From the moment of birth, all living beings find themselves on a downward trajectory, a relentless journey toward the inevitable.

Every second that slips away can never be reclaimed.

Most individuals only come to this realization as they grow older, comprehending that life is temporary.

This truth holds firm for every soul, even the enduring mages gifted with extended lifespans.

That was the reality until a while ago.

Now, with Original Duty assuming control, these constraints have become relics of the past.

No one shall succumb to the ravages of old age. Life no longer follows a descending path but instead traces a flat, unwavering line.

People may still meet their end, but it shall not be due to the ravages of time.

This transformation posed a significant predicament for the Robels Empire, which exercised dominion over the mortal population.

Prime Minister Alivia acted swiftly, rallying all governmental resources and enlisting the aid of the esteemed Seven Lights Academy to address the crisis arising from numerous creatures, animals, and insects that lived as a result of unlimited lifespans.

The entire world teetered on the precipice of a monumental crisis as these tenacious beings continued to thrive despite their expected demise.

Yet, with the assistance of high-ranking mages, they managed to contain the issue to some extent. Formations were established around major cities to regulate animal populations. The Seven Lights Academy devised an ambitious continent-wide formation intended to limit mortal lifespans to a hundred years artificially.

However, the construction of such a formation demanded the collaborative efforts of rank 9 mages and might entail a protracted timeline.

In the interim, Alivia issued a proclamation that entirely prohibited the birth of children, whether human or non-human.

A magical substance was introduced into all food and water sources, significantly reducing fertility.

The decision of who could bear offspring became a matter solely under governmental control, rather than a matter of personal choice.

While these measures alleviated the crisis, the world underwent a profound transformation, rendering it unrecognizable compared to its former self.

...

Zagronan continued his journey toward Hotblood City.

The path was long and took him a month to reach, but it was relatively safe.

The land area of Hell was incomprehensibly vast, and despite the massive demon population, much of Hell remained empty.

Some even claimed that there hadn't been enough time since the universe's birth for sufficient demons to be born to fully populate Hell.

The soil was dark red, and the sky had a light red hue.

Meanwhile, Rachel continued to "dive in time" as Zagronan made his way forward.

She smiled, confident that nothing should happen along the way.

However, as if intentionally waiting to challenge her expectations, something unexpected occurred that wasn't reflected in Original Duty.

A monstrous creature, resembling an eagle but exuding the aura of a rank 1 demon, landed on the ground.

Zagronan regarded it with suspicion, ready for a fight.

Rachel, too, was taken aback by the turn of events.

"How is this possible? It clearly didn't show anything like this in the reflection!" she exclaimed, her surprise evident.

She rechecked the reflection on Original Duty and noticed that the eagle was now reflected. She fast-forwarded through time and saw the eagle eventually flying away without any confrontation.

"Is this the actual future that will happen, or is it also incorrect?" she pondered.

She turned off 'dive in time' and looked at the eagle.

Just as the eagle seemed poised to fly away, it suddenly changed its mind and launched an attack against Zagronan.

"Wrong again!" Rachel thought, her confusion growing.

Rachel rechecked the reflection and observed that the reflection had changed again.

This time, it showed Zagronan and the eagle engaged in a fierce battle, with the eagle emerging as the victor.

She hoped that the reflection would be incorrect this time.

Frustrated with the inconsistencies in the reflection, Rachel decided to take a different approach.

She used 'dive in time' again, focusing on the surrounding river rather than the reflection itself. She realized that each time she used the skill 'dive in time,' it altered the currents in the river of time around her, resulting in changing reflections.

Additionally, using the skill excessively made the river turbulent.

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

Rachel discovered that the accuracy of her skill's predictions depended on the stability of the river of time around her.

Initially, the predictions were correct because the river was stable. However, as she used the skill more frequently, the predictions became increasingly inaccurate.

She decided to wait for the river to become stable again before using it to avoid further inconsistencies.

However, her immediate concern was escaping the current situation.

She knew her 'Hellish Box' skill could transport her to another random location in Hell, but she didn't want to leave, primarily since she had already found a Royal blood demon.

Zagronan, despite his formidable physical strength, was no match for the eagle when it came to physical strength.

The creature's wingspan was a staggering 200 meters, and its beak alone was larger than Zagronan's entire body. While the monster eagle couldn't employ any spells, its sheer size made it a more formidable opponent than any rank 1 spellcaster.

Rachel watched the unfolding battle with growing concern.

The monster eagle attacked with its sharp beak, but fortunately, its immense size made it slower than one might expect. Zagronan managed to dodge the deadly strike, and just before evading, he cast the spell "delayed-boosted-hellfire."

At precisely the moment the eagle's beak arrived where he wanted, Zagronan removed the "delayed" component, causing the spell to explode into a searing blaze.

The eagle's head was devoured by extremely hot fire, and its agonizing screams echoed throughout the surroundings.

Zagronan didn't just stand by; he acted swiftly. While a typical monster bird might be susceptible to fire, this was a creature from Hell, known for its resistance to such elements.

Zagronan cast "boosted-double-super-great poison."

It takes an extraordinary level of skill to use four enhancing spells simultaneously. Zagronan's reputation as a genius mage was well-earned.

The spell shot towards the eagle at lightning speed, and the bird, still struggling to extinguish the flames, could not evade it.

