Chapter 682

Chapter 682: Shadow Wrath

Though delayed several days by Stormwind Keep matters, Jesse still hoped to deal with the demon in The Slaughtered Lamb basement before leaving Stormwind for Dalaran.

After all, such a demon constantly lingering near Ursula and others made Jesse uneasy. He worried the magic circle might fail someday, the runes at the practice room door weaken, and that Voidwalker might suddenly attack people underground. Relying solely on Mr. Basadre the Felhound and Ursula—a warlock unskilled in combat—was dangerously insufficient.

On the appointed day with Erlan and Zardeth, Jesse arrived early at the basement.

Only Ursula slept in the Alchemy Room while Molofeel idly played with her tail nearby. No others occupied the basement.

Jesse recalled the black shadow he’d seen at Tower of Ilgalar.

If Blackrock Spire ever attacked Stonewatch Keep with black dragon support, Tower of Ilgalar would become the frontline. He’d have to defend it alongside Stonewatch soldiers… or face abandoning the tower or death.

This realization made him feel trapped, though who could’ve predicted years ago that black dragons would help the hidden Orc tribe reignite war?

The king, his council, and Wizard’s Sanctum likely only wanted his help suppressing dark-furred Gnolls in Redridge—they couldn’t expect him to withstand an Orc assault. He couldn’t blame them.

Ursula emerged from the Alchemy Room into the hall. Spotting the succubus beside Jesse, she gasped. "Jesse… what’s this—"

"Molofeel." Jesse said. "Don’t you recognize her?"

He glanced at the succubus, realizing Molofeel looked vastly different from when Dagger Association members last saw her.

Molofeel tossed her tail behind the chair. "Prettier? Or more seductive? Dear Lady Ursula?"

"More terrifying." Ursula replied.

"Still a compliment." Molofeel smiled.

"You were here last time I carved her mageweave, Ursula." Jesse said.

"I wasn’t watching you carve—ah!" Ursula suddenly remembered. "That table! You turned it to ash, Jesse! You owe Erlan three silver coins for it."

"Understood." Jesse said.

Erlan and Surena entered, Erlan bringing his succubus.

They’d clearly learned to bypass Mage Quarter surveillance when bringing invisible demons here.

Jesse knew the Garden District entrance avoided Wizard’s Sanctum’s Mage Tower. Only language teachers or Garden/port-dwelling apprentices passed through—rarely proper mages—making this route safer.

Still, their demon control had improved markedly in his absence.

Erlan’s succubus froze on the stairs upon seeing Molofeel. Even Sorrel—who knew Molofeel well—stiffened when Zardeth entered later.

Molofeel’s presence made every demon servant tense. Sorrel, Erlan’s new succubus, even Mr. Basadre shed their wild arrogance, obeying masters meekly. Molofeel sat like a demon dungeon queen, legs crossed, sneering down at all… until Jesse spoke.

"Come, Molofeel. Let’s inspect the Void Demon."

"Ah… yes, Master."

She instantly stood and pressed against Jesse, forming an odd pairing with the basement’s youngest, most upright-looking youth.

"Welcome back, Jesse." Zardeth approached the practice room. "Your presence reassures me. Netherwalkers are unfamiliar even to Dark Iron Dwarves—my sources say to Orcs too."

"Who knows if it’s even a demon?" Erlan interjected. "I see nothing usable."

"Where’d you learn its summoning spell?" Jesse asked.

"A contact told me. He couldn’t share details." Zardeth replied.

"Honesty, Zardeth." Jesse raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t that your rule for us all?"

"Perfection is hard." Zardeth chuckled. "But my secrecy protects our spell sources, Jesse. This successful summon proves reliability. Yet we can’t control what we summoned."

Jesse explained, "Netherwalkers are shadow energy clusters. My demon servants say controlling them resembles manipulating Shadow Power via spells."

"Requiring specific spells?" Zardeth asked.

"Try attacking with your Shadow Magic first. Disrupt its energy—see if it submits."

"We’d never risk attacking it without you… but since you suggest…"

Zardeth erased the door’s runes. When Erlan yanked it open, shadows flooded the hallway light.

Warlocks stepped back. Nothing emerged—only its dark aura spilled out.

Jesse peered inside. Two Shadowflame wisps hovered in darkness like watching eyes.

"Le…t me… retu…rn…" it rasped in Demonic.

"Clearly not." Jesse said.

The wisps flickered, fixing on his face.

"I obey… shadow-and-fire walker… Promise… my void return… I hate… this world… hate…"

Jesse paused at its slurred Demonic. Zardeth stepped forward: "You obey ME, demon!"

He chanted an unfamiliar spell, staff pointed inward. Shadow Power exploded inside!

The demon’s ethereal shriek echoed as it struggled within the magic circle.

Outside, warlocks dodged the shockwave. Nearest to the blast, Jesse staggered—the Shadow Power stunned him… though it caused no severe corruption.

The magic seemed designed to shatter minds. Fear and doubt flooded thoughts, paralyzing decision-making.

Jesse suppressed it easily, but others looked pale.

"You promised not to cast that spell in tight spaces, Zardeth!" Ursula coughed warningly.

"But it worked." Zardeth insisted. "We should’ve done this sooner." The Voidwalker’s growls faded to silence.

"Sha…dows… obey… summoner…" it rumbled.

"Sooner? What if that magic strengthened it?" Erlan blocked Zardeth. "Remember the last succubus summoning!"

Zardeth’s lips twitched. "My fault. Jesse’s words made me overeager."

"Now only I don’t know this spell." Jesse noted.

"I’ll share it." Zardeth said. "Orcs call it Shadow Wrath. Fitting, we think."