539. The Expanse
The group of four Archdemons landed soon after arriving at the border of the Demon King’s Domain. They followed a small flitting figure ahead— a creature that was no larger than Haec’s fist. It looked small and unassuming, but despite appearances, Haec was well aware of the capabilities of that sparkling gray ball.
[Unseelie Lord - Lvl. 185]
It was Hartia the Ruler of the Border. He was the one who had found Haec and Taburas together. It had been a terrifying encounter, particularly for Haec. It was the first time he had witnessed such power. And even now, despite having grown so much stronger than before, he was amazed by the incredible strength of the [Unseelie Lord].
The entire valley shifted as rock and rubble flew up to the sky. Hartia raised his little hands, and a massive wall began to form ahead of the army of Demons. Large chunks of stone broke off from the mountain range, before shimmering as they were enchanted from the [Unseelie Lord]’s magic. He crafted this barrier as the remnants of wild Demons were slain, and the broken bits of rock covered the lava and crevices from Revelation.
Even as the rest of the Netherworld was engulfed by this planar calamity, the Demon King’s Domain was expanded, all thanks to the magic of Hartia himself.
“So this is the Expanse.”
Laxi whispered. She swept her gaze reverently over the landscape. Rock and rubble piled up across the valley, forming a pathway that spread into Revelation, carpeting the path further out of the Demon King’s Domain.
Haec’s eyes flickered. He watched as she shook her head, speaking as the carpet landed behind the army of Demons.
“This is the first time I’ve been here.”
“Seriously?”
Taburas raised a curious brow. She eyed the [Baelis] with a frown.
“How did you enter the Domain without crossing the Expanse?”
“I have served my whole life under my King. I was born here, in his Domain, and I always thought I would die here too.”
Laxi answered simply, and Betrugil just snorted.
“Congratulations. You’re going to die outside of the Domain to a bunch of wild Demons now.”
She glared back at him as he just shrugged back. Haec swept his gaze past them, looking towards the sea of soldiers ahead. There were tens of thousands of [Fiends], [Djinns], and other such Demons filling the Expanse. Maybe even hundreds of thousands of them. It was a sight Haec was familiar with. Even if the situation was different— the army larger, and the setting different— he remembered what it was like to be grounded through this grueling deathtrap.
“I can’t believe we’re back.”
Taburas whispered as she stepped next to Haec. He glanced at her, before hopping off the carpet. He held a hand out, helping the [Succubus] down too. She shook her head.
“And the Expanse is more dangerous than ever. Those were… wild Archdemons. So many of them. When we were here, there had barely been any of those out there.”
“Revelation has brought out the most terrifying Demons from hiding. I would not be surprised if even Primeval Demons will show up to the expanse too.”
Haec spoke simply as his gaze flickered towards the [Unseelie Lord]. The four Archdemons strode forward, slowly approaching Hartia the Ruler of the Border. The little flying figure laughed as he heard their conversation.
“Now, now. I’m sure that even worse things that Primeval Demons will show up if we push too far into the wilderness.”
Hartia flitted forward, shaking his tiny head as the four Archdemons came to a halt. Haec furrowed his brows, and Laxi blinked. Betrugil just rolled his eyes.
“So we’re definitely going to die, then. But instead of some big scary Primeval Demon killing us, it’ll be a big scary Primordial Demon, right?”
“Yep!”
The cheerful response came from the [Unseelie Lord]. He was as casual as ever, just like Haec remembered. Laxi twisted her lips, trying to ignore that remark, instead changing the subject.
“You spoke of this wilderness. What exactly is that?”
“The wilderness? Oh, it’s just what I call the rest of the Netherworld.”
Hartia replied simply. He flitted down to the [Baelies] with a grin plastered on his face.
“It’s where the wild Demons roam and die— it’s everything outside of our kingdom. I just call it the wilderness because it is a fitting name. I mean, don’t you think it’s fitting?”
