~Chapter 15~

~Now raise your head you devil~

What was that?" Magnus asked, glaring at me with confusion.

"I told you to drop the skies, not clear the clouds, you stupid child," he growled.

"But no matter... that can wait until after the ceremony."

He turned away and walked to the front of the crowd-the entire kingdom gathered before him.

'People of Veloria, he called out. "The day is upon us. Now, rise!"

The crowd began to hum, their voices low and rhythmic.

"Praise her,' Magnus commanded, and the humming grew louder.

'Raise your hands," he said, but the people hesitated,"I said raise your hands." he demanded

Tears began to fall from their faces they raised their hands as if forced to by an unseen force.

"Now repent to her!" Magnus shouted.

The crowd's chant rose into a unified cry. "We praise the founder, Sina! And we repent to the mother!'

"Say her name!" Magnus demanded.

"Amalee!" they shouted.

"Say it again!"

"Amalee! Aman! Aman! Aman!"

The chant became a roar, echoing across the land. Then, one by one, the people pulled knives from their pockets.

As if controlled by an unseen power, they began plunging the blades into their own bodies. The life drained from them in an instant, and a black, shadowy substance rose from their bodies flying rough the air towarda statue being carried from the depths of Bountyreach.

Another person sliced their arm,collapsing as a dark mist escaped their body. One after another, they fell-ten, twenty, a hundred until the ground was

Filled with lifeless bodies, their blackened souls floating toward the statue.

"What is this?" Melody cried, her voice shaking with fear. "What the fuck is going on?"

I stared in horror. One by one, they perished, their bodies lifeless, their souls feeding the ritual.

What kind of monster was Magnus?

Why was he doing this? What could he possibly gain?

Magnus stood triumphant, his voice ringing out above the chaos. "We praise her-Amalee! Aman!"

The crowd shouted back,their voices breaking as their bodies fell.

"Aman! Aman!"

Livana was right. This sacrifice couldn't be completed. I couldn't allow Amalee to return.

Earlier, beneath the bookshelf in the basement~

"Madoxx, may I speak?" Livana asked.

"It is your duty to kill everyone here,she said. "These people don't matter they need to be punished anyway.

Her words cut through me like ice.

"Your duty, Madoxx, is to stop Magnus's ritual. You cannot let her be brought back.

"Who?" I asked, though deep down, already knew.

"You know who, Livana replied. "You

saw her that day, in the cabin-the statue, when Ethan was sacrificed. You know who I mean.

"But what do you mean, punish everyone here?".

"It's your duty, Madoxx she said.Melody, standing nearby, looked at mewith wide eyes. "Madoxx, who is she?What is she talking about?"

"It's... complicated,"' I said, unable to look her in the eye's I used to know her."

"Madoxx," Livana said, "this is the only way. You don't see it now, but it will save you so much pain.

"They're people too, Livana! How can you ask me to do this?" I shouted.

Livana's expression softened, just for a moment. "You're a good person, Madoxx. That's why, when you call for me, I'lI help you. But for now, I'l take my leave.With that, she melted into the shadows

Back to the present~

What had happened to my world? How had I become the center of all this chaos?

Not long ago, I was just a kid playing Hot Pocket with my friends. Now, I was standing here, expected to take the lives of millions.

Why me? Who made me the chosen one? Who placed this unbearable burden on my shoulders?

This heavy, heavy burden

"Fine," I muttered. "Clenching my hands together.

A black, shadowy mist erupted from every pore in my body. Magnus's smile disappeared as he turned to face me.

The shadowy mist spread across the ground and surging toward the crowd.

Shadowy hands erupted from the fog, grabbing to the souls of the people. Their dark souls were ripped from their bodies as they screamed.

"I don't want to die!" one soul cried.

"Please, no! No!" Others begged for mercy, their voices echoing in my mind.

"Is this what you saw, Livana?" I shouted.

"Well, then, come down and bring the stars with you!" I ordered.

The sky above glowed not from the sun or moon, but with the stars. They shimmered with an glow I'd never seen.

"Hey, Madoxx," a voice said. It was Brian, a boy I'd known from Hules Academy. His voice, like the others came from the stars.

'You're doing great," Bethany encouraged.

"Finish this," Ethan urged.

I clenched my fists as the shadowy hands continued to rip the souls from the crowd. One by one, their bodies fell, lifeless, their souls absorbed into me.

