Chapter 169: Chapter 164: Demonic Descent

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Inside Jack’s Soul Scape, an endless sea of shadows taking the shape of countless wolves and other monsters clashed against the army of crimson snakes.

The monstrosities tore apart one another as Jack rushed across the battlefield within his own soul, in the form of a giant black werewolf, slashing against everything with his black sword.

SLAAASH! SLAAASH! SLAAASH!

Each of his slashes was like a wave of pure darkness, cutting through Uroboros' army of fiends in seconds. His eyes quickly directed at the presence emerging behind the fiend’s army.

“I don’t care about any sort of penalty anymore.” It spoke with a tired and frustrated voice. “I’ll finish you off, eat your damned Divinity, and get a new body!”

With a furious and tired roar, Uroboros kept trying to infect Jack’s soul with his powers. Half of it had already become completely crimson red, twisting as if it were live flesh!

The other half was completely dark, enshrouded in shadows, and countless wolf-like monsters were made of them.

Both forces clashed against one another, representing Fenrir and Uroboros.

“Fenrir, do you truly believe you have the high ground here?!” Uroboros roared. “You’re mistaken, bastard!”

FLUOSH!

With Fenrir’s mighty authority, his shadows were shaped into countless gigantic claws, tearing apart the crimson parts of Jack’s soul and restoring them to their black color.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

At the same time, Jack kept reducing the number of fiends from Uroboros with each slash of his sword, while he unleashed powerful black flames everywhere.

The flames spread across the army, causing explosions that constantly wounded Uroboros' soul even further.

All while Fenrir kept attacking him.

“Unghh…! YOUUU…!”

The snake that devoured its tail was beginning to feel helpless! However, it didn’t simply begin this attack without being at least a bit confident it could win.

Even in this desperate moment, it still possessed a mighty trump card!

“You’ve forced me to do it; I’m going to do it!” He laughed heartily. “{Demonic Descent}!”

RUMBLE!

Ding!

[The Demonic Throne {The Snake That Endlessly Devours Its Own Tail} has attempted an unauthorized descent into the [Lower Dimension Earth-28]!]

[The {Demonic Descent} Unique Trait has been activated; the true body of the Demonic Throne has begun to be forcefully manifested within the Lower Dimension!]

[The boundaries of space are being shattered!]

The boundaries of space and dimensions shattered, and as the entire castle trembled even further, the soul of Jack wavered as the powers of Uroboros started flowing inside of him!

“Uuuaaagghh!”

His body suddenly started to agonize in pain as his giant black wolf form, in the outside world, slowly faded away.

“JACK!”

Henrietta watched as Jack was being forcefully possessed by a descending devil; the ceiling above shattered as a giant crimson portal opened!

“Is this bastard summoning his whole being into Jack?!”

Fenrir panicked as he saw Uroboros crimson powers surge forward, devouring more and more of his shadows!

“I’ll take it all! I will DEVOUR your damned vessel, and YOU too, FENRIR!”

With wicked laughter, Uroboros whole being started to descend, resembling an endlessly gigantic crimson snake, pouring out of the crimson-colored portal, shattering the dimensions.

It was flowing inside Jack’s body, making him agonize as it was trying to override everything within him!

“UROBOROS!”

Fenrir grew completely berserk, countless black chains surging out of his own soul as they wrapped around the endlessly expanding Crimson Domain. Cosmic Power flowing through the chains, he forcefully attempted to seal some of Uroboros' powers, as he had done before.

However…

Crack, crack…!

“USELESS!”

CRASH!

With a mere thought, Uroboros managed to break all chains, his powers expanding further through Jack’s entire soul and his own body!

Crimson scales started growing over his body, and even a snake tail was growing from his back!

“Is he being possessed by a Devil?!” Dimitri screamed in utter disbelief as he saw what was happening.

“I can’t let this continue!” Henrietta lost her bearings, leaping out of the barrier of her own creation to aid Jack!

