Chapter 232: Anthea’s Allure
Looking at the crimson sky in the distance, Qin Chu knew that this opponent was on a completely different level from Eldritch. Even he couldn’t afford to underestimate him.
This was the First Demon Beast Prince. Although also at level 90, he had reached that level earlier than Eldritch and possessed far more experience and combat awareness.
And according to Ireta, the First Prince also had more elite troops under his command.
Taking the Flame Witch from him wouldn’t be easy, especially since the Flame Witch herself might be an enemy. After all, this powerful Witch had lost control and would attack anyone who approached her.
He had barely taken two steps when he felt a hand grasp his.
He looked down and saw Anthea.
Her small face, as always, was expressionless, her delicate fingers holding his rough hand.
Her touch was smooth and cool.
Anthea’s action puzzled him.
This ghostly girl usually just stayed by his side, silently protecting him, rarely initiating contact.
Seemingly sensing his gaze, a faint flicker of emotion appeared in Anthea’s deep blue eyes, disturbing the usual stillness within them.
She seemed…nervous.
But her voice was as calm as ever, “What? Do you dislike me holding your hand?”
Qin Chu came to his senses and smiled gently, “Of course not.”
“That’s good…”
Her voice was soft, and she didn’t even notice the slight curve of her own lips.
He looked at her as she walked ahead, her small yet perfectly formed figure, her athletic curves, her long golden hair flowing behind her in the desert wind.
There was a captivating beauty about her.
Perhaps he had become accustomed to her presence within him, to waking up with Shaye nestled against his chest and Anthea curled up in his abdomen.
Amidst the swirling sand and dust, Qin Chu noticed, for the first time, how truly beautiful Anthea was, her presence radiating a unique, intoxicating allure.
…
Rumble!
A terrifying energy erupted from within Flame Mountain.
The entire mountain range trembled, cracks appearing on its smooth surface, as if it might collapse at any moment.
The scorching heat, accompanied by a powerful shockwave, formed a ring in the air, the clouds above billowing into a giant mushroom shape.
Flames soared into the sky, dyeing it a deep crimson.
Inside the mountain, a middle-aged man stood tall and straight.
But his breath came in ragged gasps, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
A pair of black wings extended from his back, indicating his Winged race heritage.
The Winged race was also a powerful race among Demon Beasts, born to soar through the skies with incredible speed. They possessed sharp claws, even sharper than an eagle’s, and could control the power of storms.
The current Winged Queen was Demon King Nagath’s first wife.
And this man was the first son of the Demon King and the Winged Queen, the eldest prince.
Diabolique!
He wasn’t handsome, far less so than his younger brother, Eldritch. His features were ordinary, even plain.
He wasn’t particularly tall either. At 1.8 meters, if not for his wings, no one in a human city would mistake him for a Demon Beast.
But height and appearance were meaningless among Demon Beasts.
Strength was everything.
Diabolique had broken through the level 90 barrier decades ago, even before the Demon Beast invasion of the Heavenly Continent.
The Demon Beasts hadn’t appeared suddenly. Their history was far longer than humans realized.
Having inherited both Winged and Demon King bloodlines, Diabolique could freely manipulate the powers of storms and darkness. Coupled with his powerful physique, he was not only the strongest among Demon King Nagath’s children, but he could even rival the Seventeen Abyssal Demon Generals and the Four Heavenly Kings.
And his personality was sinister and ruthless. Unlike the flamboyant Eldritch and Lomond, he preferred to keep his true strength hidden.
It was rumored that he had come here to seal the Flame Witch and obtain her power because he felt threatened by Lomond’s sudden rise.
But in reality, he had never taken Lomond, or even Eldritch, seriously.
These younger brothers weren’t even worthy of being his rivals. His goal wasn’t to be the next Demon King, but… the true Demon King.
It was said that their father was testing his many children, choosing the most outstanding one to inherit the throne. But in Diabolique’s eyes, their father had no intention of abdicating at all.
Since he wouldn’t leave willingly, Diabolique would use his own strength to overthrow him.
He had sat on that throne for far too long.
It was time for a change.
Of course, Diabolique also understood the vast difference in strength between himself and his father.
His father’s power was astonishing, a level he had always strived for but could never reach, especially after his duel with the First Hero. The gap between them seemed to be growing wider and wider.
If he cultivated normally, it would be almost impossible for him to catch up, let alone surpass his father.
So, Diabolique could only take a risk.
Sealing a Witch’s power within himself to become stronger.
His original target had been Shub-Niggurath, the Dark Witch, but she was too powerful, almost on par with his father.
Later, he had set his sights on Ireta, the Daughter of Death, but she was too elusive.
Now, he had found the perfect target: the mad Flame Witch.
Around him were eleven of his most trusted subordinates.
Four elite Winged warriors, two powerful Dire Wolves, two monstrous Tentacle Demons, and a powerful Centipede Demon.
And his two childhood friends:
Heloise, the Snow Woman!
Iyeta, the Blood Elf!
Heloise and Iyeta had trained and grown up with him. Diabolique, obsessed with the Demon King’s throne, focused all his attention on cultivation and didn’t intend to marry before becoming the Demon King. He didn’t want anything to hinder his path.
But among the Demon Beasts, everyone knew that Heloise and Iyeta were practically Diabolique’s consorts.
These eleven Demon Beasts were all elites among elites.
Each of them possessed combat power comparable to a human War God or Grand Mage.
With Diabolique, a level 90+ expert, leading them, they had thought capturing the Flame Witch would be easy. But they quickly discovered that her power, amplified by her madness, was terrifying.
She unleashed her flames with reckless abandon, not caring about the consequences, the raging inferno preventing them from approaching.
Even the tips of Diabolique’s black wings were scorched.
The twelve powerful Demon Beasts, including Diabolique, hovered in the air, the hard rock beneath them melting into lava. They formed a circle around a fiery red figure, its flames dancing like crimson hair.
That was the Flame Witch.
“Yaaaaah…”
Suddenly, the Flame Witch let out a shrill scream and flailed her arms wildly. The lava beneath them churned, and twelve fiery serpents of molten rock erupted, lunging towards the twelve Demon Beasts.
A Dire Wolf and a Winged warrior couldn’t dodge in time.
Their bodies and wings were pierced by the lava serpents, the stench of burning flesh filling the air.
With pained roars, they were sent flying.
“Ice!”
Heloise, the Snow Woman, slammed her small, white hand downwards.
With a crackling sound, a cloud of white mist filled the air, and the lava serpent beneath her instantly froze.
And that wasn’t all. Heloise’s body danced in the air, her skirt fluttering.
A chilling aura radiated from her, spreading rapidly.
Wherever it touched, the lava froze into solid rock.
Heloise was crucial to this mission. Her ice magic was the Flame Witch’s natural counter.
The temperature within the mountain dropped sharply, frost covering the rock walls, the chilling cold closing in on the Flame Witch.
The flames around her flickered and diminished.
Now’s our chance!
Diabolique’s eyes narrowed, and he shot towards the Flame Witch like a streak of light.
“Should we intervene?” Anthea asked in a low voice from a dark corner near the entrance of the mountain.
Beside her was Qin Chu, his gaze fixed on the battle.
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