All the pillars had taken their seats in silence, the air heavy with tension and expectancy. Orvath stood alone in the center, but the room stirred as the massive double doors of the hall opened. The flas burning in the crystal braziers flickered with an unseen wind as Azreal entered.
All the Pillars rose in unison, bowing their heads with solemn respect.
Azreal, clad in his dark obsidian armor lined with red-gold etchings, walked forward. Hulk, the towering colossus, followed behind him like a looming shadow. Azreal took his seat at the head of the hall, and Hulk stood firmly at his right.
The Pillars sat once more, but before Orvath could begin, Veymar raised a hand.
"Before we proceed," Veymar said with a sly grin, "I’d like to invite soone to this eting."
Dragos narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
"Soone who will be vital to this discussion."
With a snap of Veymar’s fingers, a glowing dinsional gate burst open beside the table. From within stepped Aria, adorned like royalty. A red, flowing gown trailed behind her like living fla, her hair tied in jeweled threads, and a strange radiance followed her.
The gate closed behind her, and she bowed low before them all.
Azreal’s eyes widened, stunned. He stood, caught in a breathless mont, taking a step forward—but Aria, without looking up, whispered:
"Not in front of everyone."
Azreal understood imdiately and halted. He stepped back and resud his seat, his expression unreadable.
"Let us begin," he said.
Orvath cleared his throat and spoke.
"As we all know, the Infernals have undergone yet another evolution. They now take on forms nearly identical to humans. We call them the Human Infernals. Their strength... it surpasses even the Hell Commanders. Hulk’s battle with one confird this."
All the Pillars nodded grimly.
"But," Orvath continued, "there was sothing unusual about them..."
Malphas groaned. "What is it this ti?"
"They carry Aria’s blood."
The hall fell deathly silent.
Azreal closed his eyes, his voice calm but edged with weight.
"Continue."
"Yes, my Lord," Orvath replied. "The Human Infernals... were created using Aria’s essence."
Xaltheon turned sharply. "My Lord, did you know of this?"
"Yes," Azreal said simply.
All eyes turned to Aria. Slowly, she stood and spoke, her voice gentle but firm.
"I will tell you everything... and what Sin is planning."
Orvath nodded. "Please proceed."
Aria’s gaze turned distant.
"When I was kidnapped... I found myself in a crimson chamber. Cloaked figures surrounded —their faces hidden. They called themselves the Evolutionalists. Their leader, Sin, stepped forward and made an offer... to help him create another world."
Selmora narrowed her eyes. "Another world?"
"Yes. Like you, Lady Selmora, Sin hates the gods. But he doesn’t just hate them. He loathes this world... calls it a sin. A mistake. He says the gods erred when they made this unjust reality. He wants to erase it. To build a world without sin... without virtue... without heaven or hell. A neutral world of peace. And he... would be its god."
The room sat in silence.
Then Veymar burst out laughing.
"God? He wants to beco a god? Destroy the world? This Sin sounds like soone I need to et."
Selmora glared at him. "This is no joke."
She turned to Aria. "Please don’t tell you believed him."
Aria blinked slowly. "Lies? No... what he said felt like the truth."
Selmora’s expression hardened. "Are you really Aria?"
"Do not worry," Aria said. "I refused him. I declined."
Everyone exhaled.
"But," Aria added, "he also made that sa offer... to Lord Azreal."
All heads snapped to Azreal.
"It’s true," he confird. "The first ti I t him... he offered that vision. I refused."
Xaltheon frowned. "I understand his goal. But how? Destroying the world is... impossible."
Aria interrupted.
"No. It’s possible. With a key."
Malphas leaned forward. "A key?"
"Not just any key. The Key to the Hollow Realm."
The room froze.
Veymar laughed again. "Hollow Realm? Never heard of it."
"I didn’t believe it either," Aria said. "Until I saw it."
Azreal spoke. "Sarah."
A glowing panel opened beside him. The ethereal form of Sarah, the AI construct, appeared.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Bring up everything on the Key to the Hollow Realm."
Data stread across the screen.
"The Key," Sarah recited, "is a powerful relic extracted from the chosen one’s soul, granting access to the Hollow Realm—a forgotten dinsion between life and death, reality and illusion. It was sealed by the ancient gods... for being too unstable to exist."
Everyone leaned forward, stunned.
"Sarah," Azreal said, "bring up details on the Hollow Realm."
"Of course."
Lines of text flowed.
"The Hollow Realm is a blank canvas—a realm beyond natural law. The one holding the Key can shape it with thought alone. It grows stronger as its wielder’s mind becos more broken. Once completed, the Hollow Realm can rge with the real world... rewriting all existence into the creator’s will."
