Boom!
The ground trembled violently, but it was not just beneath their feet—the entire cave was shaking.
Debris began to fall, crashing to the ground with thunderous impact, sending clouds of dust and rock fragments through the chamber.
A sword suddenly plunged from above, slicing through the air and crashing into the ground with a fiery impact.
The rocks around it began to melt, glowing with intense heat as they changed colors—first from gray to yellow, then orange, and finally a blazing red.
Blub... Blub...
The molten rock bubbled and hissed, dripping away like liquid fire, as the sword's searing presence melted everything in its path.
The massive hole created by the sword's fiery descent became an entryway for the soldiers above.
Boom!
One by one, armored figures began to drop through the opening, their silhouettes framed by the lingering heat and glowing embers.
The soldiers descended with precision. Their armor gleamed in the dim light, weapons drawn and ready.
The armored figures who descended through the hole were massive, towering over the others in the cave.
They wore gleaming silver armor, each chestplate adorned with a prominent emblem—a sword crossed with a sun.
As the soldiers landed with heavy thuds, the hunchbacked man barely reacted.
He turned slowly to face his kneeling underlings, his expression showing no surprise, as if he had anticipated this intrusion.
"Buy me some... time," the hunchbacked man commanded his underlings, his voice cold and decisive.
Without hesitation, the dark-cloaked figures sprang into action, moving to confront the armored soldiers.
Clang! Boom!
The cave erupted into chaos as the two sides clashed. The silver-armored soldiers, though few in number, fought with unmatched skill and precision.
Each wielded a different weapon: one with massive gauntlets, another with a spear that glinted menacingly in the dim light, a third with a halberd that cut through the air with deadly arcs, and others with swords.
The hunchbacked man, meanwhile, retreated slightly, his attention focused on the ritual he was determined to complete, trusting his followers to hold off the attackers long enough for him to finish his work.
Slash! Boom!
The sounds of battle filled the cave.
The hunchbacked man murmured under his breath, "Let's advance this." With a swift motion of his hand, the ritual intensified.
The marks on Kael's body and the others' suddenly vanished, dissolving into the air like smoke.
The power of the ritual escalated, the hunchbacked man's form began to blur, his outline shimmering as if he were merging with the ritual itself.
As the ritual intensified, a figure suddenly dropped from the hole above, landing gracefully beside the sword embedded in the ground.
Booom!
This newcomer was noticeably smaller than the previous soldiers, yet their presence commanded immediate attention.
The armor he wore was finely crafted, with intricate details that set it apart from the others—elegant curves and sharp lines that hinted at both artistry and lethal precision.
A faint red tint glinted on the edges of the armor, giving it a regal yet fierce appearance.
Without hesitation, the figure reached down and grasped the sword, pulling it free from the molten rock.
The newcomer stood tall, the sword held ready, their eyes locked on the blurry form of the hunchbacked man.
The hunchbacked old man glanced briefly at the person with the unusual armor and began the ritual.
"My soul... will be your path, through shadows and night, Guide us... in darkness-"
The new soldier was about to make a move but the hunchback man glanced to the soldiers and murmured, "To forbidden... light."
Soon, the hunchbacked old man vanished like ash, and the body on the altar came to life.
This being was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people—an existence that signaled the end of the world. The vessel of the ancient being was now complete, but it lacked eyes.
The entire cave shook as this being awakened on earth, and all who were near could not resist falling to their knees before such a supreme form of life.
The hunchbacked man's subordinates eventually fell, but it took the soldiers longer than expected to defeat them.
The cramped space of the cave made it difficult to wield their weapons without endangering each other.
Realizing the strain on his troops, the leader of the soldiers unleashed an aura that spread throughout the cave, creating a protective barrier.
The oppressive atmosphere that had weighed down on them lightened, allowing both the soldiers and the hostages to breathe more easily, free from the suffocating presence of the ancient being.
The leader of the soldiers issued swift commands, and the subordinates dispersed instantly, moving with practiced precision.
Without wasting a moment, the soldiers gathered the surviving hostages, including Kael, and began their rapid retreat to the hole from which they had descended.
Kael was slung over the back of the soldier wielding gauntlets, who climbed the wall of the cavern with remarkable strength.
The soldier's hands dug into the rock with ease, pulling them both upward toward the surface.
Meanwhile, the leader of the soldiers remained standing at the forefront, directly facing the vessel of evil. He did not move, his eyes locked on the ancient being.
The soldier holding a spear urgently asked their leader, "Captain, let's fall back!"
The captain, eyes fixed on the ancient being, shook his head and said, "You go first. I'll catch up."
The soldier nodded and quickly climbed back up the hole they had descended. The captain, however, couldn't shake the feeling that releasing this ancient being into the world would be extremely dangerous.
The captain, watching the ancient being, knew he couldn't attack while it was still assimilating the soul.
If he struck now, he risked getting caught in the process and having his own soul drained. So, he kept his distance, carefully observing.
Boom!
The ritual was complete, filling the air with the foul stench of lust and blood. In this atmosphere, ordinary people would easily lose control.
The being gently descended, placing its feet on the ground with grace. It opened its palm, and a blood-colored liquid materialized, forming into two eyeballs.
The being placed the eyeballs into its empty sockets. They squirmed, initially uncoordinated and shifting around on their own.
After a few minutes, the eyeballs settled and began to move according to the being's will.
The captain of the knights felt his heart race as he gripped his sword tightly, watching the being intently.
The being, completely naked, began to walk forward, heading straight toward the captain.
Clink!
The captain's sword burst into flames as he slashed at the being's neck with extreme speed.
Ting!
The sword was stopped mid-strike, blocked by the being's nail.
The impact sent a small shockwave through the air, but the being remained unfazed, its eyes locked onto the captain with a cold gaze.
"---------?" The being's voice echoed as if whispered directly into the captain's ear, though its words were impossible to comprehend.
!!
The sound was twisted and unnatural, as if spoken in reverse, carrying an eerie, cursed undertone that sent chills down the captain's spine.
The captain quickly retreated, his eyes widening in alarm. A sense of dread washed over him as he realized the being's voice might have cursed him, leaving him feeling uneasy.
"------?" The being spoke again, but its words remained incomprehensible.
The captain looked at the being once more and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.
Ha...
Boom!
The captain surged forward with incredible speed, aiming to strike the being once more. But just before he could reach it, the being spoke again.
The eerie voice made the captain flinch, his momentum faltering.
"Ahh... Hello... You under...stand?" The being spoke in the captain's language, its voice still unsettling but now disturbingly clear.
'Imperial language?' The captain was surprised, but he maintained a poker face and responded, "I do understand your speech now."
"...Good, I'll kill you... now," the being said, its tone was calm yet chilling.
"Sure," the captain responded immediately, his voice steady. As he spoke, the temperature around them began to rise rapidly.
The air above the captain shimmered and blurred from the intense heat radiating from him.