The dining hall was a massive, foreboding chamber, as though it had been carved from the very heart of darkness. The walls were adorned with blackened stone, etched with ancient symbols of power and damnation. At the center stood a long, imposing dining table, its wood polished to an unnatural shine, almost as if it pulsed with the malevolent energy of the realm itself. Each chair flanking the table was identical, save for the one at the far end—the king's chair.
The twins, Push and Pull, stood hesitantly at the threshold of the room, their eyes drawn to the remarkable throne-like chair at the head of the table. Unlike their chairs, simple in design with their wine-colored cushions and red gems at the top, this chair was carved with intricate patterns—depictions of demons writhing in torment, flames flickering between them. The dark mahogany wood gleamed in the dim light, and the backrest arched upward, forming a canopy of gnarled wood that loomed over the figure seated there, like the talons of some ancient beast about to close in on its prey.
The king of Hell himself sat in the grand chair, his eyes flickering with embers of disdain. His face was obscured by shadows, only his fiery gaze visible under the heavy hood of his dark cloak. The twin's nervousness was palpable as they sat in the less ornate chairs, their movements stiff, each aware of the burning scrutiny of their father—if they were even allowed to call him that anymore.
The one in white, Push, was the first to speak, his voice trembling but attempting to mask it with bravado. "The King of Hell himself… Father… We are here to bring you news."
The figure at the head of the table did not move. His stillness was unnerving, his silence heavy with judgment. Slowly, as though it pained him to speak to such weak creatures, the king's voice, low and filled with dark amusement, echoed through the chamber.
"Father?" he hissed, his tone dripping with derision. "You dare call me that after how many times you've failed me ? You dare sit before me as weaklings and still call yourselves my sons?"
Pull, the one dressed in black, felt the sting of the words but straightened, determined not to falter under their weight. He spoke with a forced calm, "We encountered Luci. He… he has returned when we were trying to lure knights."
The silence in the room deepened, thickened, as if the very air had turned solid with disbelief. The king's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "No. He is still chained. He is trapped."
Both twins hesitated, exchanging a glance before Pull finally dared to lift his crushed hand, revealing the mangled flesh to the king. "Believe us, father. We saw him. He did this to us."
The king's eyes narrowed, his fiery gaze fixing on their broken hands with dispassionate interest. His lip curled in disdain as he rose slowly from his chair, towering over them with a menacing presence that made the entire room seem smaller, colder.
"Has he broken the chains?" The question was more a challenge than a genuine inquiry, his deep voice echoing through the hall.
"No, father," Push responded, his head bowed slightly, trying to maintain composure. "The chains remain. But even bound, he was able to dismantle us we couldn't fight him."
The king's expression darkened further, if that were even possible. He stepped closer, looming over them. "You dare call me father after being humiliated by a chained luci? You truly are pathetic."
The air crackled with palpable tension. The twins felt their pride and power slipping from them, swallowed by the darkness emanating from their father. Pull, trying to regain some measure of control, spoke again, his voice softer, pleading. "Grant us your power, Father. With it, we will hunt him down and destroy him, and the knights and the Earth will fall too we will conquer it."
A low, rumbling chuckle escaped the king's lips. He looked at them as if they were children asking for a gift they didn't deserve. "Do you really think I would waste my power on you?"
Push, his pride stung, rose from his seat slightly, defiance burning in his eyes. "We will not fail this time, King of Hell. Give us the strength we need, and we will bring you his body—dead or alive and destroy the knights."
For a moment, the king regarded them in silence, weighing their words, watching their desperation. Slowly, he extended his hand, dark energy swirling around it like a living shadow. The energy pulsed outward, enveloping the room, casting it in an eerie red glow.
"Very well you can take a little army with you," the king said, his voice laced with venom. "But know this: if you fail me again, if you show your faces to me after this shame, you will wish for the oblivion that will never come."
The energy surged forward, latching onto the twins, forcing them to their knees. The red energy poured into their bodies, filling them with raw, agonizing power. They screamed as their horns grew larger, their skin darkened to the color of ash, and the gems embedded in their foreheads multiplied, glowing with infernal energy. The pain was excruciating, yet it was laced with the intoxicating promise of strength.
As the transformation completed, the king's voice boomed, "You are no longer the weaklings who came to me. From this moment forward, you are the Gravity Twins—strong enough to bend the very fabric of reality to your will. Fail me, and not even Hell will save you."
