Ashton's prediction was on point. The Demonic City was indeed rebuilt.
He arrived here after around three days of traveling during the daytime. As soon as he saw the paved road leading down somewhere, he already suspected this.
Of course, Ashton didn't infiltrate the city yet. He activated the cloaking mechanisms of his mobile safehouse and stationed it at the edge of the elevated area so he could spy on the city from above.
He used the scope on the Mortal Reminder's 2nd Form - Sniper Rifle, to investigate the city's activities. There's no way he'd just waltz in there, guns blazing without knowing what he's dealing with, that's just not his style.
'A total of five ritual grounds which are connected through a large formation.' He deduced as he spied on the city, 'On top of this, there are also several alarm traps installed at every point of entry through the city.'
'I don't like the fact that this looks so similar to how humans build their cities too.' Ashton pursed his lips as he continued his line of thought. 'The designs of houses, the groundwork, the overall layout...all are the exact same as what humans use, just a little more demonic and barbaric.'
'I also hate the fact that they have a semblance of order here.'
'It's like a hierarchy, I guess? There are worker demons, supervisors, guards, team leaders, and so on.'
'Even the Demon Nest I was at wasn't this organized. It really looks like a human society. And that's really creepy.'
Ashton sighed as he removed his sight from his scope.
His initial surveillance already raised a few red flags. He didn't like the idea of demons working this way. Nor he liked the idea that it represents either.
How did they manage to disciple themselves like this is something that Ashton wants to know so that he can stop it. Unfortunately, it'll be a little too hard to get some answers for that right now.
'What exactly are the rituals for though?' He wondered to himself.
The records of the previous expedition to this place weren't clear about it. All they said is that the Demonic City was a place that needed to be destroyed.
They witnessed Demons experimenting on their kind through some sort of ritual. They said it was to squeeze our more potential from their bloodlines or whatever but what exactly happens and how? These are the things that weren't answered nor recorded in that tale.
They just highlighted the fact that they destroyed the city after careful deliberation. Which is nice but to be completely honest, it's a little too vain.
Ashton understands that this record was made to emphasize and give hope to humanity but come on, knowing what exactly they're dealing with is more important! Couldn't they seriously be bothered to jot that down?
'As much as I am tempted to blow this city up, I need to know more. Going in there with the intent of destroying everything on sight sounds fun but it's too reckless.'
That was when Ashton suddenly felt a strange fluctuation coming from the city. This caused him to be alarmed as he immediately zoomed in with the scope to discover what was going on.
He watched as imps, maggots, critters, and hound demons began marching toward one of the ritual sites.
Ashton's expression turned solemn. Well, he wasn't expecting that he's get more clues this early but he's certainly not complaining.
A handful of demons filled the ritual ground. They all watched as some sort of a shaman stepped out, wearing a black cloak and supporting itself with a skull cane.
He saw the shaman yapping at the demons around and the demons wore an expression of...awe? Amazement? Something like that.
Then the same fluctuations appeared when the shaman started chanting. Ashton's gaze hardened when he saw the ritual circle glowing with a bloody red light.
He then saw the audience closing their eyes and chanting the same things as the shaman did. All of a sudden, they opened their eyes and exploded like watermelons in a blink of an eye.
Ashton's eyes widened as he saw blood and guts flying all across the ritual ground. The demon shaman looked unperturbed by this and continued chanting.
When the fluctuations became stronger, Ashton saw as the blood and guts began rushing at the ritual circle. They formed an orb of red mass that looked gross and weird. Like zits containing blood that pulses with every fluctuation occurring.
The pulsating red mass contracted faster under the shaman's control. And as a final act of its service, the shaman opened its eyes with a crazed glint on it. The demon then stabbed itself in the heart with a dagger and threw itself into the pulsating mass, fusing with it.
The mass froze and then, it smoothed out, turning into a shiny orb of maroon blood.
About five minutes later, the blood orb cracked like an eggshell. Ashton then witnessed the birth of a nightmare-inducing demon.
Claws came first, ripping the hardened shell of blood. From his guesses, the demon was probably eating them. It didn't take long before he was proven correct as more parts of the demon became visible. Little by little, Ashton took note of its shape and appearance until its description matched the knowledge he has...
'A Ghoul...' Ashton's expression turned ugly the moment he confirmed this.
A humanoid demon that moves like an ape. Its skin is pale blue and covered in red blisters, zits that contained corrosive blood. Deformed face and skull, looking like it's always in pain and agony. Its howls are soul-chilling, sounding deep and harrowing. It has patches of fur all over its body, leaves pools of corrosive acid either by its drool or piss, and smells like a mighty septic tank.
That's Ghouls in a nutshell...
Ghouls are fast and relentless pursuers, the moment they caught a whiff of your scent, forget about escaping since they will never stop chasing you unless you kill them. It doesn't matter how fast you flee or how far you've distanced yourself from them, they will always catch up unless they die.
They are one of the most aggressive types of demons. Despite their small stature, they are deceptively strong, able to leap great distances and shatter a boulder in just a single punch. They're incredibly fast and frightening hunters.
Ghouls are a nightmare encounter for any non-demons who are unlucky to meet them.
'So that's why this wasn't recorded.' Ashton had a look of bitter understanding on his face. 'It turns out that this city is a Ghoul Factory. No wonder they decided to destroy everything here.'
Ghouls are horrible creatures. They're one of the 'Boogeyman' demons that parents used to scare their children into obedience.
Like 'Tormentors', 'Ghouls' are so rare that their existence wasn't properly recorded in the Book of Demons. Somehow considered a myth. Still, due to the fabricated stories about them, they're feared.
'...it's an adult Ghoul too, fuck!' Ashton swore under his breath as his scope remained locked on the ghoul.
He could see five pairs of pitch black horns in that thing, the sixth pair is already halfway out too.
If these demons could produce an Adult Ghoul with just a handful of young demons and a shaman, it really makes one wonder how many are in there inside the city.
Also, the fact that it came as a process, a step-by-step ritual, gives Ashton some horrible premonitions.
'This makes things more complicated isn't it?' He groaned inwardly. 'How the hell can anybody expect me to walk away from this?'
'There's no way I can simply ignore this! If a string of coincidences occurred to one of the ghouls it is highly possible for it to locate where the Last Bastion is. Many people would die under its jaws! I can't let that happen!'
The Last Bastion is still ways ahead of this place so the chances of a Ghoul closing in on that place are very low. It doesn't mean it's impossible though, and that's what Ashton's afraid of.
These Ghouls need to be taken care of. This city needs to be destroyed again. And if he could somehow ensure that there'd be no possibilities of it being rebuilt in the future, that'd be better.
Unfortunately, the Ghouls are not his only problem...
Ashton didn't know when or where that person appeared. He just noticed his presence there and just from a single glance, every single cell on his body told him to run away as far as he could.
He didn't even realize it when he ran to the library. He just watched as the said person suddenly appeared from the place where he disappeared from. Said person started looking around with a deep frown on their face.
"...must've been my imagination then." The person concluded. Their voice sounded like five different people speaking the same thing at the same time.
Also, this person's nestling the ghoul, like an infant in their embrace. The most striking feature he noted from observing that person was their wine-colored eyes and black ruby crown nestled in their head.
Pale-faced and coldly sweating, Ashton muttered:
"Demon Prince..."
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