章節 52: Sorcerer Thor Part VII
Stepping forward confidently, Demogorge looked upon his two opponents. One a tall, muscular woman and another, a skeletal and frail-looking old man. From a physical standpoint, the former looked far more threatening and dangerous. But that was only when you looked upon them with eyes, Demogorge looked upon them with all of his senses.
It was why he knew that the frail old man, was the far more dangerous of the two.
If it wasn't for his timely use of teleportation, Sonja, Selene and the warrior Conan, they would have all been defeated in an instant. That magical blast packed a great deal of power behind it, enough to kill them in one hit.
"Shall we?" Demogorge proposed, smirking cockily as stood before the two of them.
In response, two magical blasts shot out, slamming against the conjured shield. Despite the power behind both magical attacks, the shield held firm, as Demogorge flicked his wrist. A small gust of wind-dispersed the smoke, revealing him stood there unharmed.
Kulan Garth spared a look to his wife and ally, Vammatar, both sharing a frown. He had thought the three warriors would have been the end of his problems, but apparently, there was a fourth figure. One far more dangerous than the entire trio combined. From what he was sensing, he possessed more magic than this figure, but they, in turn, possessed more than Vammatar.
If magic alone was the only determination of victory in magical combat, Kulan Garth would hardly be worried. However, magical combat came down to a vast number of factors that could turn the tide of battle in any and all directions. One of the longest standing traditions of magical combat was never entering a battle that one was unable to win.
The fact that this figure had come, intending to battle him and Vammatar, meant he was confident in victory. 'Though it could also be a facade, a bluff.' Kulan thought to himself, keeping his face calm and collected as Vammatar used his vast powers in Necromancy to once again raise her dead horde and unleash it upon this new figure. 'I'll watch, see what he does against Vammatar before intervening.'
That was the plan, a horde of undead was not easy to handle, not unless they had extensive knowledge in Necromancy themselves, or in magic that specifically targetted the undead. So Kulan had thought that this would have stalled the figure enough, revealing some of his tricks and magical skills that would allow him to gain a better understanding of what his opponent could do.
Except, Demogorge simply smiled and his hand, resting down by his side, twisted.
Suddenly, all the bodies before him went still before rapidly twisting like how one twisted wet clothes to squeeze out any water. Blood and guts burst out as the bodies were twisted so tightly before they all collapsed to the ground.
"If that is all you can do with Necromancy, then I'm afraid that you have no knowledge on its true dangers," Demogorge announced, spreading his arms out, dozens of lights forming in the air behind him. Each of which rushed towards the pair, who raised their own protections.
Powerful explosions echoed throughout the forest, smoke and debris billowing out into the sky.
And when the smoke dispersed, only Kulan Garth remained standing, his shield standing firm and strong. Vammatar on the other hand, what was left of her anyway, slowly bled to death on the ground.
Kulan dismissed the sight out of hand and focused all his attention on Demogorge, the two staring at one another in open challenge of one another. "You have control and power, a great deal of it," Kulan noted, one hand extending out as Demogorge felt a crushing weight bear down upon him from all sides. "However, in magical combat, when two sorcerers of equal control clash, it comes down to a contest of magical power."
Demogorge chuckled the telekinetic grip that had held onto him suddenly breaking apart as he rose up to full height. "Don't be naive." He mocked. "Magical potency also plays a part, or did you forget about that?"
Frowning, Kulan released a corrosive fog upon Demogorge only for wind to rush in and direct the fog harmlessly up into the sky. All around Kulan, numerous curses rained down upon him, though they were blocked by shields. Kulan masterfully blocked them all as he manipulated the trees around Demogorge to lash out at him.
A carefully controlled wave of flames reduced them to ash, Demogorge then taking control of the ash, and unleashing it upon Kulan. The ash surrounded the magical barrier, each of its individual flecks growing hotter and hotter till the point they reignited into a powerful inferno.
