Three hours had passed since the intense meeting with the Demon Sovereign and the Council of the Ancients. The grand chambers of the palace echoed with a knock, a sound that resonated through the towering walls. Thomas and Kallana exchanged glances, curiosity glinting in their eyes. Kallana, recognizing the importance of the moment, gracefully approached the door.
As the door creaked open, a figure emerged – a young-looking woman, adorned in resplendent purple-gold armor. Kallana's eyes widened ever so slightly, and she subtly nudged Thomas. In a hushed tone, she whispered, "This is Arin, the Supreme Commander of the Demon Palace Royal Guard. She's the youngest Demon Emperor in history before me, merely three hundred and five years old."
Arin's gaze met Kallana's, and within it danced a subtle hostility. She had just received orders to guide two guests around the palace, one of whom was a candidate for the position of Demon Sovereign. When she mistook Kallana for the candidate, a surge of resentment rippled through her.
'Is she aiming for the sovereign position?' Arin pondered, finding it challenging to believe that the leader of a relatively small clan could break her record as the youngest Demon Empress. Her engagement to one of the few men Arin admired added a layer of complexity to her feelings.
However, as Arin's gaze shifted to the young man standing next to Kallana, her hostility and envy were instantly replaced by sheer shock. For a moment, she hadn't even noticed his presence, as if he left no trace in the fabric of existence. His life force, his demonic energy – it was all null, like a void standing beside Kallana.
This sensation perplexed Arin. Even the lowliest of demons, the gray demons lacking elemental affinity or talent in demon arts, emitted a faint fluctuation of energy. The youth before her was an exception. If gray demons were dull swords capable of inflicting some damage, this youth was a black hole, a singularity to which nothing could cling.
The feeling persisted momentarily before the pressure equivalent to an entire world bore down on her. It almost brought the Demon Empress to her knees before abruptly retreating. Thomas had exerted this force as a warning, having sensed the hostility directed at Kallana. Arin, though visibly shaken, quickly composed herself, shaking off the remnants of astonishment.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Arin stepped forward, "Greetings, Demon Empress Kallana. I am Arin, Supreme Commander of the Demon Palace Royal Guard. I have been instructed to guide you and your esteemed guest through the halls of our palace."
Kallana, maintaining her regal poise, replied, "Thank you, Arin. We appreciate your assistance and the one by my side here is Thomas, the candidate for demon sovereign."
Arin led Kallana and Thomas through the labyrinthine halls of the Demon Palace, each chamber a testament to the rich history and power of the demon clans. The palace, built with obsidian-like stones that seemed to absorb the ambient light, carried an air of both elegance and foreboding.
Upon entering through a large door, they found themselves in the Obsidian Foyer, a vast space adorned with towering statues of the ancient demons, their forms sculpted from the same dark stone that constituted the palace. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows, giving the impression that the demons of old were alive in the dancing light.
As they progressed, Arin guided them to the Hall of Conquests. Murals depicting legendary battles covered the walls, each stroke of the artist's hand immortalizing the triumphs of the demon clans. Scenes of demons standing against otherworldly foes and reclaiming lost territories adorned the grand hall
Thomas, absorbing the grandeur of the palace, couldn't help but be impressed. He marveled at the craftsmanship of demonkind, a stark contrast to the world he had left behind in his nomadic travels. Kallana, though familiar with these surroundings, displayed a sense of pride as Arin narrated the tales of their demon ancestry.
Next, they entered the Arcane Library, a sanctuary of knowledge and ancient texts. The shelves stretched to the ceiling, containing grimoires, scrolls, and tomes that held the accumulated wisdom of demonkind. The air hummed with the residual energy of countless incantations and rituals.
A stark contrast awaited them in the Seven Sins Gardens. The open-air space was a divided into seven areas, each a representation of the seven sins.
During their journey through the palace, Arin occasionally cast curious glances toward Thomas, her initial shock giving way to a more analytical scrutiny. It was as if she sought answers to an enigma that had stirred her deepest instincts.
The climax of the tour was the Throne Room, a chamber of grandeur and authority. The obsidian throne, adorned with intricate carvings, sat at the far end, elevated on a platform. The walls were embedded with gems that sparkled like stars, representing the ten thousand demon clans.
