As the four stepped through the portal, a surge of energy enveloped them, and in an instant, they found themselves in a realm unlike Bumi or Matahari. The air was thick with an oppressive darkness, and an unsettling evil aura pervaded the atmosphere, sending a shiver down their spines.
The surroundings were obscured by shadows, and visibility was limited to an eerie, dim glow that seemed to emanate from an unknown source. Sinister whispers echoed through the realm, carried by unseen forces that added to the ominous ambiance. The ground beneath their feet felt cold and uneven, as if it held the weight of untold secrets and ancient malevolence.
The quartet instinctively huddled closer together, their senses heightened by the unfamiliar and foreboding environment. The air was heavy, making each breath feel labored and deliberate. Shadows twisted and shifted at the edges of their vision, creating the unsettling feeling of being watched.
"So this is it," said Ular, looking at her surroundings but finding nothing comforting.
"Ghaib Realm. I've only read about it in books. Never set foot here. I don't like this place," Tuli said.
"Yeah, what do you expect? This ain't a paradise realm." Maling replied, taking a step forward.
"Let's go, we are here to find Setan's Castle," Panah said as he also took a step forward.
Amidst the darkness of the malevolent realm, Maling and Panah found their eyes drawn to a singular, towering structure — the ominous Setan Castle. Rising like a monolith against the darkened sky, the castle exuded an aura of pure evil that seemed to be the source of the oppressive atmosphere surrounding this realm.
The Setan Castle loomed with intimidating grandeur, its spires reaching towards the heavens like skeletal fingers. The architecture bore a sinister elegance; though not enormous in size, the building's presence was more than enough to showcase its true power.
"There it is!" Panah pointed towards the castle. Everyone looked at it, but they also noticed something else.
A foreboding silhouette emerged from the shadows. Slowly, with deliberate steps, the figure revealed itself to be a colossal Minotaur, its massive form towering over the four individuals. The ominous glow cast by Setan Castle outlined the creature's muscular build, and the flickering light played upon its imposing figure.
The Minotaur's eyes glowed with an eerie intensity as it gripped a massive axe, its blade gleaming ominously. The creature's hooves echoed against the cold ground with each deliberate step, sending ripples of trepidation through the air. Sinister runes adorned its horned head, and the monstrous silhouette seemed to emanate a palpable aura of peril.
As the Minotaur approached, the air grew heavy with an oppressive tension. The only sound that broke the silence was the distant whispers from Setan Castle, amplifying the surreal and threatening atmosphere. The towering figure of the Minotaur became a living embodiment of the dark forces that governed this realm, an enforcer of the ominous depths that lurked within.
"Our first challenge," Maling said, readying his knives.
"No worries, I got this," Ular replied, running head-on towards the Minotaur by herself.
As the Minotaur swung its colossal axe, Ular swiftly transformed into a giant serpent, her bright green scales shimmering in the eerie glow of the surroundings.
The battle commenced with a thunderous clash as the Minotaur's axe struck Ular's scales. Each impact reverberated through the air, a cacophony of clashing forces. In her serpent form, Ular moved with sinuous grace, deftly dodging the Minotaur's relentless attacks. Her emerald scales glowed vividly, a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness.
Ular's movements were a display of agility and finesse, as she coiled and lunged, using her serpent form's speed and flexibility to her advantage. The Minotaur, however, exhibited sheer strength and resilience, absorbing Ular's strikes with its hulking frame.
The battlefield became a dynamic arena of opposing forces—the Minotaur's brute strength against Ular's serpentine agility. As the fight wore on, it became evident that Ular was gaining the upper hand. Her swift strikes and elusive maneuvers gradually wore down the Minotaur, her bright green serpent form outmaneuvering the formidable creature.
Panah readied his bow, aiming to assist Ular. But Maling lowered Panah's hand.
"She's got this one," Maling said, smiling widely as he watched the two giant creatures fiercely battle each other.
Ular coiled her massive serpent form around the Minotaur's struggling body, tightening her grip with unyielding force. The air echoed with the Minotaur's agonizing roars as the pressure intensified, reaching the brutal zenith of the battle.
