The man pushed deeper into the forest, his steps heavy with determination. His face was hard, eyes burning with a fierce desire for revenge. In his hand was a sword—though not physically there, it shimmered, visible only as a ghostly shape, as if forged from pure intent.
With every step he took, the temperature seemed to drop. The warm air turned cold, and soon his breath was visible, misting in the frosty air. The darkness of the forest grew deeper, swallowing the faint light that managed to seep through the thick canopy. It felt like the night itself was closing in around him.
Suddenly, he felt something. He had stepped into a new place, netherscape , though everything around him was still pitch black. He couldn't see anything, but the silence was soon broken by the distant sound of screams. Faint, tortured screams, as though the very forest cried out in pain and calling out for help. His heart pounded faster.
And then, a voice—cold, mocking, and almost amused—echoed through the darkness:
"You're early. Too early... in Coldway."
Hearing the voice, his heartbeat quickened. His chest tightened with fear, but the rage inside him kept him moving. He squinted into the dark, trying to see who had spoken, but there was only the abyss.
His voice shook as he spoke, but he tried to steady it with the weight of his anger. "I'm here to kill you! U killed my family… They trusted u. I'm here to take revenge!"
The voice chuckled, cold and cruel. "Revenge? You think you can do what your ancestors could not? They tried to kill me too, but they failed—miserably. And you… you're just as foolish. You can't even comprehend that you are not even 1% of your ancestors' strength, yet you dream of killing someone like me—the Demon king himself, the strongest son of the being who is the father or creator of many demon kings in each universe like me."
The man gripped his invisible sword tighter, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on him. His pulse pounded in his ears, but he stood his ground.
"Wait," the voice continued, now sharper with anger, "How can someone like you handle even 1% of that sward ? Do you even know where it is physically located ? Have you met him too? Tell me. Tell me now—where is it? How do I get to it?"
The man stood there, confusion clouding his mind. He felt as if he didn't truly understand what the Demon King was talking about. Did I really know nothing about my own history? The Demon King, towering before him, noticed the bewildered look on his face, and his anger began to grow.
"What's wrong?" the Demon sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Are you so clueless that you can't even grasp the situation? You're nothing but a child playing with fire!"
The man clenched his fists, knows this is his end. He knew he can't win but he had to focus, but the pressure of the Demon King's gaze weighed heavily on him. Every moment spent in that darkness felt like a test, pushing him closer to the edge of despair.
The Demon King stepped forward, his eyes blazing with rage. "You think you can challenge me without even understanding the power you're up against? You're foolish to stand here, thinking you have a chance!"
Realizing he couldn't show weakness, the man straightened his back, forcing himself to meet the Demon King's furious gaze. "I may not have all the answers, but I won't back down! I will fight for my family because I know she will protect our child, and I trust her!"
The Demon King smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes. "even With that sword gone, you are nothing," he taunted. "I'll start with you, and then I'll make sure to find her and your child. I'll make you watch as I torment them, one by one, until you beg for mercy!"
The man felt a surge of anger rise within him. The Demon King's words cut deep, trying to provoke him into despair. He could feel the heat of fury coursing through his veins.
"Do you really think you can touch my family?" the man shot back, determination in his eyes. "I won't let you touch them! I'll fight for my family, no matter what it takes!"
The Demon King laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the darkness. "Brave words for someone so weak. Let's see how long that courage lasts when you face me!"
Suddenly, the man's aura shifted dramatically. His eyes turned jet black, with glowing red pupils that burned with fury. He was losing control, the rage building within him like a raging storm.
The Demon King noticed the change, a smile spreading across his face. "Damn! So that's why that sword was dangerous to use. Even though it's not physically here, I can still feel its presence," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Someone like you could easily harness its power!"
The man felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins, amplifying his anger. It was as if the darkness itself was awakening inside him, urging him to unleash his true potential.
"Your fear will only make me stronger!" he roared, the power radiating from him like a dark flame. The air crackled with intensity, and the ground trembled beneath his feet.
The Demon King's smile faltered for a moment, realizing that he had underestimated the man's power. "Interesting… But you'll have to do better than that if you hope to defeat me!"
The battle had been raging for what felt like hours, though to the Demon King, it was nothing more than a game. He stood there, towering over his opponent, a cruel smile playing on his lips. The man before him—his last challenger—was struggling to stay on his feet, gripping his sword tightly, despite the weight of exhaustion pulling him down.
The Demon King knew. He knew he could end this fight in an instant. One slash of his mighty blade, and it would be over. The thought amused him, but still, he didn't strike.
Why? Because a small part of him was curious. Curious to see if this human, with his desperation and determination, could unlock even a fragment of the sword's hidden power. Maybe, just maybe, if the man could summon that sword, it would mean he was no longer useful to the Demon King. And then—the Demon King would remain truly undefeatable, for no one could rival him with such power.
But deep down, the Demon King knew the truth. It was pointless. The man had no idea how to call upon the sword's true strength. Nothing would happen. This was just another futile attempt by yet another human or generation.
As the man stumbled, trying to lift his sword for one more strike, the Demon King sighed. It was time. With a swift, final motion, the Demon King raised his blade and slashed downward. The force was overwhelming, and in an instant, the man was cut down—his body split in two. The air around them was filled with silence, except for the soft thud of the broken body hitting the ground.
For a moment, the world seemed still.
Somehow, the man's eyes fluttered open. He was still alive, though just barely, his consciousness hanging by a thread. Tears filled his eyes as he lay on the ground, looking up at the towering figure of the Demon King.
The Demon King, not even paying full attention to the man, began giving orders to his soldiers. His deep voice echoed, "As soon as the sun sets today, find them, drag them out of the darkness, and bring them to me!"
In his final moments, the man's mind was filled with desperate thoughts. He had been their last hope, but in his anger, he had destroyed every chance of success, and history had repeated itself once again. Now it was up to you, my wife, to protect our son. Guide him and prepare him so he doesn't make the same mistakes his father did.