The demon looked down at me like I was a puzzle he'd been waiting to solve.
He didn't move quickly. He didn't need to.
The moment he appeared, the temperature changed. The air itself grew heavier. The black fire burning around the Sanctum dimmed, like it didn't dare shine too brightly near him.
Seren tightened his grip on his broken sword.
"Why are you here, Emberlord?" he hissed.
The demon smiled lazily. "Don't mind me, little saint. I'm just sightseeing. This place reeks of something… new."
He crouched beside me, tilting his head like a curious animal. "You. What's your name, little spark?"
I forced myself to stand. Every part of my body screamed, but I wouldn't kneel—not now.
"Kael," I said. "Kael Varian."
His grin widened. "A human name. How strange. You're not fully demon, are you?"
"I'm enough."
The Emberlord laughed. "Oh, I like that. I like you."
Rin peeked out from behind the rocks, eyes wide with fear.
Seren took a slow step forward. "If you interfere, this becomes war."
The demon didn't even look at him.
"I didn't come for war. Yet. I came to see him—the Ashborne who cracked a holy blade with his bare hands."
I narrowed my eyes. "Ashborne?"
"That's what they'll call you soon," the demon said. "You rose from the Execution Pit. You command shadows and flame. You broke a knight of the Empire. You're not just another cursed soul now."
He stood again, tall and terrifying. Power leaked from him like smoke. "You're a storm. And the world will either bow to you—or burn trying to stop you."
System alert:
??? offers to form a Pact of Guidance
Benefit: Knowledge of demonkind, access to deeper flame
Warning: Binding unknown
I didn't answer right away.
Seren stepped between us. "You will not touch him."
"Oh, now you care?" the demon said, chuckling. "Didn't you try to kill him five minutes ago?"
"This creature is not yours to claim."
The Emberlord's eyes flicked with sudden heat. "Creature?"
The temperature spiked.
Rocks cracked. Lava oozed from the cave walls. Even the shadows pulled back.
Seren's expression didn't change—but sweat trickled down his face.
"Enough," I said.
Both turned to me.
I was still breathing hard. Still bleeding. But I raised my head.
"I don't need either of you speaking for me."
The Emberlord grinned again. "Very good."
System alert:
Pact request pending…
Would you like to speak with the Emberlord privately?
I hesitated.
"Yes."
System forming temporary mind link…
The world around me blurred. When it cleared, I was standing in a black space filled with floating embers.
The demon was here too—no longer just fire and threat. He looked… tired. Older. His grin was gone.
"This is safer," he said. "The holy knight can't hear us here."
I folded my arms. "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing yet," he said. "But I want to make sure you survive. Because something is coming."
I stayed quiet.
He continued, "The Empire has begun a campaign. They're hunting every half-blood and cursed soul left in the east. You, child, are a walking beacon now. If you stay where you are, they will come. Again and again."
"And you want me to run?"
He laughed. "No. I want you to rise. I want you to turn this little ruin into a throne."
He stepped closer.
"Let me show you how demons build power. Let me teach you to carve your name into this world. I won't bind your will. I won't demand loyalty. Just… let me guide you."
System message:
New Class Branch Available
Class: Sovereign of Ash (Locked)
Prerequisite: Accept Emberlord's Pact of Guidance
I stared at the system prompt. My hand trembled.
This wasn't just about power. It was a road.
A path I couldn't walk back from.
"I'll think about it," I said.
"Wise," the Emberlord said. "Then let's return before they get nervous."
The ember-space faded.
I was back in the ruined Sanctum.
Rin stood near me, eyes filled with worry.
Seren still looked ready to fight.
The Emberlord gave me a wink. "We'll meet again, Ashborne."
Then he vanished in a flash of flame.
Silence.
Seren lowered what was left of his sword.
"You made a mistake," he said.
"Did I?"
"Now you are marked by demons and by heaven. Both sides will come for you."
I wiped blood from my mouth. "Good. I'm tired of hiding."
He stared at me, something unreadable in his expression.
Then he turned and walked away.
"I'll report what I saw. The Empire will respond."
"You didn't win," I said behind him. "Tell them that too."
He paused.
Then left without a word.
I collapsed.
Rin ran to my side, holding my head in her lap. "Are you okay?!"
"No," I croaked. "But I'm alive."
She smiled through her tears. "You scared me, idiot."
System alert:
Core Overdrive has ended
System entering cooldown
Healing suspended for 6 hours
My body throbbed.
My hands were cracked. My ribs broken. My fire dim.
But I'd survived.
The Sanctum of Ash was mine.
And now—I had a choice.
Embrace the path of demons…
Or forge a new one.
Then I heard it.
A sound like metal scraping stone.
Rin froze.
Something moved in the shadows.
I sat up fast, every nerve screaming.
A hand reached out from the broken wall behind the altar.
But it wasn't human.
It was made of bone and black chain.
System alert:
Unknown entity awakening…
Title: Warden of the Forgotten
Class: Undead King
Status: Dormant → Active
Danger Level: Catastrophic
"Oh, come on…" I whispered.
The wall cracked wide open.
A second voice echoed through the chamber.
"Who dares sit upon my throne?"