Chapter 131: Deity, Minor Demon

“A bunch of good-for-nothings!” Godfrey Gordon Ralphe’s voice was not loud, but to the group of gentlemen standing in the vast hall, it sounded like a muffled thunderclap.

Everyone’s nerves were stretched to the limit. In the palace at this moment, officials of the defense system had gathered. Led by the Empire’s Chancellor, they looked at the floor with pale faces. The anger of His Majesty the Seventh had lasted for an hourglass after breakfast. Or perhaps he finally felt some fatigue. He half-reclined on the throne and began to rest his eyes. This allowed the ministers, whose hearts had been suspended for half a day, to relax a little.

Everyone knew exactly what His Majesty was angry about. However, no one could offer any constructive suggestions at this time. As the most powerful nation on the Western Continent, the covert strife between the Phoenix royal family and the Temple of the Three Gods had been a long-standing issue. Yet, under any emperor’s rule, this problem had never been neglected. Neither the fourth Emperor, known for his kinship with the people and advocacy of free faith, nor the short-lived Emperor Leamon, notorious for his mediocrity and blind belief in the divine right of kings, ever made the slightest compromise in their confrontations with the Temple.

But now, in Hayton City, the capital of Phoenix, evils not permitted by the deities were appearing one after another… The Temple of the Three Gods had finally found a rare, golden opportunity…

In the eyes of those with purpose, undercurrents had long been stirring in Hayton City. Although the situation at various levels was not yet very obvious, and incidents of demons appearing were controlled within an acceptable limit under the suppression and maintenance of the City Guard, ordinary people could dismiss them as strange tales for after-dinner conversation. After all, apart from those unlucky fellows who died at the hands of demons, their lives remained undisturbed. But all those in the know clearly understood that the problem here was very serious. Even if they were only the lowest among demons, Dretches that a seasoned soldier could easily handle, the frequency and numbers were far too abnormal.

For a ruler, demons killing people did not frighten him. What was truly terrifying was that demonic power could be borrowed by ambitious individuals through some kind of ritual.

“…What are you still standing around for!” But everyone had just caught their breath when, with a loud “bang,” a golden cup studded with gemstones crashed onto the bright red carpet, twisting out of shape. The entire Falkens Palace seemed to tremble slightly from the roar. “What are those Temple Priests and the people from the Mage’s Guild doing? Usually, they take large offerings of money from me, from you all! But when the Empire needs them, not a single one can be seen!”

“They have already begun searching, Your Majesty. The Temple has dispatched experts to combat the demons. City Guard defenses have been quadrupled. The Magic Tower has also sent personnel. And notices for hunting demons have been posted in the Mercenaries’ Guild… I believe even beings like Archmages would not dare to…” Sweat beaded on the Chancellor’s face. He couldn’t help but steal a glance at the figure shrouded in red sitting beside the King. The latter merely cast two inscrutable glances from the shadow of the hood, seemingly completely excluding the Supreme One’s words that included him from his own thoughts.

“I’m beginning to suspect it’s not just demons that have appeared… Has your brain been eaten by a Mind Flayer? One can be a thief for a thousand days, but who can guard against a thief for a thousand days?” His Majesty the Emperor coldly interrupted the Chancellor’s defense, his tone unusually biting. “Isn’t an enemy like this, against whom defense is impossible, precisely the time to demonstrate your talents? Search! Cancel all leaves for the City Guard. I will assign you five thousand sacred Knights. Go and search! House to house, don’t let any clue slip by! Whether it’s Undead, assassins, or those so-called summoners, find them all for me!”

About half an hourglass after all the pale-faced gentlemen retreated quail-like from the hall into the corridor, His Majesty the Seventh opened his eyes. He swept a glance at his first minister, who still stood with hands respectfully at his sides. “Speak…” he gestured with a wave of his fingers.

“This current incident… To what extent do you wish it to reach?” That habitual smile once again appeared on the old man’s face.

“At the very least, make those servants of the gods feel a bit pleased… This way, they won’t be too eager to bother me… Also, take this opportunity to thoroughly plow the areas that were previously neglected. Make preparations for what is to come…” The Supreme One on the throne slowly sat upright. His voice carried a hint of weariness, but under his golden eyebrows streaked with gray, his pupils glinted faintly.

…

The scenery shrouded in gray mist slowly dissipated. The rolling black clouds and twinkling starlight also began to gradually vanish from view. Constantine slowly opened his eyes, adapting to the gradually shifting scene.

“No change… There’s actually no change at all?”

The youth moved his fingers, making a series of mysterious magical gestures. But he soon ‘discovered’ with some surprise that his state had not improved in any way. Neither his own power nor the spells he could cast. Several ancient gestures and mystical, archaic incantations seemed deeply etched in his memory, but he could not extract even the slightest bit of energy from the Weave of Magic. No matter how he tried, he remained that lowly little Sorcerer who had just barely touched fourth-level spells.

