Chapter 434: The Forgotten Past - XXVIII

[Music recommendation: DARK SOULS Ⅲ · Yuka Kitamura]

As unprecedented destruction tore through the Underworld, Lilith’s soul watched with tear-filled eyes. She had tried to prevent this tragedy with the warnings she gave Gavriel and Hera, but in the end, she hadn’t been able to stop it.

When Bellarios and Rhaegor had fought, her soul had awakened just in time to intervene and urge Bellarios to return to Hera’s side. Yet the inevitable had still come to pass.

Now it was her turn to play her part.

Starting with collecting her beloved daughter-in-law’s ashes, knowing that doing so would not only help restore Hera’s memories in the future, but would also serve other very important purposes.

One was to help Hera fully restore her powers, while the other... Lilith looked at Gavriel again.

Just then, two figures appeared behind her.

Turning, she saw Isolde, the Grand Oracle, standing beside Raizel. He still looked broken at the sight of his wife’s soul, though he was far calmer than before.

Wiping away her tears, Lilith said, "Time to fulfil your duty as a king, Raizel... and as a father."

Raizel shook his head, his voice cracking with grief. "How can I... how can I simply allow you to leave for a place where I can never see you again?"

Lilith turned fully towards him, her gaze hardening. "I didn’t know my mate was so weak. You’re a devil, Raizel, King of the Underworld. Our people are dying. Your son is devastated by his loss and is hell-bent on destroying everything in his path because of your other sons. So do your duty, Raizel... set things right."

Isolde was gobsmacked. Only Queen Lilith had the courage to speak to His Majesty like this.

Turning her attention to the Blood Moon, she said, "That moon bears witness to a powerful vow accepted by the Underworld. We are merely chess pieces fulfilling roles already set in motion. Yet even when such oaths are sworn, failing to do our part can turn things for the worse. Prince Gavriel will destroy this entire realm if we delay any longer, Your Majesty."

Raizel met his wife’s eyes. It pained him to know that Lilith had used a spell to preserve her physical soul form, knowing she would not rest peacefully for a very long time. Though grateful to see her again, he struggled to accept that she would soon leave the Underworld and him behind.

Even as his heart bled for his mate, he knew he owed this to her... and to the realm, for his own past mistakes.

Stepping forward, Raizel dropped to one knee, took her hand gently, and bowed his head. "Very well, Lilith... I, Raizel Rhae Valtherion, King of the Underworld, promise you that I will fulfil your wishes."

He pressed a soft, longing kiss to the back of her hand, and Lilith smiled through her tears.

Rising, Raizel said, "You cannot be seen by others."

"Only you and Isolde can see me," Lilith replied.

Raizel nodded and extended his hands. Dark powers pulsed across his palms as his eyes shone blood-red.

"Answer my summons!"

Five pillars of black smoke descended before him one by one, revealing the five royal princes... Belial, Azrial, Zereph, Sorenn, and even Malakov.

Malakov had covered the lower half of his face to hide the burn injury he had suffered from Hera... a wound that was mysteriously refusing to heal.

Raizel looked at his sons one by one until his piercing gaze settled on Malakov.

Though Malakov maintained a stoic face, he could not hide the subtle darting of his eyes as he surveyed the ruined chamber, compared to how he had left it earlier.

Raizel’s sharp gaze stayed on Malakov for a second longer before he turned to the others. "My sons and royals of the Underworld, great peril is upon us. It brings me immense sorrow to inform you that not only is your mother no more, but Crown Princess Hera has also left us."

Shocked gasps filled the chamber, except from Belial, who had already witnessed the tragedy.

Malakov, however, hadn’t expected this. He had anticipated the corrupted bond spreading faster, but with Gavriel still alive and Hera gone, he could only assume Gavriel had killed her in a fit of rage before losing his mind.

It certainly hindered his plans to use her powers, yet he struggled to believe Gavriel could have killed someone he loved so deeply.

Raizel’s words cut through his thoughts. "We cannot grieve or waste time asking questions. Your brother Gavriel is no longer in his right mind after the loss he has suffered. I need you all to engage him in battle."

Another wave of shock rippled through the brothers.

