The cavern was dark and steamy. It was so hot that my lungs felt burnt just breathing in and out the acrid air. This path went on for what felt like ages. It was just alone with the boiling sea, a lone path just barely above the water. I saw more bodies tossed along the path. Whoever those won were, they were now toast.
There faces were so burnt so badly that they were unrecognizable. There were also skeletons who had been boiled clean, their bones sitting for who knows how long. Were they past explorers? I didnt know. The only thing I could do was keep heading forward. For so strange reason, I felt like my answers lay with whatever artifact they were trying to find.
When I first saw it, I thought I was looking at a mirage. In the distance, the cavern grew to an enormous height. I couldnt see the ceiling anymore. Deep in the steamy fog was a massive structure. The closer I got, the more I realized it was actually a castle. I could only see the front of it. The rest of it was hidden behind the walls of the cave. Giant stalactites and stalagmites in front of the castle gave it a more nacing aura as if I was walking into the jowls of so great beast.
I pressed forward, having already made it this far. If Brooke was in there, I had to help her. If those two won had hurt Brooke, I didnt know what I would do. I shoved my way through the front door, opening up into a massive entryway. It was much cooler on the inside than it was away from the boiling lake. There was a massive stairway that proceeded up to the second floor. There were also doors on either side.
Looking down at my feet, I could see scattered footsteps in the dust. It was definitely clear there had been more than a couple of people here recently. Going just by the bodies I had seen, there had to be at least a few dozen of the pit miners left alive. The steps seed to scatter. Whoever the two mysterious won were, this castle wasnt what they were looking for, it seed. Rather, they were looking for sothing inside the castle.
Clyburn? How are you here? A voice ca out of the darkness.
I spun, squinting as a figure ca out slowly. It was a pregnant woman wearing a veil. In fact, she was probably the veiled woman whom I had t in that room with Angela. Wait? What did she call ?
I looked down at my hands and gasped. They were shorter and pudgier than the long and slender ones that I had before. In fact, they looked like my own hands. They look like Clyburn!
How in the I shook my head. Who do I look like to you?
The girl kept her distance. Ive been looking for you.
My sudden surge of happiness drained as I rembered that these won were searching for . I know
Her eyes widened for a second but then narrowed suspiciously. What do you know?
I know that baby is mine I couldnt think of any other reason a woman would be hunting down.
What I didnt understand, was how they had found here. There was so ntion of scrying. They used so kind of magical spell to track here. If that was the case, then wasnt it possible that my family from Amaryllis could do the sa? They could also be coming or already be here too, wondering where I am!
The girl grabbed her stomach, seeming very shocked by my words. So it really is you? Master?
M-master? I laughed, scratching my neck awkwardly. Actually, Im a lord right now.
The girls eyes flickered, and then she bowed down as low as her stomach allowed. In fact, it looked like she was about to teeter over.
Of course I didnt an any offense. My lord you truly have been resurrected. Our sister feared failure. However, I knew the truth. I knew you transmigrated to this world properly.
Transmigration! I shook. You know I co from another world?
O-of course my lord. She nodded excitedly. I co from the sa world. I am yours. My body, my soul. Please command , my great lord.
I shook my head, trying to get a grasp on this developnt. I had thought she was soone I knew, but it turned out to be sothing different. She was looking at with reverence. She also seed to know about my transmigration. Thats sothing I had never told anyone other than Hannah.
Why did my body change? I asked, looking back down at my body and making sure I was really Clyburn again.
Eh? My lord?
I swear, I had a different face when I entered the castle, I said, half to myself.
Ah the castle distorts illusions, rember my lord? the woman finally righted herself with so difficulty. So, you were hiding behind an illusion? No wonder we couldnt find you. It was also genius faking your own death. We tried to stop that wretched woman from getting her hands on you, but that night went belly up for us all.
Most of what she said was difficult to understand. Who was the wretched woman? Was she talking about Angelas delivery? Just who had hired Angela to kidnap anyway? They had hired a crazy person who had tried to rape and even killed innocent people. There was no way they were good.
Rember? Should I know this place? I asked, looking around blankly.
This place is your birthright, my lord. Your inheritance. The woman explained. When we tracked you here, I figured this must be where you were planning to head. We even had the Prince poisoned, and offered a cure to get permission from this citys Royalty. That stupid mother would have burned down the city for her precious Caleb.
