A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 120 Humanity and the Abyss

"My lord, someone requests an audience."

"No, I'm busy."

Mages never have enough time, not even a genius like Jiang Shuzhou.

The study of spells and runes has already drained Jiang Shuzhou's remaining time, and now he wishes he could stretch one day into two.

"It is Guts, my lord. He also asked me to tell you that he has news that may interest you."

"He better have it, or I'll let him experience my little invention."

Hayes, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but shudder upon hearing this.

Since Jiang Shuzhou became a mid-level mage, his magical power has greatly increased, and he can inscribe several times more runes with greater precision. As a result, his inventions have become increasingly bizarre.

Although it won't cause any direct harm, it can definitely torture a person to the point of wishing they were dead.

Take the tempering potion, for example. This potion can not only improve a warrior's physical fitness and training speed, but also increase their tolerance for pain.

The principle is that after drinking it, you will experience extreme pain and be unable to move. When the effects of the drug completely wear off, all the pain seems to disappear like a dream.

All the warriors who drank it said that they were now able to endure all the suffering in the world.

Jiang Shuzhou was very pleased with this.

From a recruit who fears pain to a veteran who can endure it, all it takes is one potion.

This is also the origin of the name of the polishing potion.

"My lord, we meet again."

Jiang Shuzhou was somewhat surprised to see him again.

Compared to last time, Guts looked haggard, his face ashen, and tinged with despair.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his gaze held a deep resentment towards something.

However, the resentment wasn't directed at Jiang Shuzhou, but at something else entirely.

"What happened? Griffiths couldn't be saved?"

"If you ask me, don't rush. The Mahabre region of the Orvi Empire is in a lot of chaos lately."

"Even demon portals have appeared in that place. You might as well wait and rescue them when those nobles are too preoccupied to care about anything else."

Upon hearing this, Gus lowered his head.

"No...we succeeded..."

"But... I wish I hadn't succeeded!"

"Griffith! He... he's a beast!"

"He...he..."

Gus is currently in a very unstable emotional state, and there is a faint tendency for him to collapse.

"Come on, young man, don't get too emotional. Drink this potion and continue."

Jiang Shuzhou handed Gess a sedative.

My curiosity is already piqued.

He wanted to know what had happened to bring the two, who were as close as brothers, to this point.

"Thank you, sir."

Gus drank the potion and calmed down considerably. Then he began to recount what had happened.

One night, Guts discovered that an army was marching toward the territory where the nobleman Griffith was being held, and Guts thought he had found an opportunity.

So he led his mercenary group to sneak into the castle, waiting for the right moment.

Soon, Guts heard the shouts and sounds of fighting outside, so he led all the mercenaries into the dungeon and rescued Griffith.

However, he misjudged one thing: it was not a human army, but a demon army.

Fortunately, most of the demons were low-level and had low combat power. The group fled all the way, and after sacrificing more than a dozen companions, they finally escaped the clutches of the demons.

However, the nightmare had only just begun.

"We finally escaped!"

"Griffiths, hold on! As long as we get out of here, there's still hope!"

"Hehe, hee hee, hahaha!"

However, a burst of wild laughter made the mercenary group's hearts jump again, just as they had been calming down.

"You filthy, foolish mortals, what are you doing here?"

The strange and distorted tone made Gus instantly guess the other person's identity.

"You are the Abyss Order!"

"You guessed right, what kind of reward do you want?"

"I hope you can let us go."

"Yes, no, no."

"Leave him here!"

Immediately afterwards, the other person pointed their withered, rotten finger at Guts.

The sudden roar startled everyone.

Everyone in the mercenary group looked at Guts.

"impossible!"

"If you ask me, let's just fight our way out!"

"You're delusional!"

"If this will make you let them go, I'm willing to stay."

Looking at his indignant companions beside him, and then at the demons that were gradually closing in, Guts chose to sacrifice himself to save the others.

"Who wants a disgusting thing like you!"

"I'm talking about the thing behind you, the one you're carrying on your back..."

"That... adorable little one with extraordinary talent, destined for the abyss~"

His tone remained smooth and slick, but for some reason, it carried a hint of excitement.

"Impossible! I won't abandon Griffith."

Even if he's a cripple now?

Even if... you will die?

As the surrounding demons gradually closed in, the mercenary group had less and less time to choose from.

"Damn it, if you want the commander's life, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"

"Let's fight them!"

Everyone in the mercenary group drew their swords and began a chaotic battle with the surrounding demons.

"Oh dear, look at how many people have died because of you!"

Guts wanted to fight alongside his comrades, but he found that his body seemed to be rooted to the spot, unable to move.

"Stop struggling in vain. What I said before still stands."

"How about it? Rather than watching your comrades die little by little, why not sacrifice yourself? Anyway, you're too useless to move, aren't you?"

"Besides, look at your companions, where are they?"

The withered hand gripped Griffith's head, making him look around.

At this moment, everyone was fighting a bloody battle, but in Griffith's eyes, everyone had betrayed him and had all fled.

Only Guts remained with him at this moment.

"How pathetic. Come on, hold his hand, or your good brother will die too!"

A cube was thrown in front of Gus.

Griffiths! Don't go!

However, Guss was unable to make any sound.

"Splash!"

Griffiths was put down.

He used all his strength to crawl forward.

One step... two steps.

The demons no longer resisted; they allowed the mercenaries to hunt them down, as if some supreme being was controlling them.

As long as I can get to that place!

Griffith crawled forward, and finally, he grasped the cube.

Guts then lost his memory.

When he woke up again, Griffith was standing in front of him, completely unharmed.

All around him were the mercenaries being slaughtered and tortured, while behind Griffith, countless demons knelt before him.

"Guts, I'm giving you a chance to live."

"Griffiths! What have you done?!"

Guts' words went unanswered. Griffith left with the demon, leaving Guts utterly dejected.

So that's how the Abyss portal opens.

"Wait, you mean it wasn't fanatical Abyss cultists who breached Mahabra, but demons?"

"Yes, sir."

I see, no wonder.