Chapter 477: A visit to the Giants.
The Ninth Circle of Hell, once a desert of suffering and punishment, now trembled with a new and terrifying energy. The blackened ground pulsed with demonic magic, and the air carried a scarlet glow of pure arcane corruption. Titanic structures of obsidian and ebony began to rise from the depths, forged by ancient runes and the uncontrollable power of the Demon Witches.
Valentina observed the scene with a satisfied smile. "Looks like we're off to a great start…" she murmured, her eyes scanning the Ninth Circle, now transformed into an infernal construction site. Demons of various castes and witches who had perished in the war against Mary Rose worked tirelessly, shaping an empire of darkness.
Beside her, Alice chuckled softly, crossing her arms. "Let's just say the Demon Witches are even more efficient than I imagined. Their souls may have been reaped in the war, but now they belong to something greater… and far more terrifying."
What was once a battlefield of destruction and chaos was now taking shape as an infernal city. Tall, jagged towers were raised with a mere snap of the witches' fingers. The structures were covered in ancient runic inscriptions, symbols that channeled demonic energy and reinforced the foundations with pure magic.
At the heart of this reborn hell, a vast fortress took form, its presence eclipsing every other structure around it. It was a monument to the rise of a new power—a Demon Kingdom built upon the ashes of war.
Velryna, who had been named the future Empress of the Western Empire after Aldria, looked around with a mix of fascination and unease. Her golden eyes gleamed in the dim light. "Why… does this feel so trivial? Something of this magnitude should take centuries, and yet, it's happening before our eyes as if it were mere child's play."
Alice let out a soft sigh and smirked. "That's the effect of true power, Velryna. When you have enough strength, the rules of the world become irrelevant. What would take millennia to build can now be shaped in mere days—or even hours, if we so desire."
Valentina nodded silently, and Alice continued.
"Our knowledge of runes was already vast, but now, with access to demonic magic and inherited powers, everything has become exponentially easier. The fusion between witchcraft and infernal power has created something entirely new. We're not just rebuilding—we're redefining what it means to exist in this realm."
Velryna watched as the witches worked relentlessly, their bodies wrapped in black flames and pulsating shadows. Some levitated entire chunks of land to create floating platforms; others manipulated the fires of hell to forge towers and indestructible walls. Condemned spirits were absorbed as fuel to sustain the overwhelming magic permeating every structure.
On the horizon, the crimson sky of the Ninth Circle seemed to shudder, reacting to the rise of this new empire. Black lightning tore through the demonic clouds, announcing that something grand was being realized—something that had never been attempted before.
Alice took a step forward, her eyes glowing with ambition. "This is only the beginning. When we're done, this place won't just be a kingdom… it will be an absolute dominion. And those who dare to challenge us will find nothing but ruin." She smiled like a true demon...
"But for now, how about we focus on those two over there?" Alice asked, pointing toward two massive trees in the far distance on the horizon...
[Lost Vale]
Fey narrowed her eyes, studying every detail of her sister's serene expression. The gentle breeze stirred Qliphoth's silver hair, making it shimmer under the pale light of the misty sky. Between them, the elegantly arranged tea table seemed out of place in the vast, untouched landscape of the vale.
"Why did you go against my husband?" Fey asked again, her voice laced with a firm undertone.
Qliphoth, unhurried, lifted her teacup to her lips, blowing lightly on the steam before taking a sip. She placed the cup back onto the saucer with a delicate clink, then crossed her legs, maintaining her impeccable composure. Her eyes, deep as the abyss, locked onto Fey's with a calculated glint.
"Because I had no reason to trust a man I do not even know." Her voice was soft but carried an undeniable weight.
Fey furrowed her brows but remained silent, allowing Qliphoth to continue.
"Think about it, sister. You, who have lived for so long… would you trust someone who simply appeared out of nowhere, invaded your world, destroyed everything you built, and then demanded your unquestioning loyalty?" Qliphoth raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
Fey hesitated. The silence that followed was not just uncomfortable—it was revealing. She didn't want to admit it, but she understood her sister's point of view.
"… He didn't destroy everything," she murmured after a few moments, briefly averting her gaze.