The spell struck the eagle, and its effects were immediately apparent.

The creature's body began to melt, and all its feathers fell away. The majestic eagle now resembled a roasted chicken, its once imposing appearance reduced to a pitiful sight.

Despite its suffering, the eagle didn't succumb to death.

Hell creatures were known for their remarkable vitality, and this one was no exception.

The flames were finally extinguished, and the wounds began to heal with unbelievable speed. The eagle fixed Zagronan with a furious, menacing glare, as if it intended to devour him whole.

However, the sky suddenly darkened, and the hellish landscape, which typically basked in the light of the nine moons, was shrouded in darkness. Zagronan gazed up in sheer astonishment.

"It's a Fire Dragon, a Fire Dragon above the 4th rank! We're all doomed!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with fear.

Feeling the urgency of the situation, Rachel was tempted to peer into the future for guidance. Yet, she resisted the temptation, recognizing that her use of the skill had already created turmoil. Any further attempts could worsen the upcoming disaster.

Zagronan remained on the ground, his eyes closed and his body motionless, as if he had lost all hope.

The eagle, on the other hand, reacted quickly to the looming threat. It ran for its life, desperate to escape.

However, the colossal dragon extended one of its massive claws, each finger larger than the entire body of the eagle. With precision, it plucked the terrified monster eagle from the ground and soared away into the distance.

Gradually, the sky cleared, and the ominous presence of the Fire Dragon vanished without a trace. When flying, it didn't disturb the air at all.

Rachel said, "Why are you just standing? Run!" she shouted.

Zagronan remained motionless, his eyes tightly shut, as he explained, "This is knowledge passed down through my inheritance. Dragons are incredibly sensitive to those who observe them or try to escape from them. The best way to deal with a dragon you can't defeat is to close your eyes and remain completely motionless."

Rachel asked, "So, why did you say 'we are doomed?'"

Zagronan sighed, explaining further, "Because even if you follow those precautions, there's still a 90 percent chance of death! We were lucky that the monster eagle drew the dragon's attention away. Otherwise, it might have caught me."

Perplexed, Rachel asked, "But why would the dragon want to eat you? You're so tiny."

With a hint of pride, Zagronan responded, "Don't underestimate me; I'm actually very tasty! Royal blood demons like me are among the favorite foods of dragons!"

Rachel remained momentarily speechless. Then, she regained her composure and changed the subject. "Let's hurry to Hotblood City. Our luck hasn't been great today, encountering a monster eagle and then a dragon above rank 4," she said.

Zagronan unfolded his wings and soared through the air, propelling them forward at high speed.

...

There are two ranks of nobility among demons: Demon Barons and Demon Dukes.

Demon Barons are rank 7 nobles, typically controlling a single city. On the other hand, Demon Dukes are rank 8 nobles who typically govern hundreds of cities.

Hotblood City was ruled by Baron Iggad.

As a Baron, he commanded over 100 demon generals, each with an army of demons. He often employed his army as cannon fodder in battles to absorb the enemy's firepower.

However, Iggad allowed intelligent demons to be discharged from the army during peacetime.

Royal demons possessed intelligence from the moment they were born.

While most normal demons wouldn't acquire intelligence until reaching rank 4, given the population in the trillions, the number of intelligent demons would still be huge even if ten percent gained intelligence at ranks 1 to 3.

Hotblood City was a prime example of locally developed demon engineering. It sprawled as far as the eye could see, a massive expanse of urbanity.

Its walls were primarily constructed from bones, blended with pristine white soil. Most buildings were fashioned from the same soil but without the addition of bones.

While most structures were no more than a single story tall, a few exceptions rose to greater heights.

In the city's heart stood a towering and robust building known as the "Exchange."

Within Hotblood City, demons had the opportunity to engage in trade at the Exchange, where they could sell their possessions in exchange for credits.

These credits could then be used to acquire other goods.

While technically, all demons within the city were considered Baron Iggad's property, implementing such a system was vital to maintaining their motivation.

The demon workers who lacked intelligence were confined outside the city, essentially prisoners.

In contrast, intelligent demons were not bound by such constraints and had the freedom to leave the city as they wished.

Despite their relative freedom, intelligent demons were hesitant to escape because they remained at the mercy of their master. If Baron Iggad summoned them and they failed to respond promptly, they would face certain death.

Hiding or attempting to flee would be futile, as their lives were entirely subject to Iggad's will. Consequently, most intelligent demons refrained from venturing too far from the city for fear of this looming threat.

A demon general stood guard at the southern gate, constructed from a massive bone structure.

The demon general appeared as a beautiful girl dressed in blue attire, an appearance that might have led some to underestimate her. However, no one in their right mind would dare to do so, as she held the formidable rank of 6 as a demon general.

Her primary responsibility was to ensure the safety and security of the city, and she typically stationed herself at the south gate.

One of the intelligent demon soldiers, a creature with the head of a python and the body of a tiger, approached her with a report. "General, a Royal demon is waiting to enter the city," he informed her.

Millions of Royal Demons are born every year, and yet Hell's vastness still dwarfed those numbers.

Even in this single city, the population numbered in the trillions, and it was just one of countless similarly sized cities across Hell.

Royal demons were exceptionally rare, and most demons would never encounter one in their entire lifetimes.

The demon general, who went by the name Elizabeth, looked with surprise.