The Devil’s Cage

The elderly didn’t place ‘Kieran’ on the sacrificial platform, but instead passed him to the four maids on the side, who had been waiting for a while now.

The four maids carried ‘Kieran’ into another room.

The second room was filled with everything a girl could want: a pool, lavender, flower petals.

The four maids carefully cleaned ‘Kieran’ thoroughly and helped him change into a set of clean white shirts. Kieran was soundly asleep throughout the whole process, but…

He couldn’t help but subtly lifted up the corner of his mouth, as if he was holding back a laugh at something funny. His face even showed enjoyment of the services.

The four maids who were working hard to service ‘Kieran’ didn’t notice the unusual expression.

When they looked up, ‘Kieran’ had returned to his sleeping face.

‘Kieran’ was once again placed on the stone sacrificial platform. On the four edges of the platform were old lamps, lit up.

The essence oil was full and reflecting as it powered the pea-sized fire.

A slight aroma came out from the burning essence oil, and unlike the rich lavender, this aroma was refreshing and could calm and tranquil one’s mind.

It seemed like some extra ingredients were added into the essence oil to calm people’s minds. Of course, the oil lamps had a bigger purpose than calming minds.

“You should be honored. You aren’t just my chosen one, you will also receive the highest ‘honor’ once more with your own face and body!”

The elderly man stood in front of the sacrificial platform, staring at Kieran’s cleaned body. Then, he knelt down and started to pray softly.

As the prayers sounded, the fire in the oil lamp grew from pea sizde to a 3 feet tall fire pillar, bursting up to the ceiling.

“Oh Great One! Listen to my voice! You are the Son of the Sky! You gaze upon the land! Your enormous body is adored by people like the sun! Your vast will is revered by the people like the sea! You…”

The prayers were continuous.

A vague presence started to gather above the sacrificial platform. Although invisible, one could truly feel something from the void above the platform.

The elderly man got even more devoted. The fire from the oil lamps grew brighter and hotter. When the prayers came to an end, the unknown presence that floated above the platform gathered into a cloud and fell down on ‘Kieran’ like a falling comet.

But…’Kieran’ dodged it!

Bang!

A loud bang came from the sacrificial platform when the presence fell down like a comet, sounding like something extremely hard and weird crashed hard onto the stone surface.

There wasn’t any damage or any signs before the impact and an unknown, painful growl suddenly echoed in the elderly man’s ears.

Puk!

A mouthful of organ pieces and blood gushed out from the elderly man.

Repulsion! An intense magic repulsion! But no matter how serious his body was damaged by the repulsion, nothing could compare to the astonishment that shook his heart.

The elderly man widened his eyes in astonishment, looking at Kieran, who woke up from his sleep and stood in front of him with a smile.

“Y-You, you!”

Shaking, the elderly pointed at Kieran.

“I-I… of course is playing along with you.” It was Bloody Mary, the High Demon and it was mimicking the stutters of the elderly.

“This is a trap?!”

The elderly man finally realized what was happening.

Bloody Mary shrugged, feeling too lazy to even reply to the man.

Of course this was a trap!

The Gods of Naveya. The Devourer.

Given the circumstances, with its contractor’s character, all this was destined to be an obvious trap when its contractor decided to appear on the battlefield frank and righteously.

But who will the trap attract? Bloody Mary and its contractor had no idea, and judging from the scene beforehand…

It turned out to be very unexpected!

When Bloody Mary looked at that vague and faint presence above the platform, it couldn’t help but grin widely. Of course the High Demon dare not have any thoughts on the presence, but it had never fought alone since the very beginning.

Gulping, Gluttony appeared with a dishevelled and hungry face; Sloth yawned behind Gluttony and gave a friendly reminder.

“You are not in a very special condition. You can’t last that long, so… Okay, fine, pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Sloth wanted to remind Gluttony, but before he could finish, Gluttony jumped on the unknown presence like a hungry tiger coming down from the mountains.

Gluttony’s nature had decided that there was nothing in the world that it wouldn’t eat, the only difference would be the taste.

Did it taste good? Or bad?

The ‘thing’ before Gluttony’s eyes was no doubt a very delicious meal, Gluttony was very eager to devour it.

“Blaspheme! Do you know what you heretics are doing?!”

The elderly man struggled to climb up, scolding the High Demon, Gluttony and Sloth fiercely.

“I don’t know really. It’s not like I am doing this on my own will,” Bloody Mary shrugged honestly.

Gluttony didn’t care and Sloth was too lazy to care.

Sloth was actually spending a lot of energy keeping Gluttony in his current form, he didn’t want to do extra anymore, it was just too tiring for him.

However, some necessary things were in due.

‘So tiring! Can no one share my burden with me?’

Sloth yawned and waved his fingers subtly.

“Do you people think you can get away and live comfortably after this? This is only temporarily. When my master returns to the mortal realm, it will be time for you rascals to burn in purgatory!”

Amidst the loud scolding, the elderly man crawled on the ground, looking seriously ill.

Poison!

The sudden suicide caught Bloody Mary off guard. It dashed up to the elderly man, trying to prevent him from dying, but it was too late.

The elderly man, who knew what he ate, came back in his soul form, looking at his enemies fall into panic because of his sudden suicidal move. He laughed coldly.

He then floated towards the light, which suddenly shone in his sight.

Beyond the light was the divine kingdom that he sought so badly. He would be immortalized there forever, or so he believed.

As a matter of fact, it was true.

He really would gain immortality beyond the light, having unimaginable food and wine every single day.

The only thing he had to do was the same thing that he did when he was alive in the mortal realm: offering his beliefs.

He would chant and praise that name every single day.

“My great Majesty! My respectful Lord! The God of Lightning—Riforaida!”

Following his prayers, the sky lit up again, quickly followed by darkness.

Then, he suddenly opened his eyes.

Opened his eyes?

Why would he open his eyes? Shouldn’t he be in the kingdom of the divine, enjoying immortality?

Doubts appeared in his confused mind. He jolted when he saw ‘Kieran’.

He couldn’t understand what was going on.

“How is it, your dreamland? It’s beautiful right? It’s too bad that reality and dream are always the exact opposite. Reality is much… harsher.”

Bloody Mary sighed and looked towards the dark passageway.

Kieran appeared from the darkness. His steps were firm and steady as he walked forward with a steady pace.

In his hand was a dark green snake, struggling non-stop.