Chapter 242 - Ritual Of Hells ( Part 1 )

Rudy lifted her dagger.

The Beast King laid still in front of her; his huge body was buried under fallen rocks. His war hammer was lying a few meters away from him. It shined crimson red for the last time before dying out like embers in a cold fireplace. Blood was flowing from underneath his damaged armor, painting the cracked courtyard with dark streams.

Rudy could hardly keep on her legs.

Her right shoulder was aching every single heartbeat, her ribs were screaming with each breath, and blood was running along her arm and dripping from her fingers to the broken stones of the courtyard. The golden light of her mark flickered faintly inside of her skin, resisting fatigue.

But still, she managed to take one more step forward.

Grom was dangerous. Even defeated, even destroyed, he was a Demon General. A living weapon. Future danger.

And Rudy knew it from her own experience that leaving her opponents alive might turn out to be a very bad mistake.

"I’m sorry, big guy," she whispered, raising the dagger over his chest. Dagger was shining crimson red with the help of the moonlight, looking like a fang. "Nothing personal. You tried to crush my skull after all."

The blade was hovering over his heart.

Just one stab. It was enough to kill the Beast King forever.

But just then some whisper came from behind Rudy.

"How merciless."

Rudy’s eyes widened.

She turned around.

Too late.

SHINK!

A sword penetrated through her chest.

For one moment, Rudy did not feel anything.

She looked at the blade piercing her body. This was a long and narrow sword; it was black like space between the stars. Dark energies crawled along its surface, devouring crimson light around like a living shadow.

Her dagger fell from her hands.

Clink.

This was a weirdly small sound.

Rudy tried to take a breath.

There was nothing coming.

A hand touched her shoulder from behind—not aggressively but almost softly, as if the man holding the sword was trying to keep Rudy on her legs.

"Such determination," came a low voice. "To lift the weapon against a defeated enemy even when you can’t keep yourself on your feet."

Rudy started to shiver.

"Who..."

Sword twisted.

Sharp pain went through Rudy’s body. Not sharp and clear pain of cutting—this one was deeper. It was tearing through muscles, bones, nerves. Fire was rushing through her veins while ice was flooding her heart.

She gasped and blood spurted from her mouth.

The figure pulled back his sword.

Rudy dropped to her knees.

It was only then that she saw him.

Towering above her in spotless black armor, tall and disturbingly composed. The long dark cloak flapped in the breeze that passed around him, though he himself exuded an aura of perfect stillness. A silver emblem in the shape of seven interlocking swords gleamed on his chest.

The face was pale and almost handsome, with sharp features and black eyes that revealed no reflection. No emotions. No mercy.

He gave Rudy an amused glance.

"You ought to pay more attention to the living."

With one hand she clutched her bleeding chest.

"I’m..."

He bent closer to look at her. Still unreadable expression of bored indifference.

"Yes."

The sword was hidden by the blackness.

"I am Noctis."

That name hit her worse than the blade.

Noctis.

Commander of Demon Generals. He was mentioned in all the oldest reports of the waking up of the Demon Emperor. He had not participated in the wars raging across the continent while his subordinates fought.

Rudy imagined a monster. Huge with horns able to pierce the sky. Violent and wrathful.

Instead, the scariest man she had ever seen seemed almost human.

Noctis crouched beside her.

"Rudy Kiss. Reincarnation of Lisa KingHeart. The second bearer that we need."

He inspected the wound in her chest clinically.

"A remarkable case. Your mark has already started to heal the wound."

Rudy managed a twisted smile. Blood was staining her teeth.

"I see. Sorry. You must have rehearsed this speech."

Noctis lifted his head quizzically. "What?"

"You stab someone from the back. Dramatic pause. You introduce yourself. It was a bit clichéd, don’t you think?"

The corners of his mouth twitched for the first time.

"My brother had a habit of insulting people that could kill him."

Rudy froze.

Noctis noted that. His dark eyes gleamed with self-satisfaction.

"So it worked."

He lifted her off the ground easily, holding her by the neck of her cloak as if she weighed nothing.

Rudy gasped. Her feet dragged along the shattered stones, and her body protested against the movement. She tried to punch him but managed to move only her arm. The golden light under her skin wavered and slowly dimmed as the dark energy of Noctis flowed into her wound.

He was suppressing her mark.

Not erasing it. Confining it.

Rudy’s eyes narrowed.

Jennie...

Noctis turned his head towards the palace. Unreadable expression.

"At least comfort yourself with the idea that your sacrifice will be worth it."

Rudy spat the blood on his armor.

"To hell with you."

