"Any idea why?"

Vacker says "Not a clue. We will just have to go find out."

"Alright, let's go."

The servants escort us down to the great hall, where a table has been set up with a chair on either side. Lady Xinun is sitting on her throne at the head of the table and waits for us to be seated. I can't help but notice her gown which is a shade of red that almost matches her skin so that she almost looks naked.

For some reason the fact that more skin is covered now than with her usual outfit makes it harder for me to not look. So as I sit down I keep glancing at her, when she catches me at it she just smiles. She seems pleased that she is finally having an effect on me.

'If you forget for a minute that she is a soul sucking demon, she is really quite pretty.'

"So Lady Xinun, what can we do for you?"

Lady Xinun says "Is it true that you have defeated all three beasts that we captured?"

"Yes, I have."

Lady Xinun says "Then would you say you are ready to face the arena?"

"I would say my odds of survival are pretty good. Why?"

Lady Xinun says "Because the more excuses and delays I give Lord Shendaw, the more suspicious he will get."

"That's a good point."

Vacker says "I've taught him the basics, there is nothing more I can teach him in a short amount of time."

Lady Xinun says "Then unless you have a compelling reason otherwise you will leave in the morning."

"That's fine by me. How long will the trip take? You don't plan to have Trezon carry me again do you?"

Lady Xinun says "No, you will travel by carriage and it will take four days."

"Alright, sounds good."

Lady Xinun says "As agreed, Vacker will remain here. I will continue treating him as a guest until it is confirmed you are dead or you come and get him."

Vacker says "Don't worry about me Ash, just stay alive."

"Don't worry, I plan to come back safe and sound."

Lady Xinun says "I do hope you do, Ash."

Vacker says "Forgive me, but isn't it a little weird to hope an enemy succeeds?"

Lady Xinun says "Even if my entire army dies and I have to start over from scratch it will be worth it if Lord Shendaw dies."

Vacker says "That seems a little extreme just to remove a rival."

Lady Xinun says "It has nothing to do with rivalry and everything to do with me wanting him dead. And don't ask, it's personal."

"As I said before, I will do everything I can to bring him down."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Lady Xinun says "I trust you, Ash. That's why I am doing everything I can to help you."

"And I do appreciate the help."

Vacker says "I also appreciate the help you have given him since it increases my odds of gaining my freedom."

Lady Xinun says "Just keep in mind I am doing this because you can be useful to me. That won't stop me from torturing you to death if I need to."

"I understand."

Lady Xinun says "You especially, Ash. I'd love another chance to break you."

"I'm flattered but I would prefer that not to happen."

Vacker says "I would also prefer not to be tortured to death. Even if I am not your favorite."

Lady Xinun says "Vacker, you have trained many soldiers for me. If it wouldn't hurt my reputation I would give you a quick death."

Vacker says "I appreciate the sentiment, Lady."

"I also appreciate your hospitality and if our roles are ever reversed I will return the favor."

Lady Xinun says "Meaning if I am ever your prisoner you will torture me and then treat me like a guest?"

"Possibly."

Lady Xinun says "Fair enough. Shall we eat now?"

Vacker says "That sounds good."

"Sure."

Lady Xinun claps her hands and servants enter to set the table, then they bring a massive platter with part of the boar on it. More servants follow with platters full of other foods, and bottles of wine. Very quickly there is a true feast set out before the three of us.

Without a word we all dig in once the servants back off, and the food is delicious. Everything is well prepared and the boar is absolutely amazing, way better than it was raw. We all eat our fill, Lady Xinun and I eating the lion's share, even so there is plenty left.

Lady Xinun says "Are you aware that even in hell, hellboar is considered a delicacy?"

"No, I wasn't. Are they really rare?"

Lady Xinun says "They are now, yes. Once they were common but they were hunted too much."

"What is hell like?"

Lady Xinun says "Oh, right. Sometimes I forget you aren't a real demon. Hell is like a dark twisted version of the worlds, of course with a lot more fire."

"What do you mean of the worlds?"

Lady Xinun says "You are aware there are many worlds, yes?"

"I know there is more than this one, but not how many."

Lady Xinun says "I am not sure anyone knows how many worlds there actually are. But if you took all of them and made a copy then smashed all those copies together you would have hell's landscape."

"Then hell must be huge, and I imagine it's dangerous."

Lady Xinun says "As far as I know hell is infinite, and yes it is dangerous."

"With all that territory to conquer and fight over, why are demons so obsessed with coming to the worlds?"

Lady Xinun says "Lack of competition mostly, here we can harvest souls and grow stronger much easier than in hell."

"Even though you are fighting amongst yourselves?"

Lady Xinun says "Better to compete with six others rather than hundreds. The reason there is no demon king in hell is because hundreds of lords are constantly fighting."

"If one of you managed to become a demon king would you return to rule hell or stay here?"

Lady Xinun says "Personally I would return to rule, I can't say what the others would do."

"Even if you did return as a demon king wouldn't those hundreds of lords gather against you?"

Lady Xinun says "Absolutely, but that is what I would want anyway."

"Oh, how come?"

Lady Xinun says "Because, once you are a demon king the only way to progress further is by eating lords."

"Is there something beyond demon king?"

Lady Xinun says "No one knows for sure, but the theory is that the next step would be demon god."

"That is a terrifying thought!"

Vacker says "No kidding! Imagine a demon becoming a god, what could stop such a monster?"

"I imagine that the gods of the many worlds would do something at that point."

Lady Xinun says "That is where it would get interesting, sure the gods of good would oppose a demon god, but there are just as many gods of evil."

"You are talking about a full scale war of the gods?"

Lady Xinun says "Yes! A war across all the worlds! It would be glorious!"

"To you maybe, for us mortals it would be the end."

Lady Xinun says "Oh, Ash, I hardly think you count as a mortal."

"Even if you are right, I will always be on their side."

Lady Xinun says "Then you and I will always be enemies."

"It seems it is meant to be that way."

Lady Xinun says "Then you can expect no mercy from me once our deal is over."

"Likewise."

Lady Xinun says "Then I guess that is all we need to say. Your escort will be ready first thing in the morning."

"Very well, I will see you after it is done."

With that Vacker and I leave to return to our room, once there we talk for a few hours. It is mainly me describing the fights and Vacker pointing out improvements. We don't bother talking about anything we learned from Lady Xinun or my upcoming trip.