Abyss Gate

"Blood sacrifice to the Mother Goddess!"

Seron spread his arms, and the robe on his body wriggled like a living thing before suddenly splitting apart.

"Argh! You forced me to do this!"

He let out a pained wail. Hard, insect-like bristles gradually grew across his skin, while the crack in his chest spread into a tiny pattern shaped like a Giant Spider.

A soft, cruel female snicker came from the vortex behind him, especially piercing and hair-raising.

"Sehanine above."

"Great Sacred Tree."

Everyone present felt fear, especially the Silver Moon Elves. It was as though they had encountered a natural predator; the terror seeped into the depths of their souls, nearly driving them mad.

In an instant, evil energy surged. Abyss Gates grew from the Sacred Tree one after another, like ugly scars flowing with poisonous pus and blood.

Foul-smelling mud-like creatures poured from those Abyss Gates. They extended eight powerful tentacles, with a blood-red eyeball embedded in their bodies.

—They were Wax Golems, known as "Rose's Maidservants," faithfully serving the Spider Queen throughout the Abyss and other planes.

Then came Abyss Ants, Doppelganger Spiders, Demon Hunter Spiders, Thorn Fairies, Weavers of Darkness, Deep Dragons, Driders, Ithilids, Grellok Scorpions—

Countless ugly, twisted monsters crawled out of the Abyss Gates, forming a motley torrent that roared as it charged at the allied forces.

Catherine raised her scepter and pointed it at Seron in the distance. "Polluting the Sacred Tree, opening the Abyss Gates, bringing catastrophic disaster—Seron, is this what you call 'giving everything for Serenia'?"

Seron had already lost his human form. He bared his teeth in wild laughter, making an insect-like hiss as he repeated, "You forced me to do this! You forced me to do this! You are the real culprits!"

"Catherine, the ritual is about to begin. You