Chapter 403 Head on a Pike
"No need to remind me of the war, Ziues… The fact remains that Erebos, someone from the Vampiric realm, has aligned with the Devil King for one reason or another and has already begun undoing the seals. It's only a matter of time now."
"So that's your play? Align with the Devil King like some lost pup running to a new leash?"
"I am no fan of the Devil any more than you or anyone else is. My father lost many great warriors and thousands of planets in the feud between them when he was alive. But I hate you, Angelic bastards, most of all. At least evil acts as evil. You parade around acting like you are some divine justice when, in fact, you murder billions in the name of gaining power."
Ziues's eyes narrowed, his grip on the lightning blade tightening. The void of space around them seemed to pulse with tension. The Demon King's gaze hardened, reflecting a mixture of resolve and bitterness.
The cold silence between them was punctuated by the distant echoes of past battles, a reminder of the relentless conflict that had scarred their worlds.
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Ziues, with his back still to the Demon King, stated, "While that is true, I have personally eaten billions of souls since the war ended and aligning with the Angelic race. It is not as simple as that… we need to grow stronger above all else."
"Besides, those from the Human Realm are designed to be eaten by us. They aren't like other universes with a designed purpose."
The Demon King, with his back to Ziues and his arms crossed, replied, "I wonder about that… I have spied on their worlds for a long, long time since taking over for my father and being chained to my castle and rebuilding the Demon Universe. One thing that always remains, watching humans, is their tenacity…"
Ziues's voice was resolute, echoing in the vast emptiness around them. The distant stars cast a cold light, reflecting off their powerful forms. The Demon King's tone was thoughtful, each word measured and deliberate.
Ziues chuckled and stated, "Nothing but food at the end of the day, and they serve to make us stronger so we may be ready for when the next war should come… though my new King believes a greater threat will eventually emerge… one that triumphs even that of the Devil King."
"We are using the Vale world to purge all the weak planets, and whatever strong ones remain, we will consume them and restart the human's universe until the time comes when the God of Kings thinks it is necessary."
"I see," the Demon King stated, his voice carrying a weight of resignation. "I suppose that means you won't be coming to your senses about all of this?"
Ziues, feeling a bead of sweat trail off his head, gulped and stated, "No, I don't think aligning with you will be fruitful. I plan to take claim over the Vale Realm and rebirth it in my image once I am strong enough to face that strange creature currently in charge… but for now, I am aligned properly."
"I will give you one last chance, Demon King. Hand over the soul of Ty Hockenson, and I will forget all of this. When I report what you've done to the Angelic God of Kings, he will rip you limb from limb and leave your universe worse than the Vale."
The Demon King responded with a dark, mirthless laugh. "No can do. Also, like I said, I have grown rather fond of the humans through my limited interactions… So I will also not be allowing the Angelic race to wipe them out simply to be a food source."
The Demon King watched as Ziues casually pulled a cross from his sleeves. The cold metal glinted in the dim light, and Ziues stated, "Very well, I guess I will have to report this to--."Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Suddenly, a swift, sharp pain shot through Ziues's arm as his hand was sliced off. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood. The Demon King kept his hands at his sides and chuckled, "You didn't think I'd just let you leave now, did you?"
Ziues erupted in an array of crackling lightning energy, illuminating the dark surroundings with a harsh, white light. He dashed up and away from the Demon King, clutching his severed hand, feeling the sting and burn of the wound. Focusing himself, he cursed, "What the hell was that?! I didn't feel you move even an inch!"
Moments later, a sharp, pale hand erupted from behind Ziues, the sound of tearing flesh accompanying its appearance. Ziues swung wildly with his thunder-shaped blade, its electric hum filling the air as he forced the figure to back off.
Ziues, with blood dripping from his lips, cursed out and screamed, "MaxUltimos and Reiesencia"
Suddenly, his form deteriorated and then began to shift and grow, his bones creaking and skin stretching. He expanded to a colossal size of 500 feet, his voice booming, "You don't know who you are messing with!"
As Ziues fully focused his eyes, he locked gazes with a figure he instantly recognized. The Vampire King stood before him, giving a smug smile. The air grew colder, and the Vampire King's presence felt like a shadow creeping over Ziues's massive form.
"Oh, we know exactly how strong you can get, Ziues, but you tend to start to slow," the Vampire King stated, his voice smooth and mocking.
"Dracula!" Ziues spat out, the name laced with confusion and rage. "What are you—"
Dracula cut him off with a wave of his hand, his eyes glowing a bright, hypnotic red. "I aim to be aligned where I am best fit." His voice was calm, commanding. With a snap of his fingers, the glow in his eyes intensified as he locked eyes with Ziues. "You will deactivate your Max Ultimo Bomb and return to your standard form."
Ziues felt an overwhelming compulsion, his body betraying him as the colossal energy began to drain away, forcing him back to his original form. The oppressive power of Dracula's command lingered in the air, leaving Ziues powerless and seething.