Chapter 103: The Mad Warlock Appears

"I did not know we were expecting guests" a voice that had a chilling tone was heard by the party members.

They all looked towards the source of the voice that behind them and saw a man. The man was wearing a black hood that had raven feathers attached to the robes' shoulder area. He wore trinkets made of different bones and body parts on his waist area. When Vayu and Soleil looked at the man's face they saw a handsome face of someone who was in his thirties or forties but when Adrian looked at him he saw the man's true face.

The man's true face was that of an old man with deep eye sockets and his hair looked like it was falling off as he was almost bald because his head had only strands on it. He looked like the old man you see in horror movies that warns you of danger because he himself has survived it. His lips were also pale that it almost blended in with the skin in his head area.

The man also had a scepter on hand with a red gem that is grasped by claws. What Adrian was thinking deeply about is that the soul of the man in front was burning brightly despite his old age but his soul was blacker than sooth. His soul felt like it was corrupted and when Adrian looked at his surrounding, he could see the same black aura.

"Did he devour the heart of a Dark God?" Adrian paled when he thought about it as there was a less likely chance that they could escape.

Name: Cristobal Graedig (Legendary NPC)

Titles: Mad Warlock, Devourer of a Dead God, Madman, Torturer….

Level: 250

HP: ?, ???,???/ ?, ???,???

MP: ?, ???,???/ ?, ???,???

Description: A man who used to be a royal mage of a glorious kingdom but was driven mad by his thirst for the knowledge to cast the ultimate magic. He betrayed his kingdom for some forbidden tomes and the information on past magical cities. He stumbled upon the heart of a dark god and proceeded to use for experiments and even consumed some of it himself.

Adrian paled when he saw Cristobal's status as one of his titles included Torturer. Adrian did not want to find out what would happen if they were captured as it brings shivers just imagining it. He then got a message in the party chat.

"Young lad, can you see the status of that mage in front of us?" Vayu asked.

Adrian quickly replied using a screenshot and when Vayu saw the status he paled. He then asked if Adrian had a way to escape but Adrian said that only he could use the teleportation scroll as it was only for single use. When Vayu heard that, he made his resolve and said.

"Go and escape this place. We will manage just fine on our own" Vayu said but Adrian did not believe it.

"It seems we have an interesting assortment of people here. A demon and two individuals blessed by different Elemental Kings. It seems it is a good trade for the life of that worthless minotaur." Cristobal said with a grin.

Cristobal then saw the apparition of the wraith and his grin even became wider, "I see. So you led them here. It seems that the orb cannot fully seal an Elemental King even if it was weakened."

When Cristobal said that, the rest of the party was shocked. They never imagined that the wraith that appeared before them was actually a pinnacle existence that guaranteed the stability of the world. After Cristobal revealed that information, the quest that was given by the wraith was updated.

[The quest 'Free Me from Bondage' has been changed to 'Escape from Cristobal'.]

*Escape from Cristobal*

Cristobal who was away from his nefarious labyrinth managed to learn that intruders have invaded his playground. The signal was released when the trinket to protect Asterion from deadly damage was broken.

Clear Conditions:

a.)Break the orb and release the Elemental King to escape with your whole party.

b.)Escape by yourself and find a way to free the Elemental king. (Will generate another quest to free your captive party members.)

Failure:

a.)Be trapped inside the Distorted Labyrinth until you get rescued. Cristobal will gain knowledge on worldly energies and ascend to becoming a Sorcerer Supreme. (Cannot access game if you are trapped.)

b.)Your party members will lose a level each week that they are not rescued.

Reward: Unknown

Adrian then tried clutching the orb as it was said to be fragile but no matter what strength he used, the orb did not even generate a crack. Adrian even used his remaining essences to empower his strength stat but the result was still the same. Cristobal who saw what Adrian was doing laughed as he had guessed what the little demon was doing.

"It is futile! That orb might be fragile but it is only fragile to people that are ranked the same as it." Cristobal said as if he was enjoying teasing his new toys.

Adrian who heard that was not dismayed but rather thankful as now he has an idea on how to destroy the orb. He was now planning on how he will get Cristobal to attack the orb because just throwing it at him would not work at all since he was a Legendary named NPC.

"As you may see, I am Cristobal Graedig. That is enough for an introduction then let us begin the experiments." Cristobal said as he tapped his scepter on the ground and some muscle fiber started binding the three party members and even Saena.

[You are being trapped by the Distorted Labyrinth.]

They were now in a predicament so Adrian told them in the party chat to create a diversion and annoy Cristobal. Due to the Nether Domain not being active anymore, Soleil could now form spells as the fire elementals near her are no longer scared. She then poured all her remaining mana into her stuffed toy. The red lion started becoming bigger and bigger until it became the size of a real lion.

"Go Regu-chan! Fight that bully!" Soleil ordered.

Adrian was amazed on what Soleil did and peeked at the red lion with a flaming mane.

Name: Regulus

Race: Elemental

Species: Medium Fire Elemental

Description: Medium Fire Elementals are stronger elementals with higher persona than lesser fire elementals. They could control their respective element more in depth compared to their lesser counterpart and have their weaknesses decreased. They would not be easily countered even by their elemental counterpart with the same persona.

Vayu then activated the hidden skill that he received from the Elemental King. His sword sheath started glowing and sucked all of the air in the room and even from the outside as the hole was still present but not the stairway. When the sheath finally glowed in green light, he held his sword and uttered, "Typhoon Iaijutsu".

A massive swirling vortex of air was released and headed towards Cristobal. Regulus' mane lit up more vigorously and he started spewing fire towards Cristobal. The one receiving the attacks, Cristobal, was not even fazed and he even had an annoyed look painted on his face.

"A mere waste of effort." Cristobal said as tendrils made of muscle sprouted from the ground and cancelled the attacks incoming towards it by whacking the elements as if they were solid objects.

"You thought you could buy sometime with petty little tricks like those." Cristobal said as he laughed maniacally.

Crisobal's laughing was cut off because he saw that the demon was smiling at him. Adrian immediately threw the orb towards Cristobal. Vayu and Soleil who saw that thought Equinox became crazy due to the circumstances. Cristobal thought that it was a lousy attempt as he stretched his hands as if he was ready to catch the orb then Adrian muttered a word.

"Rewind" Adrian chanted.

The area where the muscle tendrils sprouted redid their animation of whacking the elements but instead of the elements getting whacked it was the orb that Adrian threw. Cristobal who saw this happened became enraged to the point that he released a suffocating aura as if gravity was pressing down on the room.

Alas, Cristobal could not stop the inevitable as even he did not calculate for things to happen as people with outstanding willpower should have been broken bit by bit. He did not expect that not only did they have great willpower there was also one cunning member in their group. Cristobal expected cunningness from devils but not from demon's known for their destructive tendencies.

A clear cracking sound was heard and then a blinding light flooded the room. The previous heavy atmosphere of the room started to lighten. When the people inside the room opened their eyes, they saw a beautiful maiden floating mid-air like she was a goddess who descended to the world.

Name: Lauma

Race: Elemental

Species: Elemental King