259:
Sherwood Annihilation was the undisputed genius of the Annihilation family.
He had shown amazing warrior talent since he was a child. With the extremely strong ancestor bloodline in his body, he had successfully stepped into the legendary tier at the age of eighty, becoming the tenth legendary in the family, and also the youngest.
And he was not just guarding the demiplane in the family. He spent more time traveling the Material Plane, increasing his knowledge and strength. He challenged famous “powerhouses” everywhere and easily defeated them.
The family’s foundation behind him and his own powerful strength, as long as he avoided places related to the gods, allowed him to run rampant on the Material Plane. This experience of traveling outside told him that his strength was undisputed.
And his confidence had been maintained until twenty years ago, before that night happened.
After that man was driven away like a dog for the first time, although the family had mocked his defeat, they were also shocked by his strength. Although Salier had been seriously injured that day, the family had also paid the price of two legendary beings. That price was extremely heavy, and the entire family could not accept it.
The resentment toward Salier was transferred to that woman.
The previous family head, Edith Annihilation.
They had taken that woman, who had been impeached and imprisoned… and had sent her to the stake.
By the time Salier returned, he had only seen a charred corpse… At that moment, that man who was known as the strongest paladin… had fallen.
Walking toward evil, he had obtained a power even greater than before. That one battle had almost emptied the foundation of the Annihilation family. Besides himself, who had hidden in the family dungeon at the end, all the legendary beings had been slaughtered.
Seven legendary beings, none of them had been spared. The warriors above the second rank in the family had all been beheaded. Their heads were piled into a small mountain.
When Salier had extended his butcher’s knife to the women and children, the Holy Avenger in his hand had made him regain his senses. He had finally left this place, covered in blood, with that charred corpse.
And when Salier had finally left, his blood-stained figure had become a shadow in Sherwood’s heart for a long time.
From then on, the Annihilation family, under his strong request, had shrunk back into this demiplane, slowly accumulating strength.
Sherwood was also the main force in the attack on the Eden plane ten years ago. When facing those weaklings, he had regained his former confidence and had barely walked out of Salier’s shadow.
With the resources obtained from the Eden world, in just ten years, the family had recruited five new legendary beings, and the warriors trained by the family had also reached the edge of the legendary tier.
Everything seemed so prosperous.
Just when Sherwood thought that everything would return to normal, that Salier had also disappeared from this world, and that the glory of the Annihilation family would be revived in his hands… that man had appeared again.
Although he was old and unlike his former self, he had still recognized the man who often appeared in his nightmares at the first moment. Although Salier had become extremely weak, his terror was still beyond doubt.
If it weren’t for the fact that at the last moment, the presence of the current family head, Mapel, had distracted him, the Annihilation family would have been completely wiped out.
Although the recruited legendary beings had died and fled… Sherwood was not worried, because the greatest worry in his heart had finally disappeared. He no longer had any scruples. He believed that with the foundation, this time he would truly revive the Annihilation family and achieve the glory of the Arcane Age.
It should have been like this…
And at this moment, everything was gone. The only remaining descendants of the family were torn apart and eaten by the demons, the castle with a thousand years of history was destroyed, and he himself had no chance of survival…
Since he was going to die anyway… why not offer his soul to that lord in exchange for power?
Sherwood, taking advantage of the dispute between the demons, had unhesitatingly offered his soul to that lord.
“Praise this endless tide of war.”
“The Daughter of Destruction, Zariel.”
“The supreme ancestor.”
“I offer you my soul!”
The power of darkness consumed him. His injuries recovered in an instant, and Sherwood’s body was once again filled with powerful strength.
“As you wish.”
“I accept your sacrifice.”
“Your enemies will surely be destroyed by me.”
Satisfied, he gave up control of his body. Sherwood gave up everything he had.
Sherwood involuntarily leaped up from the ground, looked at the sky, and glared at the enemy in the sky. Although his consciousness was gradually disappearing, and his body was no longer under his own control, Sherwood still felt gratified.
But in the last moment of his consciousness, Sherwood angrily heard “himself” say, “Let’s make a deal.”
“After all, we have no conflict, do we?”
You shameless devil!
This was the last roar of his soul.
…
Shelley looked at Zariel, who was controlling Sherwood’s body, with some amusement and said, “Why do you say we have no conflict?”
Zariel, while adapting to the body, took a deep breath and felt the air of the Material Plane.
“This place smells much better than hell.”
“What conflict do we have? I have no need for this place.”
Sherwood’s body was constantly twisting, changing the shape of his muscles, changing in the direction Zariel hoped for.
“You have a point…”
“But esteemed Daughter of Destruction, Archduchess Zariel…”
“How do you know we don’t have other conflicts?”
Zariel’s face changed when she heard Shelley call out her name. She quickly retreated.
“How do you!?”
Shelley shrugged and said sarcastically, “You’re really so forgetful.”
“I thought that what I did to you would make you remember for a long time.”
“To forget me so quickly, you’re really a heartless woman.”
Zariel looked at the guy who was unclear whether he was an angel or a demigod, her expression dark and uncertain.
“You’re that incubus from that time!?”
“You damned guy! You’re here to ruin my good deeds again?”
Zariel roared and then fled into the distance without hesitation. She could clearly feel the gap in their strength at this moment. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have tried to negotiate with Shelley from the beginning.
“Damn it!”
“I finally got a chance!”
“I can’t! I can’t die here!”
“There! There’s an exit! Charge.”
Sensing Zariel’s collapse, Shelley chuckled to himself.
Thank you for bringing me joy in this boring time. As expected, a person’s happiness is built on the pain of others.
[You’re smiling so evilly.]
“You flatter me.”
Leisurely hanging behind Zariel, Shelley let her charge toward the planar rift.
[What are you trying to do?]
Looking at Zariel, who was approaching the rift, Shelley’s figure changed. A long spear materialized in his hand, and he slowly aimed it at Zariel’s back.
“Of course, to maximize her value.”
“After all, she came here with great difficulty.”
