RISE OF THE MALEVOLENCE
Soon, our airships were filled by the Mithridocus family and they soon left the city. Those who couldn't get on the airships would have to run from here.
"I'll buy you some time while you leave", I told the Mithridocus family as me and my friends went to meet the approaching demon army.
The Mithridocus family quickly left Maher city under the cover of our protection.
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Soon, the demon army rushed into the city led by their leader the ArchDemon Zesgumath.
"I guess we must meet this Zesgumath finally", I told my friends.
"Our magic is exhausted, we can't fight an army of demon now", Chash told us.
The previous battle with the Bloodfiends have strained our magic and energy. I couldn't use my divine artifact, the Blood Guillotine either because my magic was all used up to do so last time.
"Kill everyone. I will raze this city", King Zesgumath shouted to his army as they entered the city.
"Is this the end?" Cassandra asked us.
"The Mithridocus family are safe now, we can leave the city", Meera told us.
"Alright, we should leave this city too", I replied to her.
So, we quickly flew out of the city as the demons ransacked it.
Suddenly, to our shock and surprise, loud screams were heard in the city. We stopped to look back at what was happening there.
Then we realized what was happening.
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The city of Maher was overrun by a malevolent force that unleashed lightless fabrics, which roamed the streets with vicious intent. These dark entities relentlessly hunted their victims, both living and dead, as if they owned the world.
The darkness quickly enveloped the entire city, its malevolence overwhelming even the formidable demon army.
Neither demons nor humans, nor any of the allies of the Demon Queen, could withstand the devastating assault of this dark magic.
There was no escape from its consuming power.
The malevolent darkness showed no mercy, seizing the essence and souls of the deceased along with the living. It was a scourge beyond the defense capabilities of the demon army.
In an ironic twist, Maher found an unlikely ally in its battle against the Demon army. Yet, this ally offered no salvation—it sought only to consume everything in its path.
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"Did you release the Sword of Malevolence into the city, master?" Meera asked me.
"No, I didn't do that. I wouldn't destroy everyone in the city just to spite the demon army", I replied to them.
"Then how did the Sword of Malevolence get released into Maher city?" Cassandra asked us.
"The question is who released the Sword of Malevolence if master did not?" Meera answered with a question.
This was a puzzle that even I couldn't answer although the clever rat knows about it.
"The Dark Angel did that", Ratatouille told us to our shock and surprise before he added, "he needs to feed on their magic".
"The Dark Angel released the Sword of Malevolence? He recovered enough to do that already?" I asked.
"The Dark Angel is close to being resurrected", Ratatouille who frequently went into my soul realm and met with the souls of the previous Dark Angels told us.
"Damn", I complained to myself.
"What are we going to do now?" Chash asked me.
"Well, I must not let all the magic in the city go to the Dark Angel", I replied to them as I sent out my Malevolent Slaves.
"Malevolent Slaves"
"Take as much magic as you can and possibly recruit more slaves while you do it", I told my Malevolent Slaves.
Even dead souls were afraid of the malevolence of the Dark Angel, and they would willingly become my bound slaves to escape that fate. Every time the Sword of Malevolence was unleashed, I had a good number of volunteers and recruits to my Malevolent Slave army.
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"What in hell is that malevolent magic attacking our army?" Darklord asked.
"I've not seen such magic before", The Demon Queen Emerald replied to him.
"I recognize this magic. It is the magic of the Dark Angel of Revelations", ArchDemon Zesgumath replied to them worriedly.
"The Dark Angel? Who is that?" Emily asked.
"A fallen angel. Once one of the strongest existences in this world. Our fate is entwined to the Dark Angel in a way too according to the scriptures of Revelations", ArchDemon Zesgumath told them.
"Is the Dark Angel an ally or an enemy?" Queen Emerald asked the demon king.
"Our paths are entwined but we do not know if we are on the same trajectory. The Revelations mentioned the uniting of the Ten-Kingdoms under a hegemon. The demons and the Dark Angel are instruments to that although we do not know if he is our ally", Zesgumath explained to them.
"What should we do about the Dark Angel?" Darklord asked.
"Will the Dark Angel become my ally?" Queen Emerald asked.
"I do not know. But we should avoid the Dark Angel, if possible for now, otherwise all our hopes are lost before it can be achieved. If the Dark Angel is not ready for negotiation, he would consume us instead", ArchDemon Zesgumath told them.
"What should we do now?" The Demon Queen asked Zesgumath.
"We retreat. There is no need to meet the Dark Angel now. Eventhough I believe his magic is not complete yet, we are still not his match. We also need to conserve our strength to fight with the apostles", Lord Zesgumath said to them.
"Then we shall retreat", Queen Emerald told them.
"What about our plans?" Emily asked.
"Our plan was foiled when that bastard Oriese discovered them. He brought the apostles here so quickly after we activated the curse on those who took our potions, he must be prepared for it. Furthermore, all our spies in the Mithridocus family never returned here after the city was invaded, which means that part of blaming them was lost", Kolgane explained to them.
"Tell us in a language we understand", ArchDemon Zesgumath asked Kolgane in the Ten-Kingdoms' language.