Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 681: Death was the only punishment

Chapter 681: Death was the only punishment

It was a secret known only to a few within the barbarian tribes, those blessed enough to share a deep connection with the Berserk God, Zyagi.

The fact that He had died, in no small part due to the dirty machinations of the Swindler, Kiesan, had ensured that no shaman supported Ull when he arrived preaching his agenda.

They had seen him as nothing more than a traitor.

How could he so blatantly work for those who had killed their patron deity?... How could he stand there and carry around the aura of Zyagi, blaspheming his identity in the process?

It was disgusting, but unfortunately, those who rebelled against Ull had no means to prevent him from swaying the tribes as they were killed without question.

The terrifying weapons he made use of ensured that the surviving shamans either kept silent or fled.

Vok was part of the latter category.

Before now, he was one of the strongest shamans, sharing a close communion with Zyagi, which allowed him to lord over a mobile city without needing a chief.

Alas, after Zyagi fell and his fellow shamans died at the hands of Ull, he had no choice but to flee with his city, seeking greener pastures in a place far from Ull’s reach.

Of course, this didn’t mean he planned to run forever.

But to face Ull, he needed power, power that would defeat the strange weapons those clowns had given to Ull.

Unfortunately, it was easier said than done.

Where could he find such mythical power?

The reason for Zyagi’s death was precisely because those terrifying weapons were used against him.

This meant that with enough behind it, those weapons were capable of felling even gods.

But Vok didn’t wish to give up just yet and that was when the songs came.

They were like whispers but with a certain melody behind them.

He learned of an ancient power that existed in the world before their own.

It was known simply as the Broken Saintess and it claimed that if it was rebuilt, it could grant him power beyond his wildest imaginations.

Even if he couldn’t defeat Ull, he could ensure that Ull wouldn’t immediately end him if they met on the battlefield ever again.

Naturally, in the depths of despair, the songs were like finding water in a desolate wilderness and Vok did not hesitate to do as it asked.

The ritual was simple; fell ten thousand men and wear their skins while singing songs to the Broken Saintess.

Vok had almost completed the task with the village Alex was in being the last stop.

Alas, the bodies were destroyed before Vok got a chance to wear them.

This naturally displeased Vok and he was not about to let the reason for this do as he pleased while he toiled in search of another village to eradicate.

For postponing the return of the Saintess, death was the only punishment.

***

Alex froze as the songs assaulted him in waves, leaving him slightly disoriented.

Meanwhile, some of those who had been playing the instruments rushed to end him, only for several threads to wrap around them, restricting their movements briefly as they cut through it with ease before continuing on their way.

The momentary pause was enough for Alex to immediately snap, allowing him to create some distance before proceeding to snap.

A black hole appeared below them and just like their compatriots, they were swallowed, leaving behind a gaping hole.

Vok said something in their native tongue before his body began to undergo a most grotesque transformation.

As the other barbarians charged to take care of Victoria and Archibald, Alex watched, in utter disgust as Vok’s human body collapsed, transforming into a towering faceless monster with a raglike skin and a gaping maw at the center of what could only be its head.

If Alex were to describe it, it resembled a rag that had been haphazardly put together from the remains of several worn clothes.

At first, he thought it was a result of Abyssal corruption but on closer inspection, he realized that the instinctual repulsion that he usually had towards the Abyss wasn’t there.

Which was rather curious as all beings of Eventide were repulsed by the aura of the Abyss.

The only ones that were not were those that had given themselves over to the Abyss.

Which meant one thing: whatever was happening to the shaman was not as a result of the Abyss.

But the aura he gave off was incredibly familiar though Alex found it hard to pinpoint where he’d felt it before.

Unfortunately, Vok didn’t plan on waiting for him to find out as several mouths appeared on the flesh patches before they parted to reveal smooth tongues covered in a slimy liquid.

Alex immediately snapped as the tongues shot forward at a pace even faster than a bullet.

Appearing at another location, he immediately snapped thrice in quick succession as several more tongues slammed into his location, seeking his end.

The next instant, the slimy tongues were engulfed by Embers of Twilight while a layer of frost appeared on the mouths that had not yet attacked with their tongues.

The third attack was a white hole that exploded above Vok’s head, sending him crashing to the ground as a good portion of his body was blown away.

Meanwhile, as Alex dealt with the abomination Vok, Victoria was forced to constantly defend herself as she struggled to take on the barbarians wielding weapons made out of Quillion.

Unlike Alex, her current abilities weren’t quite suited to attack from far away.

With no other choice, she opted for something more unconventional.

Stretching her hand out, she chanted.

Open Sesame.

A Spirit World portal appeared beneath their feet and the barbarians were immediately sent off to the Spirit World.

But because of the Quillion they wore, the channel forged using supernatural means was ruined, leaving them trapped in the space between dimensions.

Death came soon after that.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Victoria glanced to the side to find Archibald running for his life while the barbarians chased him down.

Despite being a scholar, Victoria admitted inwardly, Archibald moved fast.