The Spirit Kingdom.
Within the council hall of the Spirit Royal Sanctuary, a rectangular table of black and white-painted wood, with four seats on each side, stood at the center of the chamber, surrounded by box-shaped brick walls.
"Who is this Hadas guy?" Dravok rasped, his cold and desprate voice slicing through the silence like a blade. The air was thick, tense with the presence of several elite mana clashing for dominance.
"Hadas is the god of the Underworld," Lucen replied, his voice barely more than a whisper in the dark. "Elder brother to Zeus, who is the god of thunder."
"What business do gods have with mortals now?" Dravok muttered, a mixture of curiosity and disdain in his tone.
"He's interested in our souls and our land," Lucen answered, a twisted smile tugging at his lips.
"And how do you know that?" Arthur interjected, his stare sharp with suspicion.
"He seeks to overthrow Zeus at the peak seat of Mount Olympus—by first conquering Earth's."
"I see…" Arthur murmured, clasping his fingers together in thought. "He wants no prayers to reach the heavens. That way, the gods above will be weakened."
"Exactly," Lucen said, his tone low and knowing.
"But we don't pray," Dravok said, still puzzled.
"Humans do. At the Lightning Temple of Zeus, back in my kingdom."
"Then why our Earth?"
"I'm not certain," Lucen admitted. "But perhaps because it offers easier access—due to superhuman abilities, fewer divine protections."
"We need a solution," Elara said softly, her voice laced with fear and urgency.
"This Zeus guy," Dravok asked, "Isn't he supposed to help us?"
"I may be a Spirit," Lucen responded with a sneer, "but I don't understand the ways of gods."
"Can't we reach out to him?" Elara asked.
"Yes," Arthur said, nodding. "But only under a crimson moon when its light strikes the statue of Zeus at the temple."
"When is that?"
"Four nights from today."
Just then, Dravok's instincts flared. He stood suddenly, as if a silent alarm had gone off in his mind. His eyes narrowed toward the gold-painted copper door, one hand drifting toward the blade at his hip. The others followed his gaze.
The door creaked open. A Spirit royal guard stepped in, head bowed.
"You're not supposed to be here," Lucen commanded sharply.
"No," Dravok said, stepping forward, voice charged with suspicion. "The real question is—what do you want?"
"I didn't expect my cover to be blown so quickly," the intruder hissed, body twisting and contorting into unnatural forms until his true identity emerged—Cain.
"Gres Manga!" Dravok shouted, casting a spell from his fingertips. Flames erupted like the breath of a dragon, engulfing Cain completely.
But Cain walked through the fire untouched, a crooked smile spreading across his face. "My skin is lined with dragon scales. Flame-resistant."
Lucen, Arthur, and Elara leapt to their feet, their expressions shifting to full alert.
"Who is he?" they all demanded.
"Special assistant to Hadas," Dravok said grimly. "I ran into him earlier last night… or maybe he ran into me."
"What do you want?" Lucen's voice trembled with righteous fury, the audacity of an intruder breaching the kingdom igniting his rage.
"Hadas requests your presences at Hell's Temple," Cain said, smiling with serpentine calm, turning to walk away. "In two hours. Don't be late."
"Is this a trap?" Elara asked, her voice tight with fear.
"Whether it is or not," Dravok said darkly, "we're going."
"Hadas's pride is bigger than traps for mortals. He likely wants to propose a bargain… a cunning one," Lucen muttered.
"How do you know so much about him?" Arthur asked, eyes narrowing.
"He created the forbidden technique—Essence Drain we Spirits use. That's why they call him the King of Fallen Souls."
"I'll kill him," Dravok growled.
"He's immortal. Don't forget that."
"Curse immortality."
"What I suggest," Lucen said with measured calm, "is that we seek Zeus's help in this."
"Then in four nights," Arthur declared.
---
Two Hours Later,
Arthur, Lucen, and Dravok emerged from a portal, cloaked in confidence but dragging fear beneath their boots.