He asked as he drew closer, his voice barely audible amidst the clamor of the smashing rocks and clamoring battle beyond. While the army of soldiers were mostly cutting down crushed and injured wild Demons, it still wasn’t an easy fight. There could be wild Archdemons mixed amongst the rubble, surviving the collapse of the wall and the burning of the lava. And they were dangerous enough to wipe out hundreds of these lower-leveled [Fiends] before they were stopped.
In fact, Haec even heard the soft echo of blasts in the distance. He saw a serpentine creature burrow out of the ground, hissing as it tore through a group of Greater Demons. It was an [Ouroboros]. It snarled as a flurry of magical spells and projectiles was unleashed upon it, and Hartia didn’t even bat an eye.
He just let the army do the fighting. They took down the injured Archdemon after a few moments with their combined spells, but not before it had wiped out a noticeable chunk of their numbers as well.
It made Haec purse his lips. After all, he very much remembered this cruel apathy from the Border Ruler.
“So what happens if this something worse shows up?”
Betrugil spoke up, frowning as he eyed the [Ouroboros] collapsing in the distance. He shook his head and turned to the [Unseelie Lord].
“Do we just roll over and die?”
“Pretty much.”
Hartia nodded eagerly. Betrugil blinked. He straightened slightly.
“Fair. I respect the honesty.”
The gray sphere drifted forward, gesturing for the four Archdemons to follow. They did. Taburas stuck close to Haec’s side as Betrugil trailed behind. Laxi was a step behind the [Unseelie Lord], but it was clear some of her previous resolve from earlier was now gone.
They strolled over the tumultuous landscape, walking over the corpses of dead wild Demons. Thousands of Demons stayed behind— at the back of the army— collecting the dead bodies left behind and piling them up into small mountains and hills off to the side of the valley. Laxi looked around with narrowed eyes, and Betrugil tilted his head. Laxi looked confused as well, but she tried not to let it show on her face.
Hartia just chuckled at their reactions.
“The two of you have never been here to the Expanse before, have you?”
“I crossed through the Expanse when I arrived, but I have never been forced to prove my strength here.”
Betrugil answered simply. Laxi just nodded.
“I was one of the many overseers at the Enclosures, and I have been sent out during Desolation with capture parties. However, I cannot say I have witnessed the activities carried out here at the Expanse during Revelation.”
Hartia nodded as he flew past a pile of corpses.
“Well, we are the Third Legion of the Expanse. Our job here is simple— we expand. That’s it.”
He just smiled. Betrugil and Laxi stared. Taburas shifted uncomfortably as Haec twisted his lips. The Border Ruler waved a hand dismissively.
“The other Legions are… dull. They don’t dare to expand beyond their borders. They think it’s dangerous. But that is why you have been sent here. To grow our King’s Domain. To repel Revelation.”
Haec’s gaze darkened at this short speech. It brought back memories which he’d rather not remember. Taburas tightened her grip around his forearm as they continued on. Laxi and Betrugil just exchanged a glance.
The [Baelis] was the one who nodded.
“R-right. And we should just… help out?”
Hartia raised his head.
“Honestly, I don’t even know why you four are here. Those who are sent to the Expanse are typically lower-leveled Demons. This place is a trial. It is a place to train them— it is a place to build loyalty. You Archdemons are better suited elsewhere.”
His eyes flickered. He eyed Haec curiously.
“Especially you.”
His words came out soft. Barely a whisper. But Haec heard it. And it was the same question Taburas had asked.
Haec had no reason to be here. But he still came. Even though he had served his time in the Expanse as a Greater Demon— even though he was now the Heir of the Netherworld. After all, he needed to be here.
This was the first step. He wasn’t going to stay here for long. He was going to leave this place soon. And then, he’d seek out his leader.
He’d seek out Salvos.
He just hoped she was waiting for him.
“Ugh, this sucks.”
I couldn’t move. Well, I could move. But it was taking me forever to even take a single step. It was almost impossible to move around here in the second layer. With each step I took, I ended up at a completely different spot.
I sighed as I collapsed to the floor, before appearing plastered on a wall. I stared at this corrupted space. And I just closed my eyes.
“I want to go back.”