The ten minutes she wanted to give him ended up becoming utterly useless now that a higher power was violating all rules to do as it pleased.

Naturally, those rules would still apply!

Spark, spark…!

CRAAASH!

Crimson lightning surged from the portal, shaping into countless chains around Uroboros.

“UGH…!”

Uroboros senses glanced into the portal, noticing that, on the other side, the powerful Authority of the Realm Beyond was beginning to weaken him.

And eventually, it would forcefully drag him back!

“Hahaha! You don’t belong here, Uroboros!”

Fenrir’s powers and Jack’s soul combined within Jack’s Soul Scape, fusing into a gigantic black wolf’s head and biting through Uroboros' crimson wave.

CRUNCH!

“SHAAAH! You damn dog!”

Ding!

[The {High Administrators} have found out the Demonic Throne’s breach of the Laws of the Realm Beyond.]

[The {Chains of Demonic and Divine Restraint} have been activated.]

[The Demonic Throne will be first weakened, then neutralized, and then dragged back to where it originally belonged.]

[If it dares to further resist, more penalties will be accumulated, until the Demonic Throne might be completely stripped of its power.]

Uroboros screamed in agony; the chains made of powerful crimson lightning, which were in fact the embodiment of the Primordial Laws of Creation, weakened him severely.

The {High Administrators}, the powerful beings that handled the Rules of the Realm Beyond, the highest dimension in all of existence, would not leave him to do as he pleased.

Especially when the Void Rulers themselves were watching...

As a result, this made him weaker than he would usually be at his full potential, even when he descended and began to forcefully possess Jack’s body.

However…

Uroboros still smiled!

“I don’t care what you’re trying to do, administrators! Drag me away all you want! Once you’re finally done, I would have already devoured Fenrir.” Uroboros laughed. “Even if weakened to this point, you’re no match to me, you fallen constellation!”

The snake laughed, his embodiment surging from within Jack’s soulscape, resembling a titanic snake with nine heads, the biggest of them biting his tail while the other height faced him.

It was like a crimson ring of enormous size floating in midair!

“You’ve surely grown larger.” Fenrir muttered.

“This is the glorious demonic form I’ve taken after becoming a mighty throne!" Laughed Uroboros. “I could not have been able to accomplish it without your sacrifice, my dear friend!”

“I am no longer your friend; you’re nothing but a traitorous bastard! You took everything away from me!”

Fenrir and Uroboros clashed in their purest forms: a gigantic eight-legged black wolf covered in chains and spikes and a titanic nine-headed snake, with the largest head biting its own tail.

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

Fenrir and Jack resisted as much as they could, but the Soul Scape was only continuing to become infected by Uroboros' powers.

They were barely holding him back, but even like this, it would take a while for Uroboros to be dragged back, even more if he actively resisted using his {Radiance} and the many traits he had developed as a Demonic Throne.

Uroboros was not only aiming to devour Fenrir and get whatever powers he was hiding; he wanted to possess Jack and turn him into his ultimate vessel!

The gains he would get in this fight were much greater than his losses due to the penalties; he was willing to sacrifice some to gain even more in return.

“You’re one useless dog, aren’t you?”

Uroboros swung his eight heads, hitting Fenrir consecutively and throwing him down to the floor!

BAAAM!

A wave of crimson demonic energies quickly approached him, attempting to devour more of his soul and will.

“The only thing you’re good for is becoming bait, and now that I’ve used you enough, it is time to dispose of you.”

Uroboros voice grew more sinister as his powers continued to attempt to devour Fenrir!

“BASTARD!”

Fenrir’s rage kept soaring, his gluttony powers clashed against Uroboros’ own, and both forces seemed to be in a tie, only for Uroboros to slowly begin overwhelming Fenrir.

It was a matter of seconds before everything would become consumed by Uroboros, and Jack’s metamorphosis was to end.

[“Henrietta! Hurry! Use the {Sanctification} Skill to purify as much of that Devil as you can out of Jack before it is too late!”]

