Chapter 739: Huntmaster
"No—"
The Lord of Blackwater struggled endlessly within the blurry space, as if being dragged into a deep vortex, unable to escape.
With a final wail, its massive pitch-black body grew increasingly transparent, until it completely vanished from Avernus. The hundreds of thousands of Rot Harbingers also dissolved into sludge.
"Long live Lord Bael!"
"Invincible in battle!"
"Only a mighty, wise, and brilliant lord like Lord Bael can lead Avernus to victory, crushing those demons beneath the Abyss, never to rise again!"
The devils cheered wildly, offering the most sycophantic praise they could muster.
Bael raised his Infernal Greatsword high, basking in the adulation of his followers. He could feel Avernus's power gathering around him—Hell's gift to its rulers!
"SWISH—"
But just then, a piercing boom tore through the sky. An arrow cloaked in eerie light ripped through the air, hurtling straight for the Infernal Devil's heart.
The arrow was nearly five meters long. Its head was forged from pitch-black metal, razor-sharp and gleaming, with intricate runes etched along the shaft.
Before the arrow even arrived, Bael's future-sensing instincts warned him. He flapped his wings hard, kicking up a storm of sulfur-laced smoke to evade.
Magma manifested midair, forming floating shields that orbited Bael, trying to block the arrow's path.
But it was too fast. It pierced through layers of infernal defenses, then shattered the magma shields with a deafening blast that sent shards flying.
"RIP—"
The arrow grazed Bael's left shoulder and instantly tore through his thick wing membrane, ripping open a gruesome wound.
The dark glow on the arrow writhed like twisted snakes, corroding the flesh and releasing poisonous chaotic mist.
Furious, Bael roared in the direction the arrow came from: "Who did that?! Who dares?!"
"Bael—"
A raspy growl echoed from the distance.
At the edge of the wasteland, shrouded in eerie mist, a towering figure slowly emerged.
It was a colossal creature, over forty meters tall. Its upper body was humanoid, but its lower half was that of a powerful horse—like a centaur.
But unlike a normal centaur, this beast's body was grotesque and twisted.
Its humanoid torso was covered in hideous scars oozing toxic smoke, while its horse-like lower body bore scales and bony spikes, like a hybrid of lizard and stallion.
Its eyes were the most terrifying part—sharp, glowing cold in the darkness, filled with murderous intent as if they could pierce through the weak points of all creation.
The centaur wore light armor sewn from the skins of thousands of humanoids and held a longbow crafted from a giant beast's spine. It slowly drew the bowstring and nocked another arrow.
—The same kind of arrow that just struck Bael.
Locked in a gaze with the centaur, Bael felt like thorns stabbed his back, as if marked by the deadliest hunter in the world.
"So it's you."
Even Cassius, far off on the fortress wall, stood up, unfurled his wings, and stared intently at the centaur-like monster.
"What a powerful demon. Extremely dangerous—could even threaten my life.
Tsk. Bael might really have to accept my terms and beg for my help," Cassius grinned viciously.
There was no need for guesswork.
That immense pressure and rolling black mist revealed the centaur's identity—it was one of the three Abyssal Lords invading Avernus: the Huntmaster, Mastiphal!
Bael gripped his Infernal Greatsword and slowly raised it. His voice was deep: "Mastiphal, get out of Avernus, or your end will be even worse than that black fool's!"
The centaur—Mastiphal—gazed coldly at the devil and replied flatly: "Heh, Bael, cunning devil who stole Avernus.
Actually, I should thank you. You banished that idiot Ixinix, which gave me more spoils in this war."
Bael sneered: "Do all you Abyssal bastards talk this big? Short-sighted, brainless vermin. All you see is immediate gain.
This war's outcome is far from decided."
Mastiphal grinned and licked his lips, his piercing eyes locked on the devil—as if staring at prey.
"Relax, Infernal Devil. You're a rare catch. For banishing Ixinix, I'll preserve your corpse after the hunt—as the perfect trophy."
Then, as if remembering something, he shook his head regretfully: "Too bad Zariel's dead. That beautiful, insane fallen angel would've made a better display."
Before the words even faded, the Huntmaster drew back his bow again, aiming at Bael with a blazing stare.
Abyssal power surged into the arrow, dyeing it pitch-black. When the bow reached full draw, the very world trembled under the killing intent.
Just being caught in his gaze caused hundreds of devil soldiers to fall from the sky, bleeding from every orifice, faces pale with terror as they died.
Bael too felt that chilling killing intent targeting him, his mind shaken.
If that arrow hit, he might really die!
Bael clearly sensed that the arrowhead carried the essence of "Death" from the Abyss—able to claim any life!
As someone with 70% of Avernus's authority, Bael's soul wasn't fully bound to the plane yet. He wasn't truly immortal.
Only now did the Hell Lord understand where Mastiphal's confidence came from.
By the Nine Hells—how could a relatively unknown Abyssal Lord, not even a demigod, wield such power? This wasn't magic!
"Ignorant lesser creature."
