Novel Full Chapter 497: A Seed Of Suspicion
Chapter 497: A Seed Of Suspicion
[Two Days Later]
’I’m getting tired of all this wasted time.’
The thought circled through Azel’s mind as the Nightfall Citadel grew larger on the horizon. They had spent two days floating through the Underworld’s sky when teleportation would have been instant.
He could see the Citadel clearly now, its massive walls rising from the red stone like black teeth. It matched Bonehall’s size almost exactly, though something about it felt different.
The closer they got, the more pronounced the difference became. Darkness seemed to gather around the structure, not just shadow but an actual absence of light that swallowed everything near it.
Azel’s gaze shifted to the right where the Soul Sea rippled in the distance, its ethereal surface reflecting colors that looked amazing.
He wanted to change course and fly using that path instead, but it would add days to their journey.
Besides, the balloon’s destination was already automated into the enchantments. Fighting the magic would be more trouble than it was worth.
As they continued moving forward, the sky above began transforming. The perpetual twilight of the Underworld deepened into something darker and more oppressive. Hellspawn that had been rare during their flight now crowded the air around them, keeping their distance but watching with hungry eyes.
Azel counted at least a dozen different species circling at various altitudes.
There were bat-like creatures with too many wings, serpents that swam through the air like water and things without names that defied easy description.
Then something wet hit the barrier.
A single droplet splashed against the invisible dome protecting their balloon, it looked dark red and thick. It didn’t penetrate the enchantment but instead rolled across the surface before sliding off the edge.
More droplets followed… Then dozens… Then hundreds.
Within seconds, a full storm erupted around them.
Blood rained from the darkened sky, spraying across the already crimson landscape below and painting everything in fresh red. The sound of it hitting the barrier was like drums.
The Hellspawn scattered immediately. The flying creatures dove for cover in crevices and caves. Even the things moving through the distant bushes on the ground retreated to whatever shelter they could find.
“Whoa, is it raining blood?” Rene leaned over the basket’s edge, his eyes wide with fascination.
Mira grabbed him by the back of his kimono and yanked him away from the side. “You need to be careful.”
The boy stumbled backward but kept his gaze fixed on the phenomenon outside. “But is it? Is it actually blood?”
“Yes, it’s raining blood.” Mira’s grip on him didn’t loosen. “The barrier only works to prevent attacks from outside. It won’t stop you from falling out if you lean too far.”
Rene watched the blood fall against the top of their protective dome. Each droplet hit the invisible surface and was repelled, sliding down the curved barrier before dropping off the edge to fall toward the ground far below.
The effect created the clear outline of a dome around them, visible only because of the blood coating it.
“It’s like we’re inside a bubble,” Rene murmured.
“Master.” Irielle’s voice cut through the sound of the blood rain. She pointed toward something in the distance. “I see something.”
Azel had been examining his map of the Underworld, cross-referencing their position with known Hellspawn territories.
The interface showed several species that typically lived on land and in the air but hated the blood rain with a passion. They hated it because during these storms, they became prey.
A specific type of flying monster hunted during blood rain, something that found solace in the downpour and used it to—
A blur slammed into the barrier with tremendous force.
The entire balloon lurched sideways, knocked off course by the impact. The enchantments flared bright gold as they absorbed the blow, but the whole basket swung wildly on its tethers. Azel grabbed the edge to steady himself.
In that brief moment of collision, he got a clear look at what was attacking them.
A massive creature that resembled a pterodactyl, all leathery wings and scaled body except this thing had two heads, both of them snapping independently at the barrier with jaws full of teeth like daggers.
“The hell…” Mira had her hand on her sword hilt, her eyes tracking the monster as it repositioned for another attack.
The creature circled once before diving again, both heads opening wide to bite at the barrier. Its talons scraped against the invisible surface, searching for any weakness.
The enchantment held but the impacts kept coming, each one sending the balloon swaying violently.
Azel’s eyes went to the meter mounted on the basket’s interior.
The gauge showed the barrier’s remaining energy, and he watched the indicator drop with each attack.
The needle was falling rapidly, burning through reserves that should have lasted the entire journey.
At this rate, they had minutes before the protection failed completely.
