A castle lined with pure black bricks emitting an ominous red energy was standing in a world full of dreadful red storms. Arthur and Ken hesitantly stepped towards with no regrets.
"Aligning with demons doesn't bode well with me," Arthur said to Ken.
"But it's the only shot we've got at getting Celine back. The dragons don't wish to fight and the elves are the same," Ken rebutted. "Only the crazy demons would fight against humanity this early."
"Then I hope this goes well." Arthur felt scared because he was outside of his kingdom. If he was not inside his castle, his power would be so weak Celine could kill him so he felt vulnerable and he hadn't brought an army either.
With a hesitant step, Arthur brought himself forward elegantly until he was right before the gate of the marvelous demon castle. "Valeria wishes to meet the Third Demon King!" He shouted.
The winds howled in the eerie red air of the demon continents as no response was heard.
Eventually, the gates of the castle opened by itself, inviting them inside.
The two walked up a brick path as a black mist covered the whole floor of the area. Screaming souls of the damned could be heard and several decorated maids with red skin looked at them with hatred. It seemed as if they would fight Arthur themselves if their King hadn't allowed him access.
In the sky, the red mist became deeper and deeper when nearing the castle as breathing became hard itself. Each step became harder and harder as a small feeling of erosion gnawed at their bodies but they finally reached the castle doors which were already open.
Black bricks and unholy powers surged within every step the two took as the castle walls constantly shifted around them. They both felt that if they took one step forward, the whole scene behind them would change.
Finally, they arrived at a staircase and saw a mighty king on a throne of skeletons and menacing red auras radiating out.
However, they felt an even more intense aura near the Third Demon King that sent shivers down their spine.
The Demon King looked at Ken before speaking. "You've come at an inconvenient time, Valeria.
A figure that Arthur didn't even have the strength to look at directly slowly walked out from behind the Third Demon King.
"Greet the True Demon God, one of the strongest existences you will ever lay your eyes upon."
The booming presence dominated the room as Arthur himself was being forced to kneel. However, he was also a God and an elder God as well. Even though he was not at peak strength, Arthur defiantly held his head high through the pressure and stood on even ground between the two Demon Gods.
"I wish to launch a joint attack on humanity the moment the first trial is cleared. I seek the demons cooperation," he stated.
"Why would we help you?" The Third Demon King asked.
Arthur explained profusely. "Because I know a small truth of the tower not even the True Demon God beside you will know." Both of the demon's eyebrows raised.
"I will tell you in exchange for your assistance. I promise it will be worth what I am asking." Arthur expertly now held control over the conversation.
The Demon King was about to rebuke when the strongest God who could destroy the world spoke clearly.
"Demondkind agrees. Speak," he commanded.
To somebody as strong as the True Demon God, this battle meant nothing but discovering the truth of his existence did.
Arthur cleared his throat. "As the tower goes on and creates gods like how it was meant to, it becomes weaker. It loses the divine power that it is made out of because it gives it to us mortals. This means our power comes from whoever created the tower and it can be traced backwards.
So, a couple lifetimes ago I made a plan to look into the True God who gave us this power and I saw a vision.
When looking back into our Divine Power, I saw the tower crumbling and causing a huge fuss. The last words it had said was.
'True God's Tower has been completed. Awarding divine power. Another god has entered the world. Completion number 100. Commencing restart.'
Then, I realized we were given 1% of True God's power and that the tower would crumble after the 100th God. Without the tower, the world will not reset and we will have to survive on our own after that point."
The True Demon God mused this information momentarily.
"Hmm," the strongest most frightening being pondered slightly. "You," he pointed to the third Demon King. "Help them however much you feel like."
Without another word he left. His formless figure that caused pain to even look upon departed without another word. Arthur could finally heave a sigh of relief now that the suffocating pressure had reduced.
Before another word was said, the Third Demon King commanded Arthur slightly.
"All of my demonic assets shall preform an attack exactly one month from now. We are aiming to destroy the city where Malphus has created. The city of Solaria will be under siege by demons on that day. You better be there as well."
Arthur could slowly feel the aura around him becoming hostile. The vile demonic air started to eat at him dangerously. Arthur began to step away, moving back to his kingdom and Ken could feel the same as well but he stood still, glaring at the Demon King.
Ken had one question he needed to ask before leaving.
He looked at the eyes of the demon. "Father, why can I not live as a demon?"
"The True Demon God does not allow anybody who isn't his pure kin to live in his land without being a slave. This was the best outcome for you and your mother," he looked at Ken with slightly loving eyes.
It could easily be seen that the Third Demon King hadn't wanted to exile his lover and his only son, but listened to the wishes of the Supreme Demon. After all that he went through to save his son, now he could only glance at him like he was a nobody.
"I see," Ken clenched his fist in anger. "You sent me away not because you didn't love me but because of our weakness."
Out of everything in the world, Ken hated being weak the most.
"Let's go," Ken said to Arthur as they began their journey back home.