Salvos (A Monster Evolution LitRPG)

727. Only Purpose

“I can’t believe it. We’re really free.”

Ponti whispered as she rubbed at her neck. She was used to feeling a collar there— to feeling the metallic object restraining her and binding her as a slave to the Demon King for life. But now it was gone.

It had all felt like a dream, ever since she was freed from the Eighteenth Legion. She thought she would have died there to Rakin the Illusion Lord, until the Enemy of the Demon King showed up and saved her.

When it first happened, Ponti had thought it was nothing more than another illusion created by Rakin the Illusion Lord. After all, he enjoyed tormenting the Eighteenth Legion with such false realities— conditioning them to believe that all potential opportunities for freedom presented to them were nothing more than lies created by him.

So that they would be obedient. So that they wouldn’t rebel. So that they would lose all their hope and will to free themselves from his rule.

However, he had never created any such illusion that lasted as long as this. Certainly, he had not tormented them with such a realistic series of events— even as unbelievable as everything that was happening was.

After all, killing Rakin was not all the Enemy had done. She had also freed everyone from their collars. Somehow, she had recruited Hartia the Ruler of the Border to their side. And Ponti highly doubted that even the Illusion Lord would concoct such a complex illusion such as this.

Except, she seemed to be in the minority of those who had formerly been a part of the Eighteenth Legion who thought that they were truly free. That this was not an illusion created by Rakin the IIllusion Lord.

Temin spoke up, drawing Ponti’s attention from the side. She turned towards him as he shook his head. Unlike her, who had only been forcefully made a part of the Eighteenth Legion this cycle, he had been under Rakin’s torment for numerous cycles.

So he had remained adamant that this was all still an illusion.

“Rakin likes to experiment with different scenarios— one time, he had convinced every single one of us in the Eighteen Legion that we had died to the Beast. Why? I don’t know. But just because this is the most complex illusion he’s done so far, doesn’t mean it isn’t one.”

Ponti crossed her arms, glancing over at Servi towards the side. He had been the [Fiend] that she had tried to save, which got her into trouble with Rakin in the first place.

“So if this were just another test or trick by Rakin, why would he let both Servi and I live instead of just killing us both anyway?”

Ponti asked with a frown as she gestured at Servi. Temin gave her a flat stare.

“And how do I even know if you’re really alive? You could just be an illusion created by Rakin for all I know.”

Ponti paused. She tilted her head back. She knew she was real. But from Temin’s perspective… how would he know she was real?

“Temin brings up a fair point.”

Servi timidly spoke up from the side. Temin huffed almost triumphantly. And Ponti sighed.

“I know.”

She shook her head as she placed a hand on her neck.

“I can see where Temin’s coming from. But… I just would like to believe…”

And Ponti trailed off, blinking. Temin raised a brow at her.

“What would you like to believe?”

But Ponti didn’t face him. Instead, her gaze was drawn elsewhere, her breath caught in her throat.

“I can’t believe it.”

That was all she said as she stared at a pair of figures making their way through all the gathered free legions towards the center of the cavern.

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“What?”

Temin blinked. But Servi saw it too. He rose to his feet and back away nervously. Meanwhile, Ponti just stood there, unmoving and in silence. All the while, a susurration swept through all the freed legions as they spotted the same thing.

Slowly, Temin cast his gaze in the same direction they did.

And even he could only gape at what he saw.

“Is that…?”

The first figure was Salvos. The Enemy of the Demon King. The one who freed them all from their slavery. Seeing her here was not the most unusual scene. It was to be expected.

Instead, it was the second figure that drew the attention of everyone. Because even if not everyone had seen him before, they knew him by name— by reputation alone.

He was Manos the Executioner.

The leader of the Deathsquad Hunters.

The one who alone struck fear into all the Demons within Regnorex’s kingdom— who prevented millions from daring to even attempt to flee.

“What is he doing here?”

Ponti asked as Manos floated right next to Salvos. The two Primeval Demons hovered high in the air for everyone within the confines of the cavern to see them.

The susurration grew louder. A growing panic began to sweep through the freed legions. But before anything could escalate, Salvos clapped her hands together, hushing everyone in an instant.

“Don’t worry everyone!”

Salvos exclaimed, her voice booming and echoing around them. She gestured towards Manos as he nodded back at her.

“While I’m sure you all know about the reputation of Manos the Executioner, I can guarantee you he’s on our side! Just like Hartia, and just like Haec! So that’s why Manos is here with us!”

“Is she crazy?”

Temin whispered as he took in a shuddering breath.

“This is clearly just a ploy by Manos to crush our rebellion— now that he knows where we are, he’s going to bring his Deathsquad Hunters and massacre us!”

Ponti wanted to point out Temin’s statement contradicted what he said about this entire situation being an illusion, but she couldn’t. Because she immediately thought the same thing he did— she felt the same fear he did.

That Manos was now going to kill them all.

That this little stint of freedom had come to an end.

But Salvos continued, despite the evidently growing discontent coming from the freed legions.

“Now, I know many of you don’t believe me. But I have seen Manos kill Jofis with my own eyes, so I know he’s being truthful.”

“Wait, Jofis is dead?”

Servi’s eyes went wide at that. He took a step back as he processed this.

“That cannot possibly be true, right?”

Even Ponti was in sheer disbelief at what she just heard. She might not know much about Jofis, but she knew he was powerful. And to think that it was Manos who helped bring the Winged Horror down too?

Maybe this really is all an illusion, she thought to herself as more and more voices spoke up, voicing the same sentiment as Servi. Is it really possible that Jofis is dead?

But Salvos raised a hand and hushed them all. She waited until the room quietened again, before she beamed and spread her arms wide.

“And to prove himself to all of you as well, we shall go and kill Chordus, bring her head back for all of you to see, then we can move on from this, alright?”

“...what?”

Ponti’s head spun as she tried to fully comprehend what was being said. Many of the gathered Demons exchanged confused glances. They opened their mouths, wanting to ask questions.

But Salvos clapped her hands together.

“Alright, we’re going to go now, bye!”

And with that, both Manos and Salvos flew out of the cavern, leaving the freed legion behind and speechless.

But as Salvos and Manos made their way through the Expanse, heading for Chordus and the remaining legions, something began to stir.

It was far away from them. A ravaged landscape in the middle of the Expanse. A battleground that held one of the most ferocious battles that had taken place since the rebellion began.

The earth was torn open, and mountains had collapsed. But that was not all— the remnants of rifts and distortions were scattered across the sky. Barely visible to the naked eye.

But it was there.

And it began to drift. It floated across the Netherworld, seeking its… kin? No— not kin. Rather, it sought out its own.

There was not a lot of it gathered in the first layer of the Netherworld. In fact, it had never existed in the first layer of the Netherworld until recently introduced by an individual who had been tainted by its power whilst at the end of the world.

But now that it was brought into the first layer, what little of it that was present here began to coalesce. They gathered together, a small but eddying storm of corruption.

Ordinarily, a mindless thing of destruction. But this forming being of corruption had a purpose. Even if it was still weak for now. Even if it was still harmless. It began to form with a mind.

And amidst the soft chittering and the distortion, a voice full of hate spoke, echoing for nobody to hear.

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