Rearing Demons
Chapter 39: Shrieking Eye

Chapter 39: Shrieking Eye

"Brune, who do you think will kill the Gralith first— you or me?" A large group of disciples gathered in front of a foul-looking mountain. Yellow pus and other revolting fluids oozed from its surface. At the center, a massive cave was carved out; around the entrance, Antics lurked in droves.

"Of course it’ll be me," Brune declared with unshakable confidence. "The real question is whether you can handle all those Weeping Lords."

"Faster than you ever could," Karo snapped back.

"We’ll see about that," Brune muttered, ignoring Karo and turning to his own exhausted group.

Compared to Karo’s party—who seemed relatively healthy—Brune’s disciples were ragged and wounded. He made a habit of never helping them unless absolutely necessary, so few remained unscathed. Some had opted to retreat back to a "safe zone." If a Weeping Lord appeared, Brune might intervene, but even then it wasn’t guaranteed. His philosophy was to "test" them, which usually proved futile against the harsh reality of demons.

"Your squad looks smaller than before," Karo sneered.

Karo, by contrast, had protected his group carefully. They’d grown stronger, with one member even advancing into the fifth realm, Luminous Heart. Their collective power increased accordingly.

"Whatever," Brune shrugged. "I alone can handle this."

With that, he marched up the mountain’s fleshy slope, where gore and yellowish fluid pooled. Karo and his party followed closely behind, while Brune’s own straggled at the rear, too weary to keep his pace—and perhaps unwilling to try.

Meanwhile, Yur and Ris were approaching the very same mountain. Thanks to her knowledge as a core disciple —and some hidden background—Ris understood how to navigate these regions.

"That mountain is where the Mother of Pus lives," she explained, pointing to the towering mound of tissue surrounded by smaller peaks. "I really think this is a waste of time. We could just collect a Gralith from the Gravesong Wastes—only a day away if we hurry."

She wasn’t afraid of the Mother of Pus, but she knew Mawstriders roamed the Gravestone Wastes more freely, with fewer people contesting them. She was quite sure of her ability to kill one, given her demonic talents. Even if the Mawstrider was a powerful Gralith, she felt up to the challenge.

"I have my reasons for targeting the Mother of Pus," Yur said, "and once we’re done here, we can rescue some of the hostages, too." He still remembered that mission—and the Human Points it would earn, propelling him toward the flames Ris demanded. Though he could theoretically abandon her right after defeating the Mother of Pus, the oath bound him to deliver those flames.

Luckily, his plan was to provide flames from the shop, not from his own personal stock.

"But what about the other disciples?" Ris asked. "How do you plan on seizing the Gralith under their noses, when you can’t possibly fight them all?" She doubted Yur could directly face a Gralith, much less subdue it.

"You’ll help," he replied. "I have a plan." For the past few days, he and Zul had been brainstorming possibilities. One idea had emerged: Ritual of Demon Mangling, a method of fusing demons into more powerful forms. Its main drawback was that he couldn’t simply command Zorath-level demons with a word, even though he was more powerful than them. Still, fear could be a potent motivator.

"And what’s that plan?"

"Go to the Mother of Pus and keep it alive." He pointed at a cluster of nearby Antic Towers.

Closer to the Gralith’s lair, the Antic numbers were denser.

"I’ll head there," he finished.

"What’re you trying to do—killing weaker demons won’t make you stronger," Ris objected, frowning.

"Just focus on guarding the Mother of Pus." He gave no further explanation, quickly separating from her. The oath guaranteed he wouldn’t flee.

Though puzzled, she sighed, deciding to follow his directive. She headed for the Mother of Pus, leaving him to his own mysterious designs.

Zul, Yur asked silently, if I create a Gralith through that ceremony, can it serve for the Rite of Blood Dominion?That would simplify everything if so.

[No. Demons created via rituals are unlike normal demons.]

