Prologue Three - Soul Returns to the Shattered Abyss

The green flames gradually flickered out, and Vihana vanished completely from sight, leaving behind only a pile of dull steel armor, corroded by fel energy and stripped of all luster.

As if doused in oil, the fel flames upon his body burned ever more fiercely, yet Duan Ming felt no discomfort at all. Having finally slain his enemy, his emotions gradually stabilized. Calming down, he walked slowly toward the only source of light behind him.

The sky outside the window was a murky void, scattered with stars of all sizes. Void energy twisted forward like rivers in his line of sight, with bizarre planetary fragments and meteorites drifting along within them. Below lay a desolate expanse; there were no traces of vegetation, only stretches of pitch-black wasteland and green rivers polluted by fel energy. They were less like rivers and more like pools of slime or oil, occasionally bubbling with nauseating gas.

Duan Ming was currently standing at the window of a hideous starship, with several other demonic technological constructs—powerful tools used to conquer worlds—circling in the distance.

Combining this with Vihana's soul, he knew that this was Mardum, the Shattered Abyss, the former prison of demons and the starting zone for Demon Hunters in the game he remembered. But now was not the time to ponder the relationship between this world and that game.

Currently, Mardum was entirely occupied by the Burning Legion. Unless he became one of them, Duan Ming would perish under the relentless onslaught of demons, no matter how heaven-defying his abilities might be!

There was only one way to leave this place!

Duan Ming turned back and looked not far above the remains of the Eredar demon, where a conical, emerald-green crystal hovered in the air, radiating a fel power that felt incredibly familiar to him.

The Sargerite Keystone, the key to the gateway between worlds, which surely included Azeroth.

After all, according to Vihana's memories, the Burning Legion had already discovered Azeroth and launched an invasion against it. This meant the Keystone contained the coordinates for Azeroth.

Thinking of this, Duan Ming grew somewhat agitated.

His own past experiences were enough to make anyone weep; he had been utterly crushed by the despair of reality, yet a certain game had helped him regain his confidence and hope. That world was called Azeroth.

Despite suffering one world-ending catastrophe after another, the inhabitants of Azeroth never gave up the fight, turning the tide time and again and rising from the ashes of despair.

The Orcs, once used by the Burning Legion, eventually found their purpose; the Eastern Kingdoms flourished anew under the iron hooves of the Scourge; and the Wyrmrest Accord stood united against the world-ending flames of Deathwing...

Seeing them overturn predetermined futures time and again, Duan Ming was moved and found hope. Although he couldn't change his own ultimate fate, he silently battled his illness, appreciating the dawn of the next day and the day after in the surprised eyes of his doctors. He used every ounce of his strength to open his mouth under the mockery of fate and spat defiantly.

Looking at the fel energy lingering on his fingertips, a thought that tempted him immensely suddenly crossed Duan Ming's mind. I cannot change my own fate, but perhaps, I can use this power to change the fate of Azeroth.

Clenching his fist tightly, the smile on Duan Ming's lips appeared incredibly excited. Though it looked quite eerie under the emerald glow, one could still sense his simple, naive, and childish emotions.

In this vast sea of stars, he wasn't even a child; he knew nothing and possessed nothing. Yet, this bizarre encounter had quietly birthed the illusion of being "chosen" in his heart, and under the influence of the fel energy, this illusion swelled to its peak.

"Soul Eater, His Majesty ordered you to repair the Keystone, not to destroy my ship. What are you..." Just as Duan Ming was feeling overwhelmed, a massive shadow gradually became clear at the entrance ahead, and two emerald eyes, like lanterns, approached him.

The massive body radiated a terrifying aura, its sulfur-like skin appearing as if it could ignite at any moment. Broad, bat-like wings extended from its back, swaying with every step as its appearance became clear.

A Doomguard!

"I haven't seen you before. Who are you? Where is the Soul Eater?" Although he was a spirit, the green flames enveloping his body led Belash to mistake him for one of his own; his eyes held only confusion, not hostility.

That was until he saw the remains on the ground...

BOOM!

The massive hooves landed heavily, causing the entire starship to tremble. Centered on the impact point, a ring of fel fire expanded rapidly like a tidal wave.

Duan Ming made no attempt to dodge, letting the fel flames wash over his body, leaving him unscathed.

Though it was merely a casual attack, as the commander and top general of the Spider Queen, Belash's power was not far from that of a Demon Lord. And this was a power that ordinary creatures could not withstand.

"It seems you do have some ability." The probing attack having failed, Belash finally looked properly at the translucent soul before him. "But don't compare me to that bitch Vihana. Outsider, state your identity, or I will reduce you to ashes!"

Having devoured Vihana's soul, though it was fragmented, Duan Ming had mastered the language used between demons, and he recognized his opponent.

Belash, commander of Tyranna and master of this starship, was a formidable enemy proficient in shadow magic.

As a former Titan Hound, the Doomguard possessed vast arcane knowledge, and combined with shadow and fel energy, he was far more powerful than Vihana!

Of course, the taste of this soul would surely be even more intoxicating...

The corners of Duan Ming's mouth curled into an evil, terrifying smile. He no longer possessed his past approachability; he looked hideous and horrific, like another demon!

"The Keystone? You fool, put it down!" Seeing the other party ignore his question, Belash grew increasingly impatient. He was about to step forward when he caught a glimpse of that familiar glow in the demon's right hand.

Instantly, shock and panic flashed in the Doomguard's eyes. Thinking of the punishment he would face if Tyranna found out about this, everything turned into rage.

As Belash finished speaking, he reached out and grabbed at the void, and massive energy instantly gathered in his hand. He swung it down fiercely, dragging out a whip made of pitch-black energy that lashed toward Duan Ming's position.

