Chapter 99
Demon King Forest is located in the northernmost part of the continent, and its neighbor is Phoenix County.
The terrain is lower than Phoenix County, and the northern coast is the Demon King's Abyss and the Thousand-Mile Stone Forest, which has been nurtured by the Demon King's magic for many years, so the climate in the Demon King's Forest is quite good.
This area is home to the vast majority of the demons on the continent of Icarus.
At the same time, various races also live here: humans, elves, dwarves, mermaids along the coast, and some underwater races.
The order is weak, the weak are preyed upon by the strong, the strong are respected, and bloodlines are supreme.
Let's start from top to bottom:
The Demon King Vesper, the second Demon King, inherited everything from his father, becoming the second Demon King, and has lived to this day. The first Demon King died about five hundred years ago.
If I do the math, Vesper is probably around five hundred years old.
During the chaotic period of the Seven Gods, the demons roamed freely across the continent of Icarus, without any fixed settlement. Although Vesper possessed the strongest bloodline and power among the demons, he had no intention of gathering them together.
Around 100 years before the Orlando era, guided by the progenitor demon, all the demons migrated to the area now known as Demon King Forest, where they established their own territory, which was smaller than it is now.
Vesper became the ruler of the demon race.
He appointed seven guardians of the demon race and divided the Demon King Forest into eight regions. The Demon King resided in the Demon King Abyss, while the other seven regions were the territories of the guardians.
There are also differences among demons. There is a natural difference between pure-blooded demons and mixed-blooded demons. Among pure-blooded demons, there are some who are born into a lower class and whose status is equal to that of mixed-blooded demons.
However, nowadays, pure-blooded demons are rarely seen.
In the previous generation of heroes who fought against the Demon King, many of the already few pure-blooded demons perished in battle. Of the current seven guardians, only three are pure-blooded demons.
The Great Protector's territory is the largest area bordering Phoenix County, called Sand Rift City, named after the narrow, long desert strip that borders Phoenix.
The remaining six districts are: the Second Guardian's territory is the Illusionary Sea, the Third Guardian's territory is the Forgotten Underground Tower, the Fourth Guardian's territory is the Storm Belt, the Fifth Guardian's territory is the Mirror City, the Sixth Guardian's territory is the Sighing Maze, and the Seventh Guardian's territory is the Fisherman's Tomb.
In the past, heroes would typically travel from the south to the north to reach the Demon King's Abyss, and their first stop upon entering the Demon King's Forest was the Fisherman's Tomb of the Seven Guardians.
Last year, there was a riot in the Demon Forest. The border guards of Daventry retreated ten miles. The riot lasted for about four months before being dealt with by the Lortheran army after they had defeated Phoenix.
The demons and other opportunistic races obediently retreated, but they still relentlessly continued to harass the area.
The Demon King's Forest was also in turmoil, with frequent battles in various places and fights between the protectors.
Last spring, the Second Protector planned to collude with the Third Prince to make some good trouble, but the Third Prince turned out to be useless, and the Golden Merchant Guild was even worse. Frustrated, he was scolded by his boss and had no choice but to slink back to his Illusionary Sea.
All the demons he brought with him perished in the old mystical realm.
He died without any fanfare.
However, no matter how much the guardians fight among themselves, they dare not take it to their leader. This demon, Florin, is vindictive and petty. If he tells you he's unhappy, that's fine. But if he keeps his bad intentions to himself without saying anything, then you're really doomed.
The old demon king was sealed away and could not leave the Demon King Abyss, so these great protectors also had to go to the Demon King Abyss every now and then.
Fortunately, they go in shifts, seven days a week, with a clear schedule. Every three months, there is a month when all the great protectors have to stay in the Demon King's Abyss.
The Demon King's Abyss is a gathering place for a large number of demons. In fact, the demons in the other seven districts have mixed bloodlines. The demons in the Demon King's Abyss, although they are mixed-blood, have very pure bloodlines and obvious demon characteristics.
As for Florin, the Demon Grand Protector, he is a pure-blooded demon among pure-blooded demons, and his bloodline is that of the most powerful elemental demon among demons. With him around, the other protectors dare not cause trouble at all.
Now, this demon, second only to the Demon King, was rubbing his hands together as he looked at his human friend and laughed, "Hey, what are you doing in the Demon King's Forest? Why aren't you in the capital?"
His tone was full of probing. Heaven knows that when he received Veris's message, he was in his room eating and drinking heartily, and he was so frightened that he almost thought the Papacy had attacked.
After reading the contents, I felt a pang of despair. This was no different from the Papacy attacking us!
