God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Chapter 400: Returning through the Rift (14).

An unsettling feeling washed over Cain as he plunged into the rift. He wasn't foreign to this feeling, so he quickly shook it off.

He immediately turned all his focus to controlling the Astral Avatar, as well as keeping the golden chains from unmanifesting. With {Wind Weaver} active, he didn't need to worry as long as a big obstacle presented itself in his path.

"A place between worlds, huh..." Hunter said all of a sudden with a frown.

Susan nodded, "Yes, but not quite. The fragmented lands if not a world, but a portion of it split apart from the original."

Since Hunter didn't understand what the Fragmented Land was exactly, he could only nod his head.

Susan continued on a solemn note,

"The {Abyssal Realm-Walkers}... Created from the combination of the cosmic energies between worlds, and the Devil Essence left behind by Devils that had sought to leave a portion of their Devilish nature behind in order to inhabit a world they didn't belong to."

Since he couldn't talk, Cain had been listening attentively. He couldn't help but frown...

'According to Stingè, this place has always been a prison realm. The more I think about it, the more it doesn't make sense.'

He knew how the {Abyssal Realm-Walkers} came to be. Devils that wanted to inhabit a planet had to first expel a portion of their Devil Essence if they didn't do that, then that planet would reject them from the get-go.

The Devil Essence they expelled, over thousands of years, would combine with cosmic energy to create the strange creatures known as the {Abyssal Realm-Walkers}.

That was all he knew about them...

'No human can ever get used to this...' The crushing force he had felt the first time he had traveled through this void was there. However, it was not as prevalent. Still, that didn't mean he was comfortable. With his powerful physique, he could only wonder how the others must have been feeling.

Surprisingly, they didn't seem to be affected by it.

'Odd...'

"Technically, they should be called Demons since their very nature was convinced from the Devils." Susan continued, looking ahead into the crimson blackness of the rift.

"However, they are far too different from Devils."

Jenny cut into the conversation, "Could it be because of the difference in environments? Or the circumstances regarding their origins?"

Susan shrugged, "That could be it. However, all that still doesn't change the fact that just like Devils, these creatures are crazy."

Creatures affected by Devil Essence would always be afflicted by the curse of madness and destruction behind it...

Although mutant beasts were hostile towards humans, that was because the presence of mana jumbled their sensitivity towards the prey and predator relationship. They were still perfectly sane. Take Ruby for example...

However, this was different for creatures like the {White-Eye Devil Primate}.

The group continued to discuss as the AstralAvatar swam deeper into the rift. The silence surrounding them and the vastness of the void around them was truly madness-inducing.

"No Realm Walkers have been spotted yet?" Cain suddenly said out of the blue.

Although he required utmost focus while controlling the Astral Avatar, that didn't mean he couldn't hold a few conversations. However also couldn't let his mind drift too far, so it was best to abstain from them.

Still, he had to ask...

Evangeline who was seated not too far from him shrugged,

"We won't know anything until they attack. Observation-type spells and skills don't work in here for some reason."

Before Cain could say anything more, Evangeline shot up from the back of the Astral Avatar...

"Numerous figures are approaching from there."She said, pointing at a patch of darkness streaked with crimson bolts of lightning.

A grim look appeared on Cain's face, 'They are here...'

Although he would have loved to help, he just hoped that the others were enough. Still, that didn't mean there was nothing he could do.

He could still control the chains of metal he had previously conjured. With that thought in mind, he made sure that the Beastmen were positioned properly.

Because the Realm Walkers were approaching from the side, the Shieldmen also had to be positioned at the head in that direction. Then the Swordmen and Spearmen came next, followed by the archers and marksmen.

This was to ensure that as many people as possible came out alive. Since he had to shut his eyes for maximum concentration he had to do all this some other way.

Luckily for him, he had the {Daek Soul}, which viewed the world around it a stunning simplicity. With minimum information entering his brain, he was able to manage must just fine.

