Baator Hell Promotion

"Monster Hunter Lightning, don't think you're the only one who's seen that merchant." The warlock sucked the honey that flowed onto his hand and casually pointed out his identity. He said with some pride, "And don't think that your people are all united."

Lightning was about to retort when his stomach suddenly growled. The sudden noise immediately lightened the mood.

"My employer once tortured a Hellhound Lord. He learned more about this plane from the Hellhounds than you do." The warlock generously pushed the basket over and took another piece for himself. "Let me be frank. The inventor of Harakin was indeed inspired by the forced transformation in Golden Hair Town. He deconstructed part of the plane's power, rewritten the flesh and blood composition of the Hellhounds, and created Harakin."

The warlock smacked his lips in satisfaction, his tone full of admiration for the master of arcane magic.

"Let's get back to the point. I'm not a research talent," he said frankly. "My employer doesn't expect me to create a new race for him. But I'm also interested in the magic here."

"So, I think we can form a temporary alliance. Oha and I are not good at direct combat, and you are not good at magic. Isn't this a good basis for an alliance? Not to mention, now we all know that there are other outsiders entering this plane. You can't guarantee that those people won't affect you, right?"

He licked his fingers clean, wiped them on the shroud, and held out his hand.

Hopper stared at him for a while, pursed his lips, kicked Lightning, and motioned him to come forward and shake hands.

Chapter 234: Dearest Great-grandmother

The old warehouse where the bodies were temporarily stored was at the edge of town. When Hopper and his group left, the surroundings were as dark as the deep sea. Only a few scattered lights from the distant houses, those sleeping late, floated in the boundless darkness. The torch in Ziz's hand was like a lone fishing boat on the dark sea.

Hopper looked up at the night sky. The night in Blonde Town was just as dark and cloudy as the day. There were no stars or birds, only endless darkness and a cold wind surrounding her. Oha said the cage's environment was a reflection of the Dark Lord's heart. If that was true, then the Dark Lord's heart must be devoid of light.

The chill of the night reminded Hopper of the place where he had served for centuries: the eighth layer of Carnia, where even demons felt the chill. Amidst endless icebergs and bone-chilling winds, Mephistos sat atop the Jade Iron Tower, draining the souls of those obsessed with the arcane.

"What a coincidence," she said to herself, "the spellcaster who created Harakin is also a master of the arcane."

Dan Brown didn't reveal any information about the maker, but he knew so much about these things that Hopper finally figured out one thing.

Mephisto's current research project is Hellfire, a flaming magic condensed from the power of Hell. The Arcane Crown of Hell is not stingy and is willing to share the power of Hellfire with arcane spellcasters to gain inspiration from it.

Hellfire is powerful but difficult to control because it is not an elemental force in essence, but a manifestation of the power of the Nine Hells. Only spellcasters who are very proficient in plane knowledge can attempt to control it.

This also explains why Oha knows so much about the planes.

"They didn't reveal how they were leaving," Lightning said grimly, taking a few quick steps to catch up with Hopper. "This deal has no backstop, which is disadvantageous to us. I don't believe you can't see it. What are you hiding from me?"

"Don't worry, Big Cat. He'll take us out," Hopper patted his shoulder, "otherwise Lady Bist will not let them go."

"Wait a minute, what does this have to do with Madam Bist?" Lightning was confused. "Their employer is Bist? When did they tell you?"

"I don't know if their employer is your great-grandmother, but I suspect it's highly unlikely. I originally thought they were coming for me, but now it seems I was a little too confident in my charm. They're coming for you."

"What? Why? How do you know?"

"Was there anyone present when you and Lady Bist were reporting? Who among your people do you think is most likely to inform Dan Brown's employer?"

Lightning grinned, full of sarcasm. "The old woman herself is known for her betrayal. She knows how to deal with traitors and spies. My people don't have the ability to eavesdrop on her conversations."

Hopper shrugged, wrapped himself tightly in the cloak he'd borrowed from Dan Brown, and said, "So, I think it was Lady Bist who revealed it to them personally, just to get them to take care of her darling grandson."

"Oh, shut up, you hairless, vicious old witch!" Lightning rolled his eyes in a very human way. It seemed that he was getting more and more accustomed to his human appearance. "If Lady Bist was such a kind and amiable old lady, would we still be wandering in Avernus for centuries?"

"So, I think it's more likely that your great-grandmother sold you out. She probably learned from some source that Dan Brown and his team were looking for this place, and her dear little great-grandson just happened to come to her door with a map. I guess her reward to Dan Brown was telling them that they could find this plane by following you. Dan Brown and his team were going to this place anyway, so it's no big deal to promise Lady Bist to take care of her great-grandson. Maybe they thought it would be a good deal to have a duke-level devil owe them a favor."

