The Demon Within

"Enemy attack!"

"Kill these foolish elves!"

"Zug zug!"

The Farstriders' attack successfully ignited the enemy's fury. The trolls and demon servants who had been patrolling nearby charged toward the rangers in the woods.

"Go!" Seeing the enemy's defenses fall apart so quickly, Lor'themar let out a disdainful laugh and waved his hand. He led his elite fighters and Lanlos's group out of the bushes without hesitation.

"Charge in and kill the troll leader!" After years of fighting trolls, Lor'themar knew just how important their leaders were to these savage tribes. Generally, once a leader was killed, the troll forces would collapse at an astonishing speed.

An empowered Force Impact sent the approaching enemies tumbling in every direction, but before Lanlos could press the attack, the rangers seized their chance and swarmed forward, tearing the enemies to pieces in an instant.

But the enemies weren't stupid, either. While the rangers focused on attacking from one direction, leaving a gap in their defensive formation, several quick-witted trolls immediately sprinted off, nearly reaching Lanlos.

"Landral!"

"I see them!"

A string of obscure incantations spilled from her lips. The air around them instantly grew scorching hot, and with a dazzling orange flash, a basin-sized fireball shot from Landral's hand.

Boom!

The earth trembled. An endless Flamestrike instantly engulfed the reckless enemies, its scorching blast carrying a thick stench of burning flesh. As the flames gradually faded, those arrogant trolls had already been reduced to ashes, leaving only a patch of charred earth.

Pyroblast was one of the most destructive spells among low-level magic. Its tremendous damage and wide area of effect made it a favorite among mid- and high-level spellcasters.

Although Lanlos still couldn't cast third-circle spells, he had already committed Pyroblast to memory. He also paid close attention to the details of Landral's casting, hoping to accelerate his own growth as much as possible.

Soon, the assault team broke into the Sanctum's main hall. Waiting for them was a burly troll, his body covered in prominent scars. Clearly, he was a battle-hardened warrior.

Zumalosh tightened his grip on his spear and made a throat-slitting gesture at Lanlos's group. Combined with his condescending stare, the blatant provocation successfully stoked everyone's anger.

"Don't be rash." Lor'themar understood the enemy's intent. He stopped his eager comrades, then turned to Lanlos and Landral. "You two take care of that troll Warlock. We'll handle things here."

Lanlos nodded and said to Landral, "Come with me. That troll is on the roof."

"How do you know?"

"There's that much commotion up there. No troll but him could be responsible." Lanlos didn't reveal the real reason. Though the Fel's surging presence disrupted the nearby magic, his familiarity with that chaotic energy had only made his senses sharper.

Besides, the Sargerite seemed a little too excited...

"Stop them!"

"Greenhide, do you think we're not here?" Several arrows turned the two trolls who had obeyed the order to advance into pincushions. Lor'themar swung his sword and flashed Zumalosh a savage grin.

"Elves... meat... tasty..." Zumalosh roared in broken Thalassian and immediately led his companions into the attack.

"We need to hurry." Seeing the hall erupt into battle, Lanlos immediately followed Landral up the spiral staircase.

On the Astrology Platform, a spherical crystal floated in midair, glowing with brilliant blue light. Wisps of radiance billowed like smoke, swiftly converging on the Fel Crystal at the center. The moment they neared the Fel Fire around it, they were instantly transformed and sent straight into the vortex that reached the dome.

"I've been waiting for you."

The figure had his back to them. He was more hunched than an ordinary troll, his sagging, sallow skin covered in spots that spoke of decay. Lanlos didn't underestimate his strength because of his age. He glanced at the furious Landral, then silently stepped aside, leaving the two of them the stage.

"So you're the mastermind? You monster, you'll pay with your life!" As soon as the words left her mouth, an instant-cast Pyroblast tore through the air.

Boom!

A sea of flames instantly swallowed Kergash's figure.

Landral's lips curled into a smile, but the next moment it froze.

As the flames faded, a transparent green barrier appeared before Kergash, streams of light swirling across its surface like wisps of chaotic fire.