MelasD
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539. The Expanse
The group of four Archdemons landed soon after arriving at the border of the Demon King’s Domain. They followed a small flitting figure ahead— a creature that was no larger than Haec’s fist. It looked small and unassuming, but despite appearances, Haec was well aware of the capabilities of that sparkling gray ball.
[Unseelie Lord - Lvl. 185]
It was Hartia the Ruler of the Border. He was the one who had found Haec and Taburas together. It had been a terrifying encounter, particularly for Haec. It was the first time he had witnessed such power. And even now, despite having grown so much stronger than before, he was amazed by the incredible strength of the [Unseelie Lord].
The entire valley shifted as rock and rubble flew up to the sky. Hartia raised his little hands, and a massive wall began to form ahead of the army of Demons. Large chunks of stone broke off from the mountain range, before shimmering as they were enchanted from the [Unseelie Lord]’s magic. He crafted this barrier as the remnants of wild Demons were slain, and the broken bits of rock covered the lava and crevices from Revelation.
Even as the rest of the Netherworld was engulfed by this planar calamity, the Demon King’s Domain was expanded, all thanks to the magic of Hartia himself.
“So this is the Expanse.”
Laxi whispered. She swept her gaze reverently over the landscape. Rock and rubble piled up across the valley, forming a pathway that spread into Revelation, carpeting the path further out of the Demon King’s Domain.
Haec’s eyes flickered. He watched as she shook her head, speaking as the carpet landed behind the army of Demons.
“This is the first time I’ve been here.”
“Seriously?”
Taburas raised a curious brow. She eyed the [Baelis] with a frown.
“How did you enter the Domain without crossing the Expanse?”
“I have served my whole life under my King. I was born here, in his Domain, and I always thought I would die here too.”
Laxi answered simply, and Betrugil just snorted.
“Congratulations. You’re going to die outside of the Domain to a bunch of wild Demons now.”
She glared back at him as he just shrugged back. Haec swept his gaze past them, looking towards the sea of soldiers ahead. There were tens of thousands of [Fiends], [Djinns], and other such Demons filling the Expanse. Maybe even hundreds of thousands of them. It was a sight Haec was familiar with. Even if the situation was different— the army larger, and the setting different— he remembered what it was like to be grounded through this grueling deathtrap.
“I can’t believe we’re back.”
Taburas whispered as she stepped next to Haec. He glanced at her, before hopping off the carpet. He held a hand out, helping the [Succubus] down too. She shook her head.
“And the Expanse is more dangerous than ever. Those were… wild Archdemons. So many of them. When we were here, there had barely been any of those out there.”
“Revelation has brought out the most terrifying Demons from hiding. I would not be surprised if even Primeval Demons will show up to the expanse too.”
Haec spoke simply as his gaze flickered towards the [Unseelie Lord]. The four Archdemons strode forward, slowly approaching Hartia the Ruler of the Border. The little flying figure laughed as he heard their conversation.
“Now, now. I’m sure that even worse things that Primeval Demons will show up if we push too far into the wilderness.”
Hartia flitted forward, shaking his tiny head as the four Archdemons came to a halt. Haec furrowed his brows, and Laxi blinked. Betrugil just rolled his eyes.
“So we’re definitely going to die, then. But instead of some big scary Primeval Demon killing us, it’ll be a big scary Primordial Demon, right?”
“Yep!”
The cheerful response came from the [Unseelie Lord]. He was as casual as ever, just like Haec remembered. Laxi twisted her lips, trying to ignore that remark, instead changing the subject.
“You spoke of this wilderness. What exactly is that?”
“The wilderness? Oh, it’s just what I call the rest of the Netherworld.”
Hartia replied simply. He flitted down to the [Baelies] with a grin plastered on his face.
“It’s where the wild Demons roam and die— it’s everything outside of our kingdom. I just call it the wilderness because it is a fitting name. I mean, don’t you think it’s fitting?”