The flames were quickly sucked into Kulan's hands, forming into a powerful concentrated ball of magical energy that he unleashed outwards into a powerful explosive wave that ripped up the ground and destroyed the surrounding forest.
When it subsided, Demogorge was gone from sight.
However, Kulan was not unprepared for this, magical bolts formed in a circle all around him as he unleashed them in every direction. It worked, Demogorge summoning a shield to block them and Kulan focused his fire upon the man.
And just as the shield broke apart, the magical bolts slammed into his body which Kulan noticed seemed to shimmer. 'Illusions!' He realised all too late, back suddenly layered with numerous cuts as he fell to his knees.
Gritting his teeth, Kulan surrounded himself in a powerful shield that quickly became rocked with explosions. Magical bolts and powerful explosions smashed against it. All the while he focused more of his energy to his back, fighting against the poisonous curse that was beginning to spread across his body. Only for the solid ground to suddenly form into mud that swallowed his hands and knees, dragging him down.
Channelling magic into the ground, Kulan sent the mud flying away from him as he slowly hovered into the air.
As he turned though, instead of finding only one Demogorge, he found dozens. All surrounding his position. It was at this moment, Kulan realised that he had severely underestimated his foe, while he may possess the advantage in magical power. His foe was his equal in control and perhaps even his superior in magical knowledge.
It was a thought that stung his pride and Kulan scowled deeply.
-X- Line Break -X-
Removing his hand from Kulan's throat, Demogorge rose up, allowing the body of his magical foe to collapses lifeless to the ground. The power of the soul was the greatest he had ever attempted to absorb, something that far surpassed the strongest Demon he had absorbed from the Splinter Realms.
The knowledge it possesses, the magical power all of it rushing into his body and almost threatening to drown him. So much so that Demogorge was forced to funnel the vast majority into his phylactery.
It would take time, possibly even years to absorb it all, but Demogorge knew it, a soul like that would not be something he was likely to come across again. Kulan Garth had been a truly dangerous and powerful opponent, more so than any he had encountered and fought against.
A foe that could have even challenged Loki in his prime for a time.
A foe that had forced him to unleash everything he had just to emerge victorious.
A foe that had forced Demogorge to continually absorb more and more of his stored souls, just to replenish his rapidly diminishing magical power.
Even when injured and battling the curse that ravaged his body, Kulan Garth had managed to still put up an immensely difficult fight. However, at the end of the day, only one of them could emerge victorious.
"You nearly lost," Selen noted, coming to his side.
Demogorge instantly recognised a change within her. "I did." He concurred. "And you have absorbed the soul of Vammatar." The name of the woman came to his mind, thanks to the memories of Kulan Garth that existed there.
There were some interesting tidbits about other magical covens and creatures. Ancient history that was long since forgotten, spells and magical techniques that even Loki had not known of. Kulan Garth truly was a gifted sorcerer, enough to be called perhaps Midgard's greatest. It was a name that Demogorge would perhaps never forget for as long as he lived.
However, there was something of great interest to him that he had discovered in the memories of Kulan. Centuries ago, a strange object had fallen from the sky, one that called to many people from all across the continent of Hyboria. A strange object that had been commanded by a man wearing a serpent crown and a large battleaxe.
One who had fought Kulan and someone he had banished from Midgard
But even though it was a memory, Demogorge could recognise the soul for what it was. A fraction though it may have been, that figure had at one point in time, being Thor Odinson. Further proof that he was not the first and more than likely, not the last.
It just so happened, that Demogorge was skilled when it came to souls and the act of stealing them for himself. He wondered, what would happen if he absorbed the souls of Thor Odinson for himself?
"Come, Selene," Demogorge muttered. "Let us return to the king and announce our victory." There was much work to be done and he would see it all completed. It was clear to him now, Odin was relying upon them to save Asgard, it was the only reason he would do what he had. But he was never one to do what Odin wanted and never would.
He could just imagine the chaos that would unfold when the All-Father's plans fell to ruin.
It was chaos that he would bring about.
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