Chapter 408: Chapter 408: 'Gorgeous' Chaos Unfolding
In one of the primary material worlds, the planet of Francis stands alone—a singular planetary world.
Deep within the dark forests of Francis' northeastern hemisphere, if one could traverse the profound and terrifying rivers, scale the rugged, craggy mountains, and cross the territories of countless monstrous creatures—and possess the Eyes of Wisdom that can decipher mystifying magical formations—one might find a chance to uncover a mysterious realm hidden for hundreds of thousands of years.
This place, surrounded by mountains, is not just any valley but a unique extradimensional space capable of moving between different primary material worlds—Avalley.
Avalley is an orderly paradise, secluded from the outside world.
Within this valley, there is a constant temperature, neatly trimmed fields and gardens, and grand pavilions surrounded by exquisite rock gardens. Order pervades every corner; not a single leaf is out of place, and even the streams flow in a steady, orderly pattern.
At the heart of the valley stands an exquisite staff, seemingly incomplete, emitting a faint golden light, providing energy to the entire Avalley.
Clearly, such a place does not exist naturally.
It is the dwelling place of intelligent beings.
At this time, in Avalley, live hundreds of peculiar humanoid creatures.
These humanoid creatures are large, about three meters tall, muscular, and their smooth, ebony skin is completely exposed. Each is hermaphroditic, with eyes of various colors filled with wisdom accumulated over eons.
In this peaceful, utopian valley, they enjoy a tranquil life, conversing with each other.
Their language resembles the sound of the wind blowing through the treetops, echoing between Avalley's flowers and streams, creating an atmosphere of profound peace.
Should Garon awaken and discover this valley and its humanoid inhabitants, he would undoubtedly be astonished.
For every deity is somewhat aware of Avalley and its residents.
In the vast multiverse, aside from the lofty gods, the primordial deities, bloodthirsty demonic lords, and cunning archdevils stand prominent, mighty beings. Yet, true immortals are rare.
However, rare does not mean non-existent.
The inhabitants of Avalley are known as the Wathee, meaning the Dukes of Wind.
Even the weakest among the Dukes of Wind, frail and incapable of harming a fly, are immortals. If not struck down by cataclysm or calamity, they could live until the multiverse itself perishes.
Of course, being immortal and endowed with endless eons, even the dimmest can attain profound wisdom and power over time.
Currently, of the hundreds of Dukes of Wind in Avalley, seventy percent are legendary creatures, and among them, a dozen are of demigod stature.
"Mother, when I reach three thousand years and come of age, may I leave Avalley to see the outside world?" In a beautiful cottage woven from bamboo and adorned with flowers and leaves, a young Duke of Wind shared this wish with their mother.
Dukes of Wind are hermaphroditic, their offspring addressing their progenitor as mother, each bearing one or two children in their lifetime, usually just one. Those who can bear two are celebrated in Avalley.
"You may, but only with the permission and accompaniment of our guardians," the elder Duke of Wind replied softly.
"Why is that?" the child inquired.
"Because terrifying demons roam the outside world, seeking our whereabouts," the elder sighed.
This elder Duke of Wind, ancient beyond tracing, reminisced about an ancient era.
In those ancient times, the Dukes of Wind were a mighty immortal race, with populations in the tens of thousands. With their immortal advantages, they established an empire that spanned several primary material worlds and many planes.
As immortals adhering to principles and order, the Dukes of Wind maintained a close relationship with the gods of order, enjoying their support and favor.
Thus, the empire of the Dukes of Wind was once resplendent and powerful.
Until a great war swept across the multiverse.
The ruler of the Abyssal Depths, Chaos Following, created her proudest creation—the Tanar'ri demons, now representatives of the Abyssal Depths.
The Tanar'ri were strong, bloodthirsty, chaotic—a concentration of all negative attributes.
Originally, the demons of Obyrith represented the chaos of the Abyss.
But the Tanar'ri represented its evil.
Chaos Following's ambitions swelled tremendously. Dissatisfied with the status quo, she set her sights on the resource-rich primary material worlds and many higher planes.
Once the Tanar'ri were numerous enough, Chaos Following led them in a cross-planar, cross-world campaign of war, drawing more and more forces into the conflict, which gradually became a war between order and chaos.
With demons as her main force, devils, malevolent entities, and evil deities also joined in.
