Rebirth : The Alchemist's Path

Chapter 156: Strange

When Macon and his companions heard Sylvus's words, they were utterly bewildered. What had he just said? How could he speak so casually about facing down a Deity Emperor, a figure of immense power in the divine realm? Was he joking?

"A mere Deity Emperor? And he'll kill them as they come?" Macon thought to himself, his confusion evident. This had to be a mistake. Sylvus, a lower Deity , standing against a Divine Emperor was the reverse of what should happen. It would be more accurate to say that Sylvus would be the one defeated if he faced such power.

Sylvus, however, seemed unbothered by their confusion. His expression remained calm, as though he saw no issue in his bold claims. His calm demeanor only added to the sense of disbelief among his companions. They knew their strengths and limitations; the power of a Deity Emperor was far beyond what any of them could handle.

Yet here was Sylvus, talking as if the Deity Emperors were just another obstacle to overcome.

"Sylvus," Mageling, the demon spirit, broke the tense silence, his voice carrying a note of concern. "If they really do come, I can command the death guards of the Demon Emperor to hold them off for a while. Even if it means delaying the Lord's recovery, we must ensure that no harm comes to him."

Mageling's suggestion wasn't offered lightly. Summoning the death guards would take a significant toll on him, draining his vital energy, which was no small cost. This energy wasn't just any power—it was the inherited strength of the demon race, their very essence.

Sylvus, however, only smiled and shook his head at the offer. "No need to strain yourself. Leave the Divine Hall's people to me," he replied. There was a quiet confidence in his tone that caught everyone's attention. Was he really planning to face the incoming Divine Emperors on his own?

Mageling fell silent, contemplating the situation. He understood the risks of summoning the death guards, and the cost it would exact from him. Still, handing over this responsibility to Sylvus seemed just as dangerous, if not more so. The Divine Hall's forces were not to be taken lightly.

"Thank you, Sylvus," Mageling said, his tone formal and respectful. "From this moment forward, the demon race will follow your lead."

Sylvus waved his hand dismissively, as if he had no interest in such allegiance. "I have no ambitions to dominate the world," he said. "If I had such desires, I would have crowned myself Emperor back on the continent of Aislar."

While Sylvus's companions mulled over his words, events outside the Netherworld Mountains were unfolding quickly. A group of warriors flew towards the mountain range. Among them were several powerful figures, one of whom was a man named Lar.

"Lord Lar," said a man named Cormin, flying alongside him. "Ahead lies the Netherworld Mountains. I can sense demonic energy within."

Lar nodded, his expression stern. "Let the others rest here for a moment. We'll wait for the other two temples to arrive."

Behind Lar and Cormin flew tens of thousands of elite warriors from the Dark Temple. Each warrior had at least reached the level of a True Deity, with many of them having achieved the rank of deity King. Among their ranks were even a few deity Emperors, the most powerful beings in the divine realm. This force represented the main army of the Dark Temple, and they were a formidable presence.

While they might not be invincible, few would dare to challenge them.

It wasn't long before another group appeared, flying swiftly from two different directions. If Sylvus had been present, he would have immediately recognized one of them: Horace, the head of the Radiant Temple. The other was Tans, the leader of the Light Temple. Both of them had brought their temple's most elite warriors with them.

After the three groups merged, their combined force numbered around a hundred thousand warriors, with over twenty Deity Emperors among them.

"You're a bit late," Lar teased, eyeing Horace and Tans with amusement. "Kept me waiting."

Horace scowled in response. "Lar, this is your Dark Temple's business. Why are you dragging us into it?"

He wasn't pleased. He had been waiting patiently for Sylvus to deliver the materials he'd promised, only to be interrupted by Lar's sudden call for action.

"Horace, what do you mean by that?" Tans interrupted, his tone sharp. "The remnants of the demon race must be wiped out for the good of the divine realm. You seem reluctant, though. Perhaps you'd prefer to explain that to the Divine lord?"

