Saruto sat atop a black rock, surrounded by devastation. The ground was cracked, lava still glowed in the fissures, and the scars of his battle with Agnarus were etched into the landscape. He sat silently, contemplating his surroundings.
In the demon realm, the cheers continued to rage like an unyielding storm, the crowds screaming his name, while the commentator continued his impassioned monologue, almost losing his voice.
But none of it reached Saruto. Only one voice. Paimon. "Saruto… are you alright?"
His voice echoed through the telepathic world, carrying a palpable concern. "What happened to you?"
Saruto raised his head slightly, his eyes gradually regaining their composure, and replied, "Don't worry, Paimon… I'm fine."
Paimon paused for a moment, as if to confirm the sincerity of his words, then said, "Well… since you're alright, I have a question."
Saruto smiled faintly. "Ask."
Paimon voice faltered this time, as if he didn't know how to phrase his question: "That energy you released... was... similar to Umbra's."
A short silence followed. Then Saruto said calmly, "Yes... you're right."
Paimon was slightly taken aback, then said, "I see... that explains everything."
But he didn't stop. "But... how did Ignarus's attacks disappear before they reached you?"
Saruto closed his eyes for a second, then said, "It's a skill I created myself... and it's still being developed."
He opened his eyes and stared into the distance. "I can teleport attacks... but not all of them. I can't control the powerful ones yet."
Then he added in a quiet tone, "I only used it... to confuse Ignarus. To make him think his attacks were useless."
Paimon was silent, then said admiringly, "A clever trick..."
Then he asked again, "So... where will you go next?"
Saruto rose slowly, brushing the dust from his clothes. "The cursed Zalgrad Mountains," he said.
Then he looked up. "They're the closest."
His voice hardened. "And I'll go straight to face the ancient dragon… Valzareth. I don't want to waste any more time."
Paimon sighed. "Very well… do as you please."
At that moment, a dark energy erupted from Saruto back, and two enormous wings of darkness formed. He slowly opened them and shot forth. Like an arrow, he pierced the abyss sky, heading for his next destination.
In one of the demon palaces, the atmosphere was entirely different. A heavy silence hung heavy with anger. Astaroth sat on her throne, her eyes narrowed sharply, while two pillars of the demon realm, Barbatos and Bathin, stood before her. "It seems Saruto… is capable of using the power of a ruler," Astaroth said coldly.
"Yes… and that will make gathering the other elements much easier for him," Bathin replied.
Barbatos took a step forward. "Astaroth… what's your suggestion for stopping him?"
She smiled faintly. "We'll let him go to the Zalgrad Mountains."
They both looked at her in surprise. "We'll let him face the ancient dragon… Valzareth."
Then she added, "If the dragon manages to defeat him… we'll have won without intervening."
"And if he wins?" asked Bathin.
Her smile widened slightly. "He'll be exhausted from the fight. And we'll wait for him… in the swamp of eternal oblivion."
She paused, then said more seriously, "And we'll help the Copyist… to eliminate him. It's impossible for him to face the four of us, even if he's only half-ruler."
Barbatos froze. "Isn't that a violation of the Four Calamities Test?" he asked anxiously.
"Yes… it is," Astaroth replied without hesitation.
Then she leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming. "But there's an exceptional rule. It allows demons to intervene… on the condition that they wager their positions as part of the prizes for the test."
Silence fell. Then, slowly, Bathin said, "That is… we will put our positions on the line."
"Exactly," Astaroth replied with deadly certainty.
Then, raising her hand slightly, as if settling the matter, she said, "We wager… on Saruto downfall."
The two dukes looked at each other for a moment, then Bathin said, "Very well… let's begin the wager."
Barbatos closed his eyes for a moment, as if he knew that what was about to happen would change everything.
And far away, Saruto was still flying. Toward a destiny that was growing ever darker.