Dungeon of Pride, Laplace



"I must report this to my master," Marchosias concluded, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and excitement.

"She will undoubtedly find this information intriguing".

Marchosias looked at the spatial gate for the last time, before silently making her exit.

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Inside an unknown realm, powerful shockwaves containing an extremely destructive might rocked the place.

BOOM… BOOM… BOOOMM… deafening explosive sounds echoed everywhere at an uneven intervals. The floor here was like a giant chessboard, with each square perfectly placed and alternating between black and white.

The walls here were made of peculiar material and had a high ceiling. However, all of it was in a total mess with broken splinters, clouds of dust and cracks running everywhere.

Sounds of outbursts and bellowing roars came from the distance, at the same moment a figure could be seen hurriedly treading through the place as if running away.

The figure had the head of a goat that was half skeletal and half bizarre. They had pale purple skin, long twisting horns, razor sharp teeth and peculiar crossed shaped eyes with ring patterns that made them appear even more bizarre.

The figure held a weird staff made of bones in their hands and donned a robe that covered their withered body. Who could this figure be other than Grimvul?

The merchant of the damned, a cunning and deceitful creature with command over the necromancy magic and powerful undead beings under him, was at his moment running away. Their face twisted in a mixture of fear and desperation, as they darted through the labyrinthine passageways.

Sounds of their footsteps echoed against the cold hard stone of the floor. As Grimvul continued to run, the shockwaves started intensifying and a formidable pressure that contained an intense rage churned like a tidal wave intending to capsize everything in its wake.

"You cannot run away from me Grimvul" At this moment, the space around Grimvul violently distorted creating a spatial portal and a silhouette stepped out from it.

Wearing a dignified three piece suit, a demon noble with ash grey hair and piercing white hair, stood in front of the Merchant. Their imposing presence was enough to even drown out the sounds of battle and shockwaves coming from the distance.

"H-How are you here? The Death Knights and Lich Lords should be engaging you right now" Grimvul spoke in fear and trepidation but soon realised that the figure in front of him was just another Astral projection. The real person was still fighting his army of undead.

"Dammit… Asmodeus" the merchant roared in annoyance and waved his staff. Immediately,  dark deathly light was released from it in droves quickly manifesting a giant skeletal hand that emitted an aura of death in front of him.

"Die Asmodeus.. [Grip of Death]".. roaring like a wounded beast, Grimvul willed the giant skeleton hand forward.

"You forget your place" Facing that attack head on, the demon named Asmodeus simply tapped his shillelagh on the floor once causing a ripple to spread through the space. When the giant skeletal hand came in contact with that ripple, it crumbled apart immediately.

"Tch… ordinary means will not work even at your projection I see. In that case… [Death Infusion]- [Wall of Skeletons]"

Grimvul conjured another necromancy magic, transforming the entire floor into a field of skeletons. The skeletons undulated like waves before pouring out of the ground and trapping Asmodeus inside it.

"Have a taste of that. Inside the wall of skeletons, the death energy becomes very rich, every skeleton and every second you spend trapped in there will multiply the life force that is being depleted from you. Even if you are just an astral projection, you will rot in there forever" Grimvul cursed.

"Dammit I spent too much time tangling with a projection. I must reach the control room before the main body gets here".

The merchant just took a few steps forward when the voice of the projection of Asmodeus trapped within the wall of skeleton, sounded out.

"Even if you stop my Astral Projection I will still destroy you now that I have found you with my real body. Mark my words Grimvul, you will not escape from your sin. Your undead army will not be able to protect you".

Grimvul grit his teeth and waved his staff. Immediately, the wall of skeletons started sinking inside the floor, completely trapping the projection.

"As if I will die here" The merchant started running. As he raced through the corridors every roar and explosion that sounded out pounded in his chest, like a drum. It constantly reminded him of the imminent threat that pursued him.

Grimvul knew that even the group of Death Knights and Lich Lords will not be able to stop Asmodeus for long. As one of the oldest Demon Archdukes out there, Asmodeus' power and tenacity was truly legendary and praiseworthy. The undead army was just an annoying obstacle in his path.

"As long as I can reach the control room, I can navigate the Void Weaver and run away". Grimvul understood that escaping Asmodeus' wrath would not be an easy feat nevertheless, he continued to run.

