Chapter 2 - The King Of Hell

Arthur had lost track of time. How long had he been tortured? Ten days? Twenty? A month? His days blended into a constant, unending pain, and with each moment, he felt a part of himself slipping away. He no longer screamed or cried; his will to survive was waning.
"All right, all right, you're one of the few who've lasted this long," Kril taunted with a wicked grin, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Don't give up now. Or do you want to become a demon like us? Haha, no, even worse, you might fall into oblivion or become a devil. Given your situation, oblivion is the most likely outcome."
Kril continued with her torture sessions, which had been ongoing for over ten years since Arthur was placed in the room. Initially, she thought he wouldn't last long and would quickly turn into a demon, but his willpower seemed only to increase her sadistic pleasure.

Somewhere in Hell

"So, have you located the boy?" asked a majestic figure, gazing intensely over the vast and chaotic realm of Hell.
"Yes, my lord. He is in the lowest area of Hell, under the command of the demon baron Liev. He is being kept in one of the torture rooms."
"Torture room? Didn't they hear my announcement as soon as I returned from the human world? He is in the lower area, which explains why they didn't identify his aura. Bring him immediately and ensure the baron is punished for his mistake."
"As you wish," replied the subordinate, and with that, he vanished into thin air.
In the torture chamber, Kril was using a particularly cruel device—a machine that dripped molten lava on Arthur's back every few seconds. She watched with sadistic delight as Arthur's flesh was slowly burned away. Suddenly, a loud commotion at the door interrupted the constant sound of lava and suffering.
Kril went to answer the door, a mix of irritation and curiosity on her face. Her expression changed to shock when she saw Baron Liev himself entering the room. He looked furious, his eyes blazing with contained rage.
"M-Master Liev? What brings you here?" Kril asked, bowing quickly, her eyes wide with surprise and fear.
"You imbecile! Didn't I tell you to inform me immediately when you found the boy? You're utterly useless!" Liev shouted, his face red with anger. He advanced and punched Kril so hard that she was thrown against the opposite wall, breaking several of her ribs. She fell to the ground, groaning in pain with blood dripping from her mouth.
"Master, please, if I did something to offend you, I'm sorry," Kril begged, her voice desperate.
"Be quiet!" Liev commanded, abruptly shutting down the lava machine. He then broke Arthur's chains with his bare hands, lifted him carefully, and ran out of the room.
"What the hell was that?" Kril thought, still dazed and slumped on the floor.
Arthur, accustomed to the tortures, had begun to resign himself to his situation. The lava was slowly melting his muscles, and pain had become a constant companion. There were moments when he almost welcomed the darkness, thinking that any place would be better than this hell. But then the commotion in the room and seeing Kril being thrown across the room brought him a brief moment of solace.
'I just wanted to see what happens to you. I wish you could feel some of the pain I endured,' Arthur thought as his eyes closed. But before he could fully give in to the darkness, he felt someone releasing him from the chains.
"So, this is the boy?" asked the majestic figure, looking at Arthur with a mixture of curiosity and a hint of approval.
"Y-Yes," Liev replied, trembling with fear and anxiety.
"What happened to him? Were you not instructed to return him to His Majesty immediately upon arrival? You know how much He has been searching for this boy."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know he was under the care of a punisher. I apologize sincerely."
"Good that it is," said the man, placing his hand on Arthur's body. Arthur's skin immediately began to heal, and he quickly regained his healthy appearance. "If it had been any later, he would have fallen into oblivion. Now, just wait for him to wake up."
Liev, desperate, begged for mercy. "I'm sorry, please have mercy. I have always been loyal to Your Majesty."
The man, carrying Arthur in his arms, turned his back to Liev. Before Liev could finish his plea, an invisible blade severed his head, which fell to the ground with a muffled thud. The baron had no time to understand what happened before succumbing.
"Scum. The King allows no mistakes," the man said coldly, disappearing immediately.
Arthur had no idea what happened after his eyes closed. He was already dead, right? What would come next?
When he woke up, he found himself lying on a luxurious bed in a room that exuded comfort and wealth. A man stood by the window, looking out contemplatively.
"It's good you woke up, Arthur. I've been looking for you for a long time," the man said, his voice smooth and filled with enigmatic satisfaction.
Arthur scrutinized the man closely. He was extraordinarily handsome, with long, silky hair and wearing a pristine white suit. Arthur was confused. Was the torture he endured just a nightmare? Was everything that happened a result of this man's ability?
"Who are you? What is going on?" Arthur asked, his eyes fixed on the man.
"My real name is Linfael, but you can call me Lucifer. I prefer it."