The sun hung low in the sky, its cruel light heating over the endless sea of golden dunes. A large group moved silently through the desolate desert, their once-vibrant spirits beaten down by the unforgiving terrain.
Aran Lam, the heir of the Lam family, led the way, his half-map to the Shrine of Eternal Sands clenched tightly in his hands. Beside him walked Roni, the rich lady with an imperious demeanor and a sharp tongue that lashed out at those who fell behind.
“Move it, you useless fools!” Roni’s voice cracked through the silence like a whip. “Do you want to die here in the sand? Faster!”
The weary men didn’t dare respond, their cracked lips and hollow eyes betraying their exhaustion. None wanted to be the next target of Roni’s insults, nor risk the wrath of Aran, whose sharp look cut through the crowd like a blade.
In the middle rows, Jean moved with a calm, predatory grace. She kept her head low but her eyes sharp, scanning the crowd and the horizon with equal vigilance. The only sound she made was the quiet crunch of her boots against the sand. Beside her, a timid young black woman stayed close, flinching at every movement around her.
Suddenly, a massive, burly man grabbed the black lady’s arm, pulling her toward him. “Come here, little mouse. Let’s keep each other company, eh?” he growled, a twisted smile splitting his cracked lips.
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The black lady whimpered, trying to pull away, but his grip tightened. Before he could say another word, there was a flash of silver.
Jean moved like lightning. In one swift motion, she grabbed the hilt of her blade and pointed it against the burly man’s throat. A thin line of blood appeared on his skin.
“Try it again… and I’ll make sure you never walk again.” Jean uttered,in a cold voice.
The man froze, his eyes wide with terror. Jean’s gaze was like a dagger through his soul, and for a moment, he believed she would follow through.
“L-Let go!” he stammered, releasing the black lady. Jean stepped back, wiping her blade on the hem of her cloak before sheathing it again.
The black lady turned to Jean with tearful eyes, her voice shaking. “Sister, my name is Gunji Zing. Thank you… for protecting me.”
Jean simply nodded, saying nothing. Words were unnecessary.
Up ahead, Aran glanced back briefly at the commotion as his gaze lingered over Jean.
Roni, who saw Aran’s interest in Jean, barked at the group. “Move faster, or I’ll leave every one of you to die here!”
The crowd began to shuffle forward again, Roni’s curses ringing in their ears. The journey was merciless, but no one dared disobey her or Aran. As they moved deeper into the desert, the sands swallowed their footprints, leaving no trace of their passing.
–
In the heart of the Demon Castle, the air itself trembled with rage. The massive throne room was lit by crimson torches, casting flickering shadows on the obsidian walls.
The Demon Emperor sat on his towering throne, his clawed hand gripping the armrest so tightly that cracks spidered across it. His red eyes glowed like molten lava as he glared at the trembling messengers before him.
“What did you say?” the Demon Emperor’s voice boomed, shaking the entire room. “Repeat that, you worthless worms!”
The lead messenger fell to his knees, his voice quivering. “M-Master! The seven demon generals… are dead. The spies reported that a strange old man with three drops of demon intent killed them all and saved the human boy, Kent.”
The room fell deathly silent. The Demon Emperor’s breathing grew heavier, his rage building like a volcanic eruption. Finally, he roared, his voice shaking the castle to its very foundations.
“WHAT A LUCKY BASTARD!” the Demon Emperor bellowed. “An old dwarf demon with 3 drops of demon intent? Who dares meddle in my affairs?! Do you fools understand how much I lost because of those generals?!”
The messengers cowered, pressing their foreheads to the cold stone floor.
“Find out who this old man is,” the Demon Emperor snarled, his claws digging into the throne’s armrest. “And as for Kent… I want him dead. No more games, no more chances. I want his head brought to me!”
The flames of the torches flared violently as the Demon Emperor rose to his feet, towering over the messengers like a god of wrath. He began pacing, his cloak billowing like storm clouds behind him.
“take elite assassins,” he growled, his voice dripping with venom. “And if that’s not enough, unleash the Void Beasts. I’ll tear that boy apart with my own hands if I must!”
The messengers nodded frantically, scrambling to relay the orders. As they left the throne room, the Demon Emperor sat back down, his mind racing.
“Kent… and the old man…” he muttered, his voice soft but deadly. “No one defies me and lives. Mark my words—you will suffer.”
–
At the gates of the Demon Castle, a thick fog hung low over the blackened ground. The castle loomed like a fortress of nightmares, its spires cutting through the sky like jagged teeth. Suddenly, the fog rippled as a figure appeared.
A young man strode confidently toward the castle entrance, his posture regal, his face calm yet commanding. He wore a dark, flowing cloak and carried an air of supreme authority. His eyes glowed faintly with an unsettling light, and his lips curved into a faint smirk.
The demon guards at the gate stiffened, their weapons raised.
“Stop right there, human!” one of them barked. “This is the Demon Emperor’s castle. You have no entry here.”
The young man didn’t break his advance. “Out of my way.”
The guards rushed toward him, their blades gleaming. The young man simply waved his hand, and an invisible force exploded outward. The demons were flung back like ragdolls, crashing into the castle walls with sickening thuds.
“My name is Phillip Quinn,” the young man said, his voice echoing unnaturally. “I am your new master. Bow before me.”
The demons roared in anger and charged again, but Phillip extended his hand. A dark energy erupted from his palm, swallowing the demons whole. Their screams were silenced as the energy devoured them, leaving behind nothing but ash.
“Pathetic,” Phillip muttered, stepping over the ashes as he entered the castle.
Deeper inside, more demons rushed to confront him. A demon king stepped forward, snarling. “You dare defile this sacred place?!”
Phillip smiled coldly. “Defile? No, I’m here to claim what’s mine.”
The demon king roared and charged, but Phillip whispered a single word:
“Oblivion.”
The demon king’s body froze mid-step, his face contorted in horror as cracks appeared across his skin. In moments, he shattered into a million shards of darkness.
“Goddess of Death and Destruction show your might. I brought you to the demon castle as promised.” Phillip murmured, his gaze lifted upward.
A soft, haunting voice echoed in his mind. “Yes, my Slave. This castle will soon be ours. Crush them all, and I shall be free once more.”
Phillip continued forward, his steps unhurried. The path to the throne room was littered with the bodies of those who dared oppose him. As he reached the massive doors to the throne room, he placed a hand against them.
“Demon Emperor, your reign ends today.” Phillip said, his voice ringing with finality.
With a surge of power, he blasted the doors open, stepping into the throne room as darkness swirled around him. The Demon Emperor rose from his throne, his crimson eyes blazing with fury.
“WHO DARES?!”
Phillip smiled. “Your new master, that’s who.”
–
*Expect the unexpected… Stay Tuned!