章節 422: Chapter 422: The Small Condition that Troubles Chaos Later
"Chaos later really found a way to communicate with me," the silver dragon pondered silently after receiving the message from the infernal dragon.
It has been over half a year since the Wolf-Spider Miska was freed during the clash between the gods of order and the demons in the Howling Abyss. Miska's strength has not fully recovered due to particles of holy light integrated into its body, which could not be completely removed, causing a significant drop in its power by about a third.
Currently, the weakened Miska is unable to participate in the battle for supremacy among the abyssal demons. Under normal circumstances, Chaos later and her prince would have time to seek alternative methods to remove the holy light particles. However, given the current turmoil in the lower planes, they must act quickly.
For both the King of Insects and Wolf-Spider Miska, seizing the opportunity to ascend beyond the title of demon prince is crucial. However, Miska, having lost a third of its power, cannot contend with the King of Insects, who, as the oldest of the Obirith demons and now greatly esteemed after defeating Demogorgon, commands the loyalty of most remaining Obirith demon lords.
Chaos later, also a powerful Obirith demon, finds herself in an awkward position within the Abyss. Not a purebred demon born from the Abyss, she originated from the Sea of Chaos and later moved to the Abyss, becoming a ruling Obirith demon. However, her creation of the Tanar'ri demons, who replaced the Obirith in the Abyss, has made many Obirith demon lords deeply resent her, unwilling to support her.
After the defeat in the war between Order and Chaos and the rise of the Tanar'ri as spokesdemons of the Abyss, Chaos later's position became precarious, losing the trust of the Obirith demons and looked down upon by many Tanar'ri demons who see Obirith as a blight to be eradicated. Only a fraction of Tanar'ri demons, particularly the arachnid ones who recognize Miska, follow Chaos later.
Therefore, Chaos later is desperate to unseal Miska. With the help of the first-generation demon prince and his influence among the Tanar'ri, she could rally more demon lords to her cause. But all this hinges on Miska retaining its formidable combat capabilities.
Currently unable to rally other demon lords with Miska's diminished power, Chaos later fears that if other demon lords, especially the rising King of Insects, discover Miska's weakness, both she and Miska would be in grave danger.
Realizing that Miska could not regain a third of its power due to the missing segment of the staff, Chaos later was driven to extremes. Knowing dragons well, she bypassed seeking the Dukes of the Wind and instead coerced an infernal dragon from the Dragon Court to relay her message to Garon, knowing he possessed the last segment of the staff.
"Relax your mind, do not resist," Garon instructed the infernal dragon as he prepared to communicate through it.
As he spoke, a wave of energy burst from one of the three pairs of horns atop the silver dragon's head, piercing through dimensional barriers from the Dragon Court directly to a specific location in the Abyss.
In an instant, a sliver of Garon's spirit entered the body of the infernal dragon, temporarily taking over its will and control.
Reopening his eyes, Garon's surroundings had dramatically changed. He observed the surroundings bathed in a sinister dark red light, filtered through an unimaginably dense canopy that blocked out the sky, casting the area in a dangerous hue.
Feeling the hot breeze laced with malevolence rustling through the leaves, Garon looked up to see an endless canopy obscuring the sky, only pale and diseased branches in sight. Looking further, he could vaguely see gigantic tree trunks piercing the clouds, surrounded by countless moaning souls and many lower-level demons positioned along the branches in a devout praying posture.
Turning his gaze, Garon noticed twelve colossal trees encircling the world in a ring.
"This is the twelfth layer of the Abyss, known as the Realm of the Twelve Trees," Garon murmured.
"It seems you are quite familiar with the Abyss," a familiar voice, heavy as falling rocks, reached Garon's ears.
Following the sound, Garon looked down to see a segment of a purple-red tentacle writhing slowly on the infernal dragon's scaly, fiercely sharp claw, speaking with the voice of Chaos later.