“I’ll handle it.” Mira ran toward the edge of the basket, not hesitating for even a second.
She vaulted over the side and dropped through the barrier into the blood rain beyond.
The downpour hit her immediately, drenching her in seconds. Blood plastered her hair to her skull and ran in rivulets down her face.
The rain was heavy, it was like standing under a waterfall made of crimson.
Mira twisted in mid-air and grabbed one of the monster’s massive legs as it swept past. Her fingers closed around scaled flesh slick with blood.
One of its heads immediately snaked around to snap at her, it’s jaws unhinging to reveal a gullet lined with teeth.
She used the leg as leverage and threw herself upward onto the creature’s back, her muscles straining as she hauled herself up. Her Reaper weapon materialized in her hand, a proper sword with a blade that gleamed even in the storm.
The head struck like a viper but she was already moving. Her sword cut through the neck in a single clean motion, severing it completely.
The head fell away into the darkness below while the stump sprayed blood that mixed with the rain.
The other head shrieked, a sound like metal scraping against metal that made Azel wince even from inside the barrier.
Mira landed solidly on the creature’s back between its wings. The monster immediately began evasive maneuvers, clearly intelligent enough to recognize the threat now attached to it. It pulled away from the balloon and twisted through the air in desperate spirals.
The world spun as the creature corkscrewed, trying to shake her loose. Mira’s legs clamped around its spine while her free hand grabbed a protruding scale for additional grip.
Blood from the rain and from its severed neck made everything slippery, but she held on.
She raised her sword high with both hands on the grip now as the monster calmed down.
Her aura exploded outward from her body in visible waves of power. The energy flowed down her arms and into the blade, making it glow with brilliant purple light that cut through the red-tinted darkness.
She drove the sword down into the monster’s back, right where the spine met the shoulders. The blade punched through scales and muscle and bone, sinking in up to the hilt.
The creature’s scream was hoarse now. It banked hard to the left, trying one final time to escape, but Mira’s aura was already spreading through its body from the sword’s entry point.
The energy overloaded the monster’s organs all at once. Its heart, lungs, brain… everything simply gave out simultaneously.
The creature exploded.
Blood and chunks of flesh erupted outward in a sphere of gore. The force of the detonation launched Mira backward through the air with her sword still gripped in her hands. She tumbled end over end, unable to control her trajectory.
The balloon was directly behind her, but the barrier was still active.
“Got it,” Azel muttered, his hand already on the control crystal.
He deactivated the enchantment just as Mira came hurtling toward them. She slammed into the side of the basket, her fingers scrabbling for purchase on the wet wicker.
Mira’s grip held but barely, leaving her hanging off the edge.
Irielle was there immediately. “That was really cool~”
She grabbed Mira’s wrist and hauled backward, using her considerable strength to yank the woman into the basket.
Mira tumbled inside and landed in a sprawl, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
Azel reactivated the barrier the moment Mira was clear. The enchantment sprang back to life, sealing them safely inside once more.
Blood stained everything now. The bottom of the basket was slick with it, and Mira was completely soaked, her regular clothes ruined beyond any hope of cleaning.
“I hate these monsters.” The words came out between gasps for air.
Azel pulled a towel from his inventory and tossed it to her. “Get yourself cleaned up. We’re landing in a few minutes.”
Mira looked up and saw what he meant. The Nightfall Citadel loomed directly ahead now, close enough to make out individual buildings within its walls.
They were on their final approach.
“Thanks.” She took the towel and started wiping blood from her face.
The mission was almost over. They would reach the Citadel, get authorization somehow to enter the King’s castle, complete the Calamity, and go home.
But the world barely worked like that and Mira knew that as well as Azel did.
…
“Thank you for using our services.”
The skeleton greeting them at the landing platform wore a skirt, an incongruous touch that made Azel do a double-take. Its bones were polished to a shine and its empty eye sockets somehow still managed to convey customer service professionalism.
“I hope you had no problems getting here,” the skeleton continued.
“We really didn’t.” Azel stepped out of the basket and surveyed the area.
Multiple Hell Balloons were docked at various platforms, it was like a whole fleet of them. “Though I think the barriers could be stronger. We were almost overwhelmed.”
