Chapter Twenty-Nine: Soul Thief!
August 23, 2016
Author: Floating Tower (诸生浮屠)
PS. Here’s today’s update. By the way, it’s the 515 Fan Festival, each person has 8 votes, voting also earns coins, I humbly ask for everyone’s support and appreciation!
Hell of Bartok, Sixth Layer.
This realm is an endless rocky slope, where waterfalls made of stone are common, crushing anything in their path. The sky churns with a scale-like pattern, and on this layer, the demons shelter in fortresses made of red copper, designed to channel and redirect the frequent rock flows. However, nothing can withstand the worst landslides, so the characteristics of this plane have been slowly changing. Unless Asmothiels intervenes, the time required for significant change could take thousands of years.
The figure of the Hell Alchemist – Flos has appeared in this layer.
In the Hell of Bartok, amid many harsh environments, Flos has long since grown accustomed to it.
As a member of the Greater Devil class, the Hell Alchemist (or Abyss Alchemist) can adapt to most environments. Flos has been promoted to Hell Alchemist for some time now, having traversed most of the planes of the Hell of Bartok, but he primarily operates in the first and second layers, where there are more opportunities, while the lower layers lack sufficient chances for promotion. He has come here to complete an important task assigned by Soren. Although he is reluctant to deal with the one he is about to meet, circumstances no longer allow him to refuse.
The original lord of the sixth layer of the Hell of Bartok was an old Ghost Hag.
The Ghost Hag Countess was not a Greater Devil but an extremely powerful Night Hag from the Underworld. The former demon lord Morloc once ruled this layer, but he was later overthrown during a past rebellion that swept through all nine layers of hell, in which he openly defied the Lord of Hell – Asmothiels. Most authorities recognize that this ghost hag, one of Morloc’s most trusted advisors, suggested Morloc rebel. Of course, the rebellion failed, and in the “settlement,” the ghost hag was placed in Morloc’s position.
However, a ghost hag outside the Lawful Evil faction finds it difficult to maintain a high position in the Hell of Bartok for long.
So it was no surprise that the Ghost Hag Countess ultimately met her d*ath. The new lord of the sixth layer of the Hell of Bartok has become the Lust Demon Queen – Glaceia.
She is the daughter of the Lord of Hell – Asmothiels.
This hell princess has been promoted to a Greater Devil. After her mother died during the last rebellion, Glaceia harbors intense hatred for the demon lord of the fifth layer, Levisthas, who has been sealed in ice by Asmothiels for thousands of years.
Before becoming the lord of the sixth layer of hell, the Lust Demon Queen – Glaceia traveled in the Material Plane and had some followers. The vast majority of Glaceia’s followers are inexperienced, young, and very naive humans. Glaceia recruits those vibrant young people, getting them to willingly accept certain taboo experiments.
It must be mentioned that the Rosad Duchy is involved.
Behind the rapid rise of Soren’s former rival, the Duchess of Red Dragon, is the shadow of the Lust Demon Queen. The bloodline of the sorcerer family requires some taboo conditions to sustain itself. Soren has sufficient reason to suspect that it is precisely because of the assistance from the Lust Demon Queen – Glaceia that the Duchess of Red Dragon has attained her current power.
Furthermore, the Lust Demon Queen has long been seeking humans for experiments in the Material Plane.
The Duchess of Red Dragon is highly likely to be one of the successful subjects!
………………
In this layer ruled by the daughter of the Lord of Hell – Asmothiels, the Hell Alchemist – Flos appears very low-key. After journeying for half a day, he arrives near a peculiar red fortress in the sixth layer.
This is a fortress keep cast in red copper.
As a member of the Greater Devil class, Flos easily passes through the guards, gaining the right to audience with the master of this fortress.
—Soul Thief – Niglas!
Flos walks through the metallic-scented corridor, the walls adorned with numerous preserved bodies, containing demons, devils, and evil spirits. Almost all powerful creatures from the lower planes have their corpses preserved within this corridor. All of this represents the power of the fortress’s master, subtly instilling a sense of awe in all first-time visitors.
