Tale Of The Dragonic Demon Lord

Chapter 6

The Crystal of the Demon Lords had been silent for decades.

Once, its deep crimson glow would flare to life whenever a Demon Lord was born. Now, it remained dark, cold, inert, untouched by time.

Three figures stood watch before the crystal, each representing one of the world’s great races.

They were gathered in a land that belonged to none of them, the vast Sahara Plain.

Endless golden sand stretched beyond the fortress walls, broken only by heat waves and the occasional sound of the wind.

It was a neutral zone, agreed upon long ago after countless wars had reduced entire continents to ash.

To guard the crystal, a massive fortress had been built here, its black stone walls reinforced with layered enchantments.

Elite forces from all three races patrolled its halls day and night. Not because they trusted one another, but because none of them dared leave the crystal unguarded

Since the formation of their uneasy alliance against a common and terrifying enemy, the fortress had also become the council hall of the three races.

Sir Alaric, the human representative, shifted his stance and lifted a metal flask to his lips. The bitter liquid burned his throat as he drank. He lowered it slowly, eyes fixed on the crystal.

“Nothing,” he muttered, lips pressing into a thin line. “As usual.”

Across from him, the elf representative didn’t even look up.

Kia sat casually at a stone table, long silver hair tied back, sharp emerald eyes focused on the cards spread in between her fingers.

“I’d rather the crystal stay dead,” she replied calmly. “Don’t jinx us.”

Grondar, the dwarf, slapped a card onto the table with a thick arm. “I don’t know why he sounds disappointed.Well, Humans do love war.”

Before Sir Alaric could retort, the crystal trembled.

A faint red flicker appeared at its core, then black, then red again.

The colors then twisted violently, violet, amber, green, bleeding into one another in chaotic waves.

All three representatives shot to their feet.

“…You had to say it,” Grondar muttered.

Sir Alaric didn’t respond. His eyes were locked on the crystal. “Am I drunk,” he whispered, “or is this real?”

“This is impossible,” Kia said slowly, hand rising to her chin. “The crystal has never reacted like this.”

With a sharp crack, the crystal split open. Shards of corrupted light scattered across the floor as the air thickened, stinking of burning ozone.

Grondar swallowed. “What does this mean?”

“…A Demon Lord,” Sir Alaric said. “Is it being born?.”

“Would a birth cause this?” Kia asked. “This level of instability?”

“The only way to know,” Alaric said, “is to investigate the Nightfall dungeon tower.”

Silence followed.

Alaric understood immediately, they didn’t want to risk their own people.

He sneered inwardly.

“The human race will send an investigation force,” he declared.

Kia and Grondar both exhaled in relief.

—

(Back at the Nightfall dungeon tower…)

Fire roared.

A towering elemental demon knelt before Raya, its massive body wreathed in living flame. Heat rolled off it in waves, warping the air. Two enormous horns curved from its skull, glowing like molten iron.

“My name is Sol, my lord,” a deep, masculine voice rumbled.

Then the flames collapsed inward.

The demon’s body shifted, shrinking, smoothing. Fire vanished, replaced by biting cold.

The horns dissolved into mist, and where the towering figure once stood, a slender feminine form emerged, the skin was pale blue and her eyes were calm as frozen lakes.

“And my name is Nivar,” a soft female voice said.

For a brief moment, both forms flickered at once, fire and ice overlapping unnaturally.

Then both voices spoke together.

“You may call us Solnivar. We govern the Eighth Floor, my lord.”

Raya stared for a brief moment, confusion surged, then an unseen force pressed it down, burying it beneath calm authority.

[Name: Solnivar]

[Species: Elemental Demon]

[Rank: Arch-Demon]

[Note: Hermaphrodite]

“…I see,” Raya said simply.

Before anyone else could speak, the massive doors to the chamber creaked open.

A man entered, followed by nine maids.

They bowed instantly, their movements perfectly synchronized.

They were almost human….almost. Some bore a single horn. Others had a lone eye set in the center of their faces.

The man himself looked entirely human.

Silver-white hair neatly combed back. A butler’s uniform pressed so sharply it looked ceremonial, his posture was flawless.

“Greetings, my lord.” The butler spoke.

The system notification interface popped up.

[Name: Alfred]

[Species: Black Devil]

[Rank: Elite Demon (Locked)]

[Note: More powerful than he appears]

“State your business,” Lira snapped. “The lord is occupied…”

Raya raised a hand.

Lira froze and bowed. “Forgive me, my lord.”

“Speak,” Raya said.

Alfred inclined his head slightly. “Humans have been sighted near the dungeon tower.”

The temperature in the chamber dropped instantly.

A ripple of killing intent swept through the room like a blade, crushing down on every demon present.

“They sensed the awakening,” a winged demon said grimly. “That cursed crystal.”

[Name: Lucifer]

[Race: Fallen Angel]

[Rank: Arch-Demon]

Raya didn't pay attention to the notification pop up, rather his fist tightened.

The atmosphere in the room became tense as all the demons present observed the demon lord clenching his fist, making the air feel heavy and almost suffocating for everyone.

Lucifer stepped forward, kneeling. “Allow me to remove them, my lord, I will kill every last one.”