"Welcome to Hell's high society."
So these are the highest-ranking people in Hell other than the demon lord. Their auras are intense.
"Let's go, kid," Saerra said.
"Right," I responded.
They led me through the door of Umbra Citadel.
The interior of the castle hummed with ambient magic, along with obsidian walls and a red carpet that ran down the middle of the entrance to the stairs. Crimson lights were strewn across the walls and ceiling, pulsating like a heart. The magic in here was dense. It felt like I was trying to carry a giant elephant.
"This place is like a labyrinth, so stick close," Vorin said from beside Saerra.
I felt that Vorin and Saerra were the nicest out of the five from the courts. Saerra didn't like to show it, but I saw her look back from time to time to make sure I was still behind them.
Vorin, on the other hand, was more upfront about his kindness. He talked to me as we walked through Umbra Citadel, trying to get to know me.
I initially thought it was kindness, but I sensed a hint of something more in his voice.
"Saerra was once a human, you know?" Remy whispered beside me, her voice low, almost mournful.
"Huh? She was a human? Can humans really turn into demons?" I whispered back.
"Yes," Remy nodded. She hesitated before continuing, "Her people were being attacked by all kinds of demons. She held them off for a time, but..." Her voice trailed off. "Even the strongest can only fight for so long. She was given a proposition: join the Cinderspire Court, or watch her people be wiped out."
I swallowed. "That must've been tough for her. Who gave her that proposition?"
Remy's lips tightened.
"The person we're about to meet."
We rounded a corner, and the air grew heavier. Ahead, a massive door stood at the end of the hall, carved from dark wood, a single sigil etched into its surface — a horned phoenix, wings flared wide.
Saerra reached it first. She stepped forward two paces and dropped to one knee without hesitation.
The others followed.
I scrambled to mimic them, heart hammering in my chest.
A voice boomed through the room like a thunderclap, rattling my bones.
"Raise your heads."
We obeyed, though our knees remained rooted to the stone.
The figure on the throne was terrifying: long crimson hair parted down the center, dark red armor that wa the same color as blood, a blazing crimson sword resting at his side. Curved horns arched back from his forehead like a crown of bone.
His gaze pinned me in place.
"Rain," he said, and it was as if the world itself recognized my name.
"Come here."
I staggered upright and walked forward, every step weighed down by the force of his intent. When I started to bow again, he lifted a hand, stopping me.
Wordlessly, he gestured for me to stand at his side.
I did so, stiff and confused, every fiber of my being screaming caution.
Then his voice boomed once more, sending shockwaves through the hall:
"This is my son, Rain. I trust you treated him properly on his way up."
The court looked up, stunned — but the king unleashed a pressure so thick it slammed their faces back down to the floor.
I turned to him, wide-eyed. "Wait, sir — how am I your son? You don't even have blue hair... or blue eyes."
A rare smile touched his lips — not kindness, but something far colder.
"That's because your mother was a Zerx," he said. "And Zerx genetics are... potent." His eyes gleamed.
"They overpower almost anything."
I was stunned, I couldn't think of anything to say.
"Being a Zerx in and of itself is rare. Did you see any demon with blue hair and eyes while walking through the streets?"
"Now that you mention it, I haven't," I said.
"That's because the Zerx were feared for their power, but they were not hostile, though, which made it easy for the other demon races to wipe them out. Although some did fight back, and those few nearly annihilated the entire army after the Zerx. They have abilities that defy the natural laws, for example Soulfire, it's a blue flame that burns not only the physical form and spiritual form, but also the very essence that makes up the being. Not even resurrection magic works on people who've been burned by the Soulfire. That's just one ability the Zerx posses."
"If they were so strong why are there only a few of them left?" I asked.
"They were pasifists, they didn't like conflict, even when they were being hunted, they still didn't fight. However a few took up arms, and those few nearly annihilated the army of fifty-thousand men chasing the Zerx."
Everyone including me was speechless.
"Well, anyway, strength determines your rank here in Hell, so prove to everyone here that you're a Zerx… and my son."
He looked around the room for an opponent for me until he found someone.
"Karnis, get up here." His voice was commanding.
Karnis stepped forward cockily, and drew his weapon. He was tall, with jagged black armour marked with white spiderwebs, which meant he was a member of Web of Thorns court. His aura crackled like lightning.
My heart pounded, and my mind raced with thoughts. I wasn't ready for fight. I just go here and I just found out the demon lord was my father.
"Hope you're ready to get sent back to where you came from!" Karnis sneered.
"Begin." The demon king said amusingly.
Karnis rushed forward without hesitation, his attacks were so fast I could only dodge a couple. Each time his weapon strikes the ground it shakes the whole castle.
I heard whispers from the courts, one said, "He's disappointing," another said, "Is her really the demon lords son?"
I'm clearly outmatched even after my three months of training with Arya for the tournament. I guess demons are on another level. But that just means I can get to that level.
Karnis knocked me down and stood over me. Grinning and laughing, he said, "Good riddance." He raised his sword and was about to strike the final blow.
The entire crowd was smirking.
I don't want to die here, I CAN'T die here, I still have to make it back to Sophie, Arya, and Lyla.
Just then in that moment of desperation and wanting to live, my magic connected to my mental state.
Blue fire erupted from my entire body. Everyone looked shocked, and took an instinctive step back. The fire felt alive, hungry, like it was eating at my sanity.
My body started moving on its own. My hand glowing from blue flames. My speed doubled, and my reflexes got sharper, like a sword.
I dodged Karnis's next attack by a hair. I launched a counter-attack and punched him in the sternum. It didn't do much damage but it wasn't supposed too. The blue flames latched onto his armour and started eating at it like acid.
"Wha-what the hell is this?" Karnis was panicking, trying to put the flames out.
"My bloodline." I said, new found determination in my voice.
"You see, blood doesn't lie." The demon king said calmly.
After the fight, the demon king dismissed everyone, leaving only me and him in the chambers.
Before Remy left she gave one piece of advice, "Don't trust a word he says to you. He doesn't see you as a son but as tool. A tool for what, who knows, only time will tell."
He gestured me over to him, so I hesitantly went over and stood beside him.
The room started transforming back into the throne room.
Now the everyone had left, the throne room felt a lot bigger than it had.
The demon king was layed back, relaxing on his throne. "You handled yourself better than I had anticipated. I was really hoping you'd kill that cocky noble."
I didn't answer so the demon king continued onto his next topic.
"I didn't bring here just to train you." He paused, "This world… Hell is dying."
"Dying?" I asked with an uninterested look on my face.
"I guess that would be your reaction. You have no ties to Hell other than your bloodline. But yes, it's dying, and rapidly. The courts are fighting amongst themselves, the old bloodlines are dying out, and the mortals in the physical realm are getting stronger by the generation."
"And… how is that my problem. Like you said I have no ties to Hell other than my bloodline."
"You're father is the demon king, which means you're next in line to take throne."
"I don't want the throne. I never wanted to be a king. I'm not doing it."
"Well then, I guess I have no choice but to kill your friends in the physical realm."
"How would that help you? If anything that would make me hate you, which in turn, would make me not want to take throne even more. You have nothing against me."
"The Victoria family." He said simply.
"The name holds no weight over me anymore. I've already come to terms with what I did. If you don't mind I'll be going now."
"You'll regret this." I heard him whisper right before the door to throne room closed behind me.