As the icy landscape dissolved, it was replaced by a murky, boggy terrain. Thick, humid air settled over the trio as they found themselves in the middle of a swamp—a marshy and foreboding place.
They trudged forward cautiously. The air reeked of decay, and the ground squelched beneath their feet. The imp's voice broke the uneasy silence. "We're at the Third Ring of Hell, the domain of the Archdevil of Gluttony—Beelzebub."
Rae's mind churned with thoughts. A pattern was beginning to emerge. Each Archdevil's test revolved around the sin they embodied. If Beelzebub was responsible for gluttony, then it was likely the test would involve food.
As they pressed on, the swamp stirred with a sinister energy. Without warning, a grotesque monster emerged from the marshy depths, its massive jaws snapping them up in an instant.
Inside the creature, the fleshy walls warped and twisted. The suffocating darkness gave way to a sudden, inexplicable light. Rae blinked, disoriented, as they appeared in a massive library. Shelves upon shelves of books stretched as far as the eye could see.
Rae's breath caught in her throat. The collection was unlike anything she had ever seen. Some books covered topics from her previous world, while others seemed to belong to this strange one. The excitement surged within her, overwhelming her senses.
Her fingers itched to grab a book. Just one, she thought, stepping toward a shelf.
"My lady, snap out of it!" Eleanor's voice rang out, pulling Rae back to reality. "This is an illusion. A test, just like the others."
Rae froze, her heart sinking as understanding dawned. Of course, it was a test. This wasn't about food—it was her gluttony for knowledge.
"Looks like you passed," came a voice from nowhere. It was casual, almost mocking. "On to the next Archdevil you go."
The library faded away, replaced by a landscape that truly embodied hell. Molten rivers of lava flowed between jagged cliffs, and the blistering heat pressed down on Rae like a physical weight. Volcanoes loomed in the distance, spewing ash and fire into the crimson sky.
A massive, brilliant red dragon descended from one of the mountains, its scales glinting like molten metal. It landed with a thunderous crash, its powerful wings sending gusts of hot air across the group.
"So, you are the Anchor," the dragon growled, its voice reverberating like an earthquake. "You've done well to come this far. I am Satan, the Archdevil of Wrath, and ruler of the Fourth Ring."
Rae tensed, her gaze locked on the dragon. Another test, she thought, bracing herself.
Without warning, the dragon unleashed a torrent of flames. The searing heat didn't touch Rae, but her mind was assaulted by vivid memories. Her mother's death. Merle's death. The pain was as raw as the day it had happened.
"The Demon King must pay for taking them from me," Rae spat, her hands trembling with rage.
"My queen, control yourself!" Eleanor's voice was sharp with urgency. "Remember, this is a test. If you give in to your rage, you've already lost."
Eleanor's words cut through the storm of emotions, grounding Rae. She clenched her fists, breathing heavily. The Demon King in front of me isn't real. The true Demon King will face my wrath when the time comes.
The fiery landscape shattered, and the dragon's booming voice followed. "Unconventional, but acceptable. You pass. On to the next Archdevil."
The oppressive heat vanished, replaced by the interior of a grand castle. The air was thick with a different energy—one that stirred something primal within Rae. A sudden wave of lust overcame her, an urge that made her skin prickle.
A melodic, alluring voice echoed through the hall. "Welcome to my domain. I am Asmodeus, the Archdevil of Lust, ruler of this ring of hell."
The figure that stepped forward radiated magnificence. Asmodeus's form was striking, almost angelic, with features so perfect they seemed unreal. Rae found her gaze lingering longer than it should have.
"Let us test your will," Asmodeus said, his lips curling into a knowing smirk.
At first, Asmodeus summoned a procession of handsome men, each one more beautiful than the last. They approached Rae with seductive confidence, their eyes promising pleasures untold. But Rae's lips pressed into a thin line. Though the lust simmered beneath her surface, she felt no pull toward them. I'm still a straight man inside. This isn't going to work, she thought.
Asmodeus raised an intrigued brow. "Interesting. So that's how it is. Very well, let's try again."
This time, the Archdevil summoned a bevvy of beautiful women, each one seemingly crafted to perfection. For a moment, Rae felt her resolve waver. The temptation was real, the allure undeniable. But as the minutes dragged on, the urge began to fade.
Why doesn't this affect me more? she wondered. Then the realization struck her. Living with so many beautiful women must have numbed me to this kind of temptation. Or Maybe...
Asmodeus's smirk faltered, replaced by mild frustration. "How peculiar. Most cannot overcome my trap so easily. Very well. On to the next Archdevil you go."
With a wave of his hand, the castle began to dissolve, giving way to a new, challenge?
The familiar warping of the landscape occurred, and Rae found herself standing before a majestic castle made of gold, its walls adorned with all manner of glittering gems. The grandeur of the place was almost overwhelming.
A figure materialized before her, exuding an aura of greed so intense it was suffocating. "Welcome to my castle. I am Mammon, the Archdevil of Avarice," the figure declared. His voice carried both authority and disdain. "Now depart from here. I cannot spare any time on you."
