The Devil's Cage

His gaze was as sharp as a blade and as keen as a knife.

It contained the 5 Origin Forces, Devil, Cardinal Sins, Dawn, Plague, and Saint Thorn. It was so sharp that it almost tore space apart.

The gaze appeared in a flash but the strange energy that saw the gaze using Harkend's body felt like disaster had befallen it.

Bam!

Harkend's body exploded from inside.

Nothing was left of him, and that was the start of a series of chain reactions.

…

Under dark gray sky, a bridge with concrete stairs spiraled forward and arched across the darkness.

A man in a dark robe holding a crystal ball strolled on top.

The dark robe was gloomy and the man's hand was thin and black.

Only the crystal ball shined in a faint light but it didn't feel bright at all. On the contrary, it made the surrounding darker than black, as if the crystal ball was absorbing light.

Kakroom!

A thunderous roar came from the river stream under the bridge, like waves crashing on the rocks but even with such loud noises, it couldn't overpower the steady and powerful footsteps.

Kak Kak Kak!

A unique clutter sounded as a pair of metal grieves walked on top of the stairs.

An armor of black with a face clad in darkness appeared in the eyes of the man and when the man saw the black armored knight, his footsteps paused.

"Greedy, Lord Sphendix."

The man in the long, black robe greeted the black knight politely.

"Luther is playing his little tricks again. Who is the unfortunate soul this time?"

The black knight chuckled as he looked at the crystal ball in the man's hand.

"A rising Extraordinary individual in Alkender City," the man answered honestly.

"Who is this new rising star?"

The black knight spent a long time exploring the Inner World, so hr asked curiously about what happened in the outside world.

"An Extraordinary individual known as the Glutton Emperor," the man in the robe replied.

"Emperor? This really is a fallen age, everyone seems to claim the title for themselves." the black knight laughed coldly.

The man in the robe, or the servant, did not explain about Kieran. He knew his position as a servant and knew what he should do in front of the black knight.

Explanations were unnecessary, even if Kieran possessed extreme power.

Unless he wanted to be thrown into the Ghostly Dark River.

The water in the river underneath him wasn't just cold, it was lethal. He didn't want to end up in a million pieces.

"I guess Luther won't mind if I watch, right?" said the black knight before he strode away.

The servant didn't dare deny the request. He followed quietly and quickly.

Through the steps of Ghostly Dark River, both of them entered a large stone building.

The building was very high, towering under the dark gray sky like a giant sword stabbed into the earth, emanating an ominous aura.

Translucent souls wandered around the tower,

They were tortured.

They wailed, they growled, they wept, but none dared to truly get close to the black tower.

Except for those who lost their sanity to the torturing.

"Aaaaaargh!"

Amid the sharp screaming, a soul flew towards the black tower frenziedly but before it even touched the tower, the black color on the tower came alive, gathering rapidly and coagulating into a blooming cannibal plant, swallowing the soul.

The black knight and the servant saw the scene, but weren't moved. It was a norm for them.

"Tell the tower guards, the tower needs more fresh souls," said the black knight to the gatekeeper as he walked through the main gate.

"Yes, Lord Sphendix," The gatekeeper bowed.

The black knight and the servant then went further into the tower.

The narrow corridor of the black tower intersected in a complicated way, as though the paths were a network of spider webs. Doors were lined up on both sides of every corridor.

Most of the heavy wooden doors were quiet, only some had whipping, beating and sizzling noises coming out, followed by painful screams.

The black knight couldn't hold back his laughter at the screams.

"I like this place the best. I can't hear this kind of melody in the Inner World, there's only…"

His laughter covered the last part of his sentence before he could finish, a secret that he didn't want to share.

The servant behind him lowered his head.

Secrets piqued curiosity, and curiosity in the black tower was lethal.

And secrets were the roots of all disasters.

One has to control his curiosity, speak less, watch less, ask less, and do more in this place to ensure a longer survival.

After the laughter faded, only the faint screams and footsteps sounded in the narrow corridor.

Seven corners later, the black knight and the servant walked down and eventually ended up in front of a door.

The door wasn't locked, the interior was a clear view to anyone who stood outside.

There was a round hall with many mystical runes carved on the ground.

A giant snake the size of a barrel tick was hanging on the ceiling.

It wasn't dead and it was hissing frequently.

The cold glint in the snake eyes caused the servant behind the black knight to tremble.

"My lord," the servant knelt down and raised his crystal ball over his head, greeting the snake loudly.

Sssss!

As the snake hiss filled the room, the snake widened its mouth.

A person clad in slime was spat out, standing firmly on the ground. The slime around him splat everywhere, reeking terribly.

The black knight wasn't bothered, instead widening his eyes behind that black mask of his. He was waiting.

While the black knight waited, the giant snake on the ceiling jumped down and chomped on the servant. Unlike how a snake swallowed the prey, this particular snake knew how to chew on the food.

Splat!

The servant was crushed like a watermelon in the snake's mouth, his body destroyed in one bite, the blood and flesh sprayed out from the snake's mouth.

The whole floor was tainted red.

The bloody crystal ball floated in the air and flew towards the man clad in slime.

His finger touched the crystal ball, transforming the blood on the crystal ball and the flesh on the ground into a pink cloud of mist.

The anticipating black knight sucked in the bloody mist eagerly.

"This is intoxicating," he praised.

