Chapter 164: Fallen Witch
With Soren’s command issued, the entire Modo city went into a frenzy. The previously lazy pirate minions gathered in the tavern began to assemble, shipping out batches of supplies that had been stockpiled in the warehouses. Although Snake Island had been hoarded with a substantial amount of resources by Soren, the important portion was still transported to Modo city, as this was Soren’s stronghold. Weapons, food, ammunition, and other supplies were more than sufficient to meet the needs of the camp.
A sense of impending battle permeated the air.
Patrol guard squads began to assemble, and extraordinary weapons from the Northern Region were distributed in large quantities. Dragon Skin Armor was equipped on the elite pirate guard squad, and the gear of the Drow Warriors was also completely upgraded. Soren had accumulated quite a few good items; while they weren’t top-tier equipment, as a formidable Pirate King, it wasn’t difficult for him to produce a batch of first-tier extraordinary gear. Many pirate leaders shouted for personnel, as the warships docked near the harbor unloaded all their cargo, then loaded up with batches of ammunition, weapons, and medical supplies.
Even the blacksmith shop was filled with the sounds of sharpening blades; after being lazy for a month or two, they were finally going to war!
Eliminating Pirate King Asrold would give Soren complete dominion over the Southern Coast.
It was clear even to the foolish that Soren’s focus was on the Overseas Islands, meaning that if he defeated Pirate King Asrold, the Eastern Sea Route would require a new pirate leader. Whether it was the Half-Elf First Mate, the Red-Haired Pirate Woman Adele Isabella, or other pirate leaders, they all believed they had a chance to compete for the leadership of the Eastern Sea Route. If Soren entrusted them with the important task of managing the Eastern Sea Route, it would elevate them to a position just below him!
“Your Grace Throat Cutter!”
Nearby the harbor, a young woman in a cloak spoke, “Is that throat cutter really planning to go to full war with Asrold? Asrold has the support of the Naga Royal Family, and recently it has been said that he has been cozying up to that wicked Duchess of Red Dragon. A legendary Dragon Blood Sorcerer isn’t easy to deal with; he may not have much of a chance!”
The Priest smiled humorously, slowly saying, “Isn’t that just perfect?”
“Pirate King Asrold is openly provoking him; he has already reached a point of no return! If he fails to counterattack in this situation, Throat Cutter’s standing and reputation will take a serious hit! But even with the support of the Ocean Temple, his odds of winning are not high. If he were to lose, we could capitalize on that opportunity to demand more!”
The young woman’s expression seemed somewhat strange. She slowly asked, “What if he suffers a great defeat?”
The Priest glanced at her, his lips remaining still as he replied, “Then it will be time for a new master here!”
The two exchanged knowing smiles.
Lady Wealth’s doctrine is one of pure self-interest, which is why they are a neutral faction, often leaning towards evil.
………………
Modo City.
Inside Soren’s residence.
Gloria appeared in Soren’s room, wearing a long black robe and a solemn expression. “Are we going to war? The Duchess of Red Dragon is not easy to deal with!”
Soren nodded in response. “Yes, I know.”
“But the situation has escalated to a point of no return. I’ve risen too quickly in the Overseas, thanks to the direct defeat of the Swamp King, which has intimidated others and deterred nearby factions on the Southern Coast. However, if such a situation arises and I take no action, others may seize the opportunity to turn against me, believing my power is inadequate. By then, it won’t just be Pirate King Asrold; even the Storm Lord of the Amazons, the Merchant Alliance of the Southern Coast, and perhaps even the Ocean Temple might turn on us!”
Soren’s senses had always been sharp.
When he heard of Snake Island’s fall, he realized that this war was unavoidable!
Even if it was the time for planting in Modo City, with the Shadow Plane needing gradual exploration, and the nearby Indigenous People needing to be dealt with, the fact was he couldn’t afford that much time. Not fighting would significantly undermine the morale of his subordinates, and soon those at Taro Port and Shipwreck Bay could become disloyal.
After all, Soren had risen too quickly!
His prestige was built on victories and brutal killings; he could not let the enemies rise against him without a challenge.
“Well then.”
With Gloria’s wisdom, she quickly understood and nodded gently. “I shall also set out!”
“No,” Soren shook his head at that moment, saying, “You must remain in Modo City. I can’t trust anyone else to hold down the fort during such times. Only you here will allow me to fight at ease in the front!”
Gloria looked at Soren with worry, whispering, “But you may not have much of a chance against the Duchess of Red Dragon! Let alone the fact that there’s the support of the Naga Royal Family behind Pirate King Asrold.”
Soren remained silent for a moment before saying, “The Ocean Temple will surely intervene; the gap between both sides isn’t that vast.”
Gloria shook her head gently. “In such a case, the Ocean Temple may not give their all; otherwise, Snake Island wouldn’t have fallen so easily.”