Qliphoth let out a soft laugh, a sound gentle yet dripping with irony. "No, he didn't destroy. He reshaped. Molded everything to his will without even considering those who came before him." She tilted her head slightly. "And you, Fey, who have always walked alongside balance… simply accepted it?"
Fey clenched her fists on her lap, her eyes burning with a mix of frustration and doubt. "He is different..."
"Different?" Qliphoth smiled, but it wasn't a smile of amusement—it was one of skepticism. "Or did you simply decide to see something in him because you needed to believe in a new purpose?"
Fey stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back. Her gaze was now sharp as a blade. "If he were just an invader, as you say, I would have never followed him. I followed him because I saw with my own eyes what he is capable of. What he can build… and what he can destroy."
Qliphoth's eyes gleamed for a brief moment, but her expression soon returned to its usual cold composure. She rested her chin on her hand and smiled enigmatically.
"And you're willing to bet everything on this?"
Fey took a step forward, the breeze now swirling around her as if responding to her determination. "I already have."
Silence fell between them, heavy with an invisible tension. The Lost Vale, with its ancient trees and its ageless energy, seemed to hold its breath at the clash between the two sisters.
Then, after a long moment, Qliphoth let out a soft sigh and lifted her cup again, taking another sip of the now lukewarm tea.
"If that's the case..." she murmured, closing her eyes momentarily. When she opened them again, something had changed—there was a decision made.
"Then perhaps it's time I see for myself if this man is truly worthy of all this."
Fey narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Qliphoth smiled, a sharp glint in her gaze. "I'm going to meet him."
[Kingdom of Giants]
Dante stood before the colossal black stone wall, feeling the weight of the journey that had brought him here. The Kingdom of Giants was one of the most isolated and enigmatic realms, hidden among eternal mountains and protected by nearly impenetrable natural barriers. Finding them had already been a challenge, but making them open their gates… that seemed like an even bigger problem. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire
He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he observed the runes faintly glowing on the wall—a protective spell that only fueled his impatience.
"I've taken too long to come see you," Dante muttered to himself, his voice reverberating in the freezing air around him.
Before he could take another step, a deep, rough voice echoed from the other side of the wall, making the ground tremble with its intensity.
"Who dares approach the Kingdom of Giants?!"
Dante rolled his eyes, already expecting a hostile reception. His tone dripped with irritation as he responded, raising his voice without a hint of concern.
"Open this damn door! I've come to see your king!"
Silence stretched for a few moments before a reply came, laced with disdain.
"Leave. The Kingdom of Giants does not welcome outsiders."
Dante remained still, his golden eyes narrowing.
They weren't even making an effort to maintain an amicable relationship with him. Unlike the other kingdoms, which had acknowledged his power and established ties of respect—or at least caution—the giants remained as arrogant as ever.
But what irritated him the most was the fact that Forki Dolafor was still alive within these walls, living peacefully as if nothing had ever happened.
The same bastard who, in the past, had tried to kill him.
They knew. They were well aware of the enmity between him and Forki, yet they still refused to hand him over, as if they were testing his patience.
Dante let out a long sigh, his fingers cracking as his aura began to pulse in subtle waves of raw energy.
"Tch… I wanted to handle this simply, just eliminating Forki Dolafor," he muttered to himself before lifting his gaze to the titanic wall before him.
A cold smile curved his lips.
"But it looks like I'll have to exterminate an entire race instead."
The sky above darkened, turbulent clouds forming as if responding to his intent. A destructive wind swept across the landscape, hurling stones and snow through the sudden storm.
The temperature around him plummeted as Dante's body began to change.
Massive horns erupted from his head, his skin turning into scales as black as the abyss. His hands stretched into claws sharp enough to slice through mountains, and colossal wings expanded, blocking a portion of the sky with their vastness.
The once-impenetrable wall now seemed insignificant before the being Dante had become.
A Gigantic Dragon.
His eyes, now two glowing slits like molten embers, locked onto the wall with a predatory gleam.
Dante parted his jaws, revealing rows of teeth as sharp as blades. A dense energy built up in his throat, crackling in shades of blue and violet as he prepared an attack that would reduce the barrier to mere ruins.
"Last chance," his voice rumbled, guttural and filled with absolute power. "Open this shit… or I'll open it for you."
In the deafening silence that followed, only the echo of his threat lingered across the valley.