Foreign Land Reclamation By a Vegetable-growing Skeleton

Wasn’t it? Puzzled, Ange got closer and discovered that indeed it wasn’t. Although they were all demons and their auras were similar, there were subtle differences. It’s like how some people think all minotaurs look the same, these slight variations would be hard to discern for the uninitiated.

He mistook them for someone else. What should he do? Go back? Ange looked back only to see a protective shield blocking his way back. He couldn’t retreat.

With his arrival, the insect-like monsters became erratic. From underground, a creature surfaced, curiously reaching out an antenna to poke Ange’s toe bone. It seemed puzzled: this thing is hard, is it tasty?

To ascertain if it was edible, the insect took a bite, only to break its mandibles with a crunch.

Ange cocked his head, stepping down to crush it, and guts squirted out: forget it, just kill it, he has to kill the bugs anyway.

Taking a step forward, Ange hoisted his scythe, making quick strides towards the Demon Bonfire.

As soon as Ange leaped off the city wall, the demons noticed him, laughing mockingly: “So useless, scared enough to fall off the city wall.”

As their taunt ended, they noticed Ange landing gracefully, and charging at them full speed, they quickly corrected themselves: “Oh, he didn’t fall, he jumped? An undeterred hero, eh? Braving the sea of insects to weave a heroic saga is awe-inspiring. Let’s ask the bugs to nibble on him slowly, let him watch himself being gnawed to the bone, grant him that, he-he-he…”

“Umm, why does he seem so familiar?” His soul had been plundered, and his fragmented one, incomplete memories made him feel a strange familiarity, yet he was unable to recall from where.

“Two more jumped down, a little girl? And a guy in armor. What’s that in his hand? A hoe? My God, they’re from the Underground! Life Acceleration!”

The demon fell backwards, overcome by the fear of growing too fast and being crushed.

“Do you know these people? Are they strong? He has a scythe, is he Undead?” The demon emerging from the bonfire asked with a puzzled look on its face.

The demon’s words seemed to empower him: that’s right, he has already sold his soul, he didn’t need to fear Life Acceleration when he had the protection of a demon, did he?

Scrambling to his feet, he showered the demon with praise: “Of course they’re nowhere near as powerful as you, my lord, it’s just they have such strange capabilities, they can perform Life Acceleration.”

The demon merely sneered at his comment: “Must be some sort of illusion. Life acceleration? Do you understand what that means? That’s a Divine Technique. Are you suggesting that one of them up there is a deity?”

He shook his head: “Impossible, impossible, deities don’t just wander about everywhere, but they truly can perform Life Acceleration.”

“Perhaps, it’s some type of divine magic, alright then, I curse you. I curse you with Undying, to suffer eternally under the relentless grind of time.” The demon glared at him, threatening him with a chilling curse.

He felt an unknown force descending upon him, yet also something fading away from him.

“Undying? Is this really a curse? Isn’t it more like a blessing?” He felt around himself, unable to recognize any changes, and questioned in a murmur.

“Heh, whatever you gain, you have to lose something in return. You sold your soul and you got a single chance at rebirth. But if you want eternal life, the price might be something you can’t afford.” The demon chuckled as he spoke.

“What price?” He couldn’t resist asking, Undying, such irresistible words.

“Like eternal imprisonment, for instance.” The demon responded indifferently.

A shiver ran through him, eternal life but eternal imprisonment as well? He’d rather die early then, there really were no such easy deals.

“What about me now?” He asked anxiously, could the thing he lost just now be freedom?

“Temporary curse, for a period of time you will not be affected by life, what you lose is a little vitality, you will feel weak and drowsy, that’s all. By the way, how is your Bone Soup coming along?” The demon said casually.

Although he had a feeling that the demon was not completely honest, he couldn’t pinpoint the lie and was distracted by the mention of Bone Soup, so he went back to check on it.

Behind him, there stood a big kettle, boiling bones of various cows, sheep, and horses. The bugs couldn’t chew on the bones, leaving behind piles of white bones wherever they went. He thought he might as well pick some animal bones to make soup, because he was feeling a little thirsty.

Seeing the soup had turned milky white, he ladled some to taste and immediately exclaimed excitedly, “It’s delicious! Let me tell you, there’s a knack to making bone soup. To cook a milky, non-gamey, and delicious soup, every step is crucial. First, you have to roast the bones, then put them in cold water, skim off the blood and foam, and simmer on low heat…”

As he rattled on, he eagerly scooped another bowl for himself and started slurping it happily.

It’s that good? Tempted by his description, the demon couldn’t help but lick his lips, but he couldn’t eat it. He could only shout, “Move aside!”

The Bonfire suddenly flared twice as high, a formless power stirring the Bone Soup in the big kettle, creating a hovering globule nearby in the air.

Then, the flame from the Bonfire slowly approached the Bone Soup to form a Flame Magic Array.

The demon’s voice echoed,, heed my summons, appear!… Alright, the summoning is complete, all depends on how good your bone soup is. The tastier it is, the stronger the summoned creature.”