Erebos remained eerily still as the chains, with a life of their own, began to snake and wind their way around his body. The onlookers stood frozen in shock, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern.
One of the women, her hand clutching her chest in a gesture of distress, yelled out to Erebos, demanding an explanation. Her voice trembled with a mixture of fear and worry.
Erebos, still wearing that enigmatic smirk, responded with a hint of nonchalance, "Guess someone else beat you to the punch. I seem to be quite the sought-after commodity these days." As he spoke, flames began to erupt beneath his feet, casting an eerie glow on his face.
As Erebos stood ensnared by the mysterious chains, a sense of urgency washed over the onlookers. One of the men, his face etched with determination, raised his hand towards Erebos in a desperate attempt to intervene. With a swift motion, he tried to grasp Erebos, but to his shock, his hand passed through Erebos as if the villain had become intangible, like a ghostly apparition.
It was a surreal and unsettling sight.
Erebos's final words resonated in the air, sending shivers down the spines of those present. His voice carried an ominous and foreboding tone, leaving everyone with a sense of impending doom. "Off to meet the Demon King," he declared, his words hanging in the tense atmosphere, a chilling promise of unknown consequences.
The woman who had earlier addressed Erebos now wore a troubled expression, realizing that their situation had taken a sudden and unexpected turn. The chains continued their relentless advance, binding Erebos further, and the portal behind him seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, ready to transport him to an uncertain fate.
Erebos gave a slight wave as he was pulled down into the ground, disappearing from sight.
"Shit, we need to get to him right now," another of the six stated urgently.
"I sent him somewhere where he could grow quicker and without the reliance of those he has grown comfortable with," Erebos replied, his tone smug and defiant.
The Demon King's anger flared as he contemplated his next move. He raised his fist, tightening it around the chains that bound Erebos, causing the villain to cough slightly. Erebos, however, didn't back down, taunting the Demon King further, "and then what, wind up dead like your father? You're nothing more than a pup playing master to the Angelic King out of fear of losing people you love!
What a pathetic Demon King."
A blade of blood, wielded by the figure standing behind the Demon King, suddenly pierced through Erebos's jaw, silencing him abruptly. The voice of the figure cracked with authority as they declared, "That is enough of you, child."
From behind the Demon King, the imposing figure stepped forward, his palm still extended as the long strand of blood reached out, piercing Erebos's jaw and silencing him abruptly. The Vampire King, Dracula, had revealed himself, and his presence was palpable. His eyes burned a bright red, causing Erebos to shine back in a crimson contrast.
In a commanding tone, the Vampire King declared, "Enough with the secrecy, Erebos. It's time to reveal everything. Ty's fate is at stake, and we must have clarity."
Erebos, caught in a trance-like state, responded, "Forgive me, Vampire King Dracula. My goal is to ensure that Ty becomes the Skeleton King and brings balance and order to the Vale of Despair realm. I cannot allow him to become a mere pawn in the reaper's plan to overthrow the Angelic Race."
The Demon King, though slightly shocked, couldn't conceal a hint of amusement as he inquired, "And how do you come by all this knowledge?"
The Vampire King, still watchful, observed Ty as he tensed his fist, causing a black bead of liquid to form around his hand. With a swift movement, he stabbed himself in the leg, breaking free from the trance and returning his casual smile. Erebos cryptically responded, "I've made many allies along the way, you see."
In response to the Vampire King's actions, he snapped his fingers, and a small, black snake emerged from the ground. The serpent transformed into a human form, and the Demon King, with a sense of recognition, exclaimed, "You're the Yami King from Planet Alexira that Ty killed?"