Side Story Chapter 182
The reason why Pride was considered the most powerful Evil Sin was that the power literally overwhelmed everything. It neutralized any kind of ability, and the owner could control the severity of gravity and pressure that their targets felt. In other words, the owner could use their full power while their opponent had to withstand gravity that was hundreds of times stronger than normal.
-How in the world are you still standing?
Altheon was astounded. Pride’s efficacy could be deduced from Perchilin’s current condition. She had two Evil Sins, so she could make mind attacks with the power of Lust and slow time using the power of Sloth. However, neither of the powers worked on Pride in the slightest, leaving Perchilin no recourse but to gnash her teeth.
-Sh...it... I should have... attacked you... when I had the chance!
-Do you think that would have made a difference?
Altheon smirked at her before turning to regard Joshua again. For some reason, Joshua wasn’t reacting to the power of Pride in the slightest.
-I see. All you can do now is endure, isn’t it?
“Does it look that way?”
-You’re acting tough again... Hah! Fine. I suppose I’ll just have to find out.
Altheon spun out several strands of black demonic energy, which rose and interlinked into a long chain.
-Allow me introduce you to Cadenas, the chain of darkness that can even seal a god.
“You know, I didn’t think much about it until now, but you demons certainly have grandiose names for everything.”
Without answering Joshua, Altheon lightly waved his hand, sending the chain of darkness to bind Joshua.
-Tie him; suffocate him; crush him to death.
The chain clenched tighter with every word, wrapping itself around and around Joshua. Joshua’s lack of reaction, emboldened Altheon.
-Hahahahaha! Despite all your bravado, you’re just a rat in a corner. What did you say earlier? You wanted to know who would win between the former strongest in the Demon Realm and the current strongest?
Altheon leisurely crossed his arms as if he already won.
-Let me answer that for you: you’re trash. You have power but have no ambition, so you didn’t have the guts to get revenge no matter how many times you were betrayed.
“It looks like you have a lot of pent-up anger for me,” Joshua said.
-Of course I do. You couldn’t even begin to fathom how much hardship I went through after you disappeared from the Demon Realm like that.
The chain continued to tighten. Altheon’s smile grew wider and wider as the sound of Joshua’s bones cracking serenaded his ears.
-My Heavenly Demon Family idolized the strong. Our god wasn’t the greedy Demon Spirit, it was the Shining Darkness, he who terrified the mightiest in both the Angel and Demon Realms.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
-Does that sound like one? You were abandoned by the Angel Realm and declared a fallen angel, but even those idiots in the Demon Realm were terrified of you and ended up betraying you! I really can’t understand why you would repeat the same mistake twice. You’re powerful enough to kill them before they could stab you in the back!
Altheon frowned and tightened the chain some more.
“Is that what you think?”
-You bet I do! I actually did so myself. I got rid of the trash in the Heavenly Demon Family and then defeated any demons that got in my way. That is why I, Altheon Deos, stand at the zenith of the Demon Realm.
Joshua smiled coldly. “That’s an awfully fancy way of saying that you took over an empty house.”
Altheon flinched, but he was convinced that Joshua was just a weak loser running his mouth before he died.
-Say what you want. The Demon Spirit is on the verge of annihilation in this backwater Human Realm, and you, the Shining Darkness of the Demon Realm, are a mere human. With Pride in my possession, there is no one left to stop me even after the Demon Spirit regains his power and returns!
A flurry of demonic chains slammed into the floor, cratering the council chamber’s expansive tiling.
“Are you planning on destroying my house?” Joshua chuckled.
-Shut up!
Altheon extended his arm and clenched his fist, tightening the chains impossibly tight. The chains wrapped themselves around Joshua’s head too.
-Perchilin! Tshchary! Assist me this once! Can’t you tell that we’re all doomed if he obtains the Demon Spirit’s Body? We’ll be enslaved to the humans forever!
Perchilin and Tshchary exchanged glances.
-But...
-I’m in my original body right now, so this is the time for you two to undo your Overlord Symbols. I must reach the Demon Spirit’s body immediately. If you can’t seize an opportunity like this, you’re a pathetic mess!
Perchilin and Tshchary pursed their lips and nodded to each other.
-He certainly has a point...
“Perchilin! I promised you that I’ll help you with your dreams!” Icarus shouted.
-...Sorry. I thought I’d find a way when I have my hands on the Evil Sins.
“A way...?”
-A way to escape from these shackles, but... I’m not sure of my chances if the Shining Darkness has the Demon Spirit’s body.
Perchilin scratched the back of her head with an apologetic look. Tshchary nodded in agreement.
-I’ll undo my Overlord Symbol first, Perchilin. Cover me just in case—but if you get any funny ideas...
-Come on, you don’t have to worry about that. I won’t let anything happen to you. I’d have to live with the Overlord Symbol for my entire life without you.
Tshchary nodded.
The air around Tschary hummed loudly as he started undoing his Overlord Symbol. Perchilin glared warily at Altheon, but her vigilance proved unnecessary. Just like he had said, Altheon was busy digging a hole through the Palace’s foundation. His chains noisily pounded against the ground, throwing off thick clouds of dust.
After a long time, the chains of darkness stopped moving.
-Are you finished digging?
Perchilin was startled. Tshchary was still in the process of undoing his Overlord Symbol, and Altheon had finished a lot quicker than she had expected. But Perchilin was completely wrong—Altheon hadn’t stopped digging because he’d managed to reach the vault below.
-How...?
Altheon stared in disbelief. When Perchilin realized what had happened, she felt like her heart was going to explode in shock.
-A-Ah!
Joshua appeared behind Altheon, and grabbed him by the neck, despite the chains which had supposedly had him completely bound.
“You let your guard down,” Joshua quietly said.
-You—!
“You’d better not make any sudden moves unless you want me to snap your neck,” Joshua warned Altheon as he was trying to turn around. He then turned his attention to the other two demons and grinned. Perchilin looked like she had seen a ghost. Tshchary was too busy undoing the Overlord Symbol and was still unaware of what was going on.
“What a bummer, huh?”
