Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Everything Will Be Alright Once the Queen Returns
The other three Supremes from the Succubus Queen's faction were grinning from ear to ear as they watched Mephistopheles, their bare malice and disdain on full display.
Earlier, they had spoken with some restraint, but now they let their true feelings pour out.
"Aren't you quite strong? Once Her Majesty the Queen arrives, you will undoubtedly die."
"She has already instructed us to keep an eye on you. Await your punishment, Mephistopheles."
"I advise you to stop now; perhaps Her Majesty will spare you."
"You humiliated me earlier, and soon you shall pay it back in full!"
The voices of the three Supremes were not loud.
However, nearly everyone present possessed strength above demigod level—who wouldn't hear them clearly?
When Sterl heard this, he couldn't help but furrow his brow, thinking—
This is bad!
It seemed the situation was heading in a rather dire direction.
These Supremes had followed the Succubus Queen for many years, and they would undoubtedly be prioritized over an outsider like himself.
Even though the Succubus Queen had taken a liking to him, Sterl didn't believe that this divine-level demon would abandon her original subordinates in favor of him…
Because that would undoubtedly be the most misguided way to manage subordinates!
Even if the Succubus Queen wanted to recruit such a talented genius like him, she couldn't afford to alienate her loyal followers. Otherwise, who would follow her in the future??
The Succubus Queen had no choice but to take action against Mephistopheles!
After analyzing all of this, Sterl concluded that unless the Succubus Queen was a fool, he was bound to be in trouble!
But divine-level demons needed to manage their factions; they wouldn't make such a rookie mistake.
"Better prepare to flee."
He didn't feel guilty at all.
After all, the Succubus Queen had already allowed him to obtain a full version of the Iridescent-Level ability; it was no loss if he didn't get more benefits.
Sterl had initially planned to lurk beside this divine-level demon to manipulate the Heavenly Locking Formation in this layer of Hell. Now that the event was nearing its end, what was the point of trying to control anything?
There would be no more benefits to extract from the Succubus Queen.
Once she arrived, he would just make a run for it.
Sterl's mind raced as he quickly assessed the situation.
The other players from the Succubus Queen's faction in the sky now stood a bit taller, emboldened.
As they dodged attacks, they shouted,
"Mephistopheles, don't you stop? Do you want to die?"
"Every person you kill now will only add to the punishment you'll face later!"
"If you don't leave now, it will be too late!"
The pressure from Sterl was so intense that these demons were surprisingly "kind" in their attempts to persuade him.
Upon hearing this, Sterl's eyes darkened, growing even more ferocious.
Since the Succubus Queen was about to arrive...
Time was of the essence!
Without hesitation, Sterl intensified his attacks!
In an instant, flashes of blades and swords erupted all around him.
The powers of Shattered Void unleashed wildly!
Screams echoed through the sky.
Meanwhile, the four Supremes under the Succubus Queen were left in shock.
Wait, buddy? You're this brave?
Three of the Supremes muttered resentfully: "What does it matter? Let him be reckless for a moment."
"Mephistopheles' death is imminent."
"Her Majesty is soon to arrive; he won't last much longer."
They only murmured their thoughts, yet each of them crouched back in fear, afraid that Mephistopheles might hear and come after them.
The Supremes appeared timid, yet their eyes brimmed with confidence, looking at Mephistopheles as if he were already a corpse.
The majesty of the gods must not be offended; even if you are gifted, any hint of disrespect can lead to obliteration!
The same goes for the main world!
Hell was even more unforgiving; the more talented a being was, the more they displayed disrespect towards the gods, and the more likely they were to be killed!
In the eyes of the gods, any being that showed disrespect, even if they weren't a god yet, was too arrogant. If they truly became a god, they would pose a massive threat.
They must be eliminated!
Thus, the three Supremes and countless demigods being hunted by Sterl rationally concluded—
Don't provoke Mephistopheles; a dying man can be unpredictable!
Now was just a matter of endurance! They needed to hold out until the Queen arrived; everything would be fine then!
Only Flanda was in a panic. She dared not fly close to Mephistopheles and could only keep shouting, "Stop it! Mephistopheles! The Queen is coming soon!"
"You've vented enough, haven't you?"
She pleaded earnestly, hoping to save Mephistopheles' life.
Sterl completely ignored Flanda's cries. He had no trust in any of the demons or the Swallowing Heaven players. As long as Flanda stayed at a distance, she wouldn't affect anything, so he let it be.
Seeing that Mephistopheles wouldn't heed her advice, Flanda, unwilling to give up, called out several more times to no avail. Eventually, she could only hover in despair.
Even the other Supremes, demons, and Swallowing Heaven players present wore strange expressions. In such circumstances, there was truly no room for conspiracy; who couldn't see that Flanda was trying to help Mephistopheles?
Nearby, a cold voice suddenly rang out.
"Flanda, you really have some nerve."
The Succubus Queen Licitris had unexpectedly descended without anyone noticing.