“I’ve heard you want to discuss a significant business with me?”
As Flos enters a vast dark red hall, a devil sitting in a chair made of hell hound skin turns around. He looks a bit like a gray-skinned human, different from other demons. This is a Greater Devil that has constructed its own form and appearance, resembling a human with horns, gray skin, and crimson pupils.
“Yes,” Flos tries to keep his voice calm.
The Greater Devil before him is the legendary Soul Thief of the Hell of Bartok – Niglas!
Just as the gray areas of the Material Plane have many unknown top legends, the Hell of Bartok also has some devils whose power is immense, but their fame is far less than other great demon lords and demon generals. However, anyone who interacts with higher-tier beings in the lower planes understands that there exists a very special group.
That is the Soul Thieves!
The title of Soul Thief is a near-taboo designation in the lower planes; unless you are a high-level devil, demon, or evil spirit, you wouldn’t even know these monsters exist.
They are thieves, robbers, and the most dangerous group in the lower planes!
Because the origin of the title “Soul Thief” stems from this group often sneaking into the Underworld or places close to it, stealing high-quality souls from other planes directly from the hands of the God of d*ath’s servants.
This is a well-known fact!
In the sixth layer of the Hell of Bartok, within the fortress of the Lust Demon Queen – Glaceia, is recognized as the place that stores the most souls in the Hell of Bartok.
Even before the Ghost Hag Countess ruled, that fortress was already the richest place for soul reserves in the Hell of Bartok!
The reason is simple.
That is because in the sixth layer of the Hell of Bartok, there exists a special organization composed of the most daring high-ranking evil spirits and high-level devils – the Soul Thieves.
Niglas is the current leader of the sixth layer’s Soul Thieves!
These Soul Thieves rarely participate in the struggles of demon lords. They act like special arms dealers; whenever a demon lord’s minions d*e in significant numbers and need a batch of high-quality souls to replenish their servants, they will trade with this demon lord, selling the souls of classed professionists stolen from the Underworld, Spirit Realm, and Yellow Wastes at high prices. Most Soul Thieves are incredibly powerful, and anyone capable of earning the title “Soul Thief” is above high-level legend.
Flos feels a hint of tension but still takes a deep breath and speaks: “My master needs a large quantity of high-quality Soul Crystals!”
“I believe only you have what is most valuable in the Hell of Bartok,” Flos adds.
Hearing Flos’s words, the Soul Thief – Niglas can’t help but chuckle calmly, “The most valuable thing in the lower planes is souls.”
“Then.”
“How many souls does your master want? And what will you offer in exchange?”
Souls are the currency of the lower planes.
And the souls of professionists are the most prized portion of that currency. Soul Thieves are not interested in the souls of ordinary people; they steal only the souls of professionists and mid-to-high level beings from the hands of the God of d*ath’s servants.
Niglas does not ask Flos who his master is!
This is the custom of the lower planes; Soul Thieves absolutely will not inquire about who is purchasing souls from them. They only care whether the other party can provide something of interest as payment.
“Divine… artifact!”…
The Hell Alchemist – Flos slowly utters two words, then sees the Soul Thief – Niglas’s pupils suddenly constrict. The weight of these two words is heavier than expected, and as the leader of Soul Thieves, he must wonder what sort of being could produce an artifact.
For a moment.
The expression of the Soul Thief – Niglas becomes somewhat hesitant, but he quickly nods, “If that’s the case, then the transaction is without any problem.”
“The specific quantity and equivalent souls still need to be evaluated after we see the actual items!”
“Additionally.”
“Please convey our goodwill to your master!…”
………………
“It’s almost 515. I hope we can continue to challenge the 515 red envelope rankings, and on May 15th, the red envelope rain can reward readers and promote the work. Together is love, and I will definitely write well!” (To be continued ~^~)
