Cucking The Demon King
Chapter 106: The ritual

Chapter 106: The ritual

Suddenly, the darkness around her dispersed, vanishing into thin, dark particles.

’What?!’ Emma thought, her eyes widening in shock.

For a brief moment, she remained completely still, her breathing shallow.

The suffocating void that had surrounded her just seconds ago was gone, replaced by something far more... ordinary.

It was a cave, though a part of her had already expected this.

The cave was small, dark and empty, nothing like the one she remembered entering.

The rough, uneven walls loomed around her, their surfaces stained with dirt and grime.

The air was thick with the stench of dampness, mingling with something far less pleasant—a foul, rotting odor that made her nose wrinkle in disgust.

Her gaze swept over the surroundings, taking in every detail with careful precision.

Scattered across the ground were several dried, dirty rags—or at least, that’s what they looked like at first glance.

Unbeknownst to her, they weren’t just rags.

They were clothes.

Jaegel’s clothes.

The very ones he loved and cherished the most.

At the far end of the cave, a small pile of rusted plates and pots sat in the corner, their surfaces covered in layers of filth.

Emma’s stomach churned at the sight.

She couldn’t believe someone actually lived in this disgusting cave, that it was meant to be someone’s home.

Though the pots and plates were rusted, the layers of filth within them looked quite recent.

Her brows furrowed as she cautiously took a step forward. The ground beneath her feet felt rough and uneven, small pebbles shifting beneath her weight.

But despite the emptiness of the cave, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Her instincts screamed at her to stay alert.

The darkness had disappeared too suddenly.

’Why? Why did it suddenly disappear?’ She thought, tightening her grip on her weapon.

Her grip on her weapon tightened, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Was it a trap?

Had the enemy lured her here on purpose?

Her mind raced with possibilities.

Did one of her allies manage to defeat the heretic?

Or... did another holy mage stumble upon them and intervene?

Was the enemy simply toying with her, making her think she was safe, only to strike when she least expected it?

She had no way of knowing.

And that uncertainty made her even more uneasy.

Her breathing steadied, her posture tense and defensive.

She wouldn’t let her guard down.

Not until she was certain she was truly free.

So she remained completely still, her senses on high alert, her fingers twitching against the hilt of her weapon.

All she felt like she could do was watch, preparing for whatever was to come next.

Her ears perked up, catching the faintest murmurs coming from outside the cave.

There were strange voices, low and barely audible.

However, she was sure they were there, and her ears weren’t playing tricks on her.

Her head snapped toward the small entrance, her sharp gaze locked onto the opening.

The entrance itself wasn’t large—in fact, she doubted she could even walk through it without having to bend her head.

But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

Her focus was on the voices.

They were too quiet for her to make out what they were saying, but the mere fact that they existed meant one thing.

She wasn’t alone; there were people outside the cave.

This could be her chance to find out where she really was, and gather information, no matter how little it was.

But then, she knew deep down how risky that would be.

There was a chance that the heretic was there, and those talking outside the cave were actually her enemies.

However, she still had to risk it. She couldn’t just stand here hoping for some miracle to happen.

Slowly, carefully, Emma began to move.

Each step was silent, her breathing controlled, her body pressed low to avoid making any unnecessary noise.

Uti remained floating behind her, its shimmering body pulsing softly in the dim cave light.

She didn’t tell it to hide, nor did she dismiss it.

She needed it close, just in case.

Besides, she had already told it to mask its presence, so except from her, nobody else should be able to see or sense it.

Her hands hovered near her weapon, her fingers twitching with anticipation as she reached the entrance.

Then, taking a deep breath, she leaned against the cave wall, pressing herself as close as possible.

Her heart thumped in her chest.

The voices were still there.

Still talking.

And now... she could hear them a little more clearly.

"Is everything ready?" a raspy voice asked.

The tone of whoever was speaking was rather condescending, almost like they were addressing a mere servant.

A second voice answered, softer yet laced with urgency. "Not yet, my lord. But all will soon be ready."

Emma’s ears perked up at the strange way the speaker addressed the other.

’My lord?’ She mumbled inwardly, her face squeezing into a frown.

Her body tensed as she slowly turned toward Uti, the small golden insect perched on her shoulder.

She gave it a subtle nod. The bug fluttered its transparent wings, rising into the air before landing atop her head.

A soft shimmer followed, golden particles cascading down its body and sinking into her flesh.

A soothing warmth spread through her skin, the magic activating instantly.

Emma sighed, her fingers tightening around the rocky surface of the cave entrance.

The golden dust granted her stealth, helping to mask her presence.

This was the first time she was actually using it, but since it belonged to her summon, it wasn’t difficult to get the hang of it.

Unless the people outside were far stronger than her, they wouldn’t be able to sense her—not even her magic power.

’At least I should be safer now.’ She thought.

Cautiously, she peeked out from the cave, her gaze narrowing as she observed the figures standing just a few meters away.

And then, her breath caught in her throat.

Just as she had expected, two people stood there.

One of them—a man—was on his knees, his head bowed so low it nearly touched the dirt.

He was clad in long black robes, their fabric flowing down his arms like cascading shadows.

But what stood out most was the strange emblem emblazoned on his back—an upside-down cross, stitched in blood-red thread.

Emma’s heartbeat quickened, but it wasn’t just the kneeling man’s attire that sent a chill down her spine.

What truly shocked her was the person he was kneeling to.

A tall figure loomed over the kneeling man, their presence almost unnaturally still.

Emma squinted, trying to make out more details through the dim moonlight filtering into the clearing.

The person stood with an air of absolute authority.

Their face was obscured by a hood, casting deep shadows over their features, but something about them—something wrong—made Emma instinctively tighten her grip on the cave’s entrance.

The hooded figure slowly lifted a hand, fingers adorned with strange, glistening rings that pulsed with a dull crimson light.

"You have made me wait long enough," The raspy voice spoke again, irritation creeping into their tone. "I trust you understand the cost of failure."

The kneeling man shuddered but remained in his position. "Forgive me, my lord. The preparations take time, but I swear, everything is progressing as planned."

The hooded figure tilted their head slightly, considering the response.

Emma strained her ears, every instinct screaming at her to retreat, but she remained frozen in place.

She needed to know who this person was.

She needed to know why they had a servant bowing before them.

And most importantly—she needed to know what they were planning.

Uti shifted slightly atop her head, its tiny legs brushing against her scalp. It was a small gesture, but Emma understood the meaning behind it.

Stay still. Listen.

The hooded figure let out a slow, deliberate sigh. "I have granted you time. Yet here you stand, empty-handed."

A shudder passed through the kneeling man’s body. "I—I only require another day, my lord. The ritual is delicate, and the components must be gathered carefully. If we rush—"

He didn’t get to finish.

With unnatural speed, the hooded figure moved, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Emma barely had time to process it before a hand shot out, gripping the kneeling man’s throat.

His body lifted off the ground, legs dangling uselessly as he gasped for breath.

The hooded figure’s grip tightened. "Excuses."

Emma swallowed hard. Her nails dug into the cave wall, her muscles coiled, ready to flee if necessary.

The kneeling man thrashed weakly, his fingers clawing at the hand around his neck. His voice came out in choked gasps. "P-please... I swear... it will be ready..."

The hooded figure held him there for a moment longer, then finally released him.

The man crumpled to the ground, coughing violently as he clutched his throat.

"You have until sunrise," the hooded figure stated coldly. "No more delays."

Emma’s stomach twisted.

’A ritual? What kind of ritual will that be?’ She thought, gnashing her teeth.