In a realm that defied the boundaries of life and death, a place between reality and oblivion, seven figures gathered in a circle. It was a void of eternal darkness, an in-between space where time held no sway and existence was a mere whisper against the black canvas of nothingness.
Their forms were obscured, indistinct against the abyss, but their eyes—each set aglow with unique, intricate patterns—pierced the darkness like haunting, otherworldly lanterns.
A sudden, mocking laugh broke the silence, echoing through the endless void. One of the figures, whose eyes were a swirling, chaotic dance of jagged lines, spoke with a voice dripping with disdain. "I heard that Acedia failed the task the Lord assigned to him," the figure sneered, the contempt in his tone palpable.
Acedia, whose eyes were dull, like the embers of a dying fire, growled in response. "I didn't fail," he snarled, his voice edged with frustration. "There was... a complication. The child of light—Elias Ashdown—is far stronger than the previous children of the gods were at his age. There's something different about him.
And I wasn't even in my true form when I fought him."
The figure who had mocked Acedia let out a low, scornful chuckle. "Excuses," he spat, the jagged lines of his eyes narrowing. "How hard can it be to deal with a mere child? You're pathetic."
Acedia's growl deepened, his form trembling with suppressed rage. "Beraga," Acedia hissed, the name leaving his lips like a curse. "You think too highly of yourself."
Beraga's eyes flared with a searing intensity, the jagged lines within them flaring into a brilliant, angry light. He leaned forward, his presence pressing against Acedia like the weight of an avalanche. "Watch your tongue, Acedia," Beraga snapped, his voice a sharp, threatening whisper. "If it weren't for the fact that the Lord is coming soon, I'd rip you apart for your insolence."
Tension crackled through the void as the other figures watched in silence, their eyes unblinking. The demon kings were not fond of each other; they were solitary, prideful beings who preferred their own company. Whenever they were forced to interact, it often ended in violence and bloodshed.
Beraga's gaze shifted, settling on a set of fiery, flickering eyes at the edge of the circle. "Ira," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "It's unlike you to be so quiet. Have you finally learned your place?"
The fiery eyes, which belonged to Ira, flickered more intensely, but her response was calm, her voice a controlled flame. "I have concerns far greater than bickering with you, Beraga, or chastising Acedia for his incompetence."
Beraga's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Ira was notorious for her fiery temper, quick to lash out at even the smallest slight. Her calm demeanor was unsettling, a departure from her usual volatility. "Concerns?" Beraga pressed, his tone mocking. "Does this have anything to do with that human—Eli—whom you've been searching for?"
His smile widened, and with a graceful turn, he began to descend, drifting down toward the moon's surface. He moved with the fluidity of a dancer, each step light and deliberate. As he touched down, the moon's pale dust swirled around his feet, shimmering in his presence.
The young man glanced upward, his eyes reflecting the distant light of Elaris, the world that spun far below. "A new player on the board," he said softly. "How delightful. This should be... entertaining."
He spread his arms wide, and with a burst of radiant energy, he vanished, leaving behind only a faint echo of his presence. His departure sent a ripple through the moon's surface, the dust settling slowly back into place as if nothing had disturbed it.
But something had changed. The delicate balance of the cosmos had been nudged, ever so slightly, setting in motion a series of events that would soon unfold on Elaris. The white haired young man's return would not go unnoticed, and the consequences of his arrival would reverberate through the realms.
Back in the void, the Lord of Hell watched as his demon kings knelt in submission, their eyes downcast and their forms still. The gentler presence beside him remained silent, but there was a shared understanding between them—one that transcended words.
The game was changing, the pieces were moving, and the true story was about to begin. The Lord of Hell's eyes gleamed with a dark, malevolent anticipation. There was much to be done, and the path ahead would be fraught with peril and opportunity alike.
With a final, commanding glance, the Lord of Hell turned and began to withdraw, his presence slowly receding from the void. The demon kings watched him go, their forms still trembling under the residual weight of his power.
As the darkness of the abyss began to close in once more, each demon king silently vowed to carve out their own path in the coming storm. They were bound by the will of their Lord, but they were also creatures of ambition and desire, they coveted the strength of the lord of Hell. And in the chaos that was soon to engulf Elaris, there would be ample opportunity for those bold enough to seize it.
The abyss returned to its timeless stillness, but the seeds of upheaval had already been sown. The demons would rise, the gods would tremble, and the fragile balance of Elaris would be tested like never before.
———
Author's Note : And thus comes the end of the first Volume of this book. I want to appreciate everyone that made it up to this point despite my mistakes and shortcomings as a new author.
Before the new Volume begins I would release some bonus chapters. These chapters will mostly be R-18 scenes and just interactions between characters.
Also I noticed that Chapter 126 is missing. It somehow got deleted. I am currently working on a rewrite which I will release soon. I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Once again, thank you all for the support, until we meet again!!!