A suffocating stillness hung over the Eternal Hell Abyss, the heart of the Netherworld. All the monstrous inhabitants—the Demons, the Ghosts, and the Rakshasas—stood bowed, their forms a sea of shadow and dread. Even the two other God-heads of the Netherworld's ruling trio were present, their heads lowered in deference.
A resonant, unified chant echoed through the chamber:
"Congratulations, Ashura King, for reaching the Black Realm!"
The King sat upon his immense, obsidian throne, a figure of absolute, terrifying power. He was cloaked in a midnight-black robe, his long, raven hair spilling over his shoulders, and his eyes—a terrifying, blood-red against the pallor of his skin—burned with barely contained fury. A swirling black mist enveloped him, a constant barrier no one dared to breach, nor could any dare to meet his gaze.
He spoke, his voice a low, commanding rumble that sent tremors through the air. "All my demons, ghosts, and rakshasas, the time has finally come. It is our time to rule the Three Realms." His eyes swept over the assembly, settling briefly on the God-heads. "Demon God and Rakshasa God, begin assembling your armies. We are going to attack the Sacred Realm soon."
Crying of cheers roam down on all the crowd
He then raised a hand, dismissing the legions. "All are dismissed now. Demon God, you stay."
The Demon God, a colossal figure of dark power, hesitantly took a step forward. "Your Grace," he asked, his voice laced with doubt, "are you truly going to attack the Sacred Realm?"
The Ashura King's blood-red gaze sharpened. "Yes, I am."
"But... the Princess was there too," the Demon God pressed, a note of worry in his tone.
"Yes, I know that!" The King's composure fractured slightly, the black mist around him churning violently. "And it is precisely because of that. It is time to take revenge on every single person who dared to hurt her. For 900 years, I have waited for the day I would be strong enough to find her. I will not spare anyone, even if it means fighting the entire Sacred Realm!"
The Demon God sighed, a sound like grinding stone. "But, Your Grace, you are still only at 1-Star in the Black Realm. The Heavenly King is at 2-Star in the White Realm."
A chilling, predatory smile touched the King's lips. "Who said I am attacking them now?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "When I reach 2-Star, then, and only then, will I personally kill every single person who has hurt her. Think of it, Demon God. They are the reason the Princess, whose entire existence depends on power, could not even increase one Star in 800 years."
His eyes burned with intense empathy. "She was strong. She was the one who fought the tyrants and saved the oppressed. She could endure being called the 'Evil Queen' by those who she saved. But I... I cannot forget the humiliation she felt when the Sacred Realm banished her as a Goddess."
"Even I can't tolerate it," the Demon God affirmed, his voice thick with shared indignation. "She is the proudest Princess of Luminara. How much pain she must have felt when the very people who once revered her now consider her an Evil Queen."
The Ashura King rose slowly, the air crackling with dark energy. "Now, it is finally time. The persons who disrespected her will pay with their blood. Human, Sacred People, or even our own Nether People—I will not spare them."
"Your Grace," the Demon God asked, hope flickering in his eyes, "can you find her now? Surely the Heavenly King's seal on her no longer prevents you from tracking her."
"I have tried," the King admitted, running a hand through his dark hair. "She is in the Imperial Dawn Pavilion in the Sacred Realm, but I still can't pinpoint her exact location. The 1-Star difference between me and the Heavenly King is enough to mask her.
But I will catch up to him soon."
The Demon God's eyes widened with a calculated gleam. "Normally, it takes thousands of years to increase one Star. However, you are the sole, direct descendant of the Royal Ashura Bloodline. If you consume a Golden Realm God-head, you could reach 2-Star in less than a hundred years, perhaps even sooner. What are your thoughts on that?"
A dark laugh escaped the Ashura King. "I know exactly who I have to take. We are going to the Sacred Realm now."
"But is it not too soon?" the Demon God questioned, worry returning. "Our armies are not ready, and the Heavenly King is at 2-Star. Even if your Ashura Bloodline helps bridge the power gap, it still wouldn't guarantee victory."
The King stood and turned, the terrifying red in his eyes momentarily fading to a more neutral crimson.
"Who said we are going to fight them?"
The Demon God stared, confusion etched on his face. "Do you mean her ?
No , Not her " the King confirmed. "I don't want anyone in the Sacred Realm to know she has any relation to the Netherworld. It would only make things harder for her."
"So, who is it then?"
"Asylus, the God-head of the Silver Dew Pavilion," the Ashura King snarled, a fresh wave of rage washing over him. "He constantly disrespected our Princess. He was the first to call for her banishment as a Goddess 900 years ago."
"But will the Sacred realm hand him over so easily?"
"No," the King said, a chillingly pragmatic calculation in his eyes. "But think: When it comes to the peace of the Three Realms, what would the Heavenly King choose?"
A slow smile spread across the Demon God's face as the plan clicked into place. "Ah, I understand! If we offer peace for a 100 years, they might accept it. An open war is uncertain, and the Sacred Realm would suffer a great loss. They will choose peace."
"Exactly," the Ashura King affirmed.
"And Asylus is at the Golden Realm. If I consume him, I am certain I will reach 2-Star well before a hundred years."
"When shall we go?" the Demon God asked.
Tomorrow, and "Send the message to the Sacred Realm immediately."
"Yes, Your Grace. I take my leave." The Demon God bowed low before retreating into the shadows.
Left alone, the Ashura King's attention fixed on a simple, bracelet made by Black and white thread on his wrist. The name 'Zariel' was delicately engraved upon it.
"It has been 900 years, Princess," he whispered, the burning red in his eyes finally dimming, back into normal eyes colour, "Wait for me."