Malphas stood, fists clenched. "Then it must never be opened."
"Correct," Sarah replied. "Unless... the Key is already active."
Aria nodded. "He has it."
Everyone turned to her.
"He extracted it from the one who possessed it," she said.
"Sarah," Dragos asked. "Who guards the Key?"
Sarah’s voice lowered. "The guardian... is the Nine-Tailed Fox... Yuzara."
"Yuzara," Aria echoed.
Everyone stared.
Azreal’s voice shook. "How do you know that na?"
Sarah’s tone changed. "You... you’re the Chosen One."
All eyes turned to Aria.
"What do you an?" Dragos demanded.
"Legend says," Sarah explained, "before gods or demons... there was only the Balance. And a being created by the soul of the world protected that balance: the Nine-Tailed Fox—Yuzara."
"She was labeled a monster," Aria said, "banished by the gods to the mortal realm. And I... I am her vessel."
Gasps rang out.
Malphas’s voice was dark. "If he extracted the Key... then he succeeded."
"Yes," Sarah confird. "Aria was the Chosen One."
Azreal’s voice cracked. "Are you alright?"
"I’m fine," Aria said softly.
Selmora whispered, "That’s why you were so broken when we found you..."
"Yes."
Dragos frowned. "What about Y’tharion’s Seal?"
"My blood was used to break it."
Veymar blinked. "What?"
"The seal could only be undone through the Void of the Chosen One, marked by the gods."
Xaltheon nodded grimly. "So... you were the target all along."
Malphas growled. "If he has the Key... what now?"
Sarah’s tone was grave. "It ans the end of the world."
"But we’re still alive," Veymar said with a grin.
Everyone glared at him.
"I an... he hasn’t done it yet."
"Exactly," Aria said. "Sothing’s missing."
"A ritual, maybe?" Malphas guessed.
"Or," Sarah said, "he’s waiting for his Human Infernals to master their powers. He’s raising an army strong enough... to challenge the gods."
Dragos slamd the table. "Then what are we waiting for?!"
Orvath stood and opened a worn notebook.
"The Infernals... they’ve evolved in stages. First, the Demon Infernals—horned, intelligent. Their mark was a black broken horn above the shoulder blade. Second, the Cinderborn—fla-resistant, humanoid. Their mark spiraled across the spine like a thorned ring. And now, the Human Infernals—fully human in appearance, with a third eye mark on the neck, weeping black fla."
He flipped a page and held up a drawing.
"When joined, these marks form a Crown of Thorns. That... is Y’tharion’s complete sigil."
Everyone studied it in silence.
Malphas turned. "Lord Azreal... what do we do?"
Azreal stood, eyes burning.
"We prepare for war."
The room held its breath.
Veymar cracked his knuckles. "Good. I get to et this Sin."
Selmora smirked. "And maybe hear so screams from these new creatures."
Xaltheon scowled. "This war is not for pleasure, you two."
Veymar nodded, his tone steady and sure.
"Of course."
Azreal’s gaze darkened, burning with resolve.
"Then it’s settled. We prepare for war. Sin won’t listen, won’t stop. This will turn into a battle we can’t avoid. So, I expect no one slacking off."
He raised his hand, energy sparking around him like a storm ready to break.
"It’s ti to warm up. Train harder. Sharpen every skill."
A chorus of voices rose, fierce and loud.
"Yes, my Lord!"
Without another word, they vanished into shadows, like embers blown away by the wind.
Azreal’s voice cut through the silence again.
"Aria."
She froze, every step slowing as their eyes t.
He closed the distance and pulled her into a tight embrace. The heat of his aura surrounded them, mixing with the fragile calm she carried.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.
Aria hesitated, then wrapped her arms around him, holding on like she was afraid to let go.
Azreal’s voice cracked with guilt.
"I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed ."
Tears welled in Aria’s eyes, shimring like tiny stars.
"No... it’s fine. Everything’s fine now. I’m okay."
She pulled back, her smile soft but trembling.
"I need to tell you sothing."
Azreal’s eyes searched hers, steady and patient.
"Go on. I’m listening."
She opened her mouth, then closed it again, unsure.
Then, suddenly, she smiled shyly and hugged him again.
"What’s wrong?" he asked, confused.
She laughed softly, tears still falling.
"No, it’s nothing."
---
Later
Royal Palace —Azreal’s Room
Azreal entered his room. The red light from the enchanted torches flickered across his armor as he stripped off his battle cloak.
A glowing panel popped to life, Sarah’s voice echoing softly.
"My lord, I have sothing for you."
Azreal turned, eyes sharp.
"What is it?"
The voice dropped low, heavy with aning.
"If you had to choose... the world, or Aria’s life... which would it be?"
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