Lightning almost laughed out loud. "You expect Madam Biste to remember their kindness? Master Oha seems to be bad at history. She doesn't even remember the kindness of the King of the Nine Hells."

"In their previous conversation, they mentioned that the creator of Harakin escaped from here." Zis held it in for a long time, and finally waited until both of them stopped talking before quickly expressing his thoughts. "Why don't you ask them how to get out?"

"Very perceptive, young man," Hopper praised, turning around. "However, we also have to be practical. The creator of Harakin is a master of the arcane. Perhaps Dan Brown could use his methods, but the three of us ordinary people who don't know how to cast spells don't have that ability. Since we ultimately have to rely on his power, there's no point in delving into these details. Please allow him to keep his secrets."

Lightning was about to speak when he suddenly stopped.

Zis, who was paying attention to Hopper, also stopped, reached out to take off the shield and spear on his back, squatted slightly, narrowed his eyes, and his expression was serious and alert.

Hopper had lost her ability to see in the dark, but that didn't stop her from seeing the people coming—because they had lit torches just like them. To be more precise, it was a team that had lit many torches.

They held their weapons tightly and waited, wanting to see who was still wandering around in a group so late at night. What was even more strange was that the group of at least five or six people did not make a single sound of conversation.

"Who's there?" The leading man noticed the passersby and shouted. In the silent night, his voice sounded as shrill as the cuckoo's cry at night.

Hopper breathed a sigh of relief. At least this person was from the town, not some strange monster. She led Lightning and Ziz forward, and only recognized the person when they got in front of him.

The one who shouted was Sheriff Richard, and the short man behind him was also an acquaintance, sentry Lancelot.

What caught Hopper's attention even more was that Lancelot and another sentry were carrying a stretcher covered with a tattered blanket, followed by two women in black cloaks. Hopper immediately understood why they were traveling at night and why they met on this road.

"Someone else died?" she asked in a low voice. "The fourth one?"

"The fourth one," Richard admitted with a gloomy face. "I don't want to scare you, ma'am. But you'd better return indoors. The deceased is Mrs. Spencer, an herbalist, a kind person who took in ten kittens. I dread to think what kind of cruel murderer would hurt her."

"Okay, dear, don't ask any more questions." Lightning walked forward, put his arm around Hopper's shoulders, and half-forced her to the side so that the team could pass. "I feel a cold wind blowing against my neck. Let's go back early."

"That's natural, dear~" Hopper replied in a sweet voice.

Zis looked at the two people who suddenly became close, put down the shield he was holding, but quietly grasped the spear in his right hand.

Author's Note: A little explanation.

Oha wants to advance to the Hellfire Warlock, which requires 12 plane knowledge.

So I made a divergence here and set the hellfire as the manifestation of the power of the Nine Hells, so it requires plane knowledge to master it.

The original design did not explicitly state why plane knowledge 12 was required.

Chapter 235 The Mysterious Killer

Richard was completely undecided. He nodded and agreed, "Please go back as soon as possible. We will send the unfortunate Mrs. Spencer to the warehouse. Please pray for her, Masters."

After saying that, he waved his hand and continued to lead the team forward.

Just as the two men in black cloaks following the stretcher passed by Hopper, something strange happened.

A dagger with a black blade silently stabbed the unconscious, shirtless Zis under the cover of his cloak.

The attacker could even foresee the horrific sight of being ripped open by a careless soldier. And then nothing happened. A sturdy man's hand suddenly shot out from the side, clamped tightly around her wrist, and then there was a burst of intense pain.

The woman didn't hesitate to fight, turning and kicking Lightning in the crotch. Hellcat snorted coldly and stepped back, dodging the insidious attack, but his hand didn't loosen, instead pulling the assassin down with a tug.

He managed to block the attack, but he failed to stop the cloak that was coming towards him. With limited vision, he had to let go of his hand and take two steps back to avoid a surprise attack.

On the other side, Hopper used a powerful whip kick to repel the other woman who tried to cut his head. The two sides separated and confronted each other for the time being.

"What are you doing!" the sheriff roared, quickly drawing his sword. "Stop right there!"

"Don't you understand yet, Mr. Richard?" Hopper stared at the two familiar faces with a half-smile on his face. "This is the murderer you're looking for."

"But I suggest that if you don't intend to die in the line of duty, you'd better leave now, close the door, and pretend nothing happened. If you're lucky, you'll see the murderer's head on your window tomorrow morning."

Richard looked at the two parties on the verge of a fight. Although there were three of them, they only had one sword. He decisively waved his hand, ordering the two sentries to retreat and leave this dangerous area, not even forgetting to take the stretcher and the body with him.

"'Piercing Perfect Hopper', I've been looking forward to meeting you." The woman holding the chain hammer took off the cloak that was in the way, revealing the tight leather armor and tight face underneath.

