The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 461 A Soul from Another Land

Beyond the distant void.

On a patch of murky red earth, a middle-aged man with his hands tied behind his back kneels with his head drooping.

His face was ashen, his eyes lifeless, and his murmuring lips seemed to be cursing the gods and questioning why he had become like this.

why?
They were clearly the victors...

However, death came knocking after they had won everything.

The voice from the void did not answer; what interrupted his thoughts was a righteous and awe-inspiring shout.

"Meta!"

Upon hearing his name, the middle-aged man convulsed as if he had been electrocuted.

"I...I'll confess!"

There was a burst of laughter on the execution ground, but those outside couldn't laugh, since no one was sure if they would be chosen to go up there.

As for why I'm afraid to watch it again, that's another matter.

"Did I ask you?"

The middle-aged man shrank back, his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Perhaps feeling sorry for his pathetic state, the person who asked the question, though looking disgusted, also felt a little compassion and softened their tone slightly.

"Alright, is there anything else you want to say?"

Although death is inevitable, it will be easier to bear saying it out loud, so as to avoid becoming a vengeful ghost in the afterlife.

However, the middle-aged man seemed to have misunderstood, and his emaciated body, weakened by hunger, burst forth with unimaginable strength.

He desperately turned his head, trying to see the man standing behind him, and the spectators on and outside the execution ground. With his mouth, swollen so much that only a few intact teeth remained, he uttered a muffled plea.

“I am innocent! I was in Evernight Harbor... to gather intelligence and raise funds for the army! Everything I did was for our families, and General Grove can attest to my loyalty!”

His nonsensical ramblings drew a burst of ridicule.

This time, not only the people on the execution ground, but even those outside the execution ground burst into laughter.

“That stray dog ​​is dead,” the man who pronounced his fate said expressionlessly. “You probably won’t see him again.”

died……

The middle-aged man's face was deathly pale, as if all his strength had been drained and he had lost his soul.

He finally stopped struggling.

A cold laugh came from behind him, followed by the sound of a bullet being chambered.

"Since you're so eager to see Grove, then you can go down and keep that traitor company."

boom--!
A sharp gunshot rang out, and the man named Meta fell to the ground.

Those unseeing eyes stared wide open, etching the final and most vicious curse into their gradually dissipating pupils.

'I curse you—'

'And you, and your descendants!'

'You will build your nest of Urgos, and live there like ants, running about like rats all day long, persecuting one another in ignorance, repeating an endless cycle of insatiable desires! Forever!'

His soul roared in silence.

The resentment even overpowered the stench of blood on the execution ground, sending a chill down the executioner's spine as if he were being haunted by an evil spirit.

Meta didn't know who Urgos was; it was the only voice he heard on his deathbed.

That seems to be a name.

He was also the only true God who opened his eyes to him and lovingly responded to his soul's questions when he was denouncing the injustice of fate and cursing the heavens for being blind.

I will fulfill your wish.

'My poor child.'

Hearing that unseen promise, Meta's body shed tears of emotion, as if he had seen his true father.

Bearing a curse and hatred for the entire world, his soul finally broke free from his broken body, embraced the will of Urgos, and, drawn by karma, went to another world...

However, what awaited him was not a blissful, enchanting second life in another world, surrounded by beautiful women.

When he opened his eyes, he was horrified to find that he had turned into a huge, fat rat.

Although he was indeed a ratman, he never imagined that he would actually become a ratman.

He straightened his more than three-meter-long body and looked around in a panic. He found himself standing in a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​bones that was far more bloody than the execution ground before.

The ground was covered with large rats similar to him, stretching as far as the eye could see.

They pounced on the swollen corpses and feasted, making crunching noises as they ate, their mouths full of blood and fat.

Meta was desperate.

He was trembling all over, wanting to go back, but he couldn't find his way home at all.

What terrified him even more was that he could sense that his familiar family members were among these succulent rats, their mouths drooling with oil, though he couldn't tell exactly which one they were...

Meta only recognized one person.

Although the person had a human face, he looked more like a rat than any of the rats here.

Those are... parents?
Do not--

That guy should still be breathing, and how did he turn into a human?

