Chapter 31 – Suo chronique (6)The Demon's Belly
Suo's breath came in ragged gasps, his body slick with cold sweat and shadow. Every alley, every house still seemed to vibrate with the remnants of their clash. Yet Loki, barely touched by Suo's attack, rose to his feet, a cruel smile spreading across his violet lips.
— "Impressive, Hunter…" he said, his icy voice cutting through the silence. "You are strong… but you are far from understanding the full scope of what you are facing. The world is vast, and teeming with unspeakable horrors."
Suo tightened his fists, his eyes glowing with a dark light. He had not given up and now seemed ready to give everything.
— "What do you mean? The village… its people… they were so kind… they asked for nothing! What are your intentions, Loki? Why do all this?"
Loki did not answer immediately. He raised a finger and murmured unintelligible words. A black mist surged from the ground, condensing into monstrous forms. Demonic silhouettes, armed with claws and corrupted swords, emerged around them, their eyes glowing with moonlit fire.
— "Meet the Order of Demons!" announced Loki, his voice tolling like a death knell. "Those who obey my will… and that of our masters!" One demon lunged directly at Suo.
Suo barely dodged, shards of shadow striking the creatures and tearing them into fragments of darkness. But he quickly realized: these were not illusions. These demons existed—tangible, threatening, and solid.
Loki stepped forward, his smile growing more sinister.
— "Listen closely, Hunter… it's time you understand the truth. I am not merely an assassin sent to eliminate you. My motivations run much deeper."
He raised his arms, and the demons formed a perfect circle around Suo.
— "I am Loki, the messenger… a member of the Illuminati Sect."
— "…The Illuminati?" Suo murmured, frowning.
— "Not the kind you imagine…" Loki continued. "A sect as old as the world itself, but not merely composed of men and women… they are incarnations. Beings possessed by demons. And our goal? To destroy the seven kingdoms, and ultimately the entire universe… to topple every throne, every army… and exterminate humanity. But there is no need to hide it from you: as I said, you will not leave here alive."
A shiver ran down Suo's spine.
— "Destroy the world? For… who are you speaking of? And the village… it was one of your illusions, wasn't it, Loki?"
Loki let out a cold laugh, answering only the last question.
— "An illusion, yes. But not the people. You… you believed it all to be real. In truth, this village exists only in your mind, crushed by my magic and my illusion. They have all been dead for over two years. What you call 'inhabitants' are merely creations of Skulls. He manipulates their bodies through necromancy. Me? I only bend your perception. Nothing more."
Suo stepped back, rage and horror mixing within him.
— "So… what I saw… perfection, life… it was all a projection?"
— "Not exactly," Loki replied, his fingers forming demonic signs. "You saw, spoke, even ate… everything was real to your senses. But I orchestrated all of it to deceive you, tire you, manipulate you… and attempt to claim your soul."
Suo drew a deep breath, his shadow magic pulsating around him.
— "I… I will not fall! Even if this village was an illusion… I will defeat you, Loki!"
Loki bowed slightly, a sadistic smile stretching across his face.
— "Ah, Hunter… you still do not understand. The demons of the Order are no illusion. And I… I will use all this power to annihilate you here and now."
A guttural scream tore through the night. The demons leapt simultaneously. The ground shook, the village walls twisted like wax, warping perspectives. Suo summoned tendrils of shadow from the ground, wrapping them around the creatures and crushing them with force. Yet more surged forward, striking with superhuman speed.
— "You think you can defeat me with this?" shouted Loki, his voice dominating the chaos. "Even your shadow cannot reach me!"
Suo dodged a lethal strike and countered, his voice strong, filled with determination.
— "I am not alone, Loki. The shadow is with me!"
He created blades of shadow that struck the demons, cutting through flesh and corrupted magic. Loki, cunning and strategic, vanished in a flash of illusion, reappearing behind Suo for a surprise attack.
— "You see… the fear you feel… it is real. You think you control this terrain… but it is I who decides reality here."
Suo pivoted and unleashed a wave of shadow, pushing Loki back. The impact shattered cobblestones, sending debris flying.
— "Fear will not control me!" Suo shouted. "I will create my own reality!"
Loki laughed, a chilling sound resonating throughout the village.
— "Very well… show me what you can do, Hunter. But know this: this village… what you call 'reality'… is the belly of a demon. Everything you touch, you touch here, inside the stomach of this monster. Even Skulls, even me… we are merely playing within this living prison!"
Suo felt his legs tremble. The air thrummed with supernatural energy, heavy and oppressive. The shadow magic around him pulsed, and he understood that every step, every strike, had to be calculated.
— "So… all this time… everything I believed I was protecting…" he murmured.
Loki advanced, his violet eyes blazing with malevolent power.
— "You never had protection, Hunter. Everything is a test… and this test is far from over. Prepare yourself, for now I will show you the true might of the Order and the Sect."
Suo drew a deep breath, letting the darkness envelop him completely. The demons leapt, Loki struck, and the entire village transformed into a supernatural battlefield, where illusions, demons, and shadows collided in a deadly dance.
Every alley, every roof, every stone became a weapon or a tool. Every clash of blows rang like thunder. The night was alive, and Suo knew that to survive, he must understand the truth behind the chaos and prevail…
To be continued…