65 – The Demons
The Demon Realm was a place shrouded in eternal darkness, a land where the sun never rose. The very air was thick with malevolent energy, and the twisted, barren landscape seemed to writhe with life, feeding off the destruction and despair that permeated every corner of the realm. It was a place where nightmares walked freely, and the demons thrived in its chaos.
The demons, born to destroy and subdue the world, stood in stark contrast to the humans, whose purpose was to protect it. Many years ago, these two forces collided in a war so devastating that it reshaped the very fabric of their existence. The original Hero, chosen by the gods themselves, was granted divine treasures—artifacts of immense power designed to seal the Demon God away in a place known as the Abyss. With the Demon God sealed, the balance of power shifted dramatically in favor of the humans, and the demons retreated into their dark realm, licking their wounds.
But even with the Demon God locked away, the demons grew stronger over time. They were patient, knowing that the seal wouldn’t last forever. They awaited the return of their Ruler, and in the meantime, five of the strongest demons were elevated to the title of Great General. These Generals were the elite of the Demon Realm, unparalleled in battle, with power and experience forged through ages of conflict.
Now, in the shadowy heart of the Demon Realm, the five Great Generals convened for a meeting. They gathered within the massive stone halls of a dark citadel, a fortress carved into the very bones of the earth. Their presence alone radiated a palpable aura of danger and power.
Debelzaque, the most senior among them, stood at the head of the table. An elderly oni with blue skin and long silver hair, his muscled frame showed no sign of weakness, even after centuries of war. His blank white eyes gave him a look of wisdom and cruelty, and the single strand of silver hair dangling over the right side of his face seemed almost frozen in time.
Next to him sat Nebula, a tall and dangerously attractive demoness whose very presence demanded attention. Her glowing red eyes contrasted sharply with her pale skin, and her insectile characteristics—armored legs and arms—added an otherworldly menace to her voluptuous figure. Her greenish-black armor left her upper cleavage and shoulders exposed, a display of both confidence and power.
Beside Nebula was Yridian, the jade-armored demon Magnus had once faced. Clad in green jade armor, he exuded an air of calm lethality. His piercing gaze spoke of countless battles fought and won, his mind ever calculating, his movements sharp and precise.
Then there was Azoth, the embodiment of raw physical power and bloodlust. His wild black hair framed glowing yellow eyes that burned with aggression. His tan skin rippled with muscle, and he wore a ragged skirt lined with silver fur, along with gold-trimmed white armor on his shoulder. Azoth was known for his uncontrollable battle frenzy, a force of destruction in his own right.
Finally, at the end of the table, cloaked in shadows, sat Blade. His true name was unknown to all, but his presence commanded respect. He was the glue that held the Demon Realm’s military might together, and also managed to keep the other Generals in line. His loyalty unquestioned and his skill unparalleled. Clad in jet-black armor, with a smoky black cloak that seemed to absorb the light around him, Blade's glowing purple eyes cut through the darkness. No one had ever seen his face, only his imposing shadowed figure, and the massive black sword he wielded.
Debelzaque spoke first, his deep voice reverberating through the room like thunder. “It has come to my attention that the Hero, Cedric Silverbaum, grows stronger by the day.”
Nebula’s lips curled into a seductive smile. “The humans are always sending their heroes to meddle in our affairs,” she purred. “But this one... he is different, isn’t he?”
Yridian crossed his arms, his expression stoic. “My scouts met him once. He survived longer than I expected, but he is still mortal. His strength may be growing, but he is not yet a true threat.”
Azoth’s yellow eyes flared with excitement. “Let me fight him. I’ll crush him with my bare hands,” he growled, his voice dripping with bloodlust. “No need for magic or tricks. I’ll tear him apart.”
Debelzaque raised a hand, silencing the room. “Cedric is no ordinary hero. From the intel we gathered he has the same flaws of a regular human. Greed, pride and self absorbed. He started the process to gain the divine treasures that once were once used to seal our Ruler. If he gains the power to wield them fully, history might repeat itself.”
“So then, should we kill him as soon as possible? Shall we let Azoth handle it?”, said Nebula.
Blade, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was a low, rumbling whisper, like the wind through a graveyard. “No. I have received news from our lord. Let the hero gather all the treasures.”
Everyone was shocked at that statement.
“Are you crazy!? If we let that happen, we might face another downfall!! I’m telling you, just let me bite his head off and we'll get this over with.”, said Azoth, his voice filled with rage.
“May I remind you, these aren't my words. They belong to our Ruler. Fellow Generals, in all the years the Demon God was sent into the Abyss, he grew vastly stronger. He absorbed the power of darkness. The abyss is his domain now. And another sealing… would be impossible.
Think for a second. If we kill the Hero, humanity will just pray to the Goddess for another one. But, if we let him gather the treasures bestowed by the Gods and they prove inefficient…”
The room fell into silence, the weight of Blade’s words settling over them like a suffocating blanket. But all the Generals displayed fiendish smiles.
Debelzaque’s blank white eyes gleamed with malice. “Yes. Let the Hero grow comfortable. If the treasures won't work, humanity will face a despair like none other and all their will to fight will vanish! Our Ruler truly knows no bounds.
So if that's the case, in order to not appear too passive, we should continue with our original plan and attempt a strike at the Magic Towers.”
Azoth grinned wickedly, his sharp teeth gleaming. “Finally, some action. It’s been too long since I tasted human blood.”
Yridian remained silent, but his gaze sharpened. He knew that the coming battle would not be easy. Mostly because he didn't want everyone to know that he is still recovering from the wound Magnus gave him.
And after the meeting had finished, as everyone was ready to part ways… Yridian’s fear was came true.
“Yridian, do you have a moment?”, said Blade, while making sure nobody else was around.
“What is it?”
“You know very well, why I approached you. The tension in your body, the different way you are moving around… you suffered some form of wound, haven't you?”
“That's… none of your business!”
“Relax. I am not like the others. While the others might call you a disgrace or a ‘a Great General can't be hurt’, I care not for such trivial things. I also don't intend to tell anyone about this, if you agree to answering a small question.”
“... And what exactly do you want to know?”
“Tell me everything about the person you faced. It might be someone… worthy of my attention.”
“Alright. I know you always keep your word. That's the only thing I respect about you. Well, what can I say… it all started…”
As the Generals continued their discussions, the dark clouds above the Demon Realm swirled ominously, as if the land itself was preparing for the storm to come.