NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1508: The Dark Continent
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"No, as I said, it wasn't just the demons' fault, humans too did this, the demon cultists sold their souls to them and caused this, it wasn't just demons, it was humanity's cruelty that caused their destruction," Dylan sighed. "We have to learn, young heroes, about the mistakes of our past, so we do not repeat them in the future. Erdrich, you're special, as special as Blake is."
"Me?" Erdrich felt surprised that Dylan suddenly walked towards him.
"You're the Cambion, but not a tool or a vessel to be used by cultists or demons, you're a bridge," Dylan said. "You can be the bridge that connects humans and demons."
"What...? That's crazy! Why would our friend do that?" Chris asked.
"Hm..." Elfriedden remained in silence, nodding.
"If we actually win, then... the future will be uncertain, but demons and their realm will not stop existing," Dylan said. "Blake's intent has never been to make their race go extinct, even less to destroy their world. And I believe he'll be counting on you for what the future awaits, Erdrich."
"Me...?" Erdrich suddenly began to realize the responsibility of his own status as the Cambion, and what it truly meant for the future.
"Once Lucifer, who commands and creates demons is gone... if it truly happens and we actually win," Dylan said. "What will happen with the rest of the demons? I am not saying they're your responsibility but... I know that you want something more."
"..." Erdrich sighed, he realized he was easier to read than he imagined. "Yeah..."
"Wait, what?!" Chris was shocked as he saw Erdrich respond like that. "W-What do you mean Erdrich?"
"I will help you guys, and we will defeat Lucifer together but... I don't want the demons to be slaughtered either, at least not those that don't fight," Erdrich said. "I am sure that they can be reasoned with... with enough time. Perhaps I'm being too hopeful, but that's what I want to believe... of a future where we don't have to fight anymore. A future where humanity and demons could at least tolerate each other."
"I don't know man, that sounds crazy," Chris said. "To me you're a human... Do you really consider yourself a demon, Erdrich?"
"Chris, that's enough, do you have to be so rude about it?" Elfriedden asked angrily. "You don't even know what he's going through... you weren't born the way he is, you didn't face his difficulties, his challenges... Don't speak with such a tone to your friend, he's only trying to explain what he feels."
"I..." Chris gripped his fists tightly, sighing. "Sorry..."
"It's fine..." Erdrich smiled lightly. "And wow, I didn't expect that from you Elfriedden, I didn't think you had mellowed down so much."
"Shut up!" Elfriedden said angrily, walking away, but then glaring at Erdrich with his sharp blue eyes. "We elves live for thousands of years... If you truly intend to change the future one day... well, you know who to call."
"Thanks..." Erdrich nodded, as Patricia smiled, realizing that her boyfriend had great friends.
"Uuuh, yeah, sorry about that, I got a little carried away..." Chris apologized. "Anyway, I guess it's about time, huh?"
"Yeah, it is," Dylan nodded, glancing into the distance, as Blake and everyone else gathered together, and then set off into the skies, on top of Ruby and Bestellen, while Braveblitz flew right above them, watching around his surroundings.
There were several Familiars equipped with flight and the ability to swim, so around 60% of the army moved with him, while the rest reverted to cards, which Blake brought along once they reached the Dark Continent.
And the Dark Continent itself... once a beautiful tropical paradise, had now changed after centuries of being corrupted by the demonic energies and their miasma, terraformed into a wasteland of monstrous appearance and shape.
Black skies, red land, volcanic eruptions created countless magma rivers and lakes, forests of bizarre trees made of strange, monstrous trees of all shapes and sizes, mountains in the shape of screaming beings, and the sounds of wailing souls everywhere, alongside ugly, mutated demonic beasts everywhere, some as enormous as one hundred meters, roaming the land.
"This place... so this is the Dark Continent..." Eric muttered in disbelief, glancing around the surroundings. "It has a very strong Demonic Energy atmosphere too... any normal person would surely die from intoxication if they came here!"
"Good thing we trained our Resistance to the Demonic Element," Chris crossed his arms.
"It was a harsh training, but it ended paying well," Alberta said. "We're also getting closer to our Max Levels, I think? Eric, are you?"
"Yeah, I hope that with this we can get there, Rank Up, and then move on," Eric nodded.
"Woah..." Erika looked around with her bright eyes. "Mom stayed back home, but this place sure is lugubrious, I bet she would've liked it, she always likes weird biomes like this..."
"We'll purify all of this and bring back the tropical paradise this continent once was," Elizabeth said. "Erika, we might need your help for that."
"Of course, sure! Leave it to me," Erika nodded with a cute smile. "We got this!"
"Oh dear, aren't you even more confident than before, Erika?" Eleanora wondered. "Fufu, it seems that your revenge against Sathan had made you... I don't know, you seem more mature now."
"M-More mature?! So rude Eleanora! I wasn't mature before?!" Erika got slightly sad, pouting.
"Ohoho, sorry about that, I didn't mean to sound rude," Eleanora patted her head. "You're a good girl, Erika. Thank you for coming so far with us."
"Don't even mention it!" Erika winked at her. "Let's finish this war, everyone!"
"YEEAAAAH!"
The rest of the party celebrated at Erika's words, although Blake had always been the leader, it was quite clear just how much influence she had with everyone, being somewhat a second leader of sorts.
"I'm ready any time, Blake, let's do this. Let's end this once and for all," Dylan said.
"Have some patience," Blake spoke, remaining in silence. "They're here."
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