Chapter 405 - Flame Demon Emperor

At Ryuu's signal, Fredek and the others straightened and drew their weapons out except for Alinea. She was not allowed to do anything until they reached the last seal. All her energy would be conserved for the final battle. Amidst the ongoing chaos before them, the clinking sound of swords, armors, spears, lances, axes, and other weapons could be heard. 

"Remember, just be vigilant but do not engage unless necessary. Reserve your energy," Ivan reminded the troops and they echoed their affirmative answers. "Lord Kresnik, we're ready."

Ryuu's body suddenly emanated a blue glow akin to Mavara's fire. It enveloped his whole body as the atmosphere around him became condensed. 

Divine Aura. 

Normally the force that pure celestials released would oppress the lesser beings around them. But Ryuu had adjusted it so that his aura would go to the front towards the enemies. 

Feeling his power, Mavara quickly shifted to face the cavern's mouth once more. At his master's signal, the dragon puffed his ċhėst as he inhaled and released his blue flames. Fire shot at the cavern's entrance scorching everything in its path. The flames could reach several meters, and so he was able to kill lots of elementals that were still trying to flood out of the cavity. 

"Let's go!"

Ryuu stepped forward, the blue glow in his body escalating in burning flames. Since he'd given the members of the troop immunity to his fire, they were not affected by its unforgiving heat. With him on the front, the troop marched steadily inside the cavern. As soon as they went in, Mavara positioned himself at the very entrance of the cave, blocking any elementals that would try to go back in to attack them. 

"Light!" Fredek ordered and the soldiers all took out a special type of crystal in their pockets that let out a glow akin to moonlight. 

Moon crystals. These were special types of minerals that people in Ged used as torches. Ali and the others in front didn't have to take out crystals. Ryuu's glow was enough for them to see. 

None of them let their guards down as they trudged inside the cavern. 

"This is… the Black Cavern?"Alinea asked as she gazed at the huge space that welcomed them. "No wonder those giants could easily fit inside here," she commented. 

The cavern's mouth was around fifteen meters in height. It was huge. But it was basically just a hole towards a much bigger place within. After stepping into the cave, there was a gradual descent as the ceiling became higher and higher. After walking for about twenty meters, there was illumination in front that didn't come from Ryuu. 

"Whoa…" Alinea stared wide-eyed at the vision before her before flinching in disgust. 

There was a huge drop that went down several meters, and the distance from the ground to the now very high earth ceiling was around a couple of hundred meters. It could easily fit high buildings within much more giants. The surrounding walls were embedded with moon crystals. It was the reason why there was illumination in the place. In the middle of the place was a huge sinkhole that led to a deeper part of the place. 

Nonetheless, what could have been an astounding sight before them was reduced to a nauseating view. 

Yes, the place was indeed a lair of the devils. 

Dark elementals cannibalized their kind and they had poor eating etiquette. The blood and gore outside when the harpies and Mavara smashed and stomped on their enemies were similar to what was inside. Rotten flesh lay everywhere and there were creatures still feeding on them— of course, the disgusting smell permeated the air mixed with the musky scent of the cave. 

When they entered the place the elementals within all froze on their spots because of Ryuu's divine aura. The oppressing atmosphere made them wary and alert afterwards as they inched backwards to another cavity on the other side. However, just as they retreated, giant footsteps made the place tremble coming from the other side and they all watched as giant salamanders emerged one by one. 

Seeing their strong brethren, the small elementals'eyes seemed to sparkle with glee as they once again stepped forward. They were like Chihuahuas— aggressive even in their small pitiful sizes. 

"None of you will move,"Ryuu said as he turned to his wife. "Behave," he told her with a smile before jumping down into the pool of angry elementals. 

"Ah, Lord Kresnik looks so cool just now," a soldier commented from behind and Ivan snorted. 

"What are you talking about? That's Kresnik you now. If you called me a flame demon berserker in the battlefield when I'm only a demigod, what more the original Flame Emperor of Heaven?"

Huh?

Alinea was confused at first. She had no idea what Ivan was talking about. Her husband in her memory was very cool. He was the man who did archery, flower arrangement, teas ceremony, and other delicate arts. He was always the calm and quiet type. 

"How can he be a demon?" she wondered audibly just as her husband landed in the middle of the land below amidst the legion of elementals that had gathered. 

He was surrounded!

Alinea's heart jumped. She was worried that she almost jumped after him, but Ryuu looked up to where she was and her husband grinned. 

"Ah… it's starting," Ivan commented just as Ryuu's fire suddenly burst from his body. 

Huge, wild flames danced just as Ryuu bent forward. Alinea was reminded of those characters from Dragon Ball Z when they turned into super saiyans. But the wild fire in her husband was ice blue in color. 

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

The elementals attacked Ryuu simultaneously, but the deity didn't care how many or how strong they were. For him, they were all puny ants that he was there to slaughter. He lifted his arms and the aura shot from his body. A powerful explosion radiated from his whole being covering the whole diameter of the place. 

Ivan and Fredek both raised their hands to form a barrier to protect them. They might be immune to Kresnik's cursed flame, but they were still vulnerable to flying debris. After the blast, all elementals giants or small were reduced to gory pieces on the ground.

By this time, one thing was clear to Ali. Her husband was not calm. In fact, he looked like the happy god of war in the midst of carnage.