Hopper raised an eyebrow. The connotation of this name was too obvious.

"I didn't realize that a name like mine, a nobody, would reach this dimension. Should I address you as Ms. Nora or simply call you Novolal?"

Novoral's smile faded a little. She obviously didn't expect Hopper to know her. She tightened her grip on the hammer and said, "I didn't know you were at the Prince's banquet. Perhaps I just don't see the unknown."

"How did you find us?" another woman asked curiously, having also removed her cloak, exposing her face to the firelight. It was indeed another godmother, Diorum. "Without the succubus's senses, I didn't think you had such a keen nose."

"How could I refuse the two ladies' inquiries?" Hopper elegantly drew his sword, and Ziz beside him raised his shield in tacit understanding, blocking her flank. "Especially when pointing out your stupidity."

"It's understandable that the sheriff took the body to the morgue late at night. But who would have taken the initiative to follow the body? It could only be the body's family. But, if the poor herbalist had a family, why would the sheriff have sent her to the morgue instead of keeping her at home?"

"So, my conclusion is that two brainless idiots who thought everyone else was just as brainless wanted to use the body to cause trouble."

The two ladies who were casually ridiculed by Hopper turned pale, especially Diorum. She pulled out a pair of slender scimitars with a blue glow from her boots and knocked them lightly, making a creepy sound of metal clashing.

"You have no idea how much your charming head is worth." Diorum licked his upper lip, his fiery red tongue like a nimble little snake. "I never expected this mission would yield such unexpected rewards."

"Diorum!" Nora Vole scolded. Diorum, realizing that he had let the cat out of the bag, had a gloomy expression on his face and attacked him in anger.

"First, I will cut off your tongue." Dio pointed the blade in his right hand at Hopper's eyes with a confident smile on his face.

Before she finished speaking, she swung her knife. Her delicate body wrapped in black leather armor shot towards Hopper like a sharp arrow, and Lan Yinyin's knife light was the arrow's tip.

Zis's face was tense. He took a step to the left, blocking the woman's path squarely, and thrust his spear at the shadow. If the shadow didn't stop immediately, it would hit the tip of his spear.

"Hmm?" Dio smiled coquettishly, twisting her body in mid-air like a rope, and slashed the spear tip with her blade, sparking a dazzling spark and a sharp friction sound. The powerful force swung the spear shaft away, and she took the opportunity to flip forward again, the ghostly blade still pointing at Hopper.

The sound of wind behind her head forced her to strike back with her knife. Even such a hasty knife made a terrifying sound of breaking through the air. She was confident that the little warrior would not be able to stop her without the blessing of the dragon power.

By the time he realized the unpleasant sensation on his wrist was too late, a pounding sound pierced his eardrums, followed by a powerful force and a dull pain. Dio's right wrist was nearly dislocated by Ziz's shield strike, sending him flying.

She somersaulted in the air, regained her balance, and landed steadily on the dirt ground, just in time to see Ziz slowly retract his shield and regain his stance.

"Hidden, huh, little Hopper?" Dio rubbed her bruised wrist and narrowed her fox eyes. The torch thrown on the ground was about to go out, and she could not see anything.

"Give me some light!" she shouted at Nora. Nora, who was struggling with Lightning, swung her chain hammer violently, took two steps back while he dodged, and raised her hands.

A white light rose from the ring in her hand, and when it reached the treetops, it suddenly expanded. The dazzling white light illuminated the forest they were in. However, there was still no sign of Hopper.

Dio wasn't disappointed. She shook her brown hair, crossed her swords on her lower abdomen, and smiled, "I've heard you're good at hiding, but it doesn't matter. I can just kill all your servants."

"First, this little brat's right leg." The swordsman raised her eyebrows, unconcerned about raising any alarm. Her speed had more than doubled, sweeping over like a whirlwind of blades.

Zis did not look to the right, but turned his head vigilantly and raised his shield to the left.

Unexpectedly, this played into Dio's trap. She seemed to draw her sword, but in fact she kicked the soldier in the knee. This made Zisi's body tilt unconsciously, and the slight imbalance gave Dio an opportunity.

With a flick of her right blade, she pushed aside the shield and slashed three times with her left. Even though Zisi dodged quickly, two gashes were still torn in his left chest and right abdomen. Blood gushed out, and he collapsed instantly.

Chapter 236: Fighting

"Swoosh!" A ghostly arrow flew out from an unknown direction and shot towards Dio's back.

Dio spun abruptly, a flash of dazzling blade light cleaving the sharp arrow. She slowly sheathed her blade, stood firm, and looked toward the other woman holding a bow in the shadows of the trees.

"Oops~ I accidentally broke your toy. You won't blame me, will you?" She licked the blood dripping from the knife with her scarlet tongue, looking charming and dangerous.

