These were the distinctive signs of a Demon Spawn taking over a body.
He wasn’t very pleased with the outcome.
He wanted someone with a clear head and a strong body, someone able to lead troops to battle. He didn’t want to end up with a group of Demons that knew nothing about strategy and only wanted to charge in and kill.
The latter were almost everywhere in the Abyss, while the former simply couldn’t be found.
The Magic Dragon’s warning was ignored by Balkh.
As an intelligent Demon Wizard, Balkh wasn’t interested in this so-called “arch-enemy” relationship.
If that Human with some Devil bloodline wanted to charge in, interfere with his experiment, and challenge his prestige, then he wouldn’t mind killing him.
But luring him out of his valley… This method might work against most Demons, but it wouldn’t work against Balkh.
He only told his pet one thing: “Continue monitoring.”
“If he tries to charge in, tell 29th to prepare for battle.”
The Magic Dragon nodded before asking, “What if 29th loses?”
Balkh sneered, “Then let that Human come to find me at the altar.”
“Aaah!”
A scream came from the man’s mouth and then his expression suddenly returned to being calm again!
Delight flashed in Balkh’s eyes and focused his attention back on his experiment!
…
Marvin paced back and forth at the entrance of the valley for a long time, but there was still no movement from the enemy.
He had a feeling that he was being watched. He thought that Balkh would come out soon, but the other party was still not moving, which surprised Marvin.
He changed his opinion about Balkh.
That guy wasn’t an ordinary Demon Wizard at all.
He could actually resist the pressure of the intensely antagonistic relationship between Demons and Devils. This meant that fame and dignity weren’t particularly important to him.
That guy was either a genius… Or a lunatic.
Regardless of which one it was, it wasn’t good for Marvin.
Since Balkh didn’t take the bait, Marvin’s plan to lure the snake out of its hole had failed.
He was probably observing him and trying to gauge his strength. Thus, staying around for too long would be very dangerous.
At this time, the only path remaining for Marvin was a direct attack!
In essence, Marvin was a very lazy person. If he could steal a chicken directly, he wouldn’t bother making it complicated, and if he could assassinate someone, he wouldn’t start a duel. But from another point of view, Marvin was also a very decisive and cruel person.
Now that his first plan had clearly failed, he quickly moved on to his second plan.
He cancelled his Shadow-shape.
The fog in the valley seemed to have some awareness and actually slightly rushed forward at him in response.
Marvin sneered.
The fog was clearly being controlled by someone. Even if it wasn’t Balkh, some other Demon could be helping.
But based on the information he got from the camp, Balkh worked alone, and besides that Magic Dragon Pet who never left his side, there were few other Demons that often associated with him here.
The one controlling the fog right now wasn’t Balkh, it was that mystical Magic Dragon.
A creature like the Magic Dragon was a pet Wizards yearned for. They could provide a great increase in one’s Magic Power and also hasten one’s casting speed.
But that race lived in a very distant and uncommon plane. Very few could capture a Magic Dragon to keep as a pet.
As for Balkh’s Magic Dragon, he had most likely gotten it from a lucky encounter… Or perhaps his father, Demon Lord Balkh, used his own resources or forces to catch it.
In any case, when facing a Demon Wizard with an altar and a Magic Dragon, it wouldn’t be too bad to be overly prudent.
Marvin used his Legend skill, [Summon – Shadow Dragon]!
A large Teleportation Gate suddenly took form.
But this time, his specialty [Double Efficiency] didn’t trigger. Only six Shadow Dragons appeared above the valley.
But Marvin felt it was already enough for such a small valley!
The Dragons’ roars echoed from the gate overbearingly.
Marvin didn’t want to give the other side too much time to react.
Just as the summoning of the Dragons was completed, he started using his own Shapechange ability, [Advanced Shapechanging – Royal Griffin]!
Under the effect of the blazing Nature Power, Marvin’s body began to frantically twist and transform.