The change in the infernal dragon's demeanor instantly tipped off Chaos later that the 'infernal dragon's' spirit had been replaced. The Dragon Court's master she sought to communicate with had arrived.
The purple-red tentacles released the infernal dragon's bound body, and more tentacles burst from the ground, writhing and entwining to form a
large figure resembling Chaos later.
"So, do you know the origin of the Twelve Trees?" Chaos later continued.
Instead of stating her purpose for seeking communication directly, she first posed this question.
Garon calmly responded, "Of course, it's nothing more than demons deceiving the gods."
The existence of the Twelve Trees is one of the main reasons why the gods of the upper planes view the Tanar'ri demons as a significant threat.
After the war between Order and Chaos ended, conflicts erupted repeatedly between the new Tanar'ri demons and the old Obirith, shaking the Abyss and attracting the attention of many deities.
During the wars, the deities recognized the potential of the newly born Tanar'ri demons. Their variety and numbers exceeded those of the Obirith, and they were more evil, more bloodthirsty, and better represented the essence of the Abyss.
Several powerful deities from the upper planes, uneasy and vigilant, watched how the Tanar'ri, once used as slaves and cannon fodder, would overthrow their masters.
In those chaotic times, even gods of the Order tried to establish a presence in the Abyss, playing roles tailored for themselves.
As the war between the Tanar'ri and the Obirith raged, several powerful Tanar'ri demon lords proposed a peace conference to the upper plane deities, claiming that unlike the Obirith, the Tanar'ri harbored a desire for peace deep within their chaotic and evil hearts, willing to coexist harmoniously with the gods of Order.
This was a new era for the Tanar'ri. No deity could be sure whether they were beyond redemption or if there was a chance they could be brought into the halls of Order. If the peace conference could be successfully initiated, the Abyss, which had always troubled the gods of Order, would no longer be a threat and could potentially be transformed into a realm of Order.
Faced with such a monumental opportunity, the gods of Order wavered.
Twelve powerful celestial apostles, representing twelve gods of Order, visited the Abyss to engage in detailed peace talks with the Tanar'ri demons.
This was a perilous decision because even the gods themselves could not guarantee their safety in the Abyss, let alone their emissaries.
As it turned out, it was a trap. The gods had gambled wrongly.
The Tanar'ri demons were even more evil than the Obirith, filled with brutal desires with no trace of longing for peace or order. They mocked the naivety of the gods of Order and bound their emissaries within desolate abyssal realms, imprisoning them inside twelve immense trees before performing a sinister ritual using the lives of the celestial apostles and the wrath of the gods as a sacrifice to the Abyss, gaining a realm filled with evil energy beneficial to the Tanar'ri demons.
This realm was the Twelve Trees.
The creation of the Realm of the Twelve Trees allowed the already dominant Tanar'ri demons to further secure their advantage, turning it into a definitive victory over the old Obirith demons and becoming the new spokesdemons of the Abyss.
To this day, the gods of Order view the Realm of the Twelve Trees as a mark of disgrace.
These twelve sinister giant trees standing in the Abyss are like twelve slaps across the faces of the gods of Order.
Conversely, the newly born Tanar'ri demons continue to flock to this site on pilgrimages, admiring the masterwork of their wicked and mad predecessors.
Almost all demons in the multiverse are aware of the power of the Twelve Trees, performing demonic rituals under their canopy, sacrificing flesh and souls to the demonic trees in hopes of gaining greater power.
Countless sacrifices have only strengthened the Twelve Trees, which have now become one of the sacred sites of the Tanar'ri demons.
All Tanar'ri demons respect the Twelve Trees, and any public offense against this realm is considered an insult to any demon.
"You're right, but deception is also a form of power," Chaos later remarked as she looked towards one of the pale trees, a hint of pride mixed with regret in her tone when she mentioned the Tanar'ri demons.
Garon raised his chin, genuinely curious, "What does it feel like to be backstabbed by one's own proud creation?"
