A month had passed since the Lost Ones arrived on Trillia. Gwendoline and Alora had taken this time to study magic from the grimoire gifted to them by Charnald, sharing cherished moments practicing the magical spells the book held. Yanis, on the other hand, had trained Jacob and Rogue in bodyweight exercises. Being typical teenagers not so long ago, they now needed to adapt to this world by improving their physical strength and stamina.
*
Not far from Érétide, in a distant village near a mountain, demons and archdemons had just finished caging up living creatures. The iron cage, cloaked in demonic mana, held humans, goblins, ogres, and elves. Altogether, the group of demons had captured a thousand living beings.
A demon approached an archdemon with pink hair, his hands on his hips, facing the cage where the creatures were weeping.
"Lord Abaguo… We have captured your 1500 subjects as you commanded."
The presumed archdemon, Abaguo, stood out from the rest because of his striking resemblance to a regular human. While the others wore animal skins around their waists, Abaguo was simply dressed in blue jeans, black shoes, and a deep red shirt. Additionally, his beige skin stood out with its authentically demonic appearance. His face exuded arrogance and narcissism, and his red eyes reflected his demonic nature. His smug smile spoke of both violence and atrocity.
Moving closer to the cage, the living beings seemed tantalizingly appetizing to Abaguo from his perspective. Women and children wept, some prayed to the Archangels, while others had accepted their fate.
"How magnificent! I'm going to truly enjoy these," he gloated, gazing at the prisoners.
A timid demon approached Abaguo, hesitating to disturb him. "My Lord? I have a request, if I may. Could you possibly spare some humans for us? So that we, like you, can absorb their souls?"
Abaguo burst into laughter, his ego echoing off the village walls, joined in laughter by the other demons. "Did you hear that? He wants humans!" As the laughter died down, Abaguo turned, his glare cold and menacing. "Listen here! If you want humans to absorb, you'll need to fetch them yourself. Got it?!"
"Sorry, My Lord… I just wanted to be like you," the timid demon mumbled, head bowed.
"Really, you're a disgrace to our kind. Get out of my sight!"
The demon shamefully retreated back to the ranks. As Abaguo began his absorption ritual, reaching for a short blonde-haired human, he was interrupted by her defiant approach. Though the cage bars separated them, she spoke with courage.
"I sincerely hope the Lost Ones make you pay, you wretched demon!"
"The Lost Ones? Oh, those kids summoned a few weeks ago? They're just children from a powerless universe. Do you really think they can challenge me?"
"I'm sure of it... Their powers hold a potential greater than anyone in this world."
"Do you know who I am? I am Abaguo, the archdemon who will become the first transcendent archdemon! One who will break the demonic laws!"
The woman seemed puzzled. No such evolution stage had ever been mentioned in Trillia's history.
"A transcendent archdemon?"
"You're familiar with the Archdemons of Emotions, right?"
"Yes."
"They're immortal, true demigods with terrifying demonic power! My plan is to reach their level. To do that, I'll absorb 50,000 living souls and ascend to my new form. In short, become... The transcendent archdemon!"
It took a moment before the woman realized. "Wait... Abaguo? You're the archdemon who stood against two angelic humans?"
"That's right! Surprised? I'm the one who made Marshal Anabito an angelic human. Although for a mere human, he did push me to my limits. I sometimes wish I could fight him again..."
"You monster! I hope you rot in hell!"
"I know... That's where I'm from."
He sighed softly, closing his eyes. His outstretched hand towards the cage now glowed with red magical symbols. The atmosphere grew heavy, as every demon watched in awe of Abaguo's magic.
[Demonic Magic: Eternal Hell Absorption]
The spell was cast on all living beings in the cage, and their souls brutally torn and absorbed into Abaguo. His body lit up multiple times, dazzling the surrounding area. The bodies of the creatures collapsed on the village's rocky ground. With this feat, Abaguo moved closer to becoming the transcendent archdemon, wearing a smirk that he couldn't hide.
"Archdemons of Emotions… I'm coming for you!"
*
Back in Eretide, the two young teenagers, Alora and Gwendoline, were shopping in the bustling streets of the medieval capital. It was a well-deserved break after their grueling magic training. They relished their free time, enjoying this precious moment of respite.
"Alora, can I ask you something?" Gwendoline inquired.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you ever talk about yourself? You're always so caring towards others, but what about you?"
"Look, if I don't share, it's for a reason. I don't want any of you to get hurt because of me. Truly."
"You don't have to keep everything inside, you know."
In response, Alora lowered her gaze to the village ground. As they ventured further down the street, Gwendoline began to notice the alley they were in had grown eerily silent. The stalls and taverns were vacant.
"Alora! Something's not right!"
"What do you mean?"
"The streets are deserted!"
