Chapter 006: The Death of Merlin

The twisted and grotesque child of hell writhed on the ground as if struck by lightning, its body contorted in agony, flesh and blood rolling in turmoil, shifting back and forth between blood, flesh, and thick black smoke. The power within it was undoubtedly out of control, for that power had never truly belonged to it.

It is as if ... ! ... just like Merlin's life, which was completely erased overnight, even more so, it seems as if he never existed at all

Merlin leaned against the driver's seat, his left hand holding a cigarette resting on the car door, while his other hand gripped the steering wheel tightly, pressing down on the accelerator

The Demon King sent forth a wisp of his spirit, following the call from the mortal realm, and descended his will upon the distant site of the dark god's ritual. To his astonishment, he discovered that a group of cursed cultists were gathered around a young woman, completely unclothed, chanting in the name of Satan.

The naked woman, placed upon an ancient stone platform, shone with terror in her eyes, yet her body was bound by chains, rendering her unable to escape, and she could only weep helplessly amidst the eerie chanting.

The Three Palaces Demon can bestow power upon its "sons," and naturally, it can easily reclaim or control them to punish those who fail to carry out their duties.

What does it mean to be gone

Then prepare to welcome the upcoming school season, get ready to head to New York, and begin one's life.

Tonight, the Three Palaces Demon is set to unleash its desires, as for Merlin...

Either he has already left this world, or there exists a force unknown to us that has severed the mark you left on him. With my current abilities, I am still unable to unravel the closure of this aura

She possesses an aura that truly belongs to Satan, suggesting that she has either come into contact with Satan or is simply a "seed" deliberately cultivated by Satan in the mortal realm

Hehe, these mortals really know how to have fun

As you command, my Majesty

What I cannot obtain, others shall not hope to acquire! Erase that soul! Tear it apart completely!

The figure of the Demon King stepped through the swirling flames, appearing in the world in the guise of the Lord of Hell. His arrival instilled great fear in the cultists, and filled the eyes of the woman bound to the altar with terror

Or is it that the event has actually occurred, but he is simply unaware of it

At that moment, the hour hand and the minute hand suddenly converged, and Merlin abruptly slammed on the brakes. Accompanied by the friction between Lola's tires and the ground, Merlin came to a stop in the wilderness amid intense vibrations

He opened his eyes and looked at the watch in front of him. The hour and minute hands had crossed to 12:09, and nearly ten minutes had passed, yet nothing had happened.

In fact, the concept of hell is broader than what mortals can imagine

The Three Palaces Demon commanded in the mind of the Son of Hell

But the problem lies in ... ...

The three palaces of the mortal world, embracing the "Devil's Bride" who is entranced by dark magic, enjoy beautiful moments in human form. However, bad news from his subordinates immediately dampens the good mood of the three palaces.

This dimension of hell is quite peculiar, not composed of complete continents and seas of lava. Instead, one floating island after another is bound together in mid-air by thick, crude chains, resembling a series of suspended islands covered in crimson toxic smoke, hanging in this scorching land, creating a bizarre and surreal scene

... ...

This is as awkward as mistakenly dialing the wrong number when reporting work to a leader

The watch was hung on the steering wheel by Merlin, and with each advancement of the minute hand and hour hand, Merlin felt a sudden increase in pressure.

The souls of mortals are always within reach, but tonight, yet another treasure will fall into my hands

Or perhaps, the pain of living is worse than death

He sat in the driver's seat, surrounded by the desolate wilderness, where only the moonlight illuminated this cold land

It stood in front of the Colson Farm, with a cunning and malevolent light constantly swirling in its four open eyes, yet at this moment it was filled with fear. Faced with the questioning of the Three Palace Demon, this high-ranking demon continuously searched back and forth in the farm before it using its own magical power, but there was no sign of Merlin in the farm apart from those livestock.

The will of the Three Palaces Demon hung in the air, as he surveyed the young woman who was chosen as a sacrifice. The beautiful exterior of the woman held no significance for the Three Palaces Demon; what truly mattered to him was the woman's soul

The torn parchment transformed into burning flames, dancing beside the son of hell, like a butterfly ignited; after burning, it gradually extinguished. This signifies the breach of the contract, and as the soul that bore the contract, Merlin's soul will also be completely torn apart by the overwhelming power of the three palaces' madness due to the destruction of the contract.

