181 THE REOPENING OF HEAVEN'S CAGE
"The Gate to Heaven's Cage has opened. The demons have arrived!"
A chill swept through the crowd as murmurs of fear spread like wildfire. The festive atmosphere was replaced by an ominous tension, and all eyes turned to Leo.
Leo's expression hardened, the glint of determination sparking in his eyes. "Demon or no demon shall stop me from consuming my marriage tonight."
The crowd laughed momentarily brushing aside the urgency of the demon invasion.
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[The demon invasion at Heaven's Cage]
Shortly after the portal to Heaven's Cage was repaired, demons began spilling into the desolate plains. Undead throngs emerged, their decaying bodies shambling with purpose, converging like a dark tide aimed at Sodom City.
"Hail Bael!"
"Hail the Skeleton King!"
The cries echoed through the barren expanse as the demonic armies prepared for war.
In a shadowy pavilion adorned with banners of black and crimson, Agathae shifted uncomfortably on the throne that symbolized his reluctant rule. His body sagged under the weight of a massive, enchanted suit of armor, its jagged design and blackened steel exuding power—but it was also an entrapment.
"Damn this armor," Agathae grumbled. "It's so heavy, it feels like I'm being crushed into this cursed throne."
Argun, standing at his side, gave a dismissive grunt. "This armor is considered light by our standards. Our true king wore something far heavier."
Azuthol, another demon leader, scoffed. "Don't waste your breath, Argun. He's not fit to lead us. This creep wouldn't last a second on the battlefield."
Argun said nothing but cast a glance at Agathae, his expression unreadable.
Like most of the demon lords, Argun did not believe in Agathae as their leader. The only reason they tolerated him was because of the soul of Bael—their fallen Skeleton King was now trapped within Agathae's body.
The demon leaders needed a rallying point to unite the fractured undead and demon armies, and Agathae served as a convenient puppet.
But trust was far from their hearts. Agathae's throne, along with his armor, was in effect a cage designed to keep him under control.
"Humans are frail," Azuthol sneered, his crimson eyes scanning the horizon where the human armies of Sodom City gathered.
"They are frail in body," Argun countered, "but their magic is strong—and often treacherous. We underestimate them at our peril."
"What are we waiting for?" growled Gamura, his voice like grinding stones.
Argun turned to face him. "This isn't Sodom ruins. Out here, on the continent, we need a just cause to rally behind if we are to engage humans. If we fight without one, the other human nations will band together to annihilate us before we grow strong."
As Argun spoke, two massive coffins, carried by hulking undead brutes, were brought forward and placed before the assembled demon army.
Argun mounted a skeletal war elephant, the beast's ivory tusks glinting with malevolent energy, and raised Bael's tattered banner high. He rode out toward the human lines with the coffins in tow.
From the human side, a lone figure emerged to meet him—a man clad in resplendent armor, riding a powerful black steed. His presence exuded authority.
"I am General Nahum of Sodom City," the man announced, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Why have you invaded our lands?"
Argun raised a clawed hand, and the coffins were opened with a thunderous creak. Inside lay the intact bodies of two mages, their lifeless forms preserved unnervingly well.
"I am Argun".
"These," Argun bellowed, pointing to the coffins, "are the corpses of Ma-Shi of the Hunter Association of Amoy and Egger of the Hunter Association of Luxor. They violated the ancient agreement of the Angels! Man-tier mages entered the ruins of Sodom to slay our king, the Skeleton King, Bael. We demand justice for this transgression!"
General Nahum's expression faltered, his resolve momentarily shaken. This was not the battlefield clash he had prepared for but a calculated accusation demanding justice.
The Angels' Agreement, forged after the fall of old Sodom, prohibited mages of Man-tier and above from entering the ruins. The penalty for breaking this pact was clear: the demons would have the right to return to the continent.
As Nahum struggled to formulate a response, the sound of thunderous footsteps grew louder. More demons poured forth from the portal, a growing tide of darkness that filled the plains.
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"What the hell is in those coffins?" Petunia asked.
Leo narrowed his eyes, observing the magical codes emanating from the coffins. His expression darkened. "Those are the bodies of Ma-Shi and Egger."
Yun-Yun stiffened as realization struck her. "I know what the demons are doing here. They're seeking justice."
"Justice?" Petunia echoed, frowning.
Yun-Yun nodded grimly. "Ma-Shi and Egger broke the ancient truce. The Angels' Agreement forbade demons from returning to the continent unless humans violated the terms. By entering Sodom's ruins with Man tiered mages and killing Bael, the Skeleton King, they gave the demons every right to return."
Leo crossed his arms, his tone skeptical. "Since when do demons care about honoring agreements?"
"They did," Yun-Yun countered. "For years, they stayed in the ruins of Sodom despite their power. They're only here now because Ma-Shi and Egger forced them or gave them the excuse to."
Petunia's brow furrowed as she glanced at the swelling demon ranks in the distance. "So what? Are we supposed to let them just roam our lands unchecked?"
Yun-Yun sighed. "I don't know. This world has never faced a situation like this before."
The tense discussion was interrupted by General Nahum's return. His armor glinted in the fading sunlight, and his face bore the weight of grim news as he addressed the leaders of the major families gathered around.
"I've spoken with the demons," Nahum began. "They demand justice for the violation of the Angels' Agreement. They claim they have the right to return after two Man tiered mages entered their realm and killed their leader."
Aseran Deghad, the battle-hardened leader of the Deghad clan, sneered. "Then let's give them justice—with steel. Crush them now before their numbers swell any further."