“Of course there’s no change. There has never been any shortcut to the growth of power.” Hartdiel, who seemed to exist solely to provoke Constantine, spoke up at just that moment, teasing with his unique, flat voice. “I would be surprised if your Magic Power had increased.”

“You dead bones! Then what was the point of all that nonsense you spouted earlier about exploration and such!” People are always full of confidence when painting a bright future, but this untested confidence almost always vanishes into thin air upon encountering setbacks, turning into resentful anger. “”

“Knowledge, knowledge… Those memories are the foundational understanding of the Arcane Arts… You should feel fortunate. Even powerful Archmages struggle to grasp the mysteries of Magic. Only Mages who have stepped into the wondrous realm gain a clear experience and understanding of magical structure, because they have comprehended the meaning of magical script and understood the principles of magical construction. That is also why only Mages in the wondrous realm can create their own unique spells.”

Constantine was stunned for a moment. In his shallow understanding, the magical civilization of the Western Continent had passed through the Age of Savagery, the Age of Arcane, the Dark Age, and the Age of War, and was now a complete system. And Magic was nothing more than incantations and Magic Power. To raise a Mage’s level, one must diligently practice Meditation and magical chants. But those hazy memories from before seemed to lead him through another door.

“However, if that’s the case, then these things seem even more useful for you…” His train of thought shifted slightly, and Constantine suddenly thought of another question…

“No… For you, this thing is more useful… If you can truly master it, then you won’t need to memorize those obscure, difficult incantations anymore. You just need to extract and remember the magical structure of each spell from those ancient memories, and you can cast them at will…” The Lich’s words once again piqued the youth’s interest. But the latter half placed a heavy burden upon him. “However, you must be careful. All magical structures in the world have their own characteristics. Amidst the myriad differences, even the slightest mistake could lead to magical backlash…”

“That’s still nonsense…”

“Of course not. This method of spellcasting is destined to be vastly different! The effects it can produce are countless times greater than the traditional way!” Constantine was stunned again. Then, he suddenly thought of a question. “Then tell me, what on earth is the origin of the being that granted me this power?”

“Hmm, to grant Divine Power so recklessly, to casually elevate a new Believer to a Chosen… If this fellow isn’t a monstrously powerful being, then he must be an out-and-out madman! No, crazier than a madman! Even that great lunatic Cyric wouldn’t easily do such an absurd thing!”

Chosen?

This time, Constantine was truly shocked!

“Don’t find it strange. If a Deity wants to grant something to a weakling like you, you have no right to object… As long as he has the desire.” The Lich slowly explained.

So what do you think? Is he a madman, or monstrously powerful? His mind was momentarily chaotic. Constantine leaned back a little and asked softly.

“How should I know? He didn’t even reveal his specific name to you. He could very well be some naive fellow who just understood Divinity. But he could also be an Avatar of a powerful Deity acting on a whim… Unless you ask him personally, the world is so vast, how can we guess his identity by speculation alone? Don’t you know that Necromancers have no affinity with prophecy?”

“The only thing that can be confirmed now is that you are temporarily in no danger. While a Main Deity can strip a Chosen of their status at any time, a Deity doesn’t elevate a Believer to Chosen without reason… Because doing so consumes some of his own power. And since he needs you to do something for him, you are safe until his goal is achieved. Even if you encounter particularly troublesome situations, he will help you escape the crisis. He might even use you directly as an Avatar for his descent… Did he really tell you nothing?”

The youth shook his head, feeling he still hadn’t emerged from the confusion…

What is a Deity? Spellcasters see it as the source of magic and Divine Magic. Bored and unambitious people see it as spiritual sustenance. Some summarize it thus… God is faith! Although a considerable number, or perhaps all Deities, were once Human or Humanoid Creatures before apotheosis, no matter how you look at it, a god ultimately is no longer a person.

They are nothing like the legends—righteous and kind, or sinister and evil, even hot-tempered and brainless… Deities do not possess human emotions. They don’t care about justice! What they care about is only their own interests!

“As long as they can prolong their existence and make it more exalted, they will absolutely not spare any means! Even the Three Gods of Light, who pride themselves on justice, grant Divine Magic protection to nobles who offer money and sacrifices, while the poor can only accept illness and pain, euphemistically called trials given by the gods.

And evil Deities can also send out Believers to protect the world’s peace. Otherwise, if the world is destroyed, they too will decline.

The scholars of this world have countless conclusions about Deities. But in research concerning the intricate relationships between Deities and mortals, it is actually no more helpful than reports of some deity transforming into a bull, a swan, or even a shower of gold to rendezvous with many beautiful mortal maidens.”

“Boom!”

