The Damned Demon



Isola, still weak and disoriented, stared in horror as she witnessed the scene unfolding before her eyes.

She felt a tremble in her chest as she watched the tendrils tighten their hold on his blazing skeleton whose flames were snuffed out before flesh and skin rapidly grew back on his bones.

"No, please..." Isola begged, her weak voice cracking with emotion, "Take me back and let him go...I'll be your sacrifice!"

Her tail transformed into weakened legs as they trembled beneath her.

She staggered towards him, her arms reaching out to grasp at the tendrils that ensnared him. 

Her fingers clawed at the sturdy coils, trying in vain to loosen their grip. She gritted her teeth, refusing to give in to the pain that coursed through her body.

Her emotions swirled within her like a tornado, a mix of fear, guilt, and desperation. She realized that he was paying the price for trying to free her. 

She could feel the Kraken's anger and desperation after failing to drain her life force completely. But she didn't know why the Kraken would trap him in her place.

Just a few moments ago, Asher's teeth clenched as the tendrils constricted him, their grip unyielding and as tough as steel. 

He quickly realized that he wouldn't be able to free himself through sheer strength alone. Desperate, he decided to use his last resort – teleporting to his Damned Dimension.

But just as he was about to initiate the teleport, his eyes widened in shock. His dark green flames, once fierce and unwavering, were snuffed out as though a gale had blown them away. 

In an instant, his MP plummeted to zero, and he saw the tendrils greedily siphoning dark green mana from him, channeling it directly into the Kraken's heart!

A cold, icy dread gripped him as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Forced to revert to his dark elf form, his flesh and skin rapidly grew back, encasing his skeletal frame once more. 

The crushing realization that he was doomed weighed heavily on his heart. Without any MP, he wouldn't be able to teleport to safety, and the Kraken continued to drain his health relentlessly.

Through his rapidly blurring vision, Asher saw Isola desperately clawing at the tendrils, her fingers leaving bloody trails as she tried to free him.

Her face was a mix of horror and determination, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. But despite her best efforts, Asher's consciousness began to fade, slipping away like sand through the hourglass.

Did he just end up as the sacrifice for the Kraken? To die as a sacrificial lamb…that would be the most bitter joke ever.

—

On the battlefield outside, the noise of magical attacks exploding against each other, and war cries filled the air as the Umbralfiends were still engaged in a bloody war with the Bloodburn Kingdom.

But suddenly,

*KRRREEEE!!*

The warriors on both sides of the conflict watched in confusion and shock as the Kraken suddenly let out a guttural, agonized screech. It stumbled back, losing its balance as if struck by an invisible force. 

The monster's legs trembled, barely able to support its massive bulk.

The battlefield fell eerily quiet as soldiers on both sides momentarily ceased their fighting, trying to process the shocking sight before them.

Asher's vassals, including Leonidas, stood amongst the bewildered crowd, their eyes wide in disbelief. 

Those who had helped with Asher's daredevil plan, like Ceti, were equally dumbfounded as they stared at the mighty Kraken in its weakened state. 

None of them could have anticipated this outcome, and they couldn't help but wonder what had transpired within the heart of the beast.

Leonidas was feeling downcast all this time, wondering if all his efforts were for nothing. He thought that the royal consort had died, and most of them didn't even realize it due to being engaged in a war. 

Ceti was having a totally different reaction. Her expression contorted into an annoyed yet satisfied look. He let so many of her men die for nothing, but at least she wouldn't have to deal with that cocky bastard anymore.

But her mother, Merina, had her hand pressed against her chest, her eyes still hopeful and eagerly looking at the Kraken. She refused to believe her Master would die and continued praying for him.

And just when she saw the Kraken cry in pain, her face brightened up just like Leonidas who roared in astonishment, excitement and relief as he shouted at everyone, "The royal consort has succeeded!! We have taken enough rest. Now let's charge into the battlefield and do our duty!"

However, Ceti's expression was replaced by a complicated one. It was a good thing the Kraken got weakened but wouldn't this mean that he was still alive?? How could that be possible? She was unable to believe he actually saw through his seemingly impossible plan. 

