Baaaaaam!
The door to the giant castle swung open, and standing at the entrance was Kim. His silhouette framed by the dim light streaming in from outside, casting long shadows that danced across the polished marble floor.
In his hands, he held the severed heads of the two soldiers he had just defeated, their lifeless eyes staring blankly into the abyss.
As Kim stepped into the inner sanctum of the castle, a vast expanse unfurled before him, stretching out into infinity.
The ceiling soared high above, adorned with intricate carvings and gilded chandeliers that cast a warm glow. Red velvet curtains billowed gently in the breeze.
The floor beneath Kim's feet was a sea of polished marble, reflecting the flickering torchlight that lined the walls. Pillars rose majestically on either side of him, their surfaces adorned with intricate designs and symbols of power and prestige.
Even though all these were captivating, the sight before him only seemed to grab his attention even more.
Seated on the throne, with two stoned huge red wolves, was a huge man, dressed in all black with fur around his neck. His imposing figure loomed over the room, casting a long shadow that seemed to swallow the light.
"The demon lord Diabolos." Kim blurted out the moment he laid eyes on the man. Unlike the rest of the monsters he had been running into, this one looked more human. His features were chiseled and sharp, his eyes cold and calculating as they locked onto Kim with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.
The two stoned red wolves flanking him seemed almost alive, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light as they snarled menacingly at Kim.
Despite their stony exterior, there was an unmistakable aura of danger that emanated from them, a silent warning to anyone who dared to challenge their master.
'He looks strong, no doubt about that…' Kim dropped the heads of the knights on the ground, 'Doesn't matter… This wasn't meant to be easy anyway'.
Whip!
He slashed his sword to the side, the sharp clang of metal reverberating through the chamber as he advanced, each step echoing with purpose toward the throne, a dark symbol of the Demon Lord's power.
With every stride, his eyes blazed brighter, his grip on the hilt tightening as adrenaline surged through his veins, propelling him forward with increasing speed.
Anticipation hung thick in the air, his senses honed for the impending clash, but in a heartbeat, the Demon Lord's hand rose, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.
Before Kim could even blink, the ground erupted in a frenzy of azure flames, chains of fire snaking toward him with relentless speed, threatening to ensnare him in their fiery embrace.
Shocked and startled, Kim instinctively planted his feet, summoning every ounce of energy as he propelled himself backward. With a mighty push, his body hurtled away, narrowly escaping the snapping jaws of the fiery chains.
The ground exploded into a flurry of debris as the chains slammed into the earth, sending shockwaves rippling through the chamber. Blue flames licked hungrily at the scattered rubble, casting eerie shadows in their wake, while Kim's form tumbled to safety just beyond their reach.
"Chains?" Kim's voice echoed with disbelief as he knelt, his sword held defensively before him, muscles tense and alert, prepared to counter any further onslaught.
"Why have you come, human?" The demon lord spoke, his eyes fixed on Kim, but this time, he had a serious look on his face.
Kim was a bit taken aback by the question, but he knew losing his cool wouldn't benefit him in the situation.
Slowly rising back to his feet, he took a deep breath before giving his reply, "I'm pretty sure that's obvious".
Silence took over-
"Humans… your ignorance never seems to fail when it comes to exploring the unknown." Said the demon lord.
Kim listened.
"I must say I'm a bit surprised and must commend you. I haven't had a visitor in over a thousand years since my slumber." The demon lord stood up and continued,
"Be proud, I am only letting you live this long because I haven't had human interaction in such a long time… indulge me a bit".
'He wants to talk? That's new.' Kim asked himself, his confusion evident on his face. He shifted his gaze towards the red wolves and he could see them growling at him from afar.
"Will you indulge me in a conversation?" The demon lord asked.
Kim stayed quiet for a while - "All you want… is… to talk?" He inquired back.
"This is simply two warriors trying to understand one another before they cross swords, do you not consume such traditions in the human realm?".
"Right…." Kim sighed, 'Why does this feel like a trap? I could just easily decline and attack however I see fit… but…'.
Sigh!
Kim lowered his sword, "Alright, what do you want to talk about?".
"Thank you, wise decision." The demon lord slowly returned back to his throne and sat down, placing his fist under his jaw.
"Tell me… How long has it been since the human realm discovered how to harness magic?" He asked.
"That's quite the question you have there… I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that." Kim replied.
"Is that so?".
"Ancient civilization discovered it, newer generations only adopted the notion of magic and took the titles as Hunters." Kim explained.
"Hunters? …. Hunters, that's quite the name if I do say so." The demon lord snarled. "I guess the gods do favour humans… what's a demon to do".
"Uhn?".
"Let me tell you a story, boy... but this tale shall only be passed unto you if you prove yourself worthy of it, I do hope you came prepared." The Demon Lord declared, rising from his seat, the brown mask still obscuring his features.
"I'm surprised. And here I thought you'd be more ruthless, turns out… you aren't." Kim remarked with a smirk, raising his sword in readiness.
"I am," came the chilling response.
In an instant, a tidal wave of energy surged forth from the Demon Lord's form, so overwhelming and potent that Kim staggered, struggling to maintain his footing.
Fear etched across his features as he realized the true extent of the Demon Lord's power, his every muscle tensing…. The battle was about to begin.