[Demon Realm—The Great Cavern] Muuka, the old tormentor assigned to oversee the Great Cavern and the portal, had been sparing no effort in keeping the portal connected to the mana well below. Every day, without fail, he continuously maintained and studied the pathway of mana.
"How… odd," mumbled Muuka.
The old tormentor stared at the mana measuring device in his hands. On the gemstone embedded on the center of the device, more than a hundred lines intersected with each other. This meant only one thing: currently, there were over a hundred sources of mana surrounding the portal on the other side.
"Is the device broken?" said Muuka.
With how unstable the portal was, it wouldn't be strange if the device showed multiple sources of mana surrounding it. But a hundred of them was too aberrant. No matter how broken and winding the pathway of mana was, it shouldn't show such results on the mana measuring device.
"Chief Muuka," said one of the tormentors guarding the Great Cavern.
"The Lord of the Corrupted Land wishes to meet with you."
Muuka did not take his eyes off the mana measuring device. "What did he say?"
"The Lord of the Corrupted Land is demanding an explanation why you've closed off the Great Cavern."
Muuka sighed.
Really, the Demon Realm did not have any shortage of incompetent tribe leaders. First was the coward, Plagas. And now the bloodthirsty demon, Digtree. For a demon who could live for over a millennium, he couldn't even wait a couple of months before using the portal.
If only the tribe leaders were as great as his master, the Lord of the Red Tower, Muuka believed that the Demon Realm would have reached far greater heights long ago.
"Tell him that I'll meet with him, once I'm done assessing the por—" "Muuka!"
A roar amplified by mana was heard from the outside. It was from Digtree, the Lord of the Corrupted Land.
"How long are you going to make us wait, you damn old tormentor! If you don't open up the Great Cavern, I'll personally destroy the entrance and drag you here!"
Muuka's face turned grim.
He could bear the lies and cowardice of Plagas, but he always found it hard to tolerate this mindless brute who ruled over the flesh eaters.
The tormentors guarding the pathways in the Great Cavern trembled hearing the threat from the Lord of the Corrupted Land. They all knew how overbearing the tribe leader was. They knew that he would really blow open a new entrance to the Great Cavern if Muuka did not come out.
"Chief Muuka…" Muuka stored away the mana measuring device. He said to his men, "Stay here. Do not let anyone enter without my permission."
"Yes, Chief!"
Muuka hissed at the seventy-meter large metallic snake coiled on the ceiling, "Arboa, come with me."
The metallic snake uncoiled itself and followed Muuka through the large pathway leading directly outside. Reaching where the Arzomos Village used to be located, Muuka was greeted by the Lord of the Corrupted Land and over a hundred thousand flesh eaters.
The flesh eaters, which resembled ghouls at first glance, stood perfectly still as their long tongues hung out. These demons always followed the command of the strongest in their tribe, no matter how unreasonable. This was one of the reasons Muuka always regarded their kind as mindless brutes.
"You finally came out, damn slave," spat Digtree.
Muuka carefully observed the army gathered before him. Judging by the fact that three high-ranking officers from their tribes' army were here, it seemed that they planned on storming the Great Cavern today. Even their lord came while wearing his precious artifact.
As barbaric as always, thought Muuka.
"I am not a slave, Lord Digtree," Muuka said calmly. "I am Lord Elrenar's right-hand man. His most loyal and faithful vassal."
The large metallic snake, one of the strongest creations of the Red Tower, appeared behind Muuka and loomed over the army of flesh eaters.
"And I'm certain I've told you this before, Lord Digtree," said Muuka.
He placed his hands behind his back as he added, "We've found some anomalies with the portal's mana. It is advisable for the wraiths and the flesh eaters to wait until we've verified its source."
With the colossal snake behind him threateningly hissing at the flesh eaters, Muuka's words contained far heavier weight than before. Even Digtree became hesitant in forcing his way inside the Great Cavern. The metallic snake was, after all, a creature almost as strong as the Chimera.
"Muuka, you said it yourself," said Digtree grimly. "You're just the right-hand man of the Lord of the Red Tower! How dare you block our path when we've been given permission by the Demon Lord Barkuvara himself!"
Muuka was undaunted even hearing the Immortal Demon's name. "As a reward for successfully connecting the severed pathway of mana of the portal to the mana well below, the Red Tower has been granted full authority over the Great Cavern and the portal. The Demon Lord knows this very well. I will repeat. Wait for us to finish examining the aberrant source of mana, Lord Digtree."
Digtree did not like how the old tormentor looked at him. There was not even the slightest hint of fear in Muuka's eyes, even when facing over a hundred thousand flesh eaters.
"You…" growled Digtree. "Do you really think that stupid snake will be enough to protect you?"
Muuka frowned. He said exasperatedly, "Protect me? Of course not.
I'm certain you'd be able to kill me, Lord Digtree, if you wished to."
But of course, thousands of them would die in the process before they could kill the metallic snake. Muuka did not voice this out loud.
It was frustrating.
Muuka couldn't understand why these mindless brutes couldn't wait for a couple more months before entering the portal. He was already close to finally figuring out what was wrong with it.
"The mana measuring device can't be wrong," said Muuka. He'd already repeated the tests several times prior. "At this point, it is almost certain that our enemies in the Human Realm left behind a trap. And it will probably be activated the moment you step foot into the portal. Think carefully, Lord Digtree."
"What could a trap left behind by mere humans do to us?" sneered Digtree.
"You must have heard it yourself, Lord," said Muuka. "Even Lord Plagas had to flee from that human."
Digtree loudly cackled. "Plagas! Of course he would flee! That coward!"
Digtree stomped his foot forward, and the rocks around where his foot landed were immediately corrupted and turned into dust.
