"R-Rex Dalton...you… when did you escape from hell?"
The Holy Lord's voice trembled as he stared at the man standing calmly before him. There was disbelief in his eyes—no, more than that—there was fear. Even though the figure before him now looked completely human, the Holy Lord recognized him instantly. This aura… this power… this overwhelming presence—it was unmistakable.
It was Rex Dalton.
Formerly known as Curse Blue among the Eight Demon Sorcerers, Rex had been one of the most powerful and fearsome. Once brothers in arms, the Holy Lord never imagined he'd see Rex standing in the human world again. It was supposed to be impossible. After all, demons like them were sealed away in hell for eternity, never to return.
After their crushing defeat at the hands of a mysterious being known only as the Death God, the Eight Demon Sorcerers had been cast into hell, sealed away in separate corners of that cursed realm. Their only hope of escape had been the legendary Panku Treasure Box—a magical artifact left behind in the human realm, and the only known tool capable of opening the gates of hell.
But the Panku Treasure Box was lost. According to legend, the very same Death God who sealed them had hidden it in the human world beyond any demon's reach. In hell, there was no way to locate it, much less activate its power.
There was, however, one exception—the Holy Lord himself.
Years ago, the combined power of the other seven demons had been channeled to send one of their own to the surface. They had chosen him. The collective energy of all eight had funneled into one opportunity—one portal—to freedom. And that freedom had been granted to the Holy Lord alone.
Which was exactly why he stood frozen in terror now.
He knew for a fact that the other seven should not, under any circumstances, have had the power to send a second demon out. There was no way. And yet…
Here stood Rex Dalton.
"What's the matter?" Rex asked casually, his tone laced with mockery as he stepped closer. "Are you not pleased to see me outside of hell?"
His voice was calm, even playful—but every word felt like a dagger to the Holy Lord's heart.
"No… No, of course not!" The Holy Lord snapped out of his trance-like panic and immediately changed his tone. A sheepish smile spread across his face as he bowed slightly.
"My dearest brother! Welcome back to the world of the living! With your help, we'll finally release our other siblings and take back what's rightfully ours—we will rule this world together!"
His tone oozed flattery, but deep down he was panicking. The Holy Lord had no idea how Rex had made it out of hell, but if he had found a way… that meant things had changed. Drastically.
Still, Rex's return could be a blessing in disguise. After all, Rex Dalton was the most powerful among them. With him on their side, regaining full strength and launching a new conquest would be within reach.
Yes… the Holy Lord thought eagerly, this may be just what I need! With Rex leading, we could finally—
But before he could complete the thought, a crushing force wrapped itself around his soul.
His breath caught in his throat.
His eyes widened in horror.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A scream tore from the Holy Lord's mouth as unimaginable pain ripped through his very being. It wasn't physical—it was spiritual, soul-deep agony. Something was dragging his essence from the statue that housed him—his only anchor to the physical world!
The Holy Lord had long been confined to the Valon Statue, a powerful relic that acted as both his prison and his vessel. Without the Rat Talisman or Sheep Talisman, the statue was the only way his soul could remain in the mortal realm. If forcibly removed…
…he would be pulled back into the depths of hell.
"No… No, wait!" he howled, his ethereal form trembling under the strain. He looked up, eyes filled with desperation, only to find Rex watching him with a cold, satisfied smile.
"Rex… Brother! Why… Why are you doing this to me?"
Rex's expression didn't change. His arms were folded behind his back, his head tilted slightly in amusement, but his eyes burned with fury held tightly in check.
"You dare call me brother?" Rex said with a sneer. "After what you did?"
The Holy Lord was stunned into silence.
"Let me remind you," Rex continued, stepping closer. "When we were trapped in hell, we—your brothers and sisters—gave up everything to send you out. Do you remember what you promised us?"
The Holy Lord averted his gaze, guilt flooding his face.
"You swore to release us. To find the Panku Treasure Box and free the rest. But instead…" Rex's voice lowered dangerously. "You abandoned us. You used your freedom for your own gain, and ruled alone, like a tyrant."
The memories surged through him—years of betrayal, loneliness, anger. Even though Rex now existed in a human body, he had inherited every memory, every grudge, every broken promise that belonged to Curse Blue.
"And then what happened?" Rex went on. "You got arrogant. You believed you were unstoppable. Until a human magician—Lopez, wasn't it?—defeated you and stripped you of your talismans. Now look at you... just a soul trapped in a crumbling relic."
The Holy Lord's face twisted with rage and shame. That defeat had haunted him for centuries. He had never forgotten the magician who humiliated him and shattered his ambitions.
"I… I didn't mean to betray you all…" the Holy Lord muttered weakly. "I lost sight of things… but with you here, we can try again! I swear—"
"Enough," Rex interrupted, his voice like thunder. "I didn't come here to join forces with a traitor. I came to deliver justice."
The power surrounding the Holy Lord's soul intensified. His cries of pain grew louder, more frantic.
"PLEASE! Rex, don't do this! Give me another chance! Together, we can—"
"Together?" Rex said coldly. "You already made that choice. And you chose yourself."
Another wave of power surged forth, and the Holy Lord's soul began to lose cohesion. Black tendrils of hellfire snaked their way into the room, flickering around him, dragging him toward a void that had been waiting for centuries.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The Holy Lord thrashed violently, but it was useless. The more he resisted, the stronger the pull became.
"No! I refuse! I am the Holy Lord! I will not go back! I—!"
With a final, soul-wrenching scream, the Holy Lord's spirit was sucked from the Valon Statue and hurled into the yawning abyss of hell.
Silence followed.
The room was eerily still. The statue, once glowing with ancient demonic energy, now sat dark and cold—nothing more than a hollow shell.
Rex Dalton—no, Shawn—stood motionless for a moment, his hands still pulsing with residual power. He closed his eyes, letting out a long breath as the tension left his shoulders.
It was done.
The traitor had paid the price.
"That's one down…" he whispered to himself. "Seven more to deal with."
He turned away from the statue and walked toward the door, his footsteps echoing in the empty chamber.
Though his heart still burned with the betrayal of the past, Shawn was no longer the naive brother who believed in loyalty. He had been through hell—literally—and come back stronger, smarter, colder.
And now he had a plan.
The world didn't know it yet, but its fate had already shifted.
The demons had returned.
And this time, they would not be bound by promises or sentiment.
They would rule.
Together.
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