Lucifer, Seraphina, and Nox emerged from the eatery after paying their bill, the sunlight casting a warm glow on the cobblestone streets as they made their way to an open area. Lucifer, no longer willing to spend hours just to find you haven't even left the city , eagerly moved forward towards it as now Nox was with him. He instructed Nox to increase his size, and Nox complied simply, his massive form towering above them. Lucifer perched himself atop Nox's broad back, but as he gestured for Seraphina to join him, a low growl rumbled deep from Nox's throat.
Nox, was extremely unwilling to let Seraphina ride on his back, but after some coaxing from Lucifer, much like a parent soothing a child, he finally agreed to let her do it, though he was still annoyed. Seraphina carefully climbed up behind Lucifer, settling herself into place. Without another word, Nox's wings unfurled with a powerful beat still angry, and they soared into the sky, heading toward the darkened edges of the empire and Twilight Vale.
Lucifer could have simply instructed Nox to eliminate all the dragon kin in the area, but he didn't it was because he wanted to check how much power he had, also he had to test the power of the creatures in this world for himself. This was the first real opportunity he had to use his abilities freely without being too show off. Though he tried to maintain an air of calm indifference, there was an undeniable excitement bubbling within him. He was giddy with excitement his inner gamer was bursting to try all those magic he could.
Soon, they reached the outskirts of Twilight Vale and the nearby town of Duskwick. The air carried the heavy scent of smoke and blood. Duskwick had been plagued by a series of savage attacks over the past few days—homes shattered, streets lined with wreckage, and the occasional lifeless body left behind. Five adventurer teams had ventured out to tackle the threat, but their efforts had resulted in nothing but bloodshed and failure, with casualties mounting by the hour.
But Lucifer, filled with untaimable excitement, wasn't about to wait for the beasts to come to him. If he didn't test his powers soon, He didn't know what would happen, not that something will happen. He gave a sharp order for Nox to dive straight into the forest, He wanted to kill all the creatures in the forest no, No dark thought he would kill all those he deemed dangerous or that were in his mission to be precise.
Moments later, the trio arrived at the forest's edge. Lucifer leaned forward slightly on Nox's back, feeling the steady rhythm of the owl's wings as they sliced through the air. They entered Twilight Vale with the sun hanging low, casting long shadows and bathing the land in hues of gold and black. The towering trees stretched endlessly upward, their branches twisting together like ancient arms reaching for the heavens, creating a canopy of dense foliage above. The air was thick and damp, heavy with the earthy scent of moss, rotting leaves, and the unmistakable tension that always accompanied the presence of ancient magic.
Still, neither Lucifer nor Nox could detect anything that would pose a threat to them. Their power far exceeded anything in this forest. Lucifer, however, wasn't about to dismiss the possibility of danger. With a wave of his hand, he invoked his location magic, scanning the area with precision. He sensed the faint presence of wolves lurking in the shadows some other animals like boars, birds, Deer, gorillas, and many more all living comfortably eating comfortably fighting comfortably dying comfortably no, no not dying, their auras inconspicuous—no dragon kin, he noted. They weren't a threat, but they were still there. They pressed on until a large canyon loomed ahead, a river winding through it, cutting the land in two.
At the edge of the canyon, there was a cave, an ominous presence emanating from within. Lucifer's senses tingled with the awareness of powerful creatures, perhaps the strongest he had encountered thus far. He directed Nox to descend toward the cave's entrance, then leaped from his back, offering a hand to Seraphina as they approached the dark mouth of the cave.
As they ventured deeper, the musty scent of the cave grew stronger, and Seraphina gasped in horror. The sight before them was nothing short of breathtaking—a sea of beasts, at least a few hundred, sprawled in the cavern's dark depths. Towering bears with thick fur, majestic wolves whose size rivaled that of the mightiest of dragons, foxes with fiery eyes, giant lions, and massive birds of prey, all staring back at them with blood-red eyes, gleaming with malice and bloodlust. But curiously, there was no conflict among them. The beasts, each far larger and stronger than Lucifer, weren't fighting for dominance, as was natural for such creatures. Instead, they stood motionless, as if under the sway of some unseen force, a strange trance clouding their usually sharp instincts.
Lucifer's eyes narrowed as he pieced the situation together. Though he didn't know exactly what was happening, his years of experience in gaming had taught him how to recognize when something was deliberately orchestrated. His suspicion was confirmed: someone had placed these beasts here, and whoever was responsible had a hand in controlling them. However, he didn't allow himself to dwell on the mystery for long. This was no game, no mere exercise in tactics; this was a matter of life and death. He couldn't afford to lose, not now, not when the stakes were so high. A flicker of frustration tugged at him, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
As they observed the beasts, the beasts turned their gaze upon them, hundreds of pairs of blood-red eyes locking onto Lucifer and Seraphina. The oppressive silence that followed was broken by the sound of Lucifer gathering his magic. The energy around him began to crackle as he formed a massive sphere of dark energy, ten times the size of anything he had ever conjured before. He threw it toward the horde with calculated force, and it sped toward them, a black comet of destruction.
The moment the sphere collided with the beasts, chaos erupted. The cave itself trembled as if the very earth beneath them had been jarred. Lucifer immediately cast a defensive spell, raising an impenetrable barrier around them. He grabbed Seraphina's arm and pulled her toward the exit, their steps hurried but deliberate. The cave groaned under the strain of the battle, and Lucifer had no idea how long it could withstand the force of the ongoing clash.
As the ground trembled beneath them, the beasts, despite their trance-like state, instinctively surged toward the cave's mouth. Even under control, their primal instincts remained intact. A group of the largest, most formidable wolves, their fur glistening like polished obsidian, leapt at Lucifer with terrifying speed. They slammed into the barrier with such force that the impact sent them reeling backward. The force of their collision caused their organs to explode outward in a gruesome display, their blood staining the cave floor.
Lucifer and Seraphina emerged from the cave, their senses still ringing with the aftermath of the violent encounter. Seraphina was visibly stunned, her wide eyes locked on Lucifer as if seeing him for the first time. Lucifer, too, was taken aback by the sheer power he had unleashed. He knew he was strong—he had been strong in the game—but the reality of wielding that power in the physical world was something else entirely. Still, despite the shock, there was a part of him that reveled in it, a deep satisfaction that surged through his veins. Knowing that his magic had such devastating potential made him feel invincible. His inner gamer was spamming in his mind op op op.
As the beasts continued to pour out of the cave, Lucifer wasted no time. He summoned fireballs, dark magic orbs, and spikes of stone, unleashing a brutal assault on the horde. He even drew his prized Dark Dragon Sword, its blade shimmering with otherworldly energy, and entered into close combat with the beasts. He tested his strength by combining his magic with his physical prowess, slicing through massive creatures with ease.
Half an hour passed, and the once-ferocious beasts lay scattered across the battlefield in their own pools of blood, their bodies broken and lifeless. Lucifer, panting heavily, sat on a large rock, his exhaustion evident. Despite his nearly endless stamina, the mental strain of the battle had taken its toll. He had the energy to continue for hours, but his mind—the mind of a human—could only endure so much. As he sat there his inner excitement was still there and so was his adrenaline, catching his breath, he found himself momentarily lost. In that moment, he even forgot his own name. What was his name mother….