The demonic cult had fallen into ruin.
The intruders who stormed through the first gate weren't just the religious alliance forces — every faction, every group once divided by belief or purpose, had set aside their differences to destroy the sect of the Heavenly Demon. They burned every hall and slaughtered every soul that bore the mark of the cult.
"Damn demonic head! Come out from your filthy hole!"
"Today, we will burn down this sinful place and uproot the evil that festers here!"
"Heavenly Demon! Show yourself this instant!"
Their shouts echoed through the ruined temple as the allied forces pushed deeper, finally reaching the grand hall — the abundant sanctum of the Great Leader, the so-called Heavenly Demon himself.
Amidst the screams and crackling flames, a new sound emerged — the heavy, deliberate rhythm of footsteps. The Heavenly Demon was coming.
The onlookers fell silent, glancing at one another with unease. They had come with confidence, prepared for every possibility, planned for every outcome. Before entering, they had convinced themselves that victory was certain.
But now, with each approaching step, that certainty began to crumble.
Yet still, the one they faced was no mere mortal — he was the core of the entire demonic cult, the leader who commanded the forces of evil. To hold such a position, the power he possessed had to be beyond measures. And that truth alone made their hearts tremble.
Eventually, from the den of the Heavenly Demon, a figure stepped out.
In appearance, he was otherworldly — a being that should not exist among mortals. He looked like a fallen deity, one cast down from the sky to rule the earth below. The mere weight of his presence sent waves of terror through the hearts of the so-called religious.
The Heavenly Demon gazed upon them — his predatory eyes sweeping across the hall. Under the cold gleam of that merciless stare, every religious warrior felt as if their souls were laid bare, stripped naked beneath the gaze of a predator.
And yet, despite the overwhelming dread, a few remarkable figures among them managed to steady their resolve. They clung to their courage, however fragile, before the mountain like terror that press upon them.
"Demon cult leader, surrender yourself!"
"Can't you see your cult is already dying? What's the use of struggling for something that's already dead? Peacefully surrender — the demons' time has passed."
They hoped the Heavenly Demon would surrender, that perhaps many lives could be spared here today.
The Heavenly Demon's divine gaze swept over the ruined land of the cult. All that remained was scorched earth and ruin. The once-beloved disciples of the sect now lay impaled upon spears, their bodies stuck to the ground like grim memorials, waving back and forth with wind akin to a flag— like trophies of victory for the religious alliance.
The Heavenly Demon's eyes darkened as he saw few remaining elders of his sect among them, some of whom had been close to him.
"The Demonic Cult has been at peace since the day I took the throne. Never did we harm the innocent, never did we invade another's land, nor did we interfere with the affairs of the outside world.
And yet… this is the reward we got?."
The Demon Leader's gaze fell upon the righteous faction, making them tremble beneath his presence.
"The evil cannot be forgotten. From the very beginning, the existence of the Demonic Cult was branded as the root of all evil — the perpetrator for the corruption that festers across our lands," one said, his voice calm but heavy.
"The wicked should be stopped here!" shouted another among the religious faction.
"Isn't the main thing you seek is the land our Demoic cult lives? For years it was the sole reason your sects stood firm against all our assaults. It's no surprise — more than our cult's downfall, what you truly seek is this land and the hidden value within it." the voice of the heavenly demon fall silencing those that dare to speak out loud.
"However, if you think I will hand it over to you willingly, you are greatly mistaken."
The atmosphere changed. The once-calm demeanor of the Heavenly Demon shifted. His emotions, previously veiled, now surfaced. Seeing that all drowned in silence, his presence alone seemed to consume the air.
"Come at me, all of you, you filthy sinners!"
The leader of the Demonic Cult lunged forward at the group of religious figures. A battle unfolded — one that shook both the land and the sky.
a fierce and unrelenting clash between the entirety of the religious forces and the solitary leader of the demonic faction. A battle that could have been easily won by sheer numbers if any ordinary enemy had faced them.
But the Heavenly Demon was anything but ordinary — he was the enigmatic, devastating force that roamed the earth itself. The battle unfolded in catastrophic fashion, testing those who dared claim victory.
Amidst the battle, there were cries of anguish and screams.
"Heavenly Demon, please… let me go!"
"We will surrender, Heavenly Demon! We are forced to obey the orders of the religious faction!"
"Heavenly Demon… I will curse you to death!"
As the screams faded, so too did the battle. After a long, catastrophic, and devastating clash, only a handful remained standing.
The Heavenly Demon was among them. The others were the renowned figures of the religious faction.
Sky slicing sword enu, earth swallowing Hinu and glory rising ashima are among them.
"The immortal fell from heaven…" one warrior exhaled his final breath, speaking the words as he collapsed to the ground. The rest were not in much better shape — not even the Heavenly Demon himself.
After a deadly battle, the remaining injured were left with only the life clinging to their bodies. The spears and swords of the righteous faction warriors had pierced the Heavenly Demon's flesh. His heart and every vital part had been grievously wounded.
Regeneration was possible, but it would take a long time. With the immense loss of blood and life, the Heavenly Demon knew he would die here.
In his final moments, he paid no mind to the few remaining figures. They too were at death's door, holding onto the last threads of life; soon, they would vanish alongside him.
At the very end, the Heavenly Demon appeared atop the peak of his ruined lair, his gaze sweeping over the entire cult. From that vantage, he saw all that remained of the Heavenly Demon's once-mighty sect. Sat upon the roof, he overlooked the remnants of the cult. From today forward, this stronghold — this bastion that had existed for eons — would come to an end.
Accepting this fact, the Heavenly Demon closed his eyes. There was nothing he could change — all that could be done, had been done. The religious faction was also finished, for all the powerful figures had been struck down by his own hand. Yet, unlike the dying cult, there remained a sliver of hope for the religious faction.
The Heavenly Demon felt the last vestiges of life leaving his body. He delved no further into the matters of the world. Peacefully and calmly, he let his life slip away.
However, just a moment before death, the Heavenly Demon opened his eyes wide.
"Where… in the hell of a place am I?" he questioned.