Chapter 138 ‒ The Infernal Pact
Chapter 138 ‒ The Infernal Pact
The battlefield raged like a storm-tossed sea. Kragg swung his massive axe, each thunderous sweep clearing a path through dozens of ghosts. His mane dripped with spectral blood, his chest heaving with wild laughter.
“Go on everyone! Keep fighting! For Farnak’s Fearless Fighters!” he bellowed, voice echoing above the ghostly wails.
Nearby, Ralgar snarled, stabbing his lance through a ghost’s chest and kicking another away. “I never agreed to that stupid name!” he snapped, parrying a claw swipe before pivoting with a powerful knee strike that shattered a wraith’s skull.
Amid the chaos, Zephryn hovered high, wings fanned wide like a moonlit crown. She dove in a spiral, her feathers glinting in silver arcs as she slashed at Myrrak. [Wind Cutter] after [Wind Cutter] hissed through the air, slicing deep gashes into the ground and scattering poison mist.
Myrrak laughed, his serpentine body twisting and coiling beneath her strikes. “Oh, Zephryn… You should’ve stayed in the mountains where you belong!” he taunted, dodging another gust that shattered stone. “Even with your newfound strength, you are no match for me!”
Zephryn’s talons scraped the rock as she landed, eyes burning. “I won’t hide from filth like you, Myrrak! Your cowardice ends tonight!”
They clashed again, wind and venom tearing the sky into ribbons.
Meanwhile, Tyler charged through the ghost horde, each step a vow, each breath a blade drawn against fate. The ice sword shrieked in his grasp every time it struck, its frosty aura leaving trails of frozen mist across the battlefield.
“Mind where you swing me, you graceless slab of flesh!” the sword barked, its voice echoing in his mind.
Tyler ignored it, pivoting to cleave a ghost lunging from behind. Another wraith flew at his throat — he ducked low, severing it with a harsh upward arc. Cold shards sprayed around him like silver rain.
The sword rattled furiously. [Do you even comprehend whose power you’re wielding?! You insult my majesty with every swing!]
“Shut up and help me fight!” Tyler snarled.
[Don’t you want to end this quickly, mortal?] the sword screeched between clashes. [I could be of great help!]
Tyler twisted, slicing through three ghosts in a single pivot, breath ragged. “Why should I trust you?”
The blade quivered, scoffing. [I am the Infernal Warden — a god who may revel in destruction, but I do not break my word. Free me, and I will lend you power beyond your comprehension.]
Tyler’s eyes narrowed as he parried another blow. “And after? You’ll go back to burning the world, won’t you? I can’t allow that.”
The sword fell silent. Its aura flickered like a candle fighting a gale.
Tyler growled. “Exactly what I thought.”
He pushed forward, hacking ghosts apart with reckless swings. Frost burst outward in vicious waves, each strike thinning the ranks. The sword roared insults the entire time.
[Swing me like that again and I’ll burn your soul where you stand! You call this technique?! You fight like a drunken squirrel!]
Tyler slammed a wraith to the ground, blade burying into its skull. “I don’t need your help!”
The blade hissed. [Your pride is amusing — and pitiful! Look around you! You’re slowing!]
Tyler glanced across the field. Nellisa stumbled, flames sputtering as she staggered against a ghost’s blow. Kragg pushed forward, bleeding from a dozen cuts, his roars growing hoarse. King Wing clashed blades with a towering ghost, barely standing upright.
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Zephryn’s wings flared above, her talons locking with Myrrak’s claws in a storm of wind and poison. Myrrak cackled, venom spitting from his fangs. “Your allies fall one by one, Zephryn! Shouldn’t you have hidden in the little nest of yours, instead of pretending to be a saviour?!”
Zephryn hissed, feathers bristling. “I’ll silence that forked tongue of yours forever!”
Tyler’s jaw tightened. His body trembled with exhaustion, lungs ablaze. Ghosts pressed closer in a suffocating ring.
The sword shivered in his grasp. [Look at them, mortal! You cling to ideals while your allies bleed! Release me, and I can turn this battle in an instant!]
Tyler’s eyes blazed. “I can’t let you loose. You’ll destroy everything after this!”
The sword crackled, voice like thunder scraping a tomb. [Then die here with your pitiful honour, and watch your friends die screaming!]
Tyler panted, gaze flicking across the battlefield. “Damn it…”
He ground his teeth, cutting down two ghosts. Another three rushed in; he barely blocked, ice shards exploding across his visor. Every breath felt like swallowing knives.
The sword growled. [If you want to win this battle, then release me! Enough stalling!]
