Chapter 372: The Devil Nest Spreads
The four Supremes had just agreed that they would wait for the Heavenly Demon Sect to come out on their own.
They leaned back in their seats, the heavy silence filling the stronghold hall.
But then, the doors burst open.
A guard rushed in, his face pale, sweat dripping down his temples.
His steps were quick and uneven, as if he had run all the way.
The Beastman Supreme stood up immediately, eyes narrowing.
"What is it? Speak. Did the Heavenly Demon Sect finally come out?"
The Hero Supreme's voice was sharp."Don't waste time. What's happening?"
The guard fell to one knee, still breathing heavily.
"Supremes! An accident has happened. Something we have never seen before."
The Mage Supreme gripped her staff tightly, her voice shaking slightly. "Explain. What accident?"
The guard swallowed hard, looking up at them. "The ether from the Devil Nest… it suddenly began to flow outward."
The four Supremes froze, exchanging shocked looks.
The Cultivator Supreme frowned deeply, his brows furrowed.
"What do you mean 'flow outward'? That corrosive ether has always been contained inside the Devil Nest."
The guard shook his head quickly. "No, Supreme. Not anymore."
"Just now, the ether poured out from the nest and began spreading across the land outside."
"It is corrupting everything it touches, rocks, plants, even the air itself."
The Hero Supreme slammed his fist onto the table, the wood cracking under the force.
"Impossible! That ether never moves beyond the nest! For generations it has been locked inside!"
The guard's voice cracked with fear."But it is happening now!"
"The soldiers on the wall reported that the flow is too strong."
"The corruption spread faster than anything we've ever seen. We had no choice but to abandon the outer walls!"
The Mage Supreme's eyes widened in horror. "Abandon the walls? Already? That fast?"
The guard nodded, trembling. "Yes… and it feels even worse than before."
"This ether... It is heavier, more corrosive, more like the energy from the very core of the Devil Nest."
The room fell into silence.
The Supremes looked at each other, the weight of the words pressing down on them.
The Beastman Supreme growled, his claws digging into the table.
"Are you saying the Heavenly Demon Sect caused this? That they somehow forced the Devil Nest ether out?"
The hall went quiet for a moment.
The Mage Supreme's eyes shook, her fingers tightening around her staff. She whispered in disbelief.
"Impossible… how can they force it out? We have tried for years to expand ether from one place to another."
"Even with pure sources, even with countless arrays and rituals, we never succeeded."
She shook her head, biting her lip."To move ether at all is already near impossible."
"Yet… they made corrosive ether spread by itself? This should not be possible."
The Cultivator Supreme leaned forward, his face dark with thought.
"But whether impossible or not, it is happening right now."
"The ether has already flowed outside the nest. That much we cannot deny."
The Hero Supreme slammed his gauntleted fist onto the table, his golden aura flickering faintly.
"And it's not normal ether. The flow is thick, heavy… it feels just like the core area's concentration."
"If that spreads, this entire region will turn into a second Devil Nest!"
The Beastman Supreme bared his teeth, his tail lashing behind him.
"Which means their territory expands as the Devil Nest expands."
"The Heavenly Demon Sect will grow without moving an inch!"
The Mage Supreme frowned, her voice sharper now.
"No wonder they ignored our threats. No wonder they stayed quiet for a whole year."
"They weren't trapped… they were preparing this all along."
"They must have some kind of ability or art that can force this change."
The Cultivator Supreme stood up, his robes sweeping the ground.
"If that is the case, then our alliance faces a real danger."
"The more the Devil Nest grows, the more their power will spread."
The Hero Supreme rose as well, eyes cold, his voice carrying weight.
"Then be ready. Tell the soldiers to wear the special suits at all times."
"If the corrosive ether spreads any further, we cannot let it swallow our walls and cities."
The Beastman Supreme slammed his clawed hand down once more and snarled.
"Mobilize the entire stronghold. If the Heavenly Demon Sect truly caused this, then they've declared war on us already."
The room was filled with tense silence. The four Supremes exchanged grim looks, each one realizing the same truth.
---
From deep inside the Devil Nest, the ground trembled faintly.
A group of women stood lined up, each one mounted on the back of a devil beast.
The devils growled and stomped, their bodies glowing faintly with demonic ether, now fully under the sect's control.
Above them, flying high, was a massive black bird with wings wide enough to block the red sky.
On its back stood three figures, Savra, Velra, and Zelia.
Savra spread her arms as flames flickered from her hands. Her voice carried over the nest.
"Finally, after one year… the whole Devil Nest belongs to us."
Velra smirked, spinning her whip lazily in the air as violet ether shimmered around her.
"And now it's time to move outward. Time to show those fools outside what it means to threaten the Heavenly Demon Sect."
Zelia rested her hand on the hilt of her sword, her voice calm but cold.
"They thought they could lock us in. They thought they could wait until we weakened."
"Instead, they gave us a year to grow stronger."
On the ground, the sect girls tightened their grips on their reins, the devils beneath them roaring in unison.
Their faces were nervous but determined.
Then Zain himself stepped forward.
His black coat fluttered as crimson ether spread around him like a storm.
His gaze was sharp, his smile cold.
"Listen well, all of you. From this day, the Heavenly Demon Sect will not stay confined."
"We will expand. The outside will become ours just like this nest."
He raised his hand, demonic ether surging around him.
The devils stomped and howled, their power rising with his aura.
Zain's voice grew heavier. "They built their walls to trap us. Let them see those walls crumble."
"Let them see their lands turn into demonic ether, unfit for them to live."
"They thought to cage demons… but they have caged themselves."
He turned his crimson eyes to his people. "So now, girls… be ready for war. Do not be afraid."
"Even if you fall, you will not be lost. This sect will raise you again."
"This is not the end for any of you. This is our beginning."
The girls shouted together, their voices shaking the nest. "Yes, Master!"
The devils roared as if answering, flames, shadows, and venom spilling from their mouths.
The ground shook harder, and cracks of demonic ether spread outward like black veins.
Velra licked her lips and laughed. "Let's go play, girls."
Savra smirked, her flames flaring brighter. "We'll burn their defenses down."
Zelia drew her blade, the sound sharp like thunder. "And we'll cut open the path forward."
Above them, Zain lifted his hand, then lowered it with a single word.
"March."
The Heavenly Demon Sect surged forward, devils charging, flames blazing, whips snapping, and swords glowing.
The war to expand beyond the Devil Nest had begun.