A brief silence filled the room.
Just as Soren was about to speak, Vivian’s voice suddenly called from outside the door, eager, “Brother! Don’t forget about me! That damn Duchess of Red Dragon is all mine!”
The little girl wore a black princess dress.
Her expression seemed excited, her cute little face filled with the desire for battle, as if she had been itching for a fight.
“And!”
Vivian flashed a bloodthirsty smile, reaching out to grab the accompanying Cat Girl by her side, declaring, “And Lulu is great too! She can take on three! … No! … At least five! … No! … Maybe even ten! …”
The poor Cat Girl was lifted by Vivian, obedient like a small dog. Seeing Vivian’s gaze turn to her, she hurriedly nodded vigorously, “Meow! … Lulu … is great! … I can … fight ten! … Meow! …”
The little Cat Girl stretched out her paws.
Feeling that one paw wasn’t enough to count to ten, she quickly extended her other paw as well.
Beastmen have the ability to transform, and in battle mode, some of their human traits might shift to beastly features. Lulu, at her young age, already exhibited extraordinary agility, hinting at an uncommon lineage.
“Vivian, huh?”
Gloria fell into thought. She then looked up and said, “The odds aren’t high! I must set up a magic circle on your warship so I can use it as a teleportation beacon to support you when necessary!”
Soren did not refuse; after all, a legendary Dragon Blood Sorcerer was indeed hard to deal with, and he gently nodded.
But at that moment!
Suddenly, Gloria lifted her head, her gaze scanning the surroundings. She coldly huffed, “Who is it!? Which noble is visiting!!!”
“Show yourself!”
Soren instantly tightened his grip on his curved blade, his entire body tensed and ready for battle. Vivian narrowed her eyes, cautiously watching her surroundings, while only Lulu remained motionless, looking dazed. Soren’s perception was surely not worse than Gloria’s, and as a Beastman, Lulu should have the strongest instincts. However, even she did not react. This suggested that the visitor was most likely not in the current space, and only a dimensional nature presence could allow Soren to be completely unaware.
As a prophecy-class Northern Witch, Gloria could detect some things.
“Daughter.”
A seductive and magnetic voice resonated, and then a figure cloaked in black robes appeared at the door.
She raised her head to gaze at Gloria, then shifted her attention to Soren. Slowly, she said, “Long time no see! It seems you’re close to ascending to legend! Indeed, your vision has always surpassed my own!”
Gloria’s mother!?
Corinna?
Soren paused for a moment upon seeing her, but showed no sign of relaxation.
Upon seeing her mother, Gloria could not help but furrow her brow, her expression rapidly changing. “Mother! You!!!”
“Yes.” The fallen Northern Witch nodded gently, her expression unusually calm. She slowly added, “I have fallen. I made a deal with a powerful entity from a lower plane.”
The aura of a demon.
Soren’s perception was notably acute. Upon hearing this, he immediately sensed a hint of demonic energy.
Gloria’s expression grew serious as she slowly asked, “What are you doing here?”
The fallen Northern Witch stepped into the room, looking surprised at the sight of Vivian. She then calmly said, “To help you. News of your arrival in the Southern Coast has spread widely; I guessed you were here. I did not expect to encounter such a situation. If you want to deal with Asrold, I can lend you a hand!”
Upon hearing this, Gloria did not relax her expression; instead, a profound sense of sorrow washed over her as she sighed, “What do you want?”
Her mother had ultimately fallen.
Though she foresaw some fragments of the future, she did not expect she would actually make a deal with a demon.
Thankfully, it was not a devil.
Otherwise, her soul might have been part of the deal!
“Him!”
Gloria’s mother glanced at Soren, then performed an unexpected act: she slightly bowed her head in respect and said, “Your Grace Throat Cutter! Please forgive my past ignorance and shortsightedness. My heart was clouded by pride, regret, and jealousy.”
Unimaginable!
Not just Soren felt stunned; even Gloria wore an expression of disbelief.
Was this really her mother?
That arrogant and cruel woman! Why did she feel so different, as if her soul had undergone a transformation after her fall!?
In Gloria’s memory, she had never seen her mother apologize.
Let alone in such a humble manner, confessing her past wrongs while maintaining such calmness.
Gloria took a deep breath.
The changes before her seemed beyond her anticipation. She said solemnly, “Mother! What exactly do you want? I don’t believe you would come here without a reason!”
Gloria’s mother watched Soren once more, slowly saying, “Him.”
“A man outside of fate.”
“The one who stood up when Lady Luck tossed the coin of destiny! When I first met him, he was just an unknown thief, but now he is the ruler of the Southern Coast, and he is on the verge of touching the legendary boundary. I have enough reason to believe he is the one outside of fate; only he can change my destiny.”