He's the one who deserves to go to hell!
At that moment, the renowned "Grov" and "Gopal" were lying prostrate at the man's feet, as docile as two big cats.

Meta couldn't understand!

Just a moment ago he believed in karma and retribution, but now he's starting to doubt that God is blind.

Clearly, he hadn't studied physics and didn't know that forces act in pairs, and that karma, of course, does too.

Yet people always seem to see the cause and effect in others, but not in their own.

Those who pushed him into the hive will naturally go to their own hive, but he, who cursed his own people to never be reborn, will obviously also go to his own hive, and even go down there first.

He tried to speak, but only managed a squeal like a mouse.

A frenzied desire tore at his already fragile nerves, and gradually only the thought of devouring remained in his mind—

hungry!
I'm so hungry!!!

Driven by instinct, he, who had just stood up, fell prostrate on the ground again.

This time, however, it wasn't begging for mercy, but rather devouring the blood and flesh scraps on the ground, wholeheartedly surrendering to Urgos and His chosen apostle.

The nest is not in the distant depths of the universe, but right beneath the feet of every insatiable person.

Meta felt his soul adapting to this new body, and the memories of his previous life seemed like a flickering candle in the wind.

In the end, his gradually fading consciousness was reduced to a single, desperate thought.

If offering one's soul to Urgos ultimately leads to this fate, then perhaps the first to die is the luckiest...

……

Just as Meta was engrossed in his meal, Silas, standing amidst the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​bones, wore a joyful smile.

Looking at the two large rats crawling beside him, he reached out and gently touched their heads.

"So good..."

Although we don't know which world the two chosen ones came from, or what roles they play in their respective worlds, they are indeed good dogs.

Do not--

It should be said that it's a good rat.

Just hours earlier, Sylas led the 100,000-strong army bestowed upon him by Kael'thas to the siege camp outside Twilight City.

After finishing this task, he did not immediately begin the siege. Instead, he ordered the cooks to set up stoves, light fires, and prepare a final dinner for the brave young men.

That was certainly not an ordinary dinner, but a "holy communion" bestowed by Urgos.

The materials used all come from the offerings used in the sacrificial ceremony.

All the soldiers who ate the flesh and blood of the sacrificed became offerings to Urgos.

In terrifying ritual magic, they lose their sense of satiety and eat incessantly driven by hunger until their reason is devoured by endless hunger and desire, turning them into monsters who have nothing left but to live, and eventually even their bodies begin to swell and twist.

This is only the first stage of the ritual; the 100,000 souls are merely the key to opening the gates of chaos.

As the Gate of Chaos opened, tens of millions of thirsty souls were summoned by karma.

They are not from the same world, but they are all the same type of soul.

They hovered in the sky, forming a thick, dark cloud, greedily looking down at the ground, waiting for their chance to strike, sharpening their teeth and sucking their claws.

At this point, the second phase of the ritual began, and the plague rats of the Carrion Clan then ascended the altar.

Hundreds of thousands of ratmen pounced on them, beginning to devour the hundreds of thousands of twisted and swollen living sacrifices that were no longer able to eat, and becoming new sacrifices in the endless process of devouring.

Whenever a giant rat takes shape, tens of thousands of souls descend from the sky, squeeze together, and pour into a mature body of flesh and blood to form a "chosen one".

Unlike the "mysterious fog" that mobilizes troops between "different galaxies in the same universe".

The followers of "Claws of Eternal Hunger" mostly come from an ignorant world and are almost incapable of figuring out advanced technology like "ether." Therefore, they tend to cross the void between "different universes" to send those identical souls to their doom.

"Mad Talkers" often have a rigorous and meticulous set of logic, making it difficult for them to agree with each other. However, "Desireers" are different; they can easily achieve a resonance on a soul level through a variety of seemingly different but essentially the same twisted desires.

This is one of their advantages.

Looking around, the entire vast land is covered with these twisted "chaotic eggs".

On this murky land, an unprecedented blasphemy is brewing; terror and death are weaving together an unprecedentedly powerful force.

The king of the Kingdom of Ryan could never have imagined that the fire would eventually turn out like this; his indulgence ultimately bred a monster that no one had ever seen before...

