Chapter 259: Exploration
"Relax, Igler. We're just gathering intelligence."
Alje gently stroked the head of his Giant Eagle, calming it, then pulled out several spell scrolls. He cast Invisibility, Silence of Presence, and Darkvision—one for himself, one for the beast—before giving a nod. "Let's go."
They stepped into the cavern, thick with viscous filth. Though the space was far from cramped, it was awe-inspiring in scale. The cavern’s main chamber spanned nearly a hundred meters in diameter—like the gaping maw of some ancient, abyssal beast—hidden deep within the towering peaks of the Anstica Mountains, shielded from prying eyes by both geography and time.
Centuries ago, this place had been known as the Maw of Anstica. But as history faded, so did the memory.
After thirty tense minutes of navigating a winding, endless passage, Alje and his Giant Eagle finally reached the heart of the cavern.
Here, the corruptive power of the Bottomless Abyss was undeniable. The walls were pockmarked with craters carved by endless decay. Twisted, unrecognizable corpses lay scattered across the ground—some half-buried, others strewn like discarded rags. Poisonous spores drifted through shadowed corners, and the darkness here was not merely absence of light—it was alive, thick with malice, a true den of nightmares.
This was the lair of demons—embodiments of chaos and evil, crude, monstrous beings forged from pure destruction. They knew no mercy, no pity, no kindness. They existed only to destroy. And the Abyss itself, in its endless hunger, birthed them anew from filth and bloodshed.
Bagulam, Kasmar, Frothmaw—infamous demon races, all born here. Some gnawed at the remains of their fallen kin. Others fought savagely, tearing at each other with claws and fangs. A few even arranged the corpses into grotesque, ritualistic shapes—twisted art born of madness.
At the cavern’s farthest end, atop a throne of black, pockmarked stone, sat a towering giant.
Even seated, he stood nearly ten meters tall. Though he retained the general form of a giant, his body was a ruin—his skin like splintered obsidian, his teeth yellowed and jagged, his eyes burning with flickering Chaos Flames. It was clear: he was no longer a creature of flesh and bone, but a being warped by the Abyss, a corrupted abomination.
The giant’s lips curled into a grotesque grin, as if he’d seen something—someone—worth destroying.
"Who are you?"
"A loyal hound of that Red Dragon?"
His grin widened until it split his face, stretching to his ears. Fury erupted in his eyes—wild, endless, volcanic. His features twisted into a mask of pure rage.
"But—who gave you permission to barge into my domain?!"
"I am no longer who I was!"
"Not even that Red Dragon will escape me! I’ll snap its neck, tear it to pieces!"
His voice erupted into a thunderous roar. With a violent surge, he rose from his throne. The earth trembled. Cracks split the cavern ceiling, raining down chunks of stone.
The demons around him, sensing prey, surged forward in unison, their guttural roars filling the air.
Alje’s face paled. He vaulted onto the Giant Eagle’s back in an instant.
"Damn it—we’ve been discovered!"
"Run!"
The cavern was vast, and Alje used his Darkvision to weave through the chaos, dodging demonic attacks with split-second precision. He flew low, skimming the ground, his movements a blur of evasion.
"Igler!"
With years of默契 and unmatched horsemanship, Alje twisted and turned through the passage—sharp turns, sudden direction changes, even rolling along the floor. Behind him, a frog-like demon spat a stream of corrosive acid. Alje didn’t even glance back. He simply leaned slightly, trusting instinct, and the venom passed mere centimeters past his shoulder.
Darkness surged behind him—thick, consuming, hungry. Once caught in its grip, escape was impossible.
"Move!" Alje gritted his teeth.
The Giant Eagle tucked its wings and shot forward like a stormwind. The exit loomed ahead—just a few dozen meters.
At the very last moment, as Abyssal tendrils began to sear through the eagle’s tail feathers and curl around its body, Alje and his mount burst free into the open sky.
Alje turned back, staring at the cavern—the gaping maw that had nearly swallowed them whole. He exhaled, trembling, sweat dripping down his temple.
"Too close."
"We need to get this news back—fast."
A sharp, piercing eagle cry split the sky. The Giant Eagle soared higher, wings unfurling against the clouds.
Deep within the Maw of Anstica, the corrupted giant strode toward the cavern’s inner sanctum.
Here, the air was thick with foul runes—ancient, chaotic sigils etched into every surface. And floating in midair, suspended in a haze of eerie light, was a prism pulsing with unnatural energy.
The giant’s eyes burned with fanaticism. He bowed his head, whispering into the void.
"Master Jezarslak… will this be enough? Will this summon the Red Dragon?"
He wasn’t speaking to himself.
From within the prism, a low, chaotic voice echoed—like the rumble of tectonic plates shifting beneath the world.
"Yes, Koman. Do you feel it? As long as you drink from the Abyss’s power, your vengeance will be fulfilled."
"Come. Embrace my gift. Ascend beyond flesh."
The voice dripped with contempt—unmasked, cruel.
A blinding yellow-black aura erupted from the prism. The giant spread his arms wide, embracing the power like a zealot welcoming salvation. He screamed in agony as black, armored exoskeletons erupted across his flesh. Horns burst from his skull, jagged and twisted.
When the light faded, the giant stood trembling—not from pain, but from ecstatic triumph.
"Revenge…"
"My revenge will succeed."
"Kai Xiusu… wait for me. I’ll tear your body apart. I’ll crush your kingdom to dust. I’ll slaughter every last one of your people!"
He clutched his eyes, where black mist seeped from the corners. His lips moved in a silent chant.
His name was Koman Youshuang.
Once a member of the Youshuang Tribe—son of the Bonebreaker, Kasa, and the last hope entrusted by Elder Nur.
In the Glacier Annihilation War, he had been hidden in the deepest secrecy, forced to watch as his entire people were slaughtered by the Red Dragon’s cataclysmic might. He had done nothing but tremble in the dark.
Now, using a Ring of Shapeshifting Stealth, he had slipped away, following Elder Nur’s final command—to seek the legendary Frost Giant Demon Lord, Koscherch, in the southern Anstica Mountains. He sought power. He sought vengeance.
But he never found the Frost Giant.
Instead, he found Jezarslak—a being who called himself a Revenant Demon.
Fate, it seemed, had played a cruel joke.
He had seized the script of another world—the story of Kai Xiusu.
Now, the last Frost Giant had made a pact with a demon. He had hidden in the mountains, biding his time, feeding the Abyss, perfecting the rift.
And he waited—patient, hungry—for the moment to strike.
(End of Chapter)
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