Tyler’s fingers dug into the hilt. “Fine! I’ll release you… but you must vow to remain in your sanctuary after this. Never cross its border again!”
A cold silence.
[HOW DARE YOU TRY TO DICTATE TERMS TO ME?!] the sword thundered, frost flaring outward in violent pulses. [I am the Infernal Warden! I do not bow to insects!]
Tyler slashed another ghost, pushing forward, eyes wild. “Then rot in this blade for a thousand years, or worse — get turned into a sacrifice for Yandeon’s twisted ritual! Choose!”
The blade trembled so violently it nearly slipped from his grip. The aura wavered, a deep, primal growl echoing inside. Finally, the voice snarled, low and seething.
[Fine… Fine! You venomous worm! I agree to your pathetic terms… now get me out of this frozen coffin before I change my mind!]
Tyler roared as he slammed his boot into a ghost’s chest, sending it sprawling. He swung again, ghosts scattering like shattered glass. Around him, his allies gasped for breath, retreating step by step.
Tyler braced himself. Now!
He slammed the sword into the ground — cracks splintered, but it held. The blade shrieked, [What are you doing?! I said release me, not smash me to pieces!]
Tyler grimaced. “Shit… This might not work.”
His eyes darted toward the distant storm of lightning — Vitamin Ape swinging his Celestial Smith’s Hammer in a blazing tempest, each arc disintegrating swathes of ghosts.
“Vitamin Ape! Get over here for a second!” Tyler roared.
Through the dissipating clouds of ethereal mist, Vitamin Ape’s silhouette emerged. Sparks danced along his fur, his massive hammer still crackling.
“You need help, [Player]?!” Vitamin Ape shouted, leaping over the crushed remains of frozen wraiths.
Tyler turned, wiping sweat and blood from his visor. “Vitamin Ape! Hit me with that hammer at full force!”
Vitamin Ape’s brow furrowed. “What?! Why would you want me to—”
“JUST DO IT!”
The gorilla’s eyes gleamed with sudden glee. “Heh… Don’t mind if I do!”
Vitamin Ape stepped back, took a deep breath, and launched himself high into the air. His hammer crackled, lightning coiling around it like a vengeful dragon.
Tyler crouched low, activating [Berserk]. His muscles pulsed, his breath roared in his ears like a hurricane. He raised the sword to meet the hammer.
Vitamin Ape roared as he fell. “LIGHTNING STRIKE!”
Their weapons collided. A thunderous shockwave burst outward, flattening ghosts in every direction. Tyler and Vitamin Ape were flung backward, crashing into the ground. Stones shattered. Lightning tore through the air in brilliant blue webs.
Tyler skidded, coughing blood, his arms numb from the force. He staggered upright, eyes snapping to the sword.
Cracks splintered along the blade. Crimson energy oozed from them like blood from a split vein.
Tyler’s eyes widened. “This is it!”
He lunged forward, gripping the sword with both hands. With one final shout, he swung it down and smashed it into the ground.
The blade shattered. Fragments spiralled skyward, carried by a whirlwind of frost and screaming energy. A storm of crimson light erupted from the broken hilt, surging into the sky like a living pillar.
Tyler stumbled back, shielding his eyes. The air trembled as the energy condensed, taking shape high above the battlefield.
Above, the energy condensed into a monstrous silhouette — twisted horns, a gaping maw, limbs like gnarled iron roots. Burning eyes glared down at the earth with gleeful malice.
The ground split beneath the figure as it descended. Then, a voice tore across the plateau, each word a hammer blow on the soul.
“I… THE INFERNAL WARDEN OF THE UNDERWORLD… SHINDEON… HAVE RETURNED TO RECLAIM MY SANCTUARY!”
Tyler fell to one knee, sweat and blood dripping onto the cracked earth. His hand reached for his remaining sword, his chest heaving as he forced himself upright.
This is it. We turn the tide now…
The sky wept crimson light. Lightning snarled around Shindeon’s towering form. The ghosts wailed, dissolving in fear before his claws even struck.
Kragg threw back his head and howled. “Hah! Now that’s what I call an entrance!”
Ralgar scoffed, ramming his lance into a ghost. “Don’t encourage that monster!”
Zephryn clashed again with Myrrak, feathers and venom exploding in violent waves. Myrrak’s eyes flicked to the horizon, his hiss trembling.
Tyler rose, a fierce grin breaking across his blood-smeared face. In the chaos of crimson storms and shrieking spirits, he stepped forward, his silhouette burning against the infernal glow.