Chapter 728

Chapter 728: Forced Betrayal

The Storm Altar smelled of charred evil flames, and the clash of void energy made the towering black cliffs rumble.

The lava churned less violently than before, but with the altar quiet now, the flow of magma and the bubbling sounds of bursting lava bubbles were even clearer.

Even half-kneeling, Kallez stood over five meters tall, much taller than any Ogre Jesse had ever seen. The demon’s mouth no longer dripped burning demon blood, and the conscious warlocks stood silently in shock, some leaning against stone pillars, some clutching their wands, or letting their demon servants hold them up.

But now wasn’t the time to hesitate. While Jesse still controlled the demon, he had to make sure Kallez caused no more trouble.

“It’s not over yet,” Jesse said, looking at Kallez and then at Mor’zul. “We need to keep the binding Magic Circle going to trap this demon here.”

“You’ve enslaved him, Jesse. He must obey your commands,” Mor’zul replied.

Jesse said, “I just drank the Flask of Distilled Wisdom. Its effect might only last a few hours, and after such a fierce fight, it could be even shorter…”

Most importantly, Jesse feared that without the binding Magic Circle to control the demon’s power, the Storm Altar might turn into a source for him to draw dark energy.

With the Doom Lord so weak, Jesse was already struggling to control him. If Kallez used Azeroth’s power to recover, he might quickly overpower Jesse’s will. Who knew how strong this demon was in the Twisting Nether?

He looked at the exhausted warlocks, then at the corpses on the ground: one burned black, another with throat torn out by a Felhound, and a half-sheep, half-dwarf monster.

The Polymorph effect seemed stuck on it forever, like the disasters Jesse had seen at the Wizard’s Sanctum.

“I can keep going,” said summoner Elaine, tossing away an empty potion bottle. “I can help bind this demon.”

The Orc Kahlor got up and said, “I can too.”

Martha Strain added, “I think I can still manage, Jesse Seso.”

Luther, who now looked just like a human hunter, nodded and said, “Same here.”

“Then let’s clean the demon blood and fix the Magic Circle,” Mor’zul said, leaning on his staff to stand. “Those who want to restart the binding magic should rest over there. The other warlocks who can stand, come help move the injured to the Orc camp.”

Martha came to Jesse and the demon. She glanced up at the Demon Lord with doubt, then told Jesse, “Being part of such a great summoning… witnessing such a great summoner, Jesse Seso, makes all I’ve sacrificed worthwhile.”

“Even Shadow Council warlocks would be scared by this,” Kahlor said, spitting. “Some worship demons and become their slaves.”

Kallez snorted, “Ignorant low-lives.”

Albert found his courage and yelled at the demon, “Ignorant? The one before you is a mighty warlock who killed the Pit Lord Azgath with Shadow Magic!”

Kallez’s fiery eyes flashed. He looked curiously at the Gnomish Albert and murmured, “So Azgath died by his hand. No wonder. I heard Lord Kil’jaeden always wondered who did it.”

He turned to Jesse and said, “Seems I can kill you and report back in the Twisting Nether. At least that makes this Azeroth trip less foolish.”

“You dare go back to Kil’jaeden, Kallez?” Molofeel asked in Demonic, challenging him. Kallez lowered his gaze, staring at the strange demon with blazing eyes.

Molofeel went on, “A mortal knows your true name. How can Kil’jaeden let you stay a high commander in the Burning Legion? If your boss were the Destroyer Mannoroth, you wouldn’t be in this mess—he doesn’t care about having fools under him…”

“Shut up, Sayaad,” Kallez snapped. “My loyalty to Lord Kil’jaeden…”

“I trust your loyalty, and I hope Kil’jaeden trusts you like I do,” Molofeel said, pretending helplessness. “But our master can’t keep secrets. He might write your true name in some odd Grimoire and sell it for a few mortal coins. He’d do that.”

“Once every warlock with coins in Azeroth knows your true name, you’ll be a joke. Guess how Kil’jaeden will handle you back in the Twisting Nether, noble Lord Kallez?”

After Molofeel spoke, Kallez fell silent.

