The thunderous cheers of the colosseum followed Damian long after he stepped away from the bloodstained arena.
Behind him, attendants hurried onto the battlefield to clear away what remained of the Hell Minotaur. There was little left to recover besides shattered bones and crimson stains carved into the stone floor. The spectators, however, had already moved on. In the Underworld, death was entertainment, and another battle was already waiting to begin.
Damian walked through the heavy iron gate without looking back.
The waiting room was much quieter than before.
Contestants who had laughed moments earlier now watched him from a distance. Some leaned against the stone walls with folded arms. Others deliberately avoided meeting his gaze. Even among the monsters of Hell, Damian's method of victory had unsettled them.
Above the arena, the announcer's booming voice echoed throughout the entire colosseum.
"The next battle is between the Demon of Gluttony… and the Nightmare Queen!"
The crowd exploded into deafening applause.
"DEATH!"
"DEVOUR HER!"
"SHOW US A MASSACRE!"
Damian ignored the excitement outside.
He found an empty seat near the cold stone wall and sat down, resting his elbows on his knees while staring through the iron bars overlooking the arena.
The roars outside became nothing more than distant noise.
A few moments later, soft footsteps approached.
Someone climbed onto the seat beside him.
Damian turned his head.
A little girl sat there as though she had known him for years.
She couldn't have been older than ten.
Short pink hair framed her delicate face, while two smooth black horns curved gently from either side of her head. Her crimson eyes sparkled with childish curiosity that contrasted strangely against the oppressive atmosphere of Hell.
She swung her legs back and forth with an innocent smile.
"That was impressive."
She tilted her head.
"I've never seen someone like you before."
Damian simply looked at her.
He said nothing.
His hollow black eyes remained unreadable.
The little girl didn't seem bothered by the silence.
Instead, she scooted closer until she was sitting directly beside him.
Around the room, several contestants noticed.
One demon's face immediately paled.
"W-Why is the Princess here…?"
Another demon hurried toward her, bowing nervously before speaking.
"Princess… where are your guards? If Lord Mephisto discovers you've wandered off again—"
Before he could finish… The little girl slowly turned her head. Her crimson eyes met his. The smile disappeared.
A terrifying stillness settled over the room.
"Forget that you saw me."
Her voice remained gentle.
"If you say a word…"
A faint crimson glow flickered within her pupils.
"…you will die."
The demon's eyes instantly lost focus.
His expression became blank.
He slowly nodded.
"Yes…"
Without another word, he turned around and quietly walked away as though nothing had happened.
Several nearby contestants exchanged uneasy glances.
None of them dared question what they had just witnessed.
Damian watched the exchange before finally speaking.
"A brainwashing ability?"
Deep within his consciousness, Sophie's voice answered.
"She's a pure-blood demon. There are very few left. She's from the bloodline of Mephisto. It isn't surprising she possesses abilities like that. Her father rules the Third Level of Hell."
Damian remained silent. His attention drifted back toward the arena where the battle had already begun.
The Nightmare Queen floated gracefully above the battlefield while her opponent laughed beneath her.
Neither of them interested him. Beside him, the little girl continued watching him instead.
After several quiet moments, she spoke again.
"I don't know you…but I feel something familiar inside you."
Before Damian could respond…She reached out. Her tiny fingers gently touched his arm. The world stopped.
Far beneath Damian's consciousness…Beyond the flowing river of souls…Deeper than the endless darkness of the Abyss…Achlys slowly opened his crimson eyes.
The primordial mist surrounding him stirred.
A smile spread across his face. For only a heartbeat…Control shifted.
Back in the waiting room…Damian's posture changed. His empty gaze transformed into something infinitely older.
His crimson slit pupils settled upon the little girl. He observed her quietly.
Then he smiled.
"The power of Pride…"
His voice carried an ancient weight.
"…Interesting."
The little girl's eyes widened.
Before she could speak The crimson light disappeared. The ancient presence retreated.
Damian blinked once. Control returned to him as though nothing had happened.
Deep within the Abyss…Achlys leaned back beneath the ancient black tree and closed his eyes once more.
Elsewhere…Far beyond the roaring colosseum…
Within the deepest reaches of Hell…
A Demon Duke stood before an enormous obsidian gate.
The doors stretched hundreds of feet into the darkness, covered in ancient carvings older than kingdoms themselves.
Taking a steady breath, he pushed.
The massive doors opened with a low rumble.
Instead of another dark chamber…
A breathtaking paradise lay beyond.
Rolling fields of black flowers stretched endlessly beneath a crimson sky.
Crystal rivers reflected countless stars.
Ancient trees shimmered with silver leaves as gentle winds carried glowing petals through the air.
The Demon Duke lowered himself onto one knee.
He dared not raise his head.
Then…A voice echoed throughout the chamber.
Calm, Ancient and Absolute.
"Why have you entered my chambers?"
The pressure arrived instantly. It was not released intentionally. It simply existed. The Demon Duke's body slammed against the ground.
His bones creaked violently beneath the overwhelming presence.
Sweat poured from his forehead.
"M-My lord…Lord Hephatis sent me…to inform you that…The Child of the Fallen is in Hell."
Silence followed.
Only a distant silhouette could be seen beyond the endless field. Its features remained hidden by shadow.
The voice spoke again.
"Return. It is not time… yet."
The next instant the Demon Duke was thrown backward.
The gigantic doors slammed shut behind him with enough force to shake the mountain they were built into. He remained kneeling outside, breathing heavily.
He had delivered the message. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Back at the colosseum…Damian's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Something brushed against his senses.
It lasted only a fraction of a second. Yet it was enough.
Since Achlys had awakened, fragments of the Primordial Mist had become Damian's own. His perception had evolved beyond ordinary spiritual awareness.
He slowly turned his head. His gaze settled toward the eastern side of the colosseum.
There was nothing there.
Only darkness Yet…Someone was watching.
Deep within the Abyss, Achlys smiled without opening his eyes.
"It's him…"
Sophie's voice followed immediately, carrying a rare hint of solemnity.
"…Hades."