Ular's bright green scales glowed with eerie intensity as she constricted her powerful coils around the Minotaur. The once formidable creature, now gasping for breath, thrashed desperately in an attempt to break free. The sinister whispers from Setan Castle seemed to intensify, as if the dark realm itself bore witness to this decisive moment.
The Minotaur's struggles grew weaker, and its roars transformed into pained cries. The oppressive atmosphere held its breath as Ular's serpentine grip tightened further, each scale pressing into the Minotaur's form. In haunting silence, the colossal creature succumbed to the relentless force, meeting its demise within Ular's unyielding coils.
With the Minotaur defeated, Ular swiftly shifted back to her human form, the bright green serpent skin giving way to her original appearance. As her transformation completed, a sudden stillness settled over the malevolent realm, and the haunting whispers from Setan Castle abruptly ceased.
"You are amazing," Maling said, giving Ular a thumbs-up. She shrugged her shoulders.
"He's just an animal. I'm a monster," she replied.
"Amazing control of shape-shifting. Not everyone could fight a Minotaur and live. You were good," Tuli praised Ular. Ular seemed to blush a bit at the compliment.
"Why, thank you," she replied.
"Let's go," Panah said, leading the four of them towards their destination, Setan's Castle.
The castle gates, wrought with ancient iron, creaked open slowly as if reluctant to reveal the secrets held within. A cold wind whispered through the narrow passage, carrying the unsettling whispers of the malevolent presence that surrounded the castle. The stones underfoot felt like they held the weight of centuries of darkness, each step echoing with a sense of foreboding.
Maling, the Shadow Lurker, tightened his grip on his twin knives, his senses heightened by the palpable tension in the air. Tuli, the Deaf Sorcerer, scanned the surroundings with furrowed brows, feeling the arcane currents twisting and turning around the fortress. Ular, the serpentine shapeshifter, her scaly skin reacting to the malevolence in the air, remained alert, her fangs slightly exposed.
Even Panah, the usually composed Ranger, hesitated as he crossed the threshold, his longbow at the ready.
"I feel a massive dark arcane energy coming from the inside, get ready," Tuli warned as the door opened.
In the face of the foreboding aura, they pressed forward, determined but cautious, into the heart of Setan Castle, where the true challenges awaited them. The gate closed behind them with a resounding thud, sealing them within the walls that echoed with the secrets of darkness that had endured for centuries.
The quartet stepped into the castle yard, and an eerie hush fell over the place. The ground seemed to groan beneath their weight as they surveyed their surroundings. Before them stood a legion of skeletal warriors, perfectly arranged in formation. A hundred hollow eye sockets stared fixedly at the castle gate, their shields and swords gleaming with an otherworldly sheen.
As they moved further into the castle yard, an uncanny sensation crawled over their skin. The skeletal warriors, without a sound, pivoted in unison to face the quartet. Every hollow gaze locked onto them with an unsettling intensity.
It was as if the skeletal army had been patiently waiting for their arrival, the ancient bones imbued with an awareness that sent shivers down the quartet's spines. The silence was broken only by the distant echoes of their footsteps, a stark contrast to the skeletal army's eerie stillness.
Tuli couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, not just by the skeletal warriors but by something far more malevolent within the castle walls.
Panah's eyes narrowed as he assessed the skeletal warriors, thousands of ominous figures that stood between them and the heart of Setan Castle. In the blink of an eye, he devised an impromptu strategy, relying on each member's unique skills. He raised his hand, signaling the quartet to gather close.
"Maling, be the Shadow Lurker that everyone knows you are. Tuli, freeze their movements and create openings. Ular, go big and wreck them all. I'll provide cover with ranged attacks. Move swiftly, and watch each other's backs," Panah instructed, his voice low and determined.
As Panah signaled for coordinated action, Tuli's hands moved in intricate patterns, conjuring a surge of freezing energy.
A wave of frost emanated from Tuli's outstretched palms, enveloping the castle yard in an ethereal shimmer. The freezing ice cascaded over the skeletal warriors, wrapping them in an icy embrace. Their joints stiffened, their movements coming to an abrupt halt.
