Without warning, the altar convulsed beneath their boots. From the black demon core burst a blinding jet of light, and every charm carved around the platform melted like frost under dawn.
A pressure as vast as a mountain rolled up from deep below, shaking the entire subterranean palace as though something colossal were clawing its way toward daylight. Jared’s breath caught.
“Sh*t! The seal is breaking!” His expression shifted drastically. “Lunaria must’ve foreseen this. She sent us for the demon core precisely so we’d shatter the seal for her!”
A deafening roar erupted from beneath the altar. The ground split open in vast jagged seams.
Black demonic aura geysered out, knitting itself into a demon shadow over one hundred meters tall. In its clawed fists lay a monstrous axe, its snarling visage belonged to the ancient demon general they had hoped would never wake.
“Hahaha! At last, I’m free!” The general’s voice thundered like a storm cannon, making their eardrums throb. “Two thousand eight hundred years I waited, yet some fool still dared break my seal!”
Flaxseed went ghost-white, the clan leader token trembling between his fingers. “So this… This is an ancient demon general. Its aura is overwhelming…”
Jared shoved Flaxseed behind him. Every drop of spiritual energy owned blazed outward, and the Dragonslayer Sword vibrated with a hungry hum, rippling with sword energy. “It’s fresh from the seal. Its strength hasn’t fully returned. We still have a chance.”
The demon general sneered, eyes flicking over Jared with contempt.
“A mere human cultivator dares strut before me? Die!” He heaved the colossal axe, a black arc of force carved through the underground air, promising ruin to everything it touched.
He heaved the colossal axe; a black arc of light carved through the underground air, promising ruin to everything it touched.
Jared yanked Flaxseed sideways and vaulted clear, the cleave missing them by inches. The blow landed with a detonation. Flagstones exploded as a bottomless chasm tore across the chamber.
“Mr. Vermilion, he’s loose!” Jared shouted. “Take my body, finish him! He’s nothing compared to you!”
He called again and again, but Vermilion Demon Lord remained eerily silent.
“What the heck?! Playing dead right now?!” Jared swore under his breath.
“Mr. Flaxseed, find a way to reinforce the seal!” barked, sprinting forward with the Dragonslayer Sword. “I’ll keep it busy.”
He knew the two of them could never defeat the general outright; only a renewed seal offered any hope of survival.
Realizing the same, Flaxseed produced fresh talisman paper and, following ancestral legacy, began sketching new sealing charms at frantic speed.
Irritated that Jared charged first, the demon general swung horizontally, aiming the axe at Jared’s waist.
Jared’s body flickered like a phantom; golden sword energy from the Dragonslayer Sword rained on the demon general in a glittering storm. However, the demon’s armor-like flesh drank in the sword energy, leaving only faint white scars.
“It’s useless. My demon body knows no blade nor arrow. Such petty tricks cannot scratch me!”
The demon general tilted back his head and let loose a savage laugh that shook dust from the ceiling. His giant axe blurred through another murderous arc, and Jared stumbled back across the cratered floor, boots sliding over fractured shale.
Tension coiled in Jared’s chest. With every heartbeat, could feel the demon general’s strength threading itself whole again. If this dragged on, the seal would stay broken-and both and Flaxseed would die before another charm could be cast.
Just then, suddenly remembered the demon wyrm’s inner core, and pulled It out of his tunic. This orb thrums with a thick demonic aura. Perhaps I could use it to hold at bay briefly.
Hope sparking, pressed a hand to the inner core and flooded it with spiritual energy. Black light blazed like midnight lightning, then it shot from his palm and streaked toward the demon general.
Seeing it, greed flared in the general’s eyes. A clawed hand darted forward to snatch the core.
“Now!” Jared’s shout, seizing the opportunity. His Dragonslayer Sword turned into a streak of golden light, cleaving straight for the demon’s outstretched arm.
