428

No Longer a Demon

"Boom!"

Asmodeus, towering over a mere human, paled before the towering 300-meter guardian ancient tree, Tedis. There was a deafening crash followed by a scream as he was smacked down by the hill-sized tree-man's massive palm, crashing into the ground.

Under the continuous onslaught of Tedis's holy light and thunder, Asmodeus was enveloped in smoke, trembling and struggling to rise.

He strained with all his might, but his efforts were futile. He attempted to rise several times, each time met with failure, his cries echoing pitifully: "Ah—"

Leaving Hell's environment, stronger demons often found themselves suppressed by the new surroundings.

Forseti had estimated that most Hell-lords would face suppression of more than one level upon reaching Earth. Some, deeply at odds with Earth's environment, could be suppressed by four or five levels, much like Mephisto had been in the movies.

Mephisto's weakened state on Earth made him unable to even control his son or the Ghost Riders under him.

Asmodeus's suppression shouldn't have reached Mephisto's level, but he clearly couldn't exert his full strength.

The guardian ancient tree was imbued with a potent holy light. Asmodeus, struck by its palm, lost his ability to fight, pinned to the ground, utterly immobilized.

The holy light's power and Tedis's thunder converged on Asmodeus like countless razor-sharp blades, tearing into his flesh and blood.

"Ahhh-"

Asmodeus wailed frantically beneath the tree's palm, his cries emanating from the cracked ground, causing nearby shadows to shiver uncontrollably.

When he had just crossed the portal, the towering giant tree-man had lifted its hand and struck down, its palm casting a terrifying shadow over the land.

The dual suppression of environmental change and holy light almost brought Blackheart to his knees.

Luckily, Huss intervened just in time to kick Asmodeus through the portal. The giant tree seemed to have a discerning eye, immediately abandoning him to confront a more sinister threat.

This scene unfolded before them.

Asmodeus nearly succumbed under the ancient tree's onslaught.

Though Blackheart avoided the blow, he felt a sympathetic chill. The pervasive holy light energy made him feel like he was in dire straits, eager to flee Hearthglen.

However, the paladins stationed there refused to let him leave.

"Whoever you are, you're not leaving Hearthglen until everything's clear," a Paladin warned, clutching Blackheart's arm. "This is Asgard's Silver Hand seat."

"Damn this cursed place!" Blackheart cursed under his breath, enduring the relentless holy light. He almost regretted ever crossing the portal.

Soon, others followed through the portal, returning from Hell to Earth.

The last to emerge was Forseti. Almost immediately upon his return, the portal to Hell collapsed, sealed from the other side by Mephisto and Beelzebub.

"Mephisto, why close the portal? Asmodeus is still inside," Beelzebub questioned, watching the portal vanish.

"Are you planning to pursue him?" Mephisto raised an eyebrow. "The portal leads to Earth; we can't combat the Legion of Evil Spirits there, let alone mount an offense. Smulder is likely dead."

"Closing the portal was our best option. At least we've gained something," he glanced over.

The Legion of Evil Spirits successfully fled Hell, albeit not entirely. A dozen or so Ghost Riders remained, eyeing the two Hell-lords warily.

Mephisto and Beelzebub promptly subdued the Ghost Riders.

Beelzebub couldn't resist remarking, "The Legion of Evil Spirits was Hell's most formidable legion. Yet we only captured this handful... Mephisto, it's because of your son!"

"It's not so much my son as it is Blackheart, my creation. Now he's more foe than family," Mephisto's expression remained placid. "He doesn't see me as a father but holds a deep-seated hatred toward me."

"As for this debacle, it stems from the Asgardians."

Beelzebub agreed, "Indeed, that mysterious light magic is a devil's bane. I sense it will bring greater calamity to Hell one day."

Mephisto fell silent, then declared, "It's not just a feeling; it's a certainty."

"Why?" Beelzebub inquired.

Mephisto didn't reply directly, stating, "Odin may be old, but because of him and his extraordinary power, Asgard poses a greater threat to Hell than ever before."

"We should convene all Hell-lords to discuss this..."

After catching his breath in Hearthglen, Forseti witnessed Tedis, the guardian ancient tree, retract its colossal palm from the ground, revealing a corpse.

It was unmistakably Asmodeus's body.

This outcome didn't surprise Forseti.

Tedis had grown immensely powerful, reaching Level 6 in mobility and Level 7 while rooted. Coupled with environmental advantages, it was more than capable of defeating most Hell-lords.

After dispatching Asmodeus, Tedis didn't stop there, instead turning to Blackheart. Its enormous palm, like a mountain, descended, seemingly intent on crushing Blackheart to death on the spot.

"Wait!" Forseti interjected swiftly. Tedis's instincts seemed to drive it to eliminate nearby evil, and only Forseti could halt it.

Tedis halted immediately, eliciting a sigh of relief from Blackheart, though terror still lingered on his face.

"Why did you follow me?" Forseti asked.

"Asmodeus can't contain me anymore. I had to flee..." Blackheart spoke nervously, "I opened the portal for you. Surely you've basic contractual spirit?"

Forseti pondered briefly, "We can leave you be, but under the condition you do no evil."

"No problem," Blackheart inherited his father's qualities, readily promising without supervision.

Forseti added, "I'll inform Heimdall; his All-Seeing Eye will monitor you regularly. Therefore, Your Highness Blackheart, it's wise not to take any risks... If you do, the Rainbow Bridge will whisk you away, straight into the grasp of my sword. Do you know its name?"

"What is it?" Blackheart's mouth twitched.

"The Demon Slayer Sword."

Forseti sheathed the sword, then turned to Huss, "And what of you, Huss? Are you certain Hell isn't for you?"

"That's part of it," Huss grinned. "But more importantly, I've come to realize the devil's weaknesses and limitations."

"What do you mean?" Forseti inquired.

Huss clarified, "I mean, I no longer wish to be a demon!"