Was it her fault she underestimated the reason behind his cockiness?

Sabina, however, had a different reaction. She watched the scene unfold with a gleeful grin, momentarily forgetting to breathe. Then she began to laugh, her laughter low and sinister, her eyes shining with dark amusement. 

"Oh, Asher," she mumbled to herself as she licked her lips in anticipation, "just how many secrets are you hiding? You are really making me thirst for them."

-

Just a few moments ago, Rowena was fighting fiercely against King Moraxor and three of his formidable generals, her whip cracking through the air like a vicious serpent. Flames danced around her as her crimson eyes glowed.

As she expertly wielded her whip, she suddenly received an unsettling message, making her look towards the Kraken with a trembling gaze, her expression grave.

The Kraken let out a painful screech as it stumbled back, attempting to retreat to the safety of the sea.

"Asher..." she whispered, her eyes widening with shock and concern. The last thing she ever expected to hear now was that he was in the belly of the Kraken.

Not even a Soul Devourer would survive inside the Kraken. And so her heart clenched painfully upon thinking of the only possibility. 

But this momentary distraction proved to be a grave mistake. Seizing the opportunity, King Moraxor and his generals launched a coordinated attack against the distracted queen.

*BOOM!*

A resounding explosion shook the very air for thousands of feet as the combined force of their assault sent Rowena flying dozens of feet through the air.

The Bloodburn armies felt their hearts plummet and their will shaken upon seeing their queen getting swallowed by a terrifying and combined attack of a Soul Devourer and 3 Soul Purgers.

Not even a low level Soul Devourer would be able to get up after taking on such an attack.

As Rowena crashed onto the ground, a cloud of dust rose around her while a crater formed under her fallen figure. 

She slowly got up, and with a trembling hand, she wiped the blood trickling down her lips. Her face and body were a canvas of pain, each bloody cut and bruise a reminder of her mistake.

King Moraxor and his generals stepped forward, their expressions a mixture of relief and disbelief. Just as they thought they were doomed upon seeing their guardian suddenly being in distress, they were able to bring down the Bloodburn Queen.

Moraxor was feeling very anxious and uneasy about the Kraken suddenly getting weakened out of nowhere. But he didn't dare distract himself with other thoughts, especially when he was this close to making the Bloodburn Queen fall. Once she falls, then the victory would be theirs, even without the Kraken.

And so he raised his scepter as he addressed the injured queen, her back facing him, "How strange, Queen Rowena, I didn't expect you to let your guard down in the midst of battle," and added, "But I am not without mercy. I will spare your life if you and your kingdom surrender to us. Both our sides have lost enough. Your kingdom doesn't need to suffer any more losses."

Anger welled up within Rowena as Moraxor's words echoed in her mind.  Asher wouldn't have been there if Moraxor and his people didn't start this war.

She knew Asher was somehow the reason behind the Kraken getting crippled.

But the fact that he did it for her sake and the thought of Asher probably being dead only fueled her heartbroken fury.

Her fangs slowly extended, her once fair skin and face grew unnaturally pale, and her visage took on a chilling, eerie appearance as demonic crimson lines spread across her face. 

Even the air around her seemed to thicken with a malevolent, dark energy.

Moraxor and his generals furrowed their brows, sensing the drastic shift in her aura. They couldn't believe that she would still dare to fight after taking such a powerful attack head-on.

But as her aura continued to shift dramatically, they couldn't help but take a step back, a sense of unease settling over them. 

Moraxor tightened his grip on his scepter, already preparing himself just in case.

But before they could react or even attempt to comprehend the depths of her resolve, with a swift motion, Rowena extended her arms outward, and a small point of darkness appeared.

*WHOOOSH!*

Suddenly, a maelstrom of blood and fire erupted before them, the air screeching in torment as the singularity began to exert its merciless pull, a sinister darkness descending upon the battlefield, the air itself trembling with dread.

Moraxor and his generals shared a look of alarm upon seeing their feet getting dragged through the earth, the infernal vortex pulling them in as the force only continued to get stronger.

