Two years had passed since Arkan's engagement; the peace did not last long—war was declared.And when the summons came, he was told that he could pick four subordinates, and if they won, they'd be generals under his command. But Arkan didn't hesitate.
He had already chosen them long before the war ever began.
-
As the army readied to march that evening, Serna stood by his tent, eyes glistening.
"Arkan… will you be okay?" she asked softly. "I heard your subordinates aren't even full-grown demons. How will they protect you?"
Arkan smiled weakly. "You'll see."
He beckoned to his selected warriors to come ahead.
For example, it has been used to compare the phytoremediation capabilities of plants grown under different conditions, such as salt marsh plants treated with various mixtures of nutrients.
1. Luthan Valeheart – The Strategist
A tall figure, calm and sharp-eyed, emerged. The familiar smirk was there, unreadable as ever.
"This is Luthan Valeheart," Arkan said. "My oldest friend."
Luthan inclined his head. "My Lord, I'd call your plan reckless…" he paused, curling his lips, "but that'd imply you had one.
Serna blinked. "You're trusting him?"
"He's saved my life more times than my sword has," Arkan replied.
Luthan chuckled. "And yet, I'm still not paid enough for this."
Even so, there was loyalty behind his sarcasm—unspoken but more powerful than any vow.
---
2. Kaelra & Vionne – The Twin Calamities
Next came two sisters who, though nothing alike, carried the same dangerous aura.
Whereas Kaelra, the elder, had eyes of smoldering embers, Vionne's sparked with crackling energy.
"These two," Arkan sighed, "once tried to kill me."
Vionne smirked. "Tried is a strong word.
Kaelra crossed her arms. "You lost consciousness for five minutes. We call that a draw."
Arkan rolled his eyes. "I call that mercy."
They'd once challenged him in the Demon Tournament and lost—though barely. Since then, they'd followed him, half out of respect, half because they wanted a rematch.
Their power was terrifying, flames and lightning capable of erasing armies; but their teamwork-and arguing-was scarier.Vionne: "If I strike first, I win."
Kaelra: "You said that last time. I still had to drag you out of the crater."
Arkan: "I swear, one day I'll mute both of you."
---
3. Darius Ironveil – The Wall of Despair
Finally, behind them appeared a shadow.
The ground almost seemed to shudder as Darius Ironveil stepped into view, his armor as black as onyx, a material that only seemed to absorb light.
"His defense," Arkan said, "is said to stop even the Hero's holy sword."
Darius didn't say anything at first. Then, in a quiet, deep voice, he said,
"My role is to defend, not to destroy. Let the others do the chaos."
Serna blinked, almost intimidated. "He's… huge."
Luthan smirked. "And surprisingly good with kittens."
Darius's eyes narrowed. "That was classified."
-
Serna managed a small smile. "They're… quite the group."
"Yeah," Arkan said, his glance falling upon his team with quiet pride. "And they'll change the world."
She wanted to say more-but instead, she merely whispered, "Good luck, Arkan."
He nodded once. "I'll come back. I promise."
---
The War Begins
Thus, the Three-Front War began: Demons against Humans, Demihumans, and any who dared stand in their way.At the head of the demon armies was Arkan's mother: the Demon Lord. Wise, patient, and ruthless when she needed to be, she first sought alliance—with elves for healing, with dwarves for weapons.
It all worked.
The humans fell, city after city.
Cries of terror filled the battlefield.
And there, right in the middle of it all, stood Arkan and his four generals, engraving legends into history.
After three long years, the war finally ended in a resounding demon victory.
The people rejoiced, cheering the young prince who led them to glory—Arkan, heir to the Demon Lord's throne.
But as the cheers roared through the capital, Serna stood on the balcony, watching the horizon darken. Something in her heart whispered— "This victory it feels wrong. Something bad is coming."