Chapter 285 Chapter284-Ghana's Speculation
"Venom..."
Soul-Devouring Devil Ghana's eyes widened in shock, his expression darkened.
His heart bled internally.
Dark Harvester Venom was his most loyal and efficient subordinate.
Ever since he was banished from the Abyss to the Godslayer Continent, it had been Venom who had assisted him in leading the Soul Legion.
A warrior of Demigod Level strength — even in the Abyss, such a being was not to be trifled with or lost casually.
Ghana had believed that summoning Venom could turn the tide of the battle.
He hadn't expected it to result in Venom's death.
Ghana glared at Abas, wishing he could shred this Lord of the Styx, who had emerged from the Abyss, into a thousand pieces to quench the rage in his heart.
Yet, John stood nearby, watching him with a threatening gaze, preventing Ghana from acting on his impulses.
For Ghana, dispatching Abas, Lord of the Styx, would not be a challenging feat.
Even though he was grievously injured and had little of his dark divine power remaining, he still didn't see Abas, Lord of the Styx, as a threat.
Such was the confidence of a Devil.
In the Abyss, the 72 Devils and a few god-level demons reigned supreme.
While Abas, Lord of the Styx, was indeed a formidable entity, boasting a level surpassing 600 and truly embodying the might of a Demigod, he still paled in comparison to these gods.
However, he had always hidden deep within the Styx, a river with peculiar abilities in the Abyss that gods preferred not to meddle with.
Thus, Abas, Lord of the Styx, had never picked sides, always maintaining a stance of neutrality.
Ignoring the menacing look from Ghana, Abas calmly approached John.
The creature, bearing a resemblance to a hippopotamus, showed a look of reverence on its grotesque face as it said, "Honored Master, I have completed the quest you entrusted to me..."
John nodded subtly, speaking with satisfaction, "Very well. I've noted your spiritual imprint. When I summon next, I'll prioritize calling upon you."
Joy filled the heart of Abas, Lord of the Styx, as he nodded. It seemed that John's summons held an irresistible allure for these dark creatures of the Abyss.
John couldn't understand why it was so.
But he could keenly sense the elation within Abas, Lord of the Styx.
Abas began to fade, slowly dissolving, until eventually, he vanished completely from John's side, returning to the depths of the Abyss.
Holding the Divine Palace sword, its blade pulsing with light, John suddenly lifted his gaze and looked at Ghana with a gleaming smile. "Now that your last reliance is gone, do you wish to continue this futile struggle?"
Ghana's face was a mix of pallor and despair, and he lapsed into profound silence.
After what seemed like an eternity, Ghana finally spoke with difficulty, "I admit, today I am truly defeated. Your power has surpassed my expectations... I've lived for eons, and never have I encountered a human as powerful as you. My original intent was to glean information about Lord Azazel from you. But now, seeing as even my own life hangs in the balance, the age-old truth remains: the victor prevails and the loser yields. So, do with me as you please..."
Tossing the silver Libra from his grasp, Ghana displayed a gesture of complete surrender.
Many had initially suspected some devilish plot or subterfuge from him.
However, witnessing the desolation on his face, they finally realized that this once-arrogant Devil genuinely chose to surrender.
Dragonfang, Hills, and the others exchanged surprised glances, struggling to wrap their minds around this astonishing turn of events.
In their limited understanding, they could never have imagined witnessing a Devil - an entity on par with deities - bending his knee before them.
In the ancient legends of the Godslayer Continent, Devils were the eternal nightmares of all sentient beings.
From a young age, these tales of horror had imprinted a deep-seated fear of Devils in their hearts.
John, however, wasn't particularly surprised.
In the end, Devils were simply stronger beings.
They were far from the omnipotent gods of legend.
Thus, they too had their emotions and desires, fears, and sorrows.
Even if they often spoke with detachment, true indifference was beyond them.
"There's something I've always been curious about," John began, tilting his head slightly, his gaze intense and earnest, "If you were banished to the Godslayer Continent, you should be aware of Azazel's Soul Seed awakening. Why are you so fixated on obtaining news of Azazel from me? If the Soul Seed is drawing on the dark energy of the Abyss, it means he's fallen. Even if you did get information about Azazel from me, what good would it do?"
