Chapter 575

Chapter 575

The shimmering purple threads continue to flow out from the crystal and bring reality into existence all around me as I think about her last question.

"What do you mean? The Demons are trying to take over our world? All they do is guard labyrinths. If anything they're growing the economy of large cities and helping our world thrive... no?"

All of the times I've conversed with demons in the past flash through my mind.

They've all been hostile and human-hating, but I just assumed that was because I was invading their fortresses and trying to kill them. It's only natural they'd try to kill me in return.

Even recently, with the labyrinth that I managed to create myself, the demon that spawned in was ready to make a deal with me. I whisper aloud as I remember our agreement.

"Well... he was adamant about bringing the captured mana back to the Demonic Realm.."

As I'm deep in thought, the purple energy form starts to walk around me again, and the familiar aura of curiosity spreads out as she interjects.

"So they're only on the initial farming phase? Dungeons and Labyrinths spawn, but they haven't taken control of enough of your world's mana to spark a stronghold yet, have they?"

I raise an eyebrow and turn my head to lock my eyes on her form as she continues to dance around.

Her words of a stronghold make the image of the abyss in the center of the Dark Continent flash in my mind. Ember's explanation of dungeons, labyrinths, and this phenomenon are similar; however, the fact that he's a dragon, and a divine beast may give him a strong bias on the matter.

"You mean a Demon Lord's Throne awakening? Is this what you mean by a stronghold? If so, there's definitely one forming..."Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

She nods slowly, and the emotions of shock, dread, and a small amount of hope trickle out of her.

"Yes, that is one of the names they go by. It's because they often only form in the Demonic Realm. Mostly used as a competition for worthy Arch Demons of the new generations to compete to become new Regional Lords..."

She pauses.

"Of course, they still expend lots of energy to create. Usually, the formation of a Demon Lord's throne will use a large amount of an entire world's energy. Demons are notorious for siphoning energy from young worlds to power their own throne awakenings, especially those that are newly connected to the system."

She gets very close to my face again.

"It is uncommon for them to trigger a throne awakening on other worlds. There is always a series of trials, once the throne is ready, anyone can challenge it. They're risking a lot of energy to spark one anywhere other than their realm or worlds they've already conquered, even if they're confident in their victory. There must be a reason why they want a stronghold on your human world rather than using this power to strengthen their own."

An aura of deep thought, distress, confusion, then boredom flood out of the woman before she turns away to start gracefully walking back toward the purple crystal.

To my surprise, the gem pulses and becomes a shade darker than it was moments ago.

She turns and speaks again.

"The fallen one granted me a wonderful gift, enough energy to converse with you here, but not nearly enough to say everything I want... It takes enough power for me to hold this construct together on autopilot, having intelligent conversation won't last much longer. I only wish I could stop history from repeating itself."

I take a step forward and she does the same, but her right arm dissolves into millions of tiny threads.

They collide with my forehead as she speaks again.

"It will be easier if I just show you..."

I nod and begin to reply.

"Yes, if this is your wish—"

The second I agree, I feel the purple threads hit my forehead again, and a rush of the woman's emotions instantly transmit through me. Almost instantly, she removes the strands and steps back with a smile.

"What a simple world... and what an interesting race... and—what a greedy government... I understand now how my rift in this world was monopolized and cut off from the other worlds. You aren't on good terms with them either, yet you decide to stay so close to your enemies... Again, what an interesting situation."

A flutter of excitement and curiosity vibrates through the atmosphere as she looks toward me.

"I've decided I will finally collapse my realm. I will help you and your familiar Ember to be victorious in your upcoming battles."

I raise my hands and reply in a worried tone.

"Hey—collapsing the realm—what do you mean by that? I'm still inside this you know!"

An amused aura spreads out from her still fading and shrinking form.

"I know. It won't be instantaneous. The collapse will take enough time for you to use your teleport crystals and leave. I will convert my remaining life force into a powerful artifact that will contain the remains of my living soul. While I won't be fully conscious, I will still be technically extending my life. It is quite selfish of me to continue on living, but it will help you in both your short-term predicament of concealing your power, and in time your long-term needs, I will help you again once it is time to challenge the throne."

A final aura of gratefulness mixed with a light bit of joy and sorrow flows through me as her energy form fades completely away.

The threads of purple light that were connected to her all fall back into the dark purple gem in the center of the crystal platform, and I'm left all alone in silence.

The only thing up here to keep me company is the whistle of the wind.

A slow and steady flow of purple threads continues to come out of the top of the gem to create the dome-like walls of the construct, but they start to slow down too.

In less than half a minute, the threads begin to stop flowing entirely.

The purple stone floats down to touch the reflective surface of the platform and stops spinning too.

It pulses brightly one time, then compacts in on itself as if it's compressing its energy and forming into a tight ball.

Without even realizing it, I'm moved closer to the shrinking crystal and it is also moving closer to me.

It flashes bright, covering my entire vision, and I feel something hot touch one of my fingers.

In the next moment, the flash ceases, and a new bright purple ring appears on my finger.

Its purple divine threads start to creep down my arm, and at the same time I look up toward the central point of the construct's dome top, and it begins to fade away.

Without the constant stream of purple energy to continue weaving reality, there is nothing at all behind it.

I stare off into infinite darkness where I see the construct starting to fade away. It spreads quickly, all from the central point, a large circle of darkness begins to descend down on me from above.