The year was 2175 of the Drake Calendar. A boy sat in the shadows of a narrow alleyway, the ruins of a city stretching endlessly around him. People who looked as broken as the city itself wandered nearby—faces hollow, eyes empty, their spirits crushed.
But this boy was different. Despite the dirt on his face and the ragged clothes hanging off his small frame, something in his eyes burned with purpose. He still had something to live for.
"I have to find a way," he muttered to himself, leaning against the cold brick wall. His voice was barely audible, but his resolve was clear.
He closed his eyes, and a memory filled his mind.
A tall, imposing figure stood in his thoughts—a woman with snow-white hair that flowed like silk in the wind. Her piercing blue eyes, as cold as ice, had glanced down at him once. Her alabaster skin seemed to glow, making her feel almost unreal.
Lucifer.
The boy clenched his fists, anger and longing swirling in his chest. "I need power," he whispered.
The first time he'd seen her was a moment burned into his soul. She had appeared in his city without warning, descending from the heavens like a pale angel of death. Most people in the area didn't even know what was happening until it was too late. His parents had been among those who were wiped out in an instant.
But him? He had survived.
He didn't know why or how, but something inside him had stirred the moment Lucifer appeared. It wasn't fear or hatred—it was something deeper. Something he couldn't name.
Since that day, he'd had only one goal: to find her again.
But how could he, a nameless boy with nothing to his name, achieve that? He wasn't strong. He wasn't special. At least, that's what the world would say.
"I need a contract," he thought aloud, staring at the cracked pavement beneath his feet. "Even a lesser demon would do. Anything to give me the power I need."
His mind raced. A contract wasn't easy. He'd need a grimoire, materials for a ritual, and—most importantly—the true name of the demon he wanted to summon. Those weren't things you could just stumble upon.
As he stood, brushing dust off his trousers, the boy decided he'd find a way, no matter what.
The alley grew darker as he walked. At first, he thought it was just the time of day. But then, he noticed the shadows around him were... unnatural. They moved in ways that didn't match the flickering streetlights.
"Strange," he muttered, glancing over his shoulder.
Before he could react, a flaming bird descended from the sky, landing right in front of him. Its feathers were made of fire, burning brightly but not spreading heat.
The boy froze, staring at the creature with wide eyes.
"Hey, you!" the bird called out in a voice that sounded like a child's.
The boy pointed at himself, furrowing his brow. "Me?"
"No, the brick wall behind you. Of course, you!"
The boy tilted his head in confusion. He'd never seen or heard of a bird like this. "What can I do for you, sir?" he asked, bowing slightly out of instinct.
In his heart, he thought, This has to be a devil. No regular demon would have this level of intelligence.
"Rejoice, human," the bird said, puffing out its chest. "Today is your lucky day. I've decided to make a contract with you!"
The boy's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his mind. Why would a devil want to make a contract with me? I'm just some kid with nothing to offer.
Still, he hid his thoughts behind a polite smile. "I'm honored. But... I thought devils required complicated rituals and rare materials for contracts."
The bird's fiery feathers flared up as it glared at him. "How dare you question my generosity?"
The boy quickly bowed again, feigning remorse. "My apologies, great one. I didn't mean to offend."
"Good," the bird huffed, settling down. "Follow me."
The boy obeyed, though his mind raced. Something's off. Why is this devil in such a hurry? And why me?
The bird led him deeper into the alley, where the buildings grew older and more dilapidated. Eventually, they stopped in front of a crumbling structure.
"Inside," the bird ordered, gesturing with one fiery wing.
The boy hesitated for a moment before stepping through the broken doorway. Inside, he found a strange assortment of materials scattered on the floor—charcoal, candles, and a ritual knife among them.
"Arrange these as you see here," the bird instructed, pointing to faint markings on the floor.
The boy nodded and got to work. He arranged everything just as the markings showed, but his mind never stopped analyzing. This devil's in a rush. That could mean it's desperate.
As he worked, an idea struck him. Subtlety was key, so he quietly shifted some of the charcoal to disrupt the circle's perfection.
When he finished, the bird inspected his work and nodded. "Now, take the knife and cut your finger. Draw this mark on my head and drop some of your blood into the center of the circle."
The boy raised an eyebrow. "But... you're made of fire. Won't my blood just burn up?"
The bird glared at him. "Just do it!"
The boy nodded quickly, hiding his grin. You're too eager. That's your weakness.
He cut his finger and approached the bird. When he touched its fiery head, he was surprised to feel no heat—just a strange, soothing sensation.
Then, he walked to the center of the circle, his movements slow and deliberate. With a small flick of his foot, he cleared a tiny section of charcoal, ensuring the circle was flawed.
He let a few drops of blood fall onto the floor.
The bird flew to the center, its fiery body flaring up as it began to chant in a language the boy didn't understand. The air grew heavy, and a strange energy filled the room.
Suddenly, the bird's body shifted, transforming into a human form.
The figure that stood before him was a young man with black hair tipped in red. He was handsome, with a mischievous grin, but his eyes were pitch black, like an endless void.
The boy's gaze dropped to the figure's abdomen, where a massive wound revealed hanging organs.
"I, Phoenix, bind my soul to this body!" the devil declared, his voice echoing through the room. "May your soul depart, and may I reign in your stead!"
The boy's heart raced, but he kept his face calm. I knew it. He wants my body.
Feigning fear, he ran to the edge of the circle and pretended to panic when he bounced off an invisible barrier.
Phoenix laughed. "It's too late! Accept your fate!"
But the boy smirked. Without hesitation, he darted to the small break in the circle and escaped.
The ritual collapsed in an instant, and Phoenix's soul surged out of his body, slamming into the boy.
Pain filled his mind as Phoenix's voice screamed, "If I can't take your body easily, I'll take it by force!"
But deep within the boy, something awakened.
A massive silver serpent appeared in his mind, its jaws opening wide. With a single motion, it devoured Phoenix's soul and it's golden pupils glistened with satisfaction.
The boy collapsed to the floor, his chest heaving. His disheveled hair framed his pale face as he sat there in shock, trying to comprehend what had just happened.