When was the last time Veris entered the Demon King's Forest? It was during the time when heroes were fighting the Demon King!
He tidied himself up, but instead of rushing out, he took a pile of sacrificial offerings to worship his ancestor, the progenitor demon, muttering to himself that he hoped the hero would never come to his Shattered Sand City this time.
Then he quickly mounted the magical beast and rode off majestically towards the desert.
Veris smiled slightly upon hearing this: "I'm going to visit the old Demon King."
Frodien was startled. He glanced at Veris and knew that what he was about to say was probably not appropriate to say in public, so he changed the subject, still smiling: "Hey, what's that dog-shaped eagle on your shoulder? Doesn't it get tiring to carry it?"
The two, one human and one demon, headed towards the Sand Rift City in perfect unison. Veris replied, "It's just a small alchemical gadget. It can be used for communication, so I brought it along because it's convenient."
They deliberately veered off the main road, and once there were no other figures around, Florian couldn't wait to ask, "Is your Pope about to make a big move?"
Veris glanced down at the black leather whip in his hand and said casually, "So, you could say the old Demon King is in a good mood lately?"
"That's not good. He's always throwing tantrums, hitting and yelling, but it's kind of fun watching those little devils." Frodien shrugged.
"What big move is it? Tell me quickly!" Frodien was getting impatient. Since he had already betrayed them, Veris shouldn't be wary of him!
“A large mountain range suddenly appeared out of nowhere north of Phoenix,” Veris said.
Frodien was taken aback. What did this have to do with the church? He subconsciously asked, "How was it born?"
Veris looked up at him with a half-smile.
The demon suddenly realized something and shuddered. "You don't mean that your Pope, far away in the capital, actually created a huge mountain range in Phoenix, do you?"
Veris thought Frodien's imagination was truly remarkable. He neither nodded nor shook his head, but simply said, "The believers in Phoenix are devout, and the church will naturally reward them."
That's it!
Florin gaped in astonishment at the sheer power at that moment—the power to move mountains and seas! What chance did the demons have against the Pope?
There's no such old man in the Demon King's Abyss either!
His expression turned serious. Not forgetting what Veris had said earlier, he whispered, "You came all the way to the Demon King's Forest. Are the heroes and the others also setting off?"
This time, Veris fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. Florian didn't dare disturb him, and after a long while, Veris finally answered, "The hero? It'll be a while, won't it? Do you know what's happening in the south?"
Frodien had, to be honest, heard about it.
The newly enthroned king launched a massive campaign. If he succeeded, he would be remembered for eternity; if he failed, he would still be remembered for eternity.
If you've done so many things, and at least one of them is useful, that's enough.
“Some of the brave warriors went south with the army, and they probably won’t be able to head north for a while,” Veris said.
Frodien said "Oh," and was even more puzzled: "Then what brought you to the Demon King's Forest?"
When he first met Veris, Veris's purpose was related to the hero.
Veris said, "I'm here to investigate some things. We went to dig up the graves of Count Lamb's family earlier. You said that Count Lamb's son was from the Demon King's Forest. Do you know exactly which place that is?"
Frodien frowned and fell into thought.
That matter was indeed quite a long time ago. Back then, he only heard about it out of curiosity and even speculated with great interest that Earl Blue Membrane's adopted son might be the illegitimate child of one of the girls from Demon King Forest. It's just that the son looked like his mother.
He wouldn't go to the areas of other protectors, and even if he heard gossip, his subordinates wouldn't mention things from other areas. Therefore, Lamb's adopted son was most likely born in Rift Sand City or Demon King's Abyss.
Thinking about it, he told Veris the same thing.
Then, out of curiosity, he asked, "And what about his son, Earl Lamb the Younger?"
“He probably discovered something, but he’s keeping it to himself.” Veris recalled something Lortheran had mentioned to him earlier and said, “I gave that body to my friend, and Earl Lamb seems to have realized that his father has been resurrected.”
Frodien was shocked: "Your friend is a ghost?!"
Only the spirits of the dead can bring the dead back to life from their bodies.
There aren't many undead in the Demon King's Forest, mainly in the Demon King's Abyss, but unlike other demons, a small number of undead are scattered throughout the entire continent of Icarus.
The appearance of the undead race has a special reason.
The vast majority of them were originally demons or had demon blood. Their deaths were not deaths in the general sense, but more like sacrifices. After the sacrifices were completed, they became undead.
Among the undead race are necromancers, and those guys are truly ruthless and extremely powerful, capable of fighting alongside the Elemental Primordial Demon.
