Baator Hell Promotion

"I don't need to explain anything to you," she replied coldly.

"Because you're not a priest at all! You're using the power of the Illusory Sun Moses, right, Miss Spiritual Contract Master?"

Hearing the word "spiritual bond master," the dwarf turned his head sharply and stared at Lady Dragon Vein. Frodis's face turned pale, her eyes widened, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

Now, it is cold despair.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time, but I can't figure out how you summoned sunlight. Even the great Eternal Sun rarely offers miracles like summoning sunlight to his believers." Hopper was very satisfied with her reaction. "My suspicions weren't fully confirmed until you deflected the rays. You do worship that thief who stole the power of sunlight, almost forgotten by religious studies, and ultimately became a bonded spirit under the endless scorching heat."

"This also answers the questions I've had along the way. What kind of god requires strange blood sacrifice tools? And how does a young woman like you possess both impressive combat and magical abilities? Because you're a spirit bond master. All your abilities stem from the deals you've made with those bizarre beings who presumptuously call themselves gods, called bonded spirits. Am I right? That's why you don't even dare to lie about being a follower of the Eternal Sun, because the Illusionary Prideful Sun hates the Eternal Sun and won't allow you to do that!"

"After I had this guess, I understood why you wanted to infiltrate this team. Queen Shirley of Thousand Rocks City's aunt is Em, the King of Endless Greed. She is one of the most well-known contracted spirits. You must be here for her relics."

Frodis said nothing. The secret she had kept for so long and was so proud of was completely torn apart by a succubus she had just met. She could only look at the dwarf with trembling lips and earnest eyes.

Brand lowered his head and opened the golden box. He saw the gold teeth and hair belonging to Queen Em inside and took a deep breath.

"So, this is your purpose, Lady Frodis," the dwarf's voice trembled. "I thought you were offering selfless assistance, but it turns out you're traveling with us for the sake of a queen who has become a Qiling?"

Frodis lowered her head, not daring to look at the dwarf.

Oh, guilt and regret, a bitter mixture worth chewing over and over again.

"So, do you still want to give the box to me for safekeeping?" Hopper savored the dragon vein's emotions while feeling his legs slowly regaining consciousness and the power of the rays fading.

Author's words: A free chapter will be opened later on the setting of the new spirit.

Qi Ling: Moses, the Illusory Sun

Moses is a self-confident madman and a thief who steals divine power. She teaches those who make a pact with her how to master the magic of sunlight and how to steal the power of the sun.

Legend has it that Moses was once the most devoted follower of the Undying Sun, her devotion even earning her the status of a demigod. She should have been even more respectful, but instead, she grew increasingly arrogant, believing the Church of the Undying Sun's prosperity was entirely due to her efforts. She even secretly stole the Undying Sun's glory, disguising it as her own divine power to recruit followers. Upon being discovered by the Undying Sun, she felt no shame and instead demanded greater power, believing it was her due. The Undying Sun, without a word, simply burned her to ash. Because a trace of the sun's divine power still lingered within her, she was not completely annihilated. Instead, she was trapped between life and death, constantly suffering the sun's scorching power from within.

Special requirements: Moses does not accept any destitute or disabled people. Any believer of the god related to the sun will be treated differently by her.

Apparition: Moses always appears as a golden ball of light the size of a human head. She floats in mid-air, mocking all creatures she finds ugly, slandering beautiful females, and remaining silent about beautiful males.

Symbol: When you serve Moses, a golden rune will appear on your palm, which is an abstract image of a sun split in half.

Impact: Under Moses' influence, you pick up on her arrogance and extreme narcissism. You become arrogant and cold, defying and criticizing anyone who praises anything other than yourself. If you see a follower of a sun-related deity, you must verbally humiliate them. If you associate with such a follower, you must outshine them.

Empowered Abilities: Moses grants you abilities that allow you to see in darkness, distort light, and summon sunlight, sending creatures afraid of sunlight fleeing.

Rising Sun: You summon a ray of true sunlight, drawing upon the divine power stolen by Moses. This ability can be used only once per day, just as the sun can rise only once. The summoned sunlight is treated as a daylight spell cast by a cleric of your binder level, except that it has a 60-foot cone of effect and is treated as true sunlight. When the sunlight disappears, you suffer exhaustion for 1 minute.

