The dragon's harem

Chapter 1391: The Obsidian Keep

Arad still had the Four-Season portfolio and the Tempest portfolio inside him. He had wanted to give Tyal the Tempest portfolio, but still didnʼt get a chance to do it. Having more portfolios wonʼt make finding a use for those any easier.

But now, Arad has to worry about how to get rid of Alexander first. That is easier said than done.

After a while, the carriage finally came to a stop outside Gabrielʼs obsidian castle, and the door opened up, showing many armed soldiers paving a path for Arad and Zariel into the inner keep.

The castle was massive, black, and shrouded in darkness. The silver moonlight failed to illuminate its corners, and the lightless sky above lacked any stars, as if the whole capital had been severed from the world.

Arad could sense many layers of magic and curses binding the place. The whole region was a containment zone, and the castle was the key, the door, and the pathway to reach the sealed god.

The soldiers were both grim and optimistic, as if someone of Aradʼs power showing up was a sign of change, something that might put an end to this.

They were half right. The change would only come if Arad could kill the corrupted god, and if he couldnʼt, then their hopes would get crushed beyond repair.

As Arad walked out of the carriage and headed toward the keep with Zariel, he could hear the guards whispering.

”Is that him? The one who blew Vladʼs whole kingdom?”

”Getting the dark elves and high elves to work together, how could he do it?”

”I heard that he might be able to get rid of that thing.”

”Are you stupid? No one can. Donʼt get your hopes up.”

”But look at him! Is he half-giant?”

”Giant got nothing on the vile horror.”

Soon, Arad found himself standing in front of the keepʼs entrance with Gabriel standing there. ”Welcome, Iʼve been waiting for you.” He moved aside, and the servants behind him opened the door. ”We can talk inside.”

Arad approached Gabriel, ”I see what you did there. Can we just cut to the fight?”

Gabriel chukled, ”Oh, no, please donʼt be hasty. I must explain a few things first, and Iʼm sure you arenʼt exhausted after such a trip, but I know you wonʼt refuse a nice cup of coffee, or a mug of cold beer.”

The two headed inside and settled into the reception room. Zariel didnʼt stay with them and instead headed to deal with some other matters.

Arad looked around the room. Instead of the bright and white marble the half-angels used to build their homes, the half-fallen-angelsʼ architecture relied heavily on stone and black obsidian.

”Nice place, highly defensive as well. Each wall has at least five barriers.” Arad slowly turned toward Gabriel.

”Sadly, we have to deal with a lot of violent outbursts. I guess you already know about the one we keep sealed beneath the ground.” Gabriel reached toward the table and poured Arad and himself two large coffee mugs.

”Even when locked in his own dimension, beneath layers upon layers of magical seals and barriers, his influence still seeps out from time to time.”

For years, random people all around the capital would snap and go into a violent rampage, attacking everyone in sight. While the effect is there, itʼs not powerful enough to affect the strong ones like Gabriel and his royal guards, but the common people canʼt resist it that well.

Of course, Gabriel already had a solution. All they needed to do to get those people back to their senses was to call their names, and sometimes even splash them with cursed water.

Cursed water is the opposite of holy water, so instead of healing, it burns the target. That pain seemed to bring the people back to their senses.

Gabriel waved his hand, and a glass bottle appeared out of nowhere. ”This is the cursed water.”

Doma appeared beside Arad and reached forward, snatching the bottle before he could touch it. ”Careful, this thing is dangerous.”

Gabriel gasped; he had never seen Doma before. She loves to come and go, popping out of Arad as she pleases.

”Itʼs like holy water, but far stronger at the cost of damaging the mortals it touches. I guess normal holy water isnʼt powerful enough to wash away the abominable godʼs corruption, so this has to be used.” She then looked at Arad with a smug face. ”Iʼd rather we use this sparingly, as it might cause the affected target to get cursed.”

Arad looked at Gabriel, ”Half-fallen-angels and devils are already cursed, so theyʼll be fine, but for me and everyone else.”

Doma shook the bottle, ”Youʼll get cursed. Of course, itʼs safe to touch as a bottle, but I got a feeling that you might try to taste it.”

Arad looked away, and she grabbed him by the ear. ”How many times did I tell you not to try anything with a curse in its name?”

”At least once.” Arad sighed, ”Back to our subject, Alexander, the god of war.” He tried to change the subject, and Doma sighed, allowing him to escape this time. Only because Gabriel was here watching, and she didnʼt want him to see them arguing like a drunkard and his wife.

”He is sealed well enough and wonʼt be getting out anytime soon. But, Iʼd rather we donʼt sacrifice any more people.” Gabriel pulled a paper, ”But, at least Iʼve got enough hateful people whoʼll gladly die just to stick it up to the corrupt god.”

”You donʼt choose who gets sacrificed?” Arad lifted an eyebrow, and Gabreil shook his head.

”Iʼve got many people who are lined up and want to sacrifice themselves so the god never escapes. Some are old and on their last days, and some are young but hateful, never able to get over their predecessors dying under Alexanderʼs orders.”

Gabriel smiled, ”But, I was hoping this would end soon. The day when I wonʼt need to watch my people die in vain.” He looked at Arad with a stern face. ”Can you do it? Can you kill him, like you did the others at the Titans?”

”Alexander is far stronger than any abomination Iʼve faced. I donʼt know if I can face him, let alone win.” Arad finished his coffee mug in a single gulp, ”But Iʼll try, give it my best shot.” He then smiled, ”If I fail, Iʼll call for help. Iʼm not above calling my brother to help me beat someone.”

Gabriel laughed, ”How about your father?”

”I wouldʼve called him if Alexander were a dragon, but he isnʼt. Iʼm not putting my father in a risky situation.” Arad shook his head.