Chapter 239: Aftermath of the Bedeviled Battlefield
Within the White Star Radiance sect the giant majestic bronze tree towered over the land with a faint comforting light. At the base of the tree stood the main sect building, fully assimilated into the massive trunk after its evolution. Further up along the middle region of the tree were enormous branches layered with thick leaves. A house rested at the base of one such branch, connected directly into the body of the tree.
Inside that house echoes of splashing water filled a quiet room. It was a bathroom, and within a large tub sat a pool of misty green liquid that flowed like water. Immersed in that liquid with an exhausted and sickly expression was Christy, lying back with her eyes closed.
At a distance she looked as if she were simply resting, yet a closer look revealed flickers of white and red light pulsing faintly against her delicate brown skin. Occasionally she released soft groans as her body trembled before the soothing liquid calmed her once again.
The green liquid crawled across her skin with a faint healing radiance. It was nature essence liquid produced by elven trees, especially those related to a world tree.
Christy's eyelids trembled before she slowly opened her eyes, a sharp pain flashing through them as she gritted her teeth with a weary sigh. The usual sparkle within her gaze that was present even when she intentionally suppressed her now-permanently active Aka Boshi no Tengan was gone, replaced by a dull glow with faint traces of light slowly beginning to return.
"Ughhh, how troublesome. Damnit Big Brother Zoro, I never imagined you would let everything spiral this far out of control! Oooh I miss Gege's presence right now..." Christy muttered bitterly before sighing. "Well, everything still went close enough to our plan. As a bonus we even captured many valuable prisoners of war, although the cost was me completely overexerting my Kokon Tengan."
She forced herself to relax as her mind drifted back to what happened two days ago.
…
Jumanga Helmsley returned to the central continent through the void passage near the Blue Star Sect Grave Lands with a grim expression carved into his face. He hated to admit it, yet he felt a deep dread whenever his thoughts drifted back to the events from two days prior. His memories of that moment were fragmented and irregular, which only increased the unease clawing at him.
No matter how he tried to rationalize it, nothing made sense. The battlefield was already horrifying with its mountains of bodies, but the true terror came from that monstrous figure he glimpsed during the chaos.
That large, dark devilish silhouette holding two blades had released an aura so suffocating that Jumanga felt his soul freeze. Even with the number of Mortal Lords that appeared to destroy it, the sight was unforgettable.
Moments later two even more powerful Mortal Lord experts unleashed cataclysmic attacks to erase the entity entirely. Yet right before impact three unfamiliar experts suddenly appeared as if teleporting, and then—
Jumanga instantly shuddered. His breath caught in his throat and his body trembled.
Because after that, almost simultaneously—
"Those eyes... What the hell WERE those eyes?! ARGGGHHHH!!!" Jumanga yelled as he collapsed to one knee, panting as cold sweat poured from his skin and his wounds subtly reopened.
"L-Lord Jumanga, please settle yourself! What is happening?! We need help over here!" shouted a powerful Helmsley clan servant who rushed to steady him.
Jerome Helmsley, who stood a short distance away, looked on with a serious expression as his gaze lingered on the horrified Jumanga. Seeing his overly arrogant and prideful brother reduced to such a state caused him a slight feeling of dread. He suddenly remembered the words of a certain younger brother of his about matters related to White Star Radiance and their core individuals.
"I suspected it, but perhaps Jacob has been right this entire time. Even that distant relative of ours, Prince Hunter Helmsley, is supposedly one of their core figures. Things cannot continue like this..." Jerome muttered darkly while preparing his next move.
…
"¡¡Idiota negro y estúpido, portador de esa katana del demonio!! What the hell was Zoro thinking?!" Ramiro roared after hearing the news.
(Translation: very stupid black devil katana wielding idiot.)
"R-Rami please calm down! Everything ended safely. He is alive now..." Princess Helga pleaded as she rushed over, followed by several other women who tried to soothe Ramiro's shaking fury.
Seralily sighed with a bitter smile. "Thankfully, Zoro and the Black Reaper Corps relieved immense pressure on our side, while the Crimson-Eyed Division did the same elsewhere. Even less pressure fell onto the other four subdivisions toward the sect's direction."
"I can't just accept this! Something is wrong here. Based on every rumor I have heard, Christy definitely did something reckless to save that fool. Completely unbelievable! When I see him again I am absolutely going to thrash him myself!" Ramiro growled through clenched teeth before sighing. "From the looks of it the demons have fully retreated from this region now. They would have been overwhelmed anyway with Tongsheng's enormous army so close. We should also regroup in that direction."
