Chapter 724: Lord of the Nine Hells
“Oh? So that’s your meaning?” Kai Xiusu feigned ignorance, though he knew full well he couldn’t fool this being—the Lord of the Nine Hells. He played the innocent card, tilting his head with a mockingly curious expression.
Asmodeus didn’t seem annoyed. Instead, he picked up the wine bottle again, pouring himself a glass with unhurried precision. He swirled the liquid slowly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Ah, just three days ago, Koscherci allied with several Abyssal Lords. Taking advantage of Zaril’s demise, they launched an invasion of Avernus with the Domain Abyssal Legion. Bair’s frantic—his regiment’s in chaos, like ants scrambling on a burning log. He’s even come to me. As an old friend, I couldn’t just stand by.”
Kai Xiusu chuckled, steering the conversation back. “Given Bair’s strength and cunning, he should’ve repelled the Abyssal Legion easily. He’s far more reliable than that madman Zaril. Honestly, I’m doing you a favor—promoting capable subordinates is the right move.”
“No complete Hell Authority? Then Bair will only keep retreating under the Abyssal Offensive,” Asmodeus countered, staring straight into Kai Xiusu’s eyes. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. “Hand over the three-tenths of Avernus Authority. Of course, if you refuse… I have my own ways to reclaim it. But the process might be… unpleasant.” His tone was calm, almost casual—but the unshakable confidence behind it was undeniable.
For a heartbeat, the air froze. Their gazes locked. A terrifying aura radiated from Asmodeus, so potent it felt like the very fabric of reality trembled. Kai Xiusu’s heart lurched.
He didn’t know why—but he knew, deep in his bones, that this ancient devil meant every word. He wouldn’t just take the Authority. He’d rip it from Kai Xiusu’s hands, and the cost could very well be his life.
The risk was too great—even for someone like him.
After all, this was the Lord of the Nine Hells. An existence older than the cosmos itself. Even the gods held him in wary respect. His power and depth far surpassed anything Kai Xiusu could fathom.
Was he really supposed to surrender the hard-won Avernus Authority… to this ancient, immortal Devil?
The silence stretched.
Kai Xiusu forced a polite smile, regaining his composure. “Asmodeus, my dear lord… what if I offered you a deal?”
“Oh? A deal?” Asmodeus raised an eyebrow, intrigued, swirling his wine.
Kai Xiusu felt a surge of triumph. Of course. No Devil—no matter how powerful—could resist the lure of a bargain. Not even the Lord of the Nine Hells.
“I’ll safeguard the three-tenths of Avernus Authority for my beloved ally,” he said smoothly. “Whenever he needs it, I’ll rush to Hell to assist him—granting him the strength of a Hell Lord.”
Asmodeus smiled faintly, shaking his head. “All deals carry cost, my friend. Give me a reason strong enough to justify letting an outsider possess Hell Authority. You know well—everything in Hell belongs to me. Even Hell Lords only hold authority. So why should I grant it to a stranger?”
Kai Xiusu waved a hand. “I’ll pay my price. I’ll send massive expeditions to join the Blood War. My Imperial forces will achieve greater glory than Zaril ever did.”
Asmodeus set down his glass, lacing his fingers together. “Still not enough.”
Kai Xiusu didn’t flinch. “We can deepen our collaboration. All enemy souls slain on the battlefield—every one—will be offered to Hell. You know the Empire’s conquest won’t stop at the Thrace Kingdom. As the war rages, Hell’s soul reserves will swell beyond measure.”
He grinned, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement. Sorry, old friend. “And you’ve always found Bair… unreliable, haven’t you? If I hold 30% of Hell Authority, I can keep him in check. Should he ever plot betrayal, he’ll be nothing more than a ripple in a storm. And unlike him, my roots are in the Material Plane. I can’t meddle in Hell’s politics. Even with 30% Authority, I’d pose no threat to you.”
Asmodeus let out a dry chuckle, his voice laced with mockery. “I must admit—this is a tempting offer. My friend… have you ever considered becoming a Devil yourself?”
Kai Xiusu didn’t hesitate. “Being a Devil’s a slow business. I’d rather stay a capitalist. Besides, I’m still very much on the side of light.”
“Hahahaha!” Asmodeus laughed—a deep, chilling, evil sound. He drained the last of his wine in one gulp.
“Kai Xiusu… I accept your deal. Not because of your arguments. But because of you.”
“Me?” Kai Xiusu blinked, a strange thought flickering in his mind. Could this ancient Devil have… a taste for something unusual? Like that old vampire?
“As your people would say,” Asmodeus declared, raising his finger and pointing directly at Kai Xiusu, “I’m investing in the future.”
He paused, his crimson eyes narrowing into slits of molten blood. “In my long existence, I’ve seen many unique beings. A few were Dragons—true legends. Some possessed extraordinary natural talent. Others wielded powerful artifacts. Or… just had the kind of luck I can’t even begin to understand.”
He sighed, almost wistful. “But none of them ever touched the truth of this world. They were all just crickets trapped in a box.”
His gaze fixed on Kai Xiusu—the Red Dragon in human form—his pupils now twin black fissures burning with Hellfire. “But you… my friend… I’m interested in your future.”
Kai Xiusu bowed slightly. “To be recognized by the Lord of the Nine Hells… it is my greatest honor.”
Asmodeus rose. “Then… may our collaboration be fruitful, Kai Xiusu. We’ll meet again.”
Before he finished speaking, the tavern filled with a thick, sulfurous mist. In Kai Xiusu’s stunned gaze, the middle-aged man before him grew taller, his skin darkening to a deep, burning red. A pair of mountain goat horns sprouted from his brow. His black suit transformed into a flowing, ornate robe of black and crimson.
