NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 577
The Hall of the Council of the Liquid Spirits was steeped in a somber atmosphere. The glowing orbs that represented the lives of its members floated in the air, and the absence of one of them was palpable.
Arieth, one of the bravest and most powerful among them, had fallen in battle, and the news of his death resonated like a distant yet unstoppable echo in the hearts of those present.
Elidyr, standing in the center of the room, watched the crystalline droplets floating before him. His usually impassive face was tinged with deep sadness. Arieth wasn't just a comrade; he was a brother.
The bonds forged during long battles against the Abysmals had united them as a family beyond blood. Seeing the fragment of Arieth's life disintegrate in his hands filled him with a sense of helplessness that he couldn't suppress.
"The Abysmal they faced wasn't just any creature," he finally said, breaking the silence, his voice low and measured. After a brief pause, he added, "It was a greater threat, something even Arieth's sacrifice couldn't completely contain."
The other liquid spirits, seated around the circular table that dominated the hall, nodded gravely. They knew the fallen enemy was not the only one. Arieth's death had taught them that there were other Abysmals, perhaps sealed deep within the continent, waiting for their moment to unleash chaos once more.
"If one has been released," Elidyr continued, "it's only a matter of time before others follow. We cannot let our guard down. The seals that kept these beings imprisoned might be weakening."
One of the liquid spirits, a woman with luminous skin and hair that flowed like water itself, looked up at Elidyr. "Do you think there are more Abysmals sealed in other places? The ancient scriptures are vague, but they always suggested they weren't the only ones."
Elidyr nodded, the weight of responsibility resting on his shoulders. "I believe so. If the records of the ancients are correct, we may be facing a larger threat than we imagined. And the organization known as Purgatory only adds more uncertainty to this chaos."
The hall fell silent as the council pondered Elidyr's words. If the predictions were accurate, the entire continent could be in danger. The Abysmals were creatures of pure destruction, beings born from the depths of the primordial abyss, and there was nothing in the world they enjoyed more than wiping out everything in their path.
Finally, a robust liquid spirit with a silver beard spoke. "We should gather our forces. Not just us, but all those willing to defend the continent. If the Abysmals are returning, we must prepare for the worst."
Elidyr nodded again, his gaze resolute. "I'll inform Zaros. If anyone can help devise a plan for this threat, it's him." The meeting with Zaros was equally solemn. Elidyr found him in his mansion within the city of the duchy. Zaros, a man with a severe appearance but a mind as sharp as steel, greeted him with the same urgency the situation demanded.
"You've come with bad news, I know," Zaros said bluntly as they sat in the main hall of the fortress. Elidyr nodded, sighing with regret. "Arieth is dead. He sacrificed himself to defeat an Abysmal that had been released."
Zaros closed his eyes for a moment, absorbing the loss. "I'm sorry. Arieth was one of the best." "Yes. And I fear he won't be the last to die in front of an Abysmal. we have to deal with this. I believe there are more sealed in other parts of the continent.
If one has escaped, the others may not be far behind."
Zaros pressed his lips together, his mind already turning to strategies and possible solutions. "Do you have any idea where the other seals might be?" Elidyr shook his head. "I don't know for certain, but the ancients left clues.
There are regions on the continent we've yet to fully explore, places forgotten by history. Those who call themselves Purgatory also seem to be on the move. If they're behind this, we could be facing conflict on multiple fronts."
Zaros stood up and began pacing the room, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor. "We'll need allies. We can't face this alone," he said. "I know," replied Elidyr adding, "We don't just need military forces. We need people who understand the ancient seals, who know how to reinforce them or how to prevent their rupture."
Zaros nodded, his expression hardening. "I'll do what I can to gather the forces we need, but Elidyr, if this continues, we're talking about a war on a scale we haven't seen in centuries". "I know," said Elidyr, the weight of that truth hanging over him like a dark cloud.
Meanwhile, in a forgotten corner of the continent, three figures walked through the dark corridors of an underground fortress. Seraphine, the succubus with fiery eyes, led the small group with a malicious smile on her face. Beside her, two dragons in human form, Lugia and Vaelyra, walked silently, their eyes fixed on the mission at hand.
"So, we're looking for semi-god legend-level demons," said Seraphine, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft and seductive but with a clear note of danger. "What does this have to do with my reward?"
Lugia, the elder of the two dragonesses, smiled smugly. "We've promised you information, and we'll give it to you, but first, we need you to help us find those demons". "And what kind of information can I expect in return?" Seraphine asked.
Vaelyra intervened. "The location of the promised god-candidate. Though still weak, he is undoubtedly what you seek. Eros Andrew, in the duchy of Cannes. If you join us in this search, we assure you'll be the first to approach him."
Seraphine paused for a moment, her eyes gleaming with interest, and said, "Duchy of Cannes, you say? Now that's something worth pursuing." Lugia nodded, "We have a bit of a friendship with him. If you help us, we promise to introduce you."
"Now that I know where he is, why can't I just seek him out? What stops me from not helping you?" Seraphine asked playfully, but Lugia remained unfazed. She knew this woman well and responded, "Although succubi are loyal to the gods of Eros, I know you wouldn't accept being enslaved, and that's all you'll become if you try to approach without our help."
Seraphine frowned upon hearing this, as Lugia was right. Being a race focused on sex and eroticism, succubi's greatest patrons were the gods of Eros, but that didn't mean they wanted to be enslaved by one.
The fate of the continent hung by a thread, and each of the players in this vast and intricate chess game knew their next moves would determine the course of history.
The sun had just begun to set over the lands when Elidyr met with Zaros again at his mansion. The wind was blowing unusually strong as if the continent itself knew the calm before the storm was about to end.
The two men, key figures in the defense against the Abysmals, watched the horizon from atop a watchtower. "Elidyr, I've begun mobilizing our forces," Zaros said.
After a brief pause, he added, "But it won't be enough. If we're right and the seals are weakening in other parts of the continent, we must act quickly. We can't wait for others to do it."
Elidyr, his eyes fixed on the distant mountains, slowly nodded. "I've contacted the scholars in Naraeth. The remaining arcanists there might help us identify the ancient seals and the regions where they might be. However, if Purgatory is behind these movements, they may already be one step ahead."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Zaros muttered before adding, "They've proven adept at staying in the shadows". Elidyr sighed, his expression darkening further. "We have no time to waste. If the ancient records are accurate, the Abyssals are forces that even the largest armies couldn't contain if released en masse. We must find the other seals before it's too late."
Zaros, ever the strategist, kept his gaze fixed on the horizon, but his mind was already forming a plan. "Then we'll go to Naraeth. We'll bring along some of the best warriors and arcanists we can gather. If we're going to stop this, we'll need more than just physical strength. Magic and knowledge will be as important as the sword in this war."
Elidyr nodded, knowing that their next step would lead them to an even more dangerous quest. When the 3 partners of Arieth returned to the country of Rios to inform them what happened, the Council of the Liquid Spirits had already been alerted, so they were already on the move.
The Council informs them about the movements of Elidyr and Zaros, which surprises them because these two don't move very often. That was a probe of the difficult time ahead. meanwhile, Zaros and Elidyr looking at the horizon let out a sigh.
Looking away, Zaros turned around, "We leave at dawn," Zaros finally said, giving Elidyr a firm pat on the shoulder and adding, "Rest, my friend. We'll need our strength."