The mist surged upward, smashing against an invisible barrier in the sky. It struck again and again until the barrier cracked. The stars glowed brighter, vibrating violently, until the sky itself shattered.

"Yes!" Magnus roared. "Yes! The skies will fall, and I will be free at last!"

Chunks of the sky rained down,transparent and glass like. The stars shot toward Magnus, their light intensifying as they struck him.

"Take this!" one star cried.

The stars crashed into Magnus, one after another, their voices echoing with rage.

But all I could hear were the screams of the people I had just killed.

Was this what winning felt like?

The dome of the sky continued to fall. Then, a bright light fell, freezing everything in place.

Madoxx," the voice said, filled with immense pressure.

"You ask why you? It's because I chose you.

"You ask if this is winning? No-this is fate.

"You ask who you are? You are my soldier.

"Raise you demon."The voice grew louder, more commanding.

"Do my bidding. Bring order to the lands I've left to you. Bring suffering to those who deserve it. Cover the lands in flame. Stand proudly, you devil, for I have given you a mission.

"Bring order and justice back to Hell. I bestow this upon you: the final chosen, Shine brighter than the rest.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Become the Devil of the Underworld Become the Demon of Salvation and Judgment.

Now , raise your head, you devil."

My body Shot pright as shadowy mist erupted from within me. The skies cracked open, revealing a blinding light. Loud banging echoed around me. As my vision adjusted, I saw it—rocks, a massive, jagged sky of rock, from above. The barrier around me dissolved, crumbling away.

For the first time, a whole world came into view: trees spread across the land, distant mansions stood tall, and statues over the horizon. People walked by, their forms clear against the stretches of rolling fields. The wind carried a powerful gust, scattering debris. The banging grew louder, coming from the sky above, and the entire world shook.

And there a tree all messed up and dark stood a black tree batterd and bruised stood huge in the distance

“Yes!” Magnus shouted, his voice filled with excitement. “I’m home! I’ve escaped!” He jumped happy celebrating

The dome had fallen, revealing the Kingdom of Light in all its glory a land I'd only heard stories of . It stretched beyond the limits of my sight, a beautiful view of lands that seemed to go on forever. Compared to this, we had been trapped in nothing more than a tin can.

But above, the rocky ceiling that once formed the sky began to vibrate violently. The banging intensified as massive chunks of rock broke free, plummeting to the ground. Huge boulders smashed into the earth with devastating force. Yet, any rock that hurtled toward us disintegrated into dust before it could touch us.

“Boulders and boulders falling!” Magnus shouted, laughing like a madman. “Yes, boy!”

It was almost surreal. I had imagined this moment countless times—what I would do when I finally saw him again.

The man who turned my life upside down.

All around us, the souls of the kingdom’s people continued to be torn from their bodies, swirling in a dark vortex, and pouring into me.

“Magnus!” I roared, my voice shaking with anger.

He stopped and turned, his face twisted in a cruel grin. “You are no longer needed, boy,” he shouted.

With a swift motion, he raised his wand, unleashing violent gusts of wind red in color. The air howled as the winds tore through everything around us, shredding the land. Eliza clutched her chest, her body filled with pain.

The magic chain linking her to Magnus glowed with a purple glow, tightening its hold on her.

Then came the razor-sharp blades of red wind, each one hurtling straight at me.

Even after being struck by the power of literal stars, Magnus stood unharmed. Not a single scratch.

“Melody!” I shouted.

In a flash, she appeared beside me. Together, we prepared for the fight of our lives.

"Kill the girl!" Magnus ordered to Eliza

Without a single wasted moment Eliza disappeared and apeard punching Melody and sending her flying.

"Release!" I commanded, and ice exploded from my body, freezing everything around us in an instant. The ground cracked under the sudden chill, and frost spread rapidly across the battlefield in sharp ice crystals.

Magic circles apeard into existence around me, gray and black. I launched a attack of massive ice spikes at Magnus, their sharp edges cutting through the frozen air. But he only smiled, effortlessly weaving through them.

Is this the extent of your powers?" he taunted.

Without hesitation, I summoned a shadowy arm. It burst from my back, it dark hands reaching out and wrapping around Magnus, pinning him in place.

I lifted my arms and conjured a humongous ice shard, as tall and thick as an mountain, and I launched it directly at him.

