Chapter 53: Blasphemous Words
2015-06-07
Author: Floating Tower of All Beings
Scorching flames.
In the depths of this underground ruin, which should have been pitch black, flames suddenly ignited near the passage. Torches that have been stuck in place for who knows how many years, and oil lamps, all ignited automatically under some force. It is said that the ground walked by the Balroth Fire Demon will burn, and although there are few who have truly seen such a terrifying monster, legends about it still circulate among mortals. In mortal stories, the Balroth Fire Demon is close to the most powerful enemy!
(The challenge level is equivalent to an aged red dragon, while most dragons appearing in mortal tales are usually young or adult dragons.)
If we go even higher…
Then we would basically need to face a being at the divine level.
………………
The Abyss is a place of chaotic evil, with a wide variety of demons, and new breeds are born almost every day.
But one thing is undeniable: the true masters of the Bottomless Abyss are the Tanar’ri demons, the third generation of abyssal demons. Before them, the rulers of the Bottomless Abyss were the Obis demons, descendants of “Chaos and Destruction.” They were the first creations of chaotic demons and ruled the Bottomless Abyss for a long time.
However, later on, humanity was born!
Before the current order was truly established, the souls of the dead humans began to enter the Bottomless Abyss. The Obis demons were very interested in these mortal souls. They transformed these souls using their chaotic powers, eventually creating the Tanar’ri demon race we see today. Demons created by merging human souls are extraordinarily powerful, and numerous; ultimately, the chaotic war in the Bottomless Abyss broke out, and the Tanar’ri demons overthrew the second generation of demon lords, becoming the rulers of the Abyss.
Now.
Even among the many demon lords in the Abyss, they are all of Tanar’ri descent.
They possess the power of human souls!
The Balroth Fire Demon is the crème de la crème among Tanar’ri demons. It is a superior demon inheriting the powers of “Chaos and Fire,” and even within the Bottomless Abyss, the Balroth Fire Demon is part of the absolute ruling class, standing at the top of the demon hierarchy just below demon lords. This is one of the few superior demons born with divinity, always a main force on the battlefield of the Abyss. A Balroth Fire Demon is a lord-level existence anywhere in the Bottomless Abyss, commanding a significant number of demonic armies. (Note: Facing a Balroth Fire Demon in the Abyss will inevitably involve confronting its demonic army.)
“Name: Balroth Fire Demon [Superior Demon] [Large Outsider].
Race: Tanar’ri Demon.
Attributes: Strength 35, Agility 25, Constitution 31, Intelligence 21, Perception 24, Charisma 26.
Faction: Chaotic Evil.
Biological Level: 25+.
Challenge Level: 20+.
Hit Points: 360+.
Divinity: None.
Divine Power: Inferior Divinity.
Domains: Fire, Chaos, Evil.
Treasure: Standard currency, double treasures. +3 Abyssal Executioner’s Sword, +3 Abyssal Flame Whip.
Base Skills – Deception 310, Concentration 330, Negotiation 350, Disguise 100. Hiding 260, Intimidation 330, Knowledge 300, Listening 380. Stealth 300, Searching 300. Insight 300, Spell Identification 300, Reconnaissance 380, Wilderness Survival 70. Use Magical Devices 310.
Special Skills – Self-Immolation, Bind, Spell-like Abilities, Summon Demons.
Specialty Abilities – Momentum Strike, Powerful Momentum Strike, Mastery of Initiative, Mastery of Dual Wielding, Powerful Attack, High-Level Powerful Attack, Instantaneous Spell-like Ability (Telekinesis), Advanced Dual Wielding, Longsword [Specialization], Executioner’s Sword [Master].
Spell-like Abilities – Blasphemous Words, Dominate Monster, Greater Dispel Magic, High-level Teleportation Spell, Soul Extraction Technique, Edict: Intimidation, Telekinesis, Evil Spell Light, Flame Storm, Implosion.
Talent Specialty – Flame Body.”
………………
Balroth Fire Demon.
A textbook monster in the Bottomless Abyss, almost any adventurer preparing to enter the Bottomless Abyss will memorize the basic data about the Balroth Fire Demon.