A moment later, the void was torn open. A swarm of {Abyssal Realm Walkers} silently poured out. These creatures were like harrowing shadows, moving through the void without having to worry about the destructive and vole forces around them.

Because that was their origin...

They were born from these destructive and vile forces. Wreathed in an evil aura, these creatures pounced on them.

Jenny yelled at the top of her lungs,

"Archers, Marksmen... Let'em loose!"

The moment her voice fell, countless magic bullets and arrows flew across the void. Perhaps it was because the origin of the magic wasn't a living being, but the handguns Cain had made worked just fine in the void.

The clustered bombardment made impact with the Realm Walkers at the front lines and tore through them. Compared to the single one Cain had to face, these Realm Walkers seemed a bit like fodder.

The bullets and arrows tore through them. However, they were quickly replaced by more. Suddenly, Cain felt a chilling presence. His face became pale...

'What the hell?!'

Then he remembered...

'This presence was there the last time. However, it seemed content with just letting me fall. However, it still sent a single Realm Walker after me...'

An entity that was shrouded within the darkness was paying attention to him. From the looks of it, this entity was an immeasurable distance away. However, it locked onto him very precisely.

Judging from the fear that coursed through his veins, he could say with utmost certainty,

'This one will annihilate me, both body and soul...'

He could feel it clearly. Not even Stingè stood a chance against whatever was within the darkness.

Still, the creature didn't seem all that interested in him yet. That was why it never came.

That, or it simply couldn't...

However, the torrent of {Abyssal Realm Walkers} continued to increase.

Cain's face was grim, 'They are being ordered. We need to find the general and take him out!' Cain knew that while the entity that had its gaze on his was strong, it wasn't controlling these {Realm Walkers}.

That meant they needed to find this commander and kill him since the behavior of the Realm Walkers was similar to a huge mind.

The increase in Realm Walkers continued. Soon, they weren't just pouring out of a single corner...

"Damn it!" Someone yelled all of a sudden.

Susan, who was observing the distant Realm Walkers suddenly turned. Ignis was looking in that direction.

She turned to face Susan, "They are coming from this side as well."

"Here as well..." Hunter said indifferently as he summoned his bow from his inventory, drawing the bowstring in another direction.

A heavy sigh escaped from Susan's lips,

"We are surrounded."

This was one of the possibilities they had discussed. It also happened to be the worst-case scenario as well. Who would have thought their luck would be so terrible...

"I knew it... I knew this bastard would kill me someday!" Ignis said through gritted teeth.

'Oi! How is this my fault?!' Cain, the bastard in question, couldn't help but protest internally.

Susan took a deep breath. Then the sharp glint in her eyes became brighter, almost to the point of being frightening...

"Let's stick to the plan... Hunter, you take point guard. Jenny, provide cover fire... Ignis, you can provide Floki and Galip assistance down there. Although I can't assist now, I placed buffs on everyone before we entered the rift."

"And you.." Just as Susan set her sights on the lackluster Evangeline, Cain called out to her.

"Eva-" He was cut off befire he could finish.

"To destroy an army, you raise the head of the commander on a stick, right?"

A grin made its way onto Cain's face,

"Exactly!"

A smile appeared on her face as she shrugged, "In that case, say no more..."

With that, she disappeared from all their sights, leaving them confused. Cain then turned to Susan without opening his eyes,

"She's going to go take out the enemy general."

Susan's brows twitched, but she ended up sighing after a while,

"That means we need to hold out until she does so, correct?"

Cain nodded, "As long as the neck is destroyed the head will fall and be useless."

Susan turned around, "In that case, you don't need to worry. We'll hold out for as long as possible."

Ignis snorted, "Speak for yourself," Before jumping down the back of the flying serpentine creature.

"Just focus on getting us all out of here alive. We are counting on you... Boss." A small grin appeared on Hunter's face before he jumped down as well.

Cain wanted to laugh and cry at the same time,

'Ha... I should have thought of a better title. Now I sound like some street gangster.'

Focusing on their different tasks, the battle began in full...