Refractive Prism: As a move action, you can summon a colorful illusory prism to envelop you. On the following round, when you are targeted by a ray, you can deflect the ray with the same attack to another target within 30 feet. If the deflected attack hits the new target, it is handled normally. Otherwise, the attack fails. Whether or not you are struck by a ray, while the prism is active, you are not negatively affected by vision-based abilities, such as Colorful Spray. Each deflected ray causes you to take 1 point of Constitution damage and 1 point of Strength damage. Once you use this ability, you cannot use it again for 5 rounds.

Steal Divine Power: Once per minute, as a standard action, you can steal one spell from any target within 30 feet. If you know the target's memorized spells, you can steal the specified spell. If you don't know the target's memorized spells or the target doesn't need to memorize spells, the DM rolls secretly to determine which spell you steal. To steal a spell, you must make a Sleight of Hand check (DC = 20 + the spell's level). The target can detect someone stealing their power by using Sense Motive or Spot checks (DC = 15 + the spell's level). If noticed, they can make a Will save to stop the attempt (DC = 20 - the spell's level). The stolen spell is stored in a rune on your hand. If you fail to cast it within one round, the spell dissipates harmlessly. The spell is considered cast by the target. Note that stealing divine power is a serious offense and is likely to cause any cleric who notices it to disown you.

Darkvision: You have darkvision out to 120 feet, which allows you to see through darkness spells but not deep darkness spells.

Chapter 68: Torch

The dwarf raised his head, his nose was red, but his eyes were quite firm, staring at the succubus like a rabbit.

"No, I refuse!" He slammed the box shut and shouted to himself, "Whether she is a spiritual bond master or not, and whether what you said is correct or not, I believe in the guidance of my heart, and my heart will not turn to a devil."

Hopper lifted the veil, and the expression on his face turned fierce: "Are you sure you want to fight for this box?"

"I will never give you this box."

"I'll ask again! Are you sure you want to fight?"

"I am sure!"

Frodis breathed a sigh of relief, stopped holding her breath, and a huge smile appeared on her face. Before she could thank the dwarf for his trust, she saw that the succubus's face showed a smile that was even brighter than hers.

The dwarf looked at Hopper in confusion. Suddenly, he felt his heart tighten, as if something was attacking his heart, and then a warm current from the inside out resisted the attack. He fell to his knees, his hand softened, and the box fell to the ground unconsciously.

"What happened? What did you do to me?" the dwarf asked nervously, his voice becoming even shriller.

"I didn't do anything. You forgot your oath." The demon shook his finger and walked to his protective shield, looking down at him. "'Don't fight over treasures,' right?"

"Then why are you okay?"

"It's very simple. I neither possess any property nor do I claim to want to fight for it. You have misunderstood me, my dear poet."

"But I believe you'll be fine," the succubus said, watching the dwarf's body gradually become transparent. "How could a poet who came to Baator for the sole purpose of this offer such a foolish suggestion as signing a contract with the devil?"

A ball of fire shot out from under the dwarf's feet, covering him completely. At the bottom of the flames, a blazing red sword emerged, splitting the dwarf in two. The dwarf, the sword, and the fire all shattered into a shower of sparks and disappeared into the protective shield.

"So, my answer is, he must have found a way to break the contract," the demon said to the stunned Miss Longmai. "You see, it seems our Mr. Brand has a remarkable protector. A sword born from fire—the god of civilization, a symbol of birth from fire. His choice of a box of seals is also easy to explain—they are the tombstones of the ruins civilization we live in."

"Since you are not interested in the box, why are you teasing us? Is all this just your evil joke?" Ms. Longmai covered her chest and coughed twice, blood oozing from the corners of her mouth and nostrils.

Looking at Miss Longmai who almost fainted from joy and sorrow, Hopper put on his veil again and took out his black iron torch from the small bag around his neck.

The torch was no longer cold and silent. Its base glowed brightly, and a deep, ethereal vortex swirled slowly. As Hopper held it close to Frodis, the vortex spun faster, and scattered bright fragments of light drifted from its center, like a small nebula trapped in an iron cage.

"I've already told you guys this." The Devil tilted his head slightly, looking innocent and ignorant. "I need your affection."

Flotis spat at her and looked at her hatefully, not believing her at all.

The Lust Demon used his free hand to pick up the golden box that the Spirit Contract Master had always wanted and pretended to hand it to her.

She looked at Hopper in confusion and hesitantly grasped the other end of the box, not noticing that the torch in Hopper's other hand was spinning rapidly.

