The woman planted herself in front of Kael like a living wall, rigid, immovable, almost as much as the authority she carried on her shoulders.
She did not need armor to intimidate; her gaze was enough. Her eyes, sharp as razors, scanned every detail of Kael with such brutal severity that it seemed she was about to slam him to the ground with sheer will.
Her mouth curved barely, just enough to show that her patience was already running out.
—Hey, new Demon King… —she said in a tone as polite as it was threatening— if you can, could you please present yourself to the others?
The way she emphasized the word please made it clear that it was not a plea, but an order in disguise.
Kael swallowed saliva.
His entire body trembled with a slight, almost imperceptible shudder. Anyone would swear he had faced monsters, but never angry women.
—I-I'm sorry… I'm going right now.
Upon hearing his apology, the woman exhaled deeply. The sound was almost a snort that relieved an inner volcano.
—Thank you. Come this way. The other races are already starting to get impatient… and believe me, you don't want to see those human diplomats losing their patience.
She pointed to the door at the end of the corridor, a tall door of black wood and metallic throats that seemed to form a mouth.
Kael, feeling smaller than a teenage goblin, followed her.
Upon crossing the threshold, the world widened.
The hall was immense.
The walls were covered with banners bearing demonic symbols, living runes and trophies from ancient wars. Red crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, like pulsating hearts suspended in the air.
And there, concentrated in the center, they waited for him.
Counts of volcanic regions, dukes of beast clans, vampiric kings, shamans of shadowy tribes, insectoid sorcerers, generals of bluish skin, and creatures whose names Kael probably did not want to know.
All formed a solemn semicircle.
And when they saw him enter…
A silence so strong it almost hurt fell.
«The system suggests that you remain calm. No one knows you. No one knows what you are like.»
(Yes, sure.
As if that helped when more than ten races want to analyze if you are worth it as a leader… or as meat to negotiate.)
Kael breathed deeply, puffing out his chest as if he carried the heaviest crown in the underworld. He did not know if he was walking toward his presentation or toward his social execution.
The nobles reacted instantly.
Hands extended.
Tense smiles.
Eyes that measured him like a newly forged weapon.
Some inclined their heads in respect, others showed curiosity, and a few… that venomous look that recognizes weakness and thinks in strategies.
Kael shook hands, said his name so many times he almost forgot how it sounded, and listened to titles so long they could serve as spells.
When the air became too dense, a young maid appeared to his right. She was small, with a kind face, short hair and polished movements. But urgency shone in her eyes.
—My lord, it is time for you to go out to the balcony. Everyone awaits your presentation as the new Demon King.
That was when Kael felt a shiver run down his spine, like an icy finger tracing his column.
It was fear.
Of course it was fear.
A Demon King trembling.
What delicious irony.
But he breathed, straightened up and walked toward the red curtains at the back.
When he opened them…
the light of the world hit him head-on.
And he saw everything.
The plaza was gigantic, formed by black stone and blue fire that sprang up like natural lighting. Thousands and thousands of demons and from all races filled the space, waving banners, howling, clashing weapons against armor.
The energy was so immense that Kael felt the ground vibrate under his feet.
They were there for him.
For his name.
For his title.
For his promise of a new reign.
A boy who yesterday barely understood his world…
and today was the heart of an empire.
He felt as if the entire sky was examining him, waiting for his breath.
«The Demon King presents himself to his people.
Now is the time to begin the story.»
The system's words resonated in his head like a divine bell.
Kael opened his mouth.
But then…
The western sky cracked.
Golden lightning.
Not light.
Not common magic.
Lightning.
Falling like divine spears, like the fury of a forgotten god piercing the clouds.
The air burned.
The ground vibrated.
The entire plaza fell silent.
An immense golden light descended, splitting the world in two.
«Notification to the Demon King:
The heroes have been summoned and sent upon your emergence.
Now you are at war.
You must seek allies among the races if you do not wish to die.
Final notification.»
(Wait, wait… what did you say!?)
But before he could mentally shout at the system, a warrior burst onto the balcony.
His face was white as ash.
—Lord Demon King! You must evacuate immediately! The human race has set a trap for us! They have declared war on us! You must head to the capital of the demonic domain, Incendiato!
Kael opened his mouth…
And at that instant…
A gigantic golden lightning bolt fell right in front of him.
The light was so blinding that it forced him to cover his eyes.
From inside that glow…
a silhouette began to descend.
A human being.
A hero.
—Lord Demon King, there is no time! —shouted another soldier.
The system exploded in alerts.
«Danger.
Danger.
Danger.
Hero detected.
Recommended retreat.
It is not time to fight.
Danger.»
Kael felt his heart race uncontrollably.
And then, a new window:
«Skills unlocked.
Access to the skill: Abyss Record.»
—Abyss Record? What is that for?
«Allows you to see stats and natural weaknesses of enemies.
Warning: incomplete or manipulated information.»
—So… garbage.
And another window appears.
«Second unique skill available.
Single use.
Unrepeatable opportunity.
Skill: Adaptation.
Allows you to adapt to any situation: combat, diplomacy, mental, physical.
Activate or deny.»
Kael searched inside himself for a trace of sarcasm… he found none.
—Don't I have anything else?
«No.
Accept Adaptation: yes or no.»
Kael clenched his fist.
—I accept.
«Skill Adaptation activated.
Cannot be deactivated.
Process initiated.»
His body began to glow.
Black.
Dark.
Like living ink spilling over a star.
A dense energy swirled around him, lifting his hair, trembling in the air, activating something ancient and deep.
The Demon King's aura was born.
And right at that instant…
The golden figure descended one meter more.
The demonic soldiers acted instantly, surrounding Kael, forming a living wall between him and the hero who was about to appear.
—Open a portal! —roared a general.
The mages slammed their hands against the ground.
Runes appeared, spinning, igniting with crimson fire.
The air tore, opening a portal dark as an abyss.
—My lord, this way! It is not time to fight! And even less in enemy territory! —shouted a mage, holding the violently trembling portal.
The golden light touched the ground.
The silhouette almost materialized.
One more step… and the hero would appear.
—My lord! —shouted another soldier— Get in NOW!
Kael hesitated.
Only one second.
The worst second.
—KAEL, GO! —they all roared in unison.
And he jumped.
His body disintegrated into black particles that merged with the portal. The sensation was horrible: as if every part of his body melted and turned to water.
The world stretched, bent, swallowed itself.
And then…
He was spat out on the other side.
The magical rift closed with a dry thud.