Henrietta quickly heard the voice of Gabriel echoing into her mind as the Archangel quickly told her to use his powers to purify Jack and stop the infection of Uroboros Demonic Descent.

“I will!”

The brave blonde girl grew a pair of shining wings as she flew towards Jack, leaving everyone and everything behind to reach him!

However, two figures quickly blocked her path before she could reach her beloved: a tall and burly man covered with rock-like scales and a serpentine, monstrous woman resembling a medusa.

“Who… Who are you?!”

Henrietta grew furious, her Celestial Aura erupting and spreading everywhere. The two blocking her path could sense her enormous Aura and had to step back.

“We won’t let you get through, S-Rank Hunter, Henrietta.” Said the man.

“I’m sorry, dear, but he’s our prey.” The woman smiled devilishly. “We can’t possibly let you save him~!”

“OFF MY WAY!”

Henrietta lost her senses completely. Drawn by utter desperation and fury, she clashed against the two by swinging her sword several times, releasing a storm of slashing blows made of pure holy light. Explosions quickly engulfed the two.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The S-Rank Hunter swiftly tried to get through them after that devastating attack, only to feel the long tail of a purple-scaled snake wrap itself around her leg, dragging her back!

“You’re not going anywhere!”

“You’re so annoying!”

Henrietta was about to slash the tail with her divine sword, only to receive a barrage of punches coming from amidst the smoke her own attacks provoked.

“S rank or not, we will take you down and move on with our task!”

BAAM! BAAM! BAAM! BAAM! BAAM!

“Urgh…!”

The barrage of punches was so strong they sent shockwaves across the entire surroundings, leaving behind deep marks on Henrietta’s armor.

Her lighter body ended up being thrown away, rolling over the floor, only for her to catch herself and stand up a second later.

“That was no normal punch…!” Henrietta thought. “Those two—are they the Chimeras Annabelle talked about? They’re like her. Their appearances are similar to Demonic Humans, and they do have Demonic Energy too! But… there’s something weird about them; they’re not exactly being possessed.”

Henrietta’s thought process flashed at lightning speed as she analyzed these two foes. Their power was equal to or superior to that of an average S-Rank Hunter, and they possessed abnormal durability and abilities due to their transformed states.

“Are you the bioweapons that the government was secretly making?” She asked. “I did hear something about it, but only when you had already escaped and killed every scientist in the laboratory.”

“They were no scientists; they were monsters.” The man said.

“We would gladly cut them all down to pieces again.” The woman agreed.

“And I would help you bring justice to them too, but you killed them.” She sighed. “I know your pain, and I am completely on your side! But what you’re doing is wrong! You can’t simply try to kill everyone and become allies with Demons! They’re beings that want to destroy humanity!”

“Your pity does not affect us.” Laughed the woman. “Dear, bring those crocodile tears somewhere else!”

“I appreciate your words, but if you truly understand the situation, then move aside and leave us alone.” The man said. “I will not chase you if you do.”

“Sorry… But I simply can’t. The man I love is there, suffering, and about to become a devil’s vessel. I can’t possibly let that become Jack’s fate!” Henrietta said.

“Then we cannot negotiate anymore.” The man said.

FLASH!

With a pair of draconic wings that grew out of his back, the burly and slightly slow man reached speeds Henrietta had not predicted, flying and appearing right in front of her, his fists growing sharp claws!

“RAAAAHH!”

With a furious and draconic roar, he swung those claws with tremendous strength, cutting through Henrietta’s defensive aura barrier and slicing right through her armor and shield!

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

“Urgh!” Henrietta gritted her teeth as her sword flashed with the power of Anti-Mana and Celestial Energy unified. “You leave me no option. “{Anti-Mana Swordsmanship}: {Dimensional Slice}!”

SLAAASH!

“W-What?!”

Her slash went right through the man’s claws, slicing them alongside his whole arms, and half his shoulders! His body parts were sent flying, splattering blood on the floor.

