My footsteps echoed on the black stone floor of the training building. The demon army was already lined up before me—the remaining one hundred and twenty demons, all staring at me with respect and a hint of fear. Rena stood to my right, Zereth to my left, and Simon the blacksmith stood behind, watching.
"I'll only ask once."
My voice echoed, slicing through the silence like a sword.
"Do you know what a demon's strongest weapon is?"
No one answered. Only heavy breathing and questioning stares.
I smiled faintly.
"A demon's strongest weapon is its own body."
My eyes swept over each of their faces.
"A demon's body grows stronger with age, but I don't have time to wait hundreds of years for you to be ready. So we'll force that time to kneel before us."
I snapped my fingers.
VRRRMMMMMM
The ancient runes carved all over the walls and floor began to glow red. A dark aura crept into the air like a mist of blood. In an instant, the gravity in the room spiked.
BOOM!
The demons' bodies slammed into the floor. Muffled screams and gasps of pain filled the air. Even Zereth, always so proud, was now on his knees, his teeth clenched under the weight pressing down on him.
I stood my ground, unfazed.
"The gravity here is now a hundred times that of the mortal world," I said flatly.
"If you can't move, you'll die before you even touch the hero."
Several demons tried to stand—their bones cracking, the veins in their necks bulging. One lesser demon collapsed, blood dripping from his nose.
"This is not training for the weak," I continued.
"I give you a week. Within a week, you must be able to move freely under this pressure. Otherwise, you will be buried here."
"Y-Yes, My Lord!"
The unanimous answer broke through the air, though their voices sounded hoarse and strained.
I walked slowly among them, each step feeling like a hammer pounding into their guts.
"You will crawl. You will fall. You will vomit blood. But you will become an army that even the gods will fear to touch."
My eyes glinted sharply.
"Remember, this is not just training. This is the beginning of the formation of the Hell Army."
In the corner of the room, Rena watched with a satisfied look, while Simon gritted his teeth under the weight. Zereth lifted his head, staring at me with a blaze in his eyes—no longer just loyalty, but a hunger to become stronger.
And inside, I smiled.
Good, Destroy now. Rise later as true demons.
The first day ended with twenty demons unconscious and five more vomiting blood. I left them lying on the cold stone floor, their bodies trembling under the unforgiving weight of gravity.
"Rena," I called without turning around. "Make sure the unconscious ones don't die. I still need them."
"Understood, My Lord." Rena strode gracefully—even under 100x gravity, her movements remained controlled. As a hero, her body was accustomed to greater pressure.
I walked toward Zereth, who was still kneeling, his breath labored. Sweat mingled with blood dripped from his forehead, but his eyes still burned with fiery determination.
"How does it feel, Zereth?" I asked, my voice flowing like poisoned honey.
"Like... hell, My Lord," he replied between ragged breaths. "But I can feel it. My bones are adapting."
I nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Demon bodies are built to withstand extreme conditions. All you need is the right push."
My eyes shifted to Simon the blacksmith. The old man sat against the wall, his face pale but his eyes filled with a strange awe.
"Simon," I called. "What about their weaponry?"
"Their weapons will be heavier too, My Lord," he replied breathlessly. "But if they can move freely here, when they return to normal gravity"
"They will move like lightning," I continued, finishing his sentence. "Their strength will multiply. Their speed will surpass the human eye."
A weak groan came from the corner of the room. One of the lesser demons tried to crawl, his fingers clawing at the stone floor until they bled. Every tiny movement seemed like a life-and-death struggle.
I approached him. "Your name?"
"K-Krix, My Lord," he answered hoarsely.
"Krix," I repeated. "Do you know why I don't lower gravity for you weaklings?"
He shook his head, his face touching the cold floor.
"Because the enemy will show no mercy," I replied coldly. "Heroes won't wait for you to be ready. Angels won't slow their attacks. So neither will I."
I crouched beside him, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Rise, Krix. Or I'll let you fall to pieces right here."
The demon's eyes flashed. With a scream that nearly tore at his throat, he forced himself to his feet. Hislegs trembled, blood trickled from hisnose, but he stood.
A soft applause echoed through the room. Rena clapped her hands with a faint smile on her lips.
"Impressive," she commented. "Survival instinct is still the best teacher."
I rose and turned to the entire squad still struggling with this deadly gravity. "Listen well! Today is the first day of your hell. In six days, I expect all of you to be able to run, jump, and fight under this pressure!"
Sighs and groans were their answer.
"And to those who succeed," I continued, a cold smile spreading across my lips, "I will give you a special reward. You will become the first Elite Guards of the Demon Lord Army."
The eyes of the still conscious demons immediately lit up. Elite Guards—a position only found in ancient demon legends. Power, honor, and privileges surpassing those of ordinary demons.
"Now," my voice echoed loudly, "SURVIVE!"
The large doors of the training room creaked shut behind me. The gravity runes would continue to glow for seven days without interruption.
There was no escape. No rest. Only evolution or death.