"Elves, witness your shameful defeat!"

Unharmed, the Darkpine Troll lightly tapped the ground with his wooden staff. A melodious hum suddenly rang through the air, carrying far into the distance. The vortex overhead abruptly began to surge upward faster.

Lanlos felt as if something had happened. He immediately turned—and froze at the sight before him.

In the northwest, a green pillar of light shot up from the Northern Temple, gradually forming a colossal vortex flowing upward—almost identical to the one beside them. Farther away, above the Western Temple, the translucent Ban'dinoriel grew dim. A bolt of filthy, chaotic energy slammed toward the ground like thunder.

The Ley Line's flow had been altered by an outside force. Under the guidance of the Fel, it was all being drawn to the Western Temple!

Atop a tower, before a hollow doorway built from black stone bricks, Velania knelt reverently. As she gazed at the immense pillar of light pouring down from the heavens, her eyes brimmed with longing and excitement.

"Welcome, my master!"

The pillar of light crashed into the black doorway, which let out a series of mournful groans. Its once-smooth surface cracked apart, revealing a dense web of sinister green fissures. As the Fel poured in, a dim vortex of chaos gradually took shape.

"Ah, what a delicious world..."

"Monster, what are you doing?!" Seeing all three Sanctums suffer such a calamity, Landral was astonished, then overcome with fury.

"Haha! Whatever it is, I've already done it." Kergash let out a wild, unrestrained laugh and stretched out his long arms. As a stream of chaotic energy welled up around him, his figure gradually vanished. "This is the price of your arrogance. This is what happens when you make enemies of the trolls! Mortals, enjoy the end that awaits you..."

A teleport?!

"Bastard, you're not getting away!" Landral recovered even faster than Lanlos. She raised a hand and pointed. A streak of pale purple light shot toward the spot where Kergash had disappeared. A sound like shattering glass rang out. Countless blue-violet spatial rifts appeared, and then Arcane power forced them open like a jack.

A constantly spinning Arcane vortex appeared before Lanlos. He thought he could just make out the shadow of a forest within it. Before he could react, the furious Landral blinked away.

"Hey! Wait—" Lanlos watched as the Magister plunged headlong through the portal, but he wasn't quick enough to stop her.

Or rather, he hadn't tried his hardest to stop her.

On the spacious Astrology Platform, manifest magic flowed toward the Fel Crystal at the center like a tide. Like clear water with ink poured into it, every bit of the magic became fuel for the Fel.

Staring at the vortex of energy surging into the sky, Lanlos's eyes widened, fixed on the spectacle. His throat bobbed as he swallowed...

Beep... Beep... A large energy source has been detected...

A large energy source has been detected...

The Keystone's warning went berserk, exploding over and over in his mind. Scarlet markers nearly filled Lanlos's entire field of vision, leaving only the Fel Crystal ahead and the dazzling radiance that turned his azure eyes emerald green.

The Keystone's voice hadn't stopped since the vortex formed above the Astrology Platform. The nature of the Fel allowed it to destroy and twist most things, but after countless years of corruption, the Sargerite Keystone had long since learned how to use this energy.

And it had taught Lanlos how...

There had been other people nearby, so Lanlos hadn't let anything show. But now, alone, he could no longer endure that soul-gnawing magical craving.

Step by step, he moved forward. The gale raised by the surging energy tore at his ash-gray hair, while his robe snapped in the wind. The closer he got to the crystal, the more savage the power became.

His brow furrowed. Lanlos looked toward the area where the magic was beginning to transform into Fel. The raging, chaotic energy carved one hideous mark after another into the floor.

With this body alone, he'd probably be torn to pieces before he even reached the crystal.

He smiled and shook his head. The emerald glow in Lanlos's eyes deepened once more.

No, it wasn't a reflection. His irises themselves had changed color!

Whoosh!

Green flames burst from every part of his body. In mere moments, they had completely engulfed Lanlos...

"Yes, that's it. Unleash the Demon Within..."