The gates loomed behind the hero, jagged and monstrous, rising like a wound torn in the very fabric of reality. Their iron surface was slick with black ichor, ancient runes carved deep into the metal and glowing crimson as if lit by the fires of Hell itself. From within, unholy roars echoed, shaking the earth. The first beast—a massive hound with six glowing eyes and a body shrouded in black flames—stepped through, its claws igniting the cobblestones beneath it. The crowd screamed, scattering like insects before a tidal wave.
But the hero didn't flinch. He stood motionless at the center of the chaos, the grimoire floating before him, its pages turning in a frenzy as if alive. He could feel the power coursing through him, tearing at his soul like jagged claws. For a moment, the whispers from the grimoire softened, replaced by a single, deep voice.
"This is only the beginning. More will come. You will not stop it now."
The Hero's Struggle
The hero's heart pounded as he looked at his own hands. They trembled, not from fear, but from the weight of what he had unleashed. His body still bore the scars of a lifetime of battle, but this—this was different. It wasn't just his body that was breaking; it was his very soul.
"Stop this!" he roared, his voice hoarse. "I didn't—this wasn't what I wanted!"
The grimoire's pages glowed brighter, the symbols on them burning into his mind. The voice in his head laughed, low and mocking. "You knew the price, whether you admit it or not. There is no turning back. You opened the gates. You are now their harbinger."
Another beast emerged—a towering, horned figure wielding a massive blade forged from molten iron. Its wings unfurled, blotting out the blood-red moon. The hero stepped back, his hands clenching into fists as the creature let out an ear-splitting roar. The beast turned, but it didn't attack him. It bowed.
"You are their master," the grimoire whispered. "They obey you. For now."
Alden's Desperation
Amid the chaos, Chancellor Alden stumbled to his feet, clutching the Severance Fang. His carefully constructed plan was crumbling around him, the square now a battlefield of fire and shadows. He watched in horror as the beasts emerged one by one, each more grotesque and powerful than the last.
"This... this cannot be happening," Alden muttered, his voice trembling. "He was supposed to die! This was supposed to end!"
He turned to the remnants of the crowd, his voice rising in desperation. "Fight, you cowards! Stop him! If he is not contained, we will all perish!"
But the people had already fled, their torches abandoned, their cries fading into the night. Alden's grip tightened on the Severance Fang as he turned back to the hero. "If no one else will stop you... I will!"
With a battle cry born of fear and desperation, Alden charged, raising the Severance Fang high. The hero barely had time to react before the blade came crashing down.
The Grimoire's Defense
The grimoire acted on its own. A barrier of dark energy erupted around the hero, deflecting the blade with a deafening clang. Alden was thrown backward, landing hard on the cobblestones. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"This... this is no ordinary grimoire," he whispered. "What are you? What have you become?"
The hero stepped forward, his expression grim. "I didn't choose this, Alden," he said, his voice heavy with anger and sorrow. "But you forced my hand."
The grimoire's voice cut through his thoughts. "He is nothing. A worm beneath your heel. End him. Show them all what happens when they cross you."
"No," the hero said aloud, shaking his head. "I won't be your puppet."
But the grimoire's whispers grew louder, more insistent. "Then you will fall. And they will destroy you."
A Glimpse of Lucifer's Shadow
The ground beneath the hero began to quake, fissures spreading outward from the gates. A low rumble filled the air, followed by a voice that chilled the very marrow of his bones.
"So... you are the one who wields my grimoire now."
The hero froze. The voice was not the grimoire's. It was deeper, more ancient, and laced with a malice that felt infinite. The air around him grew heavy, suffocating, as the temperature plummeted.
A figure began to form within the gates, its outline massive and shrouded in shadow. Glowing red eyes pierced the darkness, and the hero felt a primal fear unlike anything he had ever known.
The voice spoke again, resonating with power. "Do you even know what you have done? You have opened the door to my prison, mortal. And now... you will pay the price."
The hero's breath caught in his throat. "Lucifer," he whispered.
The Choice
The grimoire's voice returned, frantic now. "He is weakened. He cannot pass through the gates... yet. But if you falter, he will consume you. You must prove your strength!"
The hero clenched his fists, his mind racing. He looked back at the beasts, now numbering in the dozens, their eyes fixed on him. He could feel their power, their loyalty—if only he embraced the grimoire fully.
But at what cost?
He turned to Alden, who had staggered to his feet, clutching the Severance Fang like a lifeline. For all his betrayal, Alden was still mortal, still human. Could he destroy him now and become the monster they all feared?
Or could he find another way?
To Be Continued...