Chapter 584: Chapter 584- Gathering of the Heavenly Kings

"Those fools, they never questioned why this subterranean space was created in the first place. This prison that used to seal me, seal my kind, will be their fall today. I must thank the kingdom above, and I hope they like my gift".

He lifted a single finger and snapped.

Immediately, all the demons stood in ready, exuding their ferociousness.

"The numbers are still not enough. There are more than a hundred thousand demons sealed here, whose essence has yet to dissipate. Seems like I’ll have to make up for the numbers from above."

Astaroth spoke, seemingly unsatisfied.

"Still, I need to thank these humans for spreading such negativity in this subterranean world. The spreading grief, death, and misery intensified our powers. Thanks to that, I was able to hasten my resurrection."

In a good mood, he turned his attention to the last remaining survivors. He didn’t say anything; he simply raised his hands as if offering salvation.

From his body poured a torrent of dark haze, though unlike the faint mist the walkers exuded, his was a pure, thick, viscous energy that stained even the land dark.

Like tar pulled from the abyss between worlds. It flooded outward in an instant, swallowing the remaining survivors near the elevator.

They screamed, their bodies convulsed. But there was no time for prolonged agony.

The haze invaded them through mouth, nose, eyes, pores, devouring flesh and marrow alike.

When it all receded, what stood were no humans but walkers, ready to evolve into demons.

March 3rd of the New Valdonian Year 126 marked the day when the Eighth Heavenly King and hundreds of thousands of demons broke through their seal in one of the Great Demon Prisons.

That’s right, the subterranean space that the citizens of Lunaris called the Hollow Earth was in fact one of the Great Demon Prisons built by the Second Arcanists during the ancient times when civilization was at its peak.

Now, however, it had become a demonic citadel filled with demons and more waiting to be revived.

"Rise."

Astaroth spread his arms slightly.

Behind him, the abyss churned.

And the entire army of newly born demons rose as one.

Level Two of the Hollow Earth was no longer a prison.

It was a womb.

And it was going to unleash real hell into the world.

.

.

At the same time...

Above the Hollow Earth, at the heart of the Kingdom of Lunaris, the Royal Palace was a marvel of wealth and architecture.

Gleaming in gold and the light of crystals, it was the very symbol of concentration of wealth in the possession of the few.

A principle that an entire nation adhered to.

Inside the audience hall, the King of Lunaris sat at the head of the council table, mid-discussion with his ministers.

Suddenly, the doors to the chamber opened without announcement.

A tall figure stepped inside.

Donning silver white armor, a midnight blue cloak, and a longsword resting at his hip, his presence gave off a restrained yet powerful aura.

The figure had ash-gray hair and sharp features, carved with years of discipline.

This was Sir Giacomo, Level 10 Knight. One of the three Paragons of Lunaris. A being who stood at the pinnacle of mortal martial power.

Sir Giacomo’s steel gray eyes scanned the room before falling on the king.

"That will be all. You all are dismissed."

Once the ministers left and they were alone, the King of Lunaris looked at the knight, his facial fat showing his clearly displeased expression.

"For you to interrupt a royal council unannounced, it must be serious, right?"

"Your Majesty." Giacomo knelt on one knee. "Level Two of the Hollow Earth has suffered a catastrophic breach."

"What?!"

The king stiffened, not expecting such dire news.

"There is an emergent demonic force within the lower sector. Former slaves have undergone a transformation. Their numbers are significant."

"How significant?"

Giacomo paused for a moment, recalling the intel he gathered.

"Potentially in the tens of thousands."

A chilling silence enveloped the room as soon as those words fell.

The implication of the words spoken by the knight was so significant that it cracked the fatty’s, cracked the king’s composure.

"That’s impossible. Hollow Earth is sealed. What are the guards doing?"

The Hollow Earth was built with the possibility of slaves revolting. As such, the king did not panic outright. He knew that the guards were more than capable of handling the matter.

However, the answer he got from the knight was far from positive.

"They have all been overwhelmed. I have sent the knight orders to intercept the demonic horde. However, the situation does not look good."

"H-How could this happen?"

Giacomo had no answer. The demonic horde surged from Level Two without warning. There had been no movements or the sight of any demons approaching from the border patrol.

"What are the other two doing? Send the other two Paragons to intercept the demonic force. Relay my command to them. They and their knight orders are to stop the demonic force at the primary choke points to prevent them from ascending the Hollow Earth."

The king began pacing in anxiousness.

Demonic forces are invading his kingdom, what’s more from the Hollow Earth no less.

It was a devastating loss for him, one that took him by surprise.

"I have already informed those two; they have already set out to engage the enemy. Your Majesty must prepare for evacuation protocols. If containment fails, the palace may become a primary target. We cannot assume the breach will remain localized."

Temporary retreat, huh. That sounds good.

He was the sovereign of this land, the most important person. As long as he survived, the kingdom could rise again.

The capital could be reconstructed, slaves reacquired, and wealth regenerated. But a dead king rebuilt nothing.

It was an obvious choice for him to put his safety first. As for the people, they were expendables.

"You are right. Make the necessary preparations for my evacuation. Do it with the utmost secrecy. I will not have panic spread through the capital."

The king commanded without hesitation.

Giacomo bowed his head.

"It will be done."

He then turned and exited the chamber to make his preparations.

As he walked out, his thoughts shifted towards a being. To the demi human woman he personally brought into Lunaris about a year ago.

Her defiance, the way her spirit refused to break even when marked with slave runes, stood out in his perspective.

Even the abnormal surge of power she displayed, easily deflecting an attack from a Level 8 knight adjutant of his.

It left a deep mark on him.

He was sure that even among her race, she possessed a special bloodline. Bloodline that would help the king maintain his reign even after the evacuation.

At his core, Giacomo was a knight loyal to the king and then to the kingdom through and through.

He considered all possibilities, even the potential fall of the capital and the need to maintain the king’s lineage.

.

.

Level Two had become unrecognizable.

What was once an industrial abyss filled with toxic mists and constant labor had transformed into a citadel of demons and darkness.

More knights and guards had descended to Level Two to contain the breach, only for the demons to turn the tables on them.

Explosions of skills and blades tore through the cavernous world.

However, for every demon that fell, three more rose in its place.

The darkness, the negativity, consumed the guards, birthing more demons. Then there was also the difference in strength.

Had the guards chosen a different place to mount their resistance, then perhaps the results might not have been so one-sided.

However, this was Hollow Earth.

A place where screams of suffering had echoed for decades.

Hate of betrayal, curses of death.

The place was saturated with potent negativity. A power that the demons thrived on.

This place, which was a Great Prison that used to seal them previously, became their home ground.

Inside the tallest garrison tower, sitting on a throne made of wriggling darkness, was the architect of this insurgency.

Astaroth, the Eighth Heavenly King, lounged, one leg crossed lazily over the other, elbow resting against the armrest, chin propped against his knuckles.

His deep crimson eyes pierced through the ceiling, looking at the schemes and actions of the humans.

The latter believed they were holding the choke points. Believed they could contain him here. However, they couldn’t be any more wrong.

Astaroth’s crimson eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.

"Naïve."

Every knight, every guard was only bolstering their numbers. Their death and screams increased the negative energy here.

Inside the depths of the rolling dark haze, numerous mountains of bodies could be seen piled up, and from each of these mountains sprouted a cocoon.

These cocoons pulsed with a blood red ominous light, as if alive.

Anyone who saw this scene would find it deeply disturbing and chilling. Whatever was within those cocoons cannot be allowed to be born.