The shard struck with devastating force, shattering on impact. But when the ice cleared, Magnus stood unscathed, his smirk unbroken. "Ah, so you've learned something new," he said, his tone condescending. "But it won't be enough."

With a devastating stomp, Magnus sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. Powerful gusts of wind surged from beneath him, tearing my shadow arms apart. In an instant, he vanished, only to reappear directly in front of me.

Before I could react, he formed a massive wind spear, its swirling vortex Strong with deadly energy. He drove it into my stomach with brutal force, sending me flying backward. The spear didn't Disappear, it remained stuck in me, its vortex spinning , shredding my shirt and ripping into my skin.

I reached for it, but the sheer force tore at my arms, leaving them bloodied, i summoned two more shadowy arms. They apeard from my back, larger and stronger than before, gripping the wind spear.

I commanded the arms to rip it out and throw it back.The moment they got it free, the spear launched toward Magnus,

spinning with deadly force as it hurtled toward him,

"You fool," Magnus said, his smile widening. "You dare use my own spells against me? How arrogant." With a casual wave of his hand, the wind spear was deflected as if it were nothing more than a fly.

The force of the previous impact had already sent me flying. Now, on my knees, I clutched my stomach, blood dripping from my mouth as I coughed violently. The pain was unbearable, and it was clear—right now, I was no match for Magnus.

In the distance, I spotted Eliza. She had grabbed Melody by the head, her grip tight. But then she screamed, her voice filled with agony, as the glowing purple chain binding her to Magnus glowed once more. She dropped Melody, collapsing to the ground, crying out, "Make it stop!"

Magnus barely glanced at her. “Pay attention to your own fight,” he said coldly, appearing in front of me in the blink of an eye. He drove another wind spear into my chest, the impact sending me backwards again.

I hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop. What was I supposed to do here? I couldn't even stand up to him, let alone defeat him.

Then, a memory surfaced—a lesson from Lilith.

"Remember, Madoxx," she had said, her voice calm but firm. "The released form of a mage’s ability grants them total control over their elemental powers. By gathering or releasing a massive amount of energy into one point, you can create a zone of spark where your element and spells will be at its peak. Within this zone, you become unstoppable."

When release my ice elemental form, I could summon mountains of ice and effect the surroundings.

But… what about this new shadow ability? What would happen if I released that?

Focusing my energy, I let the spark of my power lose. Black mist began to come from my body, thick and heavy. “Release!” I shouted, my voice echoing

Nothing.

“Damn it,” I muttered, my breath.

“Release!”

Again, nothing.

Then, a voice echoed from within my portal.

"I will fight in your place."

From my shadow, a figure emerged—Ogunt Ki, the leader of the Keeth I had defeated. But he was different now, his form dark and shadowy, his eyes burning red, just as he had looked when I tore his soul from his body.

Ogunt Ki let out a howl.

From my shadow, more figures began to rise—an army of Keeth, each one a twisted version of the souls I had claimed that day.

Their ghostly black and filled with energy, ready for war.

Ogunt Ki stepped forward, his gaze locked on Magnus. "We stand with you," he growled. "This fight is ours."

'Fight for your, Master!" Ogunt Ki roared his voice a scary war cry.

Withouthesitation, he and the army of Keeth Leaped forward, a thousand strong, each one ready to destroy Magnus

They charged at him claws stretched out. One after another, they leaped at Magnus, their numbers overwhelming. Claws

slashed, teeth snapped, and shadowy limbs wrapped around him, pulling him in.

"No!" Magnus shouted, his voice

shaking the air. As a massive whirlwind came from him, a vortex of wind tearing outward, blowing away the Keeth.

But they were not backing down. The storm barely slowed them as they rushed on, more and more piling onto him.Clawing, biting, striking-they attacked with force afraid of no pain or death.

Magnus struggled against them, but the Keeth showed no mercy. For every one blasted away, two more took its place. Their relentless assault unleashed down on him, their numbers endless.

“I’ve figured out your purpose,” Melody said, wiping blood from her chin, her voice steady despite the pain. “It’s a shame, really. Madoxx told me so much about you—how brave you were. Only to be reduced to… this.” She pointed at Eliza, her eyes full of pity.

Magnus has said how no one not born in this cage could use magic. And yet here he was, wielding it freely.

At first, I wondered how that was possible.” She paused, her expression hardening. “Then I realized… He’s using sacrifices. People tethered to him through that chain.” She pointed at the glowing purple link binding Eliza to Magnus.