As Soren sensed the rising temperature nearby, a large amount of data material appeared in his mind.
When he first adventured in the Bottomless Abyss, the Balroth Fire Demon was one of the monsters he focused on, because should he encounter such a monster, he must understand it well enough to possibly defeat it.
It is far too powerful!
Challenging the Balroth Fire Demon would not be much easier than confronting a demigod.
The thirst for slaughter continues; Soren’s rationality has not vanished with his transformation into a Slayer, but instead, a desire for battle and killing has emerged. The Balroth Fire Demon is the only enemy here capable of satisfying his thirst for slaughter.
Flames!
A massive shadow.
As Soren passed through the pitch-black passage, the light before him suddenly brightened.
Before him stood a massive creature engulfed in raging flames, bearing a pair of demonic horns and wide demonic wings, which were basically useless in this narrow underground ruin. The Balroth Fire Demon stood over 12 feet tall and weighed more than 5,000 pounds, holding a huge Abyssal Executioner’s Sword that burned with intense flames. The Balroth Fire Demon is also a superior demon adept in dual wielding; its other weapon is a +3 level Abyssal Flame Whip.
The temperature was gradually rising.
The Balroth Fire Demon seemed like a massive fireball; any creature that approached it would continuously suffer burning damage.
However.
Just as the huge monster appeared before Soren, the Legendary Curved Blade “Ice d*ath” shimmered with a strange silver glow, dazzling like starlight, isolating the searing flames from the outside, while also extinguishing the magical flames nearby created by the Balroth Fire Demon in a burst of spell light. This legendary curved blade had once taken down a Balroth Fire Demon, and when it sensed the presence of a new enemy, it even trembled slightly in Soren’s hand.
The flames weakened slightly.
The fire on the Balroth Fire Demon seemed to dim considerably, and then in Soren’s line of sight, a pair of heavy shackles appeared, gleaming with a silvery metallic luster, binding its hands. A barbed hook appeared to pierce through its massive demonic wings. It had been sealed here for a long time; even after thousands of years, it still could not break free from the seal created by the Grand Archmages of the Arcane Empire.
“Demon? No! It’s a human?”
The eyes of the Balroth Fire Demon glowed like flickering flames as it watched Soren, speaking in an ancient demonic tongue: “A human possesses the aura of a Slayer!”
“Mortal!”
“Come, release me. I will grant you everything you desire!”
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Soren’s mouth; he paid no mind to the Balroth Fire Demon’s words, for demons are inherently treacherous beings. They do not abide by any contract laws. Anyone who makes a deal with demons may ultimately be consumed by them, and Soren’s goal is to take its life.
Arrow nocked!
Soren drew the elven war bow and shot an arrow directly at the Balroth Fire Demon before him.
Clang.
The Balroth Fire Demon’s massive executioner’s sword instantly blocked the arrow, and the wooden shaft of the arrow ignited immediately, even the steel arrowhead showed signs of slight melting. The fearsome power of the superior demon was evident in an instant; unless one was of legendary level, even approaching it was nearly impossible. Because the body of the Balroth Fire Demon is searing fire. (Note: Any enemy captured by the Balroth Fire Demon will take 36 points of fire damage every second.)
The power of the seal still held.
The enraged Balroth Fire Demon roared, stepping forward, and the faint spell light appeared on the shackles binding it, followed by a muffled groan from it.
The chains connected to the wall behind. Above was a gigantic nine-pointed star magic circle.
There were slight cracks on the surface of the magic circle, and nearby lay remnants from battles, left by adventurers who had explored here before.
The markings of the Balroth Fire Demon on the map were also left by them.
“Damnable mortal!”
The Balroth Fire Demon let out an angry roar; the shackles binding its hands could not prevent it from attacking Soren. It swung the Flame Whip violently and lashed at Soren in the air.
Over ten meters of flame!
The Flame Whip came with a howling wind, agile and cunning like a venomous snake, sealing off all of Soren’s escape routes.
Crack!
Soren’s eyes narrowed, and his figure leaped into the air without any intention of dodging. Instead, he swung his sword towards the Flame Whip.
Silver light flickered.
