preparations for war
Raven found herself amidst an army of demons, their distinctive golden horns adorning their foreheads, clad in crimson mystic robes that signified their affinity for magic. She inhaled deeply, gazing forward with determination. As the ruler of the 910th abyssal level, she had received countless challenges from fellow demon lords. However, most of these challengers hailed from higher floors, and she had little interest in engaging with the weaker among them. Such battles wouldn't aid her in achieving her ultimate goal – establishing a firm presence within the abyss.
Raven was well aware that the formidable barrier encompassing her abyssal domain was unusually resilient. It was this very barrier that had deterred other demon lords from attempting to infiltrate her territory, much like how she had ventured into the abyss herself. But Raven was not preoccupied with these musings. Instead, her focus was fixed on the 905th abyssal floor, concealed beyond the enigmatic void.
Raven channeled her dark energy, releasing it into the abyssal realm as a signal to alert the demon lord, a bold move that garnered the attention of numerous spectators. While warfare was a constant in the abyss, formal conflicts between two floors were infrequent. Typically, it involved treachery, ambushes, or one demon intruding into another's domain – rarely did it culminate in a full-fledged war.
In the depths of the 905th abyssal floor, a realm characterized by flames and seething magma lay before them. Nestled in the farthest corner of this fiery expanse stood a grand palace. Within its confines, a colossal fire demon with skin that oozed molten magma from every pore sensed Raven's challenge. A wicked grin crept across his fiery visage.
"Shobkar!" he bellowed, summoning another fire demon who was slightly shorter but still imposing. "Yes, Lord Sobnak?" came the swift reply.
"Gather the army," Sobnak declared with malevolent laughter. "I shall finally lay claim to another floor in this devil-forsaken abyss."
Within a matter of minutes, both armies had assembled, their presence undeniable. Sobnak, responding to Raven's challenge, released a surge of energy that signified his agreement. The abyss itself responded by conjuring portals on each floor, each leading to a separate space designated for their impending battle. While the clash raged on, none could access their respective floors, ensuring the contest remained contained.
As they materialized in the designated arena, Raven found herself at the head of a contingent of 500 demons, whose physical prowess appeared rather unimpressive. In stark contrast, Sobnak commanded a multitude of demon species, all sharing a profound affinity for flames. His forces numbered over 50,000, each one a formidable presence in their own right.
The magnitude of this battle had not escaped the notice of the most significant entities in the abyss. Demon kings, demon lords, and even sin clones were drawn to the spectacle, their collective gaze fixated on the unfolding conflict.
Sobnak rose from his throne with an explosive laugh, his excitement evident in his gleaming eyes. "HAHAHAHA, is this why you've ignored all of my previous challenges?" he boomed, gesturing dismissively toward Raven's comparatively meager forces. "If my forces were like that, I wouldn't accept any challenge either! HAHAHAHA!"
His raucous laughter gradually subsided as he scrutinized Raven closely. Unaware that she was, in fact, a god's avatar, Sobnak couldn't help but be captivated by her presence. Her skin was an enchanting pale white, shimmering gently in the ambient light. Two graceful horns adorned her head, curving elegantly backward, and her attire accentuated her figure in a way that left him momentarily stunned. In his eyes, she appeared breathtakingly beautiful, a sight that held him in rapt astonishment.
Raven's presence reminded Sobnak of Lilith, the head wife of the being...he who resided in the deepest level of the abyss. Lilith was widely recognized as the most powerful and beautiful female demon in existence, and the figure before him seemed to match her in beauty. A lecherous smile gradually replaced his earlier astonishment as he surveyed her from head to toe.
"You know what," he began, his tone dripping with suggestive intent, "I will allow you to live if you sign a contract in the name of chaos to become my wife."
Upon hearing this proposition, a deep frown etched itself onto Raven's face, but the most vocal reaction came from the army standing behind her. Bastard!!!, You dare!!!. Outraged insults and vehement objections erupted from her followers, demonstrating their unwavering loyalty and fierce attachment to their leader. This display of devotion would surely make many demon kings envious.
Raven wasted no time in laying out the terms of the battle. "If you win this battle," she declared, "you will gain control of the 910th floor of the abyss and my magical knowledge. If I win, I will take possession of the 905th floor."
Sobnak responded with a snarl and a devilish grin. "Like hell is that even! I want you and the floor."
Raven's frown deepened as she retorted, "I've made my deal, and it isn't up to you to decide."
Before Sobnak could offer a further response, a colossal eyeball with a slit pupil manifested and observed the proceedings. The terms of Raven's offer materialized before everyone's eyes, and they ignited in green flames, signifying the acceptance of the deal.
Sobnak's eyes widened in astonishment as he comprehended the implications. "How can it be a fair trade between the 910th and 905th? No... She mentioned something about magical knowledge. Oh, I see. She possesses enough knowledge to bridge the gap between five floors of the abyss."
Sobnak's grin returned, and he bellowed with excitement, "Very well then! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Without hesitation, the two opponents separated and reappeared behind their respective armies. Raven immediately took charge, issuing her commands, "Empath core, take the first strike!"
In response, a hundred demons detached from the main force, and their bodies slowly absorbed magical energy. On the opposing side, Sobnak leaned in to whisper into the ear of his right-hand man, Shobkar, "Kill every single being on the opposition. However, ensure that the Demon Queen 'Roth' stays alive." He then licked his lips in anticipation.
Shobkar frowned as he noted the change in objectives from his lord. Nevertheless, he pressed forward and shouted, "Attack!"
Instantly, all five thousand demons charged forward, lacking any military formations or plans
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I wanted to have an honest chat with all of you. Right now, I'm not feeling the spark for my current fic. While I believe the idea and the worldbuilding is amazing the writing style and everything else is lackluster, I feel like I might not be doing it justice at the moment. This week has been incredibly tough, with three-hour exams on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, leaving me drained.
I'm torn about whether to push on with this novel, knowing I might not be able to do the idea justice right now , or if I should explore some new ideas that have been brewing in my mind. Taking a break from this project might allow me to come back to it with a fresh perspective and renewed energy later.
I have a few other concepts in mind that I'm excited about, and I'm considering giving them some attention. Writing should be enjoyable, after all, and I want to ensure I'm putting my full attention to ideas like this one.
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for the mean time while this fic takes a break (if you agree),are any of you familiar with the kardishev scale? 1 idea is having an mc reincarnated to a type 4-7 civilization as a game dev, another is to have an mc build and grow a new clan in a cultivation world (uzumaki) ,another is an MHA novel, mc has the abilities of force-push and force-pull, basically almighty push and pull but with the force used being controllable, another is to reincarnate as uchiha kagami while senju tobirama is still his teacher and i have many others, what do you guys want,i will provide (in moderation)