Chapter 89
Chapter 89
Episode 89
The blue haze surrounding Yuriel permitted no one to approach.
Demons and insects surged forward repeatedly, only to be repelled and slammed against the walls.
Chimurem watched the scene with restless eyes. "...A divine beast's prohibition?" Aiden had clearly said as much. If true, Chimurem had no means to interfere with this phenomenon.
Prohibitions were causal laws inscribed by immortals after paying a certain price. Thus, mortal rules or powers could hardly challenge them.
In short, the Trial of Lust had failed. There was no way to lay a finger on Yuriel now. But if they just stood idle? Death was certain.
Only 216 minutes remained. Within that time, they had to find a way out.
Chimurem glanced subtly at Aiden.
Behind his seemingly calm expression, a terrifying murderous intent seethed. Chimurem knew no way to quell that hatred. From their experience in the Mirror Room, negotiation or dialogue was impossible.
An armed clash seemed unavoidable. Thus, there was only one option left.
The Demon God's Curse. If they could implant that immense power into their body, they might at least step onto the gambling table.
Immediately after, Chimurem dispersed like smoke and vanished.
From within the transparent glass tube, the princess murmured softly.
"Off to prepare another disgusting scheme, I suppose."
Aiden shook his head.
"The trial is over."
Chimurem had reselected Yuriel as the target of penance—once in the Mirror Room, and now here again. Breaking their own rules like this meant Chimurem would have to pay a price. 'If that woman endures, it's your victory.' Judging by those parting words, it was highly likely the subsequent trials had been nullified.
Aiden had concluded as much, and the princess naturally knew it too.
She spoke.
"As a single entity, they'd avoid direct confrontation with you. They have plenty of time to scheme, so we should prepare as well."
The princess's words held merit. Chimurem couldn't defeat Aiden by force, and even deicide would be burdensome.
Aiden replied.
"They have a way to gain power comparable to mine. Moreover, the divine prohibition against killing gods will likely be broken today."
The latter wasn't entirely accurate. But Chimurem had mentioned Pethersarkin, the Demon God—an existence that would disregard even celestial laws to uphold this curse.
He was one of the Five Demon Gods, a supreme deity presiding over "Chaos." A perverse being who would revel most in the world descending into turmoil once the prohibition shattered.
The same held true in the original work. The divine prohibition against killing gods often collapsed due to Pethersarkin.
Aiden would simply accelerate that timeline.
The princess spoke in a subdued voice.
"When you say such things, they usually come to pass. So far."
"This time will likely be no different."
"Regardless, hasn't the plan deviated somewhat?"
The original plan she and Aiden had devised was to break through the eight trials and lift the curse through standard procedures.
But a variable had emerged. While Aiden had anticipated it to some extent, he hadn't mentioned it to the princess to avoid unnecessary anxiety.
Aiden replied calmly.
"I expected something like this. But no matter what they do, I'm confident. Please don't worry."
The princess studied Aiden briefly before slowly speaking.
"There's something I want to say before you ascend to divinity."
Once that time came, there'd be no chance for such casual conversation.
Aiden nodded.
"Speak."
"Share information with me. At the very least, when sacrifices are involved."
Her gaze shifted to Yuriel.
"I thought you'd abandon her. There may come times when you must."
Raphelia instinctively understood. Even after coronation, she wouldn't escape Aiden's influence.
Thus, she needed at least this assurance. When sacrifices were demanded of the public, or when blood was shed under the guise of greater good—she, as sovereign, had the right to know the reasons.
She couldn't blindly entrust everything to Aiden's unilateral actions and words as before.
Raphelia continued.
"Regardless of whether I trust your words, explanations are necessary. I ask for that respect."
Aiden fully understood her position.
"I'll share as much as possible within reasonable limits."
The princess gave him a peculiar look.
"'Reasonable limits.'"
"Some matters are tied directly to my life if disclosed. I ask for your understanding."
Truthfully, he'd thought the unbreakable prohibitions might loosen slightly upon attaining divinity. But nothing had changed. Whoever had imposed them, even his status window offered no explanation.
"However, I promise this: Your people will never be pushed to the brink because of me. That's how I differ from Vacheksar."
The princess chuckled dryly.
"Such irreverent words."
Atraksha, who had been listening, grinned and interjected.
"Calling Aiden 'irreverent' seems a bit misplaced now. Hmm, perhaps 'disloyal' would fit better."
A god couldn't be irreverent to another god.
Atraksha laughed and added,
"Though he certainly acted irreverent enough in the past. You've seen it yourself—best be careful. He might hold grudges when you least expect it."
Meeting the Sun might entail a brutal clash. Until then, Aiden needed to grow stronger.
Aiden nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Then he turned his gaze toward the crimson-black miasma. Seven hours still remained.
"Now, let me briefly explain the extermination plan."
To perfectly slaughter Chimurem and lift the curse, their assistance was also needed.
With so much time left, he could explain leisurely.
Finally, the trial ended.
