Awakening to a Nightmare
It was not a morning of light, but an extension of a long night that refused to end. The tribe awoke not to the sounds of nature, but to the weight of catastrophe. They found their homes reduced to rubble, with tongues of flame and thick smoke rising into the sky—as if they were trapped in an eternal, waking nightmare.
In the midst of the devastation, seven statues stood tall, casting an eerie chill that numbed the bones of any who looked upon them. The mystical portals remained open, gaping wounds in the fabric of the world, leaving everyone in a state of bewildered terror. Yet, amidst the chaos, flickers of hope appeared. Heroes began evacuating the survivors to shelters, while others labored to mend what remained. At the heart of it all was Volac, the son of the chieftain, who bore the crushing weight of leadership, guiding his people through their darkest hour.
II. The Silent Chamber
Away from the external tumult, a heavy silence reigned in the room where Andrei lay. He was motionless, his body a map of white bandages concealing a gruesome truth: skin torn away and a spirit hovering precariously between life and death.
The Frost Lord sat beside him, burdened by a leaden remorse. He stared at the broken body as if reading the ledger of his own failures. He whispered in a fractured voice:
"Andrei... this was not your fault. It was mine. I am a failed leader. If only I had been strong enough to suppress that demon and free you, you would be standing tall right now. None of this would have happened."
The confession was interrupted by the frantic opening of the door. Emily entered, and the moment her eyes fell upon her brother, her heart shattered. She rushed to his side, grasping his cold hand, her voice trembling with raw fear: "Andrei... my brother."
The Frost Lord looked at her with hollow eyes. "Emily, I am sorry. I couldn't protect him."
Emily snapped her gaze toward him, her voice sharp with denial. "Why are you apologizing? Nothing has happened to my brother. He is merely taking a short nap. He has survived things like this before, and he will rise again. I am certain... he will wake up."
The Frost Lord gripped his necklace tightly, her words cutting deeper than any blade, while the silence of the room grew stifling.
III. The Tribunal of the Soul
In a realm parallel to reality, Andrei found himself lying on soft grass beneath a crystal-clear sky and a gentle breeze. He opened his eyes to find himself in a familiar, haunting place: the high court where the contract of demonic control had first been forged.
"Awake at last?"
Andrei turned toward the voice. There stood the Demon King. Andrei smiled weakly. "So... how does it feel to experience death?"
The demon erupted in a mocking laugh that shook the air. "Death? What nonsense are you babbling, you 'vessel'? We haven't died. We are simply elsewhere."
Andrei's smile faded as he looked around. The lamp-bearers stood like statues, watching in absolute silence as if waiting for a cosmic sentence.
"Good," Andrei muttered. "For a moment, I thought we had entered Heaven. That would have been a cruel joke."
The Demon King sneered. "Heaven? For you and me? We know each other too well. Heaven for the likes of us would be a violation of justice itself. But speaking of justice, we have matters to settle."
IV. The Clash of Wills
Without warning, the Demon King lunged forward, his fist colliding with Andrei's face. "Take this for ruining my plans!"
He struck again. "And this! Do you have any idea how long I must wait to find another host?"
Andrei did not falter. He swung back with equal fury. "I don't care! You will pay for wasting this life. Go back to hell!"
The two traded blows and accusations. The demon roared as he struck:
"You don't deserve another life, you rotten vessel! Tell me, what have you achieved? Did you save the orphans? No. Did you save the villagers? No. Did you protect the Chief? No! Even the girl you call sister—did you save her? No! You will die soon without fulfilling a single promise. After all this failure, you still want to live? Don't make me laugh!"
Andrei caught the demon's fist, his eyes burning with rage. "You're right. I failed them all. Not Uncle Albert, not the village, not the Chief. But I will cling to life for one reason: Revenge. I will avenge Uncle Albert and Sister Oulette. I will kill the bastard who murdered Emily's mother. So I will live... I will live in spite of you!"
Andrei landed a blow that sent the demon reeling. The Demon King began to laugh hysterically, a sound of pure madness.
"Revenge? How? You have no power except through me! You are weak! And more importantly, you fool... except for the one who killed Emily's mother, the person responsible for every other tragedy is one and the same!"
Blinded by rage, Andrei tackled the demon to the ground. "Who did it? Tell me who is responsible!"
The demon sneered, blood coating his teeth. "I know... but why would I tell a dying insect like you? Find the culprit in the next world!"
Andrei rained blows upon the demon's face until his hands were stained red. But the demon only laughed harder. "Is this all? With this pathetic strength, you are nothing!"
The tide turned instantly. The Demon King delivered a blow that launched Andrei into the air, followed by another that skipped him across the ground like a stone on water. He continued the brutal assault until Andrei could no longer move. The demon placed his foot on Andrei's chest, grinding it down. "How is the view from the bottom, insect?"
Andrei, summoning his final spark of strength, grabbed the demon's ankle. "Why don't you come down here and see for yourself?" With a sudden jerk, he pulled the demon to the floor.
V. The Judge Arrives
In the heat of the struggle, a stranger appeared, carrying an extinguished lamp. As he reached the judge's platform, the wick ignited with a brilliant, holy flame.
"Heal them, and bring them before me," the figure commanded.
The light washed over them, and instantly, Andrei's wounds vanished. He stood up, his strength fully restored. He looked at the stranger, whom he did not recognize, but the Demon King knew him instantly.
"Well... if it isn't my old friend," the demon said with a wicked grin. "The very reason for my imprisonment. Urog. Are you the one who will judge us?"
Urog replied with cold authority:
"I see that even after all these centuries, you haven't changed, Demon King. Yes. I am the one who shall decide your fates. Let the trial begin."