At that time, the potential of the Tan
ar'ri was boundless, far surpassing the Obyrith. Many Obyrith felt threatened, fearing that the Tanar'ri would one day replace them as the rulers of the Abyss.
Especially when Chaos Following created a Tanar'ri of equal stature to herself.
The first Tanar'ri prince, Wolf Spider Miska.
While Tanar'ri were generally used as cannon fodder and enforcers, to secure her rule over them, Chaos Following appointed Wolf Spider Miska as her general and consort.
Wolf Spider Miska, born into the spotlight and envied by many demons, contrasted with the first Tanar'ri, Dimogorgon, who was deemed a failure by Chaos Following and was struggling for development in a filthy ditch.
Wolf Spider Miska did not disappoint.
He led the demonic forces like a tidal wave across the battlefield, clashing fiercely with the celestial armies of order across various worlds and planes, securing significant victories.
However.
As the war raged fiercely, with no clear victor, Chaos Following's greatest fear came to pass. Despite choosing a Tanar'ri as her general and consort, she could not keep the other Tanar'ri in line as mere cannon fodder and vanguard.
Tanar'ri are an aggregation of evil.
They could not tolerate being commanded by the Obyrith, believing themselves rightful rulers of the Abyss, with the Obyrith being relics of an old era to be discarded.
Internally, within the chaos faction, many battle zones saw Tanar'ri uprisings.
This tipped the scales of the war.
At the time, led by the celestial tribe of Aesir, the celestial armies of order advanced triumphantly, driving the demonic prince and his forces into the primary material world.
Coincidentally, it was the primary world most governed by the empire of the Dukes of Wind.
Because of their ties with the gods of order and their disdain for chaos, the Dukes of Wind also joined the war.
In the primary material world, the Dukes of Wind formed an army, allied with the gods of order, and began the encirclement of Wolf Spider Miska.
Chaos Following worried for her demonic prince but was too preoccupied with the Tanar'ri rebellion and other attacks from the celestial armies to provide support.
Facing the immortal army of the Dukes of Wind and the gods of order, Wolf Spider Miska and his demonic forces were mired in struggle.
As a cornered beast, Wolf Spider Miska was incredibly ferocious, despite being suppressed by the primary material world, still demonstrating the terrifying power befitting the first demonic prince.
Since the situation was largely under control, allowing for a gradual depletion of his strength, the gods were unwilling to risk injury or even demise in the primary material world in a desperate battle with Wolf Spider Miska.
In the primary material world, gods, like demons, are suppressed.
A single misstep could be fatal.
Wolf Spider Miska's combat prowess was not to be underestimated, especially when he was desperate.
No deity wanted to be dragged down by Wolf Spider Miska, though gods do not truly die, resurrection is not a simple matter.
In the prolonged fierce battle, blood stained the great rivers.
A top demigod among the Dukes of Wind, wielding the imperial sacred weapon, the seven-segment scepter, pierced Wolf Spider Miska's demonic body.
Wolf Spider Miska retaliated in fury, severing the seven-segment scepter, tearing and devouring the Duke of Wind who had wounded him.
The seven-segment scepter, with its front four segments remaining in Wolf Spider Miska's demonic body.
The gods found their opportunity, unleashed their divine might, using the four segments within Wolf Spider Miska as a core to severely wound him, and to prevent Chaos Following from resurrecting her prince, they sealed the critically injured Wolf Spider Miska in an unknown location within the Howling Abyss.
Afterwards, due to the Tanar'ri rebellion, the chaotic coalition was driven back, defeated, to the lower planes.
The first full-scale war between order and chaos concluded with a victory for the gods of order.
The severely wounded Obyrith demons were also given a chance by the Tanar'ri to overthrow them and take their place, allowing the Tanar'ri to later become the true representatives of the Abyssal Depths.
Of course, the victory of the gods of order was not without cost.
Before the war erupted, the Aesir tribe was the most numerous among the extraterrestrial divine messengers, forming the main force of the celestial army, but now the Aesir tribe is far from its former glory, still unable to recover from the losses.
Additionally, there were the Dukes of Wind.
In the counterattack by Wolf Spider Miska and his demonic forces, the empire of the Dukes of Wind was shattered. At the time, nearly all combat-capable Dukes of Wind were wiped out, and this
race of immortals went from strength to decline.
