Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 124: Beneath the Demon Sword

As a former contender for the papal throne, a master of light spells, and a devout follower of the supreme deity Heliu, Epictetus, even in the absence of his physical form, never forgot, nor relinquished, his disdain and enmity towards the demons that dwell in the abyss.

For a holy-tier light mage, even with only his soul remaining, Epictetus possessed ample means to punish and expel any devil or demon that dared to intrude upon the primary plane of the multiverse. As long as this mage, who bore the title of Archmage, could still feel the sunlight and the omnipresent elemental forces of the Ilysia continent, he held absolute confidence in his ability to send all demon-kind below the rank of general back to hell.

However, what troubled the light mage was that the adversary he faced was no ordinary demon. Ramis had cohabited within the soul of a young boy for an extended period. Even though Epictetus harbored a fervent desire to protect the light, uphold justice, and safeguard all beings of the Ilysia continent, he remained unaware of Ramis's precise rank. Yet, the Archmage understood that the power he could wield through his soul was insufficient to banish the devil back to the abyss.

This was evident from the fact that Epictetus had to accumulate considerable power over time to break through Ramis's suppression and establish a connection with his soul's host, the boy Darn. As time passed, while Epictetus gradually gained access to more light power, the devil's strength was increasing at an alarming rate.

Fortunately, the devil had entered into an equal soul contract with the boy Darn, one that prevented either party from engaging in mutual combat. Otherwise...

Occasionally imagining the terrifying process of that initial contract, envisioning the cruel and merciless terms laid out by Ramis, Epictetus could not help but feel a chill run down his spine. As a learned old mage, fully aware of the immense destructive potential possessed by a powerful devil, he felt profoundly grateful that the boy Darn had not been overtaken by the demon.

If that had been the case, unless His Holiness the Pope intervened personally or summoned the power of angels through the holy hymn, the freed Ramis, whose strength was steadily recovering, would undoubtedly bring unbearable destruction to the Ilysia continent!

Epictetus understood all too well that if Ramis were to lose control and break free from the constraints of the soul contract with Darn, it would surely lead to catastrophe. With this realization, the light mage immediately recognized what he needed to do most urgently.

He must not allow Darn's soul to fall; he must not let this boy be seduced by the devil; he must not allow Darn to die for any reason! Darn, this sixteen-year-old boy, was the greatest constraint on the devil!

Reflecting on the soul contract that Darn had crafted, which was essentially equivalent to a scrap of paper, Epictetus could not help but admire the boy's cleverness.

Any proactive assistance from the devil was expressly forbidden; any power that established direct contact with Ramis was rejected. Only if Darn requested it could the devil offer suggestions or ideas! Ha, such a contract must be something Ramis longs to escape!

Contemplating the terms of this contract, which effectively entangled himself as well, Epictetus felt no dissatisfaction. In fact, as long as he could keep the devil confined, even if Darn's contract were to become more stringent, the Archmage would gladly accept it.

Yet, how could an ordinary human boy ever hope to eternally confine a devil? Even with the assistance of a light mage's soul, it was an impossible task!

Thus, after temporarily restraining Ramis, Epictetus had been searching for a means to expel the devil, waiting for an opportunity to eliminate him. When the high priest of the light church cast a light spell upon Darn, the moment Epictetus had been waiting for finally arrived.