Chapter- The Demon of the Seventh Hell
The sky tore open like glass struck by thunder.
A single crack widened, spreading crimson light across the night as if the heavens themselves were bleeding. Wind howled through the broken clouds, and the scent of sulfur burned in the air.
Kael's eyes widened. "What… what is that?"
From the wound in the sky, a shape began to descend—graceful, almost human. A faint hum echoed through the valley as shadows bent toward him like worshippers kneeling before their god. The world fell silent, even the monsters that had been chasing them froze mid-roar, trembling.
The figure landed lightly upon the scorched earth. His feet left blackened imprints; the ground hissed and smoked. He stood tall and elegant, his form wrapped in a dark robe stitched with ancient runes that shimmered with purple fire. His skin was pale like moonlight, his hair long and black, flowing with streaks of red.
But it was his face that froze them.
It was beautiful—terribly so—sharp, perfect, cold. Across his neck and arms glowed seven demonic marks, each pulsing faintly like veins filled with molten gold. His eyes were a deep, bleeding crimson with slitted pupils that seemed to pierce through souls.
Liora whispered, "He looks… human."
Kael's hand trembled over his sword. "No. He isn't."
Anand clenched his fists, summoning faint dark mist. "Who the hell is that?"
Kael swallowed, his throat dry. "That… is from the Seven Hells. A demon—Rank Seven."
Anand blinked. "You sure it's not a devil?"
Kael nodded grimly. "No crown. Devils wear crowns—symbols of the Nine Hells. But look at his skin… those glowing marks. Stronger demons bear marks to show their rank." His voice lowered. "He has seven. That means Rank Seven."
Garix exhaled shakily, his clawed hands tightening. "Rank Seven Demon… we're not ready for this."
Kael interrupt saying you can talk
Garix reply you don't know till now
Kale nodded intresting
Garix reply yeah
Liora with anger say you fools we are in the middle of the battlefield but suddenly
The demon smiled faintly, the expression calm yet filled with cruelty. He looked at them the way a predator looks at trembling prey.
"So… the shadows defied the pact again," he said softly, his voice like velvet laced with venom. "And the wolves shelter the humans. How amusing."
Night's voice echoed faintly through Kael's memory—Run, and don't look back.
Kael's pulse hammered in his ears. "We move—now!"
The group darted into the forest, leaves and mud flying under their feet. Anand ran behind, his hands weaving dark sigils.
"Damn it, he's following!"
A swarm of monsters roared from behind, snapping branches as they pursued. Their red eyes burned like torches through the mist.
Anand skidded to a halt and slammed his palm into the ground. "You want a show?" he growled. "Then watch me!"
Black energy surged outward. From the ground, shadows erupted, forming skeletal beasts, armored knights, and twisted phantoms wielding scythes. Their eyes glowed sickly green as they rushed to meet the charging monsters.
"Go!" Anand shouted. "I'll buy us time!"
Kael grabbed his arm. "Don't be stupid!"
"I'm not dying here!" Anand smirked, though his voice trembled. "Necromancer's pride, remember?"
Kael hesitated a heartbeat, then nodded. "Fine. Just don't fall behind!"
Anand released his summons—a hundred screaming spirits colliding with the monster horde. The clash shook the forest; explosions of dark energy and fire sent shockwaves through the trees. The ground cracked beneath their feet.
Kael, Liora, and Garix ran ahead, ducking under falling branches and leaping over roots. Liora's breathing grew ragged. "We can't outrun that thing!"
Kael glanced back. The Demon of the Seventh Hell was not chasing; he was walking. Each step rippled the air. With every footfall, the shadows stretched longer, as though reality itself bowed to him.
Anand caught up, panting. His summons were already dissolving in the distance. "They didn't last long… he's killing them without touching them."
"Keep moving!" Kael barked. "We'll reach the ridge and—"
He stopped.
A shadow appeared in front of them. The same demon, standing calmly, hands behind his back, as if he had been waiting there all along.
"Running," the demon said softly, "is such a human thing to do."
The air grew heavy—so thick it felt like breathing through water. The forest darkened, colors draining away until only shades of black and red remained.
Garix snarled and lunged, claws igniting in flame. "Get back!"
He swung his arm; the fiery slash cut through the air—only for the demon to raise a single finger. The flame froze mid-strike, suspended like glass, then shattered into embers.