“URRGHH!”

The man gritted his teeth and resisted the agony, roaring back at her as his humanoid face slowly turned draconic, opening his jaws, and releasing a mighty draconic breath!

Henrietta swiftly evaded the explosion, only to be greeted by bullets of a strange poison rushing towards her.

“What’s that?!”

She quickly waved her hands and conjured a barrier of holy light, shielding herself from the deadly poison that slowly started to turn her barriers into stone…

“What?! Petrification? It even affects magic?”

She glanced at the woman who had spit that poison; her hair, made of snakes, was constantly gathering air to spit more of it.

“A single touch of my venom and you will turn into stone!”

With a burst of wicked laughter, the woman continued spitting venom at Henrietta. The deadliness of the venom made Henrietta too wary, almost completely forcing her to evade at all times.

Meanwhile, the man she had almost killed was already back fighting, his arms slowly beginning to grow back!

“Does he have the regeneration of a dragon too?!”

As she had to evade the venom, giant spikes of stone grew out of the floor constantly, accompanied by spikes of metal as well, forcing her to focus on evading!

“This is getting me nowhere, and Jack’s still suffering!”

Henrietta could not handle the two of them at the same time, and it showed.

However.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Holy bullets imbued with a little flying fox’s holy magic pierced through the snake woman’s body, leaving several holes, and making her scream in agony.

“W-Who dares?!”

She glared behind her, only to find a cowboy holding a magic gun standing up. No longer riding a huge insect this time!

“Oi, aren’t you bullying the damsel a bit too much?” Dimitri asked angrily. “Leave her be for Christ’s sake.”

“A gunslinger?! Hah! Do you truly believe guns even matter nowadays?!”

The woman’s wounds quickly regenerated, making Dimitri widen his eyes in surprise.

“Oh well, you caught me off guard there.”

“DIE!”

Her giant claws reached him at lightning speed, only for the man to evade the attack seamlessly while his gun pointed at her face.

“{Ricochet}”

BAAANG!

All the accumulated heat and flames inside his magic gun were released on her face, burning her eyes, and making her scream in pain.

“Here comes the hammer!”

And as if that wouldn’t be enough, a woman holding a massive hammer stepped in, slamming the snake woman’s stomach several meters away!

BAAAM!

She was sent flying, crashing against the wooden walls several meters away and collapsing on the ground, vomiting blood.

“Dimitri, Hilda!”

Henrietta smiled like never before as she saw the two A+ Rank Hunters come to her aid.

“Did you really have to run away like a maniac?” Hilda reprimanded her.

“Hold still, there’s Moby Dick right behind you!” Dimitri’s gun glowed as it fired several ice bullets.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Tch…!”

The draconic man was forced to step back and protect his face with his burly and scaled arms. The bullets pierced his scales and froze his arms slightly, bothering him.

“You!”

Henrietta quickly swung her sword against him, trying to slice him to death for good this time! However, the man greeted her with yet another dragon breath, blowing her away.

BOOOM!

She ended up protecting herself with her broken shield, barely landing right next to Dimitri and Hilda. Meanwhile, the snake woman had already stood back up, glaring at the trio while sliding next to her companion.

“You are a pain in the ass already.” She sighed.

“We will not stop until you’re dead.” The man said,.

The trio prepared to confront them, only for a gigantic hand made of blood to surge from above and punch the duo of chimeras away!

BAAAM!

Scarlet slowly descended from above, landing next to Henrietta.

“Let’s set aside our differences and cooperate on saving Jack, alright?”

“Scarlet! …Very well, let’s work together.”

Henrietta was not someone who was really competitive, quickly nodding and accepting Scarlet’s assistance.

Meanwhile, the two chimeras started to grow larger the more damage they took.

Their human-like appearances faded away, as a more monstrous form took over.

“Scarlet… I will personally tear apart that annoying face of yours!”

“I will not stop… Until I complete this task.”

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