Chapter 839
Chapter 839 - 825: The Demon Monarch
1,585 words
•
8 min read
The Abyss is mostly always distinct in its hierarchical structure, resembling stacked pancakes with a layer-upon-layer formation. This is clearly not a product of natural formation... Normal geographical structures have no need to be built like the strange layers of a building.
"In fact, this is the essence of the Abyss, the result of constant plundering; each layer is a world that has been plundered. Once a world completely slips into the Abyss, it becomes a new floor of the Abyss..."
Therefore, most such layered terrains are found in the Abyss, transformed from other Secret Realms.
Such terrains naturally trouble orderly societies, with transportation difficulties and vastly different environments. The continuous collisions and changes between the floors make stable passageways unrealistic, let alone establishing a relatively stable realm.
After all, even if there happens to be a direct passage between the floors of the Abyss, it couldn’t possibly be serviced by a convenient elevator.
However, for biodiversity and diversity of natural environments, this multi-layered structure is a massive bonus... Not all Abyss is full of Flame and Fire hell; it might just be that one step down leads you from a scorching hell into a frozen world.
Of course, the scorching hells seem to be particularly favored by the Abyss, as this type of terrain occupies at least seventy percent.
And the diversity of environments also means the diversity of life forms... For the Abyss, a super-furnace teeming with countless life forms, such complex biological forms are necessary.
On the other hand, this floor-like terrain also facilitates the "Layer Masters" to each become the overlord of their mountain.
Each Layer Master is the tyrant of their little world, able to freely set Decree-level rules... Their most formidable attribute actually lies in, after gaining control of their layer of the Abyss, becoming the lord of that world, they are endowed with certain "privileges."
"Swamp of a Thousand Snakes, Land of Dreams."
A languid and mature female voice resounded above the battlefield, as she looked down upon the combatants engaged in mortal combat, and uttered her True Words.
In the next moment, the originally unbearably hot surface of the shallow Abyss underwent a strange transformation.
Above, where the sky was absent, it began to rain. That filthy and turbulent black water, carrying the stench of mud and swamp, and from beneath the ground, inexplicable countless "underground waters" emerged.
The original plains, under the manipulation of a certain King of the Abyss, quickly deteriorated into a filthy, stinking swamp.
"It’s the Snake Queen! Retreat! Retreat quickly!"
Shrieks of terror and agony echoed throughout the world, but by then, it was already a bit too late.
The Snake King Didirona, having appeared on the battlefield, naturally was not there just to disgust people with a mud-rain shower.
She simply altered the terrain; the real threat came from "beneath the water."
In the swamp, blossoms of water erupted spontaneously, as enormous black pythons suddenly leaped forth.
The old movie "Anaconda" played out in reality, where the demonized snake group beneath the swamp assaulted the mortals who were too slow to retreat.
Tearing, devouring, constricting to death, an endless horde of pythons burrowed up from the ground, indulging in their bloody feast.
The mortals did not yield without fighting back. Despite adverse conditions, they managed to form ranks and withdraw, attempting to exit the edge of this extremely harsh battlefield.
But the real nightmare had only just begun.
"It’s the multi-armed Snake Demon Guards, retreat quickly!"
Demons, with bodies half human and half snake, sprang from the swamp. Those giant pythons were merely fodder and pets; the true Killstreak and main force were the members of the Snake Queen’s Family Clan.
They had strong physiques and immense strength. Including the long tail, they were at least four meters to start with, and when they leaped, they could reach heights of up to ten meters.
Their long tails became springboards at that moment. The Magic Monsters, Snake-men who were hiding in the shallow swamps, showed terrifying burst power in a split second.
Even Armored warriors couldn’t withstand that powerful collision, and what followed was the multi-armed Snake Demons’ devastatingly rapid strikes.
The Serpent Devil system is one of the ancient native species of the Abyss, possessing ancient lineage and elevated bloodlines, which naturally provides them with weapon mastery beyond their peers, and accumulation of Taboo knowledge.
These monsters were natural Weapon masters, and among them, the exceptional ones could even produce promising Sword Saint candidates.
Now, when multiple multi-armed Snake Demons appeared on the battlefield, the barely maintained defensive line could not withstand and collapsed instantly.
