Deep in the ruins of an ancient dungeon, shrouded by the dense, ominous shadows of the dark forest, the elite demons stood assembled.
The air crackled with dark energy, and the altar before them radiated an eerie red glow. This was the resting place of the demon lord, Draven.
His essence was sealed here, waiting for the blood of a hero to awaken him.
The four elite demons—Nyaxara, Zephyra, Lilithar, and Arkanthys—gathered in a rare and foreboding union. Nyaxara, standing at the head of the altar, exuded authority, her storm-infused aura swirling around her.
"It has been centuries since we last stood together like this," Nyaxara said, her voice calm but commanding.
"Now, the time has come to awaken our lord and bring destruction to this world."
Arkanthys, his deep crimson armor reflecting the flickering light of the altar, let out a booming laugh.
"As expected from our leader, you've done what none of us could—captured a hero. These new heroes are pitifully weak!"
Lilithar, draped in shadows, her violet eyes glowing with disdain, turned sharply toward Arkanthys.
"Enough with your boasting, fool. Speak only when I allow it." Her voice was cold, slicing through the air like a dagger.
Arkanthys growled but didn't argue.
Lilithar's gaze shifted to Zephyra, who stood quietly at the edge of the group.
"And you, Zephyra. You had your chance during your battle. If you had captured one of the heroes then, we would already be done with this ritual."
Zephyra flinched slightly but said nothing. She was distracted, her eyes fixed on Xender, who lay unconscious on the cold stone altar. His breathing was shallow, his face pale.
"Why…?" Zephyra thought, her mind a whirlwind of confusion. '
He's a hero, but he saved me. Why would he save a demon like me?'
Nyaxara smirked, sensing the tension. "It doesn't matter. A hero is a hero, weak or not. His blood will serve our purpose. The ritual begins now."
Meanwhile, back in Alderoth, the remaining heroes were preparing to set out in a desperate attempt to save Xender.
Armored knights and battle-ready mages lined the city gates, awaiting the command to march. But before the group could leave, Leo stepped forward, his face grim.
"Wait," he said, stopping the group.
Max turned to him, confusion and irritation evident on his face.
"What is it, Leo? We need to move now!"
Leo clenched his fists, his voice steady but somber.
"Guys… let's be realistic here. I know we're the 'heroes' and all, but do we really think we can save him?"
Max grabbed Leo by the collar, his anger boiling over.
"What the hell are you saying? He's our friend!"
"Stop it!" Mia shouted, stepping between them.
Mei stood off to the side, her arms crossed, silent as she processed Leo's words.
Leo pulled free of Max's grip, his expression unwavering.
"Listen to me! Even if we march with the entire army of Alderoth into that forest, do you really think we'll win? We couldn't even defeat one elite demon on our own, and now there are four of them. Plus, the demon lord himself. If we go now, we'll all be slaughtered!"
Max's grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles white.
"We have to try! We can't just abandon him!"
"Trying isn't enough!" Leo shot back. "We have to be smart about this. Charging in recklessly will only get us killed. Do you really think Xender would want us to die for nothing?"
Mia lowered her gaze, her voice soft but resolute.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Leo's right. We can't save Xender if we're dead. We have to face the truth—we're not strong enough to fight them yet."
Mei finally spoke, her tone measured and thoughtful.
"We need to prepare. We have to train harder, not just to save Xender but to stand a chance against the demon lord. Each of us needs to be as strong as an elite demon, or stronger."
Leo nodded.
"Exactly. Let's focus on what we can do. Train the army, hone our skills, and prepare for the worst. We'll find another way to stop the demons, but we can't rush into this blind."
Max let out a frustrated growl, punching the wall beside him.
"Damn it… I hate this. But I guess you're right. I just can't believe we're leaving him behind."
The group fell silent, the weight of their decision pressing down on them. They knew the cost of their choice, but they also knew that rushing in unprepared would only lead to more loss.
"Xender," Mia whispered, her hands trembling. "We're so sorry. Please hold on… we'll come for you. We promise."
Xender's consciousness slowly returned, his eyes fluttering open to the harsh glow of an eerie red light. He was chained in midair above a cold, ancient altar, his wrists and ankles bound by glowing runes that seared into his skin.
Surrounding him were four towering figures—the elite demons, their dark auras oppressive, suffocating.
"What the hell…?" Xender croaked, his voice hoarse and disoriented. He struggled against the chains, but they held firm, biting deeper into his flesh with each movement.
Arkanthys, clad in his crimson armor, stepped closer, his deep, booming voice laced with mockery.
"Ah, the pathetic hero is awake. Not that it matters. Your soul will soon belong to our lord, and you'll be nothing more than a forgotten corpse."
Xender's eyes darted around, taking in the terrifying sight of the elite demons. His gaze locked on Zephyra for a moment—a flicker of recognition.
'So these are the elites… I don't stand a chance. Even if I manage to escape, I'm dead.'
A sinking feeling settled in his chest.
'What the hell? How did it come to this?' Panic clawed at his mind, but a dark, grim realization began to surface.
'I'm just like one of those failed villains from the anime I used to watch back in my world. Is this really how it ends for me?'
The demons began their ritual, standing at the four points of the altar. Their voices rose in unison, chanting in a language so ancient it seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality:
"By the blood of the summoned,
By the chains of eternal night,
We offer this soul to the master of chaos,
Awaken, Draven, shackler of souls.
Rise and claim your throne of destruction!"
The glowing runes on the altar flared brighter, the air heavy with dark energy. Xender felt his chest tighten as his body was engulfed in a burning sensation, as if his very soul was being ripped apart. He clenched his teeth, fighting back a scream.
But then, something went wrong.
The red light dimmed, and the oppressive energy dissipated. The demons froze, confusion etched on their faces.
"What just happened?" Nyaxara demanded, her silver eyes narrowing.
"The demon lord should be awake by now. Why is he still alive?"
Arkanthys growled, his claws curling into fists.
"Impossible. This hero should have been enough. Unless…"
Lilithar's voice cut through, sharp as a blade. "His soul. It's tainted. He doesn't possess the pure soul of a hero. He was summoned as one, but his heart is stained by darkness."
Xender, trembling and drenched in sweat, felt an unexpected surge of power coursing through him. The pain was gone, replaced by something overwhelming. Shadows danced around him, whispering secrets into his mind. His body pulsed with energy—dark, boundless, intoxicating.
A sudden message flashed before his eyes, glowing faintly in the air like a status screen:
[New Extra Spell]
*Soulbinding
He stared in disbelief as the power settled into him, his body practically humming with energy.
'This… this is what I've been waiting for. A second chance. A real chance to become the villain I've always wanted to be.'
He smirked, raising his head to meet Nyaxara's glare.
"Looks like your little ritual backfired, huh?"
The demons stepped back, their wariness evident as Xender began to chant, his voice steady and laced with newfound confidence:
"By the chains of the abyss,
By the will of the void,
I command your soul to obey me."
The runes on his chains flickered and shattered as he cast 'Soulbinding' , his voice echoing through the cavern. He turned to Arkanthys, his eyes glowing with dark energy.
"Break these chains," Xender ordered, his voice like a whip.
Arkanthys's crimson eyes glazed over, and without hesitation, he stepped forward and ripped the remaining chains apart, freeing Xender.
Xender dropped to the altar, landing on his feet as shadows coiled protectively around him. He stretched his arms, a sinister smile curling on his lips.
"I should thank you. Without this little ritual, I wouldn't have unlocked my true potential. But now… now it's time for me to rewrite the rules."
The elite demons stood frozen, their confusion turning to unease as they realized the gravity of their mistake.