The moment the crimson-black miasma dissipated, Aiden shattered the glass tube and leaped to the ground.
BOOM! The impact shook the earth. Simultaneously, Aiden's holy light bisected every demon corrupting the surroundings.
He wanted to shield Yuriel from the falling debris, but Saya's prohibition barred even his approach.
Black blood and foul flesh splattered onto them both.
Only then did the pale serpent coiled around Yuriel begin to fade.
Aiden looked at her and spoke.
"You've endured much."
Yuriel shook her head slowly, wearing a bitter smile.
"Not at all. Once again, I've slipped through unscathed."
"Don't dwell on it. I had no desire to see the Saintess suffer either."
As he spoke, Aiden picked up a stray bone fragment and hurled it into the air.
The demon's shinbone flew like a boomerang, shattering the princess and Atraksha's glass tubes before embedding itself in the wall.
Aiden dashed over and caught the two as they fell.
Yuriel quickly joined the group.
Aiden scanned the three and said,
"A reaction will come soon."
No sooner had he spoken than faint tremors began spreading through the ground.
Soon, the interior convulsed, and the earth roared as it quaked violently.
Aiden swiftly surveyed their surroundings. His gaze halted where the vision twisted and the air distorted.
A small fissure slowly rotated, beginning to swallow everything within. The surrounding space warped, seeping gradually into the rift.
The fissure exhaled a gale of wind, pressing down on the group. The women's hair whipped wildly.
Aiden alone stood firm. Clinging to him, they squinted against the wind threatening to tear their eyes apart.
Aiden stared at the fissure with certainty. Chimurem intended to absorb the curse—and the labyrinth itself—to confront him.
Aiden spoke.
"We can't let it escape."
Immediately, he leaped into the air, shattered the ceiling, and soared upward. They needed to escape the basement.
The basement's space was so distorted that directions like up and down bore no relation to the outside world.
Normally, navigating would've been arduous, but now, with destruction permitted, they easily broke through to the surface.
The barren outskirts of Valanthera Palace. Aiden's feet touched the desolate ground.
One step back would've brought them against the divine barrier.
Whispers of demons seeped into their ears.
The moment Aiden set the three down, his expression twisted sharply.
He swung his holy light horizontally at the spectators.
A blade of light sliced through the barrier, cleaving the demons endlessly until—thud—it was abruptly halted. The divine energy dissipated weakly.
A vile miasma had neutralized it. Its source approached with a chilling laugh.
The horde of demons parted fearfully. A demon with half its head as a single eye strode forward—Gusian, the Archdemon.
Aiden remembered those crimson eyes vividly.
Gusian stopped before the divine barrier and spoke.
"I foretold we'd meet again."
Aiden was seized by the urge to leap out and gouge those eyes. Suppressing it, he turned away to face forward.
Gusian's voice continued behind him.
"Take good care of your little maid. You underestimated me too much."
Maid? It didn't take long to understand—Siron. She had a direct contract with Gusian.
Aiden nearly faltered but shook off the thought. Falling for provocation might ruin the task at hand.
Gusian snickered.
Aiden's expression twisted as he kicked backward without looking. Crunch. It likely hit something.
Moments later, a heavy impact sounded as something crashed to the ground.
Atraksha grinned.
"His eye burst."
Aiden was satisfied. He refocused ahead.
By now, the fissure had consumed most of the palace. Explosions erupted incessantly. The distorted space had swelled to the size of a house, filling their vision.
If swept into that, even Aiden wouldn't survive. He anchored himself like a stake and pulled the group close.
Outside the barrier, the demons erupted into cheers.
The miasma flowing from the fissure had electrified them.
A sinister, repulsive energy. Crimson-black smoke coiled like threads, stretching slowly toward Atraksha.
Aiden looked at her and said,
"I'll keep my oath. You'll meet the Sun without fail."
Atraksha smiled faintly and nodded.
And in that moment—the miasma linked to the fissure pierced Atraksha's abdomen.
Like an umbilical cord.
Simultaneously, Aiden severed the Moon's neck.
The miasma yanked Atraksha's avatar into the fissure.
Immediately, the fissure wailed.
"WAAAAAH—!" The ear-splitting cry of a hungry infant shook heaven and earth.
Something began forcing its way out.
A pitch-black finger emerged—enormous yet stubby, followed by a plump wrist. The shoulder and neck lacked definition.
The head that followed was grotesquely oversized for its body.
In short—a giant baby.
A newborn demon. The wailing infant was the demon birthed by Atraksha—the Demon God's Curse.
And the princess's kin.
The baby opened its eyes. Black voids stared at Aiden. Just as human infants suckle milk, newborn demons devour bodily fluids. This one wanted to feast on Aiden.
Naturally, Aiden had no intention of sharing his blood. He unleashed his halo immediately.
Blinding radiance erupted, tearing through the nightmarish sky.
The Slayer of Evil showed no mercy, even to infants—only relentless bloodlust.