Kael moved next, drawing his blade and dashing forward, lightning flickering around him. "Liora—support!"
Liora formed an arcane sigil, ice spiraling into sharp crystals that flew toward the demon. They hit nothing—the demon simply tilted his head, letting them pass harmlessly.
Kael's sword clashed with the demon's hand.
A sound like ringing metal filled the air.
The demon hadn't even drawn a weapon—he stopped Kael's blade with two fingers.
Kael's eyes widened. He pushed harder, veins straining, but the demon smiled. "You mortals still think strength is measured in effort."
He flicked his hand. Kael was thrown back like a ragdoll, crashing through two trees before hitting the ground.
"Kael!" Liora screamed, running toward him.
The demon raised his palm. "Kneel."
Invisible pressure struck them like a mountain. Liora fell to her knees, clutching her chest, unable to breathe. Anand roared, summoning shadow spears that flew toward the demon—but they evaporated before reaching him.
"Pathetic," the demon murmured. "Is this the resistance the shadows favored?"
Garix, shaking, forced himself to stand in front of Liora. "I won't let you touch them!"
The demon stepped forward slowly, his seven marks glowing brighter. The world trembled with each pulse. "Your defiance is admirable… yet meaningless."
He raised his hand—and the sky responded.
Dark lightning struck the ground behind him, twisting into shapes that screamed. The pressure grew unbearable; even the trees began to bend and splinter.
Kael groaned, forcing himself up, his sword trembling in his grip. "We can't fight him head-on!"
Anand's shadowy aura flickered. "Then what the hell do we do?!"
"Survive," Kael hissed. "That's all we can do!"
He charged again, shouting, and slashed at the demon's chest. This time, his blade connected—but it stopped halfway, halted by an invisible barrier. The demon looked down at the blade, amused.
"You draw courage from hopelessness," he said softly, "how fascinating."
Then, with a gesture, he shattered Kael's sword.
The blade exploded into shards, sending Kael flying back again. Blood dripped down his forehead.
Liora screamed his name, summoning ice around her arms. "I won't let you take him!" She launched ice spears at the demon—dozens of them. For a moment, the forest turned white.
The demon raised a single hand. The ice melted in midair. Steam filled the air, glowing red under the crack in the sky.
He looked almost bored now. "Enough."
In an instant, he vanished.
A heartbeat later, he was in front of Liora, his hand on her throat. She gasped, her feet lifting off the ground.
Kael's heart stopped. "Liora!"
The demon's voice was calm. "You are fragile. Weak. Yet you dare to run from me." He tilted his head, examining her as if studying a specimen. "Tell me, little mortal, what makes you think the world will let you live?"
Anand's voice broke through the haze. "Let her go!"
He thrust both hands forward, summoning a massive black skull from the earth. The skull opened its mouth, firing a beam of shadow energy that split the trees apart.
The blast struck the demon head-on. Smoke filled the air, shaking the ground.
For a moment, silence.
Then the smoke cleared—
The demon stood there, unscathed, his robe fluttering slightly. He looked almost amused.
"That," he said softly, "was interesting."
With a flick of his wrist, black tendrils of energy shot out, striking Anand and Garix. Both were slammed into the ground, blood spilling from their lips.
Kael staggered to his feet, dragging what remained of his blade. "Stay away from them!"
The demon turned toward him slowly. "You still stand."
Kael gritted his teeth, gathering lightning around his arm. "I'll die standing before I kneel to a monster like you!"
The demon's smile widened, showing perfect, inhuman teeth. "Then die standing."
He vanished again. Kael barely saw the movement—just a blur. Pain exploded across his body as he was thrown back once more, crashing into the dirt.
The demon looked down at them, the sky still cracked open above him, crimson light raining down. "This world once belonged to us," he murmured. "And soon… it will again."
He raised his hand—energy coalescing into a spear of pure darkness. "Goodbye, little mortals."
Before the spear fell, the ground beneath him rippled—a faint shadow forming, whispering with an echo of Night's voice.
"Not today."
A surge of black wind burst upward, shielding the group just as the demon's attack struck. The explosion shook the valley, tearing through the forest and lighting up the night like dawn.
When the smoke cleared, Kael, Liora, Anand, and Garix were gone.
The demon stood alone, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips.
He looked up toward the bleeding sky, his seven marks glowing brighter. "Run while you can," he murmured. "The hunt has only begun."