Noctis’ lips curved into a small smile. This wasn’t an expression she liked.

"I am already home."

And the blackness swallowed them both.

The ritual chamber was located underneath the Black Capital.

It had been there long before the Demon Empire, before the current palace, perhaps even before the first demons discovered how to use magic. Circular chambers of the structure were made of black bones, and crimson runes climbed their walls like living veins.

Thousands of names were carved on them.

Names of the dead.

Names of the sacrifices.

Names of people whose existence had become the fuel to create something new.

In the center of the chamber, there was a raised stone platform surrounded by seven great circles. Five of them shone with the stolen light – the marks of Valor, Tidal Heart, Flame, Sky, and Mind, each one burning within its seal.

Two other circles were empty. Waiting.

Outside them there were rows of iron pillars that supported the skeletons of previous sacrifices. The chains were hanging from them. The floor was smeared with dark stains and the walls were painted with the blood in uneven stripes.

Some of it was old.

And some was fresh.

The severed heads had been arranged around the chamber, the faces covered with black cloths. The attendants of the ritual had offered them to remind everyone what happened to those who opposed the will of the Demon Emperor.

It smelled of iron and burned magic here.

Underneath it all, there was a sound.

A heartbeat.

Low. Huge. Patient.

As if something, having slept deep under the earth, started to awaken.

Noctis appeared in the north archway.

Rudy was hanging limply in his grip, leaving a bloody trail on the old stones. Two masked attendants rushed forward, rustling with their robes.

"The commander is back!"

"Prep the seventh platform!"

Noctis paid them no attention.

"Not yet."

He carried Rudy to the narrow stone altar near the ritual circles. Golden shackles were rising from it like snakes, binding her wrists, ankles, and waist.

Once the chains touched her skin, Rudy’s mark flared.

She screamed.

The golden energy burst out around her body, rattling the shackles. For a moment, the whole chamber shuddered, and the five captured marks flared in response.

And then Noctis put his fingers on the middle of her mark.

The light died.

Rudy slumped against the altar, gasping for breath.

"Keep her awake," he commanded. "The ritual needs a live bearer. If her mark goes into destabilization, I’ll blame you for that."

The attendants bowed.

"Yes, commander."

Noctis turned away from her.

Rudy forced herself to keep her eyes open. She could see the marks the five prisoners had branded upon the walls of the chamber. And beyond them, the vast circular doors were shut behind many layers of crimson magic.

Something lurked behind them.

Something that made the air itself fear.

Rudy swallowed.

Jennie... don’t come.

The thought had barely finished forming in her mind when Noctis looked at her again.

"Oh yes, one more thing."

He pulled his sword.

Rudy’s body tensed up.

The sword sliced down.

SHINK!

It pierced her side and hit the stone altar under her.

Her blood stained the stone floor like a spilled wine.

Noctis withdrew it, but did not change his expression.

"This will discourage you from trying to flee."

Rudy trembled violently.

"You... son of a bitch..."

Noctis wiped his blade on a black cloth.

"As I said, I need you alive."

He took a few steps backward.

"And there is a great difference between being alive and being comfortable."

The doors of the chamber opened behind him.

Noctis looked toward them.

A smile touched his lips.

"Oh. Our guests have arrived."

Jennie felt like she no longer had contact with the ground.

The black chains on her wrists dragged across the stone floor as Lokiar hauled her along the corridor. The wound on her chest burned painfully with each step, and the illusion magic still worked on her body.

Her silver-white hair had become black.

Golden eyes flashed between the original color and the crimson shade.

Her reflection in the polished walls showed her face that was no longer hers.

Lokiar’s face.

"Stop struggling, girl," the Fifth General said cheerfully. "This is not making it pleasant."

Jennie lifted her head. Her voice sounded hoarse.

"Then... stop pulling me."

"Unfortunately, I have an important appointment."

He pulled harder on the chains.

Jennie stumbled.

Snow walked a few steps behind her, his white fur streaked with blood. One of his wings was hanging broken at the joint. But his eyes were fixed on Lokiar.

"Let her go."

Lokiar looked over his shoulder. "Still barking? I thought I had broken your wings."

Snow’s lips curled, showing sharp fangs.

"You broke a wing."

He took another step.

"Not my patience."

Lokiar laughed. "Excellent. I was worried that you people are all so boring."

He lifted his other hand.

Black chains shot out of the ground and wrapped themselves around Snow’s legs. The Divine Wolf tried to struggle, but the chains tightened and slammed him on one knee.

"SNOW!"

Jennie pulled against her chains.