As he neared the control room, a sense of urgency propelled Grimvul forward. He pushed open the heavy iron doors, revealing a vast chamber filled with various arcane machinery and pulsating magical energies.

Without wasting a moment, Grimvul rushed towards the central console, his bony fingers dancing across the intricate runes and sigils embedded within it. He activated the various mechanisms, each one designed to fortify his vessel, the ship they were in, the Void Weaver.

Just as he completed the final preparations, a thunderous boom reverberated through the chamber followed by the cold, icy words of Asmodeus.

"I told you, you are not going anywhere" A cold, frigid voice sounded out and to Grimvul's fear, the tall figure of Asmodeus materialized before him, their presence dominating the room.

With a wave of his hand, Asmodeus unleashed a wave of destructive energy, obliterating everything in its path. The walls crumbled, machinery shattered, and sparks flew around everywhere in a symphony of destruction.

The sheer force of Asmodeus' arrival sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber, rattling the very foundations of Grimvul's spaceship, the Void Weaver.

The merchant watched in terror as brownish-black energy surrounded Asmodeus, tendrils of erosion magic swirling around him like a sinister vortex. It was a power that corroded everything that it came in contact with, an overwhelming force that instilled fear in even the bravest of souls.

Realization dawned on Grimvul's face, his skeletal features contorting with a mix of dread and desperation. The projection of Asmodeus he had encountered earlier was merely a fraction of the demon Archduke's true power. The actual body of Asmodeus had arrived.

"Give up and quietly answer my questions" Asmodeus spoke, there was no emotions in those eyes of his, only cold indifference.

"I already gave you the answer. I had no hand in that being's death. I have no idea who they were" Grimvul's skeletal face contorted into a snarl of defiance as he faced the overwhelming power of Asmodeus.

He refused to succumb without a fight, knowing that his life hung in the balance. With a flick of his staff, he summoned forth ten spectral skulls, each emanating a malevolent aura.

The skulls circled around Grimvul, their empty eye sockets glowing with deathl energy. With a wave of his hand, he commanded the skulls to launch themselves at Asmodeus, unleashing a barrage of necromancy magic.

Dark flames erupted from the skulls, hurtling towards the Demon Archduke with relentless determination. However, Asmodeus was undeterred by Grimvul's assault.

The latter simply created a sphere around him using their overwhelming mastery of magic. Every attack that collided with the barrier, got dissipating into nothingness.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Asmodeus' lips, he snapped his finger and the sphere of erosion magic expanded, disintegrating the skulls circling around him.

Seeing that his direct assaults were proving ineffective, Grimvul shifted his tactics. He tapped into his mastery of necromancy, weaving intricate patterns in the air with his staff. Shadows twisted and coiled around him, forming a web of darkness that stretched endlessly, entrapping both Asmodeus and him inside it. 

"This is the [Tomb of the Dead], my [Domain Release]. Everything that enters this domain is negatively affected by the death energy and will be transformed into undead quickly. Asmodeus since you want to kill me, I will drag you with me"

Grimvul spoke, there was a hint of desperation and determination in his voice as he unleashed his Domain Release, the [Tomb of the Dead].

The surrounding area transformed into a bleak and desolate landscape, shrouded in an eerie darkness. A bone-chilling wind swept through the air, carrying with it the whispers of lost souls.

Within Grimvul's domain, the death energy became palpable, permeating the air and weighing heavily on the hearts of those trapped inside. The ground beneath their feet cracked and crumbled, revealing countless skeletal remains rising from the depths.

The skeletons clawed their way out of the ground, forming an army of endless undead, ready to obey Grimvul's every command. Their hollow eye sockets gleamed with a malevolent light as they advanced, their steps echoing with the sound of impending doom.

Grimvul's skeletal face contorted into a wicked grin as he watched his army of undead surge forth from the ground, one powerful skeleton after another emerging in an endless fashion.

Skeleton dragons spread their bony wings, exhaling clouds of dark mist. Skeleton gryphons swooped down from the sky, their razor-sharp claws ready to tear into their prey. Wraiths materialized, their ethereal forms flickering with malicious intent.

Tormented stalkers and butchers emerged from the depths, their menacing presence instilling fear in those who beheld them.