The air was thick with tension as the large black gates of Hell trembled, a sign that something... or someone... was approaching. Kikidori stood on the balcony of the castle, his eyes narrowing as the disturbance grew stronger.
"What's this now?" Kikidori muttered, sensing a foreign energy creeping into the atmosphere. He had seen many things in his time—wars, betrayals, demons of all shapes and sizes. But this? This was different.
Lucifer, who had been lounging on a nearby throne, perked up at the same time. His devilish smirk was the only thing that gave away his casual demeanor. "Looks like we've got visitors, huh?" he said, his voice cool but tinged with amusement.
From the distance, a rift opened in the sky, and a portal began to take shape. The eerie glow of Choruka's realm leaked through, casting an unnatural light over Hell. Kikidori's eyes flicked to Lucifer. They exchanged a look. It was one of those rare moments when both of them seemed to share the same thought. No words were needed.
"Not even worth our time," Kikidori said dryly, his gaze still fixed on the portal. He could feel the presence of the invaders—small, insignificant, but persistent.
The portal expanded, revealing the king of Choruka, flanked by his minions. The Choruka king, a small, fragile creature with a crown too big for his head and a royal cloak that seemed like it could be blown away by the wind, stepped forward.
His voice was high-pitched and pompous as he addressed the ruler of Hell. "I, King Zhorath of Choruka, have come to challenge you for control of this realm! Prepare yourselves for defeat!" He puffed out his chest, expecting some sort of grand response. But all he received was a smirk from Kikidori and a bored glance from Lucifer.
Kikidori rolled his eyes, his arms crossed casually over his chest. "Really?" he muttered, unimpressed. Lucifer's gaze flicked lazily over the king of Choruka.
"Do you see what I see?" Lucifer asked, his tone mocking.
Kikidori raised an eyebrow, taking in the minuscule size of the Choruka king and his pathetic procession. "I don't even know if they've hit puberty yet," Kikidori deadpanned. "This is almost embarrassing."
Lucifer shrugged and waved his hand. "It's beneath us. Just... get rid of them."
Without another word, Kikidori stepped forward. His hands moved with a simple flick of his wrist, a casual wave of power that reverberated through the air. King Zhorath barely had time to comprehend what was happening before he was sent flying backward, tumbling through the air like a ragdoll. His minions followed suit, each of them being effortlessly knocked into the rift that they had opened just moments ago.
Zhorath's voice echoed in the distance as he disappeared into his realm, struggling to maintain what little dignity he had left. "This isn't over! You'll regret this! I'll—"
Kikidori glanced at Lucifer. "You know, I don't think he's getting the message."
Lucifer chuckled darkly. "Let him think what he wants. He won't be back. This is Hell—where the weak don't last."
The rift closed as quickly as it had opened, leaving nothing but silence behind.
"Well, that was easy," Kikidori said, turning around and walking back into the castle. "Guess I'll go grab a snack or something."
Lucifer followed, shrugging. "I was hoping for a challenge. But I suppose they can't all be exciting." He paused and looked up at the sky where the portal had been moments ago. "Still, they had guts. I'll give them that."
Kikidori smirked, tapping his finger against the side of his temple. "Guts don't get you far around here, my friend. It's all about power. And they had none of that."
As they both retreated into the castle, the calm of Hell returned, leaving only the faintest echo of the invaders' failed challenge. There was no grand battle, no glorious struggle. Just another day in the life of Hell's rulers.
The End of Chapter 29