The quartet, momentarily shielded by Tuli's mastery of ice evocation, observed as the skeletal warriors struggled against the cold. Their bony limbs became encased in frost, rendering them immobile and vulnerable. The eerie silence of the castle yard was now punctuated by the faint crackling of freezing magic.
"Maling, Ular, move in now!" Panah ordered.
Without a word, Maling blended seamlessly into the darkness, reemerging behind the frozen skeletal warriors like a phantom. His twin knives gleamed in the dim light as he struck with deadly precision. The shadows seemed to dance around him, and with each swift movement, he incapacitated the undead soldiers with calculated strikes. The air echoed with the sinister melody of his blades, and chaos ensued among the skeletal ranks.
Maling's lethal dance through the shadows proved devastating. The skeletal warriors, once lined up tidily, found themselves vulnerable to his relentless assault. He exploited their blind spots, turning the organized formation into a disarrayed and confused mess. Bones shattered, and the eerie silence of the castle yard was interrupted only by the wicked whispers of the fallen undead.
With a sudden brilliance, Ular transformed into a colossal bright green serpent, towering over the battlefield. Her enormous form shimmered with a radiant intensity.
With a swift and decisive movement, Ular brought her colossal body crashing down upon the skeletal warriors. The impact echoed through the castle yard as she smacked her immense serpent form into the frozen legion. Bones shattered upon contact, and the once-organized lines of skeletal warriors crumbled like brittle twigs.
But the battle was not over yet. As the quartet engaged in the chaotic battle within Setan Castle's courtyard, Panah, the Protector of Bumi, stepped back to provide crucial support. Positioned from afar, he drew his longbow with uncanny precision. Arrows flew from his bow with a swiftness that seemed almost supernatural.
With every shot, Panah demonstrated his mastery, the arrows finding their marks flawlessly. Some arrows embedded themselves into the joints of skeletal warriors, enhancing the impact of Tuli's freezing magic. Others created openings for Ular's colossal serpent form to exploit.
Panah's support was not limited to offense; his keen eye for strategy became evident when he shot an arrow into a perfect position, creating a shadow for Maling to warp into. The Shadow Lurker took advantage of this, seamlessly disappearing into the shadow and reappearing behind a cluster of skeletal warriors, striking with deadly precision.
As Panah's arrows whistled through the air, the quartet felt a seamless orchestration of attacks. It was as if Panah's every shot was guided by an unseen force, anticipating the quartet's needs in the heat of battle. The rhythmic sounds of arrows finding their targets became a symphony of calculated chaos, enhancing the quartet's coordinated assault.
To the amazement of his comrades, Panah's quiver never seemed to deplete. Each time it appeared that he was running out of arrows, the quiver was magically replenished, a stack of arrows ready for the next salvo. It was as if the very fabric of the battle favored Panah's unerring accuracy and resourcefulness.
The quartet, invigorated by Panah's support, pressed forward with renewed vigor. The skeletal warriors, caught in a deadly crossfire of ice, serpent strikes, shadowy assassinations, and precise arrow barrages, struggled against the relentless onslaught.
Finally, the sounds of battle ceased as there were no more skeletal warriors left on the battlefield.
"Wow, we make a good team, don't we?" Ular said as she turned back into her human form.
"Better than before, for sure," Maling added as he sheathed his twin knives.
"Good job, everyone. Thank you for trusting my plan," Panah said with a big smile on his face.
"It's not over," said Tuli, his eyes fixed on the castle door that would lead them inside. Slowly, a half-transparent figure began to morph from the door. The figure floated toward them, gradually becoming more distinct until they realized what they were seeing.
A hooded figure, skeletal and foreboding, slowly floated towards them. Clad in dark robes, the figure's bony hands clutched a staff adorned with a glowing, mystical orb. The skull-like face, with its eerie, yellow glowing eyes, seemed to pierce through the darkness. Sinister runes and intricate designs etched into the fabric of its robes added to its malevolent presence. The atmosphere grew colder, and the air seemed to crackle with dark energy as the figure drew nearer, embodying an ancient and powerful evil.
"A necromancer..." Tuli whispered under his breath.