Looking at the ever-expanding, immense power before him, Silas's smile grew even more smug, and he even revealed an expression of ecstasy.

“By Urgos, this is truly…so beautiful.”

In return for pleasing the whispers of the underworld, the great Urgos sent down souls from other lands, and commanded them to manipulate the murky flesh and blood, to fight for the construction of an eternal nest.

Silas didn't understand those complex principles.

"The Claw of Eternal Hunger" is not "The Fog of Deception." Urgos never encouraged his followers to explore the truth behind the fog, and Silas was not interested in it either.

Those things are not important at all; what matters is completing the sacrifice of the great true god Urgos.

Faced with that massive plan, even Twilight City and the entire uprising were merely a link in the chain of sacrifice!

As the weaver of the entire ritual, he will reach the pinnacle of mortal power and become a demigod-level powerhouse!
Once he becomes a demigod, and a demigod chosen by Chaos, there will be no more rivals on this land.

And Urgos, standing behind him, will complete the spiritual colonization of this world, turning all noble souls into yearning followers who grovel at his feet!
At that time, all the apostles of the Claw of Eternal Hunger will obey his commands, and even the carrion clans that once supported him will turn around and pledge allegiance to him, becoming his servants.

As for Kailan...

That thing appears to be on the table, but it's actually just an offering placed on the table.

Although Silas addressed him as His Majesty, he never treated him as His Majesty for even a second.

It's just a tool.

……

The murky black clouds not only obscured Twilight City, but also the scorched earth in the eastern part of Griffin Cliff Territory.

The Salvation Army from Sparrowwood Territory is marching towards Twilight City, carrying the holy banner of salvation.

On a hill not far from the marching route, Gaunt, gazing towards Twilight City, frowned slightly, a hint of seriousness creeping into his expression. "Such a dense aura of chaos..." Leiden walked to his side, lowering his voice to utter the words he had wanted to say but hadn't spoken.

Gunter nodded silently, then turned his gaze from the distance to Leiden.

How far are we from Twilight City?

After a moment's thought, Leiden spoke.

"It will take at least three days!"

This is still the most optimistic scenario.

If it rains, or if they encounter an ambush on the road, it's not impossible that the delay will be even longer.

Gunter shook his head.

"too slow."

At their current marching speed, by the time they reach Twilight City, it will probably be too late.

Moreover, he always had a feeling.

Every time he defeats a Chosen of the Eternal Hunger Claw, a stronger Chosen will emerge and stand against him.

They seem to be endless, and they even grow stronger with each kill, to the point that even he is now feeling a bit of a problem!
Just as Gunter was thinking this, a strong aura of chaos suddenly approached the edge of his perception range.

Sensing the malicious gaze, Gunter's eyes sharpened instantly, locking onto the hill two kilometers away.

The man clearly hadn't expected that he would be targeted just for glancing at someone from afar, and immediately darted behind some rocks.

But obviously.

Now that his whereabouts have been exposed, he can no longer escape.

Noticing Gaunt's sudden change in expression, Leiden cast an inquiring glance at him.

"what happened?"

"It's nothing, just a little mouse."

Gaunt reached for the greatsword behind him and continued speaking expressionlessly.

"It seems that these Chaos Apostles don't want us to make our way to Twilight City without any trouble."

Leiden's expression changed slightly.

Not daring to delay, he immediately spurred his horse back to the army formation.

Just as Gunter sensed the hostile presence in the distance, the Salvation Army's scout cavalry also discovered traces of enemy activity along the army's route.

They made no attempt to hide themselves; in fact, they stood brazenly in front of the Salvation Army, exuding an air of confidence and self-assurance, as if they held some incredible trump card.

The smell of gunpowder permeated the depths of the forest, and the faint rustling of the clan rats grinding their teeth could be heard under the shadows of the trees.

The battle is imminent!
At the same time that the vanguard of the Salvation Army was engaged in fierce fighting with the Green Forest Army's ambush troops, the "Northern Rescue Army" that had crossed the Stillwater Beach Territory finally entered the territory of Twilight City and encountered the last obstacle blocking their way in the forest south of Twilight City.

