Chapter 128: The Demon Cult
The tunnel yawned open, revealing a cavern so vast I nearly gasped. The walls stretched half a mile away, the ceiling high enough to brush the mountain’s peak. My eyes traced the faint outline of the tunnel we came through, a bulge in the cavern’s walls beginning at the top and lazily spiraling down to the entrance I hid behind. Yet, despite the grandeur of the cavern, my attention was inevitably drawn to the colossal figure at the center.
The creature before me could only be described as a dragon. It possessed a tail, wings, four clawed limbs, and a sinuous neck. Its scales, a fiery crimson, were interlaced with icy, incandescent veins, which cast a dim glow that nearly reached the cave entrance. Despite its immense size, easily exceeding three hundred feet, the creature lay coiled in a defensive posture. Every few seconds, deep, rasping groans shook the cavern, sending prolonged shudders through its immense form.
Dozens of figures, shrouded in dark robes, circled the dragon, channeling their mana into intricate magic circles that bound the creature. Although their faces were hidden, the telltale bumps in their hoods could only be horns, which marked them as Demonkin. It was the first time I’d personally seen my own kind since the warehouse, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of frustration. Why couldn’t demonkin live peacefully? If they could avoid such dark paths, I wouldn’t have to endure this torment.
I managed to regain my calm with several deep breaths, choosing to focus instead on their efforts. The complex runes of the sixth-circle spell consisted of raw curse magic. Similar to the Slave Crest, it sent pulse after pulse of agony into the creature, driving the dragon into its helpless state. I shuddered, suddenly considering the church’s crests to be somewhat... humane. Whatever agony could subdue a dragon would surely be fatal for me.
One of the figures stepped forward, close enough to touch the dragon’s snout, and threw back his cowl. Arrogance dripped from his words as he taunted the dragon.
"How the mighty have fallen. To think you were so eager to claim their power for yourself. The arrogance of dragons knows no bounds."
The dragon’s eyelids slit open, revealing bloodshot eyes stained with madness. A low growl shook the room, causing dust to drift down from the ceiling, but the man only laughed.
"Pathetic. The summoning may have failed, but your arrogance has made you the tool we’ll use to bring destruction to this land. End this pretense and give us your power, and I promise you a painless death."
He flicked his hand and the cultists’ chants intensified, bringing another round of muffled roars from the dragon. The curse magic arced across its body, surging to the point they scorched the dragon’s scales with their intensity.