritual that sent tremors through the very fabric of reality.
In the center of the pentagram on the floor, Salister drew sigils with an ethereal substance that seemed to seep from his fingertips, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with sinister energy.
The air grew heavy with the scent of sulfur, and a swirling darkness enveloped the chamber, shrouding it in an impenetrable gloom.
A hushed chant escaped Salister's lips, resonating with the echoes of forgotten realms and the whispers of demonic entities.
As his voice rose in intensity, the ground beneath him quaked, and the temperature plummeted, leaving an icy chill in the air.
In response to his dark summons, the very air seemed to warp and distort. Shadows coalesced and danced around Salister, merging to form a colossal, malevolent figure.
With a thunderous roar that shook the very foundations of the lair, a portal to the Nether realms tore open, revealing the abyssal depths from which Asmodeus, a higher devil of unparalleled power, emerged.
Ren blinked and gasped. "A-Asmodeus?"
Why is the ruler of the Nine Hells here?!