Belial spoke up this time. "Father, we cannot win against him. Not only is he terrifyingly powerful, but he is completely unhinged. He even attacked me without hesitation. I don’t think even our combined strength will be enough to take him down while he is like this."

"I am not asking you to defeat him. I am asking you to keep him engaged and bring him to the ground so that I may step in to do what must be done," Raizel replied.

"What do you intend to do?" Azrial asked in dread.

"Something that will take the first step toward setting things right," Raizel whispered. "Now go. I command you all."

The princes bowed respectfully but right as they turned to leave, Raizel extended his hand and uttered his cold words. "Except you."

A powerful red circle ignited beneath Malakov’s feet. Burning chains rose from the floor, swiftly wrapping around his body.

Everyone gasped in shock, including Malakov, who thrashed against his bindings before looking up at his father. "Father! What is the meaning of this?!"

Raizel’s eyes turned dangerously cold. "You have some nerve to ask me that after being the true architect behind this chaos!"

Malakov stilled, his eyes widening. "What...?" Then he sneered. "I’ve done nothing wrong! What proof do you have?!"

Wrath surged within Raizel. "I should have killed you when your cursed existence was born! Unfortunately, your death is not written by my hands or Gavriel’s, who would gladly bathe in your filthy blood if I were to throw you to him. Only she has the right to claim her vengeance... when she comes back for you."

Power erupted from Raizel, filling the chamber with suffocating pressure. "I hereby banish you to the Seventh Level until your day of reckoning arrives!"

"What?! Father! You cannot do this to me!!" Malakov screamed, struggling wildly as a pit of molten lava opened beneath his feet. The searing chains dragged him downward into the abyss. "Curse you, Raizel! This is not over! I promise! All of you will pay for this!!"

His screams echoed until he was swallowed whole and the magic circle faded.

Raizel then turned to his stunned sons. "What are you all waiting for?! Go now, unless you wish to burn under Gavriel’s wrath!"

Snapping out of their shock, they disappeared to engage Gavriel in a dangerous battle.

Raizel watched the sky with hardened eyes as they fought him.

Lilith stepped forward to hold his hand. "You made the right choice."

Raizel closed his eyes, heavy regret lacing his voice. "If only I had known earlier what both of them were capable of... if only I had never listened to those nobles who pressured me into taking those sinful measures just to secure heirs."

Lilith remained silent.

Just then, they saw Gavriel take a massive hit from the combined power of his four brothers, crashing heavily onto the ground below.

She then handed Raizel the single red rose that had bloomed where Hera’s ashes had lain, "Go to him now, Raizel. You know what to do next."

....

On the ground, thick with the stench of burning flesh, smoke, and blood, a lone figure rose to his feet.

His angelic face was utterly devoid of emotion.

Long black hair swayed in the scorching wind. Streaks of blood stained his pale features, yet he seemed completely indifferent to them. His eyes were as dark as the abyss, and with only his glowing crimson irises remaining, he silently watched the destruction before him.

Yet none of it quenched the insatiable thirst raging within him. If anything, it only demanded more blood and more destruction.

Amid the devastation, a woman fell to her knees, desperately clutching her unresponsive infant against her chest as tears streamed down her soot-stained face.

Yet even through her grief, she glared at him with nothing but hatred.

"I hope one day you cry tears of blood when someone precious to you is stolen from your arms, just as mine was... you monster!"

Her voice echoed across the ruins, but the man simply stared back at her with hollow eyes.

Then... the woman’s eyes widened.

Thin streams of blood were already trailing silently down his face.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze towards the blood-red sky as the crimson tears continued to stain his cheeks.

Behind him, a deafening roar shook the realm itself.

"Nothing... left to save here," Gavriel whispered.

As the words left his lips, another deafening howl echoed through the burning kingdom. He looked behind and saw a familiar, powerful figure levitating before Bellarios. The man’s hands were extended, crimson wisps wrapping around the dragon’s gigantic form as he struggled to break free.

Gavriel’s eyes widened when he noticed the red mark glowing on Bellarios’s forehead.

Realising what was happening, Gavriel’s majestic dark wings flared behind him as he attempted to shoot into the sky. But right then, multiple thick black vines covered in sharp thorns tore through the ground, coiling tightly around Gavriel and preventing him from taking flight.

He recognised them immediately... Netherblooms.