I could only stare blankly as she filled in blanks one after another. So, Caleb was cured of poison? If that was true, then who was I? Was I just an illusion made to look like Caleb? Who put in Calebs place? Where was the devil prince? Every ti I had a question answered, it just led to more questions.
It was this Lilith person? I asked.
Let us not speak her na. She was only an imposter. Many in this world think she is you. She is a blaspher who must be taken care of. Her and that associate of hers.
Associate? Is that the other um pregnant woman?
My lord does not need to worry about her! The woman cried out, She is just so harlot who should have died. I cursed her, so her baby will remain unborn!
Hah I shook my head, still, nothing was making sense. In that case, I want to see who you are, pull off your veil.
Of course, my lord, this body is yours to do with as you please. She pulled up her veil.
Imdiately, my eyes grew distorted. I took a step back and hissed slowly. It was exactly who I expected it to be, and exactly who I knew it was impossible to be. The girl standing before had short hair, a pretty complexion, and a pregnant body. Without makeup, she might have looked more like a boy. This was Ashley, the girl that haunted my dreams. The girl who had died. The entire reason I was in this mine was because I thought I had seen her. It hadnt been a vision after all. It really was Ashley.
Ash I saw you die I spoke weakly.
The girl cocked her head. She did die? But death is a minor thing.
Minor I couldnt believe the words coming out of her mouth. How can it be minor?
I took three steps forward and then embraced her. The girl let out a cry of surprise, but then she didnt fight as I hugged her, allowing just enough room for the baby. I kissed her lips. They were soft and warm, and they felt similar. Then, the fact she was pregnant hit like a brick.
The baby Its mine. You were pregnant? I said.
She smiled and nodded. Yes, my lord. He is male. Our baby is growing strong.
Shouldnt he have been born already?
Of course not! Ash laughed as I touched her stomach. My lord knows that demon won have a much longer incubation period. It will take at least twice as long before the baby is born. I still have many months to go.
Right a a demon? My eyes dilated as I started to get a strange sinking feeling.
Ash smiled at , but suddenly I could see a bit of sinisterness in her eyes. She was calling lord as if it was natural. More than that, if she was the veiled woman, they had casually poisoned a prince, blackmailed a Royal family, started an illegal slave trade, and ultimately murdered dozens of won. This wasnt the Ashley I knew. She even said it herself. Ashley died. Sulfur I thought it was the boiling lake outside, but there was a faint scent of sulfur on her.
This couldnt be Ashley. If that was the case, then that ant the demon summoning ceremony worked. That had been Diba Monics goal form the beginning. She had wanted to summon demons into our world. It was supposed to enter , but it ended up inside Ashley instead! Demons were only supposed to be able to take over n! I had rembered reading sothing about that in this worlds bible.
That was right, Ashley was half male! Nurous body parts had been swapped out with her brothers during an unfortunate accident. Although she was technically a woman where it counted, a demon could still get inside her. Ashley was a demon, and that would make the baby in her stomach a demons baby!
I didnt know why the summoning had failed all that ti ago. I took it up to Dibas entire story being superstition, except that I felt the Demons. When I jumped across the portal to save Lyra, I felt them trying to enter my soul. However, it also felt like they couldnt. So, what happened? They entered whoever they could. They had a whole tree of recently killed boys who could have been possessed. Why Ashley? Because she was pregnant? How many others are there?
Demons how many? I asked, pulling away from her stomach like it burned .
Ash didnt seem to notice my change in expression. Ah? My lord, it is just Rebecca and myself. When my baby is born in nine months, well finally begin to spread the demon seed over the whole realm. Although, that wont matter. You should be the one to do it. Once you regain your power, well bring you as many won as you need. Spread your seed and create an army of offspring.
I could only bite my lip bitterly. She was calling lord. That would an, Demon Lord. She thought I was so Demon Lord. Looking around this castle, I suddenly realized that calling it the Demon Lords castle seed really easy. Maybe I was the demon lord after all. If demons could only enter n, and I could have 50% male offspring, then Id be the quickest way to bring back the demon race. Now that I knew Ashley had a male child, I had to rethink the probability that I was the blessed one again. How close was blessed one to Demon Lord? Were they not essentially two sides to the sa coin?
