THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR-Chapter 287 THE ENSLAVED DEMON.
The teleportation magic tore them through space, a moment of vertigo that felt like eternity. When reality solidified, they materialized in a semi-circle formation—a defensive position ingrained through countless battles together.
Ancient stone columns stretched upward into darkness, their surfaces carved with intricate runes that pulsed with crimson light. The spacious chamber sprawled outward, its walls lined with grotesque statues of wraith warriors. At the chamber's center, something massive thrashed against celestial chains, each movement sending tremors through the ancient stone.
The creature's lower half was imprisoned in earth magic that glowed with ancient power, binding sigils spiraling across the floor in concentric circles of gold and silver. The runes pulsed with each struggle, their light casting dancing shadows across the frost-covered floor.
"Everyone still here?" Salomonis called out, arcane energy already gathering around his hands as he recognized the binding array. These were Solomon's seals—his ancestor's work. Each formula, each intricate pattern matched the descriptions in his family's grimoire. Explore more at novelbuddy
Yue stumbled, her small form steadied by Litty's quick hand. The mana-rich environment made her condition flare, sending visible tremors through her body. "I... I'm fine," she managed, though her voice betrayed the strain.
Luna's memories—no, David's memories flowing through their connection—sparked with recognition. She saw the chamber through his knowledge: the exact placement of each binding rune, the weakness in the seals, the true nature of what they contained. Their bond had grown strong enough that his strategic insight flowed through her like instinct.
The chained demon roared, the sound shaking the very foundations of the chamber. Its massive form—easily fifteen feet tall—strained against its bonds, each movement causing the celestial chains to burn brighter. Four circular horns crowned its head, and eyes like dying stars blazed with hatred. Each binding rune flared in response to its struggles, creating a complex dance of light and shadow across the chamber.
Kairos melted into the shadows while Aria took position near the rear, her storm magic ready. Salomonis stepped forward, golden eyes studying the magical formulae that imprisoned the creature. These were the same seals described in his family's grimoire, but something was wrong—they were weakening.
"This is the boss?" Aria whispered, her voice tight. "Why is it already—"
The demon's mouth opened wide, releasing not a roar but a torrent of hellfire. The flames pooled on the ground before them, twisting and condensing into a humanoid shape. Within moments, a perfect smaller replica of the demon stood before them, cracking its knuckles with a sound like breaking bones.
Luna accessed more of David's memories, understanding flooding her mind. "The avatar—its purpose is to—"
The avatar's head snapped toward them, its nostrils flaring. A rumbling laugh escaped its throat as its gaze fixed on Salomonis. "Solomon's blood," it growled, voice like grinding metal. "After all these centuries... your ancestor's stain will finally be answered."
Salomonis's eyes widened in recognition. "You're the one from the grimoire. The demon that Solomon—"
Before he could finish, the avatar lunged forward with impossible speed, claws extended toward the unprepared group. But Luna moved faster than anyone had ever seen her move, her form blurring as she intercepted the strike. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, causing the binding runes to flicker ominously.
The collision between Luna and the avatar created a shockwave that sent cracks racing through the chamber's ancient floor. Luna's movements were a blur of deadly precision—each strike targeted vital points with crushing force, her claws leaving trails of darkness in the air. The avatar met her assault with equal ferocity, its flaming claws carving burning arcs through space.
They traded blows at speeds that made the air itself howl in protest. Where Luna's attacks landed, shadows seemed to eat away at the avatar's flame-wrought flesh.
Where the demon struck, hellfire threatened to consume everything it touched. The very chamber seemed to groan under the pressure of their combat, ancient stones shuddering with each impact.
Luna wove between the avatar's strikes like living shadow, her form sometimes seeming to dissolve into darkness only to reform behind her opponent. The demon matched her supernatural grace with raw power, each of its movements carrying enough force to shatter steel.
Their battle spiralled through the chamber in a deadly dance, forcing the others to retreat further from the devastating display.
Aria's jaw dropped. "Is that really Luna?" For days, she'd tried to get Luna to participate in their combat drills, dismissing her refusal as mere arrogance. Now she understood—Luna hadn't been proud, she'd leagues above them.
"Impossible," Kairos whispered, his assassin's eyes barely able to track her speed. "She's been holding back this much?"
The avatar matched Luna's ferocity, their battle becoming a hurricane of strikes that threatened to bring down the ancient columns around them. The very air seemed to crack with each exchange.
"Focus!" Salomonis's command cut through their stupor. "The main body—target the bindings!"
The demon's massive form thrashed harder against its chains, sensing their intent. That moment of distraction cost it—Luna's fist connected with its avatar's gut with such force that the sound barrier shattered, the impact echoing like thunder in the enclosed space.
Yet the avatar merely grinned, seemingly unaffected by the devastating blow.
"Your eyes," Luna growled, shadows writhing around her form, "should be on someone else entirely." There was something ancient in her voice, something that made the very air tremble. The power emanating from her now was nothing like what her companions had ever felt before.
The avatar's smile turned vicious, rows of razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the crimson light. "Hróðvitnir," it spat the name like a curse and a prayer. "The Destroyer of Worlds plays at being a servant? How far you've fallen."
Above them, the massive demon's laughter shook the chamber as cracks began appearing in the binding seals.
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Luna and the avatar circled each other, the brief pause in their combat crackling with tension. Each had tested the other's limits, and neither had found an advantage. But Luna's mind raced with the fragments of David's memories—visions of a future that was now changing.
In those memories, Salomonis had ventured here alone, leaving the heroes to face the undead horde at the gates. He had defeated the demon's true form using knowledge from his family's grimoire and bloodline, only to fall to Count Nicalo's opportunistic attack in his weakened state.
But now, they'd found the boss room earlier than anyone—especially Count Nicalo—had predicted. They had a chance to change that fate.
Just a little longer, Luna thought, noting how Salomonis was already beginning to decipher the binding seals. I need to buy him time.
The avatar's flames intensified as it prepared to launch another assault. Luna's shadows gathered around her like a storm of darkness. This time, she knew, neither would hold back.