Seeing that Digtree did not fear the human's trap, Muuka resorted to pointing out the flaws of the flesh eaters. He wanted to prevent them from crossing over to the Human Realm, at least until he'd finished analyzing the aberrant source of mana in the portal.
"Lord Digtree," said Muuka. "The Arzomos had relocated the portal right above the ocean. Unlike the parasitic demons, the flesh eaters are unable to breathe underwater."
This move by the Arzomos elder before he died was among the greatest deterring forces for the demons.
"We already have a solution for that," Digtree said condescendingly.
"Bring out the scales."
The officers of the army took out several chests filled with glimmering scales. As one of the head researchers of the Red Tower, Muuka recognized them.
"Scales of the Naga Tribe," said Muuka.
He was taken by surprise. The scales of the strongest sea demons—the Naga Tribe. The same tribe Xazal belonged to. The tribe that ruled over the vast seas of the Demon Realm.
Pulverizing the scales of a Naga and ingesting the powder would give one the ability to breathe underwater for several days. It was more than enough time for the flesh eaters to cross over to the human lands.
"H-How did you get your hands on those?" said Muuka.
The Naga Tribe was the only major tribe in the Demon Realm that refused to free the Demon Lord Barkuvara from the ice prison.
The sea of the Demon Realm was so vast that Muuka did not expect that the Demon Lord's army would be able to retaliate so quickly against the Nagas.
"How else?" Digtree grinned broadly as he reminisced how they massacred the members of the Naga Tribe weeks ago. "You should have seen it, Muuka. Xazal's face as we devoured the bodies of her kin. Even the strongest sea demons—the Nagas—are nothing but children before the Demon Lord Barkuvara."
Digtree laughed. He licked his sharp, overgrown nails. "The Demon Lord Barkuvara did not even leave his throne! He merely sent a duplicate, a clone! And it was more than enough to massacre the sea demons!"
Muuka fell silent.
After the Lord of the Corrupted Land presented him the scales, and after hearing the story, Muuka knew that he had no choice but to let them enter the Great Cavern.
The old tormentor did not want to risk being branded a traitor. He did not want to suffer the same fate as the Naga Tribe.
Muuka finally decided to concede.
"I see," said Muuka. "Since Lord Digtree has gotten his hands on the scales, it would be impertinent if I hindered your path any longer."
Muuka hissed and the colossal serpent burrowed itself underground, disappearing from sight. It was Muuka's way of showing he no longer had any desire to block the flesh eaters' path.
Muuka gestured at the Great Cavern. "We've managed to stabilize the portal somehow. But please remember what I told you, Lord Digtree.
Chances are high that the humans left behind a trap for us on the other side."
"Even that damn coward, Plagas, managed to survive his reconnaissance mission," said Digtree. He pushed Muuka aside and went toward the Great Cavern's entrance. "You worry too much. A mere human won't be able to touch us."
Digtree turned around and faced the army. He roared, "My soldiers!
We've found a pristine land! Unspoiled! Untouched! A land we can corrupt!"
The flesh eaters roared in excitement.
"A land filled with vitality!" roared Digtree. "And humans! An exquisite delicacy!"
The flesh eaters started salivating. The ground rumbled as the soldiers of the Corrupted Land started stomping their feet.
"To the Human Realm!"
After swallowing the powdered scales, the army started entering the Great Cavern. Digtree led at the front, with his three officers closely following behind him.
Forget the wraiths. The Lord of The Corrupted Land decided not to wait for the other tribe. He deemed that he did not need them just to conquer the nations of mere humans.
Without hesitation, Digtree and his officers entered the portal.
And then it happened.
The moment the Lord of the Corrupted Land stepped foot into the portal, a massive shockwave swept through the Great Cavern. The entire region shook as the ground formed cracks.
The colossal serpent immediately unburrowed itself and coiled around Muuka, protecting him from the impact.
The shockwave was so strong that it almost destroyed the Great Cavern, a structure comparable in size to the capital of the Kingdom of Lukas. Moreover, it ripped the bodies of tens of thousands flesh eaters to shreds, sending flesh and innards flying about.
Muuka trembled.
So, this was behind the numerous sources of mana shown in the mana measuring device!
Over a hundred powerful explosion spells had been wrapped around the portal. The spell had been set to activate the moment the demons came out!
The metallic snake hissed in pain. A portion of its body was bleeding, its metallic scales destroyed by the shockwave. Muuka only managed to survive thanks to this creature.
What about the Lord of the Corrupted Land? thought Muuka.
After the shockwave receded, Muuka immediately went toward the portal. He passed by the rubble and the torn bodies of tens of thousands of flesh eaters.
Muuka felt shivers crawl down his spine as he thought of how close he was to his demise. Had he opened the portal instead of the Lord of the Corrupted Land, he would have surely perished instantly.
"Arboa! Help me!" said Muuka.
The metallic snake hissed and shot toward the Great Cavern. Using its large body, it created a new path toward the portal.
Upon arriving at the room where the portal was located, Muuka was stunned speechless.
The Lord of the Corrupted Land was dead.
There wasn't even a trace of his body, nor that of his officers, remaining. Muuka bent down and picked up the armlet frequently worn by the Lord of the Corrupted Land. It was the artifact that gave him the ability to summon a Corrupted Tower. A structure that siphoned life from the land and gave birth to flesh eaters.
Muuka couldn't believe it.
A tribe leader died after just a single spell.
Muuka rubbed his brows. His head ached just thinking of how he should report this to the Lord of the Red Tower and the Demon Lord.
Muuka looked around him, at the aftermath of the explosion spell.
For the first time, he understood why Plagas had fled from that unknown magician.