With a swift movement, the skeletal necromancer lifted his staff, and with a malevolent incantation, a dark dome enveloped the quartet. Inside this eerie barrier, shadows were banished, rendering Maling unable to utilize his shadow-lurking abilities. The quartet found themselves trapped, vulnerable to the whims of the skeletal necromancer's dark magic.
The skeletal necromancer, with hollow sockets gleaming, pointed his staff at Panah, unleashing a curse of misfortune upon him. Panah felt the fickle hand of misfortune tighten its grip. Undeterred, he raised his bow and loosed an arrow at the necromancer. However, the arrow veered way off course, missing its mark as the curse took effect.
Meanwhile, Tuli, the Deaf Sorcerer, strained to summon his mastery over ice. Yet, within the confines of the dark dome, the very essence of magic seemed elusive. No matter the effort, Tuli's attempts to conjure freezing spells were met with frustrating silence.
Ular, the shapeshifter, faced a similar predicament. Her attempts to transform into her formidable serpent state were met with resistance. The dark magic stifled her ability to shift, leaving her confined in her humanoid form.
The skeletal necromancer observed the quartet's struggles with cold satisfaction. With each thwarted attempt and missed opportunity, the malevolent sorcerer reveled in the effectiveness of his curses. The quartet, now stripped of their usual advantages, stood encaged in a darkened bubble, their abilities nullified by the necromancer's dark arts.
Within the enveloping darkness of the dome, the necromancer's skeletal form emanated an air of ancient wisdom. His hollow sockets, though lacking the warmth of life, exuded a contemplative intelligence as he addressed the quartet.
"Greetings, esteemed visitors," the skeletal necromancer began, his voice carrying the weight of eons.
"I am Kerangka, guardian of Setan Castle. What compels such valiant souls to venture into the heart of this enigmatic realm? Your presence stirs the shadows, and yet, I discern no malevolence in your intentions."
"Of course you don't sense malevolence in us, 'cause we came here to kill the owner of this castle, Setan himself!"
"It's all for the greater good, I promise," Maling continued, a smile on his face.
Upon hearing Maling's declaration, Kerangka let out a skeletal laugh that echoed eerily within the darkened dome. His hollow sockets gleamed with an otherworldly light as he responded.
"Prepare yourself then, for your destiny is already woven."
"To the death." Kerangka then raised his staff.
Suddenly, spectral chains emerged from the ground, locking the quartet in place. A purple hue appeared beneath their feet, forming intricate lines that drew a sinister pattern. With each line made, they could feel their life force being drained away.
"Wh-what is this?" Ular asked, panic showing on her face.
"Hel-hel--help!!!" Panah shouted as loud as he could with whatever strength remained in him.
A sudden crack ruptured the dark dome Kerangka had cast. Slowly but surely, the fracture spread, disrupting the malevolent enchantment until the entire structure shattered. The moon, witnessing the scene from above, cast its radiant light upon the quartet. However, all attention was drawn to one figure.
The one who had dismantled the dark dome stood tall—a dwarf with a formidable mohawk and a beard that cascaded down to his chest. His presence exuded strength, and in his right hand, he held a massive hammer, the embodiment of raw power.
"Worry not, your savior has come," said the dwarf with a big smile on his face.
"I am Palu, son of Gurita. The four of you can go now. This guy is my enemy," Palu continued, pointing his finger at Kerangka.
Now that the spectral chains were gone, the quartet knelt on the ground, relieved but undoubtedly exhausted.
"Tha-thank you," Maling muttered as he looked up at Palu.
"You must be a demigod," he continued.
Palu, with a hearty laugh that seemed to resonate with divine energy, responded,
"Yes, sir! Indeed, I am Palu, son of Gurita, the last of the demigods."
"The last? You mean there's no more demigods except you?" asked Ular.
"Yep, all of my brothers and sisters have been slain by the owner of this wicked castle!" Palu answered, pointing his finger towards Setan Castle.
"And you! You will be my first kill for today!" he continued, pointing his finger back at Kerangka, who stood still.
Intrigued by the arrival of Palu, Kerangka's skeletal form shifted into a stance that exuded an eerie grace. The castle guardian, with hollow sockets fixated on Palu, extended his bony arms in a welcoming gesture.