"Was it right leaving Elara behind?" Arthur asked.
"She's too emotional," Dravok murmured. "It's safer this way."
They turned their eyes toward the two Infernal guards flanking the massive doors ahead. Silent yet imposing, the guards opened the doors as if handing them a ticket to hell itself.
Dravok stepped through first. Lucen and Arthur followed, entering a dark hall thick with the scent of desecration and ancient sins, dimly lit by flickering candles.
Their eyes scanned all around—and saw only Hadas. Cain stood to his right, wearing a traitor's grin. On his left was Delilah, head placed on a bench.
From her severed neck, tentacle-like hair had begun to grow as signs of regeneration, her gaze venomous and locked on Dravok.
"Welcome, gentlemen. You're one minute late," Hadas said from atop his throne of sin, his voice as smug as his posture.
"Who do you think you are, underdog?" Dravok barked, eyes burning. Lucen placed a calming hand on his shoulder, eyes pleading.
"Let me speak," Lucen said gently.
Dravok hesitated, then stepped aside, though his glare never left Hadas.
"You're all very intriguing," Hadas said, clapping mockingly. He turned to Delilah with a devilish grin. "Which is it?"
Delilah's eyes never left Dravok, her hatred unmistakable.
Hadas studied her gaze for a while.
"I'll leave him to you," Hadas said with a chuckle. "But don't lose."
"Let's get to the point," Lucen pressed.
Hadas's expression sharpened. Black smoke billowed around him, swirling like a storm. He emerged from the darkness, floating mid-air, his presence heavy.
"Human. Spirit. And…" his eyes pierced into Dravok. "What? A hybrid of all clans. Impressive."
He descended, circling them slowly.
"Kings of your respective domains," he continued. "So I'll be brief."
He paused in front of them, hands clasped behind his back. "The circle marking my territory will continue expanding—until all of Earth belongs to me."
Arthur's face became pale in an instant. "It's… it's closest to the human kingdom."
"Exactly. But," Hadas said, "if you bring me one being from each clan—every day—I'll delay my expansion."
"And if we refuse?" Dravok roared, mana erupting violently, his mana painting the ground purple.
Hadas walked back to his throne with serene arrogance.
"Then my borders expand. And my Infernals will take it forcefully."
"Curse you, Hadas!" Dravok screamed, blade drawn as he surged forward, fury unmasked.
"Dravok, stop!" Arthur and Lucen shouted, attempting to hold him back, but he was already out of reach.
Hadas didn't flinch. His eyes gleamed with absolute control.
Just before the blade could strike, Arthur opened a portal in front of Dravok, redirecting him to the human kingdom. Arthur followed quickly after, and Lucen, slightly calmer, stepped through moments later.
The air was lighter, less toxic, but tension still clung to them like armor.
"You should've let me show him his place," Dravok muttered, his voice ragged with restrained wrath.
Arthur scanned the streets—mothers smiling, children laughing. Yet Hadas's words threatened their peace.
"Even together, we don't stand a chance," Lucen said quietly.
"What now?" Arthur asked.
"We defend the borders. Until we reach Zeus," Dravok said, forcing down his anger.
"Till then," Lucen replied, stepping into a self-made portal back to the Spirit Kingdom.
"Arthur," Dravok called before leaving too, "the Demon King Academy students—do you still have them?"
"Yes."
"I'll need them at my border tomorrow."
"Understood. Good luck."
"We will win this," Dravok said, a rare certainty in his voice.
Elsewhere, in the Temple of Hadas
"Cain," Hadas called.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Are preparations complete in the Underworld?"
"They will be soon, my lord."
Hadas stood, a wicked smile etched into his face. His right hand pulsed with black mana, forming a bident—long and wicked, with double-headed twin blades etched with dry old blood.
"Then it's time I pay my little brother a visit—at Mount Olympus, maybe an incentive will help trigger him more."