"Hold on, you're right! Where did all the villagers go?! They were here just a moment ago! Gwendoline, I don't want to die here!"
"Stay calm, we'll figure something out!"
"Why didn't the boys come with us?!" she cried, shaking Gwendoline's arm repeatedly.
Okay, stay calm, Gwendoline, think. How could all the villagers vanish? No... They couldn't have just disappeared, not from a vast village like Érétide!
While she was surveying the street and listening to Alora's frantic pleas, a chilling realization hit her: they were alone in the village.
"Alora, try to calm down, okay?"
"But what are we going to do without the boys?"
"We're going to have to handle this," she replied, keeping her cool.
A demonic silhouette cast a shadow on the ground, materializing a few yards from the girls. It sported horns painted in the entire spectrum of the universe, a bare chest, and wore only tattered beige pants, a testament to his brutal battles. His skin was a sickly gray, his violet eyes turned pitch black, mirroring the color of his short hair. He salivated upon seeing the girls, who had been staring at him in disbelief.
"Two Lost Ones! Including the newcomer! What a treat… Ahah..."
Although untrained in combat, Gwendoline took a defensive stance, shielding herself with both arms, ready to retaliate if attacked. Alora stood trembling behind her friend.
"Where have the villagers gone?" Gwendoline demanded.
"There were never any villagers here! No living beings at all!"
"What do you mean?!"
"In case you haven't figured it out, you're trapped in my pocket dimension!"
"That can't be!" Alora panicked.
While Gwendoline processed this revelation, the demon lunged at them, menacingly. His very presence oozed terror, and he seemed capable of the most heinous atrocities.
"Your lives end here!" he bellowed, charging at them.
In a desperate attempt, Gwendoline reached out to the horned demon and chanted a spell :
[Elemental Magic: Heart of Ice]
Moments passed, but no magical symbol appeared before her. Shock and horror crossed her face as she realized her magic didn't work.
"What?!"
"In my dimension, magic doesn't exist!"
As the demon declared his prowess, his hand menacingly neared Gwendoline's stomach. Suddenly, time seemed to slow down, as did the demon's advancing hand.
"What's happening?!"
Gwendoline was surprised to find the world around her had slowed, and she was enveloped in a blazing green aura. Her eyes had turned a striking shade of jade green.
"I feel so powerful all of a sudden. I guess now's the time."
Channeling her newfound strength into her fist, which glowed a brilliant green, she struck the demon, sending him hurtling through several houses, leaving a trail of destruction. Gwendoline's eyes returned to their usual brown, and time resumed its normal pace.
"Did you do that?!" she asked.
"I can't explain how, but yes, that was me!"
"Thank you! You saved us."
"Don't be so sure. Look!" she cautioned, pointing at the rubble.
Emerging from the debris with a murderous look in his eyes was the demon. Debris flew as he roared with rage.
"You wretch! You'll pay for that! I'll tear you apart!"
The building he'd crashed into began reassembling around him, accompanied by an enigmatic sound, as if time was reversing.
"Hey, newcomer, what's your power?" he sneered menacingly, advancing on Gwendoline.
"I have a name, you know!"
"I couldn't care less! In thirty seconds, you won't exis anymoret!"
"Please, let my friend go! Take me instead."
"You seem to be missing the point. Both of you are my prey! Which means I'm going to kill you both!"
"Why are you trying to sacrifice yourself?" Alora shouted at Gwendoline.
"I don't really matter to any of you… Besides, in a way, I'm already dead…"
"Take that back! Of course you matter! Remember your promise to King Rymis III?"
"Shut up! Both of you are annoying!" the demon growled, losing his patience once again.
With demonic mana pouring from his hands, he lunged at them, "I'll end you both!"
Gwendoline lowered her head in resignation, a faint smile on her lips.
At least, I'll find peace.
"What are you doing? Snap out of it!" Alora shouted.
Pushing Alora away, intending to sacrifice herself, Gwendoline's thoughts flashed back to her adoptive parents, hung from a tree when she was just twelve. Tears streamed down her face as she remembered the traumatic scene. Following that harrowing memory, she recalled her promise to King Rymis III to better herself. But now, she didn't care about that promise or her newfound friends. She wanted to be reunited with her parents in the afterlife.
I don't care anymore... At least now, I can finally find eternal peace.
Just as the demon was about to strike, a mystical green bubble appeared around Gwendoline, emitting a resonating sound that seemed to freeze time.
"My hand! What's this?!" he yelled in pain.
"If all the Lost Ones are like you, the multiverses are already doomed," a voice proclaimed.
From a nearby alley emerged another teenager, her long white hair shimmering and her sharp red eyes piercing the scene. Clad in a white and red uniform with gold buttons, her skirt and stockings accentuated her beauty. But this was marred by her haughty and stern demeanor.