Episode 622
Screeeeech!
A grotesque creature lunged at Baron, baring its teeth. In response, Baron thrust forward a cocoon-like object he held in his hand.
A hole appeared on the surface of the cocoon, and from it, a tentacle shot out with a swift motion.
Sssshhh!
The tentacle wrapped around the charging creature in an instant.
Crunch! Crunch!
With a cacophony of sounds, the tentacle began to devour the creature it had ensnared.
Thud!
Soon, remnants of the creature, now reduced to a sticky mess, fell to the ground.
Ssssss—
The tentacle, having consumed its prey, retracted back into the cocoon.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The cocoon pulsed rhythmically, as if it had absorbed new life, growing slightly larger than before.
Baron placed the cocoon into a box and tucked it away into a hidden pocket. He then surveyed the unique space within the temple.
The temple’s space was a labyrinth, its walls made of solid stone, covered in moss that emitted red spores. Strange insects writhed between the cracks, making eerie noises.
This was the place where the Book of the Dead was sealed, and the power of the Demon King was at its strongest, altering the ecosystem created by the great sage.
The creatures within had transformed into unrecognizable horrors, and the air was thick with toxic red mist. An ordinary person would suffocate or be devoured by the corrupted creatures upon entering.
Designed to thwart intruders with impure intentions, the labyrinth had no exit, trapping those who dared to enter.
The Demon King’s power had seeped into the space, affecting everything within. Originally designed as a maze, the power had turned it into a nightmarish place unlike any other.
Had Baron entered unprepared, he would have been tormented by the monstrous inhabitants until he met his end.
Just then, a voice echoed in Baron’s ears.
“Come, this way.”
The Demon King’s voice guided Baron through the maze, allowing him to advance despite the lack of an exit. The creatures that emerged became mere fodder for the cocoon he carried.
Baron steadily made his way toward the Book of the Dead.
As he progressed to the heart of the labyrinth, a massive door appeared before him. Baron examined the emblem engraved on it: two intertwined serpents with a sun in the center—a symbol of the great sage.
He realized he was close to the Book of the Dead. The problem was the door, firmly shut.
He reached out to touch it.
Crackle!
A powerful magical force repelled his hand.
“Enter, this way.”
The Demon King’s whisper lingered in his ears. Baron retrieved a smaller black box from his pocket. Inside was a black pearl-like object.
He carefully lifted the pearl and tossed it toward the door.
Thud!
The black pearl adhered to the door like a magnet and began to tremble.
Rumble—
The door vibrated in response to the pearl’s quivering. As the vibration continued, a fine crack appeared on the pearl’s surface.
Crack!
Dark energy seeped from the cracked pearl, reacting with the concentrated magic in the labyrinth.
Boom!
The dark energy crystallized rapidly, spreading like metallic trees across the walls, ceiling, and floor, reaching the door.
Rumble!
The door, once solid, began to be consumed by the growing black tree.
Crack—
The black tree, like the pearl, continued to vibrate, eroding the door and eventually covering the sage’s emblem.
Simultaneously, part of the door buckled.
Rumble!
Baron watched as the door gave way, creating a space large enough for a person to pass through.
Ssssss—
From the gap, a denser magic mist flowed out, so potent that even Baron found it hard to withstand.
He removed a glove from his right hand, extending his hand forward, and the thick mist parted, avoiding him.
With his hand outstretched, Baron stepped through the gap.
Inside was pure darkness—nothing visible, nothing existing, just darkness.
“This is the place. Come.”
The voice echoed again in the impenetrable darkness. Baron followed the voice, moving forward without knowing his destination or direction, guided only by the voice.
In the depths of the darkness, time and space lost meaning as Baron continued to walk.
A lesser mind would have succumbed to madness in an instant, but Baron pressed on, unwavering.
He had no sense of how much time had passed when something stood before him.
A figure in a black robe, with hands so pale they seemed almost ghostly.
“Welcome.”
Baron raised his head and spoke to the figure.
“I have come to claim the Book of the Dead, by the command of the god I serve.”
Despite the Demon King’s guidance, Baron’s loyalty remained with Arthur Draker.
The robed figure spoke again.
“Follow me.”