"Welcome, Palu, son of Gurita, the last of the demigods. I sense the echoes of a fading era within you. If it is a challenge you seek, try, for within these walls, the dance of shadows awaits a new partner."
"And for you, you may enter the castle. But heed my last warning, leave now and you can still live," Kerangka said, his voice resonating with a cold finality. With a subtle gesture, Kerangka granted permission for the quartet to enter the castle.
Under the watchful gaze of the moon and the lingering echoes of Kerangka's permission, the quartet stood in silent unity. They exchanged glances, each member reflecting a mix of determination and hesitancy. The weight of the castle's ominous history and the mysteries concealed within its walls loomed before them.
With cautious steps, they approached the towering doors of Setan Castle. The ancient structure, ominous and foreboding, seemed to whisper tales of untold horrors and ancient malevolence. As they hesitantly walked forward, the quartet couldn't shake the feeling that they were stepping into a realm where shadows held secrets and echoes whispered forgotten truths.
"Go, this won't take long. Don't kill Setan without me!" Palu shouted as the quartet entered the castle.
As the quartet crossed the threshold into Setan Castle, they found themselves in a vast hall, its grandeur tarnished by the passage of ages. The air inside was thick, carrying the weight of untold histories and lingering malevolence. Dim torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows that danced across faded tapestries, each depicting scenes of long-forgotten battles and ominous figures.
At the heart of the hall, a magnificent staircase unfolded, its steps ascending majestically toward an obscured upper level. The quartet couldn't help but marvel at the craftsmanship of the stairs, though time had weathered its once-elegant design.
As the quartet stood at the base of the grand staircase, they suddenly sensed a shift in the air. A soft, ethereal glow began to emanate from the top of the stairs. From the shadows above, a figure emerged, descending gracefully.
This figure possessed an otherworldly beauty. Her presence was both captivating and unsettling, a testament to her origins. Her skin was flawless, exuding a radiant glow, and her eyes shone with an intense, piercing light. She had an aura of majesty and power that contrasted sharply with the malevolent energy surrounding the castle.
She wore a golden and majestic armor that shimmered brilliantly, reflecting the dim light of the torches. Her wings, though darkened by her fall, retained a semblance of their former glory, arching elegantly behind her as she descended. As she reached the bottom of the staircase, she landed with a fluid grace, every movement exuding confidence and poise.
The quartet stood in silence, captivated by the beauty of the figure before them. Her radiant glow and majestic armor commanded their attention, creating a stark contrast to the malevolent energy of Setan Castle. The air seemed to grow heavier with her presence, and the quartet instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons, uncertain of her intentions but fully aware of her power.
"Are you an angel?" Panah asked, his eyes captivated by the figure's beauty.
"Used to be," she answered, her voice calming and serene.
"I'm Jahat, Princess of Hell," the figure continued. She bowed slightly towards the quartet, who hesitantly bowed back.
"Princess of Hell? So you are a Devil?" Maling interjected.
"Yes, just like you, I'll assume," Jahat replied, pointing towards Maling's horns.
"Oh, no-no-no. I'm no devil. I'm just a human who was unlucky enough to be born from a devil. It's a different thing," Maling said, but Jahat just chuckled.
"Deny it all you want, darling, but you can't reject your own nature," Jahat replied. Maling glared at her, his expression now filled with anger.
"If you are a devil, how come you are this ... beautiful?" Ular asked, hesitating a bit to praise the devil in front of her.
"I don't know if I should be flattered or offended, but yes. I'm a devil," Jahat replied with a slight smile.
"In fact, when my lord was banished into the Abyss, I ruled Hell in his absence."
"This is not surprising at all. After all, all devils used to be angels. They just conflicted with their own gods," Tuli said, and Jahat smiled at him.
"My, a clever one," Jahat said.
"So you used to be an angel of our twin gods?" Panah asked, but Jahat gave him a confused look.
"No. There are countless realms, and almost each of them has its own gods," she explained.
"I used to be the angel of The Seven Divine, from Heaven. In fact, the majority of them were about to raise me up to be the Eighth Divine," Jahat continued.
"But even the gods feel jealousy. One of them accused me and threw me out to Hell."
"Any of you know Archangel Michael? He used to be my mentor, until he too betrayed me."