Clearly, the Green Forest Army's commander was not stupid. He knew that being sandwiched between Twilight City and reinforcements meant certain death, so he took the initiative to send troops to intercept them.

However, they were clearly not very smart, because truly smart people, seeing that the situation was hopeless, would never make such a pointless, desperate struggle.

Riding on horseback, Luo Yan's gaze swept over the dust-laden forest, as he thoughtfully looked at the sky filled with dark clouds, feeling as if an eye was watching him from there.

Not just myself.

He was watching over everyone.

That distorted and abstract face carried an unsettling kindness, as if everyone were His children, or His pawns.

Everything in the mortal world is just His game.

Luo Yan suddenly wondered if he felt the same way when he gazed at the civilization behind the illusory realm from the mage tower.

With that thought, the heavy feeling weighing on his heart instantly vanished.

The one standing opposite the virtual realm was just another Hector.

Maybe he's not even as good as that old guy...

In the dense forest, the air was so heavy it seemed as if it could drip water.

The birdsong in the forest had long since disappeared, replaced only by suppressed breathing and the clanging of armor against armor.

The rustling sound of tens of thousands of feet stepping on the fallen leaves.

Two massive armies unexpectedly met on this battlefield that would decide their fate.

"Array up!"

Theresa shouted and drew her longsword, pointing it at the sky.

At the officer's command, the well-trained privates quickly switched from marching formation to firing formation, pointing their gleaming flintlock muskets forward.

The citizen cavalry and dwarven musketeers patrolled the rear of the army formation, quickly moving to their respective battle positions to await their next move.

Opposite them, countless green banners flickered like will-o'-the-wisps in the woods. And beneath those flickering "will-o'-the-wisps" were pairs of eyes more terrifying than the soul fire of the dead.

Without a doubt, most of those standing there were human, but they no longer possessed any trace of life; only an astonishing frenzy remained!
The two armies faced off, their swords drawn and bows ready to strike.

Eileen sat astride her warhorse, her gaze passing over the ranks ahead and landing on the figure in front of the Green Forest Army.

If the scout's intelligence is correct, that person is the legendary "Green Turban" Kaylan, whose wanted poster has spread throughout the entire Twilight Province.

However, unlike the legends, the face was neither as monstrous as the kingdom's soldiers described, nor as righteous as the captured bandits claimed; it was just an ordinary face.

If you ignore the chaotic aura emanating from him, he would just be an ordinary woodcutter standing here.

Eileen could sense that, although both were apostles of chaos, this guy was fundamentally different from "The Messenger" Rolandall.

The latter are those who are so immersed in their own self-composed epics and emotions that they cannot extricate themselves, while the former are those who truly have ideals and yearn to change something.

However, his ideals have clearly been distorted into something else, to the point that even his soul has become foul.

As Eileen scrutinized Kailan, Kailan was also watching the "golden-glowing" knight opposite them.

Although he didn't know why her hair was silver-white instead of the rumored golden blonde, he could tell at a glance that she was the legendary Erin Campbell.

Pushing aside his personal guards, Kaylan walked alone to the front of the battle.

Looking at Eileen and the disciplined army behind her, he spoke in a calm voice, which carried throughout the entire forest.

"You're Eileen Campbell?"

“How dare a mere rebel speak to my Highness!” Theresa raised her eyebrows and was about to rebuke him, but Eileen stopped her with a raised hand.

She spurred her horse forward two steps, raised her chin, looked directly at Kailan's arrogant and unruly face, and spoke in a cold voice.

“I am Erin Campbell. So you must be the legendary ‘Green Hood’ Kaylan? I didn’t expect you to crawl out of the rat hole.”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Kailan's lips as he spoke calmly.

"Who I am is not important, but since you are a good person, I advise you to go back to where you came from and not stop the people of Twilight Province from embracing a bright future. Otherwise... this forest will be your grave."

"Ha, you really dare to say that."

Eileen gave a cold laugh and said firmly, not giving an inch.

“All I’ve seen since I came from Jiliu Pass is burned-down villages, slaughtered villagers, and orphans wailing in the ruins… Is this what you call a bright future? Tell me, where is the future for those who have died!”

