Demon Lord: Erotic Adventure in Another World

Chapter 859: Before the Depths

The days passed like a blur after Serena’s arrival.

Baltimore recovered faster than anyone expected with the help of those tiny creatures and the incoming knights of Lumeria. Upon Serena’s arrival, she brought thousands of Valkyries with her to aid the restoration. Streets reopened, ships returned to the docks, and the citadel no longer carried the remnants of war. By the first week, Asmodedus left the city in Paul’s hands and returned to Lumeria with Serena, Gretel and Himari.

Once they arrived at the capital of the demon empire, things finally spun into motion.

Though Serena believed that Himari would be useful during the battle against Leviathan, Asmodeus chose to keep her away from the battle.

Instead, he gave her a garden near the eastern palace, several rooms filled with sunlight, and enough guards to stop assassins without making her feel like a prisoner.

Serena complained at first, but eventually thanked him.

Once he spent several days with his children, the army of Lumeria split into two groups, one would reinforce Baltimore and the port, and the other would prepare to face the Leviathan riding on the Golden Hare’s fleet.

...

The sea near the Empire’s border did not look like the waters surrounding Lumeria.

Those inner waters were bright, clear and gentle enough for children to play along the docks, but the ocean stretching toward Baltimore seemed deeper, colder and far less forgiving. The waves rolled in long, heavy swells, lifting the fleet with a slow rhythm that felt almost like breathing. Foam broke against the reinforced hulls in white bursts, only to vanish into the dark blue water a moment later.

Asmodeus stood near the front of the flagship, one hand resting on the rail as the wind pulled at his coat.

The horizon ahead looked deceptively peaceful.

After they dealt with Himari’s outbreak, the small creatures began to work on other cities and villages to purify the water.

’Things are going to plan...’

If he wanted, Asmodeus could’ve washed his hands of the entire thing now, since the small creatures had solved the problem of poisoned and corruptive water.

Yet he chose not to.

Beside him, Nerim watched the water with a much sharper gaze. Her tanned skin gleamed faintly beneath the sea spray, while strands of pink hair clung to her cheeks and neck. She glanced up at Asmodeus as her blue scales caught the weak sunlight each time she shifted, shimmering like fragments of the ocean clinging to her flesh.

She was beautiful, like a maiden from the depths of the ocean.

Ever since she accepted the Siren’s blood, Nerim’s transformation had gradually progressed.

"The current changed," Nerim said.

"Hm? What do you mean?" Asmodeus watched the waters below and only saw the same old murky blue water.

Yet Nerim seemed sure.

"It is flowing against the wind." Her webbed fingers curled around the rail, and her voice carried a faint resonating hum, similar to the stories he’d read about Sirens during the past month in preparation.

’Apparently, the Leviathan was the god of the sirens...’

Well, they worshipped it as some divine beast, the bringer of waves or some kind of nickname.

He couldn’t help but tilt his head and check again.

Asmodeus looked down.

The waves slapped against the ship, black with a hint of blue and restless, while several smaller escort vessels cut through the water on either side. Golden Hare banners fluttered violently in the wind from the supply ships behind them, their bright colours looking strangely fragile against the endless sea.

’Well, I’ll be damned, how did I not notice that?!’

When he held out his hand, the wind roared south, but the waves were moving east and west... as if able to ignore the laws of the world.

"Could it be due to Leviathan’s activity?"

"Not yet." Nerim’s eyes narrowed. "If it were Leviathan, these waters would not merely sway to the sides, according to Lady Alice’s research... the entire fleet would be dragged around, that’s why we developed those things..."

"Ah... the Mankchors."

The Mankchors were magically modified anchors, capable of transforming their weight, shape, and movement using demonic mana.

At first, Asmodeus wanted to use divine power to control them, but Serena, Lumina and Velvet all rejected that idea, stating that too many creatures could use that kind of force, and the Leviathan dulled divinity due to being an Abyssal.

"Don’t worry, the design created from the combination of elves, demons, dwarves and goblin technologies won’t fail us, darling."

Nerim placed her hand on his back, smiling softly.

"I’ll trust in you and Alice."

He couldn’t put his full trust in those huge, ugly anchors... though the creators mention something about creating a barrier to stabilise the water for combat.

’I just don’t think things will go so smoothly...’

