Chapter 402: Chapter 396: Abyss Fall

Wandering around fighting all day, Leon now only knows he is on the topmost layer, Pazuniya, of the Bottomless Abyss, but exactly where he is or near which Steel Fortress, he has no idea.

Even if he knew, it wouldn’t help much; he doesn’t have a map of Pazuniya. That thing is hard to obtain, because any attempts to map the Bottomless Abyss, including the Nine Layers of Hell, would be crazily affected. If you fail your saving throw, you might end up in madness forever.

Leon decided to find a guide. He originally just wanted to catch an Enchanting Demon or a Judgement Demon, but he unexpectedly encountered a Seducer Demon.

A Seducer Demon is born from the ashes of a Succubus killed, thus having a pair of burnt, tattered wings, and much like a Succubus, it has astounding charm, is adept at using various spells, surprisingly proficient in close combat…It really took Leon quite some effort to subdue the Seducer Demon, of course using his Dragon-man form.

“Do me a favor.” Leon pressed the Seducer Demon down, squatting in front of it, “I want to go to the Blood War Battlefield, you take me there.”

The Seducer Demon lay on the ground looking at Leon, blinking with an aggrieved expression, said tearfully, “Oh mighty Half-dragon Sir, if you want to go to the Blood War Battlefield you could have just asked me, I’d be happy to guide you, why attack me just like that?”

Leon looked at the Seducer Demon with a wisp of hair around its lips looking both charming and coy, feeling a slight guilt, pursing his lips in silence, thinking that he had stayed in the Bottomless Abyss for too long, always using weapons to speak, completely forgetting he could still communicate through dialogue. After a long silence, he said angrily, “Why are you saying so much nonsense? Cooperate a bit if you don’t want to die.”

The Seducer Demon did not dare to speak, complaining in its heart. Well, as expected of the Half-dragon inheriting his Dragon Clan’s evil nature, a Half-red Dragon is no less evil and violent than a Balor.

“This way, sir.”

On the way to the Blood War Battlefield following the Seducer Demon, Leon learned quite a bit of information about the Bottomless Abyss and the Blood War from the Seducer Demon. Considering all the information came from the Seducer Demon, just listening for fun would suffice. It took a few days’ journey to arrive in front of a fortress called Broken Domain.

Leon had read travel notes involving Broken Domain from the collection of Tassera, knowing what to do next.

“Can I leave now?” the Seducer Demon asked cautiously.

“One last question,” Leon said, “I can let you go, but can you guarantee not to retaliate against me?”

“I promise,” the Seducer Demon raised its hand to swear.

“You’re lying, demons could never be honest.” Leon swiftly sent a flying sword slicing the Seducer Demon from the air, “You lied to me, that’s the consequence.”

Only after killing the Seducer Demon did Leon suddenly feel a bit dazed; this wasn’t his usual habit.

Normally, whether it’s a good person or a villain, as long as they’ve helped him, he’s always willing to repay kindness. At this point, he should have spared his opponent.

Why did such a thing happen? Finding excuses to kill, acting on impulses. Leon thought for a few minutes, certainly because he stayed too long in the Bottomless Abyss, inevitably affected by its corrupt influence, causing the evil side of his heart to emerge.

The only difference between a Seducer Demon and other demons is just having a better-looking face, higher charm, that’s all— is it necessary to care so much? The death of an evil demon is not worth much grief. Leon didn’t mind much, putting away his sword and walking into the Broken Domain.

Leon had heard of Broken Domain long ago; seeing is believing, he didn’t expect a fortress in the Bottomless Abyss to be so prosperous. Most importantly, he didn’t witness a single act of violence during his entire walk.

It’s said the ruler of Broken Domain is a Succubus Magician called the Red Shroud because she’s very intolerant of violence happening within her territory. It’s one of the few places in Pazuniya where one doesn’t need to worry about being eaten by demons, attracting many Blood War Mercenaries, Plane Merchants, and even Mortal Adventurers to and fro.

Arriving in Broken Domain, Leon was not in a rush to go to the Blood War Battlefield, deciding to rest well for a few days, no longer engaging in endless fighting. Who knows if he’d completely fall down and become deceitful, bloodthirsty, further nurturing ambition crazily.

It’s quite rare for a fortress in the Bottomless Abyss to have restaurants and inns.

Leon tasted some Abyssal cuisine, enjoyed some massages from Succubi, but rejected anything further feeling it was filthy, taking a glance at the regular death matches outside Broken Domain’s low walls, initially set for demons with nowhere to vent their destructive desires.

Everything about Broken Domain was good, just that the costs were indeed somewhat high, the prices were several times those on the Material Plane, just staying a few days cost Leon quite a lot of Gold Coins… whether demons or devils, none would refuse Gold Coins. The primary value of Gold Coins to them lies in tempting and deceiving mortals with them.

What Red Shroud, I’m not even afraid of Dimo Genesis, or Ocas, and should I fear a minor Secondary Demon Lord like you? If you like shrouds so much, just wear them into a coffin. Having spent too much money, Leon contemplated large-scale robbery several times, finally restraining himself.

The Abyss possesses a will of its own, seemingly ordained by fate. Leon felt the Abyssal Will was enticing him to become a new Demon Lord, as long as he accepted the chaotic forces accumulated in the Bottomless Abyss, forming a brutal yet exquisitely crafted gift of dark favor.

Too lazy for any hassle, unwilling to move, Leon discovered for the first time that lying flat actually has its advantages.

In short, Leon lingered in the Broken Domain for several days, taking a ferry to the Blood War Battlefield located in Aphnas as a Blood War Mercenary. At this moment, he stood by the boat’s edge admiring the Nether River. Swirling oil slicks and the wrecks of dirty ships floated on the Nether River, with decaying corpses washed up from the battlefield lying along the riverbanks.

“Be careful not to touch the water of the Nether River,” a Necromancer stood beside Leon, “It’s said that any creature other than evil demons who taste or touch the water here would be cursed with the Stupidity Technique, becoming permanently foolish.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” Leon casually thanked, convinced that even if he drank the Nether River water, it wouldn’t be a big problem. He didn’t know whether his transformed evil demon jumping into the Nether River would be affected, but it’s better not to court death when nothing’s wrong.

“Unfortunately, the water taken from the Nether River loses its effect within a day, turning into a harmless yet horribly tasting liquid,” the Necromancer sighed, “Only Night Hags, Ophalos Demons, and those fallen beings have rituals to extend the effective time of the Nether River water.”

Leon shrugged, noncommittal.

The Necromancer continued to ramble on, true or false stories unknown. The Nether River is the stream of oblivion, its waters disdain the laws of the mundane world. The Forgotten Wind blows over the Nether River, thwarting any attempts to fly over it, ultimately pulling you into the river, hence everyone needs to ferry…

Having someone to chat with wasn’t bad at all, Leon didn’t know how long had passed, but the barge finally docked at the harbor, and in front was Aphnas.