“I don’t have many requests; I merely want him to change my inevitable fate of failure.”
“As a return.”
“I am willing to give him anything he desires!”
Gloria’s mother turned her gaze to her daughter, seemingly noticing her distrustful expression. After all, she was the fallen one, a witch who had made a deal with a demon, and even her daughter could not trust her words. This realization caused a bitter smile to appear on Corinna’s face as she slowly said, “My past was clouded by pride and prejudice.”
“After leaving the Northern Region, I traveled many places, and ultimately I came to understand one thing.”
“That is, I am willing to give up something for what I seek. In the end, I found the answer in the desert; I have poured my entire heart into this matter. I lost my husband, and soon I may lose even my only daughter.”
“I have spent my life’s energy on it.”
“For it, I went from being a noble Northern Witch to a fugitive. An exile, a fallen one. I will never give it up, so I am prepared to sacrifice everything!…”
“I have forsaken arrogance, regret, cruelty, and I have even given up dignity, body, and soul…”
Silence.
A deadly silence.
Soren had no idea what the fallen Northern Witch referenced, nor what she was willing to give up everything for.
But the woman before him left him with a shock!
A shock that was hard to describe in words!
In that moment, he couldn’t help but recall the time he had walked barefoot through the Northern Region, the realization and determination he felt during that time was so deeply etched in his memory. For Vivian, he would forsake everything.
The fallen Northern Witch before him possessed something he felt was reminiscent!
“Mother!…”
A hint of sorrow appeared on Gloria’s face as she murmured, “You!…”
Corinna’s expression remained calm. Even while speaking such shocking words, she kept a remarkably serene demeanor, as if she were discussing something insignificant; she slowly said, “I am still me, but my past self was blinded by my heart, and now I have finally seen through all the fog!”
“Your Grace Throat Cutter.”
“My request is merely for you to change my fate on some day in the future.”
“As for the return.”
“I am willing to give everything; what my daughter can offer you, I can offer too!…”
The fallen witch remained so calm.
It was a true calmness, not a facade of acting. It seemed her heart had found something, so her words resonated like truth, making one feel her authenticity.
This authenticity was terrifying!
And admirable.
In that moment, Soren’s past perceptions of her transformed completely, as he realized the woman before him was of the same kind as he was.
Only their pursuits were different.
Soren pursued Vivian while she pursued something else.
Gloria directed her gaze toward Soren, her expression extremely complicated at that moment, filled with sorrow, anger, melancholy, and many emotions that couldn’t be expressed in words.
Because standing before her was her mother!
But now her biological mother had become a fallen witch who had made a deal with a demon, and her soul might not even belong to herself anymore!
Trust.
It wasn’t as easy as imagined.
Soren fell silent, gazing seriously at the fallen witch before him. He slowly asked, “Which Demon Lord are you dealing with?”
Silence.
The fallen witch fell silent.
Her expression was somewhat pained and bitter, and then she slowly removed her clothing. Her fair, delicate skin, like milk, surfaced, and at the positioning close to her ribs on her chest, there was a very strange tattoo that looked more like some form of birthmark. It was a red lip pierced by barbed wire, so alluring and enchanting, as if it were full of heart-stirring beauty, and possessed a power that could lead one to the deepest darkness.
Soren’s expression turned pale.
Gloria’s face turned incredibly ugly in an instant!
She glared angrily at her mother, almost roaring, “Succubus Queen!…”
“You’ve lost your mind!”
“Do you even know what the consequence of dealing with her is? You idiot!!!…”
Soren had never seen Gloria so furious.
She was always so graceful and charming, but at this moment, she had completely lost her composure!
Her anger.
Her sorrow.
Even affected Soren beside her, making him feel how disappointed Gloria was at this moment.
The fallen witch slowly pulled up her clothing, and though her expression remained calm, she slowly said, “I know. Only the Succubus Queen can give me what I want!…”
“I am destined to be a failure of fate.”
“So, why should I not gamble everything? Daughter! You are more outstanding than I am! … But some things you will never understand!…”
The Succubus Queen.
Soren’s expression was complex, seemingly unsure of what to say.
He recognized the Succubus Queen’s emblem: a red lip pierced by barbed wire, a very unique and striking mark.
Just like this troublesome Demon Lord!
Anyone who made a deal with her would not gain an advantage and might end up devoured down to the bones. She was one of the Abyss Demon Gods Soren feared the most.
The fallen witch before him actually bore her mark; who knew what she had wagered for the deal!
It is essential to realize that this Abyss Demon God is the most evil and fallen existence.
………………
(PS: Um, um. I struggled with writer’s block yesterday. I just finished this chapter today. I’m not sure if you all will be satisfied, but I did my best.) (To be continued ~^~)
