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Chapter 8 - Chapter 8

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

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