So far, Kael realized a few things.
First thing he noticed was that he was inside a massive mountain. But it wasn’t a normal mountain. A dark cloud was looming above it, spinning around slowly like it was alive. It stayed only above the mountain—like it knew not to wander. Lightning would flash here and there inside the cloud, but it didn’t make a sound.
Through the small windows, it looked like the mountain was leaking sothing—like smoke or shadows dripping down like a waterfall.
This place reminded him of the Underworld.
But it was worse.
Less red. More... hollow. Like the color had been drained from the world.
Inside the mountain were tons of small prison cells. It was massive. Bigger than any fortress he’d seen. The walls were made of black stone that swallowed all light.
There were only windows outside the jail cells—so people could only see if they were let out.
He didn’t like that.
The whole place looked like it was made to torture people.
And maybe that’s exactly what it was.
He saw a few more strange things that made him pause. Not just confused—troubled.
The people in robes were not normal.
They were human. But they had powers.
Real ones. Dangerous ones.
They could use a variety of abilities—so elental, so strange—but not once did Kael feel a single ounce of godly energy from them. Not even a flicker.
It didn’t make sense.
Nothing about them did.
But the dumbest thing he saw—by far—was the way they shouted out their attacks.
They would scream the na of their move, sotis even do a pose, like they were in a show or sothing.
By the ti they finished yelling, Gluttony had already taken a bite out of them.
Most didn’t even know they were dead yet.
He almost felt bad for them.
Almost.
After what he saw in each jail cell, sothing inside him cracked. Not all at once. Not loud. Just a quiet shift—like sothing important had been damaged and wouldn’t go back.
They were all dead and decaying.
The sll of death hung in the air like a curtain—thick and sickening.
Souls road around.
So were laying next to their loved ones, crying.
Others didn’t even realize they were dead.
And so... had already stopped hoping.
He walked through each floor, one after another.
Behind him, scattered all over the ground, were dismbered bodies.
So half-eaten.
So torn apart.
Blood slicked the floors, painted the walls.
Gluttony didn’t stop. Kael didn’t tell him to.
He didn’t need to.
The beast moved on instinct now.
And the more he ate, the more savage he beca.
He growled louder. Moved faster. Tore through bodies like paper.
He didn’t even chew anymore.
Kael didn’t stop him. He couldn’t.
Because deep down, he didn’t want to.
They deserved it.
Every single one of them.
While Gluttony tore through their flesh, Kael did sothing else.
He helped the souls.
He didn’t speak much. Didn’t know what to say.
What do you say to soone who’s already dead?
He just walked with them.
Sat with them.
Let them cry if they needed to.
So were scared.
So couldn’t speak.
So still clung to the last bit of who they used to be.
He helped them move on—quietly.
Floor after floor, soul after soul.
By the ti he reached the bottom of the mountain, there were no souls left.
No one to guide.
No one to punish.
They were all gone.
Just him. And the silence they left behind.
As he searched for a way out, a voice echoed in his head.
"Co here."
Kael’s eyes narrowed. He stepped back without thinking, hand already resting on his blade.
"Who is this?" he shouted, looking around.
No answer. Just the sa voice, calm and cold:
"Co here."
He tried to ignore it.
But it didn’t stop.
"Co here, child of the Underworld."
His breath caught.
That got his attention. He rembered that voice now. It was the sa voice he heard while entering the crack.
His voice dropped. "Who are you?"
"I am the god of this world," the voice said. "Now co here, if you still want to save your friends."
His fingers twitched.
"You know where they are?" Kael asked.
"Co. Follow my directions."
He didn’t argue.
Didn’t ask again.
Just moved.
He followed the voice through a narrow hallway until he reached a massive door with two giant rings as handles.
They were taller than he was.
"Now open it."
Kael frowned. "If this is so kind of trick, I’ll kill you."
"That won’t be necessary," the man laughed.
He tried to pull the rings.
They didn’t move.
Not even a little.
So he called out to Pride.
A mont later, Pride appeared—tall, cold, untouchable.
He didn’t speak. Just walked forward and pulled the doors open with both hands.
As soon as they opened, dust and smoke rushed out like a breath held in for decades.
Kael stepped back. Coughed once.
Then pushed forward through the smoke.
What he saw inside stopped him in his tracks.
Weapons.
Gold.
Artifacts that looked like they didn’t belong to this world.
He didn’t even call for Greed. The shadow moved on its own, sliding out with childlike glee—hands grabbing everything he could reach.
Weapons. Gems. Trinkets.
He scooped them up like candy.
Kael barely noticed.
His eyes were on sothing else.
A huge statue in the center of the room.
It was of a man—tall, handso, strong jaw, wide shoulders, pointy ears, long hair.
A warrior.
A king.
He looked up at the statue and let out a low whistle.
"...Is that you?" he asked the voice.
"Yes."
Kael squinted.
"How does one achieve twelve abs?" he muttered.
"A lot of sit-ups," the voice replied, amused.
Kael sighed. "That’s la." He crossed his arms. "Who are you? Why bring here? And where are you? Co out."
"I am the Demon King. A god of this world. I called you here to warn you about the people you t."
"...You an those humans?"
"Yes."
He frowned. "So where are you? I need to ask questions."
"I’ve already been killed."
Kael blinked.
Then laughed.
"You were killed by those na-shouting clowns?"
"Shut up, child. They are no joke. They are strong. Don’t underestimate them."
"...So how did you lose?" Kael asked, serious now.
"I was fighting the Hero... but then six others joined the fight. Their magic was powerful. The Hero’s holy sword was sothing I’ve never seen. Together, they took down."
"Took seven of them to beat you?" Kael asked. "Also... what is magic? Is that the type of power they’re using?"
"Yes. It has different elents, types, and levels. The ones you’ve fought so far were only level 2 or 3. But the ones who fought claid to be much higher."
Kael’s brow furrowed. That wasn’t good.
"...Why call here?"
"Take everything you see. Before they co back. They wanted my treasures—my artifacts—but they couldn’t get in. So take it all before they return."
Without turning, he pointed toward Greed with his thumb.
"Too late for that. My friend over there already took most of it."
He let out a soft, tired laugh.
Not out of amusent—just habit.
The room was nearly empty now.
Greed had already stashed everything inside the vault of his shadow.
Except for one thing.
Next to the massive statue was a long, rectangular box.
Kael walked over and opened it slowly.
Inside was a sword.
It was thin. Simple. Straight-edged.
"...What is this?" he asked.
"That... is my katana," the Demon King answered.
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