100X Returns System: I Dominate the Age of Gods-Chapter 175. The Pope’s Deal

Somewhere deep within the abyss, far beyond the reach of sunlight and beyond the purity of mana, a vast hall stood.

It seemed to be carved from black demonic crystal stone that seemed to drink in every trace of visibility in the surroundings. The ceiling arched high like the inside of a monstrous ribcage, jagged stalactites hung down like fangs.

The air was filled with demonic energy, so dense that it shimmered faintly around moving objects and distorted vision. If a normal aris native breathed in such air they would decompose in a single second.

At the center of that hall, a grotesque figure sat, jagged horns that seemed to be the part of the rugged and ugly exoskeleton.

Demon Lord Amon rested upon a throne fashioned with dark crystalline matter, the throne like it had grown out from the ground.

It pulsed with crimson veins that throbbed slowly like a living heart, feeding raw demonic essence into the air. Amon’s body was a disturbing fusion of exposed bone and fleshy muscle.

Thick veins bulged across his chest and shoulders, glowing faintly beneath translucent layers of torn skin. Certain parts of his limbs looked as though they had been forged from polished obsidian.

His spine protruded in jagged ridges down his back, and his fingers were long, crooked, and tipped with claws that looked more like fractured blades than nails.

"Long time no see, Winny" Amon chuckled, his voice rolled across the hall like a stone was being ground.

Standing at several steps in front of him was another similar throne on which an old man in golden robes embroidered with sacred sigils.

The fabric shimmered faintly with light elemental energy, which was constantly clashing violently with the demonic atmosphere.

Pope Winston, head of the Church of Light, looked out of place in this abyssal domain. He was not supposed to be here, not seated in front of a demon lord like a diplomatic guest.

"Shut up, you swine," Winston snapped, though his jaw was visibly tight.

Amon clicked his tongue slowly. "You never speak like that to Belial."

He leaned forward slightly, the crystalline throne creaked under his weight. "Ah, I remember now. You needed his help, so you acted like a whore in front of him. It seems that is not the case today. It truly is disappointing that you will not become a whore for me."

Winston’s face flushed with fury. "Shut up, bastard. I am here for information."

Amon let out a low giggle that echoed unnaturally long in the chamber. "How surprising. The holy bastard of the Light God has come to a demon’s doorstep for answers."

"Come to the point, and stop with the bullshit" Winston said through clenched teeth. He was seething, but he had not come here for pride. He needed something only demons could provide.

"Ask it out, Winny."

Winston steadied himself. "Have you found a way to kill him?"

Amon leaned back lazily and tilted his head as if genuinely thinking. "No. No matter how much energy we pour into that flame, it does not extinguish. He keeps taking it all absorbing it like crazy, It is irritating."

"You are useless fucks," Winston spat.

Amon’s golden eye flared. "Human pig," he growled, his tone shifting instantly from amusement to menace. "You are nothing without me and Belial. After begging us for assistance, you dare speak like that?"

With a flick of his hand, the throne Winston had been sitting on vanished. The pope lost balance and hit the ground hard, his robes scattered dust.

"What is this behavior?" Winston shouted, pushing himself upright.

Amon laughed loudly, the sound reverberated off the stone walls. He looked at the figure of Pope Winston standing below

"Just because we pretend to treat you as an equal does not mean you are one. Stand there. Feel the difference between our existences."

Winston rose slowly, rage burned in his eyes. He wanted to retaliate, but he restrained himself. He needed this alliance for now, he would wait and let himself get more powerful before making Amon pay for today’s humiliation.

Amon watched him with satisfaction. "Will you speak now, or would you prefer taking my halberd in your mouth?"

The threat was not metaphorical.

Winston steadied his breathing ignoring the mock and ridicule. "The Light God is sending divine fragments into Aris. Once the church assembles the divine weapon, we can use it to kill him."

Amon tilted his head slightly. "Interesting. But such a weapon cannot be used in the abyss."

"That is why you must bring the coffin to Aris," Winston replied plainly.

"I do not believe the heavens will allow the weapon to be used either," Amon said lazily.

"It is a single-use weapon," Winston explained carefully. "It will disappear after activation. By the time the heavens detect its presence, it will have already fulfilled its purpose."

"And the heavens will kill the user if they cannot find the weapon," Amon replied. "That sounds inconvenient."

"I will not be the one to use it," Winston said calmly. "One of your cultists will. They are always eager to throw their lives away."

Amon’s lips curved at one side, his eyes lingered over Winston making him nervous.

He rose slowly from his throne, his eight-foot frame came towering over Winston as he descended the platform. When he stood in front of the pope, the size difference was humiliatingly clear.

One jagged finger lifted and slid across Winston’s cheek, leaving a faint burning trail.

"You truly have a talent for screwing people over, Winny," Amon murmured.

He stepped back. "Just do not attempt that with me, or you may witness yourself being torn apart and fed to my pet."

Amon said before he clapped once.

Chains rattled somewhere in the darkness. Two high-ranked demons entered, dragging behind them a massive titan clad in the uniform of the Celestial Army. The titan was barely conscious, his body was injured in multiple places, armor was shattered, bones exposed.

"Look at him," Amon said casually. "Poor soul was conducting his mission in the abyss. Unfortunately, he underestimated demon’s reach and was betrayed by his own comrade."

The titan tried to lift his head but failed.

"Now he will feed my puppy."

Without ceremony, the demons dragged him into the far end of the hall, beyond visible light.

Moments later, the ground trembled.

A deep, guttural growl emerged from the darkness, followed by the sound of tearing flesh.

The titan screamed like he was being eaten alive.

"Arghhhh!!! oh my god!!!, oh godess of river, save me!!!" he cried like he had no hope left.

"Argh!!!!! No, no, no"

Another tearing sound echoed followed by another cry.

It was not a cry of pain, it was a cry far worse than that, it was filled with horror and suffering.

Chains clattered violently. The floor shook again. Wet crunching noises filled the chamber, bone split and meat ground together, something was getting chewed with sickening enthusiasm.

Winston stood frozen as he heard the noises

Splashes of blood splattered outwardly, droplets skid across the stone until they reached the visible portion of the floor near Winston’s feet.

The screams became weaker slowly as death came albeit too late.

Now only sickening chewing noises remained.