Ghana's face was a portrait of dejection, and his form began to diminish, reverting to the human-like appearance they had first seen when they encountered him.
"You wouldn't understand, human," Ghana began, his tone devoid of its former edge, now soft and even. "No matter how much you know about our Abyss, you can never truly grasp what Lord Azazel means to it."
"In your human world, this Godslayer Continent is a fertile land, rich in resources and bursting with elemental essence. But the Abyss is different; it's nothing but darkness, an eternal, never-ending void."
"Before the birth of Lord Azazel, all beings in the Abyss lacked true intelligence. They drifted aimlessly, much like wild beasts, driven solely by instinct. It was Lord Azazel who brought order to the Abyss. Using his dominion over chaos, he gradually unified it, transforming the Abyss into a livable realm."
"I'm aware of the event you speak of," Ghana continued, his voice tinged with wistfulness. "But in my heart, I always clung to a sliver of hope that perhaps, one day, Lord Azazel would return to the Abyss and lead us towards boundless glory."
John fell silent, taken aback.
He hadn't expected the Devil he had encountered, bound in chains of order in the Godslayer Temple, to hold such a revered position within the Abyss.
While Azazel might symbolize darkness and malevolence in most tales, in the Abyss, he was their greatest savior.
"I can tell you with certainty that the hope you harbor is utterly baseless," John finally broke the silence, his voice gentle yet firm. "Azazel has fallen into the Void, never to return. The awakening of his Soul Seed is merely a testament to the return of the chaotic order to the Abyss. A new Azazel will emerge in time."
Ghana sank back into silence.
After a long while, he looked up, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
"But will this new Azazel be the revered lord we once knew?"
John slowly shook his head, replying with casual detachment, "That's none of my concern. I am but a human, inherently opposed to your kind."
"And don't you have grander aspirations? I refuse to believe that you are unaware of the affairs concerning the Godslayer World and the other realm."
The expression on Soul-Devouring Devil Ghana's face briefly faltered but quickly returned to its initial state.
With a bitter smile, he spoke, "Indeed, given your power, you must know of this. But from the depths of my heart, I have little interest in invading other worlds."
John raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise washing over his face as he regarded the Soul-Devouring Devil before him.
This was a novel revelation; a demon uninterested in conquering other realms?
Soul-Devouring Devil Ghana simply shook his head, not wishing to elaborate further. "Thank you for addressing my uncertainties. Now, you can decide my fate as you see fit..."
Upon seeing the outstretched hands of Soul-Devouring Devil Ghana, John hesitated, not immediately choosing to strike.
Even though a mere charge of power would be enough to bring Ghana to his ultimate demise.
After a thoughtful pause, John said softly, "If I were to spare you now, allowing you to return to the Abyss, what would you do next?"
Soul-Devouring Devil Ghana looked up abruptly, his face etched with astonishment. "You mean to say, you won't kill me?"
John allowed a slight smile, "We share no deep-seated animosity. Why should I condemn you? Besides, if I kill you here, a new Soul-Devouring Devil will rise from the Abyss. This holds no meaning for me."
Ghana's gaze became increasingly perplexed, "I never expected such a unique perspective from a human."
"However, be sure of your decision. If you release me back to the Abyss, the next time we meet, we will be adversaries. The conflict between the Abyss and Godslayer Continent will never cease. It is the eternal struggle between light and darkness. By sparing me now, countless humans might lose their lives in the imminent war between the Abyss and Godslayer Continent because of your choice."
John shrugged nonchalantly, "What's that got to do with me? You're no real threat to me anyway."
The array of emotions on Soul-Devouring Devil Ghana's face was a spectacle.
He hadn't expected such an irresponsible statement from a human.
Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, he exclaimed with a look of sheer astonishment, "Could it be that, like those class beings from unknown lands, you don't belong to this world?"
At these words, a sharp glint flashed across John's eyes.
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