"That was a necessary sacrifice."

Kaylan's face remained expressionless, as if the tragic situation Eileen described had nothing to do with him.

He wasn't at all surprised; the hypocritical Saint Cecilians would surely bring up the dead to smear the Green Forest Army's uprising as evil. But would a fervent warrior cease fighting because of such slander?
Don't nobles commit murder?

Over the past thousand years, countless innocent souls have died under royal power!
They may have killed some people, but they are nothing compared to the real thugs!
"Only by uprooting all the corrupt nobles and watering this land with their blood can a world truly belonging to the common people be born, and all those living in misery be saved! You who are born with everything will never understand what it's like to need the lord's approval even to hunt a rabbit or cut down a tree in the forest! If death can bring equality, I would rather kill more people!"

"I really don't understand what you're talking about."

Eileen stared straight at him, questioning him word by word.

"Perhaps you can tell me who you saved? What was that person's name? Which village did he live in? Where are his village and family now?"

Kaylan gave a cold laugh.

"Is this all you ever say—"

"Isn't that important?!"

Eileen glared at him, and her soul-searching question froze Kaylan's cold smile on his face, leaving him speechless.

"You can't even say a single name! Look at the scorched earth behind you, and the blood on your hands! I haven't seen even an inch of soil where your so-called equality existed. All I see is a bunch of traitors dressed as monkeys, slaughtering at will, piecing together a bloody altar with corpses!"

"Don't even mention nobles; any person with a conscience, even the Demon King of Thunder County, would never do such a heinous thing! You've turned people into cannibalistic beasts, one person into another's prey—this is the result you paid for with your own death—"

"shut up!"

Kaylan roared, staring intently at Eileen, but dared not look directly into her emerald green eyes.

It was like a burning sword, radiating a light more dazzling than the legendary light, and simply looking into it would scorch one's soul.

but--

He will not waver.

No matter how dazzling the light, it couldn't cover up the stench on her body. He could smell it; it was the stench that the lackeys of nobles were born with!
"You understand nothing. You only see the immediate pain, but you can't see the millennia of oppression behind this suffering!"

"So your answer is to kill those who cause you pain?" Eileen's eyes were filled with disappointment, and a hint of sadness that was barely perceptible.

She could sense that he was very similar to her, a person with ideals. He definitely didn't rise up in rebellion because he wanted to kill people.

He must have been unable to bear it any longer, which is why he decided to try to change something with his own strength... before everything escalated into an uncontrollable fire.

However, he was not as lucky as he was; before that fragile seed could even sprout, it had already been twisted by the chaotic evil spirits.

They were destined to be unable to convince each other.

Perhaps only the swords in their hands can determine who is right.

"It's no use talking more."

Kaylan raised the short sword in his hand, his eyes filled with only cold determination.

"Since you don't intend to leave, then take your hypocritical kindness and lie down in the coffin that buries the old world!"

"The Twilight Province is a sacred and indivisible part of the Kingdom of Ryan. How could the Campbell family possibly run away from traitors?"

Eileen slowly raised the "Praise of Light" in her hand. The blade shone with a holy light in the hazy sky, illuminating her snow-white hair.

"I will not allow you to harm any more innocent people. Campbell's knights will end your atrocities here!"

"You? Hahaha!"

Kailan laughed loudly, no longer concealing his aura, and a terrifying aura instantly enveloped the entire forest.

That's the aura of a Purple Crystal level expert!

At least, this aura is no less than that of Roland Dahl!

Theresa stared wide-eyed at the distant army formation in disbelief, struggling to suppress the restless neighing of her warhorse.

How can there be a Purple Crystal level expert?!

Where did these rebels get so many high-level superhumans?
Not only Teresa's expression changed, but even Quentin Bronzefurnace's face turned ugly as he rubbed the axe handle between his palms.

Gazing at the astonished faces on their faces, Kaylan grinned maliciously and pointed his sword at Eileen, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"It seems the gods are on my side."

Before he could finish speaking, an untimely voice interrupted his arrogance.

"That's hard to say."

(End of this chapter)