The swords flickered around her hips. Their light fought the suppression magic that worked on them. Excalibur was shining weakly under her dark hair, while the rest were trembling like they struggled against an invisible force.

Lokiar leaned toward her ear.

"Save your strength. You are going to need every drop of it."

Jennie looked at him.

"If you touch him..."

"What? You’ll kill me?"

Lokiar smiled.

"That is the plan, isn’t it?"

He turned to the huge doors at the end of the corridor.

"But first, you should meet our commander."

The doors opened.

Jennie felt the cold blood running in her veins.

The ritual chamber stretched before her. It was huge and terrible. Crimson runes lit the walls. Seven circles glowed under the vaulted ceiling. Five stolen marks shined there, stealing lives.

Blood stained the stone.

Severed heads laid at the edges of the chamber.

And in the center, strapped to the stone altar, was Rudy.

"RUDY!"

Jennie tried to run forward.

But the chains stopped her.

Rudy moved her head and turned to the sound of her voice. Her eyes opened. For a second, confusion showed on her face.

Then she smiled.

It was a weak, tired smile.

"Hey, Jennie..."

Her voice carried across the chamber weakly.

"Took... you long enough."

Jennie’s chest contracted.

There was blood everywhere. She could see it in Rudy’s clothes, and on the sword wound on her chest. Another stain on her side. Golden restraints held her against the altar, while the light of her Divine Mark flickered weakly under her skin.

Jennie stopped breathing.

"What did you do to her?"

Lokiar playfully tugged the chains.

"Technically, it was Noctis."

The man was standing next to the altar.

Noctis.

The Commander of the Seven Demon Generals.

He turned to look at Jennie. His face showed the serene expression of a host greeting his expected guest.

"Jennie Queens."

His eyes traveled over her face.

"Or should I say Leonis KingHeart?"

Jennie’s eyes blazed.

"Let Rudy go."

Noctis thought about it.

And then he started to walk toward her.

"It is an admirable request. But you seem to have misunderstood your position."

He stopped a few meters away from her.

"You are not here to negotiate."

Jennie struggled against the chains.

"Then why bring me here?"

"Because you are the only one who can finish the ritual."

Noctis gestured toward the five circles.

"Five Divine Swords. Five synchronized blades. A resonance that hasn’t been seen in a thousand years."

His eyes fell on Excalibur.

"The Sword of Kings."

Then on Leviathan.

"The Blade of Oceans."

On Tempest.

Eclipse.

Gram.

He mentioned the names of the swords without hesitation, like greeting old acquaintances.

"Five weapons who chose you. Five fragments of an ancient system that should have never existed in one person."

Jennie clenched her fists.

"They chose me because they wanted to."

"Perhaps."

Noctis’ tone was gentle.

"Or perhaps they saw the soul inside you."

Jennie didn’t answer.

Noctis smiled faintly.

"Does it matter? The result is the same. You have what we need."

He turned to Lilia.

Jennie followed his gaze.

Lilia KingHeart was standing on the other side of the chamber, surrounded by guards. Her golden hair was disheveled, and the crimson runes were glowing around her wrists. But she was standing straight and looking at Jennie with blue eyes.

Aurelia was resting in its sealed scabbard near the altar.

The Blade of Light.

Lilia’s Divine Sword.

The real Lilia.

Jennie’s heart contracted.

"Lilia..."

Queen’s face twisted for a moment.

"Jennie."

She tried to approach her.

Guards forced her to stay in place.

"Don’t you dare touch her!" Lilia screamed. "Hurt Jennie and I swear to—"

Noctis held up one hand.

The guards’ grip grew even tighter.

"Sire, please. I would appreciate it if you stayed calm."

Lilia shot him a glare.

"Well then, stop making me mad."

Lokiar grinned. "She is always like this. Very spirited. It is exhausting."

Lilia turned to him.

"If I wasn’t bound right now, I would—"

"See?" Lokiar said to Noctis. "Exhausting."

Jennie barely paid attention to him.

Her eyes were fixed on Lilia.

Alive. Here. Within reach at last.

And she couldn’t take a step closer.

Noctis clasped his hands behind his back.

"Now that everyone has been reunited, we can discuss the terms."

He looked at Jennie first.

"I am going to offer you a deal."

Jennie looked at him.

"You are going to set us free?"

"No."

The answer was too easy and sounded rather polite.

"I am going to give you a chance to save each other."

Noctis started pacing along the ritual circles.

"You give up all five Divine Swords: Excalibur, Leviathan, Tempest, Eclipse, and Gram. You will allow them to be placed inside the ritual circles, and their resonance will unlock the power we need."