"Who's this Michael dude again?" Maling asked.
"The protector of Heaven. Said to be stronger than even The Seven Divine. We had a fight when he believes what The Seven Divine conspire against me. I banish him to Abyss, while I got sent to Hell."
"Funny enough, I felt at home in Hell, especially when my lord accepted me as I am," she added, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.
"Wait," Panah interjected. "If you are the Princess of Hell, then why are you here?" Jahat smiled at him.
"To welcome my lord, of course." The quartet felt the pressure suddenly change, a heavy weight settling around them.
"So he has come back?" Maling asked, his hands gripping his twin knives tightly.
"Yes. She's fighting your twin gods over there," she added, pointing behind her towards the top of the stairs.
A huge ice spike suddenly hurtled towards Jahat at a terrifying speed, but upon impact, her golden armor absorbed the ice like it was nothing. She stood there, an offended look clear on her face.
"Ouch," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Suddenly, the room transformed into an eerie, desolate landscape. The ground beneath them turned black and cracked, with molten fissures seeping through. Surrounding the quartet was a river of hellfire, its searing flames licking the edges of the ground and casting a sinister glow. The oppressive heat radiated outward, making the air shimmer and warp. The hellfire flowed with an otherworldly intensity, its surface bubbling and spitting embers that illuminated the darkness with an ominous light.
"Wh-where are we?" Panah asked, his voice trembling.
"Welcome to Hell. I don't want to make my lord's castle dirty," Jahat replied with a smirk.
"Now, since you seem very impatient to help your gods, let's do it," Jahat said, her tone both mocking and challenging. The quartet readied their weapons, determination etched on their faces as they prepared for the imminent battle against the Princess of Hell.
Panah lashed out a strike with his bow, but with blinding speed, Jahat easily avoided every attack he sent her way. Panah, who never missed his mark, found that not a single arrow landed on its target. Jahat moved with such grace and agility that it seemed almost impossible to touch her.
Helping out, Tuli unleashed a hundred ice shards towards Jahat. But Jahat countered his attack with hellfire of her own, a stream of intense flames sprouting directly from her palm. The hellfire easily melted Tuli's ice, creating a thick mist of smoke that covered Jahat.
Maling vanished, but the quartet could see shadows dancing around the mist that covered Jahat. Tuli then summoned pillars of ice to surround her, and Panah struck his arrows at seemingly random targets on the ground.
With one powerful flap of her wings, Jahat cleared all the mist surrounding her. Now, Maling was darting and warping from one pillar to the random arrows on the ground with blinding speed. The quartet couldn't track his movements anymore.
"Ah, master of shadows. You truly are one of us," Jahat said, as Maling continued to dance around the shadows.
The hellish landscape seemed to grow darker, shadows dancing around them and creating spots for Maling to warp into. His movements were literally impossible to track as he kept moving from one spot to another with otherworldly speed, faster than anything the quartet had ever seen.
"I told you before," Maling's voice echoed, "I'm not one of you!"
Maling emerged from the shadows, twin knives gleaming as they aimed directly for Jahat's head. His speed and precision were unmatched, the moment fraught with tension as he closed in for the strike.
But with a swift, almost effortless movement, Jahat caught him by the neck, choking him mid-air. Maling struggled, his face contorting with effort as he tried to break free. His twin knives slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground below.
"And I told you before," Jahat replied, her grip tightening.
"Deny it all you want, you can't reject your own nature," she continued. With a swift motion, she slammed Maling into the ground, cracking the earth beneath them.
Ular, now in her serpent form, launched towards Jahat with fangs ready to bite. But with a powerful flap of her wings, Jahat created a vortex of wind that sliced through Ular's serpent form, cutting it in two with ease. Ular reverted back to her human form, lying on the ground, gasping in pain.
"That's a nice exercise, guys," she said, pointing her palm towards Tuli and Panah.
But then, she stopped. She lowered her hand, and the surrounding area transformed back into the castle hall. The hellfire river was gone, replaced by the familiar stone walls and dim torches. Ular and Maling lay on the floor, seemingly in pain. The oppressive heat dissipated, leaving only the cold, heavy air of the castle.
