Chapter 133 (2): Wayne’s Clone in Hell
“Master, I didn’t mean to—”
“No need to explain. I understand. Geoff failed, and you suffered for it.” The Thousand-Eyed Demon comforted his subordinate, forgiving the act of rebellion against his master.
Wayne choked up. Then he quickly said, “Master, the portal can’t be opened. It has to be the church’s doing. Now, they’ve invaded our stronghold and taken out many of our people. In my opinion, we should stay low for two to three decades to build up our strength before seeking revenge.”
Two to three decades? You’ve severely misunderstood our kind. The Thousand-Eyed Demon almost laughed out loud. All demons were malicious and petty. If they lay low for twenty to thirty years, forget about revenge; they would die of pent-up rage in the first year.
“Don’t panic. Everything is under my control. Geoff and those trash are just tools to buy time. They have already completed their mission.” The Thousand-Eyed Demon tore a rift into space. “Come with me. The gates of hell opened long ago. It’s time to show them the magnificence of a demon lord from hell.”
Which demon lord? The lazy one or the horny one? Wayne wondered.
He followed the Thousand-Eyed Demon, staring at the back of his neck and asking curiously, “Master, what do you mean by that?”
“Londan was once blessed by the Lord of Pride. There’s a passage to hell in the city. Due to the seal, it can’t be permanently opened, and it’s a one-way street. Normally, it’s only possible to enter hell from the mortal world rather than the other way around.”
Wayne connected the dots. He remembered the urban legend about a subway line that led straight to hell. That was the problem with big cities. They were so well-known that aliens, demons, evil gods, and supervillains frequented them, destroying the landmark buildings every so often.
“The church thinks I’ve been putting in the effort to open the gates of hell. They’re not entirely wrong. I just need to connect the gap opened by the Lord of Pride, and my true body can descend to the mortal realm.”
The demon stepped through the portal, taking Wayne to his real hideout. It was similar to the land with lava channels on the second level, a barren, red landscape with no signs of life. The scorching heat and omnipresent stench of sulfur proved that this wasn’t a projection—the Thousand-Eyed Demon had moved his actual territory from hell to the mortal realm.
Sensing something, Wayne looked up at the sky and saw a black vortex occupying the dome with black lightning coursing through. It seemed like an entrance to another world—well, it didn’t just seem like it. Hell was on the other side!
“The Lord of Pride could’ve had everything and become the true ruler of hell, but he was too prideful to use the faith of mortals to fight his way back.”
The Thousand-Eyed Demon looked at the distant red mountains, where a black throne sat at the peak. Cold light glinted in his eyes. “I’m different. I won’t miss any opportunity due to my pride!”
Then why did you bring me here? Wayne wondered. You could’ve handled everything on your own.
“Bruce, you’re my most extraordinary servant in the mortal realm. I’ll fulfill my promise and grant you the greatest power...” The Thousand-Eyed Demon slowly ascended the red stone stairs leading to the throne. “But before that, I need you to guard this place and not let anyone disturb me.”
He cursed silently at the Death Knight for standing him up.
“Master, you’re so powerful that whoever may break in couldn’t possibly be your match.” Wayne raised an eyebrow. “And I’m too weak. I’m afraid I’ll have difficulty completing the task.”
“It’s simple.”
The Thousand-Eyed Demon looked at Wayne and waved a hand to displace space, taking Wayne to a stone pillar across from the red mountains. The pillar’s peak had been cut flat, and on the ten-square-meter platform, an ancient altar had been set up.
Around the altar were carved symbols and text that Wayne had never seen before, too strange to decipher. At first glance, the symbols seemed holy while the text seemed brimming with evil, but looking more closely, the holy one and the evil one appeared reversed; the symbols and text gradually blurred the line between the two opposite concepts.
“The altar was constructed by the Lord of Pride, inscribed with both the Golden Law of Angels and the Divine Comedy of the Seven Deadly Sins. It was meant to create a body that could contain all his thoughts, allowing him to walk the mortal world regardless of the seal. However, he abandoned the idea due to his pride.”
“Conversely, human blood can create new demons!” The Thousand-Eyed Demon spoke to Wayne’s mind. “Put a drop of blood into the altar and incorporate your thoughts. The altar will create a body capable of walking in hell for you. With that, you’ll be able to control the lava here.”
So this isn’t actually your territory, and your plan is to steal the Lord of Pride’s plan!
“Master, I’ll begin immediately.”
Wayne stepped forward to examine the altar, perking up with a soft exclamation.
The Thousand-Eyed Demon arrived before the mountain throne. An invisible mirror reflected the hell on earth, manifesting his image in hell; it was a giant worm lurking in shadows running over ten thousand meters in length, with each tentacle bearing a black demonic eye.
He waved his hand and touched the mirror surface. Sensing the thoughts of his main body in hell, he slowly sat on the throne.
Surging thoughts flooded into him. The Thousand-Eyed Demon’s body burst with foul fluids as he endured the pain of his soul being torn and recombined, gradually accepting the power from hell. He narrowed his eyes coldly at his subordinate from a distance. Demons never granted anyone power; even if they did, it would only be temporary, and the demon would reclaim it at any time.
Geoff had failed to find him a suitable body. This modified human only resembled him in appearance and not in essence, unable to bear his complete thoughts. Once the altar created a fresh new body, he would immediately seize it.
“If not for the Death Knight being late and for all the annoying bugs stirring things up, it wouldn’t have been yours!”
Lord of Pride was the most powerful of the Seven Demon Lords. An altar he had crafted for himself? Just thinking about it made the Thousand-Eyed Demon excited. The newly born body would surely possess unimaginable power.
Yes, extremely powerful! Wayne nodded silently. The moment he touched the altar, the Book of Greed roused and started feasting, gaining power that represented both heaven and hell. Its desires were satisfied and became ever stronger!
The Book of Greed didn’t know when to stop. Its large eye saw a door—the open gates to hell—and cast a gaze of strong yearning at it.
Wind blade cut Wayne’s fingertip and allowed a drop of blood to fall on the altar. He was impatient to enter hell for a grand feast, completely forgetting his important plan to transform into the Death Knight and slay the Thousand-Eyed Demon.
No rush. Let’s get some benefits first. One cannot fight on an empty stomach!
The Book of Greed wholeheartedly agreed.
The blood that contained Wayne’s thoughts expanded under the altar’s stimulation, growing white flesh and a pair of bat wings. Wrinkled pale skin covered the entire body...
A vertical line tore across the chest, slowly opening into a demonic eye!