725 Chapter 725 Entering The Demon World
Aldred stood in front of a portal with Vortimer beside him.
"This is where we lose their signal," Vortimer said.
"Hm, those two mercenaries are quite brave to enter this nest. At least 15 people is needed to clear this nest."
Vortimer accessed their data within his mind. "Their information tells me that they hold a deep animosity with the demons ever since they were almost killed by them."
Aldred hummed. That information was nothing special. There were at least billions if people who hated the demons.
"It also says here that they view you in high regard because you saved them recently."
"I saved a lot of people. Which one is this?"
"It's about the attack of one of the resources planet."
"Ah, that one. Well, it's your fault that your radar failed to detect the enemy ship. Those demons could barely make their spacecraft up and running, how could you let it slip?"
"The demons within that ship radiates an aura that let them slip through my detection. Although the demons lack technology, they don't lack strange skills and abilities to make up for it."
Aldred sighed. "I won't blame you for that anymore. Let's think about our next step. What are we going to do about this portal? The easiest choice is to simply destroy them."
"That will be your best option, however, you have a second option which is saving the two mercenaries that entered this portal."
"They probably died already. This is the demon realm we're talking about."
"The probability is indeed small. Their chance of demise the moment they entered the portal was 98%. And that is my optimistic calculation."
Aldred smiled bitterly. "2% chance of survival is optimistic… I guess that is the reality."
…
Francus stepped through the pulsating portal, his senses immediately assaulted by the nightmarish landscape that stretched before him. The sky above was a high ceiling of earth, casting an eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere over the demonic realm. Twisted trees with thorn-like branches clawed at the earth, and the ground seemed to writhe with dark energy.
The agonized screams of tortured souls echoed endlessly in the air, sending shivers down Francus's spine. The air itself was thick with despair and malice, a stark contrast to the open skies of their world.
"Grigor!" Francus called out, his voice nearly drowned out by the cacophony of suffering that surrounded him. He scanned the grotesque landscape for any sign of his comrade, his heart pounding with a mixture of dread and determination.
In the distance, he caught a glimpse of Grigor's back, the veteran warrior charging forward with unwavering resolve. "Grigor, wait!" Francus shouted, but his voice seemed to dissipate into the oppressive atmosphere.
Francus broke into a sprint, following Grigor's path as closely as he could. The uneven, shifting terrain made every step treacherous, and he couldn't help but feel like an intruder in this hellish realm.
As he drew nearer to Grigor, he noticed a massive pit blocking his path. Desperation fueled him as he looked around for a way to continue his pursuit. That's when he spotted it—a disheveled bridge spanning the chasm, appearing as if it had been constructed by the hands of despair.
With no other option, Francus approached the decrepit bridge, his cautious steps causing it to creak and groan ominously. There were no safety railings or supports; it seemed as if it could collapse at any moment.
The shrieks of the damned echoed from below, intensifying the eerie ambiance that enveloped him. Francus tightened his grip on his energy blasters, ready for whatever challenges awaited him.
As he ventured further onto the bridge, the eerie quietness was suddenly shattered. Demonic creatures descended from above, their leathery wings outstretched as they hissed and growled, blocking his path forward. Their forms were grotesque, with twisted features and jagged talons.
"You creatures disgust me! No wonder you live in this kind of place!"
Francus reacted with instinctive speed, drawing his blasters and firing precise energy shots at the incoming creatures. Bright bolts of energy pierced the air, striking the demons with deadly accuracy. Some disintegrated into dark smoke upon impact, while others writhed in pain but continued to advance.
The bridge became a battlefield, and Francus found himself locked in a desperate struggle to defend his position. His heart pounded in his chest as he maintained his focus, his combat training taking over as he sought to protect himself and find a way to Grigor.
Francus's blaster fire illuminated the grotesque faces of the demonic creatures as they hissed and lunged at him. The narrow bridge became a battleground, with the pit of lava below adding an extra layer of dread to the already perilous situation.
As he continued to fend off the demons, Francus realized that the bridge itself was falling apart. Ropes snapped, and wooden planks creaked dangerously with each step. The cacophony of battle was accompanied by the ominous groaning of the decaying structure.
Hot sweat trickled down Francus's brow as he fought to maintain his balance. He had to be careful not to get too close to the edge, where the fiery death of the lava pit awaited. It was a deadly game of inches, and any misstep could spell his doom.
Francus's heart raced not only from the intensity of the battle but also from the constant threat of falling into the searing abyss below. His boots slid on the treacherous surface, and he struggled to maintain a foothold.
Just as he managed to dispatch one of the demons with a well-placed energy shot, he felt the bridge beneath him give way.
With lightning reflexes, he leaped forward, narrowly avoiding a section of the bridge that collapsed into the lava pit. The searing heat licked at his boots, serving as a stark reminder of the unforgiving environment.
Francus's heart pounded, not only from the physical exertion but also from the fear that he might never escape this nightmarish realm.
Yet, he knew he had to keep moving, keep fighting, for the chance to rescue Grigor and return to their own world.
With each demon that fell to his blasters, the path ahead became clearer, but the challenges remained relentless. The pit of lava seemed like a hungry maw, ready to consume anyone who faltered, and the bridge itself was a crumbling lifeline.As Francus made his way across the treacherous bridge, narrowly avoiding the collapse of sections behind him, a growing sense of dread gnawed at his nerves. The fiery pit below seemed insatiable, and the demonic creatures' relentless assault showed no sign of abating.
Finally, he reached the other side of the bridge, his boots touching solid ground.
However, his respite was short-lived, for as soon as he stepped onto the demonic soil, a colossal figure emerged from the infernal landscape. A fire golem, massive and imposing, stood before him, its molten form casting an eerie, flickering light across the nightmarish realm.
Francus clenched his blasters, his gaze locked onto the towering monstrosity. "Hah! Don't underestimate me!" he shouted defiantly, his voice resolute despite the dire circumstances.
"The Celestial Platoon provided me with a powerful prototype of their new armor!"
With that declaration, Francus unleashed a barrage of energy blasts at the fire golem. Bright bolts of energy struck the creature's molten form, causing it to roar in pain and rage. It retaliated with a searing wall of flames, conjuring a barrier of fire that enclosed upon Francus, threatening to consume him.
Francus stood his ground, determination etched on his face. He knew that his new armor, a testament to the technological prowess of the Celestial Platoon, had the capability to withstand formidable challenges. As the wall of fire closed in on him, he activated a concealed mechanism within his armor.
In an instant, something extraordinary happened. Francus appeared a distance away from the encroaching wall of fire, leaving an illusory image of himself engulfed in flames. The real Francus stood unscathed, a grin of triumph playing on his lips.
The fire golem, momentarily confused by the illusion, roared in frustration.
It turned toward Francus, who now had the upper hand in this surreal confrontation. He fired his blasters once more, targeting the golem's molten core with precision.
Bright energy bolts pierced through the fiery exterior, striking the core and causing the golem to convulse in agony.
Flames danced wildly, and chunks of molten rock were flung in all directions. It was a fierce battle of willpower and technology.
With a final, devastating blast, Francus shattered the fire golem's core, causing it to crumble into a cascade of fiery embers and darkness.
The nightmarish landscape seemed to recoil from the fallen monstrosity, and a semblance of silence fell upon the demon realm.
Francus, triumphant yet weary, caught his breath. His new armor had proven its worth in the face of this formidable adversary. But his thoughts returned to Grigor, the comrade he had followed into this infernal realm.
He knew he couldn't rest until he found him.
