Martial Ascent to Divinity

In the Demon Battleground of the Lower-Rank Demon Ten Kings, the originally agreed duel location has become a peaceful gathering point for the Demons.

Demons come and go, but there are always some who stay here.

Among demons, there are those who possess reason.

For example, there’s the Desecration Demon Scripture with a head shaped like a book of flesh and blood, the Four-sided Duke who commands armies, and the Evil Saint of the Temple of Despair, among others.

After clashing for a while and sacrificing the lives of hundreds of Lower Demigods, the fights have come to a temporary halt.

More and more groups are arriving at the duel location.

The demons who have stayed here warmly welcome them.

A group led by Holy Sword Angels arrives.

Besides the Holy Sword Angels, the rest in the group are low-level demons who have accidentally reached the Demigod state. Though they appear godly and sacred in front of ordinary demons, they always fall short in front of Demon Prison Angels or the sons of Lords.

This Holy Sword Angel is wrapped in bright silver armor, with wings formed by densely packed longswords on his back, and two half-divine longswords at his waist.

Some Lower Demigods look curiously at this Holy Sword Angel.

His aura is closer to a newly emerged Demigod, rather than a Lower Demigod.

However, the feeling he gives to demons is very strong; calling him a Lower Demigod would not be too far-fetched.

Most importantly, above this Holy Sword Angel’s head, there are more than two hundred blood moons.

The most among all the current Lower Demigods.

Demi-gods come over to introduce themselves to him one after another.

It’s only then that everyone learns his name is Dimo Gogen, a fairly common name in Demon Language meaning "Demon King" or "Demon God".

But no one knew such a powerful demon before.

But nobody paid it much mind, as the 18th Floor of the Demon Prison, equivalent to eighteen worlds, often produces powerful secluded Demigods.

And his team members, many Demigods recognize; though their lineage is not strong, making it to Demigod status is legendary.

Since these Demigods all acknowledge Dimo Gogen as the leader, there’s no need for doubt.

This Dimo Gogen is very low-key, indistinguishable from other groups at the gathering place.

A demon gathering place is never peaceful.

At night, a few shouts suddenly pierce the air.

"Demon Prison Angel, mind your identity. No one can show arrogance before the Lord’s son, not even you!"

"As the Lord’s son, you cannot just poach my team members."

"It’s not poaching; it’s a reasonable invitation."

"Then why not invite them in front of me..."

Upon closer inspection, one half-demon sees that a great demon insect general is hurling insults at a Flesh and Blood Angel, immediately understanding the situation.

If things continue as they are, there’s no way the demons present won’t compete for a new king.

There are only two paths: either fight in the ring or rise to the top through sheer power.

Regardless of the path, the more people you have, the greater the chance of success.

Hence, each great force begins recruiting.

That Flesh and Blood Angel’s team is clearly weaker than the Lord’s son’s team, so it’s normal for members to be drawn away.

Soon, both parties start hurling curses, which humans might find ugly, but to demons, it’s just trash talk; no one takes it to heart.

"Wish I could tear your wings off and skewer them for a roast..."

While the great demon insect general continues cursing the Flesh and Blood Angel, Holy Sword Angel Dimo Gogen approaches with his team.

"Retract your insult against the entire clan of Demon Prison Angels, you vile insect."

The Holy Sword Angel draws his sword, pointing it at the great demon insect general.

The great demon insect general is the higher form after a Giant Insect Knight ascends, its lower body is a black hundred-legged giant insect, resembling a centipede or a giant shrimp, fully armored, extending about fifty to sixty meters.

Above the insect body is a humanoid upper body covered in black armor, but with a head entirely made of insect eyes, somewhat resembling enlarged fly eyes.

Like the Giant Insect Knight, it wields a massive knight’s spear.

"What did you say?" The great demon insect general bellowed in rage; the insect race hate such condescending titles the most.

"I told you to apologize, insect." Dimo Gogen said coldly.

Demi-gods around them look at the two, amused; life in the gathering can be dull, and they rely on the animosity between demons for entertainment.

Looks like today is a battle between the angelic clan and the demon insect clan.

Several Demon Prison Angels and several demon insects gradually close in.

"Damn birdman..." the great demon insect general roared with fury, raising his giant knight’s spear to charge forward.

The Holy Sword Angel drew his twin blades, charging ahead to meet the challenge.

Both sides accelerated instantly to reach speeds of Mach 30, the surrounding air vibrating and creating numerous shockwaves.

The Sword of Innocence took one look at the Holy Sword Angel and sighed internally, "Good sword, if only it were mine. I just wonder how good this Holy Sword Angel’s swordsmanship is..."

All other demigods watch from the sidelines; battles between demons like this are too common, typically ending the same as before—with both sides fighting for a bit, then the stronger ones coming in to mediate, preventing excessive slaughter.

After all, before entering, the Lords did give instructions.

As the two demigods closed in, the great demon insect general thrust his knight’s spear, the shaft surrounded by countless white shock rings.

Dimo Gogen sidestepped, dodging the frontally thrust knight’s spear. He swung his sword in his left hand, slicing through the spear’s force and the white shock rings one by one.

Then, he leaped into the air, approaching the great demon insect general, wielding the right sword to slash down.

"Hmph!"

The great demon insect general sneered, quickly retracting his lance with his right hand, but the opponent was too fast to defend, forcing him to block with his left.

His left hand swung forward, exploding; hundreds of insect legs twisted and bloomed like a flower, transforming into a black cloud to strike Dimo Gogen.

Once the great demon insect general unleashed the swamp of insect legs, he planned the next move.

According to standard combat experience, the opponent would never dare to clash head-on with his "Thousand Limbs and Ten Thousand Legs," a signature power of the demon insect race; thus, he should retract the lance and sweep...

"Hmm?"

The great demon insect general initially looked towards the knight’s spear but caught sight out of the corner of his eye of Dimo Gogen’s longsword slicing through the cloud-like thousand limbs, which seemed to exude an aura not belonging to demons.

It seemed to carry a faint starlit aura.

"This is bad..."

The great demon insect general immediately realized the opponent was powerful, hastily seeking help from his captain, the son of the Lord of the Eleventh Floor of Hell, Master of Winding, Face of a Thousand Legs.

"Your Highness..."

The Face of a Thousand Legs was similar to but different from the great demon insect general.

He resembled an enormous wolf, four to fifty meters long, except this giant wolf’s legs were densely packed like giant shrimp legs.

The colossal wolf head twisted upward like a chimney, covered everywhere with hundreds of grayish white semi-demonic semi-human faces, tightly packed, twisted.

The Face of a Thousand Legs simply watched silently as if unfazed.

But all of his pale grey eyes on the faces were fixed on Dimo Gogen.

He was so stern, so arrogant.

As the offspring of the Master of Winding, he didn’t need to speak. Even higher-ranking Demon Prison Angels should not defy his will.

The Master of Winding, not merely a typical Demon Prison Lord, is among the most formidable Lords; it is said his true form resides among the stars, with only an avatar within Demon Purgatory.