The Damned Demon - Chapter 913

Chapter 913: Even Gods Rot

Not long ago,

Arthur’s words echoed deeply within Derek’s mind, wounding him more than Arthur’s attack as he remained suspended in space.

How could someone who was dead come back to life? How dare he come back and try to ruin his plan that spanned tens of thousands of years?

All those years ago he had people who loved him even more than they loved their own family. They were willing to die with just a word from him.

But all that was taken away from him...by the very same man he had been trying to erase over lifetimes.

How...Why...Why was it so hard to make him nothing but a rotten memory? Why won’t he just die? Why does he have to always watch him rise again?

No...This ends today!

"ASHERRR!!" he bellowed, the air tearing apart in his path, sky and earth splitting from the violent tremor of his voice.

Derek’s roar shattered the silence of space itself. His immortal body burned brightly, encased in brilliant white-blue flames as he hurtled downward, a meteor of radiant rage.

The monstrous immortal plunged through the stormy skies, each moment gathering momentum, and crashed toward Zalthor in a catastrophic blaze of celestial power.

Below, amidst the scorched and trembling lands of Zalthor, Asher remained knelt on the ground.

As Derek’s spear hurtled down, poised to pierce Asher’s chest, a shadow surged forward, quick as a serpent strike. With terrifying grace, the hilt of the Void Reaver launched into Asher’s hand. He seized it, raising it high above his skull in one fluid motion, as a massive bolt of dark-green lightning crashed down from hell.

The earth-shattering explosion of power that followed hurled Derek violently back into the void, sending him hurtling helplessly into outer space. The ground below fractured and cracked, yet miraculously, the violent shockwave passed harmlessly over Rowena and the people gathered around.

An eerie pillar of dark-green light enveloped Asher completely, tendrils of damned energy flowing from the earth and sky, feeding into his form. Zalthor itself shuddered violently beneath the terrifying force, as if nature itself feared the birth of something beyond comprehension.

Everyone watched in silent awe, their hearts racing uncontrollably. Ravina’s eyes widened with excitement, a small smile on her lips as she whispered, "Papa is becoming big!"

Luna, trembling, stepped forward cautiously, awe-stricken. "Why didn’t you tell me...If only I had known you were trying to help...

Lupus nodded gravely, eyes reflecting wisdom and relief, "I couldn’t risk it. Ceti’s sacrifice had to happen at the right moment. After that, I was afraid your visions might get influenced if I told you."

"Then...did you always know Ceti was going to..."

"I had seen her die countless times in my visions. At first it broke me but then at some point...the Undying Warden made me realize that it was her fate to die so that others can live...including you," Lupus said as he slowly closed his eyes with a hint of a painful grimace while Luna lowered her head with silent pain.

Finally, the blazing column of dark green receded slowly, unveiling Asher’s blazing figure.

The skeletal being stood tall, ablaze in emerald hellfire. His bones, scorched black diamond laced with cracks of molten emerald, radiated terrifying strength. Twin horns curled forward aggressively from his charred skull, crooked and jagged, veined with the glow of corrupted mana. Flames, dark green and sinister, wept from his hollow eyes like molten tears.

Six deadly ring blades, jagged and dripping green flame, orbited his skeletal form, whispering promises of death. The Void Reaver in his grip radiated an otherworldly menace, dark-green flames coiling along its length, burning with unyielding hunger.

Massive skeletal wings, not built for flight but dominance, spread from his spine. Each bone shard bound by raw emerald flame, crackling with dark mana, cast terrifying shadows across the battlefield.

"Impossible..." Derek muttered, floating in the cold void above. Charred wounds refused to heal, as fear briefly flickered in his eyes.

Slowly, Asher lifted his blazing skull, locking his molten gaze onto Derek’s distant figure. He raised a single skeletal finger skyward, voice echoing with a chilling, multi-layered chorus:

"You called yourself a god. Let’s see how gods bleed."

Enraged beyond reason, Derek roared and propelled himself forward again, spear ablaze with all his immortal strength. The air screamed in agony, space itself fracturing as the two collided. A devastating blast erupted from the clash, sending ripples across continents.

Yet Asher stood unmoved, calmly pushing Derek back with a single swipe of his Void Reaver. Derek staggered backward, eyes widened with disbelief. He was never this powerful last time!

"You’ve lost your edge, Derek," Asher mocked, voice resonating with the wails of countless tormented souls. "False Immortality suits you poorly."

Roaring, Derek launched a furious barrage of radiant beams, each powerful enough to incinerate entire cities. But Asher’s six ring blades danced effortlessly, deflecting every blast, redirecting them harmlessly skyward. Derek screamed in frustration, his attacks becoming more reckless and frantic.

"Stay still and DIE!" Derek bellowed, his desperation clear as his attacks intensified, burning the air itself.

Unimpressed, Asher surged forward. With blinding speed, he plunged the Void Reaver straight through Derek’s shoulder, dark-green flames erupting from the wound, searing the immortal’s flesh. Derek howled in agony, wrenching himself free, staring at the wound that refused to heal.

"You always feared losing control," Asher mocked coldly. "How does it feel to watch your own facade unravel?"

"SHUT UP!" Derek roared, energy bursting from him uncontrollably. He swung his spear wildly, a desperate attempt to land a blow. But Asher’s skeletal wings enveloped him protectively, the radiant energy sizzling harmlessly against their infernal embrace.

Drawing upon his talent, Asher invoked Devouring Form. Dark-green tendrils burst from his skeletal hands, sinking into Derek’s immortal flesh, siphoning away his strength. Derek screamed, feeling his immense power draining rapidly, feeding Asher’s terrifying presence.