As they progressed through these areas, Thomas observed the craftsmanship and the symbolic significance of each space. The palace was a living testament to the resilience and power of the demon clans, an architectural marvel carved from the very essence of their domain.
Arin, though duty-bound, couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The presence of Thomas, the enigmatic candidate for Demon Sovereign, added an unpredictable element to the already charged atmosphere within the palace walls.
The grand dining hall of the Demon Palace was a spectacle of opulence. A long, ornate table dominated the room, adorned with delicacies that spoke of culinary artistry. Thomas and Kallana were guests of honor, and the Lightning Demon Sovereign, Aric, presided at the head of the table.
The atmosphere was formal yet charged with anticipation. Aric, his purple eyes gleaming with a subtle electric charge, raised his goblet and spoke, "To new alliances and the future of the demon domain."
As the goblets clinked, the Sovereign turned his attention to Thomas. "Your candidacy has been accepted. In a week's time, your name will be announced along with other candidates. The campaign period will follow soon after."
Thomas, though not entirely surprised, felt a ripple of excitement. The path to becoming Demon Sovereign was now set before him, and he was determined to tread it with the strength of a true deity.
Then, addressing Kallana, the Sovereign continued, "As your duties to Thomas will be paramount in the coming weeks, your engagement to Saros will be delayed until the end of the election. I understand that your fiancé is also participating. A curious twist of fate."
Kallana, composed yet conflicted, nodded in acknowledgment. Her loyalty to Thomas and the impending election overshadowed her personal desires.
Later that night, Thomas found solace within the Hall of the Gods,
The Hall of Gods stood as a testament to celestial splendor, its walls adorned with divine symbols and the ethereal glow of deity-kind. Thomas, in the center of this sanctified space, embarked on a profound exploration of his newfound powers.
His Heart of Primordial Sin pulsed within him, a cosmic force that connected him to the fundamental aspects of sin, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. Each aspect, a formidable power in its own right, awaited his mastery.
Thomas began with Lust, a force that could beguile the minds of even the strongest demons. With a mere thought, he summoned the sin force, its tendrils dancing around him. Yet, rather than succumbing to its influence, Thomas wielded it with precision and had the ability to charm almost any mind.
Next was Gluttony, the insatiable hunger for power. The sin force manifested as voracious shadows that sought to consume. Thomas, however, held control, directing the energy rather than devour without causing destruction.
Greed followed, a force that craved possession. The sin force manifested as shimmering avarice, yet under Thomas's command, it became a means of sharing and prosperity.
Sloth, the lethargy that sapped motivation, bowed to Thomas's will. The sin force pulsed lazily, but Thomas harnessed it to manipulate time itself, demonstrating that even in indolence, power could be found. Only, he still couldn't figure it out how to move his body while time was frozen.
Then came Wrath, a tempest of fury and the one he was the most used to. The sin force roared as a storm around him, yet Thomas, serene amidst chaos, wielded it judiciously, a harbinger of controlled destruction as he danced across the hall his fist puncturing through the fabric of space.
Envy, the insidious force of coveting others, manifested as shades of green tendrils. Thomas, rather than succumbing to jealousy, in his hands this power could replicate anything he sees like looks, objects as well talents and abilities.
Finally, Pride, the sin that could lead to arrogance. The sin force manifested as radiant beams, but Thomas, grounded and humble, channeled it to inspire confidence without hubris.
Having mastered each sin force, Thomas faced the culmination, the Primordial Sin Force. It surged as an amalgamation of all sins, a cosmic energy that resonated with the pulse of the universe. Thomas, at the nexus of this primordial power, felt a profound connection to the very essence of existence.
But there was more, a higher realm yet to be explored. The Divine Sin Force emerged, a fusion of his divinity and the sin force. It radiated an otherworldly luminescence, a testament to Thomas's transcendent nature.
Yet, to unlock its true capacity, he needed the Eternal Eclipse Body, a form that transcended mortal constraints. Activating it, Thomas felt the Divine Sin Force surge through him like a torrent, an omnipotent force that harmonized with his essence.
Exhausted but invigorated, Thomas concluded his training. As he lay on his bed, the cosmic energies settling within him, he contemplated his path to becoming the Demon Sovereign and make the demons his believers.