The ground shook for miles as the storm clouds above twisted into spirals of black and violet. The air itself burned with dark energy, and at the center of that raging maelstrom, the Gates of the Abyss stood — two colossal obsidian monoliths carved with the names of ancient kings and fallen gods. The gate was not just a doorway; it was alive, breathing, pulsing with the energy of the underworld.
Kaien Draven stood at the edge of the abyssal valley, his cloak whipping violently in the wind. His armor was cracked, his sword still humming faintly from the death of Varaxis. He could taste the raw power ahead — thicker, heavier than anything he had ever faced.
He had followed the Citadel's collapse to this place. The last message carved in fire upon its ruins had read:
"The path to the true king begins at the Gates."
Now, that path stood before him, drenched in lightning and shadow.
Kaien drew in a slow breath and whispered, "So this is where the abyss truly begins."
The wind howled in response, and the gates began to stir. Massive chains of molten silver slithered around the edges, locking and unlocking like breathing serpents. Between the cracks, faint red light leaked through — the glow of an entire dimension waiting to devour the world.
Then came the sound — a low, resonant heartbeat echoing through the valley. Boom. Boom. Boom. Each pulse sent tremors through the ground.
Kaien gripped his sword. "He's awake."
The ground split apart beneath his feet. From the fissures crawled a legion of demons — hundreds, their bodies made of smoke and bone, their eyes burning like dying suns. The air filled with the stench of sulfur and death.
Kaien raised Noxveil, the cursed blade gleaming faintly in the stormlight. "One gate," he muttered. "One army."
The first demon lunged. Kaien moved before it even hit the ground. His sword carved through the creature's chest, the cut releasing a wave of black fire that tore through five more behind it. The battle began instantly.
The valley became chaos — blades flashing, claws raking, shadows shrieking. Kaien spun and struck, his aura flaring like a storm. Every swing was precise, every movement lethal. The energy from Noxveil devoured the darkness around him, feeding off each kill.
Dozens fell. Then hundreds. Still, they kept coming.
Kaien's breathing grew heavy, sweat and blood dripping from his jaw. For a moment, he felt the edges of exhaustion creeping in. Then — a faint voice brushed against his mind.
"You're not alone."
Kaien froze mid-strike. He knew that voice.
Lira.
Far above the cliffs, a wave of white light burst through the storm. Lira descended, wrapped in holy energy, her staff blazing like a comet. She struck the ground beside him, releasing a radiant explosion that vaporized a dozen demons at once.
"Miss me?" she said, her voice shaking but defiant.
Kaien let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh. "You're late."
"Had to seal the Citadel behind you first." She turned, eyes blazing. "Looks like you couldn't wait."
"No time to wait," he said, swinging again as another demon charged. "The gates are waking."
Together they fought, light and shadow clashing side by side. Kaien's blade ripped through the horde with dark precision, while Lira's light burned through the sky like dawn itself. For the first time since Arctis fell, Kaien didn't feel like he was fighting alone.
But then, the storm went silent.
All motion stopped. The demons froze, their bodies trembling, then kneeling as one. Kaien turned sharply, his instincts screaming.
From the heart of the gate, something stepped through the red light.
It wasn't the Demon King — not yet — but one of his mightiest guards. A creature of pure abyssal essence, ten feet tall, its body made of obsidian armor and molten veins. A massive spear rested on its shoulder, and its voice was deep enough to shake the sky.
"I am Azrael, the Warden of the Gate," it said. "No mortal passes through alive."
Kaien stepped forward, his sword raised. "Then I'll die breaking it."
Lira whispered urgently, "Kaien, wait — that's no ordinary demon. He's—"
"I know," Kaien said, his eyes burning crimson. "That's why he dies first."
Azrael moved faster than anything his size should have. The spear came down with a crash that shattered the earth, sending Kaien flying backward. He landed hard, rolling across the rocks, his ribs cracking.
Lira cried out, unleashing a wave of light to hold the creature back, but Azrael swung his spear again, dispersing her magic with one strike.
Kaien forced himself up, blood dripping from his mouth. "So that's how it's gonna be."
He extended his left hand, summoning the mark on his chest. The abyssal sigil blazed to life — black fire surging from his veins. His aura exploded outward, shaking the valley.
Azrael tilted his head. "You wield the King's mark."
Kaien's voice came low, cold, dangerous. "Then maybe I'll show you how it's really used."
They collided again — faster, louder, harder. Every strike split the sky. Kaien's sword met Azrael's spear in a storm of sparks and darkness. The force of their battle rippled across the mountains, breaking the stone like glass.
Lira watched, awe and fear mingling in her eyes. She had seen Kaien fight a hundred battles — but never like this. His movements were sharper, almost inhuman, as though something ancient had awakened inside him.
Azrael swung his spear, channeling a vortex of black flame. Kaien raised Noxveil and absorbed the energy into the blade, then unleashed it back in a single, devastating slash. The shockwave tore through the gate's outer walls.
Azrael roared, his body cracking. "Impossible!"
Kaien's eyes glowed brighter. "Nothing's impossible when you've already lost everything."
He surged forward, driving Noxveil through the Warden's chest. The sword sank deep, drinking the demon's power. Azrael screamed, his form unraveling into black smoke before shattering completely.
When it was over, Kaien dropped to one knee, panting heavily. The rain washed blood from his hands.
Lira rushed to him. "Kaien—"
He raised a hand. "I'm fine."
But his gaze was fixed on the gate. It was still pulsing — still alive. The battle hadn't stopped it.
Lira looked up at it, eyes wide. "It's opening."
Kaien pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his chin. "Then we go in."
"Kaien, we're not ready—"
He looked at her, eyes burning with quiet fire. "We'll never be ready. But if we wait, the world dies."
The gate's cracks widened, spilling blinding red light across the valley. Wind roared, carrying the sound of thousands of screams from the other side.
Kaien stepped forward, Noxveil humming at his side. "Ethan… if you're watching, I'm still keeping my promise."
And with that, he and Lira stepped through the light — into the abyss itself.
The Gates slammed shut behind them, leaving only silence in their wake.
Far above, in the distant sky, the Demon King's laughter echoed like thunder.