Chapter 181: The Rise of the Forgotten Order – The True War Begins
A Dark Omen
Despite the victories against Artemis' minions, Rimuru couldn't shake an ominous feeling. It was too easy. While Drekanis, Myrrana, and Ravok had been forced into a corner, they were masters of deception, illusion, and corruption—they wouldn't act so carelessly.
As Rimuru sat in the War Room of Tempest, his advisors gathered around, discussing strategies. Suddenly, Souei appeared, his expression grave.
"My Lord… We have a problem."
Rimuru's eyes sharpened. "What is it?"
Souei knelt. "Drekanis, Myrrana, and Ravok were only pawns. The real mastermind has revealed themselves."
The room went silent.
Souei continued. "An ancient faction, believed to have been destroyed thousands of years ago, has resurfaced. They call themselves the Order of the Forgotten Abyss."
The name sent a chill through the room.
"Artemis wasn't acting alone," Diablo murmured, his crimson eyes flickering. "This was all part of something far greater."
Rimuru frowned. "So, who is really pulling the strings?"
Souei's voice was like a whisper.
"Azazel, the Fallen Seraph."
Somewhere deep in the void between dimensions, a figure bathed in shadow and violet flames stood before Drekanis, Myrrana, and Ravok.
Azazel, the Fallen Seraph, once a divine being, now a warbringer of chaos, stared down at his subordinates with piercing golden eyes.
"You have failed," Azazel's voice was cold, absolute, and terrifying.
Drekanis trembled. "M-My Lord, we—"
Azazel raised a single hand, and a black chain of judgment wrapped around Drekanis' throat, lifting him into the air.
"There are no excuses."
With a flick of his fingers, Drekanis was erased from existence.
Ravok and Myrrana dropped to their knees. "Master! Give us another chance! We will—"
Azazel's dark wings flared, and the entire void realm trembled.
"The time for shadows is over." His gaze turned toward the mortal realm. "It is time to descend."
A massive, cursed portal began forming behind him. Thousands of shadowy figures could be seen within—an army unlike any before.
"I will bring the Final Judgment upon this world."
And with that, Azazel's war had begun.
The first sign of the Abyssal invasion came without warning. Black rifts opened across the borders of Tempest, Ruberios, Sarion, Dwargon, and the Eastern Empire.
From these tearing voids, monstrous creatures beyond comprehension emerged—Abyssal Titans, Nightmare Wraiths, and Fallen Archons.
One such rift opened in the heart of Tempest itself.
Rimuru, still in the War Room, felt it instantly. His golden eyes burned with divine power as he rose from his seat.
"They're here."
An earth-shaking roar erupted from outside.
Rimuru teleported in an instant, appearing above the city—only to see an army of nightmare creatures pouring through the massive rift.
Standing at the center of the invasion was a dark-winged figure, a general of the Forgotten Abyss. His aura alone made the air scream in agony.
Rimuru's aura flared like a supernova.
"I don't know who you are," Rimuru's voice was calm but carried the weight of a god, "but you've made a mistake coming here."
The figure smirked, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement.
"I am Malphas, the Herald of Azazel." He spread his six demonic wings, and an enormous dark sigil appeared in the sky.
"Tempest shall burn."
BOOM!
A massive energy blast erupted from Malphas' hands, aimed directly at the heart of the city.
But before it could land—
Goku appeared in a flash of white light, his hair flowing with True Ultra Instinct.
With one hand, he caught the blast, compressing it into nothingness.
Goku grinned. "Oh yeah? Well, I say you picked the wrong place to attack."
As chaos spread across the world, the Demon Lords received the warning.
In Guy Crimson's domain, the air trembled. Guy sat on his throne, his aura flaring.
"So, Artemis was nothing but a prelude." He grinned. "Now this is interesting."
In Luminous' cathedral, she and Hinata prepared their forces for war.
"This is no longer a mere conspiracy," Luminous declared. "This is an extinction-level threat."
In Dwargon, Gazel unsheathed his blade, staring at the dark sky.
"The war we've all been preparing for… has begun."
From his realm, Beerus watched with mild amusement.
"Well, well… I didn't think things would escalate this much."
Whis sipped his tea. "This does seem beyond mere mortal conflicts."
Beerus leaned forward, his golden eyes narrowing.
"I wonder… will.they prevail this time?"
Whis smiled knowingly. "Are you entertained, my Lord?"
Beerus smirked.
"…Perhaps."
With the Forgotten Abyss now fully revealed and Azazel's army descending upon the world, the greatest battle in history was about to unfold.
The Demon Lords, the Heroes, the Warriors of Tempest, and their allies would have to unite—or risk complete annihilation.
The true war had begun.