Yax was concise. "Conquer the east, but keep a close watch on Storm Fortress."
He left one thing unsaid: he had to find a way to reclaim his soul from that Slime before his plan was discovered.
Alek nodded. He knew he had embarked on a path of no return. What lay ahead might be an abyss or it might be hell, but... he no longer cared.
’Isabella, wait for me...’
He gazed out the window. Falan was still shrouded in the cold, dreary autumn rain—chilly and damp. But a far bloodier storm was quietly brewing within the ancient capital.
This was a war to end all wars, and at the same time, a war of vengeance.
...
「Golden Glow Valley, the City of Cinders.」
In the eyes of the Adventurers who roamed the volcanic region year-round, this city—built on the crater of an active volcano and perpetually cloaked in sulfurous smoke and the glow of magma—had always been a symbol of fire, destruction, and Demons.
Soaring black spires pierced the roiling clouds of smoke, and massive furnaces spewed flames and magma day and night... Yet, what no one could have imagined was that deep within the Furnace Palace, at the very heart of the City of Cinders, there was an unusually quiet and tidy study.
Casaric, the fearsome Great Demon, was currently standing before a bookshelf. He extended a hand with well-defined knuckles and tapped a finger in the empty air.
A heavy tome, as if lifted by an invisible hand, floated steadily off the shelf and settled into his outstretched palm.
Although the pair of horns covered in fine, spiraling patterns and his twisted, deathly frame fully exposed his identity as a Demon, at this moment, he was as focused as a refined scholar.
His eyes were downcast, his gaze fixed on the twisted, dancing Demon Runes on the page. He softly chanted an obscure, ancient demonic language, seemingly lost in a world of knowledge.
Just then, a patch of once-still shadow in the corner of the room suddenly rippled like water.
"Did you really believe him?"
The rippling shadow gradually coalesced, eventually taking on a humanoid silhouette as it slowly moved to stand behind Casaric.
Without turning his head, Casaric’s fingers gently turned a page.
"Remember to knock next time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind tearing your soul to shreds."
The shadow flickered unstably, letting out a rustling sound like a soft chuckle. "You wouldn’t do that, Casaric. And you still haven’t answered my question."
"Morgane, I know Yax well. He only excels at combat—at trampling and crushing his enemies. He is not skilled in deceit or lies, at least not at lying to my face."
He turned around and said meaningfully, "He didn’t ’escape’."
"Interesting." The shadow wavered and continued speaking. "That Slime... it tore my brother to pieces. The poor fool had planned to stir up chaos by deceiving some weak Mages and downtrodden vampires, but he died all the same."
"It was devoured by a power I’ve never seen before, vanishing without a trace. Not even a shred of its soul was left behind."
"Casaric, that so-called Slime Kingdom isn’t as simple as it seems."
Casaric’s slender fingers lifted slightly, and the book flew back to its place on the shelf.
"Morgane, you come from the Shadow Mountain Range. You, of all people, should know just how many strange creatures were born there the day the ’Shadow Dragon’ Erin fell into the mountains, six thousand three hundred and twenty-seven years ago."
"You and your siblings’ tracks cover every shadowy corner of the continent, and it is no coincidence that a crow from the Shadow Mountain Range resides in that Demon Kingdom."
"As for that Slime..."
Casaric fell into thought, his fiery eyes gazing out the crystal window. Through it, he could see the Eternal Furnace towering over the center of the City of Cinders. An unending stream of magma poured like a waterfall from its mouth, flowing into the crisscrossing channels below to provide the entire city with light, heat, and power.
After a long while, he finally spoke again. "We need to find out what we’re dealing with. We need to get the Crown back."
"Abaddon is already on his way. He’s heading to the rift nearest the swamp. From there, he will cross the ice-covered Snowfield and infiltrate the heartland of the Slime Kingdom."
"The power of shadow will conceal his movements, allowing him to be as silent and unseen as the deepest Darkness of night."
Morgane’s shadow trembled. "Abaddon? The Shadow Demon? It seems you’re taking this Slime far more seriously than I expected."
"It’s necessary caution," Casaric said lightly. "When facing the unknown, you can never commit too many resources to reconnaissance. Abaddon excels at stealth and investigation. He will bring us the information we need without causing a major disturbance."
"Or just eliminate the problem directly?" Morgane’s shadow let out a hoarse laugh.
Casaric did not deny it.