Mastiphal seemed to guess Bael's thoughts and rasped: "Ten thousand years ago, the Grey Centaur God was hunted by Maara, the God of the Hunt. Cornered, he fled into the Abyss—but still died.
From that gnawed corpse of the Grey Centaur God, I was born—Mastiphal, the great Huntmaster!
My emergence shall shake the world. And you, young Hell Lord—you'll be my first prey since leaving the Abyss!"
"WHOOSH—"
Without waiting, Mastiphal released the arrow. It tore the sky apart, streaking straight at Bael.
Bael flapped his massive bat wings with all his might, soaring a thousand meters instantly, conjuring hellfire walls beneath him.
But the dreadful arrow seemed locked onto him. It pierced the flame walls and flew straight at him.
"You can't kill me!"
Bael snarled through clenched teeth: "I'm the mighty Lord of Avernus, Duke of Hell! I schemed for centuries to seize this throne—I won't let you take my life!"
He slashed his sword wildly, tearing rifts through space, sending lava cascading down.
Bael darted through spatial tunnels, seeking an opening to strike the Huntmaster.
But chaos mist enveloped Mastiphal, disrupting Bael's teleportation spells and slamming him into barriers.
Against the Lord of Blackwater, Bael could banish or stall for time.
But Mastiphal's arrows were lethally precise. One mistake could be fatal.
"Bael, give up. Your fate is sealed—you're my prey."
Watching Bael dart about, Mastiphal sneered, loosing dozens of black-glowing arrows in chaotic arcs.
Bael unleashed Avernus's power. Hellfire burst from his body, destroying several arrows—but not the laws of Death they carried.
Even as arrowheads melted and shafts burned, the arrows still homed in on Bael's heart.
He was overwhelmed. Several arrows pierced his body, chaotic power flooding in, and scalding devil blood sprayed out.
At last, the battered Hell Lord cried out desperately toward Bronze Fortress:
"Cassius, help me!"
"Oh? Finally can't hold out?"
The red dragon had been watching with amusement. Upon hearing the plea, he flapped his wings and soared up in a blaze of heat.
"SWOOSH—"
Flames burst behind Cassius. He streaked across the sky like a meteor and landed beside Bael.
Bael coughed black blood and growled weakly, "Quick, Cassius, kill that damned Grey Centaur! He wields the power of Death!"
But the red dragon tilted his head calmly and asked, "So—you agree to my terms?"
Bael shouted anxiously, "I agree! Just kill that damn Grey Centaur!"
"WHOOSH—"
A volley of arrows tore the air, ripping apart Bael's last position. Luckily, he had escaped.
Bael emerged from a spatial rift, roaring: "Cassius! What the hell are you doing?!"
But the red dragon slowly pulled a scroll from under his scales and offered it: "Bael, you betrayed your last master. I don't trust your word. Sign this contract."
"Damn it! Even now, you—"
Another arrow tore through the air, piercing Bael's left wing, leaving a massive tear. His wing was now in tatters.
"Well?" Cassius smiled.
Bael finally relented. He took the contract, wrote his True Name on it, and spat out a word: "Fine."
As soon as he spoke, Cassius stepped in front of him, unfurling his massive wings and revealing the shining Dragon Crystal on his chest.
The red dragon opened his jaws. Blinding white light glowed in his throat.
"BOOM—"
[Greater Breath of Order]
Flames of Order erupted from Cassius's mouth, forming a flawless silver-white pillar like a sacred pillar of heaven.
In an instant, the volley of arrows was engulfed, and even the death energy of the Abyss was extinguished.
—This was Cassius's Flame of Order. After multiple enhancements, his breath was now powerful enough to rival divine power.
"This is..."
Bael stared wide-eyed at the red dragon's breath. If he hadn't known Cassius was greedy and shameless, he'd think this was Bahamut in disguise.
"By the Nine Hells, I just saw an evil red dragon breathe fire purer than an angel's," the Infernal Devil muttered in awe.
"Long live Lord Cassius!"
"Long live the Empire!"
"For the Ember Emperor!"
"Cassius BBQ! Roast all those damn demons! No one does it like the Cassius Grill!"
Seeing Cassius arrive, the players on the battlefield erupted in wild cheers.
"Too bad this war quest only lasts three days. Cassius is already wrapping it up."
"Quick, kill a few more demons—we might not get another shot at this."
"Hey! That demon's ours! Don't kill-steal! Have some shame!"
To them, the Ember Emperor's arrival meant the war was ending—or more precisely, victory was certain.
Far away in the misty wasteland, Mastiphal looked up, locking eyes with the mighty dragon breathing silver-white flame.
A strange, manic light danced in his eyes.
"I found it! I found it!" Mastiphal trembled with excitement, gripping his bone bow.
The centaur muttered like a fanatic: "Such unmatched form! If I could peel back those thick dragon scales, pierce the pounding heart, and sever that majestic head—what a glorious moment!
That dragon—he's the perfect prey! Far more precious than that Infernal Devil! He'll be my greatest sacrifice to the Abyss!"
Cassius bared his teeth and sneered, "Want to hunt me, you stupid centaur? You're not worthy."