Lar smiled knowingly. This was exactly why he had summoned Horace and Tans. He knew they would bicker, and he could use their rivalry to his advantage.

"Tans, I see the Light Temple has resolved its issues in the divine domain. I suppose you're planning to throw your general under the bus, right? Don't worry, I've saved a special spot just for him," Horace sneered, his tone biting.

"That won't be necessary," Tans replied coldly. "I've already issued my orders. The divine domain is dangerous, and if anyone dies, it's not our fault. If anyone has a problem, they can take it up with the Twelve Temples—or even the Divine lord "

Horace fell silent at that. He realized that Tans was trying to drag the rest of them into the situation, a clever strategy to deflect blame.

"Enough," Lar interrupted. "Save your energy for the real fight. We're dealing with demon remnants here, and they've summoned death guards. These aren't weaklings; some of them are quite powerful."

At the mention of death guards, the mood grew tense. Even Horace and Tans, who had been quarreling moments earlier, now wore serious expressions.

"Have there been any signs of Deity Emperor-level death guards?" Horace asked, his tone grave.

"None so far," Lar replied. "But my scouts have found a fortress deep within the mountains. It's guarded by a Deity Soveriegn-level death guard."

Tans's brow furrowed at the mention of a fortress. "Could it be the Demon Fortress?" he asked. "I didn't expect that to appear."

The mention of the Demon Fortress sparked a wave of concern. It wasn't something the average person in the divine realm knew about, but the leaders of the Twelve Temples did. The fortress was a relic of the demon race, and it had been used to help them escape annihilation during the last great war. Its reappearance meant that the situation was far more dangerous than they had anticipated.

"It is indeed the Demon Fortress," Lar confirmed. "Do you think I would have summoned you here otherwise?"

"We can't waste any more time," Tans said. "We need to move in and take the fortress before things get out of hand."

Horace and Lar nodded in agreement, and the three leaders led their combined forces deeper into the Netherworld Mountains, their hundred-thousand-strong army following behind.

Inside the Demon Fortress, Mageling sensed the approaching threat. "The Divine Hall's forces have arrived," he said, his voice laced with a chilling edge.

Sylvus glanced outside, a faint smile on his lips. "They arrived sooner than expected," he remarked. "Call back the death guards. I'll handle this myself."

Without waiting for a response, Sylvus began walking toward the fortress's entrance.

Macon and the others hesitated. They wanted to protest, to offer their help, but they knew their power was insufficient. In the face of so many Deity Emperors and their elite forces, they would only be a hindrance. Even if they summoned reinforcements from their clans, it would be too late by the time they arrived.

Reluctantly, they chose to place their faith in Sylvus, even though the odds seemed overwhelmingly against him.

Meanwhile, Tans, Lar, and Horace were making their way through the mountains. They had expected to encounter death guards along the way, but so far, they hadn't seen a single one.

"Strange," Tans muttered. "Weren't we told the mountains were crawling with death guards? Where are they?"

"They must have realized we're coming," Lar said with a grin. "Let's move forward and meet them head-on."

Horace, however, wasn't as relaxed as his companions. Something about the place unsettled him. There was a presence here—one he recognized, one that made his skin crawl.

"Could it be… him?" Horace thought, dread creeping into his mind.

Yes. There was no mistaking it. The energy he was sensing belonged to that man.

Could Sylvus be the demon remnant they were hunting? It didn't make sense, though. If Sylvus were a demon, Horace would have sensed it long ago.

"I hope he's not here," Horace muttered under his breath. If that man truly was present, then they were all in grave danger.

As they approached the heart of the mountains, they spotted the Demon Fortress nestled halfway up a mountainside. And just outside the fortress, they saw a figure lounging casually on a massive boulder, seemingly unbothered by their presence.

Tans and Lar didn't react at first, but when Horace got a clearer look at the figure, his face went pale.

It was him. Sylvus.