"It seems my lord wants to meet you," Jahat said casually.
"You should feel honored. No human has ever been this close to him," she continued.
"Though, we will meet again, soon." Then, with a final, enigmatic smile, she vanished into thin air.
Now that the threat in the room was gone, Panah and Tuli quickly approached their fallen comrades.
"You okay?" Panah asked Maling, who was still lying on the ground, his face clearly showing pain.
"Any wounds?" Tuli asked, pointing his palm towards Ular's body, which seemed to lack any visible injuries.
"I'm okay. It was my serpent form that tore in half, not me. I just can't change into my serpent form for a few minutes," Ular said as she tried to stand up with Tuli's help.
"I'm dying! Oh, I think she broke my back!" Maling moaned dramatically, but Panah lifted him with ease.
"You're fine, you're not dying," Panah said, patting Maling's clothes to clear off the dust.
"Did you guys hear what the devil said?" Tuli asked the group, and they all nodded.
"Yes. Setan wants to meet us," Panah said, looking towards the top of the grand staircase.
"I have an idea, guys," Maling said, raising his hand.
"Why don't we just get the fuck out of here, yeah? That wicked lady was toying with us, imagine the Setan himself!" His voice was more frustrated than angry.
"I knew from the beginning that this is a suicide mission!" Ular added, her tone equally frustrated.
"I'm calling it. Let's get out of here, now," Panah said, quickly leading the quartet toward the exit. However, Kerangka phased through the door, standing firmly in their path.
"I warned you to leave, but you chose to ignore my counsel. Now, departure is no longer an option," Kerangka said chillingly, his hollow eyes gleaming with a cold, eerie light.
"My lord desires your presence. Ascend the staircase and meet him," Kerangka intoned. A chilling sensation spread throughout the room, and Tuli's hands began to freeze as he prepared to conjure something.
"Don't even try. I am far more powerful than Jahat," Kerangka warned Tuli, his voice dripping with ancient authority. Tuli, feeling the weight of the necromancer's words, took a step backward.
"Go. Meet my lord," Kerangka continued, his tone leaving no room for defiance.
The quartet exchanged worried looks, the weight of their situation settling heavily upon them. With no other choices, they took hesitant steps backward before turning to ascend the grand staircase. Each step echoed ominously, the air thick with the sense of impending doom. Their hearts pounded, and an unspoken understanding passed between them: they were walking towards their likely demise.
Upon reaching the top of the grand staircase, they were met with an imposing, massive door. Panah took a deep breath, steeling himself before pushing it open. The door creaked ominously, revealing a dimly lit room beyond.
First, their eyes were drawn to the floor. There were two bodies lying there. One was a dwarf, surrounded by an array of weapons. The other was a lady, seemingly missing both of her arms. They lay there motionless, with their head cut off from their bodies.
Maling felt a shiver of horror run the length of his spine as he looked upon the macabre sight, and his senses tingled in a most primal fear. Thick tension filled the air of the throne room as the quartet stood immobile, grappling with the dreadful truth of what lay before them.
Ular took a breath only to swallow back what caught it, her eyes wide with disbelief and revulsion at the sight. Tuli's fists were balled at his sides; his thoughts raced on an almost unbearable track. Even Panah, experienced in such things from his work as a ranger, felt a chill run down his spine upon realizing just how badly those bodies had indeed been mutilated.
With such grisly evidence before them, it made the quartet feel like a suffocating cloak had wrapped around them, an uneasy sense.
Then, their eyes were fixed on the figure seated on the throne.
The figure exuded an aura of dark authority, clad in intricate, golden robes adorned with arcane symbols. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but his eyes glowed with an eerie blue light, casting an ominous glow. A skeletal grin seemed to be etched into the darkness beneath the hood, adding to his menacing presence. The throne itself was an elaborate construct, ornate and foreboding, as if crafted from the shadows themselves.
"Well, hello there. Welcome. Though you might be a little late to the party," the figure said, his voice hollow yet filling the entire room with an immense, oppressive aura.
This is the end of the free samples chapter for this book, you may buy my book on Amazon, titled the same, The Devil's Wrath. Cost only $2 if you like it!
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