In the depths of the Demon Realm, where the sky stretched blood-red and rivers of black mana flowed like veins pulsing with vile life, Lucifer sat upon his throne, surrounded by flickering infernal flames.
Beneath that throne sat the ten generals in a semi-circular formation, each radiating a unique aura—power enough to destroy mountains or erase cities.
But this day was no ordinary one…
To the right of the throne stood two new empty seats, from which thick black steam rose like the breath of hell itself.
Lucifer raised his hand, and all sounds vanished.
Everyone turned toward the grand entrance of the throne hall as the echo of heavy footsteps resounded.
The first to appear was Kobra, the Poison General.
He was tall, his dark body etched with glowing green cracks that pulsed with toxic light. His emerald eyes gleamed with a deadly shine, and his green horns curved backward like serpent fangs.
Every step he took left a poisonous trace on the ground, and the smoke rising from his body seemed to melt the very air around him.
The one who followed could not be described as human or demon…
Black, the General of Space and Time, his body entirely covered in layers of deep violet mana, his face completely void of features—no eyes, no mouth, no nose—only a formless void that seemed to bend reality itself.
Anyone who looked at him for too long felt as if time itself slowed down.
The generals froze in their places, even Ashura, the most reckless among them, felt something akin to fear creeping into his heart.
Lucifer, with a calm smile:
"So you've finally arrived… Kobra, Black… I've heard much about you."
The two knelt before him in silence.
Then Kobra raised his head and spoke in a raspy voice that seemed to emerge from the depths of swamps:
"My lord Lucifer, every drop of poison in my body belongs to you."
As for Black, he slowly raised his head, his voice echoing like sound from another dimension:
"Space and time will follow your will."
Lucifer's deep laughter filled the hall, shaking its walls.
"Splendid… splendid! I knew summoning you wasn't a mistake. The world will remember your names beside mine when the light burns once more!"
At that moment, Ashura stood up, his eyes burning with the fire of battle:
"Lucifer! I want to test their strength myself!
I can't trust anyone sitting beside me unless I see their power firsthand!"
But before Lucifer could speak, Kobra turned his head slightly toward him, a wicked smile spreading on his serpent-like face:
"You want to fight? Refuse."
Ashura, sharply:
"What?"
Then Black raised his hand without moving from his place, and suddenly Ashura's body stopped moving—no air, no sound, no time.
He was frozen in a single moment of existence.
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
Even Lucifer smiled in admiration, whispering:
"Impressive… I didn't expect anyone could stop Ashura without even touching him."
A moment later, time flowed again, and Ashura blinked in disbelief—then started laughing madly.
Ashura:
"Good! Good! Fight me to the death, you bastard!"
But Kobra and Black merely bowed again before their master, showing no trace of arrogance.
Lucifer, with a tone of admiration:
"You refused to fight… and declined participation in the ranking duels, yet none here doubt your power.
You are now the ninth and tenth generals of my army—but your true places will reveal themselves soon."
Kobra, with a confident smirk:
"We don't need ranks, my lord. Poison isn't measured by position—but by results."
Black's voice drifted like a passing breeze:
"And the result… is the end of time itself."
Their words echoed through the hall like a dark prophecy.
---
Back to the present…
Lucifer now sat upon his throne, surrounded by his ten generals—the circle finally complete.
He spoke in a cold voice:
"The time has come to move. Humans are building their new generation, and we must prepare to greet them with hellfire."
Ashura stepped forward, eyes blazing with anticipation:
"At last! What are your orders?"
Lucifer rose from his throne, spreading his massive wings that covered the crimson sky, and thundered:
"You will go to the lands of other races — the Elves of Darkness, the Giants, and the others.
I want them… all of them.
Those who accept shall be given power.
Those who refuse…"
He raised his hand, and the throne behind him exploded into a vortex of black flames.
"…shall be erased from existence."
All ten generals knelt at once, their voices uniting:
"As you command, Lord of Hell!"
But Kobra and Black exchanged a brief glance—the first filled with malice, the second with emptiness.
As if they both knew that this coming war would not be only against humans…
And thus, the first stage of the Hell Army's mobilization began.
The shadows moved silently toward the world of men—while in the academy, none yet realized that the storm had already begun.