GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

Three Vampires advanced on his position with a speed far superior to his and that of his pursuers. The display gave him confidence that he would be saved.

His confidence was rewarded when a single move cleared away the Vines and submerged the plant soldiers. 

One Vampire brought down both its hands towards the ocean of weaponized plants and made its domain of blood descend upon it. A blood-red wave crashed into the green wave of plants. The blood-red wave won. 

The domain of blood doesn't have any fixed shape so it can flow into gaps and small spaces. But it can change its shape and become deadly very quickly by turning into sharp blades. The Vines beat on the blood domain in futility while the blood tore up the Vines from within. So his immediate problem was solved quickly.

The other two Vampires flew past him to engage his pursuers. He didn't stop to watch how the fight would turn out. He continued running and running as he had always done since the 10 years he became a half-vampire. He would only stop to hide. Then the chase will resume during the night. The wood elves were always able to find him despite the demon god's best efforts to hide him. 

The demon god said to him, "You should be safe for a while. This whole area is vampire territory."

"That is until daytime." He said.

"Yes. That is until daytime. But you will be safe when you get to the devil's pit."

"If you say so." He replied.

Then he made his way towards the devil pit. He wasn't hunted along the way but he didn't relax. Plus the sun is coming up. He hurried along because he wants to reach this so-called haven before the sun comes up.

The trip was mostly peaceful except for the occasional pestering of the voice in his head.

"So have you decided to accept my power yet?"

Ragnarok replied as he has always done, "Not yet."

"Ok."

And they returned to silence. He finally reached his destination. 

"This is the devil's pit?" He asked in bewilderment.

"Yes, it is." The voice replied. "What did you expect it to look like?"

"Eerily enough, this is exactly what I thought it would be."

A nine-tailed black-furred giant beast stood a far distance from a crater in the ground. The crater is massive. It is a large pit dug into the earth. It is surrounded by a forest of blood trees. 

These blood trees look like a cross between a cactus and a porcupine. They are very tall. Each one is taller than him but they don't have leaves. Instead, there are long spikes that extend from the bulbous branches. So they look more like bloated skeletal trees.

The blood tree forms a forest around the crater. Their red color makes the area look covered in blood There are many Vampires in the forest. They are guards monitoring all activities within the forest. The Vampires haven't noticed the beast yet because it is a far distance from them. That will change if the beast gets closer to them.

"So you are saying the whole surface is under the surveillance of the fountain of life?" Ragnarok asked.

The voice in his head replied. "Yes. The surface is her domain."

"That is pretty strong. The fountain of life must be very strong. And you can't find it either. That's difficult to believe." He said skeptically.

The demon god scoffed in his head. "That white bitch isn't that powerful. If it is so strong, why does it not leave the plane and fight me? It is hiding in the plane and yet is being pompous. Anyone can hide in a plane. But not anyone can besiege a plane by themselves. Just wait until I get access to the plane. Then it won't be able to hide from me."

It declared with anger, "No one will be able to hide from me. Everything will be mine and mine alone."

"Hmm. I don't think that the fountain of life is as strong as you. But this whole thing about it watching the entire surface might just be a lie. The fountain of life might not be in this plane at all."

"Why would I lie to you?"

Ragnarok replied with a sly grin, "To make me believe that the surface is not safe and to get me underground or get me into the hands of this primogenitor who you say will protect me. I know that someone is constantly watching me. That might just be you not the fountain of life."

"That does make sense." The demon god admitted. 

"You have also said that you can't find the fountain of life. It might not be in the plane at all. How can you be sure that the so-called representatives are not just using the name of the fountain of life for their own benefits?" He asked.

The demon god replied with a tone of certainty, "I have spoken to the fountain of life. I am sure it is in the plane."

Ragnarok said with a scoff. "So you say. I don't believe anything you say so how will I believe that? What do you have to say to defend your integrity and prove that you are not lying to me?" 

The demon god laughed. Its malevolent laughter echoed through his mind with a grating sensation. 

"Funny mortal." It sneered, "It seems you do not know your full predicament, or you know, but you don't want to admit it. If you are ignorant then let me inform you of your precarious situation. Call it a favor."

"The wood elves have been hunting you for 10 years on the surface. If not for my help and all the Vampires that were sacrificed to keep you safe, then you would have been captured or killed long ago. It is undeniable that the surface is dangerous for you, while it is uncertain if the underground is safe."