"Yes Rami Rey!"
"Yes Arch Guardian Ramiro!"
With that everyone began marching toward the gathering point of the White Star Radiance alliance.
…
"…For what purpose have I even been serving that place for so many years? Why worship something, yet strike its avatar?"
"{You only did as ordered. You obeyed what you were told. Long live the Devil Lord.}"
"Yes, long live... but something feels wrong. Those eyes... A goddess—"
"{You only did as ordered. You will do what you are told. Long—}"
"Did as I was told? Even attacking the so-called avatar of the Devil Lord? I just—"
"{You only do as ordered. You only—}"
"None of this makes sense to me! We are the Nights Light Devouring Church! Why are we doing this?! And when did I even become this person?!"
"{You only do as ord—}"
"Can you be quiet already?"
"{YOU WILL DO AS ORDERED. LONG LIVE THE DEVIL LORD.}"
"I SAID SHUT THE HELL UP!!!"
Crack. Crack. Crack. Cra-crac-cra-CRAAAACK!!!
"I finally see it now... Liberation... Long live the Devil Lord, huh? Hahaha... I may be broken, but if I will serve a devil lord then I would rather serve the one standing beside that goddess with the divine eyes."
Deep underground, in a hidden prison built from thick tree roots, many prisoners muttered similar things in delirious confusion. No one except a select few even knew this prison existed. To the world above, these people were dead or missing whether human, demon, demonic cultivator, or native alike.
…
Inside the massive laboratory on the second floor of the Main Sect Building the burning white cocoon still sat silently. Nearby, in a smaller sealed chamber, the child clone of Erica observed three chained figures seated before her: Zoro, Kageha, and Kuroha. All three had only partially reverted from their devilized forms and remained unconscious.
Specialized chains, magical inscriptions, and sealing formations covered their bodies to prevent any unexpected rampage. Their injuries remained severe, yet some strange innate regeneration prevented their bodies from collapsing entirely despite the immense overdrafting of power.
Erica studied them with increasing worry until the faintest movement stirred from Zoro.
"Big Brother Zoro? Are you awake?" she whispered while lightly tapping his cheek.
Zoro struggled, his body shifting in pain. As his eyes opened, Erica froze. One side of his face moved naturally, while the other twisted with a strange expression.
"Kuhahaha... You brats really locked me down. Truly troublesome," hissed a foreign voice filled with devilish malice.
Erica's expression stiffened. "Who exactly are you? And what have you done to Big Brother Zoro?"
"Who am I? If you must know, I am a Devi—"
Before the voice could finish Zoro's body convulsed violently as blood seeped from his wounds. Light flickered over the other half of his face.
"Big Brother Zoro?!" Erica cried.
"Ugggh!! Damned devil! Erica, be extremely careful because his voice carries power!" Zoro warned through clenched teeth.
"Tch! Mighty of you to resist, kid. You created the conditions for me to awaken this deeply, so why fight it now? Just surrender and fully devilize! I guarantee that your power will leap straight into the Mortal Shedding Realm, probably straight into the Middle Stage! Our cultivation speed would skyrocket! Hehehe, how does that sound?" the devil coaxed greedily.
"What good would that do? You would only seize control of my will. Besides, our foundation would be unstable compared to E—"
"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH, KID!!! Who cares about him?! We can just kill him!" the devil shrieked, shaking the chamber.
"I would rather die than let you kill him," Zoro said coldly, leaving the devil furious.
Erica spoke quickly. "I think I understand. The twins seem different from you. They behave like experimental imitations based on how their subconscious reacts. Is there a way to reverse their transformation?"
"Feed them my blood and—"
"No," Zoro cut the devil off instantly. "Not completely... My situation isn't much different. Our bodies are permanently devilized to some extent, but maybe that is fine. Focus on healing us first. As for me, I need your help since I must take another path entirely."
"Hah?! Kid, what do you mean by that?" the devil demanded.
"Erica... use your Corrosive Rebirth Flames on me," Zoro said with unwavering resolve.
"Ehh?! That is dangerous! You could actually die!" Erica exclaimed in panic.
"What?! So this is your plan?! As if I would allow that!" the devil roared, attempting to break through the layered seals.
"Erica, don't hesitate. Hehehe... Devil, it is time for us to sleep," Zoro said grimly as the two forces inside him collided violently. Blood burst from his wounds before he fell unconscious once more.
Erica trembled, then inhaled deeply and steadied herself. She would first inform Christy of everything, and then she would carry out Zoro's request.