Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 87: The Mission Begins - The Shackled Saint’s Power [3]
What intrigued the prince most was that this being emerging from Elias’s psyche was no mere personality. It was an Entity, a High-Level Grievance embodying Wrath and Destruction.
"That thing is not Elias. It is ’The Adjudicator,’ a Grievance of pure Wrath and Judgment," Eduard explained. "Classified as a Level 6 Entity, a Truth Reaver. Reality Predators that hunt across dimensions, consume causality, and mimic identities. By accident, Elias became its vessel after falling into a Dimensional Rift as a child. He returned unchanged to the surface. Due to his mental illness, The Adjudicator was absorbed as a personality instead. Elias controls it to an extent. That’s another reason he’s kept alive. If Elias dies, The Adjudicator will be freed. Imagine the destruction that Demon God of War could unleash on our planet. With your mother still asleep, no one in our country could stop it."
Louis’s hands trembled as he clenched his fists. Once again, he felt pathetically weak, relying on others’ strength because he lacked his own. But he swore things would change one day. Until then, he would use Elias, The Adjudicator, and anyone else necessary.
"Then shall we launch our attack? The Gardener is focusing most forces on Elias."
"Indeed. This is our chance," Eduard agreed. "Over there, in the tallest tree—that’s Verdant’s castle. The plan is simple: reach it, slay the Gardener’s new vessel, then use Althea and Stella’s magic for a city-wide purification domain. I’ll plant the Purifying Pillars myself. Avoid engaging the Grievance directly. And don’t stare at the moon!"
At Radiohead’s command, the group nodded and charged into Emerald Grove City—a vast forest of giant trees with homes atop them, now corrupted into Demon Trees. Miasmic swamps pooled below, sharp vines sprawling everywhere.
Elias rampaged, unleashing explosions that killed hundreds of Entities with each strike. The Adjudicator’s power was overwhelming, filling Louis with bitter jealousy.
Why did this madman possess such immense strength while he fought desperately for every scrap of power?
Life was profoundly unfair.
"SHYEEEEH!"
Shrieking hisses echoed ahead of the vanguard. Stone and Stella looked forward. Dozens of Corrupted Swamp Dwellers emerged from the miasmic depths, all at the peak of Level 2. Zorba and Eduard’s creations drew their attacks, serving as shields for the main group.
The zombies, armored in ghostly bones, endured multiple strikes from Level 2 Entities before falling, proving excellent decoys. Eduard’s Electronic Golems were smaller but far tougher, emitting disruptive electromagnetic shockwaves that stunned the Entities, disrupting their minds and balance.
With zombies and golems clearing the path, Stella unleashed her magic through a long mechanical staff. Crimson light surged, manifesting an enormous blood moon backed by a golden sun—an eclipsing phenomenon. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"Blood Light Spirit Art."
"First Cycle – Blood Moon."
The Lunar Eclipse shone brightly, acting as a summoned familiar of pure Magic and Spirit Energy. Hundreds of beams rained down, piercing massive holes through the Level 2 Entities. Some disintegrated after two or three direct hits. Survivors faced Agent Stone charging with his massive hammer.
"HAAAAA!"
With a ferocious roar, he swung. The hammer tripled in size mid-swing, crushing monsters in single blows and flattening them like pancakes. Their cores shattered from within. Stone could fell Level 2 Entities with one strike.
"A-Amazing...!" Mirai whispered.
"Do we even need to fight?" Louis wondered.
"Yes, you do! Stay focused! More are coming from the left!" Eduard warned, his static voice rising as he hurled junk blocks from his hands. They rapidly formed giant mechanical walls, shielding the group from an incoming red laser.
BOOOM!
The explosion hit a second later. Eduard’s quick thinking saved the young warriors from instant death. Louis expanded his consciousness, spotting the attacker: a massive Level 3 Entity. One of the ancient Spirit Trees planted by Elves to purify the land had been corrupted, possessed by the Gardener. It towered over thirty meters, red eyes glowing, darkened wood covered in crimson roses.
"Huh, a Level 3," Eduard sighed. "It’s far away and slow. Probably guarding the castle. We need to hurry before every tree turns monstrous."
"What about Althea?" Louis asked.
"She’s midway through the formation. Let’s press on!" Stone urged. "Louis, Mirai—to my right and left. Stella can handle herself. Eduard, watch Zorba."
"Of course," Eduard nodded, his radio head emitting loud buzzing that made Zorba wince. "Now... Ah, this will work!"
He tossed four junk cubes. They transformed into giant TVs with steel spider legs, charging the swarm of Level 2 Entities and firing beams of multicolored electromagnetic energy from their screens.
Witnessing this for the first time felt surreal to Louis. This world brimmed with strange wonders, and his Uncle Eduard was perhaps the least bizarre of them.
"JUDGMENT! I MUST ENACT JUDGMENT!"
Elias roared in the distance, now almost fully transformed into The Adjudicator. Though handcuffed and unable to punch freely, he swung his chained fists like hammers after leaping high, crushing everything beneath.
His sharp eyes spotted the giant Treant charging another beam by absorbing environmental Fantasium. The Demon grinned and leaped toward it. The Level 3 Entity responded instantly, hurling hundreds of spear-like branches to impale him.
The Adjudicator spun midair. A single crescent kick shattered every branch into fragments. He buried his foot deep into the trunk, splitting the giant in two. Both halves ignited as they crashed into the swamp below.
After slaying a Level 3 Entity effortlessly, the Gardener redirected most forces toward him. Level 2 Entities merged into new Level 3 titans, swarming from all sides to contain the monster.
"Nnnggh...! Nngaaahhhh!"
Louis watched in shock as Elias vanished beneath grasping hands.
It lasted only a moment.
"JUDGMENT!!!"
With a thunderous cry, his chained fists rose. A pillar of light and darkness erupted, disintegrating three Level 3 Entities instantly. More surged from the swamp, focusing entirely on him.
Thanks to his sacrifice, Louis’s team advanced swiftly toward the castle—only to face something terrifying. The largest Spirit Tree had become a Treant too, towering fifty meters tall.
RUMBLE!
Its footsteps shook the city with earthquakes as it advanced slowly, roots poised to crush them.
"Althea, what’s taking so long?!" Stella called, firing red light beams everywhere. "Oh? Is it ready?"
In that moment, seven pillars of green and golden light surged skyward, expanding across Emerald Grove City and interconnecting into a potent Spiritual Domain.
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