After all of this, whether I was a blessed man or a Demon Lord, my goal was to spread my seed across the world. It all ca back to seed in the end. Just that alone was enough to make smile bitterly. The second reason was Rebecca. She must have died when she fell from that height. Then, a Demon took her over too. Except, she didnt have any male parts that I was aware of. Was it sothing Diba did to her during the ritual? I didnt know. However, I had to face reality. Both won went missing shortly after the events of that day, and both won were demons.
What about Mia? Was she a demon as well? No, Mia had to have died in that explosion at the trolley. Itd be nice to think sothing else happened, but that was only wishful thinking on my part. Then again, was this fate truly better? I didnt really know how I felt about Ash before she died, not that she was a demon, was she even Ash anymore?
A suddenly light appeared from a wristband she had on. Ash looked at it for a mont and then nodded.
The inheritance has been found, my lord. It is ti for you to claim it.
R-right We had been standing in the castle entrance for so ti.
I started to follow Ash. She occasionally checked her wristband as if it was feeding her the direction, and then moved forward as if she knew the way.
So, once I have this inheritance, my power will be restored?
Ash shook her head sadly. Your inheritance was broken into four pieces, hidden in your four castles. Rember, my lord? This will only restore 1/4th of your power. This is only one of two inheritances weve located so far.
Two?
The second was taken by the Lilith line. That little monster stole it and identified herself as a demon lord. That woman died and its been diluted over the years. The current Lilith still has your line. If we can capture her, you can take it back. We tried my lord, but she turned out to be too powerful.
Was that the night that Angelas ship was destroyed? I asked.
Ash tripped. My Lord knows much more than he lets on. Are you testing , my lord?
Grimacing, I decided to go with the mood and responded with a lofty answer. I am the Great Demon Lord. If there are flaws in my underlings understanding of things, I must take it upon myself to correct them.
Y-yes my lord! Ash responded excitedly, looking at with glowing eyes. You are wise!
I snorted and raised my chin, but on the inside, I was surprised I was still standing. It felt like monts ago I had just been thinking about escaping a mine, and now I was knee deep in a conspiracy that might very well be a world-ending disaster. I was right next to a demon who might very well kill the second she realized I wasnt this supposed Demon Lord. Furthermore, I was walking deeper into the Demon Lords castle.
At the sa ti, 1/4th the power of a Demon Lord sounded nice. I was reminded of a strange girl I once saw construct a massive magical pillar and keep the island standing. Was that the kind of power I would gain? Wait if that was the power, then didnt that an that girl was Lilith, the fake Demon Lord? No, this was all just making my head hurt even more. I decided to just keep following Ash for the mont. I was already lost enough I probably couldnt find my way back to the entrance.
The hallways were dark and humid. Ashley casually created a magical light source with her hand. I noticed that there was no invocation. That ant that she was ntally doing the math in her head. Was this the power of a demon? Sohow, I had a feeling it was much more than that. Half of just wanted to hug and hold Ash, forgetting about the reality. The other half kept reminding myself that this woman had killed many people to get here.
The walls were barren and jail-like. The entire place had an oppressive atmosphere that threatened to fray at my mind. There was nothing of wealth strewn about at all. Whether the demon lords castles had been looted eons ago by eager adventurers or simply that the wealth was never there, to begin with, I didnt know.
I could reason how long itd take to bury this entire castle underground to the point that it was at the bottom of a deep mineshaft. This castle had to co from the ti of the demons, long before Liliths War and the Demons curse. This was before Gods flood when Demons reigned supre. This castle was only still intact likely from magic. It was older than this worlds history.
If I rembered my history books, one just like it was unearthed by Lilith. She was called the Demon Lord, but it turned out she was just borrowing the Demon Lords power. It seed like when she had taken on his inheritance, she had learned the truth about n. Lilith then set out to stop the spread of male genes from the so-called Blessed Man. This got her vilified, and then the male hero who spread the male genes ended up enslaving her in a contract. Lilith followers hated n exactly because of her desperate spread of information.
However, because Lilith was enslaved, her anti-male story sohow got polluted, and the Lilith Followers started trying to deliberately bring back the demons.
Her bloodline continued though, up until this day. Ash had called her a demon hunter. That must have been why she was at school so long ago during the Day of Wrath. She must have picked up on the summoning and gone to investigate.
At least, that was all I could reason out by the ti we ca to a hidden staircase. Ash seed to know just where to touch it to open up a long spiraling stairway down. She smiled and looked from to the stairway. I sighed and took the front now.