His body transformed into a Griffin’s in an instant!
That Griffin was different from ordinary Griffin. There seemed to be a crown on its head and it was covered in golden feathers, and emitting a golden halo!
Marvin subconsciously checked his interface:
[Royal Griffin (Legend)]
[Origin: Advanced Shapechanging]
[Ability 1: Fighting Halo – (+5 Courage)]
[Ability 2: Affliction immunity – Immunity to all negative status effects]
[Ability 3: Bloody Roar – Issues a roar that forces those in the target area to undergo a willpower check. Those who fail become intimidated.]
…
The change on his interface dazzled Marvin.
He didn’t have time to look carefully but came to a conclusion after a quick glance: Powerful!
The Royal Griffin was worthy of being the most powerful Griffin. All the abilities he gained were heaven-defying. The Migratory Bird Council truly bled this time. It seemed that the Half-God Minsk was very important to them.
Marvin didn’t think too much about it. After transforming into a Royal Griffin, he directly used [Bloody Roar]!
As the Griffin’s roar echoed out, the moving fog surprisingly attenuated a bit and Marvin could see the structure of the valley clearly!
This valley wasn’t very big, so he could see the demonic altar in the distance!
Marvin roared and directly rushed through the foggy area alongside the six murderous-looking Shadow Dragons!
The fog would inflict frightening side effects on Humans or most other Races, but the Royal Griffin’s immunity turned the fog into nothing more than decoration. As for the Shadow Dragons, they were originally shadow lifeforms, and it was very difficult to corrode or curse them.
The six monsters rushed in the valley one after the other, making the huge valley shudder.
As Marvin flew quickly across the valley, he glanced at the tall Demon next to the altar.
Balkh was very outstanding for a Demon.
He was using a disguise on himself to look more elegant and gentle.
But he couldn’t conceal his natural aura of craziness and slaughter. This was definitely a Greater Demon!
‘What is he doing?’
Marvin was puzzled.
On the side of the altar, there was a man lying down, twitching erratically!
‘That guy is conducting experiments!’
Marvin detected many cages in the depths of the valley!
All kinds of Humans were in the cages, strong, weak, old, young, male, and female!
There was no anger in these people’s eyes. It looked like they had already lost hope.
Until the Griffin’s roar woke them up!
“Balkh!”
After becoming a Royal Griffin, Marvin was still able to talk. As he charged toward Balkh, he bellowed, “It’s time to end your sinister experiments!”
The six Shadow Dragons circled in the sky, sealing all possible escape routes.
Because the valley was a bit narrow, Marvin didn’t have them come down.
When he broke through the fog, he needed the Shadow Dragons as a cover, but for a melee battle, he could probe on his own first.
Balkh was clearly in a bad mood when his experiment got interrupted by Marvin.
&nbs
p; He suddenly looked up, but the frightening Griffin’s claw had already grabbed his head!
Marvin ruthlessly tore Balkh’s head to pieces!
But he immediately thought to himself, ‘There is something wrong!’
Marvin’s heart sank. Just as he expected, Balkh resurrected in the altar!
‘Abyssal spells are truly a bit strange.’
Marvin started to feel a burning pain from his claws!
This was due to the immunity. If he had been in his normal form, his body would have probably already started festering!
“You actually dare to challenge a Demon Wizard at his altar?”
“Have you never been taught common knowledge about the Abyss, young Druid?”
Balkh coldly raised his sheep-head staff and aimed at Marvin, who had flown back into the air.
Chapter 498: Abyssal Blood Pond
Chapter 498: Abyssal Blood Pond
Translator: Translation Nation Editor: Translation Nation
The Royal Griffin maneuvered quickly in the air and dodged Balkh’s Acid Arrow!
That staff was imbued with an instant spell, but the Royal Griffin’s attributes were too overwhelming so Marvin was able to easily dodge despite being at close range.
And Marvin was very pleased with the fact that Balkh believed he was a Druid.
