I once again take my phoenix form and fly across the desolate northwest. The wind howls through jagged cliffs as I descend into the familiar cavern, its darkness greeting me like an old adversary.
There, seated upon his crude stone throne, still holding that rusted sword that never leaves his grip, is Druvak, the Death Knight.
He looks up as I approach, his blue flame-eyes flickering.
"Welcome back, King. Are you here for another challenge?"
I say nothing.
Instead, I summon a spear of raw mineral divinity, its polished obsidian blade glinting in the gloom. I step forward, lower into a fighting stance, and utter a single word.
"Challenge."
Druvak stands slowly, bones creaking. With practised ease, he draws his sword and mirrors my stance.
We stand in silence. Both waiting.
Neither of us moves.
Suddenly, Druvak lunges with a precise thrust.
I parry, but don't counter. Instead, I use my spear like a pole to propel myself upward and deliver a brutal midair kick to his skull.
His body crashes to the ground, stunned by the unorthodox tactic.
Before he can rise, I strike downward. He rolls, barely dodging the vertical slash. As he scrambles up, I anticipate his movement and swing horizontally but this time, he blocks it perfectly.
We clash again and again.
Metal against mineral.
Old style against evolving technique.
But I am not the same as before. I no longer fight to win quickly. I fight with patience, waiting for the moment to finish it decisively.
Then, it comes.
Druvak thrusts toward my chest with a lethal move.
But I don't dodge.
I step slightly aside, letting the blade pierce my shoulder. A deliberate sacrifice.
His sword sticks.
And in that moment, I press the tip of my spear just beneath his jaw.
"Checkmate."
Druvak blinks, confused. 'Checkmate? What checkmate?'
He looks at the wound in my shoulder, then at the spear threatening his throat. Then he understands.
"...You've grown."
With a slow motion, he pulls his sword free, and I wince in pain.
"What are you doing, idiot? The match is over," I mutter, clutching my bleeding shoulder.
But Druvak doesn't reply.
He simply kneels, and the rusted blade is now stabbed into the ground before him.
"As I swore… I shall be your sword and shield, Hades. My strength is now yours."
I nod, hiding a grim smile through the pain.
One more Duke has fallen.
——————Hecate point of view ——————
Far to the west, where glaciers carve valleys, I step into a cave wrapped in silence and frost. The air shimmers faintly with raw magic.
At the entrance, someone waits. And she is, Amazel.
The mutated devil witch, once a humanoid demon, now something far stranger, a chaotic fusion of arcane energy and demonic blood. Pale skin tinged with red, wings of bat-hide folded neatly at her back, and a harp-like tail coiled lazily around her chair.
When I enter, her crimson eyes open, and her smile is sharp yet unexpectedly warm.
"Big sis. What a surprise. If you had summoned me, I would have come to you."
"You've grown," I say. "The crying little demon girl I once knew is now a fearsome duke of the underworld."
Amazel bows slightly with a small smile.
"Without your help and support, none of this would be possible."
"Why are we just talking outside? Please come to my cave and give me a chance for hospitality."
"Sure, sure."
We sit at a table of glistening ice. Amazel pours warm tea into delicate glass cups.
"Thank you," I say, lifting mine.
We both take a sip.
"Hmm… nice tea. Now, as I can see, everything in the room is neat and clean. You really are quite mature as compared to some fool."
"Thanks for the compliment, but what fool?"
"Ahh…leave about that."
"So, what reason brings big sis to my cave?"
I nod.
"You may have heard that the underworld has chosen its king."
Her expression darkens.
"Yes. Hades. A new dominant race of the world… but he is different from the others. Some would say he's closer to a divine demonic monster. And he's already slain two dukes."
Hecate nods while sipping tea.
"You're right. Now the question is will you stand with the king, or with the dukes?"
She is silent for a moment, thinking.
"May I ask you one thing, Lady Hecate?"
"Go on."
Her gaze becomes sharp and she says while sipping tea, "Why do you take the king's side?"
I smile. She is still as sharp as a blade. She must be deducing it from my unusual visit and question, or maybe she comes to the result from my long-lasting wish to free myself from my curse, for which I need a king.
I should ask her what basis she comes to this result…nah, let's end these troublesome mind games.
"Sigh…actually, I married that king."
"Married. Okay, married—" She chokes, coughing violently. Then her eyes widen. "MARRIED?!"
I rise and pat her back.
Water runs out from her eyes, nose and mouth but she doesn't care about it.
"How? When? Why?"
"You ask too many questions."
"And you've answered none!"
We laugh softly.
"Fine… I'll tell you everything."
I recount the tale briefly—how we face Noctandrath and how he risks his life and gives a portion of his soul to me. By the end, she is staring at me in astonishment.
"What a man," she murmurs. "He risks everything, even his life just to save you. You're lucky to have such a man as your husband."
Her praise for my dear husband quite pleases me.
"Thank you."
"But don't you think your story is quite similar to fairy tales?"
"What do you mean?"
Her eyes light up with mischief. "It sounds like one of those surface-world fairy tales. The brave hero rescues the beautiful maiden from a terrible monster, and she falls in love with him." She waggles her eyebrows. "So, is he handsome, this hero of yours?"
"Spouting a lot of nonsense things. You should read fewer of those fantasy novels."
"No, no, big sis, liste-"
"Enough!!! Now give me your answer. Which side will you take?"
Hecate interrupts her and stops her from continuing that topic and spouting new theories.
Amazel has known her for too long a time and knows how stubborn she is, so she doesn't take it further.
"You've known me since I was a baby. I don't like war, battle, or territorial disputes. If the king can promise that I don't worry about this, then I have no problem joining your side."
"Don't worry about that. As queen, I promise the underworld will be more peaceful than it has ever been."
Amazel kneels, pressing her fist to the ground.
"Then I swear my loyalty to the King and Queen of the Underworld."
And so, we gain another ally.