Her tone was somewhat dissatisfied, as if she intended to reprimand Flanda.
In truth, the displeasure reflected in Licitris' amber eyes shifted toward a fascination and fervor as she gazed at Flanda and then at the distant Mephistopheles.
Just as Flanda had previously suspected, the Succubus Queen was significantly stronger, and her temptation toward someone like Sterl, who had mastered the Solidification Method, was even greater!
It was akin to how the human body is naturally addicted to high-protein, high-sugar, and high-salt foods.
The Succubus, a race known for tempting others into corruption, gained more from their own souls the higher their purity before their fall.
Sterl, having developed an immunity to charms at the Iridescent-Level, and further enhanced that ability, posed a lethal temptation to them.
At this moment, the divine being could hardly move. However, surrounded by her subordinates and with a group of demons fleeing under the Lord of Evil Spirits in the distance, she barely managed to keep her composure.
And at this moment... Sterl also ceased his movements.
On one hand, it was to give face to the divine-level demon; on the other, it was because the arrival of the Succubus Queen was accompanied by an overwhelming aura. She raised her hand, sealing off the surrounding space. Only a few demons under the Lord of Evil Spirits managed to escape to a distance; the rest of the demons and Swallowing Heaven players were all trapped in place, unable to move.
So there was no rush to pursue; after all, everyone was stuck.
At this moment, countless expressions changed among those present.
First was Flanda, her face filled with extreme unease and panic.
Flanda couldn't understand what was happening; she had merely wanted to voice a few supportive words for Mephistopheles—was that such a big deal?
Wasn't he chosen by Her Majesty herself?
Helping him out didn't seem like a grave offense, did it?
Why was it like this?
But the other Supremes and players, along with demons under the Succubus Queen, were reveling in the chaos.
In a very short time, they all underwent a dramatic change in demeanor!
Could they not see the situation clearly? Mephistopheles' actions had already provoked the Succubus Queen!
This divine-level demon was visibly displeased with Flanda, who she usually valued highly, simply because she wanted to assist Mephistopheles.
Well then… everything was set!
Though they didn't understand why the Queen was in such a foul mood today—on other occasions, when she encountered a talent, even if some of her subordinates were killed, she wouldn't be overly enraged. Not to mention Mephistopheles, who had helped Licitris eliminate Lovic, the top general under the Lord of Evil Spirits.
But why worry about all that?
The situation was favorable for them; let's just enjoy it for now!
The Swallowing Heaven players standing beside Sterl underwent a dramatic change in expression.
What began as anxiety and fear quickly morphed into smug arrogance, especially upon noticing that Mephistopheles had ceased his attacks. They wore mocking smiles.
"Come on! Why don't you keep attacking?"
"Let's see you kill me!"
"Hey, look over here! Damn it! Still trying to play tough!"
"Do you have any idea what happens when you offend a god?"
This group not only taunted verbally but also made various provocative gestures, rolling their eyes and sneering.
Below, the three Supremes spoke in unison, "We welcome Your Majesty, the Queen!"
"We are currently under attack from the Demon of Terror and Cruelty, Lovic, as well as Mephistopheles, and our faction has suffered greatly."
"Lovic is dead, yet Mephistopheles remains relentless."
"How to deal with this situation, we humbly await Your Majesty's decision."
Unlike ordinary Swallowing Heaven players who would plead for mercy when in a disadvantage and act arrogantly when in power, the Supremes still concealed a hint of smugness in their eyes.
Mephistopheles, weren't you quite powerful? What good is that against a god? Whether you are a genius or a fool, it's all meaningless.
"Hmm."
The Succubus Queen casually nodded, then fell silent, making no further moves.
Yet this seemingly trivial moment caused countless demons and Swallowing Heaven players to lower their heads in submission.
This was the majesty of a deity!
The Succubus Queen's stillness only fueled the panic among the beings present, as if they were lambs awaiting judgment.
Time passed…
The pressure on the many demons and players grew heavier, and beads of sweat began to form on many foreheads.
They couldn't understand why the Succubus Queen had stopped her actions, although they could roughly guess it was likely to punish Mephistopheles.
But until everything was settled, how could anyone not feel anxious while watching the Succubus Queen's inscrutable demeanor?
As for the Succubus Queen herself, she gazed up at Mephistopheles' figure in the sky, feeling increasingly excited and delighted. After all, the shadow she had seen earlier in the information stream was nothing compared to the real Mephistopheles, who ignited her enthusiasm and allure!
She stood still, simply enjoying the sight of Mephistopheles!
…
At that moment, Sterl flicked his wrist, summoning a water-blue blade once again, transforming it into countless flashes of blades and swords.
In an instant, those demons and hell players who had mocked him were reduced to mere chunks of flesh.
Before their deaths, they wore expressions of arrogance and satisfaction, as if they had seen the once-mighty Mephistopheles crushed beneath their feet, relishing the moment!
Unfortunately, such expressions would forever be frozen in time…