System's POV

Chapter 1423: Faceoff Between Two Calamities [Part 1]

Thirteen searched for an inconspicuous, hidden spot. Once he was sure that he would neither be seen nor disturbed, only then would he call upon Forneus.

Mammon’s whereabouts were unknown. But even if he were outside the city, it was still better to be safe than sorry.

The teenage boy blew the sea conch until his lungs had run out of air. Even if Forneus was far out on the sea, he would hear the call without fail.

’I sure hope he makes his entrance flashy,’ Thirteen mused.

After all, the goal was to incite chaos and panic among the people. The bigger the mess, the farther and wider the news of the Immortal fiend’s arrival would spread.

That way, Dantanian would soon pick the commotion using his passive skill, Gossip, and know that Forneus was currently in Aurumvale City.

Just as Thirteen expected, the massive Sea Serpent made sure to follow the plan to the letter.

"Huh? What’s happening?" one of the sailors in the port stared at the sea. "The sea is... it’s b-boiling?!"

His friends looked in the direction where he was looking and saw the water’s surface bubble and foam.

The waters churned, prompting those who were originally resting on their docked ships to stand in attention.

A moment later, a massive wall of water erupted.

Black clouds gathered over the sky of the city, and rain poured in earnest.

Thunder boomed, and lightning streaked across the heavens.

From the sea, a loud, imposing draconic roar reverberated.

All sailors in the world had multiple tales of sea monsters they had encountered during their journey.

But regardless of their background, there was only one creature whom they worship whenever they set sail.

In fact, some merchant groups would always offer a sacrifice to the great Immortal Fiend who lurked somewhere in the wide seas of Solterra.

They hoped that their peace offering would prevent them from encountering the Immortal Fiend, who was said to have a very short temper.

The name of that Immortal Fiend was Forneus.

A creature spoken of in whispers, curses, and prayers muttered under one’s breath before every voyage.

The sailors at the port went pale as the churning waters split apart, revealing a colossal silhouette rising from the depths.

Crimson scales glowed faintly in the darkness, highlighted by the flash of lightning that illuminated the sky.

Thunder roared in his place, as if to loudly declare to the city of Aurumvale that the Fiend of the Sea had come to port.

His serpentine body coiled and uncoiled with terrifying grace, sending waves crashing violently against the docks.

Then, two massive glowing blue eyes opened.

The moment they did, every living being at the port felt it.

A pressure descended upon the city like an invisible hand gripping their hearts. Knees buckled. Breath caught in throats.

Even seasoned adventurers, men and women who had stared death in the face more times than they could count, felt their instincts scream at them to flee.

The Wanderers in the city turned pale from fright. They had also heard the legendary stories of the Seven Celestials and the Seven Fiends.

And that legend was now before them... in the flesh.

"B-By the Tides..." a sailor whispered, falling to his knees. "It’s him..."

Forneus reared his head high into the storm-laden sky, his roar splitting the heavens apart.

The sea answered him, and waves surged higher as if bowing to their sovereign. Ships creaked and groaned, their anchors dragging helplessly as the waters rebelled.

The sound of tolling bells rang loudly across the entire city, warning everyone that a calamity was upon them.

Panic spread like wildfire.

Merchants abandoned their wares. Citizens screamed and ran through the rain-soaked streets.

Mothers clutched their children, while soldiers struggled to form defensive lines despite knowing deep down that none of them stood a chance.

High above the chaos, perched on the edge of a warehouse roof, Thirteen watched the scene unfold with a calm, calculating gaze.

"Now that’s what I call making an entrance," Thirteen nod with satisfaction.

Forneus’s massive jaws opened, revealing rows of crystalline fangs that crackled with lightning.

Instead of attacking, the Sea Serpent let out another powerful roar that echoed across the city, carrying a single intent.

"I, the Immortal Forneus, have come!"

His voice sounded like thunderclap, and every living soul in Aurumvale heard his declaration inside their heads.

Suddenly, a golden pillar of light descended from the heavens.

The Fiend of Greed, Mammon, glared at the uninvited guest that had come to his city.

"Forneus, are you out of your mind?!" Mammon roared in anger. "You little snake. How dare you cause trouble in my domain?!"

"Little snake?" Forneus chuckled. "I dare you to call me little snake again. I’ll drown your city in seawater."

Thirteen couldn’t stop himself from giving the Immortal Fiend a thumbs up in his heart. Although Forneus was the weakest among the Fiends and Celestials, he was the most dangerous, most menacing, and most irritating enemy that one could hope to have.

How could you possibly beat an immortal?

Sure, you could kill him, but that won’t be the end. The scariest thing about Forneus wasn’t his immortality but his stubbornness.

Once someone became his enemy, he would not stop attacking that person or the things that were important to that person.

Forneus didn’t care if his target was eating.

He didn’t care if they were sh*tting.

He didn’t care if it was their birthday or anniversary.

The moment you mess with Forneus, everyday would be filled with anxiety and uncertainty. You would never know when and where he would strike next.

"Enough!" Mammon shouted in anger. "Why are you here?!"

He didn’t dare to call Forneus names again. It was great as long as he could get the bastard out of his domain as soon as possible.

"Why can’t I be here?" Forneus sneered. "There’s no place in this world that I cannot go. If you don’t want me here, then let’s fight! It’s been a while since I ate a pig!"

Mammon almost coughed a mouthful of golden blood then and there. He had forgotten how foul the Immortal Fiend’s mouth was.

When it came to trash talk, no one could beat him. So Forneus stood tall and proud, daring the Fiend of Greed to fight a round with him.

Thirteen wanted to clap. He felt a little better after Forneus had talked sh*t about Mammon in the face.

However, he feared that Mammon would notice him if he clapped, so he held back. There was no point making things a little more troublesome if he could help it.

The two Fiends glared at each other, not budging an inch.

Mammon understood that he had to make a stand here. If he didn’t, his reputation would take a hit.

Forneus didn’t really want to fight against Mammon. However, it had been a while since he last met the greedy bastard, so he decided to act like a thug looking for trouble.

Everyone in the city waited with bated breath, unsure how this deadlock would change. In the face of two absolute powers, the only thing they could do was do their best to not get in their way.

Mikhail, Shasha, and Remi, who had been told about what was going to happen next, looked at Forneus and Mammon with complicated gazes.

If people were to know that the mastermind behind this confrontation between the two fiends was none other than their brother, people might start cursing Zion for destroying their perfectly peaceful day in the prosperous city of Aurumvale.