He stopped before the first ritual circle.

In return, I will set Rudy Kiss free."

Jennie looked at Rudy.

The girl lying on the altar tried to raise her head.

"Don’t... wait..."

Noctis ignored her.

"And you, Queen Lilia, will surrender Aurelia, the Blade of Light."

Lilia froze.

Noctis turned to her.

"Your sword will complete the ritual. Six Divine Swords, Seven marks resonance will be unlocked from the awakened sword."

His smile deepened.

"With your cooperation, the ritual will be performed without any unnecessary suffering."

Jennie’s voice sounded low.

"And if we refuse?"

Noctis glanced at Rudy.

Then he drew his sword.

Jennie pulled on the chains.

"NOCTIS!"

The commander walked towards the altar.

Rudy stared at the blade with wide eyes.

"No... wait..."

Noctis put the tip of the sword against her side.

"One final opportunity."

Jennie pulled on the chains hard.

"STOP!"

Noctis looked at her.

"Five swords, Jennie."

He thrust the sword into Rudy’s side.

SHINK!

The girl’s body arches against the altar. Her scream was raw and pained. The sound tore something inside Jennie’s chest.

"RUDY!"

Blood pooled on the stone beneath the altar.

Noctis removed the blade.

Rudy gasped with unfocused eyes. The golden light around her mark flickered dangerously, but it didn’t disappear.

Noctis avoided a fatal wound on purpose.

That made it even worse.

Noctis turned to Jennie.

"Your swords."

Jennie’s whole body was shaking.

Her five Divine Swords thrummed under the seals, responding to her rage. The golden light from Excalibur burned brighter. The oceanic hum echoed from Leviathan. The crackling electricity of Tempest merged with the hungry blackness of Eclipse.

The pulsing crimson of Gram was full of dark rage.

The ritual circles responded.

Five glowing marks lit the chamber.

The whole palace shook.

Noctis watched the reaction with satisfaction.

"Beautiful."

Jennie stared at him with murderous intent.

"You want the swords?"

"Yes."

"Then take them."

Noctis’s smile faded slightly.

Jennie lifted her chin.

"But as soon as Rudy dies, I will tear this entire palace down. I will hunt every general, every soldier, every man and woman who helped you to build this place."

Her eyes burned with rage despite Lokiar’s illusion.

And when I find you, I won’t offer any deals."

Noctis examined her for the first time without amusement.

Then he laughed softly.

"This is exactly the reason why you need to give me those swords willingly."

He moved away from the girl’s altar.

"Your swords need to accept the ritual. If I try to force their resonance, they will reject the formation. The backlash might destroy the entire chamber, the bearers, and all of our preparations."

His eyes glinted.

"So, I need your cooperation."

Jennie curled her fingers.

Noctis told her the truth.

The demons could imprison her. They could wound her. They could suppress her powers.

But they couldn’t force the Divine Swords to accept the ritual willingly.

Not while Jennie was their chosen bearer.

Noctis brought Rudy here not just to make threats to her life.

He brought her to make Jennie make a choice.

And he brought Lilia to make this choice impossible.

Noctis turned to the Queen.

"Sire. Aurelia."

Lilia looked at the sealed sword. Then at Rudy. Then at Jennie.

Her face was pale but her eyes unwavering.

"If I surrender Aurelia, will you free them?"

"I will free Rudy and will allow Jennie to leave this chamber alive."

"Allow?"

Noctis smiled. "I don’t make any promises regarding what happens outside the walls."

Lilia’s hands trembled.

Jennie shook her head.

"Lilia, don’t."

The Queen looked at her.

"Jennie..."

"Don’t give him Aurelia."

"What am I supposed to do?" Lilia whispered. "Just stand here and watch him killing Rudy? Hurting you?"

"We’ll find another way."

"How much time do we have?"

Jennie had no answer.

Lilia looked at Rudy.

The girl was barely conscious, stained with her own blood.

Then she looked at Jennie, her face disfigured by Lokiar’s illusion.

She had already lost Jennie once.

She spent too much time grieving for the person everyone else forgot. She fought to get the truth back, to prevent it from being lost once more.

She would not lose someone else because of herself.

Lilia moved towards Aurelia.

The guards tried to stop her.

Noctis raised one finger.

"Let her."

Lilia touched the Blade of Light.

The moment her hand touched the hilt of the blade, the golden light filled the chamber. Aurelia shuddered and its light dispelled the shadows of crimson darkness, illuminating the bloodstains on the walls and the faces beneath the black cloths.

For a brief moment, the chamber looked beautiful.

Then the suppression runes flared.