“He’s draining them, using their life force to negate the effects of magic. That’s how he avoids burning up. How disgusting.” She said

Eliza flinched but said nothing, her face in pain.The glow of the chain seemed to pulse in rhythm with her pain.

Melody stepped forward. “I’ll finish this now,” she said, her voice cold. “For your sake as well, Eliza.”

"Release!" Melody shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. A massive wave of wind came from her, sending debris flying and shaking the ground beneath us.

At this point, Magnus was coverd by the Keeth, their claws and fangs relentlessly pinning him down. They swarmed over him, dragging him to his knees, their shadowy forms wrapping tightly around his limbs. His wand slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground as they immobilized his hands and feet.

"I will not lose like this!" Magnus roared, his voice filled with desperation and fury. He thrashed violently, trying to free himself, but the weight of a thousand Keeth bore down on him.

Panting, I stretched out my arms, summoning the last of my strength. Our eyes met, and for the first time, I saw fear flicker in his. A shadowy arm burst from my back, snaking its way toward him. It reached into his chest, wrapping around his very soul.

Magnus’s face twisted . “I am the greatest! I will not lose to a pack of mutts and a mere child!” he spat, his voice trembling with rage as he continued to struggle.

I tightened my grip, my voice low and filled with fury. “Your soul is mine.” With a fierce motion, I clenched my fists, pulling his soul from his body.

Magnus let out a final, scream. “Damn you, bratty child!” he cried as his soul was ripped free, as it was sucked into my shadow.

The battlefield went quite for a moment, save for the faint echo of Magnus’s fading screams. Ogunt Ki stepped forward, his shadowy form towering before me. He knelt, bowing his head. “We are yours to lead, Master,” he said.

I nodded, my breathing heavy. “Thank you,” I replied. “You may return.”

With that, the Keeth army dissolved into dark smoke, their forms spiraling upward before vanishing into the portal. Ogunt Ki gave a final nod before following them, disappearing into the void.

Melody screamed with every punch, her arms moving faster and faster, each strike landing with a force that shook the ground beneath us. Her limbs seemed to crack with each hit, splintering as they glowed a fierce red,

charged with the power of the elements. Ice, fire, wind, and stone all released with every blow, delivering elemental effects, each strike harder then the last.

Her punches were relentless, , but the toll on her body was just as bad. Her arms began to splinter and break, the energy of her elemental powers pushing them past their limits. Cracks spread across her skin, and with one final, devastating blow, her arms shattered, exploding into a shower of splinters, the force sending shockwaves through the air.

She fell to her knees, panting.exhausted. Eliza, who had passed out from the barrage of punches, stood passed out front of her, still standing even after everything. But even she couldn't withstand that any longer. As she fell to the ground.

I rushed to Melody's side, even in my weak condition

“Did you see me, Maddox?” she asked, smiling.

“Yeah, I saw everything. You did amazing,” I said, returning her smile.Without arms, she weakly headbutted me.

“I don’t care what you think anyway,” she joked, smiling, before passing out.

The rain of stones from the sky had stopped, and what I saw next was incredible.

It was like the earth had split in half. I looked up and saw buildings, trees, and forests on the other side. The earth's reflection, white and glowing, shone through a weak, transparent blue sky.

“I guess that’s the other side—Heaven,” I said, placing Melody’s head gently on my lap.

Behind me, I heard crackling and the sound of footsteps.

“I hope I’m not too late,” Lilith said jokingly.

“No, you’re just in time,” I replied sarcastically.

“Not that I would’ve been much help, son,” she said. “I, too, was affected by the curse of the dome. If I had left my barrow and used magic, I would’ve burst into flames and perished.” She stood beside me, her gaze fixed on the otherworldly scene before us.

“So, you're the devil,” she said, smiling. “Who knew I’d adopted such a troublesome boy?”

I let out a small laugh.

“I don’t understand it all yet—it all happened so fast,” I said.

“So,” she asked, her smile deepening, “what will you name your crusade? Your family of demons?”

“The House of Hules,” I answered, smiling.

“Huh. Poetic,” she said, laughing softly.

“Well, in any case, your journey begins now—for real. Make the Underworld your domain. Defeat anyone who stands in your way,” she ordered. “Rise to the top using all your might, and then—”

“Then I will face God,” I interrupted.

~End of volume one~

~ Falling skies~

To be continued