MMORPG: Rebirth as an Alchemist
chapter-774

In the days leading up to the fateful moment when Avaris succumbed to the overpowering corruption within him, and before he turned to stone, his castle in Ebonvault stood as a monument to unchecked greed. As the corruption intensified, it manifested in his insatiable greed, reaching a point where even the currency of souls could no longer satiate his desires.

Within the towering walls of his fortress, Avaris lived amidst a hoard of treasures that defied imagination. Precious gems, enchanted artifacts, and opulent riches adorned every corner, creating a surreal and mesmerizing display. The once-majestic halls of Ebonvault now echoed with the clinking of gold and the glitter of countless valuables.

Despite his wealth exceeding the measure of souls, Avaris, in his boundless greed, continued to impose exorbitant taxes on the demons and devils residing beneath him. They were compelled to contribute various items and artifacts, each more extravagant than the last, to feed his insatiable appetite for opulence.

Avaris, now consumed by the corruption, issued whimsical and eccentric demands upon his loyal butler, Reginald Thistlewick. Reginald, though a servant, was a manifestation of Avaris's unrelenting obsession with grandiosity.

In addition to the usual duties expected of a butler, Reginald found himself entangled in the bizarre whims of his master. The demon lord's demands extended to the absurd, with requests for gem-encrusted scepters, enchanted musical instruments, and even bespoke garments fashioned from the rarest materials in the Netherworld. Reginald, bound by loyalty, tirelessly worked to fulfill Avaris's desires.

As Avaris's madness reached its zenith, the demands grew more irrational. Unusual taxations were imposed on the residents, demanding rare spices, exotic perfumes, and even the laughter of newborn imps. Reginald, ever the obedient butler, scurried to fulfill these whims.

The corruption, like a festering wound, continued to spread within Avaris, consuming him from the inside, and thus he demanded even more. "Reginald," Avaris called out imperiously.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"It's getting cold."

". . . ?"

"Go and burn those things over there to make it hotter."

"Those are houses of our citizens, my Lord."

"Exactly. Seize their valuables while you're at it."

". . ."

Another occasion.

"Reginald!"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Close the town."

"Are we being attacked, my Lord?"

"No. I'm going for a walk outside."

". . . But our citizens will lose business if they close in the day."

"Exactly. Make them more liable to pay their taxes with precious things other than souls."

". . ."

There's also a time.

"Reginald!"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"I hear there's a new merchant in town."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Get all his wares."

"My Lord, what will you do with all those things?"

"I'll hoard them here, of course."

"But we have no more place for them."

"Then burn that pile over there. It hurts my eyes just seeing those trash."

"Burn them, my Lord?"

"Yes. Burn them in the city square. Once in a while, I need to display my power. Affluence. Authority. Or the citizens might not fear me. Muahahaha."

". . ."

Unbeknownst to him, his excessive desires and oppressive rule drew the attention of powerful entities like the nobles and rebellions army.

As Avaris spiraled further into madness and his insatiable greed threatened to tear apart the fabric of the Netherworld, the rebellion made their move.

One fateful day, a mysterious rogue, concealed beneath the folds of a dark cloak, made an unexpected visit to Avaris's castle. With an air of intrigue, the enigmatic figure presented the formidable devil with a rare and intriguing gift.

Emboldened by his unwavering confidence and the undeniable fact that he stood as one of the most powerful devils in the expansive Netherworld, Avaris didn't feel the need to entertain even a whisper of caution. The castle, echoing with whispers of greed and authority, stood as a testament to his supremacy.

Little did he know that the stone held a power that could change the curse of his existence.

As the rogue presented the stone to Avaris, the warlord's eyes gleamed with avaricious delight. The deceptive grin on the rogue's face concealed the true intention behind this seemingly generous offering. With a subtle incantation and a touch of cunning magic, the stone unleashed its power upon Avaris when he touched it.

In an instant, time itself froze around the warlord. The grand halls, once echoing with the sounds of stolen wealth, fell into an eerie silence. Avaris, trapped in a suspended moment, lost the ability to continue his relentless pursuit of more.

The treasures that once symbolized his conquests now stood frozen, mere remnants of the warlord's insatiable greed. The minions who once carried out his every command were now immobilized, their faces eternally etched with fear and obedience.

The once-thriving city, long oppressed by Avaris' rule, slowly began to reclaim its spirit. The inhabitants who had scattered in fear returned cautiously, their hope rekindled by the sudden turn of events, and they decided to vacant the city without touching the scattered piles of Avaris's treasures. Though the Warlord was suspended in time, he wasn't dead. This implied that the curse he had cast upon all his possessions still held sway.

Avaris, once an unstoppable force, now stood as a frozen monument to the consequences of unbridled greed.

The rogue, having achieved what seemed impossible, vanished back into the shadows, leaving Ebonvault in a state of frozen tumult. The warlord's reign of terror had come to an abrupt end, and the castle, once a symbol of greed, now stood as a haunting reminder of the price one pays for succumbing to unchecked desires.

And so, Avaris, the Warlord of Greed, remained trapped in a timeless limbo, his once-mighty empire now a still-life portrait of the consequences that befell those who dared to play with the forces of greed. The Netherworld, freed from his oppressive rule, awaited the day when time would release its frozen grip and allow life to resume its course in Ebonvault.

"Yep, that's Avaris alright." Vivi sighed as if she had already resigned herself to the devil's fate as the projector reached its end, leaving Lethargia slumping back on the ground.

Desira smirked. "Good riddance."

"We have to rescue him," Azazel declared.

Ren and the others couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.

Elena blinked several times in surprise. "Isn't that–!"

"SALISTER KANE!" Lorelai shouted.