Necromancer Of The Black Bible (93)

The western part of the Ethereal Realm, now the upper Demon Realm.

A commotion arose there.

An artifact that had been silent until now activated.

Jiiiing-

A massive circle on the floor west of the Citadel of Ruin.

The demons called that engraved circle the “West Gate.”

Around that gate, golden radiance began shining brilliantly.

This light, utterly mismatched with the Demon Realm, surged from the floor and brightly illuminated one side for a while.

Countless demons and demonkin rushed to the Citadel of Ruin upon seeing it.

One demonkin managing the West Gate entered the citadel representing them, knelt before Illinas on the throne, and reported.

“West Gate General Selkatus greets the Great Demon King.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Moments ago, an ominous light emitted from the West Gate!”

Illinas, who had been watching via the Thousand Eyes, replied expressionlessly.

“I know.”

“Then please tell me what it means. I have managed the West Gate over 1,000 years, but this is the first time. My subordinates there are all startled and trembling in fear.”

Selkatus trembled all over.

West Gate General Selkatus.

He was among the top powerhouses in Illinas’s faction.

Considered unmatched except by the Four Heavenly Kings.

Yet he could not hide his anxiety. This event was that significant to demons.

But Illinas examined Selkatus carefully without any expression change.

His massive frame was a head taller even facing Illinas.

Such a muscular giant knelt, gazing at Illinas with burning eyes.

Yet his deep yellow eyes held no anger or threat.

The emotion conveyed was none other than fear.

Normally, Illinas would have enjoyed that fear, but now it was unpleasant rather than enjoyable.

Because the fear reflected in Selkatus’s eyes did not originate from him.

Illinas met the faintly trembling eyes and spoke.

“I misjudged you. Seized by fear over such a trivial matter.”

“But My King. This cannot be overlooked. We all know what the West Gate connects to!”

“Yes. Let’s hear it. What scares you? Afraid because light came from a gate silent until now? A West Gate General cannot handle mere light?”

“That is not it!”

Selkatus clenched one fist tightly and continued.

“The West Gate was connected to the Ethereal Gate. And when connected, it always emitted golden light like now.”

As Selkatus finished, all demons inside the palace focused their gazes.

They all remembered the primordial rebellion.

Most too young to participate, merely watching, but now knew exactly what happened.

Thus, Selkatus’s mention of the Ethereal Gate was inevitably significant.

Above all, because the God Kallios, dying in agony, left final words.

-Regrettable. With this, you too enter the path of ruin. When the Ethereal Gate opens, you will share my fate. No, I am better. My suffering ends here. But yours will continue long. Your new master is not merciful.

All demons here recalled those words, and in that moment, all trembled.

The God Kallios.

He was their father and creator.

In the hearts of demons who killed him, his final words always remained.

For 3,000 years, the Ethereal Gate never opened, so they were relieved.

But what just happened could not be overlooked.

It was the start of their creator’s final prophecy.

Great Demon King Illinas sensed this would happen right after confirming the Ethereal Gate opening via Thousand Eyes, and prepared accordingly.

Illinas looked at Selkatus and spoke.

“So. Has the West Gate connected to the Ethereal Gate?”

Selkatus did not answer.

Precisely, he could not.

Because he could not confirm.

Only one can open the West Gate—the master of the Ethereal Realm.

Demons killed their creator and occupied here, but were not masters of the Ethereal Realm.

Thus, could do nothing only the master could.

The representative being opening gates.

The Ethereal Realm has four gates: east, west, south, north.

The master was already dead, so the gates never opened until now.

It was the same now.

Light came briefly from the gate, but no change.

Knowing this, Illinas smiled sinisterly and continued.

“I understand your fear. The words of the one our predecessors killed are still vivid in our hearts. But now is not that time.”

“Then…”

Selkatus raised his head and asked.

“The Ethereal Gate is unchanged?”

“Unchanged.”

Illinas answered without delay.

Then some demons sighed in relief.

Relieved the prophecy not yet fulfilled.

But most had wary eyes.

Clearly distrusting Illinas’s words.

Illinas glanced at them and looked at Selkatus again, speaking.

“The Ethereal Gate is firmly closed, nothing changed. Those doubting my words, see this.”

Illinas snapped fingers, and instantly something revealed from the massive sphere in the palace ceiling center.

A scene with crimson energy.