After all, in most cases, transforming into a Griffin was a rare Druid ability.
If he had been another flying beast, that Acid Arrow would probably have hit!
But Marvin didn’t dare to be careless.
The altar shone with a dark flickering light and the Magic Dragon was faintly visible, circling around it.
That being couldn’t fight in melee, but it had similar effects to the altar and provided Balkh with endless Magic Power and buffs.
The battle was still ongoing. Balkh had the advantage because the Demon Wizard Altar was very frightening and Marvin didn’t want to get closer.
Thus, at his order, the six Shadow Dragons charged toward the altar!
He wanted to forcibly destroy the altar!
After getting rid of it, the Demon Wizard would be far less threatening!
“Woosh!”
A golden shadow flashed through the sky. Marvin was very careful and didn’t fly too high since the sky above the Withered Leaf Promenade was covered in spatial cracks. If he went too close to them, he would easily be drawn in.
He had also ordered the Shadow Dragons to hover at a lower altitude when they approached, but in spite of this, a Shadow Dragon had almost been dragged into a spatial crack.
Fortunately, the Shadow Dragons were lifeforms with high resistance to the pull of those spatial cracks. Marvin’s order was quite timely.
The Shadow Dragons’ bodies were like dark clouds descending on the small valley, charging imposingly at that altar.
But suddenly, the sheep-head staff in the Demon Wizard’s hand let out a wail!
That wail carried a powerful intimidating force, and even Marvin wasn’t immune to that willpower check, despite the abilities he gained from being a Royal Griffin!
Marvin stiffened and started falling through the air.
But this state only lasted for half a second before Marvin was able to readjust and keep flying again.
But those Shadow Dragons weren’t as fortunate. Balkh started incanting and grey lights appeared at the corners of the altar!
[Legend Spell – Ghostly Death Ray]!
Six Death Rays accurately hit the six Shadow Dragons. These Shadow monsters weren’t particularly resistant to Death Magic, so in an instant, three of them collapsed!
Two other Dragons seemed to be struggling, as their bodies started dissipating and they awkwardly fell to the ground, unable to move!
But the last Shadow Dragon stood tall against the destructive power of the Death Ray and still managed to pounce at the altar.
Marvin’s heart sank.
Balkh was more difficult to handle than he had imagined!
That Shadow Dragon definitely wouldn’t be able to break the altar alone.
Demon Wizard Altars were like Wizard Towers. They had all kinds of defenses, and the six Death Rays were just one of them.
Balkh definitely still had other means of defense!
…
Just as expected, as soon as the Shadow Dragon pounced on the altar, a bloody light flashed!
A door opened out of nowhere and a lot of blood started pouring onto the Shadow Dragon’s body.
Despite being a type of lifeform with rather limited consciousness, the Shadow Dragon let out an anguished wail after being drenched in the blood.
Marvin watched attentively as the Shadow Dragon melted!
That blood fell on the altar and Balkh, but they both came out unscathed.
In fact, each tile of the altar was greedily absorbing the blood as if it was the most delicious delicacy.
Marvin could even feel the Demonic Altar’s energy increasing!
‘Fuck!’
‘Abyssal Blood Pond!’
‘That guy actually has the privilege to open the Abyssal Blood Pond!’
Even though it seemed that Balkh was a bit tired, as if using the blood caused him great exertion, the Abyssal Blood Pond was a very troublesome matter. Marvin was filled with trepidation at this revelation.
The Abyssal Blood Pond was a very powerful pool of energy and its essence was similar to that of the Negative Energy Plane’s [Evil Spirit Sea], the Nine Hells’ [Sin Country], as well as the Universe Magic Pool. The difference was that the Demons themselves originated from the Abyssal Blood Pond. Each Demon Spawn was born from it.
There was a main Abyssal Blood Pond, but there were also some separate lesser Blood Ponds, but they were controlled by the powerful Demon Lords.
There were no more than ten Demon Lords that were in control of a Blood Pond.