However, because the sacrificial rituals are demanding and complex with an extremely high failure rate, there are very few undead.
There are different types of sacrificial rituals. There are passive sacrifices—these are purely due to good luck. After a demon dies, the hidden code of the bloodline is triggered, the sacrifice is completed, and the demon becomes a spirit, thus achieving a second continuation of life.
If one can acquire a new body, that would be the third resurrection.
Undead usually carry a small amount of demonic energy, making them unable to enter the capital of Lor'theran, but they are less restricted in other places and can drift wherever they want.
Even though the Demon King Forest is in the far north of the continent, it wouldn't be surprising if you saw undead in the southernmost port of Wilde.
The form of the undead is generally an invisible ball of ghostly fire, without a fixed human shape.
Although many undead share a common goal: to seize a body and complete their resurrection.
What shocked Florian was not only that Veris had friends among the dead, but that Veris also used that corpse to resurrect the dead.
Although the bodies look different, the dead cannot be resurrected on a body that has been dead for so many years!
Although the undead were resurrected on the corpses, they still had demon blood in their bodies and couldn't stay in the capital! — Ah, well, Veris has a way to get him into the capital.
Frodien, with a whole host of questions swirling in his mind, finally asked, "So, how is your friend doing now?"
Veris: "Oh, he's king now."
"..."
Veris turned his head, looked at the demon who had fallen off the magical beast and tumbled headfirst into the desert, and twitched his lips: "Are you uncoordinated?"
Frodien pulled himself out of the dune, shook his head, and looked horrified: "You mean, a half-demon rose to the throne?... No, that's not right, how did that happen? I know about the royal family scandals, but I never imagined that the newly enthroned king, who is supposedly an illegitimate child, would be—ahhhhhh!"
He screamed in terror.
What's wrong with this world?!
Veris, however, seemed lost in thought. When he turned Lortheran into an undead, he hadn't thought much about it. Although he sensed some demonic energy, he easily removed it.
Florian was still shouting, "That body is most likely inhabited by demons! God! Veris, what have you done!"
Why do you say that?
Do you really think there could be pure-blooded humans in my Sand Rift City and Demon King's Abyss?
Veris pondered for a moment, then said, "Isn't Archbishop Clark from your Demon King Forest?"
Frodien, of course, knew who Clark was, and he retorted angrily, "That guy's from Fisherman's Tomb, what does that have to do with me!"
Veris shrugged: "Okay, but what can we do now... huh?"
He seemed to remember something, and looking at Florin who had flipped over and mounted a magical beast, he said in a strange tone, "Then... according to your reasoning, wouldn't the current heroes also have demonic blood?"
But why isn't the royal capital's magic array reacting? Is it because the bloodline is too weak? Or is the bloodline being hidden?
Upon hearing this, Florin nearly fell down again. He looked at Veris in horror: "Are you serious? Although things were chaotic back then, Sand Rift City is inside the Demon King's Forest. Ordinary humans couldn't have survived there."
He was 90% certain that the exhumed corpse had demon blood.
Veris nodded.
Frodien felt that the information he received today was too explosive. After years of being law-abiding, he had not felt the chaos for a long time. He rolled his eyes for a long time, but still could not figure it out.
The king is half demon.
The hero is also half a demon.
The hero is the king's biological son, but the king has not yet acknowledged him as such.
And who is the Earl of Lamb now?!
"Him? He's an astrologer... Hmm, I think he and Lamb have a close relationship. Have you inquired about it?"
Frodien blinked, then suddenly became excited: "I actually did inquire about it. Let me tell you, back in the capital—before we left the Demon King's Forest—Count Lamb was in love with a noble lady."
"When he returned from the Demon King's Forest, the noble lady had already left the capital with her father and gone to her fiefdom."
"You must know that nobleman too, the current Earl of Amberley!"
Alas!
Veris also showed a surprised expression: "That young Earl Lamb is Earl Lamb's..."
Frodien asserted: "His first love's grandson!"
"oh--"
The man and the demon both hissed.
Veris suddenly understood and said, "Back then, Lamb took a son back from the Demon King's Forest. After the son grew up, perhaps by coincidence, or perhaps to fulfill Count Lamb's wish, he went to Amberi and stayed for a year or two for other reasons. Count Lamb was born, and the son also met a woman he liked in Amberi and had a child."
Frodien added, "I have to tell you something. There was a civil war in Amberley, but it was so long ago that I didn't find out what it was about."
Veris: "Perhaps it was because of a change in the family of Count Lamb's first love that Lamb's adopted son decided to take the last bloodline of her family back to the capital, while leaving his own son in Amberley."
