The Last King Of Darkness

Rod furrowed his brows. He remembered someone once telling him that the true Abyss is an aspect so dark that even the gods cannot reach it.

The Abyss Rift is merely a fragment of the outer layer of the Abyss and can only be considered a derivative of the Abyss.

Legend has it that the Black Fog originates from the true Abyss.

He hadn't expected it to truly exist in the deepest part of the Royal City Sewer, with the Silver Oath being its sealing force.

"Archbishop."

Rod asked curiously,

"Why don't we investigate it, given our proximity to the Abyss?"

Horus shook his head with a somber expression.

"The horrors within the Abyss are unimaginable. Maintaining its calm is the best outcome. Before Lord Theodore spent immense resources to build the Silver Oath, demons from the Abyss would erupt every few decades, causing severe disasters to the Royal City. To this day, there remains a strong Abyssal Aura in the deepest layers of the sewers."

"As for the birth of the Black Fog, it requires venturing into the Abyss to verify. The Silver Oath has not yet reached a level of flexible control. We need to establish more sealing altars to strengthen the control of the True Silver Ring to achieve this."

Rod looked at the numerous altars beneath the giant ring and asked, "So, does the Silver Oath's control over the taboo entities and arms function only as a secondary capability?"

Horus nodded slightly.

"This is merely a utilization of the powerful sealing power of the True Silver Ring. For that purpose, we formed the Taboo Armament attached beneath it, which is another path we have attempted."

"We use special methods to control monsters. Pure monsters are impossible to control; contact with them results only in infection and erosion. First, we imbed monsters with the Abyssal Aura, then fuse flesh engraved with special runes into the monster's body. Through a series of complex rituals, we suppress its soul to bring it under human control."

Rod recalled riding the strange bird and the gripping hand, which must be creations of the Silver Oath's Taboo Armament, and asked:

"Did we succeed? This is our sixth path?"

The previous five paths were Spiritual Fire, Starfire, Black and White Spirit Bearers, Unawakened, these five great sequences.

Horus's face turned grim.

"No, we failed."

Rod exclaimed in surprise, "Why?"

Horus said concisely, "Bound and modified monsters are too unstable, prone to losing control, mutation, or corrosion by the Black Fog. Most importantly, we can only modify monsters to the Primary Rank of Strong Level. Beyond that, it becomes impossible. You know, on the frontline battlefield, it has no significance; our main battlefield generally consists of monsters at High Rank Strong Level and above."

"Thus, it completely failed, almost irrelevant, leaving only a few monsters with special uses; the rest were eliminated."

Horus led Rod around the altars, to the edge of the venue, and down a rotating side path.

In a giant cavern, Rod saw a few remaining taboo entities.

One of them resembled a giant walnut covered in tendrils, suspended in mid-air by countless chains.

"This is the Amig Demon. Its tentacles can drag you into the Spirit Realm, delivering you to designated locations within the Royal City for urgent summons."

Another, at the bottom of the cavern, was a monstrous bird-like creature Rod had once ridden.

"Black Swan, a fast transporter, quicker than a Floating Spirit Car, capable of transporting hundreds at a time."

Another was enveloped by countless pipes, its figure unseen.

"Great Demon Wolf Pshier, a King Level Monster, though here it's merely a new creature born from a remnant body. It continuously emits heat, providing half of the Royal City's hot water."

Rod glanced curiously at the unfortunate heating source, but regrettably, the tangled mess of pipes completely obscured its figure. Only bursts of heat could be seen radiating from the pipes.

With Horus leading further, they arrived at a massive Hall.

"This is the headquarters of the Taboo Armament, responsible for managing and maintaining taboo entities and taboo bearers. If there's anything commendable, it's the use of taboo bearers."

"Most taboo bearers are Fire Holders with soul defects. Some have forbidden characteristics disallowed to exist; they're very unstable and easily lose control. The only solution used to be immolation, but now, there's a way for them to live on, adding new strength to us, but..."

Horus looked seriously at Rod.

"You must take care, Mephit has left the Silver Oath's Taboo Armament solely because of you; otherwise, I would never let him leave Ryanbeck's sight."

Ryanbeck is the leader of the Taboo Armament. Rod once had a conflict with his dispatched people because of Mephit.

Rod nodded, "I will, Archbishop. Her strength is beyond what I imagined. Previously, due to the curse, she seemed not to have unleashed her true power."

Horus said in a deep voice, "Her true strength would not be less than First Level Combatants. To seal and control her, the Taboo Armament tried everything in vain. She's burdened with some blood cases, and the Internal Affairs Court is still investigating."