Ashen Dragon

Chapter 263: Chapter 188 Exploration
 

“Don’t be nervous, Eagle, we’re just here to gather intelligence.”

Alger gently stroked the giant eagle’s head to calm it, then took out a few spell scrolls and cast “Concealment,” “Breath Interruption,” and “Dark Vision” on both himself and the giant eagle.

“Let’s go.”

They entered the cave, which was covered in sticky filth.

It wasn’t narrow here; in fact, it was quite grand. The entrance alone had a diameter of nearly a hundred meters, like a deep giant mouth, hidden within the grandeur of the mountains and tucked away in the deepest part of the Ancytica Mountains, thus unknown to the world.

Hundreds of years ago, this place was known as the “Mouth of Ancytica,” but as time went on, the records gradually faded.

After Alger and the giant eagle ventured inside, it took them a full half-hour to barely make it through the long passage and completely enter the depths of the cave.

Inside the cave, the corrosive effects of the Abyss were even more evident. The walls were pocked with holes created by erosion, littered with twisted, misshapen corpses, and corners filled with poisonous spores. The epitome of chaos and darkness was vividly displayed here – it was truly a demon’s lair.

And demons resided here, embodiments of chaos and evil – or more accurately, sources of destruction crammed into large, grotesque bodies. They knew no pity, compassion, or mercy; they existed solely to destroy. As an extension of this chaos, the Abyss autonomously created demons with filth and slaughter.

Notorious demon races like Bagulamo, Kasmo, and Frosthorn were all present. Some gnawed on disordered corpses on the ground, others fought and killed each other, and some even arranged the remains into bizarre shapes.

At the deepest part of the cave, atop a throne made of dark, pocked rock, sat a giant with a huge frame.

Even sitting down, this giant was nearly ten meters tall. Although it still resembled a giant, the ebony cracked skin, murky yellow tusks, and deep eyes flickering with Chaos Flame indicated it was a corrupted, almost demonic being.

The Corrupt Giant seemed to notice something, grinning hideously as it slowly opened its cracked mouth.

“Who are you?”

“That Red Dragon’s loyal dog?”

The Corrupt Giant’s mouth stretched to its ears, and a fire of endless rage suddenly appeared in its eyes. Its hideous face twisted in fury.

“But – who allowed you to trespass into my domain!”

“I am no longer who I once was!”

“Even that Red Dragon will eventually have its neck snapped and be torn to pieces by me!”

He became agitated, even starting to roar.

The Corrupt Giant suddenly stood up from the stone throne, causing the ground to tremble and pieces of rubble to fall from the cave ceiling.

The surrounding demons seemed to sense prey, closing in together and uttering frenzied growls.

Alger’s expression changed drastically as he leapt onto the giant eagle’s back.

“Not good, we’ve been discovered!

“Quick, let’s get out of here!”

Fortunately, the cave was spacious enough. With the aid of dark vision, Alger maneuvered skillfully in this space, dodging one demon attack after another. He entered the long passage, flying almost close to the ground the entire time.

“Eagle!”

Relying on his superb riding skills and a decade-long partnership with his mount, Alger executed sharp turns, changes in direction, and even ground rolls within the passage.

Behind them, toad-like demons spat corrosive liquid. Without even looking back, Alger managed to dodge the lethal attack using only his instinct for danger.

The deep darkness spread rapidly behind him.

Once caught by the Abyssal power, escape would be nearly impossible.

“Go!”

Alger gritted his teeth and commanded.

The giant eagle folded its wings tightly and sped across the ground.

The exit was close, just tens of meters away, a distance they could cover in an instant.

Finally, just as the Abyssal power corroded a few of the giant eagle’s tail feathers and was about to engulf its body, Alger and the giant eagle flew out of the dreadful demon lair.

Alger looked back at the cave, which resembled a giant maw, and panted with lingering fear.

“That was close.”

“We must get this information back as soon as possible.”

A piercing eagle’s cry echoed from the sky as the giant eagle spread its wings and soared high again.

…

Back in the “Mouth of Ancytica” or rather the demon’s lair, the Corrupt Giant reached the deepest part of the cave.@@novelbin@@

Everywhere was filled with complex runes and a foul air. A prism, flickering with eerie light, hovered in mid-air.

With a frenzied look, the Corrupt Giant lowered its head and whispered to the prism.

“Lord Jezarslack, will this draw the Red Dragon here?”

He wasn’t talking to himself.

A deep, chaotic voice, like a tremor from the depths of the earth, emanated from the prism.

“Yes, Keman, do you feel it? As long as you continue to accept the great power from the Abyss, your revenge will ultimately succeed.”

“Come, embrace my gift, and achieve the transcendence of your life!”

This voice was laden with undisguised contempt.

Dazzling black and yellow light burst from the prism. The Corrupt Giant spread its arms, embracing the eerie Abyssal power like a devout zealot. He howled in pain, as black exoskeleton armor formed on his body, and demonic horns sprouted from his head.

When that power finally dissipated, the Corrupt Giant grinned hideously, his body trembling with extreme ecstasy.

“Revenge…”

“My revenge will ultimately succeed…”

“Cassius, just wait… I’ll tear your body to pieces, I’ll raze your kingdom to the ground, and I’ll slaughter all your people!”

He covered his eyes, which were overflowing with black mist, and murmured incessantly.

The giant’s name was Keman Everfrost.

He was once a member of the Everfrost Tribe, son of “Bone Breaker” Kasa, and the last hope in Elder Nur’s eyes.

During the “Battle of Glacier’s Demise,” the young Keman was hidden in the most concealed corner, watching helplessly as his entire tribe was annihilated by the dragon’s catastrophic might, while he could only shiver in the dark.

Later, Keman used a shape-shifting ring to hide among humans, following Elder Nur’s dying instructions to head south to the Ancytica Mountains to seek out the legendary Frost Giant Demon Lord Koschech, to gain formidable power and avenge the Red Dragon.

But he didn’t find the giant lord; instead, he found a mysterious entity calling itself the “Vengeful Demon” – Jezarslack.

It seemed like a joke by the God of Fate; he mistakenly took Cassius’s script from the original world.

This last Frost Giant made a pact with the demon, lurking in the mountains, silently accumulating strength. He gradually perfected the Abyssal portal, waiting for a chance to exact his vengeance on the Red Dragon.