Chapter 270 - Unceasing Growth, An Aberration
In the safety of the Frozen Plateau Spiritual Land, Noah was only expanding his mental energies as he followed the onslaught of the forces of his summoned Lich that continued forward tirelessly. The creatures in the Undead legion had continued to grow even stronger as the Lich Lord received more and more boosts from the [Abhorrent Lich Emperor] Skill Tree, where Noah had now added even more Skill Points to the abilities that improved their power the most.
[Lich Lord of Abomination] (15/15):: Abilities- Summon Poison Totem(0/5), Summon Undead(5/5), Noxious Outburst(0/5), and Dereliction of the Saintly Poison Lord(3/5) >> [Abhorred Lich Emperor](11/30) :: Additional Abilities- Undead Legion(2/5), Will of the Undead Emperor(5/5), and Delay Death(2/5)
The one that he made sure to max first with skill points was the ability that added huge percentage modifiers to damage and resistances, as well as how many high ranking undead that the Lich could summon. It was the ability called [Will of the Undead Emperor] that brought a significant change into the Undead Legion the moment it was maxed.
[Will of the Undead Emperor](Passive) (5/5) :: +300% to all damage. +300% Death Damage. +300% Poison Damage. +300% Death and Poison Resistance. +6 Summon Limit to all High Level Undead. -90% Skill Energy Cost.
When this skill, along with [Summon Undead], reached the cap of 5/5, a huge change occurred within the undead legion as on the powerful exterior of the summoned undead, terribly powerful armor and weapons had appeared. The tails of the Bone Dragons held golden spikes that oozed a fiery aura, while the flames of the Undead Blue Phoenix spread out to form the beautiful outline of shining blue wings that blinded those looking directly at them.
The rest of the Undead Legion gained striking similarities as thousands of undead adorned in golden armor traversed through the First Realm of Hell and rained destruction on the maddened Infernals.
At the forefront of the army, a Lich holding a flaming Skull Staff rode on an Undead Blue Phoenix as it seemed to breathe in the flames to rejuvenate itself, its gaze voracious and hungry as it sought for more things to kill.
Hidden amongst this Undead Legion, a small circle of blood was situated in the jaws of an Undead Bone Dragon as it sat next to a Skeleton Knight. One could see the appearance of the devilishly handsome Prince Cassius in this circle of blood as his nose wrinkled to the side, his voice coming out soon after.
"Your little pets have an uncomfortable stench."
…
"I can't change that."
A short reply came from the skeleton that Noah sent his words through as the Prince's gaze focused on it.
"When do you plan to reveal your real body?"
"You seem to be trigger happy with your blood bombs, so maybe later."
The Prince did not find that satisfactory as his silver hair shimmered, speaking in a slightly mocking tone as droplets of blood continued to leave him and explode on wide areas filled with rushing Infernals.
"Then I guess you must be one of those weak summoners who only rely on their powerful pets for power."
The words were intended to bring about a reaction, the bickering between the two continuing as they moved forward while mowing down the rushing Infernals. Noah replied curtly,
"No."
Prince Cassius put on an expression that seemed to have finally figured it out as he spoke while extenuating his sharp jawline.
"Ah, it must be because you've become ashamed of yourself after seeing my devilishly handsome appearance. Don't feel too down about that, we Vampyres are some of the very few naturally beautiful species in the Universe."
"..."
Noah didn't even know what to reply to the powerful Vampyre Prince as he kept half of his mental focus conversing with him while he continued to plan in the Spiritual Land. He held a glowing purple Dagger of Time in his hand, his sights set on something that had yet to even occur.
---
In the centermost location in the First Realm of Hell, a region which was hotter and more blazing than any of the locations in this Infernal Realm existed.
It was populated by some of the most powerful Infernals present in the First Hell, with the occasional appearance of Void Rank Infernals being a norm. Deep in the blazing earth at this centermost location, a unique Infernal was breathing with steady breaths, releasing a billowing stream of air that seemed to be fanning its own flames in this underground space.
It held a more humanoid appearance compared to the other infernals, with the major distinguishing features being the fiery horns blazing with flames growing on either side of its face, huge expansive wings shooting out from his back, and a long serrated tail still waving behind him.
It seemed to be consolidating its strength and power, something that many Infernals would never do as they would simply let their aura run free, using it to feed their bloodl.u.s.t as they searched for more things to destroy.
This particular Infernal had long since reigned in its destructive thoughts as it entered a critical juncture in its realm that would allow it to break through the shackles at the Void Rank as it entered something much greater, allowing for its smooth ascension to the Second Realm of Hell.
Only beings at the Void Rank or lower could remain in the First Realm of Hell, with those being in higher ranks rejected outright from entering, or in the case of Infernals, achieving ascension to the next Realm of Hell the moment they crossed that threshold.
One of the most powerful Infernals in the First Realm of Hell had stopped its ascension before it even neared as it billowed out hot breaths and released some of its power. It had sensed the many intruders that entered the Realm and began murdering its brethren, and it did not want to ascend before it killed as many of them as possible.
Its rank would only be propelled further upwards when it killed those beings, but it would use that inflow of strength only to reinforce its power before it ascended into the Second Realm of Hell.
What this Infernal did not know though, was that this technique was the same one that the most powerful Infernals that arose from the First Realm of Hell used!
The powerful Generals and Infernal Scions that served under the Infernal Lords, and even some of the recently risen Infernal Lords themselves, this was the pathway they had taken before they rose to the great lengths and power that they did in the future.
Unwittingly, an Infernal at the Peak of Void Rank had embarked on a similar path as it was provided a conduit that coincidentally came the moment it was ready for its ascension, the entrance of many beings that held origins completely opposite to it, and would only serve as fuel to make it reach unbelievable heights in the future.
Its billowing breaths stabilized as it spread its wings wide open, expanding its senses in the blazing Realm of Hell as it located numerous amounts of beings using colorful techniques to destroy its brethren.
The orange flames in the surroundings seemed to be getting sucked into its body as its figure moved like a streak of light, moving so fast that its body disappeared and reappeared miles later, soon reaching an unsuspecting Saint Realm disciple that was fighting against a group of Transcendent Infernals as its flaming clawed hands smoothly entered the chest of the disciple as softly as dipping one's knife through butter.
THUMP
A single last heartbeat, and that was all as the claw tightened and shattered the heart like a gr.a.p.e, a stream of blue energy leaking from the body of the disciple as it went into the body of the Infernal.
The blue energy circulated amongst the reddish skin of the Infernal as it was prevented from taking many of the normal paths, eventually settling in the horns of the Infernal as a small blue runic marking appeared on the right flaming horn. The aura of the Infernal became slightly stronger than it already was as it moved again, faster than the eyes could observe as only wisps of flames could be seen, its gaze already landing on other targets.
An Aberration had risen in the First Realm of Hell through coincidental circ.u.mstances, or one could even call it fate, as it moved rapidly towards unsuspecting trainees and disciples!
