[ Appraisal ]
[ Name: Voldemort ] [ Corrupted ]
[ Race: Demon ]
[ Species: Half Hydrothrax ]
[ Rank: Greater Demon ]
[ Affiliation: Dark Valley Fortress, Lust Dukedom ]
[ Abilities:
[ 1. Water Breathing: Hydrothrax can Submerged in water for a long time ]
[ 2. Aqua Cloak: Hydrothrax can shroud itself in a thick layer of water, making it difficult to see and giving it resistance to physical attacks. The cloak also provides it with increased speed and agility in aquatic environments ]
[ 3. Tidal Surge: The demon can summon powerful waves to crash against its enemies, knocking them back and potentially drowning those caught in the surge. The strength and size of the wave can vary depending on Hydrothrax’s will ]
[ 4. Dread Maelstrom: It creates a massive vortex of corrupted water that draws in enemies and shreds them with shadow-infused currents. The maelstrom also distorts reality within its range, causing illusions and disorientation among those trapped inside ]
[ 5. Scalebane Torrent: Hydrothrax unleashes a barrage of razor-sharp scales, each infused with dark energy, that can slice through armor and flesh.]
Aengus quickly focused on the corrupted Barron, bringing up the information on the nature of the corruption:
[Corruption: Dark Wraiths, a type of darkness creature, have corrupted the target’s mind. The Wraiths are sinister creatures that gradually take control of the soul, leading to death. Corruption progress: 98.89%.]
Aengus’s eyes narrowed as he read the details. The Barron’s corruption was almost complete, leaving him on the brink of losing himself entirely. The situation was more dangerous than he had anticipated. With the corruption at 99%, the Barron could become fully possessed at any moment.
And just as Aengus expected, the Baron’s eyes turned pitch black, an ominous void replacing the dim light that had once been there. The transformation was swift—whatever fragment of the Barron remained was gone, replaced by the malevolent force of the Dark Wraiths. Without warning, the Barron lunged toward Vespera with terrifying speed, his movements no longer his own.
Aengus, alert to the change due to his affinity with darkness, saw the attack coming. He remained calm, knowing Vespera’s capabilities, but recognized the opportunity to earn Bella’s favor. He called out in a voice that was steady yet loud enough to be heard clearly, “Watch out!”
Vespera, caught off guard by the sudden shift, instinctively hesitated, unsure of the true nature of the threat. Before she could fully process Aengus’s warning, Bella, always composed and in control, stepped forward. With a casual yet powerful motion, she extended her flawless hand, intercepting the Barron’s charge effortlessly.
The impact was thunderous, as Bella’s hand met the corrupted Baron with a force that sent a shockwave through the hall.
Bang!
The Baron was slammed into the ground with a deafening boom, the stone floor cracking beneath him from the sheer power of Bella’s blow.
Pinned under Bella’s unyielding grip, the Barron struggled in vain, the dark entity controlling him writhing in frustration. Bella’s purple shimmering eyes bore into the Barron’s, her expression one of cold authority.
“My, my, what do we have here? What’s with the sudden violence, Baron?” Bella’s voice dripped with mockery as they surveyed the chaotic scene.
#@&#%##@%
The Baron responded with a series of eerie, unsettling cackles that sounded like a grotesque mix of laughter and growls. Bella and Vespera exchanged puzzled glances, unable to make sense of the distorted sounds.
“What is it saying?” Vespera asked, her voice tinged with frustration as she struggled to decipher the Barron’s response.
“MANAS, can you understand it?” he inquired telepathically.
A flickering white light manifested beside him, and MANAS’s voice echoed in his mind with clarity. “Yes, Master. I can interpret its language. It says: ‘Bitch, We will soon take over this fortress and then destroy it by consuming everyone’s souls. They plan to launch the attack within a few hours. Just you wait.'”
The speaker’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I see!” He was bewildered by the wraith’s audacity in revealing its plan. Was it simply a product of overconfidence, or did the wraith know that Bella and the others could understand their language at all?
“Mistress!” Aengus called out, his voice calm but his eyes betraying a deep seriousness.
Bella and Vespera turned to him, maintaining their focus on keeping the Baron at bay.
“What is it, sweetheart? Do you somehow understand its language?” Bella asked, her gaze fixed on Aengus.
“Yes,” Aengus replied evenly. “The Baron—the creature inside, says they plan to attack the fortress tonight and destroy it. They have a large army assembled.”
He deliberately left out the part about the Baron’s ‘Bitch’ curse. Otherwise who knows what would Bella do out of anger.
Bella’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, that sounds serious. But how do you understand their language? Even the residents here can’t make sense of it. How is that possible?” she asked, feeling curious. Her tone was also had tinge of suspicion as she studied Aengus closely.
“That—That’s because of my darkness affinity. This creature had similar darkness powers as I do. I can understand it somehow,” Aengus said confidently, his tone steady despite the underlying tension.
Bella’s eyes glinted with approval. “Fu fu fu… Very good, sweetheart. See, I knew you would be useful,” she smiled, her voice dripping with seductive charm as she approached him, the air around her charged with an intoxicating allure.
Vespera, who had just been saved from imminent danger, regarded Aengus with a mixture of gratitude and suspicion. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she tried to gauge his true intentions.
“Do you know where their location is?” Vespera asked, her voice filled with concern. The urgency in her tone reflected the gravity of the situation.
Aengus shook his head slowly. “No. The creature did not reveal their exact location.”
Bella’s smile widened, revealing a hint of satisfaction. “No matter, sweetheart. You have done more than enough. For this contribution, you will be granted a Barony over this territory.”
“This one,” she said, nodding dismissively at the bound Baron, “is of no further use. What do you think?” Her offer was both generous and strategic, a move to secure Aengus’s loyalty.
Vespera’s eyes widened in surprise. “A Barony from the start? While she had to work hard for how long?” she thought, feeling a pang of unfairness. She had been through trials and tribulations to earn her position. But as Bella’s command was absolute, she stifled her discontent, knowing better than to challenge her Mistress’s decisions.
Aengus didn’t miss the opportunity. His eyes gleamed with a cold determination. “Yes, Mistress. I shall do as you say. I will keep it safe no matter what,” he replied with a resolute tone, his voice firm and unwavering.
Inwardly, Aengus was already formulating his next moves. The first phase of his plan had succeeded, and with the Barony in his grasp, he had the means to set his long-term strategy into motion.