"We're even now. We agreed that each of us would take a share of the treasure. This treasure is what you deserve." Hopper loosened his grip. The heavy box weighed down Frodis's wrist, nearly causing it to fall to the ground. She quickly grabbed the box with both hands and managed to stand up.

The Dragon Vein Lady clutched the box tightly in her arms, her sweat-soaked hair draped over her fair face. She stared at Hopper, as if trying to discern what she was thinking behind her veil. She stepped back, questioning with uncertainty, "What are you playing at?"

"I am a demon. Perhaps your half-dead masters haven't told you, but a demon never breaks a promise." Hopper stood up straight, the faint light from the torch she held only illuminating her upper body and wings. In the eyes of the Dragon Vein Lady, she was like a noble obsidian goddess. "You can go now. I won't hurt you for what happened just now."

The Dragon Vein Lady took two more steps back, while the Lust Demon stood still without moving. She turned around, looking back as she ran, but the Lust Demon showed no intention of catching up.

Belated joy welled up in her heart, and the relief of surviving the catastrophe made her smile. With the golden tooth of the King of Endless Greed, I can go further, I can...

Her ecstasy and fantasy were interrupted by a sharp pain in her chest. She lowered her head and saw only the tip of the gray sword piercing her chest. The last thing she saw before she was completely plunged into darkness was the dim light of the torch and the tall figure in the backlight.

"Unfortunately, I didn't promise not to hurt you." Lati drew her rapier. The smell of human blood made her hungry. Her heart was calling for battle and food.

Lati sheathed her rapier and walked back to Hopper. She saw that the vortex in the torch had stopped spinning and the base was filled with thick black ointment with tiny sparkles.

Campion tentatively touched his bruised head; the power of Hell had almost repaired it. He casually asked, "If I hadn't woken up in time, would you have let her go?"

"How could you think I'm that kind of treacherous devil?" Hopper put the torch back into the space bag, stretched and relaxed completely. "Of course I won't attack poor Miss Longmai."

"But this is the hell of Baator. Even if I don't attack her, it's normal for her to accidentally fall and die." As soon as she finished speaking, the sharp-eyed Lati saw a piece of rope disappear under her skirt.

Cambion grinned. Hopper was a real good devil. She walked over and patted Lil's face. The little girl was still asleep. Lati simply carried her on her back and said, "Do you know how to get back?"

"I know how to get back, but it's a pity you can't, thief!"

A loud hissing sound echoed through the hall, and a malicious voice, deliberately lowered, sounded at the door.

Hopper turned around and saw a creature he had never seen even in his dreams.

A massive dragon perched on the edge of the terrace outside, gazing over as if enjoying a spectacle. Its reptilian head, the size of a heavy horse, was covered in scales so deep purple it was almost black. From the long white horns at the back of its head, shiny black spikes jutted out from its spine every few inches. Unlike typical dragons, its front claws and wings were connected, giving it a form more akin to a wyvern, a more primitive and terrifying appearance.

The dragon poked its snake-like head out from the balcony into the hall, so close that Hopper could see the huge cavity on her forehead and a pair of particularly prominent fangs that extended beyond her chin.

Hopper stared directly into her eyes, the dragon's crimson eyes filled with malice. The dragon's mighty power was overwhelming, and Hopper barely dared to move, her legs and wings trembling uncontrollably, let alone draw her weapon. Worse still, her prideful mind seemed frozen by the dragon's might.

I can't think of any other way around this, she thought despairingly.

"I can let you choose how you want to die." By dragon standards, her voice was almost melodious and strangely alluring. "You can choose to be torn apart like those hairy dwarves, or to be dismembered by my energy breath like those big-eyed monsters who tried to steal my treasure, or I can burn you half to death before cutting you apart. I offer such a wide range of choices. Isn't this a generous master?"

The succubus felt as if she were trapped in an icy cave. She couldn't help but doubt her fate. Was the law of the world such a mockery? She had just toyed with others, and now she was being toyed with by a stronger enemy.

"It seems I'm not late," a soft but clear voice sounded, as if it was about to burst out laughing. Hopper forced himself to raise his head in front of Long Wei and look towards the height where the voice came from.

Floating in the air higher than the dragon's head was a shriveled, thin, red figure, wrapped in a scarlet robe and leaning on a gray staff taller than he was.