Before Rae could respond, the scenery changed once more. She was drawn deeper into the realm of the devils until she reached a throne room that exuded power and dread in equal measure. Seated on a dark throne was a figure of striking beauty and overwhelming presence.
"Welcome to my castle. I am Lucifer, Queen of the Devils," she announced, her gaze piercing through Rae.
As Rae's eyes locked onto Lucifer, something stirred within her. This woman looked familiar, as if Rae had seen her somewhere before.
Lucifer tilted her head slightly, her expression sharp. "I sense the blood of the Celestials in you," she said, her tone cool yet probing. "But I also sense the blood of my kin. Tell me, whose side are you going to take?"
Celestials? Rae's thoughts raced. Blood of the Celestials? Could that explain why I can use light magic?
"Answer my question quickly!" Lucifer's voice cut through Rae's thoughts like a blade. A sudden wave of pressure emanated from the devil queen, and Rae felt her body tremble involuntarily under its weight.
After steadying herself, Rae spoke. "I have no quarrel with either side. I will not be taking sides. The one I have a grudge against is the Demon King."
Lucifer's eyebrows arched. "The Demon King?"
"Yes, the Demon King," Rae affirmed, her voice resolute.
"You are foolish," Lucifer said, leaning forward slightly. "The Celestials desire the destruction of demonkind and the world as a whole."
"Even so," Rae replied firmly, "my grudge is still with the Demon King."
Lucifer leaned back on her throne, a hint of amusement flickering across her face. "What if I told you the Demon King is but a puppet, manipulated by the Celestials?"
Rae's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The Demon King is like you," Lucifer said, her tone now holding a trace of bitterness. "With both demonic and angelic blood coursing through her veins. But unlike you, she chose to work for the angels."
Rae's fists clenched. "Then what are the Celestials after?"
"Power," Lucifer replied coldly. "They have always been after power. Let me tell you a brief story." She leaned forward, her voice lowering as if sharing a dark secret.
"Before I became a devil, I was a demon, growing in strength to protect my people from oppression. My powers grew, and when I reached new heights, the Celestials—who had remained hidden—revealed themselves. They came to snuff out what they perceived as a threat. But I had made a pact with a fairy, and through that bond, I became what I am now: Lucifer, Queen of Devils."
Lucifer's gaze darkened. "After my transformation, I was bonded to the Shadow Realm, never to return to the material plane. From there, I discovered the truth: we are not the original inhabitants of this world. Even while trapped, I used what power I could to protect my people."
Rae's voice was steady but curious. "So, are you the first Vampire Queen?"
"Yes," Lucifer admitted. "Before you arrived, I didn't think it possible to access the material plane. But now, with you here, it may be."
Rae frowned. "How?"
Lucifer's lips curled into a knowing smile. "You will be my anchor." Her crimson eyes glinted dangerously. "So again, I ask you: are you with the angels or the devils?"
Rae took a deep breath, her mind racing through everything she'd heard. "If what you say is true, then the Celestials must be stopped. If they orchestrated the deaths of my loved ones, they will pay. But before anything else, where is the princess?"
Lucifer gestured lazily, and a figure stepped forward. Cilia emerged from the shadows, her gaze steady as she stood beside Rae. "You have loyal servants," Lucifer remarked. "Learn to work with them so you don't repeat your failures in the dungeon."
Rae's shoulders relaxed slightly at the sight of Cilia, but Lucifer's next words pulled her back into focus.
"Now that you've agreed to be my anchor, you must grow strong enough to summon me. Currently, you are far too weak. To gain the power you need, you must delve into the labyrinth's depths."
"That's what I intended even before meeting you," Rae said.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Yet you fled the dungeon."
Rae faltered. "Ah..."
Lucifer smirked. "You do realize you'll return to the dungeon anyway. You can only leave a dungeon through its gates."
That explained why the drake hadn't stopped them.
"You don't seem to understand what dungeons and labyrinths are," Lucifer continued. "Let me explain. Dungeons are doorways to labyrinths. To access a labyrinth, you must conquer its dungeon. Labyrinths are layers of pseudo-realms derived from the existing planes. They serve as barriers, protecting what lies within the final labyrinth: the power the Celestials are hiding."
Rae's gaze hardened. "Were all the tests I endured just to see if I could be your anchor?"
"Yes," Lucifer replied unapologetically. "And you passed."
Rae sighed. "That wasn't very nice of you... But wouldn't it take an eternity to reach the last labyrinth?"
"Not if you cheat," Lucifer said with a sly grin. "Conquer a dungeon, and its overseer can grant access to the labyrinth's depths. The overseer currently resides in the material plane as one of the Demon Generals. Be cautious—she is nearly as powerful as I am."
"How will I recognize her?" Rae asked.
Lucifer's smile was enigmatic. "You will just know."
Rae rolled her eyes. "Vague, but fine. How do I return to the material realm?"
"I'll send you back to the Sea of Shadows. From there, you'll return to the dungeon," Lucifer replied.
Before leaving, Rae turned to Eleanor and Cilia. "We'll need to train together this time. Last time, I tried to conquer the dungeon alone, and it didn't end well. This time, we tackle it as a team."
Lucifer's approval was evident in her tone. "A wise choice. I will grant you a space to prepare. Train until you are ready."