He expected as much, yet it still disappointed him. He wasn’t even sure he could craft a Gralith. Unless he fused a dozen or so demi-Gralith, a legitimate Gralith was out of reach. From Zorath to Gralith was a colossal jump—not like the first four ranks.

Yur promptly assumed his full demon form, body expanding, wings spreading wide.

Zul, scan for any humans nearby.

[Understood!]

In demon form, his physical strength and ritual potency rose slightly, and his shrieking wings—capable of instilling terror and mental disruption—became available.

He stepped into an Antic Tower, knowing time was short. Tharok demons and weaker might obey his commands, but not these stronger ones. And Zorath was still lethal if he wasn’t cautious.

Inside, he saw the first floor packed with a dozen Antics—far more than the previous tower. This’ll be tricky, he thought.

He flapped his wings and soared upward. Immediately, shrill wails echoed through the chamber as the Antics noticed him. Their combined howls battered Yur’s mind; blood poured from his ears, tears of blood dripping from his eyes. Despite his body’s toughness, it was nearly unbearable.

He persisted, forcing his way deeper, aiming to find a Weeping Lord for his plan—unfortunately, none were on the first floor. That meant pressing on despite the intensifying barrage of acid and sonic assaults.

Each wing-beat made his stomach churn as though he’d vomit at any second—despite not feeling pain, he sensed his body’s violent reaction.

[Host has lost his hearing!]

The unending screeches ruptured his eardrums, plunging him into a dizzying silence. If not for his numbed nerves, he would’ve collapsed already. Finally, he broke through to the second floor—still no Weeping Lord, and this level held twice as many Antics.

He pushed toward the third floor.

[Host’s left eye has burst!]

Between acid and sonic assaults, his injuries became dire.

"Alright...Plan B," he muttered, realizing a third-floor attempt was impossible. He could only work with what he had.

Blood streamed from his eyes and ears as he hastily drew a large ritual circle. Demon Mangling was his best shot now.

Ducking, weaving, and dodging Antics, he carved symbols into the fleshy ground.

[Host has lost his right eye!]

The world turned black.

Zul, scan the area—tell me where everything is.

[Displaying life forms!]

Even if he couldn’t sense acid or debris, at least he knew each Antic’s position. He pressed on, finishing the sigils.

[Ritual Circle Complete!]

Now came the hardest part: luring Antics in so they’d kill each other without shredding him first. Folding his mangled wings around himself like a shield, he relied on their meager acid resistance.

"Come."

Though commanding them wouldn’t work directly on stronger demons, it did enrage them, drawing them in.

In the blackness, he "saw" lights—Zul’s markers for Antics—closing in. Flames erupted around the ritual circle, trapping them all inside.

His body was ravaged along with the demons, yet he fought on.

[Host has lost both wings!]

[Host has lost left arm!]

Time blurred. He hacked and clawed, inch by painful inch, exterminating Antics within the circle. Demon Points accumulated rapidly, soaring past two thousand. At last, after losing both arms, a leg, his wings, sight, and hearing, only one demon remained.

If not for his residual abilities, he’d be dead. Barely breathing, he beat the last Antic unconscious, then crawled out of the circle.

[Beginning Ritual...]

[Host’s body parts included in ritual!]

Yur paid it little attention, focused on healing. Ever since becoming a Severed being and completing the Ritual of the Successor, his regenerative abilities were much stronger. Though he couldn’t regrow limbs outright, he could at least stop bleeding and survive.

[Host is advised to replenish blood!]

He obeyed, devouring Imps stored in his pendant. He hadn’t tasted demon flesh in a while; its invigorating effect felt strangely refreshing. After a few minutes, his bleeding stopped, though he remained limbless.

Gotta leave once this is done...

Sightless, he sensed a new presence forming within the circle. Then a notification popped:

[Due to a large number of Zorath—and the Host’s body parts—a new demon has formed, infused with Ashkavaal bloodline!]

[Congratulations: Gralith Demon Created!]

[Shrieking Eye!]

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.