A Serpent's Tale-Chapter 372: Astral No More

The moment my Domain fell, the Prided demons took off to cause undue chaos. Although a pair of them did stay for some reason.

That was when I remembered the village. With all these demons running amok, they were likely to be maimed and killed for it. Which I would prefer didn’t happen to them after all their efforts to heal me.

I turned to the Lust demons who were all still kneeling and gave my order.

"There’s a village some ways away in that direction on the edge of the forest. If not for them I wouldn’t be alive right now." I pointed and half of them got up and affirmed they knew what to do and left.

That now left me with four Lust demons of middling standing and two Pride demons of higher standing.

My gaze was drawn to the two Pride demons, as them staying here was odd, so I decided to probe them for why they were even here to begin with, "What are you still doing here?"

The one that first spoke up earlier answered my question, "I can’t say for him, but for me, I’m here to help enact retribution for my King. That being some puny worm daring to bind his creation."

He gave a sneer of pure disdain and disgust as he looked at the bastard who stole my rings.

He then added, "And before you ask why, it is because he gifted similar rings to the other sins. Your father obviously gifted it to you, which I have no problem with mind you. What I do have a problem with is the fact that HE thought he could bind it also. But it seems that he has suffered enough already."

The other Pride demon then answered is a slightly less eloquent manner, "I’m just here for personal gain."

And I was a little taken aback at that answer. "Well... Thanks for being honest I guess?" Was all I could muster in response.

"You’re welcome." He stated back bluntly.

At least he’s easy to communicate with.

"My Lady." One of the Lust demons then called out to me. "Forgive me for the late introductions, but my name is Voluphar, and I am at your service while my time here lasts."

"Ah, okay. Thanks." I responded rather blandly to his earnest declaration.

"Oh, where are my manners. My name is Altivolus Rex." The Pride demon then introduced himself, whilst his blunt comrade remained silent about his own name.

None of these were their True Names of course, just their placeholder names for people to summon them and such. And anyone knowing their True Names would be bad for them depending on who knew.

I don’t know if the same applies to me or not because I am part demon and was also born mortal. But I am also part Demi-Goddess now when I think about it.

’I am a mess...’

"My Lady?" Voluphar asked, his head raised to look at me with some concern.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"What exactly do you intend to do now? You have your rings back, which is what instigated this whole ordeal. But what now? What do you intend to do with that man? And do you require our support?"

That... Was a lot of questions with a lot to think about regarding them.

I honestly hadn’t thought about what to do after. Not that I really had much capacity to even do so in the first place. I was mostly obsessed with getting my rings back.

"If I may interject." Altivolus interceded, "Why exactly did he want to bind your ring? At what was his intent after he did so?"

Voluphar just scowled silently as I considered Altivolus’ suggestion.

Immediately I turned around and saw the bastard had tried to crawl away after I let him go, but he seems to have passed out after crawling just a few metres.

It was now my turn to scowl and I decided not to waste my time and just get what I wanted immediately through [Soul Scouring].

However, the moment I tried to do so, a powerful presence prevented me from achieving this.

A giant figure appeared, the force of it appearing pushing me back with its magnitude. It then hovered over the bastard’s unconscious body and protected it with magic.

"Who dares!" The apparition screamed as it looked down at the seven of us, trying to determin which one touched that bastard’s soul.

I didn’t bother conversion it and threw a ball of [Soul Flame]’s at it.

I did not however, expect the soul fireball to be swatted away like it was nothing. I don’t even think it phased the being.

’Annoying.’

"So it was you... To think that you have the GALL!!! Do you even know who I am?!?! You will be PUNISHED!"

Before I could respond, Altivolus roared back.

"NO! To think YOU have the gall to have such PUNY servants that DARE to insult our masters! YOU are the one that will be punished! And spend an eternity in HELL!"

Wow, guess he takes Pride in his master on his behalf to this extent. I suppose it makes sense though. Being a Pride demon and actually appearing here, Lucifer must be quite annoyed about the binding thing.

’Wait a second... It just occurred to me.’

"Pffftt! Baha! Bwahahhahahahaa!!! You think I’m afraid of some insignificant Hell? I AM THE GOD OF THIS REALM! ALL SHALL BOW TO ME!!!"

The spectral bastard bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the realm and into the ears of everyone listening.

"A god you say?"

A voice suddenly rang out, equally as penetrating in its reach, but one that held more power and dignity.

"Insignificant?"

At first it was calm and composed, but it was slowly raiding its tone, becoming more and more aggravated with each line, yet keeping that composure all the same.

"You are nothing."

Instantly I felt the realm tremble, as if some higher being had clasped it in their hands. And I think I know who’s responsible for this.

"Ah, I guess we’re not needed after all. Shame, I would’ve loved to get to know you better Traytora." Altivolus sighed regretfully. "Still, I’m glad we met. I get to tell people that I met the Princess of Lust herself!"

’Ah, so that’s why he REALLY stayed.’ It made complete sense now. What he said before was just pretence for his true ambitions. Bragging rights.

"You DARE call yourself a GOD? You DARE to say that MY HELL is insignificant?" Lucifers smooth voice rang out, causing the realm to tremble more as he dislodged it from its position in the world, and likely dragging it to hell.

"You are nothing before me."

As Lucifer declared his superiority, I saw the bastard apparition fuming before it faded away. When suddenly a similar but more powerful version of this being, likely its main body.

It rushed into the sky as it grew large before vanishing as it went through the crack and into literal Hell.

"Welp, he’s a goner." Voluphar stated what we were all thinking with a dispassionate tone.

"Yup." One of the other Lust demons agreed, looking and sounding like a younger version of Voluphar.

Suddenly Lucifers voice returned.

"I now claim this realm and all its connected realms to be domain and property of the Demonic Empire of Sins!"

Immediately there was a shift in the realm itself as Lucifer took hold over it.

I was speechless.

I mean, what was I supposed to do now? I had planned on dealing with things as they came, but now I had no need to do so. Everything was already over before I could even really do anything.

Antivolus then spoke up with a somewhat deadpan voice, "This... Did not pan out in a way I could’ve ever anticipated."