The flames on the Flame Whip seemed to dim, then gradually extinguished, before the Balroth Fire Demon shook it off and drew it back. It watched the curved blade “Ice d*ath” in Soren’s hand, the flames in its eyes flickering as it spoke darkly: “That weapon has a bothersome aura!”
The first round of clash.
It seemed both parties were testing each other’s capabilities.
Although Soren saw the shackles on the Balroth Fire Demon, he had no intention of recklessly attacking.
The sealed Balroth Fire Demon was still a Balroth Fire Demon.
No matter how it was trapped in this underground ruin, its challenge level of 21 or higher was not a lie. Soren had encountered sealed superior demons before; although trapped in a location, they didn’t mean they were without combat power. Just like Soren, even without weapons and with both hands shackled, his inherently powerful attributes and specialties could instantly turn him into a terrifying killing machine.
The seal here had already loosened.
Behind the Balroth Fire Demon were two broken pillars; its shackles should have been bound to them, but now only the barbed hook on its back connected to the wall.
This gave it some movement capability!
Soren’s mind raced, thinking of ways to take down the Balroth Fire Demon before him while also assessing its danger.
Whoosh!
The Flame Whip transformed into a flame once more, the chaotic nature of the Balroth Fire Demon makes it easily provoked; it flicked the flaming whip towards Soren, seemingly intending to pull him close.
Crack.
Soren dodged swiftly again, and the Balroth Fire Demon, bound by chains, had limited attack range, significantly reducing the danger it posed to him.
But!
Just as Soren leaped to evade the attack, a wicked smile appeared on the Balroth Fire Demon’s face, it growled: “Mortal! You cannot escape!”
——“Soul Extraction Technique!”
An evil spell light appeared, and the Balroth Fire Demon pointed at Soren, activating its spell-like ability.
Soren’s body was instantly hit.
Then, a line of data appeared before his eyes:
“You have been attacked by the Balroth Fire Demon’s [Soul Extraction Technique]!…”
“Slayer Form activated!… Divine power transformation!… You are immune to this spell effect!…”
Soren landed safely.
The Balroth Fire Demon’s expression seemed a bit incredulous; it roared and again swung its Flame Whip while unleashing another spell-like ability towards Soren.
——“Edict: Intimidation!”
The Flame Whip whistled past, and the evil spell light fell upon Soren again, but this time Soren had no intention of dodging; he braced against the Balroth Fire Demon’s spell and wielded his curved blade against the Flame Whip.
A line of data prompts appeared:
“You have been attacked by the Balroth Fire Demon’s [Edict: Intimidation]!…”
“Slayer Form activated!… Divine power transformation!… Your life force is above 200 points!… Toughness check successful!… You are completely immune to this spell effect!…”
A hint of sarcastic amusement surfaced on Soren’s lips.
The reason he dared to challenge the high-level legendary Balroth Fire Demon was that under the transformation of the Slayer, he was essentially immune to the opponent’s control capabilities. Spells like “Edict: Intimidation” were highly likely to fail against Soren, who possessed strong life force! Very few of the Balroth Fire Demon’s control spells could effectively work on him!
As if feeling incredulous, the Balroth Fire Demon unleashed several spells in quick succession at Soren.
——“Mind Control!”
Immune.
——“Evil Spell Light!”
Immune.
——“Blasphemous Words!”
The furious Balroth Fire Demon uttered ancient blasphemous words. This immensely evil language seemed to carry a potent magical force; as it spoke this corrupted tongue, the surrounding air filled with a taint of evil energy. This time, Soren finally showed a shift from his previous indifference, his expression slightly changing, appearing pained and a bit deranged, his body trembling involuntarily as if he were enduring immense suffering.
The Balroth Fire Demon couldn’t help but laugh uproariously!
Finally, this arrogant enemy had fallen under its spell, and the blasphemous words took effect on him.
“Ah!!!”
Soren let out a painful howl, and then he rose tremblingly to his feet, his pupils reflecting a bizarre bl**d-red glow, the ferocious aura around him intensifying.
He barely opened his mouth to utter a similarly filled with evil blasphemous words.
Blasphemous Words!
A swarm of data appeared before Soren in an instant.
……………… (To Be Continued ~^~)