BOOM!

The shadow lash slammed into the ground. The floor, reinforced with fel energy, failed to withstand the attack, shattering into large pieces as if covered in dense, black spiderwebs!

As for the demon, he had prepared to dodge the moment the whip was summoned. Vihana was worthy of the title "bitch" in Belash's mouth; she had not only honed her soul and arts of pain to the peak but often fantasized about inflicting that pain on her colleagues and even her master. Thanks to her, Duan Ming had a thorough understanding of this Doomguard's combat capabilities.

As a spirit, Duan Ming's movements were fast and agile, floating into the air one moment and vanishing into the wall the next. Belash's attacks looked grand and powerful, each strike capable of shaking the starship, but they posed no real threat.

Seeing the other party darting around the space like a loach, Belash grew even more impatient. He lashed out with the whip, and as Duan Ming dodged, he immediately reached out with his other hand and gripped the air: "Cunning pig, get down on your knees!"

Vast shadow energy transformed into a vortex in the Doomguard's hand, shooting toward the spot where Duan Ming had landed like a cannonball.

The shadow energy struck the floor instantly, but unexpectedly, it was like a drop of water falling into the ocean, causing no ripples at all.

Landing safely, Duan Ming was just about to mock him when the brownish-green floor beneath his feet was suddenly swallowed by endless darkness. Countless tentacles, as thick as fingers, erupted from it, binding him into a bundle in an instant.

Do not underestimate these seemingly fragile tentacles; they possessed an incredible adhesive power, biting firmly into Duan Ming's body. No matter how he struggled, he could not shake off the shadow's restraint. An irresistible force dragged at his body, and though he trembled, he did not submit as Belash had expected.

"Ha, fool! This is the price for challenging the great Belash!" Roaring at the sky, the Doomguard swung his whip. It shrank rapidly in the air, soon transforming into a greatsword the size of a door—though for Belash, it was merely a one-handed blade.

The shadow energy gradually faded, replaced by raging flames. The Blazing Longsword radiated rolling heat waves, and even from a distance, Duan Ming felt the scorching breath rushing toward him.

It seemed all demons had a perverse desire to savor the fear and pain of their enemies. Belash approached the demon slowly, his thundering footsteps striking like hammers against the other's heart, hitting his psychological defenses one by one.

However, the latter was clearly not among them. Seeing the opponent putting on such a show, the demon actually curled his lips in impatience!

"Posturing and ignorant! You have no idea what kind of power I possess!"

As the words fell, the soul surging with fel energy within the shadow prison vanished into smoke. The ambient temperature seemed to plummet instantly, and inexplicable wails and screams surged like a tidal wave toward Belash's eardrums and soul.

Do not forget, this is Vihana's room. Who is Vihana? She is the demon lord's technical advisor, and at the same time, she is the Soul Eater.

Almost every object in the room is related to souls. Vihana treasures them as precious gems and is reluctant to use them, but Duan Ming is happy to be extravagant.

Soul Gem, Demon Prison Crystal, Soul-Stealing Scythe...

One by one, the collectibles Vihana treated as treasures were lifted by an unknown force. Under the crude traction of Duan Ming's soul, wisps of pale light darted out from them, circling and howling incessantly throughout the room.

Soon, clusters of tangible soul power formed a white storm that swept across the entire dim space. Looking closely, one would find countless twisted vengeful spirits appearing and vanishing within it, their eerie and terrifying posture enough to make one's scalp tingle.

BOOM!

Wielding his Blazing Longsword, Belash slaughtered the vengeful spirits daring to encroach upon him, completely unaffected. His grim face was full of disdain: "Is this all you have, you clamoring mongrel?"

"Do you think that by devouring the Soul Eater, you can defeat me? I am the executor of the master's will, the Sword of Dominion of the Shattered Abyss. Vihana's power is not worth mentioning before me!"

"Fool! You have no path other than submission!"

"Shadow shall be the final resting place for these decaying souls!"

Once again consuming the encroaching spirits with flames, Belash no longer entangled himself with them. He whipped his wings outward, and a surging firestorm instantly cleared the surrounding space.

Subsequently, he raised his left hand high, and a vast expanse of pitch-black power, completely opposite in color to the air, answered his call. Under the control of the Doomguard, it instantly transformed into a constantly twisting and collapsing shadow vortex.

The powerful gravitational pull easily absorbed the nearby souls, and the pitch-black vortex expanded further. Just as the shadow storm was about to banish all the nearby vengeful spirits, a beam of green light appeared silently behind Belash.

"It's over, demon."

"Ah—!"

The shadow storm in his hand shattered instantly. The smug, triumphant expression on his face vanished, replaced by endless rage and fear, as well as green veins rapidly crawling across his entire body.

"This power, no, impossible! This is, Sargera..."

Before Belash could finish, a dazzling green light completely engulfed his body. From the outside, it looked as if a green sun had risen in Vihana's room; the brilliant emerald radiance, like a beacon in the dark night, attracted the attention of many demons.

Vast chaotic power swirled and twisted around Duan Ming. If Vihana gave him experience and common sense, then Belash gave him power—power in the truest sense. Suddenly infused with such potent energy, the latter immediately felt a tearing, agonizing pain throughout his entire body.

Driven by the power around him, his spirit body slowly ascended, like a balloon being continuously inflated. Duan Ming gradually could no longer endure the increasingly intense sensation of swelling, as if he were about to explode at any moment.

"Ah—!"

The scream that shot straight into the clouds seemed to ignite a fuse. The chaotic energy erupted with a heaven-shaking roar, and a tidal wave of energy torrents spread rapidly toward the distance.