NOVEL NEXT Chapter 191: Layers of Outsourcing
The sixth layer of hell, Malboggi, outside the Magos Seige underground fortress, on that boundless rock slope.
Dragons led by Attilicia, the Dragon Father fetched by David from Maggot's Nest, were now staring dumbfounded as Glaciya, the legendary devil duchess, casually floated a bronze-clad fortress midair with a wave of her hand, as if pinching off part of a sandcastle from her landscape table.
The bronze fortress above twisted and transformed at her will, becoming a cityscape filled with gloomy architecture, floating towers, distorted staircases, and vast, pillarless halls. Witnessing this, Attilicia and the others, like country bumpkins who had never seen the world, were utterly stupefied:
"So, you directly asked the Chromatic Dragon Queen for a Sky City? And She actually gave it to you?"
He could not imagine, nor had he ever heard of, the Chromatic Dragon Queen Tiamat being so generous!
David, however, replied with Arrogance, tilting his head:
"It's not a real Sky City, just a knockoff."
Just as David finished speaking, as if expressing its dissatisfaction with his 'knockoff' assessment, the faux Sky City, which at least looked full of Nesseriel Arcane styles, was lowered by the devil duchess right in front of them.
With a thunderous roar like a mountain landing, the entire Malboggi plane, dominated by endless slopes, immediately experienced an avalanche-like, grand rockslide.
"Should I also announce to the Bronze Citadel in Avernus that 'David Uthos,' the Red Dragon transferred from the Evil Scale Fortress, is also a knockoff?"
"No, no, no, Your Highness Glaciya has excellent skills. At least it looks no different from a real Sky City."
David's group of 'guests' from the Evil Scale Fortress had no choice but to soar into the sky. They then watched with tense eyes as the rockslide, theoretically capable of crushing anything in its path, struck the faux city, only to be deflected to both sides as if meeting an immovable column in midstream.
"Were it not for the fact that you saved my young kinswoman Yolanda on this occasion, even if it came as a request from my father, I wouldn't have bothered with such a tedious and dreary task. Not to mention, as a Red Dragon, you really have quite a lot of ridiculous requests."
These seemingly careless remarks from the devil duchess startled David.
Shit, did Tiamat actually go so far as to ask the Lord of the Nine Hells for help with my spur-of-the-moment plan?! And His Majesty actually agreed?!
The feeling was much like securing a small subcontracting project—what he thought was a simple land survey—through his mother's connections, only to discover it was tied to a grand strategic initiative. Then, upon receiving the blueprints—Shit!—they bore the crimson seal of a critical department of the Ministry of Defense, along with the handwritten approval and signature of the nation's supreme leader.
David, only belatedly grasping the full implications, felt his scalp tingle.
It seems I've really stumbled into something major. If it weren't for my mother, who has already ascended to godhood, watching over me, and the fact that I only took on a minor surveying task, I'd almost feel the urge to make an excuse and bolt.
However, Tiamat was a deity who based her Divine Realm in Avernus, one of the Nine Layers of Hell. She had even served as the Duchess of Avernus for a time. Considering this, it was almost impossible that there hadn't been some 'deal' with Asmodeus, the Lord of the Nine Hells.
Considering the identity of this young Succubus lady, David didn't dare show the slightest neglect. He was afraid of offending Her Highness Glaciya, who had been 'drafted' by her father and whose temper seemed none too pleasant. So, with a smile, he said:
"I truly appreciate your hard work, Your Highness."
Although Glaciya said no more, David could clearly see from the side that the devil duchess was continuing to put her heart and soul into creating the faux Sky City.
Her demeanor was like that of a child, confined at home for too long, who had received the chance to craft something by hand and was eager to gain approval from their father.
As the sky-obscuring dust cleared, Viola, the young black dragon with the keenest eyes and most curious nature, suddenly exclaimed:
"What is that?"
All the dragons looked in the direction she indicated. They saw a vast horde of devils, their eyes seemingly dull, pouring out from the Magos Seige underground stronghold. Then, as if guided by some long-lost familiarity, they scrambled up the slanted face of the faux Sky City, each trying to outpace the others.
Only then did the devil duchess Glaciya slowly turn around and, looking at David, solemnly explained:
"These thirty thousand Nesseriel spirits are all I could gather from the various layers of Barto Hell using my authority. They will undergo 'Soul Revival' after you officially enter the Shadow Plane.
"But you must remember, most of them perished 1,700 years ago in the destruction of Nesseriel. Due to the death of the first Magic Goddess, they fell into the lower planes. Their memories have been washed in the Styx River and wrung out on the Scaffold of Despair.
"So, even if I temporarily return that 'divine energy' to them, do not expect them to retain much useful memory or combat prowess. Once they leave Hell and go to other planes, they will be mere mortals.
"Furthermore, these souls are lent to you in my name. Therefore, should they 'fall in battle' or die, they will be immediately recalled to Barto Hell. So, do not expect to use 'Resurrection Spells' to revive them."