The twins, panting from the ordeal, looked at their hands. The crushed bones were gone, replaced with a newfound strength. They stood, their power humming beneath their skin. They had never felt so alive. With renewed confidence, they bowed.
"We will not fail you, King of Hell," they said in unison.
Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, Luci walked through the cobbled streets of the kingdom, his chains dragging behind him with each heavy step. The weight of the chains was more than just physical; it was a constant reminder of his imprisonment, a shackle that kept him from unleashing his full power. Yet despite his limitations, he had become stronger than most could fathom, and he knew it.
"Hey, chain guy!"
Luci turned, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the voice. Crest Greenwood—the plant knight, he had once fought in the tournament. Crest was striding toward him, now clad in gleaming armor with a badge of Bronze III rank proudly displayed on his chest.
"So, you managed to rise in rank," Luci muttered under his breath, his mind quickly assessing Crest's new position. Bronze III, skipping through the Stone ranks—it was impressive, though not entirely shocking. Crest's family was influential, his rise no doubt aided by wealth and connections.
As Crest approached, he wore a smirk, clearly basking in his new rank. "You might be wondering how I became a Bronze rank without passing through Stone. It's simple. My father is close with the king. I'm from the Greenwood family. Haven't you heard of us?"
Luci's expression remained impassive. "No."
Crest's smirk faltered slightly, but he recovered quickly, brushing it off. "Well, you wouldn't know. You're a different race, and you don't seem to attend many events."
Luci glanced at the bronze badge again, unimpressed. "What rank are you now?" Crest asked, clearly expecting a low response.
"Silver," Luci said flatly, watching as Crest's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What? That's impossible," Crest stammered, his bravado cracking. "You must be lying."
Crest's thoughts raced as he tried to process everything. *A silver rank, what?* The words echoed in his mind, doubt clouding his thoughts. His eyes lingered on Luci, observing the chains that clung to the young knight's arms. *How could someone like him... rise so quickly?* His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
But before Luci could respond, a group of knights approached, their armor clinking as they walked with purpose. One of them, a young knight with a gleaming sword strapped to his back, addressed Luci with respect. "Sir Luci, Sir Daniel wishes to meet with you."
Crest's eyes narrowed, his mind a storm of confusion. *Daniel?* He couldn't believe what he was hearing. *Daniel, a gold knight, wanted to speak with Luci?* His brow furrowed in disbelief. *How has he managed to gain the attention of someone so prestigious?* The knights were now bowing slightly to Luci, giving him the recognition of a senior knight, a gesture that left Crest even more baffled.
"And also," the knight continued, "Master Brian sent you a message."
Crest's heart skipped a beat. *Even Brian? The legendary knight Brian?* This was getting too surreal. He had heard stories of Brian — the knight whose strength was revered by all in the kingdom he had only seen him during the tournament. Crest had always admired Brian's reputation, and now, somehow, Luci was tied into all of this?
He could no longer contain his curiosity. "How did he become a silver knight?" Crest asked one of the knights.
The knight shrugged slightly. "I don't know much, but I know this. He's strong enough to have broken Brian's barrier."
Crest's mouth went dry. *Broken Brian's barrier?* It suddenly hit him. He had heard whispers of a knight who had done the impossible during the tournament — a knight who had shattered the invincible shield. *Could it be... him?*
"Oh..." Crest muttered under his breath, his mind drifting back to that day. He hadn't seen it personally, but rumors had spread like wildfire across the kingdom. A nameless competitor had risen through the ranks, earning the silver rank after that momentous event. *I should have paid more attention.*
The knight beside him nodded, confirming his suspicions. "Yes, that's him," he said simply, then turned and walked away, leaving Crest alone with his thoughts.
Crest couldn't stop himself from analyzing Luci's every move. He stared at the chains wrapped around his arms, their eerie crimson glow catching the light. *Are those chains the source of his strength?* Crest wondered. He had seen magical artifacts before, but these seemed... different. Otherworldly. Dark. He clenched his fists as his suspicion grew. *I'll find out the truth about him... one way or another.*
Meanwhile, Luci walked beside the knights, his mind racing as well. The tension was palpable. *They're all staring at me,* he thought. He could feel their gazes burning holes in his back. The chains rattled softly with each step, a constant reminder of the power they trapped.
One of the knights leaned in closer to Luci. "Sir Brian told me that I should remind you to join the upcoming festival. It's a big event."
Luci nodded. "Okay." But as he spoke, his mind drifted elsewhere. *The twins haven't returned yet... I know they didn't die* Something gnawed at him. *Something is wrong...*