Raya and Lucifer walked through the tower.
The higher floors were quiet, Raya was met only by the respectful greetings of each floor master.
Those upper levels were nearly empty, polished and orderly, but the deeper they descended, the more the refinement faded.
The walls lost their decorative carvings. The light dimmed, shifting from artificial glow to dull torchlight.
After passing the tenth floor, they finally reached the ground floor.
Raya slowed his pace, Lucifer immediately adjusted to match him.
"This is the ground floor, the main entrance of the tower, my lord," Lucifer said. "It also serves as housing for lesser demons, prisons for other races, and… entertainment grounds."
Raya didn't respond. Only now did he have the leisure to truly observe the ground floor, unlike his first time here, when he had been dragged in as a human prisoner.
In fact he just noticed that the ground floor was hundred times larger than the others. It felt like an entire town thriving within the tower.
Demons moved everywhere, buying and selling, children running through the streets, lesser demons mingling with mid-level ones, even a few high-rank demons walking openly among them.
The moment both old and young demons noticed Raya's presence, everything stopped. One by one, they bowed deeply to the Demon Lord.
"Who is in charge of this floor?" Raya asked, not sparing them a glance.
"No one, my lord," Lucifer replied.
Lucifer noticed the slight shift in Raya's expression and assumed the Demon Lord was questioning how such a place remained orderly.
"My lord, worry not. Even though no one governs this floor directly, no demon would dare cause trouble. Anyone who does faces the wrath of all Arch-demons," Lucifer said proudly.
Raya only nodded once.
"Then where is the shouting coming from?" he asked, that had been his real question.
"That would be the arena," Lucifer replied. "Perhaps you desire some entertainment? This way, my lord."
Lucifer led him eagerly.
"Trust me, my lord, you will love the arena. Though… an unfortunate incident occurred today. A lucky arena champion escaped during your birth. The demons are still searching for him," Lucifer continued, blabbering on.
Raya remained silent, If he spoke, he would expose himself.
After all, he had been that lucky arena champion, the prisoner who had escaped.
Finally, they reached the prison corridor.
The sound of chains shifting echoed through the halls, someone coughed, a low hoarse laugh rose briefly, then died abruptly.
Cells stretched along both sides of the corridor, iron bars embedded directly into the stone.
Some were empty, doors hanging open. Others were occupied, humans, demi-humans, dwarves, elves with dull eyes and spirits broken. A few were so thin they barely looked alive.
Most didn't even react to the demons passing by.
Raya stopped in front of a cell, It was the same one he had been thrown into when he was still human.
Now, another unlucky soul occupied it.
Inside, a man sat against the wall. His eyes flicked up for half a second, then dropped back to the floor.
Raya's chest tightened, the memories returned without warning.
The way the ground felt harder when you knew you might die on it, the sound of demons arguing over odds while you waited to be called.
He turned away, across the corridor, the space opened up, it was the 'Colosseum'.
It was massive, carved downward in layers, stone seats circling a wide pit of sand, just as he remembered it.
The walls were stained darker where blood had soaked in again and again.
Scratches scarred the edges…weapon marks, claw marks, proof of battles that had not ended cleanly.
Raya stepped closer to the railing.
For a moment, he could hear it again.
'The crowd, The laughter and The pure madness'
His grip tightened until his claws scraped against the stone.
"…This place," he said quietly, instinctively clutching his left arm.
Lucifer didn't understand the Demon Lord's reaction, but he dared not question it.
"Yes, my lord?" Lucifer replied.
Raya looked down into the pit and exhaled slowly.
"Summon whoever is in charge of the prison and the arena."
Nearby demons stiffened and hurried off.
Raya stayed where he was, he didn't need to look around to know that the other demons in the arena were watching now.
High-rank demons and wardens, all gathered quickly.
A bulky demon stepped forward, his armor dented and stained.
"My lord," he said carefully. "Is there an issue?"
Raya turned to face him, "Yes."
He then gestured toward the cells, then toward the arena.
"All this ends."
The demon blinked, "Ends…?"
"All of it," Raya said. "The prisons, the fights, the slave system on this floor."
"My lord," the demon said slowly, "this sector provides entertainment and discipline…"
Lucifer stepped forward and stood beside him.
"Repeat what you were about to say," Lucifer said calmly.
The demon swallowed, "…Nothing, Arch-Demon Lucifer."
He turned sharply to his subordinates.
"Open every cell. The Demon Lord has ordered it!"
A few demons hesitated.
The warden's gaze swept over them, fury burning in his eyes.
"Now!" he roared.
Keys were produced. Locks clicked open. Chains fell away.
At first, the prisoners didn't move.
Confusion filled their eyes, what was happening?
Then one stepped forward, then another.
A beastkin collapsed the moment his shackles were removed.
An elf stared at his own hands, as if expecting the chains to reappear.
A human woman shrank back when she noticed Raya's horns, pressing herself against the wall.
Raya saw it, he simply looked away.
"Escort them out," he said. "Anyone too weak to move, carry them outside the tower. What happens next is up to them."
Lucifer relayed the order instantly.
Some demons looked displeased, but none dared object.
As the floor emptied, the arena fell silent.
Raya remained until the last prisoner was gone.
Lucifer returned to his side.
"It is done," he said. "The wardens have been reassigned. This sector will be sealed."
Raya nodded, "Good."
He began walking again and left the arena, leaving it behind.
After a while, Lucifer spoke.
"My lord."
"Don't question me," Raya said.
"…Very well," Lucifer replied.