Though not as direct as the Titan Lord Anan being killed by his eldest son, Chaos later's experience was somewhat similar. If not for the betrayal of the Tanar'ri demons, the outcome of the war between Order and Chaos might have been different, or at least not as decisively lost, leaving Chaos later's forces nearly crippled.
Hearing Garon's question, the mass of tentacles that formed Chaos later's corporeal presence writhed violently. If Garon could see her face, he would undoubtedly notice her expression darkening.
"Hmph," she grunted.
"If you want to know, then I wish you a day when your own creations betray you," Chaos later cursed bitterly.
G
aron, sensing the conversation had taken a sharp turn, didn't pursue further but directly addressed the core issue, "If I'm not mistaken, you've sought me out through a member of the Dragon Court for the last segment of the staff."
Chaos later paused before nodding, "Since you already know my purpose, state your price."
In matters of trade, dragons share similarities with devils; most dragons love to bargain.
Garon is no exception, but the deal must be sufficiently beneficial to him.
"Handing the initiative to me, it seems you're prepared to make significant sacrifices for the last segment of the staff," Garon smirked.
He held the staff segment, indeed holding the initiative, but Chaos later's lack of resistance somewhat dulled the excitement for him.
Perhaps considering the cost she might incur, Chaos later said irritably, "Cut the chit-chat, tell me your demands."
Garon wondered aloud, "I have a question. Why do you think I would make a deal with a demon, with the least trustworthy creatures in the multiverse?"
He paused before adding pointedly, looking towards one of the pale giant trees, "I certainly don't want to end up as a tree."
The origin of the Twelve Trees was a tale of the Tanar'ri demons deceiving the gods. As their creator, Chaos later was equally untrustworthy.
"Coward," Chaos later scoffed, taking offense. "You seem to be discriminating against our demonic faith!"
Garon blinked innocently, correcting her, "You should remove the word 'seem'. I can confidently tell you, when it comes to trustworthiness, I would rather trust a stray dog than a demon."
"Detestable creature," Chaos later growled, though she offered no real counter.
Even she knew demons had a notorious reputation for untrustworthiness, and even as a demon herself, she knew it was best not to trust other demons.
Meanwhile, Chaos later, looking at Garon, said sternly, "I swear by the Styx, this deal will be made under the witness of the Styx. Are you satisfied now?"
Oaths between mortals are often sworn in the presence of deities to ensure their fulfillment.
So what do deities swear by when they need to make a pact?
There are many answers, but one widely acknowledged among the deities is the Stygian Contract.
The Stygian Contract is not something that can be made lightly—it's a supreme pact that only immortals, deities, and demigods can make. If a mortal attempts to swear by the Styx, they find themselves unable to speak the words of the contract. If they persist, they might even be swept away by the Styx, dying without a trace.
Even for deities, invoking a Stygian Oath is risky.
When a deity uses a Stygian Oath, they had better keep their word, as the consequences for breaking such a contract are terrifying.
If a deity or demigod breaks a Stygian Contract, they are stripped of their divinity (or demigod status), no longer immortal, and transformed into a member of the species that worships or venerates them most. For example, if Chaos later breaks a Stygian Contract, she would lose her demigod status and become an arachnid demon; if the Lord of the Nine Hells were to break the contract, he would become one of the most numerous minor devils in Hell.
And that's just the beginning.
The oath-breaker, now stripped of their powers, is also sent by the Styx to a mysterious realm deep within the fourth layer of Hell.
The legend known as the Infernal Abyss of Flames punishes the deities and demigods, holding them in a near-death state for five thousand years, causing excruciating pain that also erodes the strongest of minds. Once their sanity breaks, they die outright.
For deities that can resurrect through faith, the most terrifying aspect is that after breaking a Stygian Oath, their priests lose all their powers, and there is no way to contact the deity. The presence of the deity gradually diminishes, and after five thousand years, they are likely to be completely forgotten, with no chance of resurrection.