Why didn't he take them both back with him?
“How would I know?” Veris shrugged. “Didn’t you say his wife died on the way?”
Frodienne: "Maybe he died without ever getting married."
"You have a really harsh way of speaking."
In short, the relationship between Earl Lamb and Arnold is now clear. As for how Arnold ended up in the village at the foot of the Amberley Mountains and how he grew up, Veris no longer wanted to inquire.
As for what the adopted son was thinking, or whether it was at the behest of Earl Lamb, Veris had no way of knowing, since both of them were as dead as could be.
Florian brought Veris to his city of Shattered Sands before he realized he had forgotten to ask the High Priest why he had sent Veris to the Demon King's Forest!
So he quickly asked again, Veris's pale fingers stroking the black leather whip in his hand, and said, "Although I think the possibility is very small, I still have to take a look... about the heretics."
Frodien: "You know, it's quite normal to have a cult in the Demon King's Forest."
No way, the High Papacy isn't even sparing the Demon King Forest?!
Veris shook his head: "Not an ordinary heretic, but someone connected to the ancient mystical realm. Also, I'm looking for someone... perhaps from another race."
"Who is it?" Frodien was happy to help Veris with this.
“I don’t know yet. If I’m lucky, I’ll know if it’s him when I meet him.” Veris looked up at the bustling Sand City—this “bustling” was, of course, relative to other districts.
The Sand City of Frodien is similar to ordinary human cities, with rows of buildings and thriving trade.
Over the past six months, he has investigated everyone who might be Hill's reincarnation, with Sylvain's assistance, but he still can't find a single trace.
They had most likely come into contact, but due to various reasons, both sides intentionally obstructed each other, so even Veris couldn't tell which one was Hill's reincarnation.
If they're not among the human race, then they must be among the demon race.
Frodien was speechless; it seemed Veris didn't know who to look for either.
He figured it was an order from the Pope above; completely clueless, he was sure he'd have to run all over the Demon King's Forest. He thought to himself, silently sympathizing with his working-class friend.
However, despite my sympathy, there are still some things I need to remind you: "You are strong enough, but over the years the old man has become irritable, and the demon race's temper has also become irritable. Bloodline influence, you know."
"I'm going to the Demon King's Abyss soon. Tomorrow is Demon Month, and the other Great Protectors will arrive at the Demon King's Abyss tonight."
Veris waved his hand to indicate that he understood, then hurriedly said goodbye to Frodien and pulled the monster into the bustling city.
He seems even more anxious than Frodienne.
Frodien clicked his tongue, deciding that today's trip had been worthwhile, having heard some explosive news that would keep him entertained for a long time.
Then it turned and headed towards the Demon King's Abyss.
The city of Rift Sands is very close to the Demon King's Abyss. The further north you go, the outline of the stone forest appears, and there are many more demons on the road. When they realize that the Great Protector is passing by on a demonic beast, the demons all give way.
If it were an ordinary demon, they might dare to stop them from fighting, but that was the Great Protector!
The number one demon below the Demon King is no joke!
The Great Protector could turn all eighteen generations of their ancestral demons into mincemeat with a single punch!
Florian hurried north, passing through a deep stone forest and entering the Totem Land. Illusions swirled around him, and when the thick fog dissipated, the Demon King's Abyss came into view.
This is a huge square.
Countless castles stand around the circular plaza, their pointed roofs pointing straight up to the crimson sky. Bats swoop by, leaving fleeting black shadows.
There were many dead trees around, with colorful flags hanging from their twisted branches, swaying a few times in the occasional cool breeze.
Yellow lights floated above the square.
The square was incredibly lively, with people fighting, talking, and engaging in discordant activities in full view of everyone, seemingly oblivious to the world around them.
The primal impulses here produced an explosive reaction.
Frodien remained silent, his face cold as he rode on his magical beast, trampling directly across the plaza. Some demons who couldn't dodge in time were crushed under his feet, groaning and about to erupt in fury when suddenly, the bloodline pressure of a top-tier demon descended.
call--
All the demons stopped what they were doing and shouted "Great Protector!" Florin looked straight ahead at the other end of the square, where he was also riding a magical beast, taunting the pure-blooded demon who was watching him.
Second Protector, Cortis.
As his magical beast approached, Cortis couldn't wait to exclaim, "Wow, big brother, you smell so strongly of humans!"
Frodien glanced at him sideways: "Smell it again carefully."
Cortez was taken aback, but he actually did as he was told. Soon, his expression changed drastically. Why was there a scent of holy water from the church on this human? He deeply loathed it!