Chapter 69: Mage

The dragon wasted no time in engaging the newcomer. The instant she heard the voice, she opened her narrow beak. By the time the words left her mouth, a ball of purple and red energy was already gathering momentum in her throat. Even from such a distance, the power contained in the energy breath still sent shivers down Hopper's spine.

Just like a flood sweeping away a baby, the breath accompanied by rolling thunder swallowed up people, and the burst of strong light made the surroundings as bright as day.

But the person who came was not a fragile doll. After the huge flame disappeared, a pearly white shield appeared in front of the dragon, which was like the strongest gem that wrapped and protected the inclusion inside. The light reflected from each facet of the gem was a cold mockery of the dragon's futile efforts.

"Mrs. Cincinnati, your hospitality is truly flattering, but I am sorry I cannot reap the benefits."

The robed figure removed his shield, his voice calm and composed. The dragon roared, ready to unleash a powerful spell to dispel the insect that had dared to taunt him.

However, the man's casting speed was obviously faster than hers. His arm almost turned into a red afterimage, and he was almost finished when Cincinnati's spell was just half recited.

A hand, a translucent, faintly glowing female hand, twice the size of the enormous dragon, appeared to the dragon's left. The red-robed man concluded his spell with a slapping gesture. The phantom hand (even painted with purple nail polish) slapped the dragon away. Cincinnati's reptilian face, a mixture of fear and shame, shrank rapidly as it was struck, shrinking into a small glass ball before it had even gotten far. The ball fell to the ground with a crisp sound, then rolled into a crack and disappeared.

Hopper and Lati were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped. A giant dragon that looked at least in its mature form was killed in an instant. The strength of the person who came was probably close to that of some great nobles.

The clattering sound of the long staff against the floor brought Hopper back to his senses. The red-robed spellcaster had landed on the balcony and was strolling over leisurely.

"It's been a long time, Master Hap." The red-robed wizard stood still and bowed slightly, his tone still quite polite. "Your new form is so beautiful that it makes my dying heart beat wildly."

"You are so kind, Master Zetua!" Hopper grudgingly stood up, lifting her tattered skirt and curtsying solemnly. Beside her, Lati, as if waking from a dream, quickly put Lil down from her back and saluted like the succubus. "Thank you very much for your generous help."

The mage raised an eyebrow, an orange spark dancing in the center of his sunken pupils, looking a little surprised. "I have to say, you are still as sharp-minded as ever. When did you discover this?"

Hopper took off his crown, shook his hair, and smiled at the wizard. "Master Zetua, the address on the letter you sent me was 'Your Excellency Hope'. How could a respected wizard who condescended to write to me and addressed me as Your Excellency misspell my name?"

"Many people know the name Harp, and I know quite a few mages. But since you know that I was promoted to a succubus, and that I used to be called Harp, and was a powerful mage, you are the only one I remember. Furthermore, I remember that you were originally going to Abrimok to find a woman named Meryl, who is only one letter different from our lovely little sister Lil. With enough information, the answer will naturally come to me."

"As for the name, you've given me plenty of hints. The letter didn't include a signature, only that the pendant uses the password 'Zetu'a. If that's because you didn't want to tell me your name, that doesn't make sense, and I could easily trick Li'l into telling me. So the only explanation is that you felt you'd made everything clear enough, and there was no need to sign it."

The wizard also laughed, and the corners of his chapped mouth formed a graceful arc.

"Well said, Mr. Hap. Your wisdom really didn't disappoint me."

"Master Zetua, are you Lil's brother?" Lati asked after reacting to their conversation.

"Yes, I'm the brother you're talking about, Lil. Meryl is her original name. For confidentiality and safety reasons, I changed her name to her current one." He walked over to Lil's side, his fingers moving under his robe. The light and shadow in the dark hall shifted. The smooth wooden floor emerged from under the mage's feet. A soft down bed rose from the floor and supported Lil. A pair of invisible hands helped her change into pajamas that appeared out of thin air. Hopper felt something bump against her knee. A bulging, darkly embroidered recliner was warmly inviting her to lie down, while Lati next to her was already embracing a pile of feather pillows.

Finally, with a crackle, a warm fire rose in the fireplace, and everyone was already in the hut that appeared out of thin air. Hopper had just sat down when the small round table piled with muffins, cream and hot honey tea slid into her reach.

"I don't know what your tastes are, so I prepared something based on Lil's preferences. The battle was quite strenuous, so please take a break."