As for why the Stygian Contract holds such power that even the highest deities wouldn't dare defy it, the most convincing explanation among deities is that it was created by the supreme god Ao specifically to bind deities and demigods.
Another theory suggests that the Styx predates the multiverse, originating from an unimaginably powerful source, so ancient that even Ao could not avoid the penalties for breaking a Stygian Contract.
The truth of these theories is uncertain.
However, the fearsome effectiveness of the Stygian Contract has been definitively proven by the disappearance of deities and demigods who dared to break it.
The belief that even the supreme god cannot defy the Styg
ian Contract itself speaks to its formidable power.
Garon chuckled, "With such an assurance, I believe you've come with sincerity."
He paused, then continued in his infernal dragon guise, "However, in addition to the Styx, I also demand that an oath be made under the witness of the River of Time."
The River of Time also serves as a witness to contracts.
Such cases are rare because for most beings, the River of Time does not respond at all. It is only relevant to beings like time dragons that can make oaths under the River of Time.
Garon was not sure how the power of the River of Time compared to the Stygian Contract, but a double assurance was better than one.
And since Chaos later was also unsure of the contractual power of the River of Time, she would not act rashly.
"I have shown my sincerity, young one, do not push too far," Chaos later grumbled, already irate at Garon's successive demands.
Garon calmly replied, "If you are unwilling, I will not insist."
The infernal dragon's eyes began to close as Garon's will prepared to leave.
"Wait, wait," Chaos later called out, frustration evident in her voice. "Let's make it a dual contract under the witnesses of both the Styx and the River of Time."
Still unable to watch Miska's power decline, she begrudgingly conceded.
"State your demands."
Before Garon could reply, Chaos later added, "I have come with sincerity. If you make unrealistic demands, know that I do not absolutely require the last segment of the staff."
Garon grinned, understanding her position. Before her arrival, he had considered whether to trade with her, using the staff segment to gain greater benefits.
Undoubtedly, the real value of the staff lay in its adverse effect on Miska and Chaos later's desperation for it.
To others of great power, the staff itself held little value. If it were merely a collectible, its worth would be greatly diminished. It would be better to exchange the staff for something more valuable.
Moreover, given the current situation in the Abyss, Garon was more inclined to give the staff to Chaos later.
With the King of Insects dominating unchallenged, a troubling prospect was unfolding.
Regardless, the emergence of a Demon King would be undesirable for any non-demonic being.
With Miska and the King of Insects at odds and Demogorgon potentially intervening in the battle between two fully empowered demon princes, a tripartite balance could be maintained.
Unless something unexpected occurred, the three demon princes might remain locked in a stalemate for tens or even hundreds of thousands of years, unable to resolve the battle for kingship in the Abyss.
"What do you desire? Treasure, territory, artifacts, succubi—speak," Chaos later offered, even willing to betray the Shadow Shoal Lord without hesitation.
Garon shook his head, then smiled slightly, "How can these mundane offerings compare to a third of a demon prince's power? Besides, I will deal with the Lord of the Shadow Shoals myself."
He then voiced his demands to Chaos later.
After hearing Garon's terms, Chaos later's tentacles entwined in frustration, hesitating for a long while.
Minutes later, she said irritably, "I knew it wouldn't be easy to retrieve the staff."
"Fine, I agree."
"Let's finalize the staff handover."
"I will designate a location and send my subordinates to bring the staff to the Myriad Pits. You can just wait to go there."
"Pleasure doing business."
Garon's expression was one of satisfaction.
"Not at all pleasant!"
With Chaos later's gruff voice fading, her tentacles retracted into the ground and disappeared.
"Twelve Trees of the Abyss... If we were to attack the Abyss, these would be tough nuts to crack. And who knows how many more such things are hidden across the infinite layers of the Abyss," Garon thought as he gazed at the towering trees, pondering silently.
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