The shadowy figure, the leader of the rebellion, addressed the general with a voice dripping with authority. "Groviko, I have pressing matters to attend to. Take care of things here."
With a flick of his hand, a mysterious object was sent floating through the air toward the pale-skinned general. "Place your blood into this object," the figure commanded, "and you will know what to do."
Panic flickered across Groviko's face, but he quickly reached out, snatching the object from the air. His claws trembled as he held it, a strange energy emanating from its surface. Without hesitation, he sliced his finger, allowing a single drop of blood to fall onto the object.
The moment the blood touched it, the object pulsed with dark energy, and an otherworldly bond formed between it and the general. A sinister gleam flashed in Groviko’s crimson eyes as his lips curled into a wicked smile. A deep, malevolent laugh escaped him, reverberating across the battlefield.
With reverence, the pale-skinned general bowed his head. "Thank you, master."
The shadowy figure gave no reply, dissipating into the smoke and flames, leaving Groviko alone with his newfound power.
Groviko’s attention immediately snapped back to Cerberus. Laughing sinisterly at the wild beast, Groviko declared, "Now it is time for you to pay."
At his command, the mass of possessed hordes surged forward, launching a coordinated attack on Cerberus. The three-headed guardian responded with relentless fury, his massive claws slashing through the oncoming demons while flames erupted from all three of his mouths. However, despite his formidable power, Cerberus was quickly becoming overwhelmed as injuries began to pile up from the unending onslaught.
Groviko stood atop a raised platform, the mysterious object pulsating with dark energy in his hand. His crimson eyes gleamed with malevolent delight as he watched Cerberus struggle against the relentless tide. The possessed demons, now fully under his control, moved with a terrifying precision, their attacks synchronized to exploit every weakness of the guardian.
Cerberus roared in defiance, his three heads working in unison to fend off the attackers. Yet, for every demon he dispatched, two more took their place, making it increasingly difficult for him to maintain his ground. The fiery battlefield became a whirlwind of claws, teeth, and flames, the air thick with the scent of brimstone and blood.
Amidst the chaos, the guide and the soul remained hidden, their earlier hope now mingled with a deepening sense of dread. The guide whispered urgently, "We need to find another way. Cerberus is struggling, and if Groviko succeeds, all of Hell will fall into chaos."
The soul nodded, eyes wide with fear. "But how? The Archfiend is gone, and now Groviko has the rebels under his control. It feels like there's no escape."
Back on the battlefield, Groviko raised the mysterious object high, its dark surface swirling with ethereal energy. "Witness the true power of rebellion," he proclaimed, his voice echoing across the infernal plains. "With Cerberus weakened and the Archfiend defeated, nothing can stand in our way!"
As the possessed hordes continued their assault, Groviko felt a surge of power flowing through him from the object. His strength amplified, his movements becoming even more precise and deadly. The pale-skinned general moved with newfound confidence, orchestrating the chaos with ease.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Cerberus, battered and bloodied, struggled to keep up with the relentless attacks. His flames began to wane, and his claws grew sluggish from exhaustion. Just as it seemed the guardian might falter, a brilliant light pierced through the smoky haze of the battlefield.
Here's a refined continuation with the inclusion of King Minos:
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Just as it seemed the guardian might falter, a brilliant light pierced through the smoky haze of the battlefield. The light cut through the oppressive darkness like a blade, forcing even the possessed hordes to pause in their assault. From the center of the radiance emerged a towering figure, regal and imposing, cloaked in shimmering gold and obsidian armor that seemed to ripple with the very essence of judgment.
King Minos, the arbiter of the damned and ruler of the first circle of Hell, stepped forward. His presence radiated an aura of authority that stilled the chaos around him. His face, chiseled and imperious, bore an eternal frown, his piercing silver eyes glowing with the weight of aeons. A crown of jagged bone and flame adorned his head, and a scepter shaped like a coiled serpent rested firmly in his hand. Around his feet swirled ghostly chains, the spectral remnants of those who had dared defy his decree.
The guide gasped, a spark of hope igniting in their hollow eyes. “King Minos!” they exclaimed, their voice trembling with elation. “The arbiter himself has come! This rebellion will be crushed, and order restored!”
The soul, however, could only stare in wide-eyed disbelief. “That… that’s King Minos?” they stammered. “He’s… real?”
“Real and far more powerful than you could ever imagine,” the guide whispered, their tone reverent. “The arbiter has authority over judgment itself. None can escape his decree—not even Groviko or his master.”
King Minos surveyed the battlefield with a slow, deliberate gaze, his silver eyes lingering on Cerberus as the guardian struggled to fend off the possessed horde. A faint grimace crossed his face before he spoke, his voice deep and resonant, echoing with the finality of a judge’s gavel.
“Hell’s balance has been disturbed,” he declared. “This rebellion reeks of arrogance and defiance against the natural order.”
His gaze fell upon Groviko, who stood frozen in place, clutching the mysterious object tightly. The pale-skinned general’s bravado wavered under the weight of Minos’s piercing stare.
“You,” Minos intoned, his voice dripping with disdain. “Groviko, the pale-skinned pretender. You would dare upset the equilibrium of Hell for your petty ambitions? You are nothing but a pawn in a far greater game.”
Groviko snarled, his grip tightening on the object. “You speak of balance, Minos, but what has your balance done for us? You judge from on high, while we are left to rot! This rebellion is the future—something you cannot stop!”
Minos raised an imperious hand, silencing Groviko with a mere gesture. “Your insolence is predictable. Your ambition, pitiable. I did not come to debate with a fool who has already forfeited his soul.”
Turning toward Cerberus, Minos extended his scepter, and a beam of purifying light shot forth, carving a path through the horde of possessed demons. The chains at his feet snaked outward, wrapping around the twisted creatures and pulling them into the ground, their glowing eyes extinguished one by one.
The soul clutched the guide’s arm, trembling. “He’s… he’s stronger than anything I’ve ever seen.”
The guide nodded, a rare smile crossing their face. “King Minos is more than strong. He is judgment incarnate. Groviko and his so-called rebellion are about to face the full weight of Hell’s justice.”
Minos turned his attention back to Groviko, his eyes narrowing. “You have aligned yourself with forces you do not understand, Groviko. I will give you one chance to surrender and face my judgment.”
Groviko’s laughter cut through the air, manic and defiant. “Surrender? To you? My master’s power courses through me now. You are nothing but an outdated relic!”
Minos’s expression darkened, and the battlefield seemed to shudder in anticipation. “Then you have chosen your fate, and it shall be sealed.”
The soul stared at the unfolding confrontation, their heart pounding in their chest. For the first time since entering Hell, they dared to hope, even as the stakes grew impossibly higher.