"Your essence feels foul," Asher said scornfully, his voice echoing in chilling harmony. "Weak, cowardly—just like your soul."

Panicking, Derek tried to escape, shooting upwards. But Asher vanished instantly, reappearing above him, effortlessly slamming Derek back to earth. Derek crashed into the ground, shattering stone and leaving a vast crater in his wake.

"You were no god," Asher declared, descending slowly, dark flames crackling around him. "Only a child who stumbled upon power."

Rising shakily, Derek gathered every shred of remaining strength, unleashing a catastrophic burst of mana toward Asher. But activating Primordial Hunger, Asher calmly absorbed the tremendous power, emerald flames devouring the radiant energy, strengthening himself further.

"Your power was never truly yours, Derek," Asher said coldly, stepping closer. "You stole it from my blood and flesh. Borrowed it. Now I reclaim what was never rightfully yours."

Enraged yet terrified, Derek lunged forward recklessly. But Asher’s blades moved instantly, impaling Derek’s limbs and pinning him brutally against the shattered earth. Derek howled, trapped, eyes wide with primal fear.

"You...will pay for this!" Derek gasped, defiant to the end.

"No," Asher replied simply, looming above Derek’s helpless form, his voice a quiet promise of eternal judgment. "You will."

He raised his free hand, conjuring emerald flames. Chains of dark green fire erupted from the earth, wrapping around Derek, searing into his immortal body.

"Feel this, Derek? It’s the despair of those you wronged," Asher whispered darkly, his voice resonating with cold fury. "The very souls you damned."

Derek struggled, screaming as the chains tightened, burning away layers of his immortal essence. He watched in horror as the very power he’d coveted drained away, flowing hungrily into Asher.

Asher’s ring blades slowly circled Derek, each pass slicing deeper, methodically carving away at his immortal flesh. Derek’s screams echoed across the shattered land, each cry music to Asher’s tormented soul.

"This...is impossible..." Derek gasped weakly, fighting futilely against his bindings. "I am eternal!"

"You are a fraud, a shadow of eternity," Asher said icily. "True immortality requires sacrifice. You sacrificed others. I sacrificed myself. That’s why you’ll always lose."

With a final surge, Derek unleashed a desperate blast of radiant energy, shaking the very foundation of Zalthor. Yet Asher calmly raised the Void Reaver, absorbing the entire attack effortlessly. Derek fell limp, exhausted and defeated.

Asher slowly stepped forward, his emerald flames illuminating the broken landscape. He leaned down, his molten gaze inches from Derek’s trembling eyes.

"This...is mercy," Asher said softly, voice layered with countless souls whispering judgment. "Because what comes next will be your eternity."

He stood tall, the skeletal wings unfurling majestically behind him, flames burning higher as his immortal essence dominated the world.

"You wanted to be a ruler of worlds," Asher whispered coldly, raising his sword to point directly at Derek’s terrified eyes. "But all you became was...this. A pathetic excuse of a sovereign. A coward who ruled puppets."

The ground beneath Derek began to tremble, faint at first—but then violently, as if the earth itself recoiled from what was about to unfold. A spiderweb of glowing, dark green cracks spread outward from Asher’s feet, hissing with unholy energy. The very air twisted and screamed, distorting like it was trying to escape the pull of a force older and darker than reality.

Derek’s eyes widened as the temperature dropped around him—not to cold, but to dread. His limbs shook uncontrollably as he felt the pressure of something else clawing at the seams of the world.

"No—no, you wouldn’t," Derek croaked, trying to push himself back, his hands scraping across the broken earth. "You can’t—ASHER!"

But Asher stood unmoved, towering above him like an emperor of the damned, his wings spread in silent judgment, emerald flames casting nightmarish shadows. With a single downward motion of his skeletal hand, the cracks beneath them burst open.

A gate tore through reality.

The sky above screamed as if the heavens themselves were being shredded. A colossal rift of dark green yawned open behind Asher, revealing a twisted landscape of shattered mirror-skies, rivers of dark green magma, and twisted bone trees that bled smoke. The Damned Dimension had awakened.

From within, wailing echoes spilled out—thousands of lost souls shrieking in torment, crying out as they clawed against the inner walls of their eternal prison. The scent of decay and despair choked the air, and Derek froze as he stared into the realm.

"No," he whispered, eyes glassy. "Not there. ANYWHERE but there—" He remembered what had happened to those Asher had dragged into whatever hell that was. He never saw it but whoever returned from there suffered a fate worse than death.

Asher didn’t reply. He simply stepped aside and let the rift pull.

Derek screamed as invisible tendrils of cursed mana latched onto him. He flailed and thrashed like a drowning man, even as the earth beneath him began to crumble into the rift.

"I AM A GOD!!" he howled. "YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME!"

But Asher knelt beside him one last time and whispered, "Even gods rot... when they enter my kingdom."

With a final agonized roar, Derek was dragged into the rift—his body folding, burning, and breaking into pieces as the damned dimension swallowed him whole.

Rowena gasped sharply, clutching Ravina tighter as the unholy rift consumed the two figures.

Most of them covered their mouths in shock. Naida and Layla’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, seeing justice finally happen.

Amelia gripped Rachel’s hand, trembling in relief and wistful realization that it was finally over.

Then—just as suddenly as it had opened—the rift snapped shut, leaving only silence behind.

No trace of Asher.

No trace of Derek.

Just the fading echoes of countless screams... and a blackened mark scorched deep into the land.