If it wasn't for this single breath of Blood Flesh Essence, why would he speak to a low servant?

Certainly, the reason he came here wasn't only for that mouth of essence either, he still had other important matters to deal with.

"You can leave now," the man in slime said coldly.

"Luther, don't you think you are getting cold? We used to be best friends! I know I've lied to you on some matters, but I think we can reconcile and bring our relationship back to where it was—remember the Bone Flower I gifted you?" the black knight spoke on the spot with a little apologetic tone.

"Of course I remember. I also remember the cold pain from the dagger you stabbed into my lungs. Every breath I take now pains me, so how can I forget?" said the man.

"I wouldn't stab you if you did not try to rip my heart out, so we are even. I found something in the Inner World, and after many thoughts, I think you are the only one who can help me," the black knight smiled.

"What did you find?" asked the man in slime.

"Mordin's leftover," the blank knight was being frank but was replied by a cold laugh from the man in slime.

"Mordin's leftover? Every year, someone claims they've found something of Mordin's in the Inner World, but not once did it come true. They are nothing but bad intentions."

The man in slime sounded disdainful.

"I swear on the name of the Calamity that I do not lie and bear no malicious intentions." the black knight said seriously as though he was making a vow.

It worked though, as it was very effective against the man in slime.

The man even skipped his breath and the dripping slime paused for 3 to 4 seconds.

"Are you sure?"

"I am absolutely certain! I know I am less than you in certain parts but I am very familiar with Mordin, to the point that I know what I am looking at at first sight, it won't go wrong!" the black knight said in a firm manner.

The man in slime ultimately nodded after a heavy gaze at the black knight.

"Very well. I'll determine how familiar you are with Mordin with my own eyes, but before that, I need a favour done," said the man.

"The rising star in Alkender? Don't mind if I watch it? It's been a while since I saw the last descendant in action," the black knight laughed.

No answer came from the man, but a low chanting.

The black knight's findings in the Inner World exchanged for generosity from the man in slime.

The man did not mind an audience, or any other prying gaze. His power was not something others could learn with a few viewings.

Despite that, the black knight widened his eyes behind his mask, remembering every single gesture and incantation from the man.

Most of the man's power originated from his bloodline but the black knight was more concerned about something else.

As for the blurry image in the crystal ball? The black knight did not care, he knew whosoever was marked as a target would die a restless death.

Ssss!

The giant snake hanging in the ceiling hissed and swam away.

If its skin wasn't pulled by the ceiling, it really looked like it glided on the ceiling.

"Harkend!"

"Harkend!"

The man in slime yelled, the blurry image in the crystal ball turned clear. It showed a sky, the sky of Alkender, and then a second scream came.

Following the second scream, the image in the crystal ball shifted rapidly, eventually landing on a black figure.

"Hehehe, found you! High tier Devil Descendant! One of my most anticipated materials—I wonder how dense is the sulphur in your heart?" Sinister laughter came from the man.

He reached out his slimey hand and pointed at the black figure inside the crystal ball.

Buzz!

An invisible wave spread and gushed into the crystal ball in a unique movement.

While that was happening, the black figure in the crystal ball opened his eyes.

The gaze containing Devil, Cardinal Sins, Dawn, Plague, and Saint Thorn became clear in the crystal ball, the invisible wave stopping a bit before it was blasted to bits by the shockwave.

Crak!

The crystal ball exploded, and the remaining shockwave was blasted towards the man.

"No!"

He ought to dodge it, but he failed to.

He controlled the disgusting slime into a shield, attempting to block the shockwave.

The blazing and the wicked took the charge, destroying the slimey shield easily.

Plague flew over like a swarm of locusts, corroding that gloomy gleam.

Pak!

A clear noise later, the gloomy gleam was shattered.

The blade named Saint Thorn slashed over the man's body.

Pak!

The slime was blasted off, revealing a scrawny body underneath. The man looked down at the line at his abdomen before faltering back.

Splat!

The man was split in half after he fell.

The mutated organs disintegrated and reeked terribly.

The giant snake swimming on the ceiling exploded the moment the man's organ spilled out.

Kaboom!

The blood and flesh tainted the whole round hall red.

The black knight was already out of the hall when the man in slime screamed "No", looking at everything before his eyes in shock.

Even with the mask, he barely covered the shock on his face, never thinking this could happen.

"Damn it! My plan!" the black knight growled heavily in a rough voice.

If he had the power, he would slice the black figure in the crystal ball into a million pieces, but...whenever he thought about the terrifying gaze, his body trembled.

"Thankfully, I am at Printon!" the black knight was utmost grateful, but at the very next moment, a spine-chilling coldness rose to his head.

The black knight looked around in panic, yet did not see anything.

Fear piled up further, knowing his instincts wouldn't let him down.

Without a second thought, the black knight wanted to return to the Inner World, hence he dashed towards the entrance.

The black figure would come to Printon!

'Printon is no longer safe! I must run! Run away from here!'

The black knight was terrified, running even faster.

Everyone in the black tower saw how scared the running black knight was, as though he was being chased by something scary.

No one asked what was wrong though, because this was the black tower!

No, more precisely, this was Printon's rule!

Even though others knew what happened, it would be best for them to mind their own business.

More so, even if questions were asked, the black knight wouldn't say anything.

He had to find someone to help him fend off the terrifying Glutton Emperor!