At the center of the 33rd Layer of Abyss, there was a city so massive that it covered more than a third of the entire landmass of the layer and with walls that rose all the way to the sky.
The storm clouds and rivers of blood were incapable of harming the city. On the contrary, they were used as a fuel source, feeding the massive rune formation that covered every corner of it.
Everybody knew this city as Flay City, one of the major cities on the first one hundred layers of Abyss. There were trillions of Demons in it, with dozens of entities that had already surpassed the Soul Realm!
In Flay City's core, one could find a majestic castle with a rune formation even more potent than those covering the city's walls.
Despite the size of the castle, there was currently only one person allowed in it. That individual was a powerful humanoid Archdemon with a muscular body, three eyes, two large horns, and blood-like flames racing around his chest and arms.
He was not more than ten meters tall, small compared to some of the huge Demon Lords in Flay City, but his power allowed him to look down on everybody.
The name of this mighty Archdemon was Mordur. He was not just a Rank 8 life form since his cultivation had recently entered the Initial Beyond Limit Stage.
While the rise from one stage to another did not involve a long period of adjustment as the rise of a Rank, one would still suffer a certain period of time where your energy and soul force were in a stay of mild disarray. That is why Mordur did not allow any else in his castle for the time being.
Flay City started its day like always. Demons would train, negotiate, and kill each other, while mighty legions would come in and out as they adventure into or return from wars.
However, everything changed as a dark and dense fog the size of an ocean descended from the sky. Everything in its path, even the laws, would corrode under its might.
Mordur opened his eyes as he focused on the dark fog and felt a power so evil and full of corruption that it shocked him. He could not believe this feeling. After all, when had anyone ever heard of an Archdemon being surprised by the sinful aura of anything?
Although Mordur was a Demon, his soul already rose to a level above the Prima Universe's laws, so his wisdom was not any less than that of a Magi or Cultivator.
He raised his hand, pushing Flay City's rune formation to the limit, making a powerful force field cover every piece of it.
The Demons inside the city smiled as they saw that. Like Mordur, they were shocked by that dark fog's aura, and none wanted to fight it.
Unfortunately for a legion of Demons, they had been outside Flay City when Mordur put the force field in place. Normally, they should have been able to cross it without a problem, but they could not do so now.
Most of the Demons did not understand what was happening, but some were wise enough to figure out the Archdemon's plan. They were guinea pigs used to test the might of the dark fog.
"BOOM!" A blast echoed through the city as the dark fog clashed against the force field. While cracks appeared from time to time, it managed to hold on.
As for those unprotected Demons, everybody saw how the dark fog would trample their bodies and suck every iota of life force and soul force in them.
The Rank 8 Archdemon frowned as he felt the power of the dark fog and saw how it managed to extinguish the Demons' existence. Just as he was deciding whether or not to request help, an immense black barrier materialized, covering the entire Flay City.
Mordur's eyes widened, and panic appeared as he felt that the cage had severed every form of communication in and out of Flay City.
Of course, a huge black cage in the 33rd Layer of Abyss would have drawn attention, but the artifact displayed an illusion that could trick anyone beneath Rank 9 for all those outside Flay City.
Mordur was unaware of that last point, but he was not foolish enough to think the enemy would have made such a rookie mistake.
Things only went downhill from that point on as a massive arc of blue light clashed against the force field and managed to slash part of it, allowing the dark fog to enter Flay City.
The trillions of Demons inside Flay City saw with horror as the dark fog went after them, crushing their bodies before devouring their life force and soul force.
Rank 7 Archdemons panicked and unleashed powerful spells against the dark fog that destroyed large pieces of Flay City. Under any other circumstance, they would never dare to harm the city, but since their lives were on the line, how could they care about collateral damage?
Sadly the Rank 7 Archdemons' attacks had little effect on the dark fog.
Once the dark fog reached those Rank 7 Archdemons, it behaved differently than it did with those average Demons. It would paralyze the Archdemons before entering through every orifice and eating them from the inside out.
Mordur stood up from his throne as a feeling of utter awe assaulted him. Those Rank 7 Archdemons could barely put any form of resistance against the dark fog.
Although the castle was the most secure location in Flay City, if he did not act and let all those Demons perish, the consequences could very well be more than he could handle.
"¡BOOM!"
As Mordur was about to leave the castle, someone blasted the main gates open.
The Rank 8 Archdemons expected to see some ancient monster since only an entity like that should be able to control something so corrupt and sinful as that dark fog.
However, Mordur saw a young man with three eyes and an aura full of justice, accompanied by a nobleman holding a black box.
