After General Alan and the swordsman Cairo finally managed to find Zygar and Celia, the four of them rested in a small wooden hut. Zygar explained everything that had happened in the demon market—the sudden ambush, Celia's terrible wound, and how he had barely managed to save her life.
Cairo frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
— This doesn't feel random… It's definitely the work of one of Azaroth's men.
Alan nodded grimly.
— Yes. Azaroth will stop at nothing. He has surely ordered the great demons to kill you, Zygar… and to kill all of us too.
Zygar looked at him, puzzled.
— Then who exactly are these Five Great Demons you keep mentioning?
Alan let out a deep sigh, his eyes dark with memory.
— They are commanders of the abyss. Each one holds power equal to the Four Ancient Demons combined. They are feared even in Hell. And… I myself carry the power of one of those Four Ancients.
Celia's eyes widened.
— What? You never told us that!
Alan's voice was low, almost a whisper.
— Because it is a secret only Queen Lilith and I share. If Azaroth learns that I wield this power, he will hunt me down and kill me first. That is why I never dared to unleash my true strength.
Zygar clenched his fists, anger burning in his chest.
— No matter who was behind the ambush… I swear I will find the one who hurt Celia, and I will end them with my own hands.
The next morning, Celia awoke, her wounds miraculously healed thanks to the blood pact ritual Zygar had performed. She smiled weakly.
— Thank you… for saving me.
The group felt relief, but their journey could not stop. They continued traveling through the cursed forest until they reached a ruined village.
The houses were torn apart, smoke still rising from burned wood, and injured villagers limped through the wreckage. Zygar looked around, unsettled.
— This is wrong. I've studied this place before—this village was always lively, full of joy. But now… it's like death has claimed it.
When Zygar tried asking the villagers what had happened, they recoiled in fear, running away from him. Suddenly, an old man with a long white beard appeared.
— Don't be afraid! These travelers mean no harm!
He introduced himself as the village elder and led the group to his home. After they sat, the elder spoke, voice heavy with sorrow.
— For three nights, monsters have attacked our village. They come in great numbers and take away our women.
Celia gasped.
— That's horrible… but why women?
The elder shook his head.
— We do not know. But we have heard whispers that one of the Five Great Demons commands them. We are innocent people—we have done nothing to deserve this.
Then, with trembling hands, he bowed before Zygar.
— Please… save our village. If they come again tonight, we will not survive.
Zygar quickly pulled him up.
— Stand tall. We too seek the Five Great Demons. I promise—we will defend your home tonight.
---
The Night of the Attack
When night fell, silence covered the broken village. The group waited with their weapons ready, while fear gnawed at the hearts of the villagers. Hours passed. Finally, at midnight, the ground began to shake with the footsteps of monsters.
Dozens of creatures, twisted and snarling, poured into the streets. There were nearly fifty of them, led by a towering commander.
— They're here! Alan roared, raising his spear.
The battle began. Cairo rushed forward, his new blade gleaming under the moonlight. With one devastating strike, he cut down ten monsters. Their bodies fell, hissing into black smoke.
Zygar sketched quickly with his magic pen, summoning the Knight Lord. The towering figure appeared in a burst of energy and, with one mighty swing of his sword, destroyed thirty-two monsters at once.
The remaining creatures panicked, their command structure collapsing. Many fled in terror, abandoning their leader.
Zygar advanced toward the commander, his eyes burning with fury.
— So, all of this… was your doing?
The commander trembled, dropping his weapon.
— No, no… I was only following orders! If I disobey her, she will kill me!
— Her? Zygar demanded.
— Yes… one of the Five Great Demons. Please, spare me! I will do whatever you ask!
Zygar's voice was cold.
— Then take me to her.
---
Descent into Hell
The commander reluctantly obeyed and led Zygar to a vast cave in the mountains. From within came an ominous aura, suffocating and dark.
Zygar stepped forward, shouting into the shadows.
— I know you're here! Come out and face me!
A woman's laughter echoed through the cavern, cold and haunting. She emerged wearing a crimson dress, her beauty both terrifying and alluring. Her eyes glowed like embers.
— Oh… it has been a long time since anyone dared call me out like that. I will enjoy killing you, boy.
With a flick of her finger, reality twisted. Before Zygar could react, both he and the demoness were dragged into another realm. Fire consumed the skies, rivers of lava flowed endlessly—it was Hell itself.
Zygar looked around in shock.
— What is this place?
The woman smiled.
— This is my home. I was born in Hell, and here you will die.
Meanwhile, back in the village, Alan, Cairo, and Celia waited nervously. They did not know where Zygar had gone. Their stomachs growled. Alan groaned.
— What now? We don't even know if he's alive…
Cairo shrugged.
— Let's eat something. We can't fight on empty stomachs.
So, while Zygar faced death in Hell, his companions sat together, sharing bread in silence.
---
The Final Battle
The demoness raised her hand, and with a single strike she shattered half of Hell's landscape, proving her terrifying power.
— Fight, Zygar. If you don't, you will die within seconds.
Zygar smirked.
— Good. I wasn't planning to sit back anyway.
He unleashed his battle form, his aura flaring like lightning. The ground cracked beneath him as he charged forward. With a powerful slash, he managed to wound the demoness, but her body healed instantly.
— Tch… her regeneration is insane. I need to get serious.
He sketched quickly, summoning the Dragon Lord Chi, a massive draconic spirit infused with demonic energy. Together, they unleashed an attack so powerful it split Hell itself apart.
Zygar then fused the dragon's essence into his pen, transforming it into a blazing sword. With one final, devastating strike, he cut through the demoness's defenses.
Blood spilled, and for the first time, she staggered. She laughed weakly, a strange peace on her face.
— At last… I can rest. You've freed me from endless torment…
Her body dissolved into ash, and as her final act, she whispered to Hell itself:
— Collapse.
The realm crumbled, fire and stone vanishing into nothingness. Zygar was suddenly pulled back, reappearing in the mortal world where he had first entered the cave.
He stood silently, his sword fading back into the form of the magic pen. The demoness's last words echoed in his mind:
"Finally… I can rest."
Zygar clenched his jaw, staring at the sky. He knew this was only the beginning. The Five Great Demons were real, and one had already fallen. Four more remained.
---