“I see…” The skeleton nodded, bones clattering with the motion. “If you buy one, then the barriers can be customized and you’ll receive several barrier crystals as well.”
Azel considered that. The kids back home would probably enjoy flying in something like this. Even if it came from the Underworld, it was still an impressive piece of magical engineering.
“How much does it cost to purchase one?”
“You can buy the one that you used for 50,000 Black Ares, Grim Reaper sir.” The skeleton gestured to their balloon. “We can add some custom barrier crystals that last longer too and have it cleaned up immediately.”
“Alright.” A pouch materialized in Azel’s hand, each pouch had fifty thousand in them and he handed it over.
They didn’t have much use for Underworld currency anyway. Might as well spend it on something practical.
The skeleton bowed, and a red glow enveloped the pouch before it vanished completely into whatever storage system the establishment used.
“Thank you for using our service.”
The skeleton worked with impressive efficiency. Within five minutes, it had the balloon thoroughly cleaned, barrier crystals packaged and included, and the whole thing ready for transfer.
“Are we going to be mailing it to your house, Grim Reaper sir?”
“No need.” Azel placed his hand on the basket and blue light covered the entire balloon. It shrank and vanished, pulled directly into his inventory space. “Thank you for the help.”
The skeleton’s bones clattered more enthusiastically now, perhaps pleased with the sale.
“H-happy Hell Day!” it called out.
Azel stopped. “Hell Day?”
The clattering stopped abruptly, as if the skeleton was suddenly uncertain.
“Don’t you know? It’s when we celebrate King Bael’zaroth’s glory,” it explained carefully.
Azel recovered smoothly with a smile. “Of course I knew. I was just checking if you knew.”
It was a terrible lie, thought up on the spot, but the skeleton seemed to accept it at face value with another nod.
“The streets will be very busy, so please take care. And I hope you can patronize the business more in the future.”
With a final nod to the skeleton, Azel and the others left the docking area.
…
’That skeleton wasn’t lying at all.’
The streets were absolutely packed with people. Pale humans, monsters of every variety, even some Reapers… all of them wearing kimonos of various colors and patterns.
The traditional garments looked completely out of place in the Underworld’s dark aesthetic, but everyone wore them anyway.
“Are we going to buy one of those kimonos, Master?” Irielle asked, already eyeing the nearest vendor.
Azel shrugged. “I guess… it’ll be suspicious if we don’t wear them.”
He scanned the crowded street and spotted what he was looking for. An octopus-like monster was using all eight of its tentacles to wave kimonos at passersby, each limb holding a different garment.
“Get your Hell kimonos here!” it shouted, voice carrying over the crowd noise.
Three minutes later, they were back on the street, now properly dressed for the occasion. Azel looked up as he adjusted his new kimono.
The entire Citadel was enclosed by a massive barrier, probably the same type that protected the balloons but scaled up enormously. The blood rain couldn’t penetrate it meaning residents could walk freely, but the weather stayed outside.
He appreciated that detail.
’Now… we just need to get to the path to the Castle.’
Reapers needed authorization before approaching the King’s domain. If he couldn’t obtain the proper clearance, he’d have to force his way through whatever defenses they had in place.
’We can get there in under a day, though I would prefer getting an authorization… I should have asked Vaal.’
Then again, Vaal might not have been ranked high enough for that kind of access. The twins were just interrogators at a regional Citadel, not high-ranking officials in the King’s court.
“Whatever… let’s just keep walking.” Azel started forward, already planning potential routes through the Citadel’s layout.
“Tharne!”
Azel stopped… That voice was familiar.
Vaal pushed through the crowd, also wearing a Hell kimono in deep purple. He waved enthusiastically as he approached.
“Ah, Vaal… how did you get here before us?” Azel asked once the man reached them.
“They just fixed the replacement teleportation crystal and I got here not too long ago.” Vaal grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
Then his expression became more serious. “I apparently got an invitation to the Castle too… do you want to come with me… after celebrating of course?”
Azel looked at him with a raised eyebrow… Things weren’t adding up at all, was this guy onto him? Or was he just dumb?
“I won’t refuse.” Azel said. “Let’s celebrate then.”