And this scene made Didirona, who was watching all of this, nod her head in satisfaction and withdraw.
The human side’s stubbornness had exceeded expectations, which prompted her to deploy her own guard.
Ten Decree-level multi-armed Snake Demon warriors easily crushed the frontline defense, bringing a smile to her face as she looked at her colleagues who were struggling to advance.
Behind her... or rather below, were her underachieving "colleagues."
Horned Demon Commanding General Kasherber, the lord of the third floor of the Abyss in This World, was in some sense, the closest to the surface and the most unfortunate frontline lord.
One could tell from his "lower" species that he was not the strongest among the Abyss Lords, but the Horned Demons naturally aligned with the Path of War, making him a formidable war commanding general and conductor.
He was the weakest of the Three Giants of the Abyss in This World, but with sufficient forces at his disposal, he might well be the strongest.
The humans’ assault, or rather bait, had taken effect, with both sides beginning to tear at each other on various fronts.
They had attacked up to the second floor, even approaching the Purgatory Fortress on the third floor... Now, with his face a mask of rage, Kasherber had been stripped of his command by the Snake King, under the "enthusiastic spectating" of the other lords, due to the "disadvantages in assault."
Of course, everyone knew that was just an excuse, a reason to suppress him.
"When will they let me up..."
Behind them, one of them had the stature of a mortal.
He appeared to be less than two meters tall, a rarity among the lords, and he voiced his complaint.
But no one could ignore his opinion and presence, after all...
"Glaug, be a bit more patient, at least wait until they send out some high-level figures from the opposite side. You wouldn’t find such opponents satisfying, would you?"
The Snake King, with a smile brimming with deceit rare among Abyss demons, spoke.
Using intelligence, cunning, and most importantly power, she had temporarily summoned the lords. In a way, the humans’ "withdrawal" was also within her expectations, as she also had her own "followers" in the outside world.
𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
"...Or, you could fight me."
Glaug swallowed down the flesh in his mouth, wiped the fresh blood off his lip, and then with a hungry gaze, stared at the towering Snake King.
As a mutated Exotic Species with no clan, he categorized other life forms into two types: those he could fight, and those he could eat.
Those he couldn’t fight? If they also couldn’t be eaten, then they had no reason to exist.
In the Abyss, the Gluttonous Demon Glaug had devoured the flesh of almost every kind of creature except...
"No rush, no rush, there will be an opportunity." The Snake King, the primary target of Glaug, reassured him without falling for his provocation.
She clapped her hands, and another group of demons brought out boxes of "Delicious food."
She sincerely brought out her "treasures," a rich "cellar" that would keep Glaug’s mouth busy... Now, obliged by the Snake King’s generosity, Glaug did nothing but glare harshly at the "large chunks of snake meat" in front of him before continuing with his task.
He had always wanted to taste the Snake King’s flesh and didn’t fear her strength, but the environment of the Abyss’ seven floors left him powerless.
Since this filthy, stinking hatchling had crawled out from her disgusting mud pit, perhaps it was time to settle old scores and take the opportunity to taste snake meat.
The Wandering Lord Glaug, Commanding General Horned Demon Kasherber of the third floor, the Snake King Didirona—the Three Giants of the Abyss in This World—since they had all arrived, other lords dared not fail to appear.
However, they were all cautious and wary, grouping together as if fearful of inadvertently falling into a trap and becoming the Big Bosses’ next meal.
Their assembly meant that nearly half of the Abyss’ high-level combat power had arrived, signaling big trouble for the human side.
Meanwhile, in the fifth floor of the Abyss, a certain Abyss Knight was happily exploiting an "empty opportunity"... quietly waiting for Lu Ping’an to complete his "reading"? That would be too wasteful of the current time, particularly when the lords were away from home, so naturally, he would try to "spirit away" those treasures they couldn’t carry with them.
And Lu Ping’an himself was engrossed in the knowledge from the Dark Scripture.
With the assistance of Taboo knowledge at level 33 (versatile), he had gained more from that Secret Book than even the Abyss Lords revered by the Abyss.
He had even read about the origins of this region of the Abyss.
— End of Chapter 839 —