Was I really going to take this inheritance? Well, Id rather I had it than one of the demon girls took it. The stairway spiraled down for about six floors before finally letting out in what appeared to be a massive throne room. There was light on in this room. Torches along the columns seed to grow with a magical light. Soone had clearly been here before us. As I walked up, I noticed a small mound of bodies. These were the woman from the pit. Many of them I had known. I had smiled and poured gruel for them.
Most had their throats slit, although a couple looked like they had suffered worst deaths. I forced myself to look at faces, but I didnt see Brooke among them.
Sister it took you long enough. When it cos to taking the inheritance, I think I A person walked out from behind the throne, but when her eyes landed on , they widened and she stopped. Clyburn!
The woman standing there was none other than Rebecca. Now there were two demons. This was another woman whose existence left feeling complicated. We had sex, and were even friends for a while, except that she hated n with a passion. Well, if it was like Ash, that woman was already dead, and this was soone else.
Yes, sister! We should rejoice! I have confird. He is the Demon Lord! Now, we can begin the plans for world domination!
You She narrowed her eyes looking at . Are you sure sister?
Her eyes felt like they were seeing right through . I instinctively shivered. I felt like she could see through everything with that look. I wanted to hide entirely.
Of course! Ash responded proudly. Do you doubt ? My lord has stated that he has been using illusion magic to hide from us.
Illusions? Rebecca frowned. Im not so sure. I do not detect a single ounce of demonic aura from this man. Perhaps your judgnt is clouded. Youve also insisted on keeping that baby, despite it also not having a shred of demonic aura.
Do not be ridiculous. Ash laughed. This baby is a demon, as is his father. There is no such thing as a man without demonic aura unless you want to speak of blasphemy. My baby only doesnt show an aura because our great lord suppressed it so that wretched Lilith wouldnt be able to find us.
If that is so, sister, then answer this Rebecca frowned. This castle removes all illusion. The second you walked in, any illusions would have been stripped. You said so yourself. So why is this aura still hidden?
Ashs hand went to her lips, and her eyes widened. It was clear she hadnt considered this before. Perhaps, she was blinded by seeing what she wanted to see. She looked over at . She had just a hint of questioning in her eyes but still seed unconvinced that I was anything but what she expected to be.
This is my castle! I spoke arrogantly, Do you truly think I cannot control my demonic aura if I wanted to? I admit a lapse in judgnt when it ca to my physical alterations, but I would never be lax where it matters!
Y-yes, My Lord! Ash nodded excitedly, before turning to Rebecca, Enough is enough. This is our great lord. Stop acting so belligerent.
Rebeccas eyes didnt change though. She was still watching suspiciously, even as she casually bowed.
My apologies, my lord. I dont an to be suspicious, but as the only living demons, we must be cautious. Perhaps my lord can pull back his restraints and let us feel his demonic aura?
Hah that I coughed. It doesnt work that way. It would take many hours to undo the aura. I dont appreciate your tone, Becky. Perhaps you should realize who is in charge here now.
S-sorry, my lord. It wont happen again!
If Im wrong, then you may cut a thousand tis to pieces, my lord. Rebecca spat back, But I wont concede until Im sure. In that case, I have a simple test for you. Afterward, if you prove yourself, I will beg forgiveness on my knees. Until you do, though, I wont allow you to take the inheritance!
Ash looked shocked, and I was starting to sweat, but I couldnt let my persona slip now. In that case, give any challenge you feel is necessary. I will show you my might as the Demon Lord.
Rebecca smiled, and then reached behind the chair. She threw sothing down, which rolled down the stairs painfully with several shouts and murrs. It wasnt until they reached the bottom step only a few feet from that I realized it was a person. It wasnt just any person, it was Brooke! She was tied up and her mouth was gagged. Her eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. It looked like she had been beaten pretty bad by Rebecca.
What is this? I demanded.
This was Clyburns bodyguard, your forr host. Since you are are the Demon Lord, this is a sacrifice for you. Rape her, kill her, and then eat her. I dont care what order you do it in.
Rebecca stared down the lighting in the room making her eyes look as if they were glowing red. She tossed down sothing which fell near my feet with a clatter. Looking down, I realized it was a small knife. I knelt down and picked it up.
If you are my Demon Lord, I believe youd even thank for this gift, Rebecca said. So, show you are he, and then take your place on this throne!
I gulped, staring down at Brooke tied at my feet, a shining knife in my hand. Why did this all keep happening to ?
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