Chapter 597: Emperor of the Ashen Flame vs. Devil
“Supreme, all-powerful Emperor of the Ashen Flame, Your Majesty… please understand,” the Devil trapped within the Goat Head pleaded desperately, his voice trembling—no trace of the arrogance he’d shown just moments before.
“Your Majesty, believe me—it was the Mountain Goat persona of the King of the Chimera who betrayed me! He’s the one who dragged me into this mess!”
With the Chimera and the Red Dragon both present, blaming a subordinate personality he’d already consumed was the most logical move.
But the Emperor gave him no chance to spin his tale.
“Enough,” the voice rang out, cold and final. “You trespassed upon another’s domain. How could you expect not to face the Master of this land?”
A massive, crimson-scaled claw snapped shut in midair. The twenty-meter-long Chimera, like a helpless chick, was effortlessly lifted and dragged into the seething spatial rift.
Albert writhed, struggling with all his might—but it was useless. The Chimera’s dominant personality, meanwhile, remained unnervingly obedient.
Yet within the Devil’s mind, thoughts raced. Calculations flew. He weighed his options, assessing every possible outcome.
The worst case? Death at the hands of the Emperor, reborn in the River of Hell. But he was a loyalist of Bair—this wasn’t the end. Not yet.
Swish—
A sharp, crisp sound. They’d emerged from the Chimera’s nest and now stood in the vast, open Iron Dragon Wing Palace—the Emperor’s grand reception hall for visiting dignitaries.
The moment the Devil stepped inside, a crushing pressure slammed into him from every direction. It pressed against his flesh, his mind, his very spiritual soul.
This power was unlike anything he’d felt before—stronger than the aura of his own Master, Bair. Stronger than even Zaril, the current ruler of Avernus, had ever projected in Hell.
He lowered his head. The grotesque, goat-like face twisted in a human-like expression of terror. His lips trembled.
“Nine Hells… this is… impossible.”
Albert felt like a single stone adrift in a storm-tossed sea—pounded, battered, at the mercy of endless waves.
In an instant, every cunning plan, every conspiracy, dissolved beneath the overwhelming flood of pure, divine authority. His corrupted spiritual soul was left with only one thought: What… is this?
It felt… divine.
The Devil gasped, his breath ragged. With immense effort, he lifted his Goat Head and stared at the figure ahead. His eyes widened in shock.
There, upon a throne forged of steel, sat a dragon—fifty meters long, lounging with effortless majesty.
No minstrel could ever capture the sight in words. His scales were like cracked earth from the depths of Hell. His spine arched like a mountain range. His wings spanned like open plains. And his four massive horns—each thicker than a tower—shone like the crowns of kings.
Kai Xiusu—Emperor of the Ashen Flame—lowered his head. His pale golden eyes, like molten lava orbs, locked onto the Devil. Contempt dripped from his gaze.
Just the slightest forward lean of the dragon’s body sent the world crashing down on Albert. The aura of intimidation surged like a tsunami.
“Albert, is it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Devil stammered, fighting to keep his voice steady. “Your colossal form… I shall never forget it. I’ve never seen… a dragon like you.”
He wasn’t lying.
Thousands of years ago, Bair had betrayed Zaril without hesitation, seizing control of Avernus and becoming its new Lord. Yet neither Moloch nor Baal trusted him—not after his past betrayal of his former mistress.
So Bair lived in constant fear of retribution. But with the endless waves of demons attacking from the Bottomless Abyss, he had no time to secure his rear. He poured every ounce of energy into fortifying the realm, planning battles, leading campaigns—exhausting himself to the bone.
To survive, he forged a hollow alliance with the Five-Colored Dragon Queen Tiamat. In return for allowing her a territory within Avernus, she granted him the Five-Colored Dragons and the Abeces—dragon-demons—as allies.
Zaril, meanwhile, was imprisoned in the Bronze Fortress, tortured mercilessly. The Abeces carved her flesh into tiny strips, then served them to their master as a delicacy.
As a loyalist of Bair, Albert had never met the Five-Colored Dragon Queen in person. But he had seen her favored Red Dragons—brutal, savage, immensely powerful. They were born killers, capable of reducing entire armies to ash on the blood-soaked battlefields. Sometimes, they even slaughtered their own kind—weak demons caught in the frenzy.
But none of them carried the dignity of the Emperor before him.
None stood with such presence—such overwhelming, mountainous majesty. Just by existing, this dragon made Anzeta tremble. Even the ancient Red Dragons who served Tiamat’s lovers couldn’t compare.
To face such an existence? Only one path remained: flattery. Absolute submission. No defiance.
Albert abandoned his earlier plan—using Bair’s status as leverage. Against this dragon, even Bair himself might not survive.
He reshaped his strategy.
Play the humble servant. Show value. Win favor.
He gathered himself. Forced a fawning smile. Then, like a minstrel, he began to chant:
“Supreme Emperor of Ember, Co-Ruler of all life in Anzeta, the sole Master of this land—Great King Kai Xiusu, forgive my rudeness. Your form is as mighty as the mountains…”
“Enough,” Kai Xiusu said coldly. “I told you—no games. You think I’m some mindless beast filled only with meat and lust?”
He chuckled. Let’s see how well you handle the real thing, he thought. Even the devils of Hell couldn’t out-speak me when I’ve got the 【Charmer】 ability.
“N-no, Your Majesty! I speak from the heart—my reverence is beyond control!”
The Devil dropped his head so low his nose nearly touched the ground.
But then—unexpectedly—the Chimera, which had been docile, suddenly took control. The Dragon Head snapped forward, eyes blazing.