The pale hand beckoned, and Baron had no choice but to follow.
Through the darkness, Baron trailed the robed figure, unable to discern time or space, only following.
After an indeterminate time, Baron spoke to the figure.
“Where is the Book of the Dead?”
The figure did not respond, continuing to walk through the darkness.
Baron removed the glove from his left hand as well.
Drip, drip.
Dark energy dripped from his hand, mingling with the darkness.
The robed figure whispered again.
“Come this way.”
Ignoring the whisper, Baron let the dark energy flow from his hands.
Ssssss—
The energy began to envelop the robed figure.
The figure turned to face Baron.
“Why do you reject my guidance?”
“I seek only the Book of the Dead and the soul within.”
Ssssss—
The dark energy swirled around the figure.
“Accept me, and you shall gain power rivaling the gods.”
The whisper tempted Baron, but he shook his head.
“I serve only one god.”
Baron clenched his fists, and the dark energy began to spin.
Whirl!
The vortex consumed the figure and the surrounding darkness.
Rumble!
As the vortex subsided, cracks appeared in the darkness.
Creeeak!
With a terrible sound, the darkness shattered like glass.
Snap!
The surrounding darkness crumbled away, revealing Baron standing just a few steps from where he had entered.
The darkness had vanished, replaced by a vast chamber.
As Baron approached, he saw something within the chamber.
Hummm—
A glass case vibrated in the center, containing a single black book.
The Book of the Dead.
The book that held the Demon King’s soul. Though he knew it was sealed here, seeing it with his own eyes filled him with overwhelming emotion.
Baron approached the glass case where the book was sealed, reaching out with a cautious hand.
Crackle!
As expected, a security barrier enveloped the glass, preventing any reckless approach.
Undeterred, Baron retrieved a small box from his coat. This time, it wasn’t the box containing pearls, but the one with the cocoon that had devoured the monsters earlier.
He opened the box, took out the black cocoon, and placed it on the ground. Gripping a dagger, he sliced his palm, letting his dark blood drip onto the cocoon.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The cocoon absorbed Baron’s blood and began to pulse once more, swelling slightly, resembling the heart of a giant. Soon, the top of the cocoon split open, revealing a maw lined with sharp teeth.
A ghastly sound emanated from within, accompanied by a foul stench. Yet, Baron didn’t flinch, continuing to feed the cocoon with his blood.
Hiss—
The cocoon, nourished by Baron’s blood, swelled further, growing larger.
A bubbling noise echoed as if something were boiling inside the creature. Suddenly, from the creature’s mouth, something began to emerge.
Pop! Pop!
Egg-like cocoons shot out, writhing as they landed and began to pile up. Soon, the eggs cracked open, and something emerged.
Hiss—
Out came sorcerers, exuding a sinister aura. Clad in grotesque robes stitched together from leather, their faces hidden behind black masks, they rose, drenched in a slick fluid.
Baron addressed the sorcerers who had emerged from the eggs. “What our god desires lies right there,” he commanded, pointing to the glass case. “Bring it to me. It shall be an offering.”
At his command, the sorcerers surrounded the glass case. From within their robes, they drew daggers engraved with monstrous forms, holding them to their chests as they chanted in an incomprehensible, ominous language.
Hiss—
A crimson aura surged from the sorcerers, enveloping the glass case in a dark mist.
Crackle—
The mist, infused with a malevolent energy, collided with the glass case.
Crackle!
In that moment, a magical discharge erupted, threatening to strike the chanting sorcerers. But before it could reach them, it dissipated, nullified by Baron, who stood with his hands raised, manipulating the twisted threads of causality.
The dark mist continued to envelop the glass case, seeping into its surface until cracks began to form.
Rumble—
The cracked glass case vibrated under the pressure of the sorcerers’ incantations until it could no longer withstand the strain and shattered.
Crash!
As the case broke, a tentacle shot from Baron’s wrist, snatching the floating Book of the Lion from the air. A shiver of exhilaration ran through him as he finally held the book in his grasp.
“At last…”
He murmured in awe, preparing to turn the first page of the Book of the Lion.
“What…?”
To his shock, the pages were blank. Baron snapped his head up, realization dawning on him.