Containing a black sphere.

All present knew that sphere was the Ethereal Gate.

Illinas spoke to all.

“This is the current Ethereal Gate. Reflected by my Thousand Eyes. Still doubtful?”

No one could reply to Illinas.

The Ethereal Gate is identical to before.

No light leaking, no evidence of opening.

After staring long, Selkatus bowed his head.

“My apologies, Great Demon King. I was briefly disloyal.”

“Do you remember the price of disloyalty?”

Selkatus nodded with a stiff expression.

He stood, and the guard captain approached, offering a hideous crescent greatsword.

Selkatus shook his head and took the sword.

“I will do it myself.”

The price of disloyalty is offering a body part severed.

The disloyal chooses where, but the King judges suitability.

Gripping the sword with his left hand, Selkatus breathed deeply and swung at his clenched right arm.

Thuwak-

Selkatus gritted his teeth and handed the sword to the guard captain.

Then with left hand, lifted the severed right arm and offered it to Illinas.

Illinas smiled sinisterly and spoke.

“The price is suitable, but manners are lacking.”

Selkatus wordlessly knelt on one knee and bowed.

Only then did Illinas accept his right arm.

Gazing briefly at the severed arm’s cross-section, Illinas spoke.

“Good. I forgive your disloyalty.”

“Thank you.”

“Remain in that form for one week by Demon Realm time. So all demons here see an example.”

“I obey.”

“Go.”

Selkatus bowed deeply to the floor and exited.

Until he left, demons inside the palace merely watched.

After Selkatus left and doors closed, Illinas dismissed those around.

When all demons inside vanished, leaving only him.

He quietly stroked the throne’s right armrest. Then a deep shadow approached before him.

One of Illinas’s Four Heavenly Kings.

The shadow assassin, Murak.

-You called, Great Demon King.

A voice only Illinas could hear.

Illinas too replied in a voice only he could hear.

-Yes. Murak, I need you.

-Command me.

Illinas extended his left hand. Then a thin thread was grasped.

This was the Cord of the Soul connected to Damian. The Demon Realm thread entwined in his heart to bind his soul.

Illinas extended it to Murak and said.

-Your target to kill.

Murak grasped the thread with his hazy hand. Then flicked it with the other.

Tiiing-

Murak quietly felt the vibration and whispered to Illinas.

-He’s not far away.

-Where do you think?

-Floating in the same space as us. A cold space with nothing. But… moving slower than us.

Illinas inwardly admired.

Not expecting to sense this much information just by flicking the soul thread.

-Where do you think that place is?

At Illinas’s question, Murak hesitated briefly.

Then whispered cautiously.

-May I speak the truth?

-Speak.

-He… seems to be inside the Ethereal Gate.

Illinas gazed at Murak with calm eyes.

Murak met that gaze quietly and continued.

-I will tell no one, so worry not.

Damian inside the Ethereal Gate means it is already opened.

Moreover, he is the protagonist of the creator’s prophecy before death.

Murak recognized both but smiled faintly.

Though his face shadowed, Illinas could see the smile.

-Why smile?

-Smiled wondering if the creator’s prophecy is true.

-Indeed?

Illinas smiled faintly and asked back, Murak’s form briefly darkening as he continued.

-I will eliminate him and return.

-Can you?

-I have never failed a mission until now.

Murak’s rival is the dark mage Shador.

Murak always envied Shador.

Illinas valued Shador more than Murak.

But Shador failed in assassinating Damian, an opportunity for Murak.

-I will definitely end him.

-Wait.

Murak paused at the unexpected call.

Illinas gazed seriously and continued.

-Damian has fulfilled the prophecy’s introduction. Proper preparation seems good.

-Preparation meaning…

-Ksiratis. Surely it remains somewhere on the surface. Find it and use it as a weapon—then definitely eliminate him.

Ksiratis.

The name of the spear that killed the God Kallios.

Hearing this, Murak nodded quietly, left words of obedience, and vanished.

After he vanished.

Illinas gazed at the soul thread connected to Damian and thought.

‘Can I kill him this time?’

Murak is his best method.

If this fails, what then?

‘If so, I have no choice but to mobilize the army.’

Leading demons here out requires considerable price.

But that price is not heavier than his life.

‘Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.’

Illinas clenched his fist.

Yet he did not know.

That even he felt fear toward Damian.