NOVEL NEXT Chapter 438: Chapter 438: Between Gods and Epics
"Destined to die? Why?" Muria was puzzled. If demon lords of the Abyss, undoubtedly beings capable of battling deities, were doomed upon entering the material realm, what did that imply?
"Do you know the true nature of these Abyssal demon lords?" asked the golden dragoness.
"Are they similar to deities?" Muria ventured a guess.
"They lie between epics and deities. In the Abyss, they enjoy more freedom than our world's gods but are more constrained compared to epics," explained the golden dragoness, Atrelis, with a mysterious tone. "This is because of the nature of the Abyss itself. The Abyss isn't a complete world; it's formed from the remnants of countless shattered worlds. The will of the Abyss is chaotic, composed of these fragmented world wills.
Each layer of the Abyss can be considered a broken world, having its own independent will and primal force. Demons that gain favor from a layer can harness this primal force, gaining the power to contest deities. A demon that masters all the primal force of a layer becomes a demon lord, the ruler of that incomplete world."
"Lord of a world!" Muria narrowed his eyes. If there were incomplete worlds, there must also be complete ones, though none existed within Erathia's high-tiered structure, nearly impossible to gain favor from.
"For our world, these demons, filled with primal force, are the most delectable of feasts, equivalent to consuming a layer of the Abyss itself.
Should these Abyssal lords dare enter Erathia, many deities will respond to the world's will and act against them."
"Wait, isn't it said that deities can only send avatars into the material realm, wielding at most the strength of legendary peaks?"
"Special circumstances require special treatments. The world will, although not sentient, isn't as rigid as you might think. If a true form of a demon lord descends, the true gods will receive temporary permission to exert their full power."
Muria furrowed his brows after hearing the golden dragoness's explanation, noticing a contradiction. "According to you, the world will allows gods to kill demon lords for their primal force, but what about epics? The primal force in epics also lies beyond world control, yet no deities hunt them down?"
"Muria, from the moment of your birth, you were marked by this world. To the world, you are its progeny. No matter your achievements, as long as you don't fall into realms like the Abyss, the world will won't harm you," the golden dragoness patiently explained. "For the world, gods are shields for defense, while epics are swords for offense. Without the sword, one can only passively receive blows, so nearly unrestricted epics are necessary."
"I see." Muria nodded, his understanding of the roles of epics and deities deepening.
"How strong is this projection?" Muria looked up at the towering shadow of Dimogogon in the sky, curious, as he noted the ancient dragons and Titans appearing one after another, all looking warily at the ugly apparition.
"Demon lords vary significantly. Those who control one layer of the Abyss are called demon lords, and so are those who control ten layers. The difference between them can be vast."
Atrelis watched Dimogogon's projection solidify, her expression growing serious. "Dimogogon claims to be the strongest demon, which is a joke, but its power is among the top in active demon lords today."
"With the current shifts in the world, Dimogogon can certainly exhibit the peak strength of a legend. And don't think we can exhaust his power before the world finishes consuming the Abyss; that's impossible."
Ansol, who had been supervising near the true Muria, now appeared before his avatar, continuing the explanation in a calm tone.
...
"How are there so many ancient dragons? Why are there Titans?" Dimogogon, having projected his consciousness here, was slightly puzzled as he looked at the legendaries surrounding him. This was not as he had envisioned.
He had planned to descend in projection, wreak havoc, and, if possible, ultimately defeat several avatars of deities.
This would have endeared him to the will of the Abyss, potentially rewarding him with control over another layer. Beyond that, Dimogogon had no other aspirations.
In fact, if not for pleasing the will and earning rewards, virtually no demon lord would project here. Compared to other weaker material realms, Erathia was far too dangerous. The powerful beings residing here were numerous.
"Are they waiting for my full arrival?" Dimogogon, irked as he watched the Titans who not only surrounded but also prevented other ancient dragons from attacking, wondered.
As a renowned lord of the Abyss, he was familiar with Titans. Nobody would forget a being that had once brutally beaten them
. Such memories are vivid and lasting.
"Oblivious Titans!" Both of Dimogogon's heads roared upward, shattering space. A filthy vast expanse of water, his lair from the 88th layer of the Abyss, known as the Demon Stomach or the Brine Swamp, materialized behind him.
As the Abyssal layer projected and solidified, countless demons surged out, all controlled by the demon lord's manipulating spectral light.
As Dimogogon roared, he not only summoned his subordinate demons but also released a sinister, potent wave of energy, spreading with his roars.
Across the capital, countless civilians either fled or were petrified by Dimogogon's arrival. As the strange energy swept over them, their flesh and bones withered, turning them into desiccated corpses.
"Dammit!" Feeling a massive drain of life force within the capital, Muria, standing beside the golden dragoness, seethed with rage. As the wave passed over him, it sapped his strength, nearly collapsing his avatar.
Withering! Power drain! The signature abilities of the demon lord Dimogogon.
A piercing cry, like metal against stone, came from the cloud islands near the capital, filled with hostility and fury.
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT