The day the ancient pen chose Zai'gar, the Demon Queen Lilith summoned the finest warriors of her realm. Among them, she selected a personal tutor for the boy—someone who would shape him into both a fighter and a master of the pen's mysterious power.
Zai'gar, still small but already brimming with curiosity, waited in the courtyard of the demon palace. His golden eyes stared at the training grounds, the stones blackened from countless battles fought there. Today would mark the beginning of his true path.
The ground trembled as a towering figure approached. His presence was suffocating. Muscles like iron, skin scarred by hundreds of wars, and on his back rested a long, sealed blade that pulsed faintly with blue fire. This was General Draxus, one of Lilith's most trusted warriors.
When he stopped before Zai'gar, his voice was like thunder.
— "If you wish to be strong, boy, you must abandon the idea of ease. You will train day and night, and when you are not training, you will study. Strength without wisdom is nothing but wasted flesh."
Zai'gar clenched his fists, his young heart beating fiercely.
— "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes."
Draxus smirked faintly.
— "Then your first lesson… summon a knight."
The boy lifted the ancient pen, its surface gleaming with a dark, living glow. He had never drawn under such pressure. With shaky hands, he etched lines into parchment. A skeletal knight emerged—bones rattling, its armor cracked, sword barely holding together. It staggered forward, pitifully weak.
Draxus crossed his arms.
— "Pathetic… but promising. To call forth anything at your first attempt means the pen has accepted you. That alone is a victory."
For the first time, Zai'gar felt the spark of pride.
---
That night, when sleep took him, he found himself standing in a dreamscape of swirling ink and endless parchment. Before him hovered the ancient pen, larger than life, its tip glowing like an ember.
A voice echoed from it, deep and ancient:
— "Show me your true power, child. Only then will I acknowledge you as my rightful master. Until that day, I am merely lending myself to you. But if you succeed, I will remain by your side forever, bound by oath and blood."
Zai'gar bowed his head.
— "Then I'll prove myself. One day, you will call me your master without hesitation."
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Years slipped by like shadows. Three long years of relentless training. Zai'gar, once a trembling child, was now nine years old—his body lean, his eyes burning with determination. He no longer summoned weak skeletons; his creations carried weight, presence, and power.
Every day he sparred against Draxus, and every day he fell. But slowly, he grew. His hand became steady, his strokes sharper. And then came the day he finally knocked the general to the ground with a well-timed strike.
Breathing heavily, Zai'gar raised his pen, a grin spreading across his face. Draxus stood, brushing dust from his armor. For the first time in years, he looked satisfied.
— "You've done well, boy. But your training is not yet complete. There remains one final lesson."
Zai'gar's heart raced.
— "What lesson?"
— "Defeat me. Tonight. If you can bring me down in battle, then your path as a warrior begins in truth. And know this—the Queen herself will watch. If you succeed, she will grant you the right to challenge her in battle, once in your lifetime."
The boy froze. To fight his teacher was one thing, but to one day duel the Demon Queen herself… his chest burned with both fear and excitement.
— "I'll do it. Tonight, I'll give everything."
---
Night fell. The moon hung crimson above the demon palace. Servants, guards, and noble demons gathered around the courtyard to witness the duel. Torches blazed, their flames dancing across armor and stone. At the center stood Draxus, silent, unmoving.
For three years, he had never once drawn his sword. But now, with a slow motion, he unsheathed it. The long blade burst into blue fire, lighting the courtyard with a deadly glow. Gasps echoed among the onlookers.
Zai'gar felt his throat tighten. He had never seen his master's weapon. But fear could not bind him now. He tightened his grip on the pen.
— "Begin!"
Zai'gar's first stroke birthed the Moonlight Knight. Armor gleamed silver, sword raised high, its body moving as if alive. From a distance, Zai'gar controlled it like a puppeteer, guiding every strike. The knight charged at Draxus with impossible speed.
But with a single swing, the general's blazing sword cleaved through it. The knight shattered, falling to pieces of silver dust.
The boy's chest ached. Yet his hand moved again—swift, desperate, determined. His pen etched a new form.
This time, a roar shook the courtyard. The ink bled into reality, shaping scales, wings, and burning eyes. The Dragon Lord rose, towering over the battlefield, far stronger than any summon he had shown before.
Whispers rippled through the crowd. None had seen such a beast summoned by a mere child.
The dragon lunged, fire pouring from its maw. Draxus swung his sword, blue fire clashing with crimson flame, the ground cracking beneath them. The courtyard shook as power beyond reason collided.
At last, with a final cry, the dragon's claw struck the general's chest, sending him crashing to the ground. His sword extinguished, and silence fell over the courtyard.
For a moment, no one moved. Then, slowly, the general rose to one knee. He looked at Zai'gar with a faint, rare smile.
— "You've done it. You are no longer just my student. From this day, you walk your own path."
Cheers erupted. Servants cried out his name, guards slammed their weapons in salute.
And at the edge of the courtyard, Queen Lilith herself stood, eyes gleaming with pride.
— "Zai'gar… you have proven yourself worthy. From now on, whenever you desire, you may challenge me. But know this—you will only have one chance."
Zai'gar's heart thundered. One day, he would face the Queen herself.
That night, she summoned him to her chambers. For the first time, her voice softened. She spoke of her son, Kairus—the usurper who had slain her husband, Azrael.
Zai'gar listened in silence, then raised his head.
— "I swear to you, my Queen… I will defeat your son. I will avenge the King. And I will claim the destiny that is mine."
Lilith's crimson lips curved into a cold smile.
— "Then the true story of Zai'gar begins now."
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End of Chapter 2
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