Afterwards, the gods of order bestowed upon the Dukes of Wind the honorable title of "Vanguard of Order."
But this was no longer important to the Dukes of Wind, as their own race was nearly extinct.
Eventually, the remaining Dukes of Wind all retreated to Avalley to live in seclusion, avoiding worldly turmoil and no longer participating in any wars or conflicts, recuperating, but still unable to recover to this day.
The elder Duke of Wind shared this ancient history with their child.
After listening, the young Duke of Wind wondered, "The war is over now, why do demons still seek us?"
The elder Duke of Wind's gaze shifted slightly towards the center of Avalley.
"It is said that the remaining three segments of the scepter can help the sealed demonic general break free."
Chaos Following has continually strived to rescue her prince, never relenting. Avalley moves between different primary material worlds, never staying fixed in any one world, to avoid Chaos Following.
"Can't the great gods protect us?" the child questioned.
A moment of silence.
The elder Duke of Wind shook their head slightly.
"A nearly extinct race has lost its value."
The Dukes of Wind harbor resentment towards the gods of order.
This is understandable. During the encirclement of Wolf Spider Miska, the gods were unwilling to risk being killed by the frenzied demonic prince and stayed on the periphery of the battlefield, leading to the heavy casualties of the Dukes of Wind's army aiding the gods, ultimately resulting in the empire's downfall and near extinction.
After the war, what did they receive?
A title of "Vanguard of Order"?
What meaning does such a title hold?
A nearly extinct race of immortals is hardly likely to garner the gods' attention again.
While the gods of order celebrated their victory, the grieving Dukes of Wind realized.
Even the gods of the side of order and goodness are high above, utterly unreliable, and untrustworthy beings.
"If the gods won't protect us, why not just give the scepter to the demons? That way, we wouldn't have to keep avoiding their pursuit," the child said.
Hearing their child's words, the elder Duke of Wind smiled.
"If it weren't for the scepter being our sacred artifact, maintaining the operation of Avalley, even giving it to the demons wouldn't matter," they mused.
Although it was the demons who destroyed the empire of the Dukes of Wind, curiously, the current Dukes of Wind harbored no hatred towards them.
Time, as always, passed quietly.
Meanwhile, in the fragrant, tranquil Avalley, the breeze carried the scent of flowers across the serene valley.
Unnoticed by the Dukes of Wind, in the shadow of a bush beside a stream in Avalley, a tiny spider, ordinary as an insect's egg, lay quietly in hiding.
Reflected in its multiple eyes was the central location's three-segment golden scepter.
In the Abyssal Depths, the fourteenth layer, the Steam Marsh.
This abyssal layer is a vast, filthy saline ocean, dwarfing the mountains of the primary material plane. A gigantic castle emerges from within a mountain, formed of maze-like tunnels and passages with unclear exits.
In a large cave within the castle's throne room lies a pool covered with a layer of burning, never-extinguishing oil on saline water.
Within the pool, a large, bloated figure can be seen.
It is Chaos Following, an ancient being born from the Sea of Chaos, once ruler of the Abyss, creator of the Tanar'ri demons.
Chaos Following's appearance is considered exceptionally beautiful among demons.
However, it is a beauty few creatures can appreciate.
Her lower body has numerous pale purple tentacles, totaling ten, resembling a giant squid. These tentacles are covered in shiny mucus, with a network of red and purple veins visible under the skin. Her upper body is the thickset form of a humanoid female, with light blue skin, a plump belly, and a darker back. Her green eyes and hair curl and hang down, like venomous snakes ready to strike.
A dangerous and bizarre beauty, inherent in this body.
Gurgle!
Suddenly, Chaos Following opened her eyes, revealing murky, filthy pupils.
As the pale purple tentacles beneath her writhed, the saline pool churned violently, rising with countless lava-like bubbles, the bottom faintly revealing numerous bizarre, indistinguishable bones of various species.
Reflected in Chaos Following's eyes was the scenery of Avalley.
"Finally, finally."
"Avalley, the Dukes of Wind, the seven-segment scepter, I have finally found you."
Chaos Following murmured softly, then burst into laughter. Her laughter grew louder, causing the entire castle to tremble. The surrounding demons couldn't help but show fear, unsure of what was happening.
Moments later, the laughter stopped.
"My general, my
lover, my prince. My long-silent heart of evil."
"Wait a little longer, we'll be reunited soon."
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