Chapter 122: Abyss, the Entomologist
Baron Shoko’s mansion was large, its sprawling garden filled with various fruit trees. It wasn’t the fruiting season, yet the trees were laden with fruits of all sizes.
And it wasn’t just fruits that hung from the branches. Globules of black mud pulsed and wriggled, slowly dripping downwards, taking on vaguely humanoid shapes, grotesque and misshapen.
These black mud creatures twitched and swayed, struggling to detach themselves from the trees. Abyss estimated there were at least twenty Shadowlings forming in this garden alone. The Lord of Nightmares was clearly getting desperate.
He had to admit, Givia’s seemingly foolish decision had been a brilliant move.
The Lord of Nightmares fed on fear, and his primary experience with mortals was their weakness and vulnerability. This arrogant god had likely never anticipated such a powerful display of faith from the Ossi people, inspired by Givia’s ancient ritual.
The Ossi people, ravaged by war, their hearts filled with pain and uncertainty, had been vulnerable to the Lord of Nightmares’ influence. But this small nation, oppressed by the Western Empire, had found strength in their unity, their faith in their princess unwavering. They believed, with an almost childlike innocence, that she would lead them out of darkness, back to their rightful path. This belief had overshadowed the fear and despair sown by Kevin, disrupting the Lord of Nightmares’ plans, forcing him into a corner.
Abyss’s next move was to expel the nobles who continued to oppress the people, who used violence and intimidation to silence those who supported Givia, driving them from their castles, and to eradicate the mutated trees Kevin had planted throughout the kingdom. This would cut off the Lord of Nightmares’ remaining lifelines, making his situation even more desperate.
He wondered if the Lord of Nightmares had ever tasted his own fear. A god’s fear must be a delectable delicacy.
Abyss knew that the accelerated production of Shadowlings was a sign of desperation, a last-ditch effort to launch a counterattack. Without the need to maintain a human-like appearance, the Shadowlings were forming much faster. Two more had already dropped from the trees, their bodies splattering on the ground, their guttural roars echoing through the garden, as they charged towards him.
Abyss chanted a spell, pointing a finger at them. A blast of icy air froze them solid.
But this time, the effect was different. The moment they were frozen, they began to dissipate, transforming into black smoke that spread outwards, some drifting towards him, some dispersing into the surrounding area.
It was the poisonous mist created by the Lord of Nightmares. If it spread unchecked, it would pose a serious threat to the people, weakening their minds, making them vulnerable to the Outer God’s influence.
Abyss watched as the two frozen masses shrunk, their forms dissolving into swirling black clouds.
The fruit trees in the garden continued to produce Shadowlings, another one dropping to the ground, black goo splattering.
Besides Baron Shoko’s garden, sixteen other nobles who supported Kevin also had gardens filled with these mutated trees. Abyss’s carrion beetles, strategically placed within their territories, were relaying information to him. Countless Shadowlings were forming, although not as quickly as in Shoko’s garden. But he didn’t have time to deal with them individually.
“Lord of Nightmares, you’re truly a fascinating opponent. The slightest lapse in judgment, and I’m trapped,” Abyss said, chuckling softly, as he froze another approaching Shadowling, casually sidestepping the swirling black mist.
He didn’t know if the Lord of Nightmares could directly observe the real world, but he knew the Outer God was listening. His seemingly casual monologue was directed at him.
“It seems I’m out of options. Why don’t you stop? I’ll let you go, let you feast on the fear of the Ossi people. But please spare the ordinary citizens. I know you want to maximize your harvest, but pushing them to the brink of madness is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. It’s not sustainable,” Abyss said, spreading his hands towards the approaching mist.
But the Lord of Nightmares didn’t listen. The mist continued to advance, the other black clouds spreading.
Fire wouldn’t work. Ice couldn’t freeze gas. Wind magic could slow its dispersal, but it wasn’t a permanent solution.
Abyss could almost hear the Lord of Nightmares’ triumphant laughter, his amusement at regaining the upper hand.
“Sigh, I can’t keep up this act any longer. Honestly, I never considered your little trick a real threat.”
Abyss grinned, taking a few steps back, avoiding the mist.
“You seem to have forgotten that I took those apple trees you modified back for research. I’ve been a bit dramatic lately. My apologies.”
As he spoke, a dark shadow fell over the garden, as if a black silk cloth were descending from the sky. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t cloth, but a swarm of insects, blotting out the sun.
“Behold, my army of undead aphids—these mindless creatures are easy to control, and incredibly effective. A little trick I learned from my master.”
As the swarm descended, tiny droplets, like a fine mist, rained down from their abdomens. Each droplet contained a potion brewed by Rebecca. The black mist dissipated upon contact with the potion, and the fruits and the developing Shadowlings on the trees dissolved, turning into a gruesome mixture of blood, fat, and rotting fruit pulp.
And above the sixteen other noble estates where the mutated trees grew, and across the entire Ossi Kingdom, countless undead aphids were releasing their payload! Abyss had been waiting for them to reach their destinations before taking action!
He and Rebecca hadn’t been wasting time in the laboratory!
Leave a Reply