Darkness pressed against the land of the demon realm as night lingered. From within the void, countless towering pillars rose from the ground, stretching toward the sky as though trying to tear it open.
Upon those pillars stood innumerable figures, cloaked in shadows yet radiating an overwhelming presence. Silent, they waited, as if anticipating someone's arrival.
Rumble!
The sky cracked with thunder, its sound splitting the silence. Lightning spread like a spiderweb across the heavens, and from within its blaze, figures descended.
"The (…) has come!"
The voice resounded through the entire realm as the figures alighted upon the circular stone platform. At once, those standing atop the pillars bowed in reverence, resuming their positions after the descent.
"The annual meeting of judgment begins now," one of the figures declared, sweeping a gaze across the gathered demons.
From the pillar nearest the platform, a demon rose, bowed before the assembly, and began to speak.
