MTLNOVEL Chapter 1272: Nether Against Miasma
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(A Minute Ago…)
Erebus managed to quickly make the Giant Undead King of the Nether Gate yield to him, Hertfeltann, Unruly Bandit of the Sorrow Mountains.
How? Through more than just persuasion, but by telling him his true intentions, and what was within his very heart-
"This time… it'll be different, I will become a Hero, to make up for all the things I've done as a Demon King." Erebus said, his resolve was undying.
"Is that so…" the massive undead wondered.
"So? Will you follow me? My master, Planta… will surely forgive your king too, maybe even given him a second chance like me… but that'll depend on if we can defeat him first. So? Will you join me, live, and see that day with your eyes, or die right now? I know how you Undead work, I won't let your soul return, as I shall eat it."
He knew how soft Planta truly was, she wasn't someone that would happily slay the unfortunate people of this world, and she would definitely pity another Demon King. She was just like that.
"Hahaha! You don't leave me much of an option, don't you? I yield! And I swear loyalty to you… Demon King of Miasma."
After hearing this, Erebus smiled like a mischievous little gremlin and then nodded.
"Good."
The little demon king touched the skeleton's head, imbuing Miasma into his body, and evolving him into an even stronger, dark form. His bones became pitch black and his body gained red jewels across its entire being.
"Very well! Now rise, my new Knight," Erebus said. "I will try to be different now, I will create my own army."
From what he could recall, Erebus always worked on his own, or by using monsters he controlled, but this time, he was going to raise an actual army.
And become the first Demon King to be a Hero.
Yes, it was indeed a delusional dream, but something about the heroes he had faced ended getting stuck into him.
Maybe it was like a sickness or a disease, but he simply couldn't free himself from this feeling.
Of wanting to redeem himself, even if a little.
"You… Luminous…" Erebus thought. "Your sacrifice was not in vain; you have truly changed my heart."
Even when Planta was also the reason he became like this, he couldn't deny that Luminous had influenced him greatly. This ancient hero that sacrificed himself to defeat him and seal him away. He could still recall his eyes full of compassion.
So when he felt something going wrong outside, he rushed out of the nether gate before it was to close, and unleashed his powers fully, materializing a giant black fog made of miasma and chaos.
FLUOSH!
In that very moment, he noticed what was happening, and even noticed Titania glancing from the distance, gritting her teeth in utter frustration. She looked like she felt powerless.
"The Demon King of Death… he's finally here…" she cried.
Erebus sighed, that was the same face he had seen before, the pain he had brought to her, which he delighted so much from.
Now, he could only feel frustration and sadness. He didn't want her to feel this way anymore.
As despair filled Titania's eyes, suddenly…
TRUUUM!
The netherworld gate above the skies shook, as a gigantic black fog materialized, Erebus emerged.
A presence even more vile than the Demon King of Death emerged.
And this vile presence, was now bringing hope to Titania and the rest!
"My successor, this forest is mine to conquer! Begone from my territory!"
Your next journey awaits at empire
Erebus spoke with his childish new voice, although it held an air of royalty and regality that seemed to exude arrogance.
He was not alone though, with him, he brought a huge army of infested, chimeric and chaotic beings, covered with miasmic tentacles and monstrous auras.
All the Undead that he had recruited!
"Ooh? That's…!"
The Demon King of Death's voice echoed from the sword made from his finger, as the phantasmal dragon stopped wreaking havoc the moment he heard his king speak.
Erebus immediately knew what this voice was, and who this man was!
"My King, what is it- Ah!"
When this suddenly happened, even the arrogant dragon felt fear as he saw the small, crimson eyes of that fairy glancing directly into his phantasmal soul.
His small body held within an eldritch abomination beyond his wildest imagination contained within!
"Well, well, this is quite… the unique circumstance, don't you think, Erebus?"
His voice reverberated from the sword, facing his Erebus. For the first time in history, two Demon Kings faced against one another. The Demon King of Death kept his cool though, he wasn't going to go around cowering in fear before his predecessor.
"Yes, I believe the same thing," Erebus nodded, smiling lightly. "It seems the two of us are quite restrained. I have attained this… humiliating form. Meanwhile, you're just a finger."
"Hah, touché," the Demon King of Death laughed. "But so what? As my predecessor, you should already know this… You are inferior to me."
"Oh, am I?" Erebus eyes widened in anger.
"Everyone knows, throughout all of history, that every Demon King that was awakened was much stronger than the previous one!" laughed the Demon King of Death. "As intimidating as you're trying to be, you're nothing before me."
"How arrogant… Maybe I should teach that reckless and young heart of yours some manners when talking to your seniors," said Erebus waving his little hands. "I won't let you consume this forest, which I ate first… Its taste, I am the only one that shall have experienced it! {Miasmic Domain}!"
TRUUUM!
Suddenly, space itself darkened and twisted as endless miasma poured into the forest, covering everything! The skies became darker and even the sun seemed to lose its light.
"Miasma, huh?!" laughed the Demon King of Death. "Let us see which is stronger, Miasma or Nether?! The chaotic mud or the liquified form of pure death and decay?!"
Suddenly, two enormous waves of corrupted energies and substances clashed against one another.
Nether against Miasma!
SPLAAASH!
Titania's eyes seemed full of hope, but her face seemed a bit weirded out.
She grabbed her head as she screamed.
"W-Wait a second Erebus, you're going to make things worseeee!"
However, Erebus did not hear her, as the two waves of corrupted substances clashed, a strange chaotic eruption of phantasmal flames and chaotic energy erupted.
BOOOM!
The forest shook as a huge hole was left behind, and right after, the phantasmal dragon holding the blade clashed directly against Erebus, who covered his body with a cocoon made of crystalized miasma and chaos.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
"Ngh?! It's hard!"
The dragon was completely shocked! He couldn't believe how hard Erebus cocoon was, although it was dealing some damage over time, it was hard enough to resist several blows.
"Hmph," Erebus smiled, suddenly touching the black sword as he glared at the phantasmal dragon. "It looks like the power of Miasma has been enhanced once my new body was formed… Although I am leagues weaker than before… I now possess the Spirit Power I sought so much when I invaded this forest! Observe!"
"Agh! Get away from me!" the dragon screamed as he suddenly saw sparkling white and golden light mix with black miasma, spiraling into something monstrous and spiritual!
"{Eldritch Spirit Summon}: {Void-Walking Aberration}!"
"GRYYEEEEHHHH!"
A monstrosity, a spirit made out of miasma, was born.
With its massive tentacles, it struck down the bone Dragonoids and the phantasmal dragon.
CLAAASH!
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