Lilia gasped as the chains tightened.

Aurelia’s light weakened.

Noctis extended his hand.

"The sword, Your Majesty."

Lilia removed Aurelia from its scabbard.

The sword was radiating as though it was a fragment of the Sun itself.

She brought it to her chest.

"Jennie..."

Jennie shook her head desperately.

"Lilia, please."

At last the fear in her eyes gave way to something else.

"I’m sorry."

She turned to Noctis and offered the sword.

"I surrender the Blade of Light."

There was a deafening silence in the chamber.

Noctis took the sword.

Right after that golden light engulfed the blade when Noctis’s hands touched the hilt.

Aurelia refused to accept him as a wielder.

The rush of energy flung Noctis a few steps away, and the ritual circles started flickering wildly.

Lilia made an effort to reach for the sword.

However, Noctis recovered faster than she could manage.

Something in his expression had changed. Calmness was there as always, but under it there was a hunger.

"Interesting."

He squeezed harder.

Aurelia’s light weakened under the suppressive magic, though the sword kept trembling in his hands.

"You surrendered it willingly, yet it still refuses me."

Lilia pressed her teeth together. "Aurelia chooses her wielder."

"Yes," Noctis murmured. "And that is why your cooperation is needed."

He turned toward the ritual formation.

"Put the sword into the sixth circle."

An attendant quickly approached and took the sword from Noctis, bringing it toward the platform.

As soon as the sword touched the outer circle, the entire chamber started trembling.

Sixth circle.

The runes lit up.

Six resonances chosen by Noctis answered each other.

Jennie’s five swords started trembling violently.

Lilia stumbled.

Rudy screamed as the golden bonds became tighter.

Noctis raised his hand.

"Enough."

The energy stabilized.

He turned back to Jennie.

"Now, the five swords."

Jennie gazed at the ritual circles.

She could sense the swords’ resistance. Excalibur was pulsing with heat trying to separate from her. Leviathan was pulsing with dark and powerful energy. Tempest was crackling. Eclipse was darkening. Gram was pulsing like it wanted to drink some blood.

They were not tools.

They were not trophies.

They chose her.

And now Noctis asked her to betray that choice.

Jennie glanced at Rudy.

Rudy could barely stay awake, but still she managed to turn her head.

Her lips moved.

"Don’t..."

Jennie clenched her throat.

Rudy tried again.

"Don’t give... them..."

Her voice died.

Noctis approached the altar once more.

He raised his sword again.

Jennie pulled the chains so hard that blood flowed down her wrists.

"DON’T YOU DARE!"

Noctis stood next to Rudy.

"Your answer, Jennie Queens?"

He brought the sword closer to the wound on Rudy’s side.

"Five Divine Swords."

And then he looked at Lilia.

"And the Queen’s Aurelia."

The blade was pressing slightly more.

Rudy screamed.

Lilia’s face went pale.

Jennie’s five blades were lighting up.

The ritual chamber was trembling.

Noctis smiled.

"Choose."

Jennie looked at Rudy, then at Lilia, then at the six Divine Swords that were shining inside the ritual circles.

For the first time since coming to the Demon Continent she could see no way out of the situation.

If she would surrender the swords, the demons would awaken something that could destroy the whole world.

If she would refuse, Noctis would stab Rudy till there will be nothing to save her.

And if she would fight, Lilia would stay locked with the ritual that was created around her mark.

The swords were pulsing against the seals.

Waiting for her choice.

Jennie lowered her head.

And then, slowly, lifted her eyes.

Her golden eyes were no longer scared.

"All right," she said quietly.

Noctis watched her carefully.

Jennie smiled.

This was a terrible smile.

"I’ll give you my swords."

The commander extended his hand.

"An excellent decision."

"But first..."

Jennie glanced at Rudy.

"You need to make sure she’s still alive when I surrender the swords."

Noctis’s expression didn’t change.

"Of course."

He withdrew the sword from the wound on Rudy’s side.

Rudy collapsed against the altar, barely conscious.

Jennie closed her eyes.

I’m sorry, Rudy.

Then she opened her eyes again.

I’m sorry, Lilia.

The five Divine Swords were burning brightly.

Not in surrender.

In defiance.

And deep underground, behind the enormous sealed door something reacted to their light.

A seventh resonance appeared.

Noctis slowly turned his attention to the sealed door.

For the first time that night Commander of the Demon Generals looked pleased.

"The final piece..."

The crimson runes became brighter.

The floor cracked with a low thunderous sound.

And from behind the door a voice spoke that had been silent for a thousand years.

"Leonis KingHeart."