The moment Kaito entered, he felt a gush of heat.
This heat feels... Oddly comforting, he thought, embracing the warmth.
He walked straight ahead and saw a landscape of red rocks, lava and fire.
It looked like a long tunnel, only that it was illuminated by the glow of fire.
The tunnel led to a huge infernal cave.
On the way, he saw many men from the Helix Foundation lying on the ground, burnt to a crisp.
Except a few, the rest were dead.
"H-Hey, kid! How a-are you... still alive?" groaned a men in a low coughing voice.
"All of us burnt the moment we entered. We j-just couldn't handle the heat. But you... You're just fine. How? Tell me how damn it!" he punched the ground in anger.
"I'm not a human. That's why," replied Kaito.
But before the man could hear his reply, he passed away.
It was a long walk to the cave, but Kaito finally made it.
This cave is larger than I imagined, he thought to himself.
A six-story tall throne of stone, carved from a mountain, sat in the cave.
A huge monstrous figure was seated on it.
Crimson red skin, and well-defined muscles.
From his forehead sprouted massive horns, both as long as his arms.
The horns had branches coming out of them, like a reindeer.
His eyes glowed yellow and he wore a dark red robe.
His head rested upon his hand, his cheek getting sore.
He feet dangled back and forth, he was getting bored.
He looked straight at Kaito.
"Draqueth the Deceiver, that's my name," he said in a foreboding voice. "I sensed a lot of men in the tunnel, but you are the only one who made it. I've been waiting for you, half blood."
"Deciever? You sensed them? And how did you know that I was half-" questioned Kaito before he was cut off by Draqueth.
"Get up here," said Draqueth placing his palm near Kaito.
Kaito got on his palm and he brought him closer to his face.
Besides the left side of the throne was a huge pillar, as tall as the throne.
It was also made of the same material.
There were steps wrapped around the pillar, leading to the top. They had no railings.
And on top was a large, chiseled stone with a sword sticking out the centre.
The Ember. I see it. I just need to get up the pillar, thought Kaito as he saw the top of the pillar from Draqueth's hand.
"So tell me little one, what brings you down here?" asked Draqueth. "Is it curiosity, do you want advice, or is it GREED?"
"I'm here for the Ember," answered Kaito.
"Ah I see. After all, you're half human. And humans are greedy," he replied.
"That sword has brought me nothing but misfortune, ever since I stole it a thousand years ago," he continued.
"So why protect it?"
"I have to! I'll die if I don't," answered Draqueth.
"How so?"
"The original owner entrapped me here and cursed me as a punishment for stealing it. I'll die if I try to touch that sword or leave this place. I can't let anybody else have it too. That damn Kazanari. Who did he think he was!" barked Draqueth.
Kazanari? That's my surname too, thought Kaito.
"Well I Kaito Kazanari, will claim that sword... And you can't stop me."
"KAZANARI?! This has to be destiny. My destiny, not yours. I'll take my revenge by killing you. This is why destiny brought you here!" laughed Draqueth maniacally.
He clenched his fist in an attempt to crush Kaito.
Kaito swiftly leaped towards the pillar.
I have one chance at this, thought Kaito stabbing the two Death Petals into the pillar.
Screech. He was dragged down, but the swords' grip slowed his fall.
He fell on a step which was halfway to the top.
He started running up the steps, trying to reach the top.
Draqueth had disappeared.
Huh? How could something that big just... Vanish, Kaito was puzzled.
"Missed me?" Draqueth appeared in front of him, floating in air. He was now human-sized and skinny.
He reached out to push Kaito.
Slash.
His hand fell to the ground.
Kaito had cut it off with Rose.
"That won't work on me!" he laughed.
His wound burst in yellow flames.
"What? How is that even... Possible? Can all demons do that?" Kaito was shocked, as Draqueth's hand was slowly regenerating from the flames.
"It's not just a demon thing. It's an ancient art anyone can learn. It's called Hyper-Healing," replied Draqueth.
"This is fun," he laughed, jumping from the pillar.
He jumped? pondered Kaito.
Mid air, Draqueth started morphing.
His body twisted and turned like clay, and before you know it, he transformed into a huge dragon.
Kaito was almost at the top.
A dragon?! thought Kaito.
Draqueth flew up, grabbed him with his talon and tried dropping him down.
Kaito stabbed Rose and Blossom in his talon and held on as he flew around.
He started climbing up and reached the back of Draqueth.
"Get off of me Kazanari!" Draqueth exclaimed.
Slash. He stabbed his wings.
"We're both gonna fall now half-blood!" yelled Draqueth as he plummeted to the ground.
"How'd you morph? Is that an ancient art too?" asked Kaito, still on top of him.
"No. It's just a me thing. Only I can do it. You see one day, I saw this shiny pearl just waiting for me to eat it. And then... Huh? Where'd you go?!" said Draqueth as he noticed that Kaito was missing.
He had made his way towards the bottom of the tower.
"You know Kazanari, if you take that metal headband off, your horns will grow out and you'll gain the powers of a demon," said Draqueth.
"No thanks. I'm better off human."
"Seems like you won't survive this then," replied Draqueth angrily.
He looked towards Kaito.
His mouth opened.
He took a deep breath.
And exhaled.
A huge wave of fire shot out of his mouth, burning and destroying everything in its path.
I finally killed him, thought Draqueth.
The fire stopped.
He closed his mouth.
Smoke filled the air.
Through the smoke, he heard the sound of footsteps getting closer.
His smile faded with realization, that Kaito might still be alive.