Rearing Demons
Chapter 114: Start of the Hollow

Chapter 114: Start of the Hollow

Yur reached his destination, which was in the middle of an old battlefield.

There was no one around; the entire place was silent.

It was the site of a major battle between Freau and Welit several years back—a battle that had killed many of the top-tier individuals.

Landing on the grassy terrain, Yur walked towards a flat rock, which carried web-like cracks.

Beside it was a large crater, slowly being filled by grass and many flowers.

"Now then, the final ritual." He pulled out his sword, Cloud Weaver, and sliced his palm.

Blood dripped onto the rock, and he clenched his hand to control the flow better.

His eyes suddenly shone with a dark, abyssal black. "The Glythari are all crowding this place." He calmly looked at the circle he was drawing, as well as the hundreds of Glythari nearing him.

Looking to his left, he found the world beginning to darken again. He knew what this entailed, but at this moment, he did not care.

A small door began to appear, standing there menacingly. This time, he saw hundreds of Glythari crossing through it and rushing toward his ritual.

The Glythari danced frantically around the forming ritual circle, gathering together into a bright, shimmering light.

Lifting his blade again, Yur cut his palm once more, allowing additional blood to flow. Zul, how exactly do the Glythari help this ritual?

[As host cannot fully utilize them yet, the blood of the Glythari will also help strengthen the ritual circle.]

Hearing this, Yur swiped his sword, attempting to slice many Glythari. But his sword passed right through them, failing to injure them.

"What’s going on?" Yur reached out his hand and realized that his physical body could still touch them, even crush them, yet his blade couldn’t.

[External weapons cannot harm the Glythari unless the host imbues the weapon with his essence!]

Makes sense. Cloaking his sword in dense human essence, he swung again. This time, the firefly-like creatures screamed as they were sliced in half.

The remaining creatures didn’t seem to care about their brethren being slaughtered; they danced madly around the ritual circle, ignoring their dying companions.

"YUR!"

As he finally completed the circle and continued to slaughter the thousands of Glythari dancing crazily around it, a furious roar interrupted him.

Turning his head, he saw Julian flying through the air, his expression sorrowful yet frighteningly angry.

Both men immediately brandished their blades. There would be no talking.

"BASTARD!" Julian sped up, charging towards him with extreme rage.

Lifting his sword high, Julian descended upon Yur, aiming for his throat.

With a quick step, Yur parried the blade skillfully. No need to hold back. The tasks are complete.

Wings erupting from behind him, flames burst forth from his sword, pushing Julian away. Yur didn’t stop; he pulled out his spear, Draco Fangs, imbued it with the flames of Incineration, and threw it at Julian’s stomach.

"AH!" Julian grabbed the spear handle instinctively as he sidestepped, but the moment his hand touched the flames, his skin seared painfully. "THESE FLAMES WERE YOURS!"

Seeing the flames identical to those that burned Xia sent Julian into a frenzy.

Ignoring his burned hand, he rushed toward Yur again.

Ritual of Withering Chains!

Needing to start the ritual immediately, Yur activated one of his new rituals, generating hundreds of powerful black chains from his body. They wrapped swiftly around Julian, holding him in place.

Master, the ritual—when do we start it?

Velmira and Jisvruul both contacted him anxiously, waiting for his command.

I’ll begin it now.

Without hesitation, Yur turned to the ritual circle and began chanting incomprehensible words. Words he had not fully understood yet but was able to pronounce effortlessly due to Zul imprinting them into his mind.

"YUR! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU!" Julian struggled fiercely, tearing apart the hundreds of chains restraining him. He watched in horror as Yur’s body began to transform.

Yur grew larger, his frame broader. Horns emerged from his head, his hair growing longer. His clothes shredded apart as his wings took on a sinister transformation.

Julian’s eyes widened, and he ground his teeth furiously. Rage lit up his eyes.

"FUCKING DEMONS!"

Breaking through the chains, Julian’s aura soared rapidly.

Yur paid no heed, quickly using his claws to carve a bloody rune onto his chest. Julian’s aura continued surging uncontrollably.

He’s ranking up?!

Feeling Julian’s increasing power, Yur knew he had no time to waste. He needed to defend the ritual circle.

Removing his bleeding claw from his chest, he finally completed the rune. Velmira! Jisvruul! Start!

Sending his command, he immediately turned around, rushing toward Julian.

He used no weapons now—they were weaker than his physical body. His fists and claws would suffice.

Watching Yur approach, a terrifying smirk appeared on Julian’s face. "Now you’re fucked!" Closing his eyes, Julian’s aura exploded outward, violent and oppressive.

The ritual!

Yur quickly shielded the circle with his massive wings, using the force of Julian’s aura to strengthen his defense.

"Haha!" Suddenly, Julian’s laughter erupted darkly.

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[RANK 6: ESSENCE FORGE ENEMY!]

[WARNING! WARNING!]

Scanning Julian floating in the air, thick essence surrounding him, annoyance filled Yur’s mind.

Zul, using my current demon points, give me a ritual that will serve as protection!

[Processing!]

[Complete!]

[Purchased: Hymn of the Carrion!]

[Demon Points Remaining: 4834]

Details of the ritual entered Yur’s mind, and he clenched his fists angrily. I need corpses to activate this! Where will I find those now?

[Host must collect bodies!]

[0/10 Collected!]

He needed corpses urgently. But where would he find them now? Until then, he had to defend the circle personally.

Velmira, send bodies now! Defend your ritual circles, but send people here!

Understood!

Of all his people, only Velmira could aid him now. Everyone else was occupied.

If that bastard Zhal...

Yur seethed inwardly, knowing nothing could be done now. Until Velmira’s reinforcements arrived, he had to protect the ritual circle personally.

"Tell me, Yur—if that even is your name..." Julian spoke bitterly, tears streaming down his face. "Why do you demons always take everything from me?!"

No reply came. Yur flapped his wings, flying protectively around the circle. I must stay within two hundred meters of this circle.

"No answer?" Julian shook his head coldly. "Well—"

Before Julian could finish, Yur attacked. Hundreds of chains surged from Yur’s body, targeting Julian, while Yur himself charged forward.

Their battle commenced.

————————————————————————

Multiple large pillars of light shot abruptly into the air, illuminating the distant sky. Celis frowned deeply, staring upward.

As the pillars appeared, a blanket-like darkness spread swiftly across the heavens, covering the sky and blocking out all sunlight.

"What’s happening?"

"What’s goi—"

"AHHH!"

As soon as the pillars emerged and darkness covered the sky, people everywhere—soldiers, mortals, cultivators—collapsed. Flesh and blood eerily floated upward, bodies disintegrating grotesquely and spiraling toward the heavens.

"Ah!" Rose and Luna trembled behind Celis, faces pale.

Blue flames erupted from Celis, enveloping both girls protectively. "Better?"

They nodded, still horrified. "What’s going on?!"

"I don’t know," Celis replied solemnly, his eyes fixed on a distant beam of light, different from the four encircling it. "But those pillars hold the answer."

Celis’s body suddenly shifted into his half-beast form.

"Huh?!" Both girls looked at him with shock and fear.

Celis sighed, seeing their reaction. "Don’t worry, it’s a side-effect of one of my abilities." Not completely truthful, but necessary to comfort them.

"I-I see." Rose nodded hesitantly, still trusting him despite the change.

"Come, I’ll protect you both while we investigate this. Maybe we can save people by stopping whatever’s happening!"

With a powerful flap of his wings, Celis carried the two girls with his aura, swiftly flying toward the distant pillars of light.