Although Balkh’s father was a famous Demon Lord, he definitely wasn’t one of them.
Marvin narrowed his eyes. Since that was the case, where did Balkh get the ability to control Abyssal Blood Pond from?
It had to be known that the blood from the Abyssal Blood Pond carried endless Magic Power. These droplets of blood could melt any non-Demonic lifeform while raising the Demons’ power. If it was used on a Demonic Altar, it would charge it with additional energy.
No wonder Marvin felt that the altar seemed to become stronger.
Balkh was prepared to have a war of attrition with him.
…
After being shocked by the use of the Abyssal Blood Pond, Marvin didn’t dare to approach the altar.
He knew that now was the time where the Blood Energy was the most abundant, so going in would definitely end in a pretty bad outcome.
Six Shadow Dragons had been taken care of just like that. Balkh’s strength was quite fearsome.
No wonder none of the powerhouses of Eisengel wanted to take that mission.
It seemed like Balkh had support from someone other than his father.
Marvin once heard that just like the Evil Spirit Sea had its own wisdom, the Abyssal Blood Pond also had a faint will.
That will could choose some outstanding Demons and give them special treatment.
This was similar to Feinan’s Fate Sorcerers, who were chosen by the will of the plane.
Maybe Balkh was that “Fate-Chosen Demon”.
But in any case, Marvin’s mission was to eliminate Balkh, or else he could only obediently do a newcomer patrol.
Although the situation wasn’t good, Marvin felt that it still wasn’t beyond his abilities.
He contemplated for a few more moments before diving down decisively!
“You are courting death!” Balkh sneered.
He brandished his sinister sheep-head staff once more.
“Woosh!”
A Ghostly Death Ray shot out at Marvin!
The Royal Griffin burst open in mid air, its feathers flying in all directions!
A shadow fell to the ground and ro
lled over several times before disappearing from Balkh’s sight!!
Chapter 499: Eternal Night Seal
Chapter 499: Eternal Night Seal
Translator: Translation Nation Editor: Translation Nation
T/N: Eternal Night Banish -> Eternal Night Seal
The originally noisy valley suddenly fell silent.
Marvin’s 200 points of Stealth along with a diversionary tactic let him disappear from Balkh’s eyes in an instant.
Although a Royal Griffin had a powerful constitution, it would still be vulnerable to the spells of a powerful Wizard.
In addition, it was Marvin’s first time using this kind of Shapechange skill, so he wasn’t very proficient in using this shape. Thus, he seemed to be at a disadvantage when facing the Demon Wizard Balkh.
Although his Human body wasn’t as powerful, it had extreme burst power.
Marvin was looking for an opportunity to deal with the Demon Wizard.
He had the ability, he just needed a chance to strike.
He hid in the shadows, silently prowling around the altar.
The altar shone with a dazzling light and a dense fog rose up. Balkh clearly wasn’t an idiot. Since he couldn’t tell where Marvin had disappeared to, he used magic to block the latter’s sight.
And like the previous one, that fog also had a corroding aura.
Marvin silently glanced at his logs and saw that a series of checks kept appearing.
He had no time to waste.
This fog might also be a way for Balkh to find his position. The longer he delayed, worse the situation would get for him.
The next second, Marvin disappeared from his spot!
Night Boundary!
“Woosh!”
A shadow charged at the Demonic Altar!
However, Balkh wasn’t confused by Marvin’s sudden attack, instead just laughing at him. “You dare to charge into a Demon Wizard Altar?”
“You’re screwed!”
Following his words, a dangerous aura appeared in the altar.
But Marvin was still very calm. He moved like a breeze and seemed dazzling in the muddy altar.
He made a complex step and arrived behind Balkh, putting his hand directly on Balkh’s body!
“Careless Demon.”
Just as Marvin’s voice echoed, Balkh felt his vision darken!
Night Ranger - Full Series - 735 Chapters Page 290