A gull cried somewhere above them, but even that sound vanished in seconds, swallowed by the open water. The fleet continued forward, wood creaking, sails straining, chains groaning against iron fixtures built for monsters no sane captain would willingly hunt.

Nerim lowered her gaze to the sea again.

"We are close to the border."

"Yeah, I can feel it already..."

Asmodeus lifted his right arm, and slight vibrations travelled up his arm as he closed his eyes to sense the waves of magic.

Though there was no roar or obvious killing intent, he could feel the subtle pressure of something dragging him towards the depths.

A slow distortion, like someone placed their fingers inside his arm and gently stirred his flesh, muscles and blood. Mana flowed strangely across the sea, bending around the fleet rather than passing through it. The sensation made his skin crawl more than an open attack.

His stomach churned, twisting and tightening.

Rather, like when you’re on a plane, and it suddenly descends or hits heavy turbulence.

’So this is the border...’

The Empire’s domain ended here.

Beyond this point, the ocean no longer belonged to Lumeria.

There weren’t any clear indicators; the water remained dark and gloomy, but from this point on, the sea became anyone’s territory, even the human Empire hadn’t tried to stake its claim upon this foul ocean.

Asmodeus opened his eyes.

"Tell the rear ships to slow down. Keep the formation wide and prepare the Mankchors."

Nerim turned to him with her mouth wide open. "Already!?"

"We need to be prepared if anything happens, this is not like hunting a goblin in a forest... Leviathan is a being that few have encountered and survived."

He thought about his wife, her past and then Himari, who waited for them back in Lumeria.

Of course, that wasn’t the main issue...

Because the anchors carried the barrier technology to resist a Leviathan, it could also reflect most magic, and even the Arbiters, should they attack now.

"If we wait until something grabs us, it is too late."

She nodded and raised one hand.

"Lower the Mankchors!"

Her voice wasn’t a shout, but rather... it carried a melodic sound, as if she were singing. But the sound carried across the fleet better than any horn. Sailors on nearby vessels stiffened, then began shouting orders. Signal flags rose from the flagship as the Golden Hare mercenaries started to prepare themselves.

Massive black anchors were dragged toward the sides of the ships, their metal surfaces carved with layers of runes from several races. Some looked like claws. Others resembled folded spears. A few twitched as demonic mana passed through them, changing shape with an unpleasant grinding sound.

Brando’s voice thundered from one of the command vessels nearby.

"Do not drop them like fishing stones, you brainless sea apes! Lower them in sequence! If one of those things tears through my hull, I will deduct the repair cost from your bloodline!"

Asmodeus glanced toward the merchant.

Brando stood on the deck with his cane tucked beneath one arm, bandages still visible under his fine coat. His wife stood a few steps behind him, reading from a ledger while ignoring the spray striking her face.

A few weeks ago, Brando encountered the Empire as it tried to attack the southern kingdoms again, but chose to fight them and managed to drive it back with minimal damage.

Asmodeus couldn’t help but value this strange man he met by chance even more.

"That man should still be resting," Nerim muttered.

"He would rather die than let someone else manage his ships."

"It looks like it’s almost time, honey." A gruff voice came from behind them, followed by the faint clang of chains.

"Master!"

"Asmodeus... you look so dashing..."

Behind them, Velvet, Levia and Vinea greeted them. The women stood beside each other in their customised armour, no longer full plate, as they had been fighting in or above the ocean. After a month, it had become a modified outfit made from the scales and hide of ocean creatures.

Lightweight and waterproof.

"I would love to chat but...!"

Thud!

The first Mankchor dropped.

The anchor struck the water and unfolded beneath the surface, spreading hooked limbs through the depths like a metal beast opening its ribs. Runes flashed along its body, and the waves around the flagship became more obedient.

Though the ship’s speed slowed, the violent shaking faded.

Nerim exhaled softly, clenching her fists with a faint smile.

"They are working."

"For now at least..." Asmodeus glanced up at the swelling black waves in the distance; the water there looked closer to oil... his heart pounding with anticipation as Velvet stepped forward and took his hand.

"Everything will be fine, Asmodeus... don’t worry."

As if to protest... the horns from the eastern ships began to sound.

Their sailors were screaming.

"It’s the Empire! The Empire’s Imperial Fleet is approaching!"