He roared in fury: "Brother! You've betrayed us again! I'm going to tell the old man!"
Another furious voice rang out from the side: "Damn Cortez, that's Lord Vesper! You're not allowed to insult Lord Vesper again!"
Frodien turned his head and saw the fourth guardian's short, stout body, his flat face filled with anger.
Cortis snorted coldly, but didn't bother with the four guardians, because Florian had already ignored them and headed down into the abyss.
At the end of the large square is a slope, and at the bottom of the slope is the Demon King's Palace, where the old man lives.
There were two tall stone tablets on the slope, inscribed with human script in a language the demons couldn't understand. Cortis had learned a lot of human script over the years, but he still couldn't understand the inscriptions.
He shamelessly went to ask his older brother, who gave him a strange look and said, "It would be a miracle if you could understand it. The characters have been marked with countless marks by other demons and have been severely weathered. There is no original form at all."
Although the writing is distorted, its power remains. As long as the two stone tablets are there, the old man cannot leave the Demon King's Abyss.
At first, the old man squatted alone in a deep pit, while the other demons knelt on the edge of the pit, weeping and wailing, vowing to make the human race pay the price.
Ten years have passed, and we are determined to pay the price.
Fifty years have passed, and we are determined to pay the price.
A hundred years have passed, and after being soundly beaten by the hero, he vows to pay the price...
One hundred and fifty years have passed, and after receiving a second beating, he vowed to pay the price...
Vesper: "..."
Finally, the demon race produced a Purple Star. It not only renovated the desolate Demon King Abyss and opened up a castle square, allowing all demons to revel day and night, but also made the old Demon King, who was squatting on the ground, happy.
Then they filled in and widened the pit little by little, and built the Demon King's Palace underneath for the old Demon King to live in, so that he would never have to sleep under the open sky again.
The old demon king was deeply moved and immediately bestowed upon this man the title of First Protector of Ziwei Star, and even shared a portion of his own power with him.
Although the old demon king has been hiding underground for many years, it doesn't mean his strength has weakened.
He simply cannot leave, not that he cannot cultivate!
This Ziwei star is Florindeer.
Veris told him about the Demon King Abyss's plan.
Florin sighed inwardly as he descended the black steps of the slope. Monsters were left on the slope, and anyone with the guts could tease them. It was already a mercy that the monsters weren't trampled to death.
The second and fourth brothers behind him quickly followed, but they didn't dare to cross Frodien.
In their eyes, Frodien was the apple of the old man's/Lord Vesper's eye, and with Frodien around, they certainly wouldn't have to get scolded anymore.
The palace wasn't large. When they got to the bottom, several demons carried another, badly wounded demon out happily.
There were no guards at the entrance, and white lamps were lit inside the palace, their flames burning brightly and illuminating the entire interior.
On the throne, a young man with long purple hair had a gloomy face. Dark red magic patterns covered his eyes, and a pure black crystal was embedded between his brows. His thin lips were tightly pursed, and he propped his head up with one hand, half-lying on the throne. He was only wearing a black robe. When he saw several guardians enter, his eyes did not waver in the slightest.
Apart from his hair, the magic markings, and the crystal between his eyebrows, his appearance was no different from that of a human.
He glanced at the three demons beneath him: the crooked-looking fourth brother and the shifty-eyed second brother, and a look of disgust flashed in his eyes.
Finally, when he looked at the calm-faced Frodien, his expression relaxed a little.
Frodien stepped forward at the opportune moment and said, "I have something urgent to report."
Vesper raised his chin. "Go ahead and speak."
The second and fourth protectors lowered their heads, feeling indignant. If it were them, they would definitely have been beaten before they could report. They were indeed the old man's darlings!
A dark purple magic circle lit up. The elemental demons possessed extraordinary magical skills. The progenitor demons were gods who controlled the magical elements, and almost all of them were born magicians.
The second and fourth protectors were even angrier. Weren't they protectors too? Why were they being guarded against?!
Inside the magical barrier, Vesper listened to Frodien's words with a strange expression on his face.
He tapped his knee and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, in a hint of despair, he said, "He's back..."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Who exactly is Hill...? [glasses]
This chapter marks the start of a new volume, titled "The Hundred-Year Curse."
The draft for the book commissioned in September by Vivien Leigh and Sylvain is finally out.
Little Wei, who was holding the mineral-rich little Wei and Grandma, fell silent: ...
My bad, I forgot to mention the attributes... (tears)
See you tomorrow! [kiss]
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