Prologue
The chamber was dark and endless, a palace carved out of shadow and fire. From the black gates that loomed like fangs, distant roars echoed—beasts of unknown origin writhing in their pens, raised only for war. The marble floor shimmered faintly with crimson sigils, each one breathing like a living thing.
It was here, within this reality marble, that Aragon had summoned Lucian Stark.
The two figures sat opposite each other at a stone table where a chessboard glowed faintly between them.
Lucian looked young, no more than his early twenties. His tall, lean frame carried the poise of a man born to dominate, his golden hair gleaming even in the suffocating gloom. Dressed in a formal coat, his smile was a sharp curve—handsome, but menacing. His very presence radiated the confidence of a manipulative predator who believed the board, the game, and even fate itself belonged to him.
Across from him, Aragon, the Arch Demon, was a terrifying sight of calm brutality. Muscular, towering, his dark aura pulsed like a restrained storm. Long, black hair spilled over his shoulders, contrasting with his clawed hands that gripped the chess pieces with unnerving ease. His appearance, draped in battle attire like Guy Crimson himself, carried the weight of authority—an emperor of shadows and beasts.
The demon's golden eyes narrowed. "Lucian… have you completed your mission to retire the Bond?"
Lucian's smile widened, cold and playful. "Not yet. I'm still… working on it." Lightning flickered faintly across his hands as if mocking the demon's impatience.
Aragon's voice rumbled low, commanding. "Do not delay further. The Bond cannot remain unbroken. You were entrusted with this task. Complete it swiftly."
Lucian tilted his head, studying the board, before nudging a knight forward. "And yet, you summon me here to speak of ambitions." His tone dripped with amusement. "What is it you wish to know, Aragon? My goals? My hunger? Or the despair I dream of crafting?"
The demon's eyes flared with interest. "Tell me then. Your ambition."
Lucian leaned back, lightning dancing faintly along his golden hair, his smile widening into something dangerous. "Despair. That is my true ambition. To create the ultimate hero, only to tear him apart. To give Johnson hope—hope that he is progressing, that he has everything he could ever want. And then… in a single instant, to bring it all crashing down." His voice sharpened, dripping venom with every word. "That is what I live for."
Aragon's claw tapped the board, taking several pawns from Lucian's side. "Why? Why torment Quicklightning? Do you truly have a grudge with him?"
Lucian's smile faltered for only a moment, eyes flashing red with suppressed fury. "Because of him… I am what I am today. His existence is my curse. My rival. My mirror. I am his equal in every universe, every scenario, every timeline. I cannot surpass him unless I break him." He moved his knight, striking down Aragon's bishop with deliberate force. "So yes, I will punish him. I will tear him apart piece by piece until he understands despair."
Aragon's golden gaze pierced him. "You lie, Lucian. I can smell it. I am a demon. Truth bleeds through silence."
Lucian chuckled under his breath, rubbing his temple. "Tch. Fine. Not Nyxeria, no… but Mercury. Mercury visited me, after Quicklightning murdered her. She gave me these abilities. She gave me this purpose. To kill Johnson." His grin returned, twisted. "But killing him outright is boring. No… I'll drag him through despair, through agony, until death itself will envy him."
Aragon frowned. "You know Quicklightning is relentless. He does not give up. Sooner or later, he'll find you out."
Lucian's eyes gleamed with hunger as his rook swept across the board, scattering three of Aragon's pieces in one move. "You think that wasn't part of the plan? Every probability, every reality, every timeline—I've prepared them all. From when he first gained his abilities, to when Typhon slaughtered him, to when he rewound time to save his parents… I arranged every step. I am called the Reverse. My goals are beyond human understanding. I exist only to see Quicklightning drown in despair."
Aragon leaned back, folding his arms. "You could simply kill him."
Lucian shook his head slowly, his voice almost a whisper. "Too boring. He would only return. Death is mercy, Aragon. I want something deeper." His eyes glowed crimson as he leaned forward, voice sharp as a blade. "I will kill him and resurrect him. I will slaughter his family in front of his eyes. His sister. His lover. His friends. Everything he clings to, I will rip away. Then I will build him a false reality where he believes he has it all… before shattering it again."
For the first time, Aragon's calm wavered. He stared at the young man across from him, unsettled. "…You are insane. Truly evil."
Lucian's lips curved into a grin that gleamed in the shadows. "Coming from an Arch Demon, I'll take that as a compliment." His queen slid across the board, devouring several more of Aragon's pieces. "Now… it's time to go on the offensive."
Aragon exhaled sharply, pushing the pieces aside. "Ugh. I concede. You always win this wretched game." His voice hardened. "But remember our deal, Lucian. Retire the Bond. Quickly."
Lucian rose to his feet, coat swaying as the chessboard dissolved into sparks. A bottle of whiskey appeared in his hand with a snap of his fingers. He smirked. "I'll give you what you want, demon. But my true ambition?" He lifted the glass lazily. "That's for me to fulfill. I don't give a damn what anyone else thinks."
Aragon stood as a black portal opened behind him. His dark aura rippled like a storm, shaking the chamber. "So be it. But I'll be watching. Do not fail me."
Lucian chuckled, raising his glass. "Tell the big mama I did her a favor. Changed someone's fate already."
The demon grunted, stepping through the portal, his figure fading into darkness.
Lucian was left alone, golden hair gleaming faintly in the shadows. His crimson eyes burned with anticipation as his menacing smile returned.
"The game begins, Quicklightning," he whispered. "And I never lose."
The light faded.