He asked as he drew closer, his voice barely audible amidst the clamor of the smashing rocks and clamoring battle beyond. While the army of soldiers were mostly cutting down crushed and injured wild Demons, it still wasn’t an easy fight. There could be wild Archdemons mixed amongst the rubble, surviving the collapse of the wall and the burning of the lava. And they were dangerous enough to wipe out hundreds of these lower-leveled [Fiends] before they were stopped.
In fact, Haec even heard the soft echo of blasts in the distance. He saw a serpentine creature burrow out of the ground, hissing as it tore through a group of Greater Demons. It was an [Ouroboros]. It snarled as a flurry of magical spells and projectiles was unleashed upon it, and Hartia didn’t even bat an eye.
He just let the army do the fighting. They took down the injured Archdemon after a few moments with their combined spells, but not before it had wiped out a noticeable chunk of their numbers as well.
It made Haec purse his lips. After all, he very much remembered this cruel apathy from the Border Ruler.
“So what happens if this something worse shows up?”
Betrugil spoke up, frowning as he eyed the [Ouroboros] collapsing in the distance. He shook his head and turned to the [Unseelie Lord].
“Do we just roll over and die?”
“Pretty much.”
Hartia nodded eagerly. Betrugil blinked. He straightened slightly.
“Fair. I respect the honesty.”
The gray sphere drifted forward, gesturing for the four Archdemons to follow. They did. Taburas stuck close to Haec’s side as Betrugil trailed behind. Laxi was a step behind the [Unseelie Lord], but it was clear some of her previous resolve from earlier was now gone.
They strolled over the tumultuous landscape, walking over the corpses of dead wild Demons. Thousands of Demons stayed behind— at the back of the army— collecting the dead bodies left behind and piling them up into small mountains and hills off to the side of the valley. Laxi looked around with narrowed eyes, and Betrugil tilted his head. Laxi looked confused as well, but she tried not to let it show on her face.
Hartia just chuckled at their reactions.
“The two of you have never been here to the Expanse before, have you?”
“I crossed through the Expanse when I arrived, but I have never been forced to prove my strength here.”
Betrugil answered simply. Laxi just nodded.
“I was one of the many overseers at the Enclosures, and I have been sent out during Desolation with capture parties. However, I cannot say I have witnessed the activities carried out here at the Expanse during Revelation.”
Hartia nodded as he flew past a pile of corpses.
“Well, we are the Third Legion of the Expanse. Our job here is simple— we expand. That’s it.”
He just smiled. Betrugil and Laxi stared. Taburas shifted uncomfortably as Haec twisted his lips. The Border Ruler waved a hand dismissively.
“The other Legions are… dull. They don’t dare to expand beyond their borders. They think it’s dangerous. But that is why you have been sent here. To grow our King’s Domain. To repel Revelation.”
Haec’s gaze darkened at this short speech. It brought back memories which he’d rather not remember. Taburas tightened her grip around his forearm as they continued on. Laxi and Betrugil just exchanged a glance.
The [Baelis] was the one who nodded.
“R-right. And we should just… help out?”
Hartia raised his head.
“Honestly, I don’t even know why you four are here. Those who are sent to the Expanse are typically lower-leveled Demons. This place is a trial. It is a place to train them— it is a place to build loyalty. You Archdemons are better suited elsewhere.”
His eyes flickered. He eyed Haec curiously.
“Especially you.”
His words came out soft. Barely a whisper. But Haec heard it. And it was the same question Taburas had asked.
Haec had no reason to be here. But he still came. Even though he had served his time in the Expanse as a Greater Demon— even though he was now the Heir of the Netherworld. After all, he needed to be here.
This was the first step. He wasn’t going to stay here for long. He was going to leave this place soon. And then, he’d seek out his leader.
He’d seek out Salvos.
He just hoped she was waiting for him.
“Ugh, this sucks.”
I couldn’t move. Well, I could move. But it was taking me forever to even take a single step. It was almost impossible to move around here in the second layer. With each step I took, I ended up at a completely different spot.
I sighed as I collapsed to the floor, before appearing plastered on a wall. I stared at this corrupted space. And I just closed my eyes.
“I want to go back.”
MelasD
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