But just at the moment when the Third Palace was about to cast out the projection, within its vast sea of will, it suddenly heard another faint call.

Speaking of which, hell is not a world in the traditional sense

However, this does not mean that the Three Palaces Demon will abandon this newly acquired "son". It will not waste any of its strength; therefore, at the time of its own "wedding night", one of its subordinates will replace it and go to the mortal realm to collect Merlin's soul

Waste

Based on its square four eyes, which resemble those of the Three Palace Demon, it can be inferred that this creature also possesses the magical power of the Three Palace Demon flowing within it; it is indeed one of the true "sons" of the Three Palace Demon

Merlin did not know, nor did he wish to know

But... how high can one expect from these weak and foolish mortals?

At first glance, the Third Palace Mage immediately stood up from the throne

The deep, thunderous voice of the Third Palace reverberated in the dimension filled with magma and flames, causing the evil beings hiding in the shadows to lower their heads in fear, not daring to gaze directly upon the destructive majesty of the Third Palace Demon

It appears that the beautiful woman is indeed the sacrifice

No wonder the San Gong can hear their calls; this group of unprofessional cultists has completely misunderstood the order of the rune combinations

It is as if the bizarre stories from the superhero comics that Phil enjoys reading, much like those superheroes, acquire strange powers through peculiar means

The demon descended from the throne, and its appearance gradually changed, soon transforming back into that of the white-haired man

In the wilderness, dozens of kilometers away from Colson Farm, Merlin drove Lola with some unease, speeding through the desolate landscape

No matter where that guy is hiding, he is doomed to die

Lola emitted a series of roars as the beautiful red convertible traced an arc across the wilderness. Merlin was preparing to return to Madison; he was going to the hospital to be with his injured father and weary mother

However, regardless of the situation, this brought a sense of relief to Merlin

It is arrogant and crude, acts wildly, instilling fear in demons

Is there anything more absurd than treating one's own compatriots as sacrifices to foreign beings, yearning for the 'blessings' of external entities?

At the moment when the true son or daughter of hell is about to be born, he is no longer important

After leaving the hospital, Merlin drove Lola straight into the wilderness of Wisconsin. He pressed the accelerator all the way, and the Lola, which he had personally repaired, did not disappoint him. This 1962 sports car, after having its engine and parts replaced, seemed to have been reborn; its speed was astonishing. After two hours of frantic driving, Merlin had already left Madison County.

The Demon King laughed wickedly as an evil plan swiftly emerged in its mind; if it were to possess this "Devil Bride"...

Does this mean that he is safe

However, after waiting with his eyes closed for several minutes, Merlin realized that aside from maintaining this position which made his shoulders somewhat sore, nothing else was happening

Is it fire

Midnight has arrived on the watch before him

The possibility of death is not the most tragic punishment; knowing the time of one's demise yet having to wait for that moment second by second is, in other words, among all forms of waiting, waiting for death is eternally the most tragic.

However, Merlin was not clear about how far these supernatural beings meant by "keeping away," so he decided to distance himself as far as possible from his family and other mortals

Although separated by thousands of miles, the anger of the Three Palaces Demon was still almost entirely imposed upon the demon minion that descended upon the Colson Farm through the spiritual link of this demonic creature

At this moment, this being, over 4 meters tall, with its entire body covered in black muscles and encased in sturdy, horn-like claws, was gripping the scrolls of Merlin and the Three Palace Demon.

Ha ha, not only can it thwart Satan's schemes, but it can also enhance one's own power. Most importantly, it can severely humiliate the arrogant Satan, turning him into a hellish monarch who cannot even protect his own bride

It should be a group of devil worshippers from the mortal realm engaging in sacrificial tricks, but for some reason, although they were clearly offering sacrifices to Satan, one of the lords of hell, the news somehow reached the ears of the Three Palaces.

As for the estimation of the Three Palaces Demon, Merlin's disappearance is likely the result of the active involvement of another Hell Lord. After all, a pure soul like Merlin, who has experienced death, is something every lord desires to possess

The three palaces of the demon face had four dark red eyes that simultaneously lit up, and it sensed that perhaps a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity was opening its doors to it

Filled with the power of the devil, a perfect breeding ground, perhaps you can give birth to a true demon prince or princess for me

At the very moment when Lola was about to accelerate, a sudden dark red flame appeared on the two fingers of Merlin holding the cigarette, engulfing both the cigarette and his fingers in the inferno that erupted unexpectedly.

