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The Barrier: A magical wall that separates the human world from the demon world. This wall extends deep into the earth, and ordinary humans can never cross or penetrate it.
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The light of dawn began to creep across half the sky, while the other half remained shrouded in darkness. Adrian watched this division unfold before his eyes, where night and day met at the barrier separating the worlds of humans and demons. He rose slowly, his eyes examining his surroundings with curiosity.
He murmured in astonishment, "So... this is the barrier that separates humans from demons."
He took a few steps toward the barrier and looked through it.
"Their world looks similar to ours, doesn't it? I can see trees over there too..."
He frowned slightly and lightly tapped his head. "Of course they have trees, you idiot."
He turned toward the forest that led to the empire, but dozens of branching paths stretched out before him.
"And now... how am I supposed to find my way back?"
At that moment, his ears caught the sound of horse hooves approaching rapidly. "That sound... Could it be the imperial army? I have to tell them what happened!"
But before he could take a single step forward, unfamiliar hands reached out and dragged him into the dark side behind the barrier, leaving his necklace behind in a pool of blood.
Moments later, the cavalry arrived under the general's command, only to find the area drenched in blood. The general advanced cautiously, his heart growing heavier with every step, inwardly certain that he was far too late. Amid the blood, a faint glimmer caught his eye... He bent down and picked it up—it was Adrian's necklace, stained with blood. His expression froze, and his eyes filled with disappointment and profound sorrow.
Meanwhile, behind the barrier, Adrian was gasping for breath as he struggled to free himself from the grasp of the person who was firmly covering his mouth.
The general departed with his army, returning to the palace with the final piece of evidence of what he believed to be a tragedy. The man finally released Adrian, who fell to the ground, struggling to catch his breath.
"You must be out of your mind to dare speak to those humans," came a cold, mocking voice from behind him.
Adrian raised his gaze to see a young man with red eyes and long black hair reaching his waist. From his aura, it was clear that he was a powerful demon, and a sense of dread crept into Adrian's heart despite himself.
The demon smiled crookedly, revealing his fangs. "May I know what prompted a demon like you to wander around the human world?"
Adrian froze for a moment, then composed himself and stood up, saying, "Who's the demon here? I'm human! You're the one who dragged me into this world."
The demon's expression froze in shock. "Y-You mean you're not a demon? Heh... I just brought a human into our world? I'm finished!"
Adrian's tension eased a little when he saw the demon behaving like an idiot. Looking away, he said, "Well, in that case, I'll return to my world now."
But the moment he turned toward the barrier, the demon blocked his way again.
"Human boy, I haven't allowed you to leave yet."
Adrian clenched his fist, trying to suppress his fear. "My life seems miserable enough as it is—monsters first, and now a demon. Do I have to kill you to leave?"
He raised a small dagger that he had still possessed since waking up and charged at the demon with all the courage he had left.
The demon smiled cunningly, his eyes gleaming in the darkness, and eagerly retaliated.
The fight lasted no more than a minute—the difference in their strength was immense. Adrian, a weak human, stood against a demon with an overwhelming aura and innate magic. Even so, Adrian managed to land a few strikes in the air... before finally stopping in the face of the inescapable truth.
Adrian fell to the ground after receiving a single blow from the demon, which made him cough up blood before losing consciousness. The demon approached him slowly, his gaze studying Adrian's exhausted body before a sinister smile spread across his face.
"You seem a little interesting, boy," he said in a cold tone. Then, he effortlessly lifted Adrian with one hand and disappeared among the shadows of the trees, swallowed by the darkness.
~~~
Meanwhile, the emperor paced back and forth inside his office, consumed by worry as he impatiently awaited the general's return.
There was a knock at the door, and General Andrew entered with a respectful bow before speaking in a heavy, hesitant voice. "I regret to inform Your Majesty... that His Highness the Prince is indeed dead."
The emperor's face froze, and he stared at him in disbelief.
"What... what are you saying?!"
General Andrew repeated, "His Highness Prince Adrian is dead."
The emperor spoke with barely restrained anger. "That's impossible! If he's dead, where is his body? Did you come back just to tell me this nonsense?!"
The general fell silent for a few moments before the emperor shouted furiously and struck the table with his hand.
"Answer me, General!"
Andrew lowered his head in silence, then said in a low voice, "Your Majesty... the body is missing because..."
The emperor ordered him sharply, "Speak!"
Andrew answered after a moment of hesitation, "Because the monsters... apparently devoured him."
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
Andrew continued speaking while looking at the floor. "From the scene I witnessed, the area was covered in blood... It seems they tore him apart while he was still alive."
He approached the emperor with slow steps, then took a carefully wrapped handkerchief from his coat pocket. He unfolded it, revealing a bloodstained necklace.
"This is all that remains of him, Your Majesty... the necklace that Her Highness, the late Princess Diana, gifted him."
The emperor extended his trembling hand and took the necklace. He stared at it for a long time before collapsing to his knees.
Andrew cried out in concern, "Your Majesty! Are you all right?!"
But the emperor did not answer. He began to laugh in broken bursts, a mixture of pain and madness.
"Hahahaha... haha... haha! Don't joke with me. Have I just lost the empire's last hope?"
He continued, consumed by anger and madness. "Only Kieran remains. I cannot hand him the throne... His mother will rule in his place, and if she does, Aetheris will undoubtedly meet its end!"
He threw the necklace to the ground, shattering it.
"Everything is over."
The following day, the news was announced throughout the empire: "The Death of Prince Adrian for Unknown Reasons." The true cause of death was not disclosed, as revealing it would expose the fact that Adrian had been kidnapped and killed for political reasons, the most important of which was the succession to the throne.
A period of national mourning was declared, and red rose petals drifted through the capital's sky in honor of his memory. Meanwhile, the emperor's burden grew heavier due to the empress's insistence on appointing a new crown prince, along with the nobles who supported her words. As for Prince Kieran, he had isolated himself in his room and was no longer the same. He stopped speaking to anyone, as though he had been afflicted by an incurable illness.
Meanwhile, in the demon world, Adrian awoke to find himself in a strange place.
"Where am I?" he murmured softly.
He blinked slowly, trying to comprehend what had happened to him, and remembered the strange demon he had encountered and fought.
"Ah... I remember now. That bastard."
He turned his head to examine his surroundings, but suddenly grabbed hold of himself as a wave of dizziness overcame him.
"Damn... It seems my body really has grown weaker. I haven't eaten anything in days. How am I still alive?"
He rose cautiously and headed toward the door to open it, but the moment he did, he shut it immediately. He retreated several steps, then sat down on the bed, a faint smile appearing on his fear-stricken face.
"Haha... I'm done for."