Chapter 253: Chapter252-An Illusion and Encounter with the Protagonist John
Deep within the stone archway, as Owen and the others peered inside, they faintly heard strange, unintelligible noises that made their minds hazy and alert.
However, this unsettling sensation only lasted a moment before dissipating.
“Thank you, Owen,” the Archdemon said gratefully, looking at him.
She then turned to the depths of the passage with a grave expression and pointed inside.
“What’s ahead is the true entrance to the small world within the Demon Abyss. Hold onto my hand and don’t get separated, no matter what.”
With a brief instruction, she took the initiative to clasp Owen’s hand.
Seeing this, Madelyn, not daring to take any risks, quickly grasped Owen’s other hand as well.
With the Archdemon leading the way, they charged into the ancient gateway.
Whoosh…
As they entered the passage leading to the small world of the Demon Abyss, Owen vaguely heard the sound of water flowing. Just as he prepared to investigate, he suddenly caught a whiff of a nauseating, metallic stench.
“What is this…”
Stepping out of the passage, which had been occupied by the Immortal Devilvine, Owen found that both the Archdemon and Madelyn had vanished into thin air.
In their place was a shocking scene—a grotesque battlefield littered with mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, not far from where he stood. It was as if the passage had led to an ancient war-torn battleground.
All around him were shattered weapons and broken armor, scattered across every inch of this bloody sea.
Owen instinctively sensed something was off, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
Cautiously, he moved towards the depths of the blood sea. Yet, no matter how he moved, it felt as though he was running in place.
“An illusion?”
Owen murmured to himself, and the Spear of Longinus emitted a brilliant crimson light, causing his eyes to blaze like two crimson suns.
With the aid of the Spear of Longinus, Owen finally discerned a few clues. His gaze turned icy as he spoke aloud.
“Since you’re here, why hide in the shadows?”
However, there was no verbal response to Owen’s words, only the increasingly potent stench of blood in the air and the growing sense of mortal danger.
The next moment, a twisted bone spike descended from above!
Owen’s body seemed frozen in place, and his mana was heavily suppressed, making it almost impossible to mobilize.
“An archgod-tier entity?!”
Sensing the terrifying aura and killing intent, Owen’s pupils contracted sharply. He hadn’t expected that just as they entered the abyss, they would face such a formidable existence.
“No, there’s something strange about this aura… Why does it feel so familiar?”
Thoughts raced through Owen’s mind. At the same time, the Order of Thunder and Order of Fire flared on his body, causing his energy to surge and breaking free from the bone spike’s lock. He managed to evade to the side.
Boom!
The bone spike struck the ground, piercing deep into it before exploding violently. Shards of sharp bone flew everywhere, and even at close range, Owen could barely dodge them, leaving several cuts on his body.
“Not bad. No wonder my disciple was forced to this point. You do have some skill.”
As Owen retreated, a decayed, elderly head floated in the air above the shattered bone spike.
It seemed to be just a head, lifeless and decayed. Yet its murky eyes stared at Owen with a sinister intensity.
“You’re the Dark God giving John his inheritance?!”
Seeing the head reveal itself, Owen suddenly understood and recalled the system’s warning.
“Oh? You know who I am?”
Owen’s voice of surprise sparked curiosity in the Dark God’s eyes.
After all, John was currently undergoing his inheritance, and this should have been a secret known only to himself and John. How could Owen be so certain?
“A dead old fossil should stay quietly in his coffin!”
At that moment, the Archdemon’s voice rang out, and she and Madelyn appeared by Owen’s side.
The Dark God’s head glanced at the Archdemon, his expression turning cold.
In order to ensure that John could peacefully complete the inheritance, he had not only activated the Immortal Devilvine but had also set up this illusionary realm.
He hadn’t expected someone like the Archdemon to arrive.
His eyes fixated on her as he spoke chillingly, “This is not a place you should be. Leave immediately.”
“Whether I should be here or not is none of your concern.” The Archdemon was also carefully assessing the Dark God’s head.
The Dark God’s aura was terrifying. Even as a mere head, it exuded a destructive energy that made the void collapse, as if capable of overturning the heavens and the earth with just a thought.
Throughout history, many powerful figures had broken through to the archgod-tier, but this Dark God’s aura bore a resemblance to the ancient Dark God King, suggesting he might have been a follower of that powerful entity.
After all, only a successor of the ancient Dark God King would be qualified to call himself a Dark God.
“I have some personal matters to handle. Deal with this head however you want, just keep it from bothering me.”
Owen had already shifted his attention to the end of the blood sea, where he could see a grand palace. From within, he sensed John’s presence!
Hearing Owen’s commanding tone, the Archdemon didn’t like it, but considering how much effort Owen had put into this journey, she decided to let him have his way for now.
Waving her hand casually, she said, “This Dark God may have some strength, but in his current state, he’s no match for me.”
Taking her cue, Owen grabbed Madelyn and charged toward the blood-colored palace.
John’s aura was growing stronger and more ominous, clearly indicating that the inheritance he was receiving from the Dark God was no ordinary one.
“You think you can disrupt my disciple’s inheritance?”
Seeing Owen and Madelyn heading straight for the blood palace, the Dark God’s head snorted coldly. Immediately, the blood sea surged upward, forming a massive blood barrier that trapped the trio within.
He believed that once John completed the inheritance, he would inevitably surpass him in strength.
“With me here, do you think you can interfere with Owen? Get back!”
The Archdemon’s face filled with disdain. Black devouring light radiated from her feet, rapidly spreading outward and consuming the rising blood barrier entirely.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Owen and Madelyn quickly distanced themselves from the Dark God’s head.
“You dare court death!”
The Archdemon’s actions infuriated the Dark God. With a ferocious roar, the blood sea churned violently, forming a complete body beneath his head.
A bone spear materialized in his hand, exuding a fierce and sharp aura.
The Archdemon, wielding her blood-red long blade, fearlessly charged toward him.
…
While the Archdemon engaged the Dark God, Owen and Madelyn entered the palace.
Scanning their surroundings, they found themselves in a vast, empty hall. The walls were blood-red, as if countless lives had been sacrificed to forge them, and the thick stench of blood filled the air.
At the very center of the palace stood a massive throne. Seated upon it was a towering figure, like a miniature giant.
Owen’s gaze traveled upward, and then he saw that this small giant’s head was—John!
Beside this small giant was a shriveled corpse, wearing the mage robes John had worn on that day.
“Is this a fusion with the Dark God’s body? Truly a sinister inheritance,” Owen thought, his heart pounding.
After all, such a grotesque transformation would unsettle anyone. Moreover, the Dark God was clearly not human but rather some sort of humanoid creature.
John had truly become a monster in his pursuit of vengeance. At this point, he could no longer even be considered human!
Madelyn, too, was taken aback. The proud genius who had once stood just below Owen in the Azure Kingdom had become such a grotesque creature!
As Owen and Madelyn examined John on the throne, his closed eyes suddenly snapped open!
His blood-red pupils bloomed like two flowers, exuding a terrifying, violent energy.
“Owen!”
The moment he saw Owen, John let out a beast-like roar, causing the entire blood-red palace to tremble violently.
He would never forget that day when all the methods he had prided himself on were shattered by Owen.
Even his own mentor had given up on him!
He was meant to be a peerless genius standing above the heavens, but all of it was turned upside down because of Owen’s existence!
The only thing that had kept him going through the agony of merging with this body was his nearly tangible hatred!
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