NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The Swamp of Demons
Kael rode atop Hamsuke as they moved deeper into the Forest of Tob. The towering trees loomed above them, their gnarled branches twisting into unnatural shapes. The atmosphere was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the occasional rustling of unseen creatures.
His eyes scanned the terrain, searching for a suitable location. He needed a remote and isolated area—somewhere he could test one of his most dangerous abilities without interference.
Then he saw it.
A massive swamp, its surface covered in a dense, murky mist. The stench of decay lingered in the air, and the water was dark, its depths unknowable.
Perfect.
Kael dismounted, his boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. Hamsuke remained behind, shifting nervously. Even the beast could sense that something unnatural was about to unfold.
"This skill," Kael murmured, "is not something that should fall into the wrong hands."
If used carelessly, it could bring chaos to entire nations. If Nazarick or other powerful beings acquired something similar, they could unleash devastation on an unimaginable scale.
Kael reached into his inventory and retrieved a faintly glowing scroll. The symbols etched into its surface pulsed with ominous energy, almost as if the object itself was alive.
He tore the scroll apart.
The reaction was instantaneous.
A deep, ominous energy surged outward, the ground beneath him cracking violently as a massive magic circle spread in all directions.
The air grew dense, as if reality itself was being distorted. Then—
A gigantic gate appeared above the swamp, hovering in the air like a portal to another world. Dark energy seeped from its core, its very presence sending ripples through the atmosphere.
The gate opened.
From within, dozens of demons poured out. Their twisted forms screeched and howled, their grotesque bodies writhing as they touched the mortal plane. Some were hulking brutes with flaming maws, others were serpentine horrors, their claws dripping with venom.
Kael watched them emerge, his expression unreadable.
Then he struck.
"Sky Spear."
A colossal spear of energy materialized above him, its form crackling with destructive force. With a mere thought, it descended, impaling the first wave of demons.
The moment the creatures were annihilated, Kael felt it.
Experience.
His eyes flickered. So, I can gain EXP from them.
A smirk formed on his lips.
Without hesitation, he summoned another spear.
The swamp erupted into a battlefield of destruction. Sky Spears rained from above, their devastating force tearing through the demon horde. The swamp's murky waters boiled, and the very earth shook beneath the onslaught.
The demons howled, trying to retaliate, but Kael was relentless. His attacks obliterated them faster than they could regenerate, reducing their numbers with every strike.
What had started as an experiment had turned into a massacre.
Far from the swamp, a different group had taken notice.
The Blue Rose team moved cautiously through the Forest of Tob, their eyes scanning the darkened landscape.
"Something's wrong," Lakyus muttered, her grip tightening on her sword.
Evileye adjusted her mask. "That mist… it's not natural."
A dense black fog had begun to rise in the distance, its unnatural presence stretching across the treetops.
"Could it be some kind of undead ritual?" Tina speculated.
"No," Lakyus said firmly. "This feels… different."
Gagaran cracked her knuckles. "Well, we ain't gonna find out by standing here. Let's check it out."
The group moved swiftly, closing in on the source of the disturbance. As they drew near, the sounds of battle reached their ears—explosions, monstrous roars, and something else… the unmistakable crackling of energy.
Evileye suddenly stopped. "Wait."
The others turned to her.
"Whatever's happening there, it's not a normal fight," she warned. "Be ready to retreat if necessary."
Lakyus nodded. "Understood. I'll go first."
With a whispered spell, she teleported forward, appearing at the edge of the battlefield.
What she saw left her stunned.
The black fog was clearing, revealing the aftermath of a slaughter. The swamp, once a murky and stagnant land, was now scorched and shattered, with demonic corpses littering the ground.
In the center of it all stood a lone figure.
A man, his dark cloak billowing, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. The aura around him was overwhelming, as if he was an entity far beyond their comprehension.
And he was still killing.
With a casual motion, the man raised his hand, and another Sky Spear materialized above him. It descended with lethal precision, obliterating the last remnants of the demons.
Silence fell over the swamp.
Lakyus felt a chill run down her spine.
This man… who was he?
Behind her, the rest of Blue Rose arrived. Gagaran whistled, her expression one of pure astonishment. "Well… that's something you don't see every day."
Tina and Tia remained tense, their hands on their weapons.
Evileye, however, stared intently at the man.
"That wasn't just magic," she muttered. "That was something else."
Lakyus steadied herself before taking a step forward.
The man had noticed them.
His gaze shifted, locking onto them with an unreadable expression.
For the first time in a long while, Blue Rose felt the presence of something beyond human understanding.
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Kael Drakon - Status
Name: Kael Drakon
Race: Demon God
Level: 45
EXP: To be added from this chapter
Stamina: 800
Mana: 2500 (Currently: 1,500 MP)
Mana Recovery: 20% MP every 20 minutes
Skills: Sky Spear, Teleport, Thunder Dragon, Voice of Dominion
Passive Abilities: High-Level Magic Damage Reduction, High-Level Magic Damage Increase, Negative Status Immunity, Demon Wings
Items:
3 Level-Up Scrolls (Grants +1 level per use, cannot be used after level 100)
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