The Devourers Rite
The twisted forest burned in hues of violet and black behind him. Trees bled sap like coagulated flesh, the screams of warped creatures fading into ash and silence. Kael didn't look back
Blood soaked his arms to the elbows, drying into a crust along his dark robes. The scent of rot was so thick in the air it stung the throat but Kael breathed it in like perfume
He had crossed into the Blightscar Realm the borderlands between the mortal world and the dominions of the higher demons. This realm pulsed. The ground was alive with whispering veins and twitching worms. The trees watched him with hollow eyes
And from beyond the horizon something stirred
Kaels boots crunched over bones thousands of them scattered across the valley like broken prayer beads. His blackened heart beat slow and cold eyes scanning the horizon. A new enemy was coming. He could feel it in his marrow
Youve come far Kael whispered a voice from within his mind
But youve only begun to taste what vengeance demands
Kael didnt respond. He recognized the voice. The Warden of the Abyss a former high demon who now lingered in his soul since he devoured it in Chapter 6. It whispered dark truths and darker promises
Suddenly the sky cracked like brittle glass
A pillar of red lightning slammed into the earth before Kael. The blast wave melted the soil into molten glass. When the light cleared a creature stood where it had landed eight feet tall skin like burning coal veins pulsing with molten ichor
Its face was a sculpted mockery of a man no lips only teeth. A single eye burned in its forehead
I am Gralthor Hound of the Demon Kings it growled its voice a fusion of broken bones and thunder
And you mortal have killed too many of our kin
Kael stepped forward dragging the tip of his cursed greatsword behind him. The metal screeched across the bone littered field
Then tell your masters Kael said calmly they should have sent someone stronger
Gralthor roared and charged
The beasts first blow shattered the land. A tidal wave of bone debris erupted skyward. Kael blinked to the side vanished in black smoke and reappeared behind Gralthor with his sword raised
He sank the blade deep into Gralthors spine
The demon shrieked fire poured from the wound. Gralthor spun smashing Kael with a flaming backhand that sent him flying across the battlefield. Kael hit the ground hard but rose slowly spitting black blood eyes wild
This is good he whispered
I need stronger prey
He threw his cloak back revealing the six cursed runes now etched across his chest each one a demon soul consumed. As the marks glowed his veins throbbed with stolen power. Flesh thickened. Muscles grew denser. His presence darkened
Gralthor bellowed again but Kael was already in the air sword overhead descending like execution itself
Steel met flame
The two clashed with such force shockwaves leveled nearby trees. Fire wrapped around Kaels body but he walked through it face unreadable. He began chanting his voice low and in a dead language
Behind him the shadows peeled themselves from the ground rising like liquid specters
Ten Soul Wraiths summoned from the corpses of those Kael had slain now floated behind him mouths open in silent screams. Each one lunged toward Gralthor attaching themselves to the demons limbs gnawing with ethereal fangs
Gralthor thrashed but Kael advanced
You think I came to fight Kael said walking through the flames
No I came to consume
He raised his hand and the Ritual of Devourment began
Black tendrils erupted from Kaels chest and plunged into Gralthors mouth and eye. The demon shrieked as his very soul was ripped from his body. The pillar of flame around him died and his body withered into dust
Kael stood tall the soul writhing in his hand a swirling orb of hatred and power
One more step toward vengeance
Not from battle from arrival
The sky turned crimson. A horde of winged abominations poured over the hills batlike demons six eyed ogres multilimbed screamers with barbed tails. At least two dozen. Behind them atop a floating obsidian throne rode a being of pure shadow
Kael narrowed his eyes
This was no longer random ambush
This was war
Youre the Reborn Slayer arent you the thrones rider hissed
The one who eats demon souls and forgets mercy
Kael raised his blade
No he said coldly
Im the one who'll end your entire bloodline
The air ignited
The horde attacked
Kael raised his hand and unleashed Hell
Dozens of magic glyphs appeared in a ring around him blades of ice spikes of lightning gouts of poison flame. He began rotating skills with inhuman speed casting multielement barrages without pause
Enemies fell screaming. Their bodies burst froze or melted in the air. Kael moved like a phantom untouchable his cooldown spells perfectly synchronized. The more he killed the stronger he became
He struck without remorse
A screamer launched itself toward him
Kael caught it midair ripped its wings off and impaled it on a spike of crystal
A bat demon dived
Kael hurled a blade made of frozen blood cleaving its skull in two
The floating throne cracked its rider stood
This was the Midborn Prince of Carneth one of the demon overlords Kael had sworn to destroy
The prince grinned
Your soul will be exquisite
Kael laughed
No he whispered
Yours will feed my next evolution
He devoured it whole
The ground trembled again