### **Chapter 5: The Price of Power**
---
Ryuji's mind raced as he followed Azazel down the dimly lit corridors of the fortress. His body still ached from the trials, and the lingering sensation of Astarte's touch on his skin was a constant reminder of how close he had come to giving in. His resolve had been tested, and though he had resisted, the pull of temptation was still fresh in his mind. He needed answers—needed to know what was waiting for him next.
Azazel stopped before an ornate door, its surface etched with ancient symbols that seemed to pulse with dark energy. The fallen angel turned to Ryuji, his sharp golden eyes glinting in the low light.
"You've come far," Azazel said, his voice calm, yet laced with something deeper—an intensity that made Ryuji's pulse quicken. "But you've barely scratched the surface of the power that lies in the Underworld. There's more—much more."
Ryuji squared his shoulders, meeting Azazel's gaze head-on. "What's the next step?"
Azazel smiled, pushing the door open. "You'll see."
The room beyond was vast, a massive circular chamber lined with statues of ancient devils and fallen angels. At the center of the room stood a large, circular platform, raised above the ground. Surrounding it were several figures, each cloaked in shadow. Their presence was overwhelming—Ryuji could feel the weight of their power pressing down on him like a heavy shroud.
"These," Azazel said as he led Ryuji toward the platform, "are the *Legions*. The elite warriors of the Underworld. Each one of them has sacrificed something precious in exchange for the power they wield. They've been watching you."
As Ryuji stepped onto the platform, the eyes of the Legions fixed on him. Their gazes were cold, assessing. He could sense their strength—the raw, untamed power that radiated from them like a dark flame.
One of the figures stepped forward, his face obscured by a hood. His voice was deep, resonating through the chamber. "You seek power, mortal. But power in the Underworld comes at a price. Are you willing to pay it?"
Ryuji's jaw tightened. "What price?"
The figure pulled back his hood, revealing a face that was both striking and terrifying. His skin was pale, marked with intricate black tattoos that seemed to shift and writhe as if alive. His eyes burned with a crimson glow, and a long scar ran down the side of his face.
"The price of your humanity," he said simply. "If you wish to stand among us, you must relinquish your ties to the mortal world. You will be reborn in the fires of the Underworld—your soul bound to this realm for eternity."
Ryuji's heart pounded in his chest. The weight of the offer hung heavy in the air. His humanity… was he willing to give it up? The memories of his life in Tokyo—his friends, his crew—flashed before his eyes. But along with those memories came the image of Astarte, her seductive smile, her intoxicating touch. The Underworld was filled with promises of power and pleasure, but it was a dangerous path. One that might lead him to lose himself completely.
Azazel stepped closer, his voice low, almost hypnotic. "This is the final test, Takeda. You've seen the temptations of the flesh, and you've resisted. But now you must decide if you're willing to sacrifice who you are to become something greater."
Ryuji hesitated. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He had come to the Underworld for power, for revenge against those who had wronged him in the human world. But now that he stood on the edge of the abyss, he wasn't sure if he was ready to take the plunge.
"What happens if I refuse?" Ryuji asked, his voice hoarse.
The Legion member who had spoken earlier tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Then you return to the mortal world, weak and unchanged. You will always carry the mark of this place, but you will never taste its true power."
Ryuji's fists clenched. He had come too far to turn back now. The memories of his past, the anger that had fueled his desire for power—it all surged to the surface, boiling over into a single, burning need. He couldn't go back. He couldn't be weak.
"I'll do it," Ryuji said, his voice firm. "I'll pay the price."
The air in the chamber seemed to shift, a dark energy swirling around the platform. The Legions watched in silence as the lead warrior approached Ryuji, holding out his hand.
"Then kneel," the warrior commanded.
Ryuji hesitated for only a moment before dropping to one knee. The warrior placed his hand on Ryuji's head, and in an instant, a searing pain shot through his body. It felt as though his very soul was being torn apart, reshaped, and reforged in the fires of the Underworld.
His vision blurred, and for a moment, he saw flashes of his past life—his friends, the battles he had fought, the life he had left behind. But as the pain intensified, those images began to fade, replaced by something darker, something more primal.
When the pain finally subsided, Ryuji opened his eyes. The room seemed brighter, sharper, as though he could see every detail, every shadow. His body felt different—stronger, more powerful. But there was something else, something deeper. A darkness that now pulsed within him, growing stronger with every breath he took.
"You are no longer mortal," the lead warrior said, stepping back. "You are one of us now."
Ryuji rose to his feet, feeling the weight of his new power settle over him like a cloak. He could feel the Underworld's energy coursing through his veins, amplifying his strength, sharpening his senses. But there was also a coldness—a detachment from the world he had once known.
Azazel smiled, his eyes gleaming with approval. "You've made your choice, Takeda. Now, let's see if you can handle the consequences."