A sharp cracking sound pulled Constantine’s thoughts away from those profound mysteries. He walked to the window and noticed some eerie colors tainting the surrounding scenery. “Spatial Turbulence? Someone is using a summoning spell, and quite a powerful one at that!” The Lich keenly provided the information… And at that moment, the door was pushed open. The fully equipped female Mercenary hurriedly reported. “Young master Constantine, it seems someone has summoned Demons nearby!”

“Hmm?” Constantine frowned. He had already heard about the information regarding Demon summoning in Hayton City recently. But due to the existence of that lizard, he hadn’t paid it much mind…

Only now, it seemed this matter was a bit interesting. Although the Central Academy was not as heavily guarded as the palace or the Mage Tower, it still had considerable protective measures. So how did these Demons get through those defenses and come here? And as far as Constantine knew, there seemed to be individuals with considerable martial prowess within this academy. What was the point of summoning Demons here?

The small square opposite the noble students’ dormitory had now become a battlefield!

Not everyone would shrink back before the infamous name of Demons in legends. At least these military academy students had absolute Confidence in their own martial skills. From the large spatial rift in the air, Dretches were frantically pouring out. But the first thing they faced upon leaving that Plane reeking of fire and foulness was the flash of blades and spears. Over a dozen noble students and their Attendants had formed a simple defensive line. Their weapons were uneven, but their attack and defense system was surprisingly orderly! A few troublemakers among them were even shouting loudly, seeming to hope more people would come witness their ‘heroic’ demon-slaying!

However, since they are named Demons, even the lowest among them also have attributes worthy of that title.

The wrinkled skin of the Dretches was far tougher than it looked. Whether swords or arrows, they left much shallower marks than expected… The damage inflicted by several sword-wielders was practically negligible to them. And one Dretch, with several arrows sticking out of it, still charged upward recklessly!

So the simple defensive line began to waver… One exceptionally tall Dretch suddenly let out a series of roars. With a wave of its claw, a yellow-green mist suddenly sprayed towards the crowd! It billowed and spread!

This foul cloud created by dark power actually didn’t have much killing force. But the heavy stench it emitted was as revolting as sewage… Two shield-bearing servants bore the brunt. Their sturdy Shields couldn’t withstand this assault. They fainted almost without a sound!

Then everyone enveloped in this mist began to vomit. The formation instantly loosened! And at that very moment, two individuals were surrounded by the mass of Demons! Immediately, the commotion in the crowd grew even louder!

“A bunch of idiots!” Constantine frowned and extended a finger in that direction… Although he didn’t mind a few idiots dying in front of him, he also had no interest in watching nauseating scenes. He’d heard Demons made quite a bloody mess when they ate people.

Sticky webs descended from the sky. Seven or eight charging Dretches were immediately ensnared. The thick, tough magical Spider strands soon bound them firmly. Their pitiful strength made it impossible for them to break free. They could only scream angrily and wait for the spell’s effect to end… But what they awaited was utter destruction. The Sorcerer in the distance drew a series of identical gestures, and bursts of flame erupted around their bodies!

The sharp, immense pain, enough to pierce the Soul, made these brainless Demons scream and howl with all the remaining power in their lives! They smelled the charred stench from their own bodies. They heard their muscles crackling like frying beans under the high heat. They shrieked, rolling desperately on the ground, trying to roll the burning Spider webs off their bodies. But this action only made the flames burn more fiercely!

This sudden assistance drew a string of cheers from the Humans. The innate fear of the Dretches was awakened. They collectively abandoned their imminent victory and fled in all directions. Any direction was fine, as long as it was away from those terrifying fireballs!

But new enemies also appeared at the same time.

Not one, but a group. As that strange space flickered, no fewer than ten creatures with beast-like, fierce bodies leaped out from the black and red. They were almost naked, their bone-spur-covered frames a head taller than an average Human. Their dark red skin emitted a nauseating sulfur smell. They only wore tattered leather around their waists, some were completely naked. But a layer of jelly-like, red sticky liquid covered all gaps. Their heads were somewhere between Human and beast, vaguely discernible as Human in shape. But the curved horns protruding from their foreheads and skulls seemed to mark their evil identity!

These creatures seemed to have a plan. The moment they appeared, three figures vanished into the air simultaneously!

When they reappeared, they were already beside the young Sorcerer. Sharp hooked claws swung, all aiming to grab that slender figure!

William Mina’s face changed dramatically. She lunged forward in a single step, trying to save her employer… But her movement only reached halfway when a black arc of light sliced through the air!

One Demon let out a hoarse scream… Only half a scream! His body was swept by that black arc. The slanting Adamantine blade cleaved its skull, split its chest cavity, and tore him in two like soft mud! As the two halves of his body skewed apart, the contents of his abdominal cavity, blood and internal organs, splattered out wildly! Green, pink, bright red, and white things flew through the air, finally mixing into a dark red pool, splashing onto the surrounding ground and onto his two companions!