Salvos

Chapter 593: Reconstruction

593. Reconstruction

Reconstruction had begun. The Unveiling had come to an end. It was time for the second stage of Regnorexs plan to move forward.

I didnt know what any of that meant, but that was what Haec had said, and apparently it was a big deal.

I flew into the sky and watched as the Netherworld shifted all around me. The crevices that had spread as far as I could see began to twist and turn into each other. The earth rumbled, and spouts of lava erupted into the air.

It was like when Revelation had first begun but different. It was a small difference, however it was evidently clear. The magma that spilled out into the earth came from the ground underneath rising to fill the broken earth.

The ravines seemed to unfurl like a blooming flower, giving way to the new ground that ascended from below. It was happening gradually. The tremors continued for what felt like forever as the sky flashed above.

I raised my head, watching as white holes ripping through the sky fade and flicker. They cracked with black lightning. But the lightning bolts never crashed into the ground. I swept my gaze over the changing landscape as thousands of distant figures scattered into the sky and the land in utter disarray.

They were tiny little specks, tens of miles away. I could make out the vague shapes of their bodies because of my enhanced senses. However, to see further, I needed a Skill like [Manifestation of the Old Gods].

But I didnt need it to tell that the distant figures were thrown into a panic.

They were wild Demons or at least, most of them had to be wild Demons. And yet, for the first time ever, I had seen them display fear. Well, I had sometimes seen wild Demons flee and run when they knew that it was pointless to continue fighting. But I had never seen them in such a state of confusion.

All they did was follow their strongest instinct at the moment. So there was nothing to ever be confused about. And yet, for whatever reason, they didnt know what to do right now.

Some of them took to the skies, while others descended to the shifting ground. A few remained hidden in the crevices, but they were crushed by the moving earth. And as their blood spilled into the earth, a strange sensation washed over me.

I lowered my head with a frown.

What is that feeling?

I placed a hand on my chest as I narrowed my eyes.

I felt uneasy.

Like something was wrong.

It reminded me of when I used to have [A Hunters Sense]. Whenever the Skill warned me that something was amiss whether it was a trap nearby or whether I was being watched. But it wasnt like I was in immediate danger.

Or at least, I didnt think so.

But the sensation refused to fade away. Even as I descended back to Haec, Bertrugil, Taburas, and Aemula. The four Archdemons were standing atop a ridge, overlooking the effects of Reconstruction on the world.

So, um, what happens now?

My voice drew their attention back to me. They hadnt even noticed me landing right next to them. They were too distracted they looked unsettled. I pursed my lips.

Do you guys feel that too?

We do.

Aemula nodded slowly. She placed one of her six hands on her chest.

I was told it would be uncomfortable, but I never imagined it would be like this

Huh.

I stared at her, then I looked at Taburas who just nodded. Bertrugil seemed less agitated by this strange sensation. He shook his head, before waving a hand dismissively.

You learn to ignore it over time. Its not that big of a deal.

But what is it?

I asked, tilting my head. And it was Haec who answered. He was staring into the horizon his gaze unfocused at something far, far away.

It is the instinct that allows Salvation to occur. The very same instinct that protects newborn Demons from being massacred in an instant by more powerful evolutions.

Reconstruction is clearly far more dangerous than the Unveiling.

I blinked.

Wait, seriously?

I had thought that the start of Revelation was already very dangerous. Well, sure, I thought it wasnt that bad after I had visited the second layer of the Netherworld and the End of the World. And while I highly doubted that the second half of Revelation was nearly as bad as what I experienced down there, I was still surprised to hear that Reconstruction was more dangerous than the Unveiling.

But why?

I asked Bertrugil, and he wagged a finger at me lecturingly.

Because there is no place left to hide, and all the Demons in the Netherworld that remain are forced out of the earth to fight against each other. Sure, there are far fewer of them wandering around than during the Unveiling. However, what remains is

My eyes flickered as I realized where he was going with this.

Those that remain are the most dangerous. The strongest survive, and the weak die. Now, we have no other choice but to fight the survivors.

I raised my head, meeting Bertrugils gaze.

We have to fight the strongest.

Exactly.

He nodded simply, and I pursed my lips. That was alarming. While the Unveiling wasnt that bad since I mostly fought weak Demons with the occasional strong ones here and there, Reconstruction was going to be far more dangerous since there were only strong Demons around now.

Fortunately for us

Bertrugil continued as he took a step forward. He looked up at a group of wild Demons flying overhead, ignoring us entirely.

most of the wild Demons are too focused on returning to their birthplaces to go out of their way to attack us. They will only do so if we are in their way.

I paused. I opened my mouth as I stared at the [Abraxas].

Thats not that bad

All wild Demons except for a single one.

He spoke simply as the ground shook. It was a subtle shaking, mixed together with the rumbling of Reconstruction, so I didnt even notice it at first. None of the four Archdemons with me noticed it either, too focused on the discussion at hand.

Only a single wild Demon continues to roam the Netherworld, destroying everything it sees. Never coming to settle in its birthplace, even during Salvation.

Bertrugil continued, and once again, the ground shook. Or, rather, it seemed to jolt. And that was how I noticed it. I raised my head, looking past Bertrugil as I saw a shadow in the distance. The sense of unease I felt only heightened, and this time it came from [Angelic Premonition].

I stepped past Bertrugil as he finished.

And this wild Demon is the most feared throughout the Netherworld. The most dangerous. The wildest of them all. It is

I pointed past him, interrupting him as I caught sight of the tall dark shadow. I saw it, without needing [Manifestation of the Old Gods]. I didnt even want to use the Skill anyway. I didnt want to risk it.

I just saw its long serpent-like heads. I saw its massive figure. One that I had only seen from another space before.

And I whispered its name.

The Beast.

Yes, thats right.

Bertrugil nodded as Haec, Taburas, and Aemula looked at where I pointed. They paled, backing away in fear as the [Abraxas] slowly turned after them.

But how did you oh.

He froze when he saw it. The Demon that Demons feared the most. The highest-leveled being in all of the Nexeus. A Demon that predated even my father. There, standing in the horizon with its glowing eyes and many heads was

The Beast.