Chapter 360

Chapter 360: The Demon Viscount

A viscous spray of blue blood erupted.

The giant octopus’s resilient, rubbery shell split like paper under the golden dagger’s Blade. In a flash, the pure gold weapon "Golden Forgiveness" buried itself deep into the creature’s brow.

Midi had already let go, yet the dagger kept moving. Coated in blue blood, "Golden Forgiveness" suddenly writhed like a golden serpent, slipping from Midi’s grasp to drill relentlessly into the octopus’s skull. The colossal beast couldn’t put up any resistance, its struggles feeble and weak. Hundreds of tentacles twitched and convulsed but remained limp, tangled in a lifeless heap without even a final thrash.

As "Golden Forgiveness" pierced deeper, blue blood gushed endlessly. Midi sensed the creature’s Vitality draining at an alarming speed. The suffocating psychic energy pressure also vanished like morning mist under sunlight.

Time blurred until stillness fell. The giant octopus lay motionless as a stone statue atop the mountain temples. No life, magic, or psychic energy lingered—only hollow emptiness. It was dead.

A faint rustle broke the silence. The dagger tore through a crack in the octopus’s forehead, emerging pristine. Despite churning through brain matter, its golden surface gleamed untarnished, edges sharp and cold as freshly forged steel.

What *was* this weapon? Midi marveled. A single strike had slain the Eighth Apostle "Long-Legged Rot"—merely destroying the physical form, yet enough to etch this moment into history. More baffling was its origin: the Mind Maze, Rot’s own trove.

After carefully sheathing the dagger, Midi glanced toward the two women watching him nearby. Their relieved smiles warmed him.

*Is it finally over?* he wondered.

But as Arad’s proverb warns: danger strikes when safety feels assured.

Just as the trio relaxed, the sky twisted. The clear night dissolved into sulfurous gloom. Heat thickened the air. Something unseen warped the surroundings—stones and trees writhed under the creeping sulfuric aura.

"How? He escaped my Star Exile… Did *he* foresee this?" Rot’s will murmured abruptly, its sigh chilling Midi’s heart.

The next moment, overwhelming black flames spread across the sky. At the center of this dark inferno, a lead-gray meteor came crashing down.

It moved with such blinding speed that the meteor struck the ground before Midi could even raise his head.

Amid the deafening explosion and billowing dust, a man reeking of sulfuric aura emerged.

This was the same Guardian who had been banished into the void by Rot’s will through Star Exile.

Star Exile randomly teleported targets over distances exceeding twenty thousand kilometers. Enhanced by Rot’s psychic energy, the spell carried a magic-sealing effect to prolong the target’s drift through the void.

Under normal circumstances, no Guardian below second awakening could possibly return.

Yet not only had this one returned, but his power had grown stronger.

The Guardian now tore off his concealing cloak, revealing his true appearance.

His bronze-skinned frame towered over two meters, radiating the faint sulfuric scent characteristic of the Demon Realm.

Enormous black wings spread behind him, their tips flickering with undying magic flames.

A true high-ranking demon stood before them – not some lowly creature, but a titled noble of the Demon Faction.

A demon viscount.

The demon viscount swept his gaze over the three humans, disdain flashing in his eyes before fixing on the empty air where Rot’s will lingered formlessly.

"Lord Rot," the demon sneered, "I must acknowledge your foresight. Planting the Mind Maze and Sea Emperor’s Inheritance as traps, then personally guarding your chosen heir. But my master predicted your last-ditch efforts – hence this protective rune!" He drew a fiery symbol in the air.

The instant the rune appeared, crushing pressure engulfed Midi’s group.

"Curse you, Helder!" Rot’s voice boomed with fury.

"Your physical form may be destroyed," the viscount declared, "but the sealing power remains. Your will won’t escape the Star Spirit Refinement Array!"

His hungry eyes turned to Fina and Alice. "As for you fools – meddling in my master’s plans, swayed by this octopus’ lies? Too late for regrets now."

"Then the All-Seeing Demon and Commander’s Eye were your summons?" Midi asked, buying time while their magic recovered.

The demon viscount smirked. "Naturally. Couldn’t risk losing the Sea Emperor’s heir. That knowledge in your skull… and these two Holy Blood heirs…" He licked his lips. "Devouring them will make me a Marquis!"

Holy Blood heirs? Midi recalled Rot using that term when they’d first entered the temple.

The demon’s motives were clear – this wasn’t just about Rot. Even if Midi fled, the hunt would continue. Their only choice was to fight.

Yet how? At full strength, a level-70 demon viscount would overwhelm three sub-60 humans. Exhausted and magic-depleted, their chances vanished entirely.

The viscount’s leisurely manner confirmed he viewed this as sport rather than battle. Only Rot might still threaten him.

Through telepathy, Midi contacted the fading will: "Rot?"

"My error," came the weary reply. "That rune’s from the Second Apostle himself. I can’t break it."

"Don’t need to break it. Just distract him."

"You’d gamble your life?"

"What choice remains?" Midi’s mental voice held Arctic calm.