“Master! Don’t be fooled by this fake! This Devil is plotting against us!”
The Lion Head echoed instantly: “Yes! He’s trying to turn us! But we resisted! And that useless Mountain Goat—”
Kai Xiusu let out a low, amused chuckle. He tilted his head, his oppressive gaze settling on the Goat Head.
“Devil… is this true?”
Albert opened his mouth to defend himself—
But the Emperor’s voice cut through like ice.
“If you deceive me, I’ll burn your soul to ash. You’ll never be reborn in Hell.”
The pressure was unbearable. The Devil’s breath caught. He forced a smile, voice strained.
“…Yes. Objectively… it is.”
“Then this is a declaration of war from your master, Bair?”
Albert froze.
A declaration of war against this being? The thought sent ice through his veins. He’d be tortured for eternity.
Cold sweat poured down his face. He stammered desperately:
“Your Majesty! Please, don’t misunderstand! It wasn’t my choice! It was all—Zaril! That madwoman stole my master’s lordship in Avernus! We were forced to wander, seeking powerful allies to rebuild our army and seek revenge! I used flattery to lure the Chimera—because your followers are so overwhelmingly powerful!”
His voice cracked with emotion. It sounded genuine. Heartfelt.
Kai Xiusu’s lips twitched. Not bad, he thought. A true master of deception. Even I struggle to match his art of lies.
Though the excuse was patchwork and obvious, it led perfectly into what Kai Xiusu wanted.
The Red Dragon rose slowly from his throne. His dignified face bore a flicker of interest. The golden vertical pupils glowed faintly.
“Zaril?”
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Ah… it seems I have a conversation in store with your master. The enemy of my enemy… is my friend. And my Empire of Ashen… has some old grievances with her.”
Albert’s eyes lit up. A grin spread across his face.
“Your Majesty! I knew it! It was just a misunderstanding! The root of it all—the cursed woman! I’ll contact Bair at once!”
His joy was palpable. As an Avatar of the Evil Order, Ascension was their life’s goal. And Albert, though a high-tier Devil, was still far from the peak.
But if he helped his master find such a powerful ally—someone capable of countering Zaril—his status would skyrocket.
He paused, then added, voice trembling with urgency:
“Your Majesty… may I ask… could you release me first? This noble, dragon-blooded body… a lowly Devil like me… I simply can’t bear it.”
Kai Xiusu smiled.
“Ah, I always believe in fairness. One thing at a time. You broke the laws of my Empire—trespassing, luring nationals to defect. That debt hasn’t been paid. But if you spend the next few centuries as the Chimera’s ‘Wisdom’—a guiding voice within its mind—it’s a fitting penance.”
Albert’s heart sank. Regret flooded him—Why did I enter the Empire of Ashen?
But hope flickered. He could still control the beast. To him, that was no challenge.
Yet Kai Xiusu narrowed his eyes.
“And remember—while you remain inside this body, your soul’s fate rests in my hands. Choose wisely.”
“Your Majesty, but—”
“Devil. No ‘buts.’ This is your due. Now contact Bair.”
The Red Dragon gestured.
The Chimera relinquished control.
But the Devil, now in possession of the body he’d long coveted, felt no joy. Under Kai Xiusu’s piercing gaze, he began drawing the Rune Array—carefully, cautiously.
A vast, intricate hexagram formed upon the floor. The air hummed with evil distortion. Candles of Mermaid Oil, Soul Coins, Hellstone Eggs, and skulls were arranged around it—strange sacred offerings.
The candles ignited. The summoning ritual began.
A cacophony of screaming voices rose—countless tormented spirits wailing in agony.
“Wretched souls… shall fall into Hell—”
“He is the Lord of Avernus, the nightmare of mortals, the fire that extinguishes the last hope—”
Kai Xiusu snapped his fingers.
Silence.
The chorus vanished as if it had never existed.
“Too loud,” the Red Dragon said.
Then—BAM!—the rune array flared to life.
Ember sparks shot into the sky. Hellfire roared, blazing bright. Flames erupted like tongues of fire, coalescing into a monstrous, terrifying demonic figure.
But the moment the shadow saw the Red Dragon…
All fire vanished. The black mist collapsed.
And in its place stood a man—tall, elegant, with flowing black hair and sharp, handsome features. He looked like a noble heir from a refined family.
But his eyes—dark, depthless—betrayed his true nature.
A Devil. A former Lord of Hell. One of the Great Demons who once ruled the Nine Hells.
Bair.
He bowed slightly, a charming smile on his lips. “I thought I’d been summoned. It’s you, then.”
His voice was smooth, rich—deeply alluring. “I’ve heard so much about you. Apologies for the theatrics—just a little scare tactic for mortals.”
But Kai Xiusu felt it—the raw, terrifying power beneath the performance. Not accidental. Not careless. A deliberate display.
“You know my name?”
Bair chuckled. “Of course. Your fame in Hell is legendary. Last time… that Dragon Queen was furious.”
He seemed genuinely pleased at the thought of his ally’s defeat.
Facing a being of equal stature, Kai Xiusu stood. He unfurled his wings slightly and nodded in greeting.
“Good morning, Hell Lord Bair.”
Bair sighed. “Regrettably, I’m only a former Lord of Avernus. Now? Just a fallen noble.”
Kai Xiusu studied him—then smiled.
“Bair, I believe you’ll reclaim your throne. Replace Zaril. Reclaim Avernus. All you need is a partnership.”
He paused, eyes gleaming.
“Join me. Become an ally of the Empire of Ashen.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