A crushing, overwhelming pressure slammed into Kai Xiusu’s chest. Around him, the screams of countless souls echoed in his mind.
This was the true form of the oldest Devil—the Lord of the Nine Hells, Asmodeus.
With a surge of hellfire, the figure vanished into thin air. The aura of terror faded, leaving only silence.
But the moment Asmodeus disappeared, time reversed.
The tavern snapped back like a recording rewound.
The demon horns on the human’s forehead retracted. Martin’s pants, soaked in yellow fluid, slowly drew the liquid back in. The wound on the Tiefling’s head sealed shut. Glass shards scattered across the floor rose, reassembled, and flew into the Ogre’s hands—restoring the wine bottle.
Everything moved backward—except Kai Xiusu.
He stood frozen, staring at the spot where Asmodeus had vanished.
Then—crack—the bottle shattered as the Ogre swung it hard against the Tiefling’s skull.
“Damn coward! You’re just a beggar!” the Conquest Party roared, surrounding Martin. “I’ll teach you a lesson!”
The tavern roared back to life—drunken laughter, brawls, shouting, the clink of glasses. No one noticed. No one saw.
No one knew a terrifying Devil had descended, playing with them like toys.
Only Kai Xiusu remained still, his expression grim. His golden eyes flickered with deep unease.
One mere projection… and I felt my life force threatened. He controls time. Warps reality. A monster beyond imagination.
He glanced at his System Panel. The warning still glowed.
> [Warning! You are in contact with a Danger-level entity.]
> [Confirmed Status: Lord of the Nine Hells – Asmodeus]
> [Challenge Rating: ???]
At least now… I pray I never have to meet him again.
Kai Xiusu exhaled, his breath shaky. He’d already prepared for this moment—Meizhuolashi had gathered every scrap of knowledge about Hell, including Asmodeus. But the Lord of the Nine Hells was legendary. His origins were shrouded in myth, with no solid records—only rumors, half-truths, and whispered tales passed down through ages.
Some said he was the first angel forged by the gods. Others claimed he was a primordial serpent coiled deep in Nethres. A few even believed he was the physical avatar of the universe’s darkest will.
For beings like mortals, longevity meant nothing. Their souls were fragile. In the endless eons, Asmodeus had survived every war, every collapse of empires—his legend buried beneath layers of time.
But one truth was absolute: He was beyond anything Kai Xiusu could challenge.
Kai Xiusu stepped out of the tavern, vanishing into space without a sound. He reappeared in the central square of Blackstone Fortress.
A grand celebration was in full swing. Crowds roared with joy, cheering for the Empire’s victory, the annihilation of the Thrace Kingdom.
“Long live the Empire!”
“Long live Emperor Kai Xiusu!”
Songs echoed through the air—especially “The Song of Conquering the South.” Children laughed, dancing, brandishing sticks as they pretended to be mighty Dragon Riders.
“I’ll be the Crimson-Scaled Conqueror!”
“No, I’m the Oath of the Dragon Holy Knight!”
They didn’t know their Emperor stood among them, silently reflecting.
The Empire’s domain is still too small. Only major cities are under our control. We need a Territorial Monument—something to seal the entire Empire within our boundaries. Otherwise… a being like Asmodeus could walk in anytime. Friend or foe? Who knows. Next time, it might not be a negotiation.
The memory of the encounter still chilled him.
The Empire of Ashen Flame was his greatest treasure—the foundation of his deification, the root of his presence in this world.
He raised his hand, golden eyes fixed on the center of the square. Law Force surged from his body, rippling through the earth.
Boom—
The ground cracked. Dust billowed. Stones shattered.
“What’s happening?”
“Earthquake! The ground’s splitting!”
“Is there a foreign invasion?”
Tiefling Guards rushed in, rifles drawn. Wyvern-mounted Public Order Units soared toward the square.
And from the earth, rising slowly, twenty meters tall, a massive Territorial Monument emerged.
At its peak: a vertical pupil and the Fire Emblem of the Empire. Below, a relief depicting the Emperor of the Ashen Flame slaying an angel. In the center, carved in bold, clear script:
> Imperial Boundary Monument: Blackstone Fortress
Within its radius, every citizen felt an unshakable sense of safety. Warm currents flowed through them, healing minor ailments, restoring energy.
“This… this is a miracle!”
“Look—the Emperor defeating an angel! The Empire’s symbol!”
“I know! It’s the Grace of King Kai Xiusu! This stone is His Majesty’s symbol!”
“Praise the great Red Dragon! Praise King Kai Xiusu!”
They couldn’t perceive it—but the Monument was radiating Law Force. The Empire’s Domain was expanding.
Within a day, the entire fortress would be his.
Blackstone Fortress wasn’t a major city—just a hub for workers and newcomers. But even so, several players noticed.
One pointed, stunned. “Look! The stone has a System Prompt!”
“It’s a new respawn point… and teleportation hub!”
“Perfect! I’ve been stuck here for ages. Now I can teleport straight to the frontline!”
Kai Xiusu then created eleven more Territorial Monuments in nearby cities.
The news exploded across the Player Forum.
“Dog Designer finally did something right!”
“Last time I died in August Battlefield, I didn’t have a Quick Resurrection Scroll. I walked thousands of kilometers just to respawn!”
“Now we can finally play without fear of distance!”
Players rejoiced. Newcomers finally had real choice—no more overcrowding in Isdalia or Northwind Keep. They could spawn where they wanted.
The community hailed the change as a merciful end—and demanded more.
But Kai Xiusu was already preparing to depart—to Avernus, to meet his temporary allies.
(End of Chapter)
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