Jesse sensed the demon’s quiet and looked over. He saw Kallez’s expression; the Demon Lord didn’t hide his emotions. His killing desire burned so strong that Jesse felt it clearly from afar. After all, killing the warlock now would end the risk of his true name getting out.

But if Kallez could truly have killed Jesse, he would have done so already; now it was too late. Kallez kept silent because he knew Molofeel was right.

Kil’jaeden was a suspicious and ruthless ruler. Once a mortal had leverage over Kallez, even if he returned to the Burning Legion, he’d become a ticking bomb that could explode at any moment. Kil’jaeden would never tolerate such an uncontrollable demon lord leading the Legion’s soldiers.

Molofeel was spot on—this Doomlord had been trapped in a dilemma since Jesse enslaved him.

Yet Jesse knew this didn’t mean Kallez would willingly remain in Azeroth. After all, demon lords existed outside the Burning Legion, like Molofeel’s former master Brutallus—a powerful demon king before Kil’jaeden conquered him.

Demons seeking to break from the Legion weren’t rare either. Take the Dread Lord Kurothas: after seizing a Draenei Sacred Tool, the Atama Crystal, he believed he could defy the Legion. He’d tried to flee into the Twisting Nether with his minions.

By the ritual’s end, four were dead and most others wounded.

The Bronzebeard Dwarf Hobber Brightforge fell into lava—no trace left. Gorzeeki fled but smashed into a pillar, tumbling onto rubble below the altar. He only broke his leg and passed out. "Shortstaff" Gladys lay unconscious from severe mana exhaustion, though she’d luckily dodged the Shadow Bolts. But Kel Tobias, who’d helped maintain the binding circle, was killed by a Felhound. Regis Fall died from a Shadow Bolt, and the Gnomish Sparkler suffered grave injuries from the barrage. The Dark Iron Dwarf Fezuras… well, no need to elaborate.

After clearing the altar and redrawing the circle, Albert Fizban and Luther Pickman gathered all Healing Potions and Shadow Protection Potions to tend the wounded. The remaining warlocks finished the binding circle.

Gorzeeki was tightly bound and dumped near lava to roast, shrieking for Mor’zul’s mercy—though his cries had weakened.

Enslaved by Jesse, the Doomlord resisted no more, making the binding circle effortless to complete.

Post-ritual, Kallez’s massive form flickered faintly within fel magic glimmers—like a demon banished in a game.

But Jesse knew this wasn’t true banishment. Here, the "Banish Spell" worked more as an "Anti-summon Spell," hurling uninvited demons back to the Twisting Nether—true expulsion.

With binding done, the warlocks rested at the orc camp outside the altar. Enduring the lava’s heat was unbearable.

The Flask of Distilled Wisdom’s effects had likely faded, yet Jesse felt no strain from controlling the demon lord. Was it the binding circle’s suppression or the neck chains? Hard to say which mattered more.

He approached Mor’zul, who sat drinking water. Gazing at the trapped demon lord, Jesse asked, "How long will this circle hold?"

"As long as this Storm Altar stands, its power should sustain the circle," Mor’zul answered, lowering his waterskin. "The real threat is whether Blackrock Orcs reclaim this tower. But Kargal Shadowpunch will warn us of their moves—if he still seeks this demon’s knowledge."

"Yet now this demon obeys you, Jesse. So it falls to you."

Despite Mor’zul’s words, Jesse had no clear plan. Enslaving Kallez was impulsive—he’d considered handling a Doomguard, never a Doomlord.

The sheer size was overwhelming. No house, basement, or warehouse could hide such a monster.

Jesse eyed the demon, head throbbing.

Taking it to the Kingdom of Stormwind was impossible without absolute control. Stormwind? Unthinkable. King Varian would run Jesse through on sight.

Moving it anywhere seemed hopeless. Each step made the Storm Altar quake, drawing endless attention.

"I must leave him here," Jesse said.

Mor’zul replied instantly, "I’ll guard him for you, Jesse—until you reconsider. Many of us will stay, watching him… and learning secrets only a demon could share."

Jesse nodded. For now, it was the only way.