The Fallen Demon King's Revenge: Prologue of Loss and Obsession - The Amethyst Visitor

The night had grown deep. The tower in the Gehenna Wastes remained wrapped in silence, as always. Not a single star pierced the ashen sky—only the walls of dark crystal stone emitted a faint, sickly blue glow. Vertias descended the stairs toward the lower levels, his mind turning over the footprints he had discovered days before. Claw marks of the demon race. There should have been no living demons in this desolate land, and yet the traces existed, undeniable. The fact that they vanished before the sealed door on the third basement level—this stimulated his calculating intellect. He descended with a torch in hand. The dark crystal walls absorbed the light, deepening the shadows with each step. His footfalls echoed against the stone, and even that sound seemed to carry some warning. He passed through the second basement level. The door between the marrow veins remained sealed, and from beyond it, a faint blue-white mist seeped out. That mist. The marrow force flowing from dimensional rifts. Vertias had been absorbing it, using it as a substitute for his shattered magical core. But tonight he did not pause. There was only one place he needed to go. At the bottom of the spiral staircase, he arrived at the third basement level. At the far end of the passage, it existed. A circular black door. A sealed gate fashioned from dark crystal stone, its surface carved with countless ancient characters. And before it— Someone stood. Vertias raised the torch higher. Light illuminated the figure of a girl. Long black hair. No—precisely speaking, deep violet-black hair. From that hue alone, this was a demon. Waves flowed through the strands down to her waist, and along her neck, the distinctive pattern-marks of the demon race rose into view. When she lifted her face, eyes with violet irises fixed upon Vertias. In the depths of those pupils, something profound lay submerged. "I have been awaiting you, former Demon King Vertias." Her voice was quiet, yet crystalline. Though she spoke with honorifics, distance dwelt within those words. Not complete reverence, but calculated speech. She bowed with precision. The violet pattern-mark running beneath her left eye caught the light, becoming visible. "I am Sylvia Violacrista. I am the last descendant of the Violet Crystal clan, once flourishing in the demon realm." The moment he heard that name, memory surged through Vertias's mind. The Violet Crystal clan. Once a renowned house in the demon realm. Skilled in the research of marrow force, guardians of the secret arts of magical engineering. But ten years ago, in the war—the invasion by Ardent— "A survivor remained." Vertias's voice remained cold. Yet beneath that surface, a faint emotion trembled. "Only one." Sylvia answered thus. She did not avert her gaze from the sealed door. Keeping her eyes fixed upon the black gate, she continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "This tower holds a secret left behind by my clan. And you possess a clear objective—revenge against the Kingdom of Ludisea. Our interests align." "What reason have I to trust you?" Vertias observed Sylvia carefully. Her height was approximately 168 centimeters. Her frame was delicate, yet her posture was that of one trained in combat. He could sense the flow of marrow force within her. She possessed considerable power. Yet it was incomparable to his own. "Trust is unnecessary." Sylvia finally met Vertias's gaze. Their violet and dark eyes intersected. In that moment, Vertias perceived the flame dwelling within her depths. "I merely wish to establish a cooperative relationship. To destroy the kingdom. That is my purpose." It was her true emotion. Vertias understood through instinct. She too burned with the fire of revenge. The same flame. The same obsession. Though perhaps its source differed. But in this moment, their objectives aligned. Silence fell. Long, heavy silence. Then it came. From above—from the upper reaches of the tower, a sound echoed down. Footsteps. Violent, hurried footsteps. Followed by the crash of something falling. A great noise, as though something were collapsing. Vertias and Sylvia exchanged glances. A moment of silent understanding. Both seized their torches and rushed upward from the third basement level. They climbed the spiral staircase. Passed through the second basement. Emerged to ground level. When they reached the tower's entrance, both had steadied their breathing. Outside the tower, in the wasteland that stretched like a desert—a man lay collapsed. He wore the armor of a knight. The style of the Kingdom of Ludisea. Yet the armor bore damage in places, blood seeping through. A deep wound in the left shoulder. The right leg too seemed injured, immobile. His face was hidden, but he breathed. He lived. "A dog of the kingdom." Vertias drew a short blade from his waist. Blood-red steel emerged from its sheath. The craftsmanship of the former Demon King. Its weight answered to his arm. But the fallen man lifted his face. Young. Early twenties, perhaps. Golden hair. Cool blue eyes. Somewhat pallid, yet those eyes held certain will. "Wait. I'm... no longer with the knights." The man forced words from his throat with difficulty. He did not flinch at the sight of Vertias's blade. Rather, he gazed directly at Vertias. "Valter Drake. Former Iron Crown Knight Order. I'm being hunted as a deserter." The Iron Crown Knight Order—the kingdom's mightiest knights, led by Ardent. Why would one of their members be here? Vertias's eyes sharpened. "You served under Ardent?" "I did. But... I learned his true nature. I learned of the kingdom's corruption. So I fled." Valter attempted to rise, then stumbled. The wound in his left shoulder pained him. Sylvia spoke with cold precision. "It may be a trap." Her voice was entirely frigid. The intention was clear—she had no intention of trusting this man. "It's not." Valter looked at Sylvia. Something strange dwelt in his eyes. A light resembling obsession, something perilous. "I'm serious. You're the former Demon King, aren't you? Use me." The obsessive fervor in those words stimulated Vertias's calculating mind. This man was not lying. At least, his words held truth. But— "Why do you wish to cooperate with me?" Vertias sheathed his blade. He examined Valter's wounds anew. Indeed, they were the wounds of a fugitive. Being hunted by the kingdom appeared to be truth. "You're strong. And..." Valter's words faltered. Gray eyes fixed upon Vertias. What lay in their depths, Vertias could perceive only incompletely. "I want to serve a true master." His eyes held a strange light. Pure obsession. Twisted loyalty. Something absent, an emotion unlike that of ordinary humans. Sylvia added her words. "If you betray us, I will kill you immediately." "I understand." Valter smiled. That smile carried a dangerous radiance. Thus, to the solitary avenger, two others gathered. One, a demon of deep obsession and cold calculation. The other, a deserter knight bearing twisted attachment. A strange fellowship was born, filled with suspicion and vigilance. Vertias ascended toward the tower's highest level. The two followed. When they reached the summit after climbing the long stairs, the ashen sky began to brighten faintly. Dawn approached. In the Gehenna Wastes, it would not create daylight, yet time flowed on with certainty. Vertias stood at the heights, where no railing stood. The scar on his left shoulder throbbed. Hatred for that man rose faintly to the surface. "The first step of revenge." The whisper dissolved into wind. Three shadows wavered atop the tower. Soon, a new tale would begin—though none yet knew it.

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Episode 2

Name: The Fallen Demon King's Revenge: Prologue of Loss and Obsession
Author: Novelia

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