Chapter 111: The Implock – Chapter 105 – “The Third Stratum”

∼ The Third Stratum ∼

Chapter - 105

In a situation comically similar to where his real body still remained, Nyx's was now within another dome. The veil between the storm and his projection. He got up and ran his fingers against it, feeling the demonic mana lash at him only to be absorbed. This was no longer an obstacle to him.

Without as much as the slightest resistance, Nyx passed through the first veil. What laid beyond surprised the new Vainlord. No longer an uninterpretable sandstorm of fire and souls, Nyx could see. He could actually see his surroundings, the landscape, the souls, the mana. As a greater demon, such demonic miasma almost felt pleasant. And now, as a superior being to what he once was, he could perceive the soul space. To a degree.

It was still all hazy as if filtered through a grainy and peppery pane. Nevertheless, he could actually navigate the infernal storm now. No longer did he need to merely feel his way through. Glancing at a skittering ball of fire, flickering in the infernal storm as it dove in and out of the cracks littering the hell scorched terrain, Nyx realized it to be a soul. What exactly it was, he hadn't the faintest clue.

But it was weak.

Looking off into the distance, towards where the demonic mana thickened, he could see the second stratum. Where he had once bound Fisty's soul to his. Nyx grinned and began stalking towards it. Scattering at his mere presence the souls of once lower beings, his aura had a tangible effect on this plane. A wolf walking in a pen of sheep. As a greater demon, Nyx was a being that they once feared beyond all else. When they had been alive. But he paid them no mind. For he was only concerned about what was beyond this stratum. Minor demons concerned him not. Nor did lesser demons.

So when Nyx reached the veil of the second stratum, he didn't even slow as he passed through it, the pressure doing little to hamper his trespassing. The change in atmosphere was immediate and Nyx began to have to squint against the roiling mana of the infernal storms. The air felt thick and burned his metaphorical 'lungs'. But Nyx stalked onwards.

Souls of large and small demons alike cowered in his wake, some even came to him in hopes of bonding with his soul. Most all demons sought power, and those intelligent enough to realize just what Nyx was, understood what potential he could unlock within them. Unfortunately, Nyx had no eyes for mere lesser demons.

Looking up at the wall of dark red energy, stretching up and up and up, far out of sight, it loomed over Nyx. The demonic mana just beyond was oppressive. The unholy screams of bestial and monstrous demons were chilling. It called for him.

Pressing one hand against its surface, the resistance was unimaginably stronger than what it had been for the first and second stratum. He had to press both hands against the veil, muscles bulging and hands clenching. With great strain, his clawed-like nails began tearing through. Even this stood no chance to stop his advance in the end.

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Entering the third stratum, the world changed. He was barely able to see through the thick miasmic mana and the landscape was incomprehensible. Towering taller than the peaks of Argon's Spine, cliffs and rock face rose high, the ground sundered as if gods had once walked here.

Looking around, a hand shielding his eyes, Nyx finally took it seriously. The souls he saw right at the entrance were still too weak to be considered and they too cowered at his presence. But it wasn't long before he met souls that were sizing him up. His pride as a herald and a Vainlord, however, stopped any opportunistic demon souls from trying anything stupid.

The deeper he went, the thicker the miasma became. Although it was nearly impossible to see far ahead, Nyx could catch glimpses of truly monstrous souls in the distance. Demons that were nearly as tall as buildings. But alas, this was as far as he could go.

He was near the fourth stratum, but even now, he could feel his mana channels slowly fray. Like they had once done during his first soul bonding. If he didn't choose one now, he would be doing serious damage to himself. Permanent even. That was when he finally sensed something that caught his eye.

Deep within a cavern of molten rock and demonic mana, a massive soul lay, surrounded by dozens of smaller but still huge demon souls. Upon his intrusion of their lair, their auras flared, as if hissing and growling at him. He paid them no mind. Releasing his presence to its full might, they all piped down, hesitantly backing up against the wall in fear of his pride.

All but one.

A deep sense of hunger came from the slumbering soul. A major sin. Like him. Reaching out a hand to the soul, Nyx felt it almost meant to be. The demon considered him calmly. Considered what he promised it. And in its gluttony. It accepted.

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