As the midnight hour of the mortal realm draws ever closer, in a hellish dimension extremely distant from the mortal realm, the Third Palace Demon seated upon the Burning Throne is also preparing to cast its projection once again into the mortal realm, completing the final step of the contract

Arrived

That is a chant praising the King of Hell, Satan; merely hearing that name evokes extreme disgust in the Three Palaces Demon

That is certainly a price that no ordinary person can bear

Gone?

He reached out to manipulate the space, responding to the summons of the cultists with his immense and malevolent will, as he prepared to descend into the mortal realm to grace his "bride".

It was a high-ranking demon, fierce and twisted, perfectly embodying the grotesque image of demons as described in legends

Merlin looked around, his breathing became somewhat rapid, his body stiffened, he closed his eyes, waiting for the arrival of fate

This woman is very unique

Your Majesty, the Supreme One, I can only say that I have not found the soul known as Merlin at all

Noon

It can be regarded as a rare and valuable commodity

He extended his hand, picked up the cigarette case on the dashboard, took out a cigarette, and lit it in the night. He then turned on the newly installed car radio by Laura, and a new song by Jackson began to play in the wilderness under the night sky

However

The Phantom Stranger warned him that when the clock strikes midnight and the contract with the Three Palace Demon is established, he must stay away from mortals

The Three Palaces Demon can be considered one of the most powerful among all the rulers of hell. It despises the other rulers, yet yearns for the position of the King of Hell. Unliked by demons and devils alike, it also harbors disdain for its own kind

Click

Is it still smoke

He did not know where he had arrived, nor did he care at all

A low, deep reprimand accompanied by the woman's moans echoed in the mind of this son of hell; the demon lord of the Three Palaces was never a merciful one, and its punishments came swiftly and heavily.

That is a true descendant who has inherited the great bloodline of the Three Palaces... Ah, that is a key... a key to supreme power!

Beneath that stone platform, there is a poorly drawn and error-ridden mark of the evil deity. Upon a glance at the projection of the Three Palaces, no less than 30 errors can be identified.

It is truly perfect

Not even his breath remains

He extended his hand and adjusted the car's rearview mirror downward. He looked at the face in the mirror: black hair, black eyes, slightly gaunt cheeks. That was himself, that was Merlin Riley

The time is approaching

At this moment, Merlin's tense heart suddenly relaxed

However, to be honest, regarding Merlin's "disappearance," the Three Palaces Demon also has its own considerations.

The Demon King questioned with a hint of anger:

It is already quite commendable that they are able to achieve this

Just as it seizes every opportunity to suppress other lords in hell, each lord of hell is not to be underestimated; they will also retaliate

It is no wonder that this group of cultists would choose this woman as a sacrifice to offer to Satan as the "Devil's Bride". Her life may very well have existed for this moment.

Puff

Tear the scroll, unleash the magic

It is composed of numerous dimensions, each of which corresponds to a complete world, and these dimensions are ruled by different lords of hell. This includes the well-known Seven Lords of Hell, as well as some lesser-known demons or devils who are equally formidable in strength, and finally, the most extraordinary entity in hell, the Three Palaces Demon.

On the largest floating island, amidst the endless scorching heat, the Three Palaces Demon sits on the throne, gazing proudly at the mortal realm. Tonight, it will once again have a son of immense potential.

However, this also piqued the interest of the Three Palaces Demon

He did not turn into a monster, nor was he killed by terrifying magic, he endured it!

The son of hell opened his mouth and spewed forth a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs, yet he did not dare to make even the slightest sound, fearing that it would provoke the wrath of the three palaces demon once more

The son of hell replied tremulously:

The hellspawn, struck hard, humbly knelt on the ground. After the will of the Three Palace Demon fell silent, this hellspawn placed the scroll from its claws before its eyes, a flash of resentment flickering in its four dark red eyes. With a fierce grip, amidst the flickering of dark red, fragmented lightning, the scroll inscribed in demonic language was completely torn apart.

It is a rival of Satan, both yearning for the throne of the King of Hell; if this matter is related to Satan, perhaps it could also profit from it