Hopper returned his longbow to his quiver. If the sneak attack failed, with Dio's speed, he wouldn't be able to fire a second arrow. Better to just engage in close combat.

"You seem to be very familiar with me, but I don't know how I have offended you." Hopper drew out his sword and glanced at Zis calmly. He had not yet turned back into a tiefling, so he probably wouldn't die for a while, and he felt slightly relieved.

Dio was about to speak when he was interrupted by a shout.

"Watch your mouth!"

The swordsman closed his mouth in dismay and said with a pout, "You saw it too. It's not that I didn't want to tell you. Now, go and die."

Before Hopper could even hear the last word, the enemy moved. Preparing for this, Hopper used an upward thrust to escape the enemy's initial charge. Then, with two bangs and a scattering of wood chips, four massive scars appeared on the tree he had just avoided under the Daylight spell's range.

Hopper didn't miss the opportunity, wielding his sword with both hands. Dio cried out, crossing his blades to meet his opponent. Amidst the clashing of metal, Hopper took two steps back to regain his balance, while Dio retreated four or five more, his pretty face frost-covered as he flexed his numb hands.

Hopper seemed to have the upper hand in this round of fighting, but she knew in her heart that the opponent would not give her a second chance. Not to mention that as an archer, she had never been good at dealing with these agile enemies who attacked her at close range.

"Standard sword?" Dio noticed it too, so she wasn't in a hurry. "Tsk tsk, it seems you and... you didn't get anything out of it. It seems Lilith doesn't treat you well either. This is even better. I won't have to worry about Lilith blaming me after I kill you."

Even without the ability to read minds, Hopper could still tell that Dio's change of subject was too abrupt, and that she probably wasn't talking about Lilith in the first place.

"So what? You and I have both lost the power bestowed by hell. A standard sword can still cut your throat." Hopper raised his sword.

Dio's face turned cold, and he swung his two swords and disappeared out of thin air.

Hopper's heart rang with alarm, and she drew her sword to protect herself. When she saw a flash of blue light coming from the side, it was too late. She could only rush forward, sword in hand, and blocked the knife in her left hand with a clang.

But another knife rose up like a venomous snake, with a hissing sound that seemed to cut through the void, and pierced her throat. Hopper was quick-witted and moved forward instead of retreating, blocking the blade's path with his chest.

Niobe's Weep did not disappoint its owner. Even though Hopper was pushed back two steps by the huge force of the sword and hit his head against a Metasequoia tree, the armor still loyally protected its owner.

This also gave her a second chance. She grabbed the knife that pierced the armor with her right hand and clamped the enemy. However, at such a close distance, she could not avoid the second knife. She could only try her best to avoid the vital part, and let the knife that was supposed to kill her throat pierce her shoulder.

Hopper couldn't help but cry out in pain. The knife must have cast a torture spell, and the pain far exceeded her expectations and almost made her unstable. Her only thought at this moment was to hold on to the other knife tightly and prevent her from pulling it out.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, 'Piercing the Perfect Hopper,' that's all." Dio felt a surge of pleasure as he saw her face twisted in pain. She glanced at her companion. He had successfully subdued the man, but the chain hammer was difficult to use in the woods, so he hadn't yet achieved a fatal blow. So, she turned back to face her prey with peace of mind.

"How does it feel? Does the Curse of Pain taste good? Is this part of the training at Torchhold?"

"I've known for a long time that you're a sadistic pervert," Hopper cursed and took a few breaths, but when she struggled, the knife stabbed deeper and she could feel blood dripping down her back to the ground.

Her words only aroused Dio further, and the woman leaned closer to Hopper's face, her long tongue darting out, almost licking her cheek.

"I smell your fear," the woman whispered. "Want to provoke me into a quick death? One of your pets is already dead, and another is about to have its head smashed by Nora. I have plenty of time to slice your flesh off."

"Would your employer be pleased? I suppose he'd like a whole body?"

Dio laughed heartily, his beautiful yet ferocious head pressed against Hopper's face. He swung the knife on his left shoulder, watching her soft cries with almost enjoyment. Then he said, "The Perfect Man wants you dead, and he doesn't care how you die."

Sure enough! Hopper's heart moved, and he got the words out, confirming that his behavior had indeed offended the perfect person.

"I don't think a god has the time to issue a hunting order for me." Hopper had begun to feel cold due to excessive blood loss. She gritted her teeth and didn't dare to relax her right hand that was holding the other knife. If she let this crazy woman free her hand, she would probably be skinned alive.

"Of course he..." Dio stopped talking warily, then a smile appeared on his face, and he said with a breath as sweet as orchid, "Don't try to trick me into telling you anything. I won't tell you. It's so pitiful that you won't be able to know the truth before you die. No matter how much you delay, you can't escape my torture, hehe."