Chapter 726

Chapter 726: An Unexpected Turn

Jesse recalled Mor’zul with his mind while shouting backward, "Send your succubi back to the altar! Stop watching outside—it’s pointless now. Help disrupt this demon’s mind! That’ll stop him resisting our magic circle!"

"Right, exactly," Mor’zul nodded. Hearing Jesse, he yelled toward the other side, urging warlocks who couldn’t hear clearly to recall their succubi across the bridge. The succubi gathered beside the warlocks, aiding the Charm magic. Pressured by the crowd of warlocks and demons, the Demon Lord finally lost his earlier arrogance, bowing his head again as the sinister fire in his eyes dimmed.

Seeing this, Mor’zul sighed in relief.

"Hold the… binding circle! Martha, it’s on you—stay strong!"

His voice had gone hoarse, but Martha Strain, hailing from Dalaran, wielded magic no weaker than Gladys, whom she’d replaced. The circle regained its full power, and the Demon Lord visibly grew wearier.

Was the danger over?

"Master! The circle—the circle’s breaking!"

Saenor shrieked from Jesse’s waist. Jesse glanced down and spotted the demon’s blood seeping along the altar’s engravings. Some had overflowed, ruining the Azgath blood circle’s integrity!

Jesse roared at Mor’zul, "Check your feet, Mor’zul! We must cast the anti-summon!"

Mor’zul had relaxed until he saw the demon blood. His face turned deathly pale.

Gasping, he said, "Yes, yes—this is wrong. To your positions, Jesse! Elaine, to yours! We three must send him back to the Twisting Nether! Now!"

The eldest summoner, Elaine, panicked too. She returned to her spot and chanted immediately. Mor’zul joined in, while Jesse recited spells to channel power from the circle and Storm Altar, bolstering Elaine’s incantation.

But halfway through the chant, as void energy seeped into the Demon Lord, he suddenly roared, straining to lift his leg. The binding circle, weakened by demon blood, couldn’t fully restrain him anymore.

The situation turned dire. The goblin Gorzeeki yelled, "Master Mor’zul, sorry! This scene isn’t for me!"

Flames burst under his feet, rocketing him skyward toward the altar’s edge—he’d fled using rocket boots…

Yet before clearing the cliff, he spun mid-air and crashed headfirst into a statue with a yelp before falling silent.

Mor’zul ignored him. Jesse forced himself to block out the chaos, trusting the anti-summon spell would fix everything.

The Demon Lord stomped his raised foot, shaking the entire altar violently. Mor’zul and Elaine, closest, collapsed. Though Jesse stayed upright, the interrupted spell made his head feel like a snapped wire, ringing fiercely.

"Forget the anti-summon—kill him!" Mor’zul shouted, backing away. "Slaughter this demon! Do it before the binding circle fails! Get clear of the center, Jesse! Elaine!"

Remaining warlocks at the edges hurled damaging spells at the Demon Lord. Nearby demon servants heeded their masters, slashing at the demon’s legs and lower back.

The Demon Lord still couldn’t move his body, but his upper half twitched into action. He swatted away a Mo’arg servant and tried brushing off succubi climbing his back—yet any forceful movement made the binding circle yank his limbs brutally.

Elaine grabbed her magic wand and cast Curse of Agony. Mor’zul channeled a Shadow Bolt. Jesse’s Shadow Bolt had already struck the demon’s shoulder but vanished into his skin, doing little. Others’ spells proved useless.

"This demon resists shadow too well!" Elaine cried. Jesse shouted to nearby warlocks, "Switch tactics!"

The massive Storm Altar and elaborate circle provided binding power but made communication impossible amid lava sprays and demonic roars.

When Shadow Bolts failed, Martha Strain chanted Frostbolt. The Gnomish warlock Spackle snatched the Dark Iron Dwarf’s rifle and fired.

Elaine, drained from leading the summoning and failed anti-summon, couldn’t cast more spells after a few attempts.

Jesse felt his energy fading too. He opened his pack, reaching for a Mana Potion, but his eyes locked on the Flask of Distilled Wisdom.

Eight gold… but no time like now.

He gulped the entire flask. The potent magic not only sharpened his will and control but refilled his energy instantly.

The sensation vividly reminded him of Grim Batol.

This was just an Ered’ruin. By comparison… nothing. Though admittedly larger.

The flask restored Jesse’s confidence. Drawing Azuresong Mageblade, he chanted Fireball. To his shock, the crystalline blue blade blazed with fire, flames erupting from his eyes. Jesse sensed the fire element came not from Arcane pull but his own summoning.

The scorching magic drew the demon’s notice. Though immobilized, he bellowed at Jesse, "You think I, Legion Commander Kallez, fear your flames, warlock? I was born of evil fire!"

Jesse ignored him. Lava around the altar churned as he chanted, swelling the fireball between his sword and palm into a rolling star of flame. With a roar, he hurled it at the Demon Lord’s head!

The fireball exploded against the demon’s skull, clashing with evil fire in a deafening blast. Flames seared a crack into his bone!

Kallez, nearly upright, crumpled to one knee, spitting dark green blood fizzing with bright sparks.

Jesse prepared another Fireball, but the binding circle weakened further. The demon spread wings over the altar’s center, stretching a palm toward chanting Jesse. Greenish evil light swelled in his hand.

The circle couldn’t stop his spellcasting now!

Struck by an unknown dark curse, Jesse felt crushing Black Magic pressure slow his chanting and fireball-forming to a crawl. The gathered flames scattered across the ground.

Was this the Cripple spell Doomguard demons mastered?

Jesse’s strong resistance cleared his mind just as the Demon Lord cast Cripple on the orc Kargal! Kargal, struggling to uphold the circle, collapsed, vomiting black blood.

With Kargal down, the binding circle failed. The last four warlocks either fainted or slumped from exhaustion.

Breaking free, the Demon Lord rose and roared, "My turn now!"