Moraxor knew how terrifying the Mystic Pathway was and seeing her power, he realized her Mystic Pathway specialized in Force Bending or bending gravity to her will which shocked him to the core.

This power was something the founder of the Bloodburn Kingdom, the Devourer was greatly feared for! He didn't expect someone as young as her to have already mastered it!

He didn't even dare to think of attacking as he used every ounce of his strength, managing to narrowly escape the vortex, but not without having some of his skin and scales torn off his body, making him grimace as he rolled over the ground and tried to get as far away as possible.

But unfortunately, his generals weren't that lucky.

The frightening vortex pulled in not only them but everything in its vicinity, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. 

The three generals, their eyes wide with terror, found themselves ensnared in the inescapable grip of this otherworldly power.

"Argghhhh!!!"

Seeing their mighty generals in pain, hundreds of Umbralfiends rushed towards the bloody vortex to help them despite the fear in their hearts.

But reaching just within a hundred feet of the crimson vortex, their skin and flesh, helpless against the relentless force, were ripped from their very bones, drawn inexorably toward the center of the diabolical vortex. 

Witnessing the destruction, those on the battlefield could only watch in shock and terror as the Bloodburn Queen's power showed no mercy and spared nothing.

The very earth seemed to tremble beneath the weight of her unleashed wrath.

What was even more shocking was that her power was consuming not only flesh and matter but energy as well, even swallowing any attacks that were sent towards her by the Umbralfiends in a desperate attempt to stop her.

And as if that was not worse enough, their blood energy was violently ripped from their bodies, their blood feeding the flames that surrounded them. And the flames in turn sent out strands of crimson energy that Rowena began to absorb.

As she consumed their blood energy, her injuries rapidly healed, and her aura continued to grow stronger and more menacing.

Their screams, choked and desperate, were drowned out by the cacophony of the swirling inferno as they were swallowed by its ravenous embrace. The once-mighty generals and the other Umbralfiends were reduced to mere wisps of their former selves, their bodies disintegrating as the last vestiges of their existence were mercilessly devoured.

The air crackled with dark energy as the bloody vortex's hunger was sated, the remnants consumed by the blood-fueled flames. In the end, not a single particle of their being remained, their very essence absorbed by Rowena and striking terror into the hearts of all who bore witness to the horrifying display.

She literally seemed untouchable, drowning them in even more despair, especially after what happened to their guardian.

They shuddered as they felt like they were looking at a Demon Goddess that rose from the depths of hell as her blazing crimson vortex continued to burn and devour the Umbralfiends who still dared to attack her.

Rowena didn't even pay attention to them as she lifted her gaze to the turbulent black skies above, which were still covered with the Kraken's corrosive mist.

Amidst the chaos of battle, she raised her voice, its cold, commanding tone cutting through the din of clashing swords and battle cries, "Flaralis, come to me!" she called out.

At her call, a massive, serpentine form broke through the corrosive mist that swirled in the hell above. 

*ROARRR!!*

With a thunderous roar, Flaralis swooped down towards her, its scales shimmering from the light of the battlefield. The Corrosive Mist singed its scales but Flaralis seemed undaunted as it continued its descent.

The air shook as the majestic beast hovered above her, its powerful wings casting a tempestuous gust around them.

With a graceful, fluid motion, Rowena flexed her back, and jet-black scythe-shaped wings erupted from her shoulders. The inner sides of her wings glowed crimson, tendrils sprouting from their lower edges like sinister, living shadows. 

The Umbralfiends could only helplessly watch in terror as even if they wanted to, they had no way of getting through her blood-curdling vortex nor escape the wrath of a 50 meter long dragon.

Rowena leaped into the air, her dragon-like wings carrying her upwards as she soared towards her dragon.

The moment she landed upon Flaralis' broad, scaled back, the dragon reared up with a deafening roar, its powerful wings beating furiously. 

Together, they ascended into the sky, a terrifying duo, streaking through the dusty air towards the Kraken, their shared resolve fueling their flight as she desperately raced to save Asher, refusing to accept the possibility of him being dead.

Because if she accepted it after everything she had been through, her heart may not be able to endure it.

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