Chapter 737 736. First Exchange
Sylvester stared at the demoness, trying to take a whiff of her emotions. But surprisingly, he couldn't feel much magic in the air there. He couldn't feel anything else besides the lava and warm energy.
"To where?"
The Empress looked behind for a moment and then resumed her steps. She walked right on top of the field of lava. As soon as she stepped a foot, rocks emerged from beneath to support her. "They watch everything."
This time when she walked, Sylvester followed behind. True, he already expected the 'Gods' to be watching him by now. The fact that he still breathed was already a victory in a way.
lightsnοvεl The stones appeared under his feet just as the Empress'. They walked behind her throne, and then further into the sea of lava. The air was thick with the acrid scent of sulfur, assaulting the senses with a relentless reminder of the demonic malevolence.
Eventually, the throne vanished behind in the distance, and they kept on going. No, it wasn't a lake of lava, but perhaps a river, as it kept flowing and getting bigger. Occasional geysers of molten fire erupt sporadically around them, casting an eerie glow that danced along the cavern walls, revealing grotesque, contorted formations and etched shapes.
'Not the way I expected the first meeting to go like. A trap?' Sylvester raked his brain, trying to understand where she was leading him. 'Ready to kill then.'
Staying alert, he looked up at the overhead stalactites of obsidian hanging like lethal daggers, threatening to plunge below.
Eventually, the river of lava ended, and they arrived on solid black ground made of stone. But as they entered a massive opening, Sylvester noticed they were walking on a very thin and long bridge, with deep, dark ravines on each side and no end in sight.
All of a sudden, from the swarming bright light of the lava, they had entered the darkness. But the heat was only rising there.
"We're here," the Empress notified at the end of the thin pathway. She placed her armored claw on the wall as it seemed like a dead end. But then the wall opened like twin doors. However, as they walked inside, it was still utter darkness.
"Follow my voice," the Empress instructed and vanished deeper into the room. "Here... this way..."
The entire time, she called out to Sylvester, guiding him towards herself. But she had no idea what Sylvester could do. He saw everything, even in that darkness, and it made his skin crawl.
'The same snakes I saw in the portal?!'
They were everywhere, as he could see them under his feet and even above. It didn't require making light anymore. However, he did keep Miraj tightly close to his body.
"Where are we going?" he asked her again. "I know the reason. I need the name of the location."
"Where they can't hear." She replied.
'I wasn't expecting this beneath the armor.' Sylvester felt somewhat speechless. She wasn't ugly at all.
"Zenith," he muttered her name. "That still didn't answer my question. You've been trying to find and speak with me for over a century, even before I was born. Why such rush?"
"Because judgment day is coming. The war between our two worlds is not far away. The more time passed, the more desperation grew. Sylvester Maximilian, if we don't come together, our already slim chances of winning will disappear completely," The Empress replied and clicked a finger on her ring, forming a metal, engraved rod in her hands.
Sylvester was alerted and got his spear from Chonky. "I have been preparing against 'them'. What have you been doing?"
"So you knew." She sighed and looked down, her yellow gaze showing some emotions. "I feel less burdened now. I had expected that you'd dismiss my claims of there being Gods, so powerful we cannot imagine. I've seen and heard plenty through my oracle."
'Does she want to fight me?' Sylvester brought up his guard.
"Tell me, Empress. How much do you know? What do you know about our entire situation? Why are we being used like this?" Sylvester directly asked the main questions.
She began walking closer to Sylvester in a fighting stance. "Since I was born, I saw my family's ancestors work day and night to build something to help the people. I wanted to follow that tradition and invent a few things. Everything was going brilliantly until I met my Oracle—the grander fate unfolded, and now we stand face to face."
'She's still keeping secrets.' He could feel it.
Sylvester also took a battle stance. "I've had similar experiences, but perhaps not as smooth a rise. Almost got killed at a month old, fought all the way here... still searching for answers."
"I will give you the answers." The Empress stopped moving. "But first, I must know if you're capable."
"Hah," Sylvester chuckled and raised his spear. "You took the words out of my mouth, Empress. But let me warn you, don't be too surprised when defeated."
Under that dome's light, they prepared their mental strategy. Sylvester had no clue how powerful she was, and the Empress had only heard words about Sylvester from various reports. They both wanted to be careful and, at the same time, go all out to measure each other.
"Sylvester Maximilian, I hold no animosity towards you," she muttered and positioned herself to strike. "We're doing this to defeat Aveda and Ashraska!"
"So you know their names."
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