The wizard sat in a rocking chair beside the bed, stroking Lil's hair with one hand and raising his glass to greet her from afar with the other. Hopper took a sip from the cup. The tea had no magical powers, nor any magical effects, but it had a sweet and fragrant taste.

"Thank you both for your sincere devotion and for protecting my Lil so well. After all, her rebirth ritual was interrupted, making it impossible for her soul and body to be reunited. Furthermore, she is a particularly stubborn little girl. I imagine it must have been extremely difficult for you to take care of her."

"Rebirth ceremony?" Lati asked in confusion. She knew nothing about Hopper's relationship with the wizard, so naturally she couldn't guess.

"Didn't Lord Hap tell you?" The Archmage looked at Hopper with interest. Hopper tilted his head slightly, gave him an innocent smile, and crossed his lips with his finger.

"My purpose in coming to Baator was to retrieve Meryl from Abrimok, the Tribunal of Demons, because her soul had been taken away for trial. With the help of a great figure, I was able to get my Meryl back. However, her soul has been damaged by Baator's torture, and a normal reincarnation would likely cause many problems."

"If it weren't for me, please allow me to brag a little, but if it weren't for my superb skills, a little help from that great man, and Miss Sinoi's advice, I wouldn't be able to sew Meryl's soul so perfectly into her new body."

He spoke with great enthusiasm, like a farmer describing this year's harvest to a friend. But what he said was chilling. Soul-related spells were undoubtedly one of the most profound aspects of magic. Not to mention such delicate operations, which were probably based on hundreds of failed products.

A question popped up in Hopper's heart. When he met the wizard in Avernus, he didn't appear to be so powerful. What kind of wizard could grow so fast in a short and almost negligible time?

An idea flashed through her mind like lightning. The succubus recalled a century ago, in a dim prayer room, surrounded by the faint scent of candles and the sweet aroma of bread, when Lacy said with a tone of hidden curiosity and disdain, "I heard someone broke into Abrimok's shallow cells and took away several souls awaiting trial. It's said that a believer of a deity associated with love came to Hell to rescue his loved one."

"Master Zetua, may I ask, with all due respect, but Ms. Meryl is more than just your sister, right?"

The mage turned his head sharply, his pupils burning with fire fixed on her. Hopper could hear her heart beating extraordinarily fast. She knew that her question had crossed the line, but it contained too much information, so she had to take the risk.

"You are more perceptive than I thought, Miss Hopper," the wizard said solemnly. The expression on his face was not so much anger as joy at having someone to confide in.

"Meryl is my sister, of course, but she's also my mother and my love."

Author's Note: I have something to do this morning, so I'll update it sooner.

Chapter 70 Love

The wizard looked at Hopper and Lati's shocked faces and laughed until he fell backwards. After a long while, he said:

"I've wanted to tell this ethical joke for a long time, but unfortunately I haven't found the right opportunity or the right person."

"Ahem," the wizard couldn't help laughing. He coughed twice and said seriously, "It's not what you think. My mother died when I was still an infant, and my father raised me alone. After I returned from school, I was surprised to find that my dear father had married a girl much younger than me. But years of fighting had destroyed his body. Perhaps he held on for so long just to see me finish my studies. Meryl and I were his family in his last moments. After the funeral, Meryl had nowhere to go, so she stayed at the manor and became my de facto housekeeper."

"Back then, I was young and arrogant, with only magic and knowledge in my sight. I probably spent more time in the autopsy room than with Meryl," the red-robed wizard said, leaning on his staff, the firelight dancing on his face, his eyes filled with nostalgia for the past. "But after all, we were of similar age, and without being modest, I was quite handsome back then. It was natural for us to be together."

"After her untimely death, I realized that what I needed more than magic was her. Every night, I felt the longing for her gnawing at my heart, and I spent quite a while like a walking corpse. Until I realized that a terrible disease had come upon me, and I would soon follow her. But I didn't care. At that time, I thought love was everything. Just when I thought I could be with her forever, a messenger found me."

"She mocked me, accusing me of not loving Meryl and being a pathetic self-pitying person. She said I didn't care whether Meryl's soul was suffering or not, that I was just a fragile coward. Constantly abusing myself wouldn't make love noble; only the eternal life of the body could make love last forever." The wizard shook his head in self-mockery and laughed, "She was right. I still had some passion and courage back then, and I couldn't bear Meryl's suffering. That's why I came here."

"I'm sure you can guess who the messenger is." The wizard looked at Hopper with interest, waiting for her answer.