Amon elaborated on the stigmata, describing it as the ultimate power that every higher ranked demon has.

A stigmata can range from an evolution of an ability that one uses often, to a whole new ability that develops out of nowhere. It is an inherent ability that is characteristic for the individual demon right from their birth. It might be energy absorption, a physical boost, magical boost, psychic manipulation or any other wild guess that one can think of. Whatever the magic effect is, it is unquestionably the strongest ability that any demon can muster.

"It isn't as simple as that," Amon notes grumpily. "I've been trying to get it for years."

"Aren't you like 15 years old?" I ask.

"Yeah, we're about the same age. From my early years I've trained for it. Once you gain a stigmata, you become a true demon as they say."

"Does your dad have a stigmata?" I ask.

He smirks, happy to be able to praise his lineage. "Of course. My father has the stigmata 'Red Hellfire'. Because his normal flames are basic, when he activates his stigmata they evolve. His flames are basically like mine, just a bit stronger as he has decades behind him."

"So your normal flames are your father's stigmata?" I shake my head. "No wonder you're that strong."

"Basically. His are a bit different but work on the same principle. They burn through most things that normal fire wouldn't allow. My mother has the stigmata 'Immortal Flames', which is a different evolution of fire magic."

I release an audible "Huh?"

I didn't know there were multiple evolutions of fire magic. This kid was bred to burn. His father's stigmata is an evolution of fire magic, while his mother has another one.

"What does you gramps have? A third evolution?" I ask half-sarcastically.

Amon stops for a moment, diverting his gaze into the sky dramatically. "I have no idea. I just know that it's the strongest stigmata in all of history."

That was natural. The King of Hell—the strongest demon—had to have the strongest stigmata.

"Well you already have hellfire, so your stigmata won't be that," I note, thinking of possibilities for this kid.

He is a treasure, with genetics that make his flames the best in the world. If his parents are so strong, and the King of Hell is his grandpa, he might become someone like Lucian—a pinnacle of fire magic.

"Do you look up to Lucian?" I ask.

"No. He's cool from the stories, but my grandpa is my idol. I don't care about some Ruler of Emperia that disappeared along with his pals. To me, he might as well be just a myth."

"I second that. Since the day I was born, they've mysteriously vanished, those bizarre Rulers…"

Amon nods in agreement, "When I was born, they were already long gone."

"How does that work? You're 15, and they disappeared like 11 years ago," I ask, revealing that I'm technically younger than him.

He didn't seem to care enough to mock me for my age, simply answering me.

"Time in Hell works differently, as 10 years in Hell is 1 year in the Overworld."

"Oh? Does it work like that in all 9 circles?"

He nods, saying that although every circle is a dimension for itself, they are interconnected.

-

We walk through the desert city, this one filled with modern infrastructure, skyscrapers erected next to one another, paved streets and buildings made from sturdy materials for a change, compared to the clay houses of the small town that no longer exist. I hope the residents will find their way...

As we walk through the city, we notice that just like in Holdanis, there is absolutely no one enlightened just walking around in the street. Even officers and military personnel are—although strong—just lower beings.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

We walk by a dessert shop, which makes me stop dead in my tracks. Amon turns around slowly, asking "Really?"

My eyes noticed a particular sweet dish that I haven't had for the longest time. A panna cotta, the best there is. I quickly rush inside, ordering three of them. The shopkeeper laughs at my impatient hands, as I tip her double what I paid for.

I exit the shop with a massive grin on my face, eating the panna cotta while offering some to Amon. He tries it but says it's too sweet, preferring to eat a meat wrap that's just down the block.

When Amon told me that he dislikes sweets, that was the moment I could see why he was a demon.

He ordered the meat wrap and told the poor man three times to add three different chillies. He gazed at me like a puppy asking for food, to which I sighed and paid for the meal.

I couldn't believe he didn't have any cash on him, as he came from a wealthy family. At least I hope that the daughter of Hell's king has enough money.

"Don't you demons have no impulse to eat since you don't need food?" I ask.

"I donf. I jush like spify foof," he mumbles while spitting food chunks from his mouth.

"What?"

He takes a big gulp, hitting his chest a few times to get it down. "I said I like spicy food. We don't need food but that doesn't mean I don't like it."

I didn't question the evolutionary traits of demons any further, accepting his liking of burning flames in his mouth. Maybe it reminds him of home...

-

We reached the warp gate, but you had to have permission to use it. It wasn't public transportation that you can just waltz into and pay a ticket fee.

The security guards that were stationed there stopped us, asking for valid ID to enter. Of course, we weren't in the military yet, and didn't have any permission to use it. The guard told us to scurry off, placing his hand on his gun.

"Get lost kids, this isn't a playground."

Amon and I looked at each other, but I had to tell him not to kill them, as I didn't know what he would do.

As I finished my sentence, we both put pressure on the guards, squashing them onto the ground as we slowly walked by.

They couldn't move an inch, while we exerted a tiny fraction of our aura.

There were guards inside the building, which we treated with the same manner.

Anyone who tried to stop us would fall helplessly on the ground, staying there for as long as we wanted.

We approached the operator while there were at least seven bodies lying on the ground behind us. We demanded that he opens the warp gate, to which he obliges without a single complaint.

The giants metal arch is at least 20 feet tall, held in place by tubes all round it. Once it activated, purple runes glowed all over it, as the tubes filled it with energy. In the hole beneath the arch, purple sparks started buzzing as a portal of the same color was formed. A deep bass reverberated from the portal as it became stable.

We politely thanked the operator for his kindness, strolling into the portal while releasing the guards.

"I like your way of doing things," Amon smiles.

"What has to be done will be done, but don't get used to this," I chuckle.

As we enter the portal, we are greeted by the same sight as on the other side. The building was something different, but nothing major. The guards ask for our ID, to which we respond with "We don't have any," walking along like nothing happened.

Of course, they try to stop us, but it's obvious how that story ends.

The first guard that draws his weapon falls down, hitting his head onto the floor while vomiting out the contents of his stomach.

"Don't go that far," I scold Amon, pressuring all of the other guards.

Once we exit the building, we look around and ask the closest person exactly where in Holdanis we were transported. I confirmed that we were sent where I wanted, so I headed towards the 1st House of Swords, where I'll surely be able to meet a Sword Saint.

"Do we have to go with a taxi?" Amon asks, looking at the levitating vehicle that's about to take us there.

"Yes, we can't just run at supersonic speeds through the town, it'll cause too much ruckus."

"How about jumping on top of buildings?" Amon bargains, strongly opposing the idea of traveling by car.

"No, I've already called a taxi. This way we'll avoid unwanted attention. I'm sure the police won't be happy about us illegally using the warp gate and almost suffocating the guards."

I tell the driver where we're headed while Amon complains in the back seat.

He pokes his head out, commenting how slow the car is. We were going 90 mph, which would get us there in about 20 minutes. This pace was acceptable, so I told Amon to zip it and enjoy the ride.

Amon asked the driver questions that the poor man never expected a kid to ask.

"What went so wrong in your life that you had to become a driver? Why didn't you pursue strength?" he asks with blazing eyes, poking his small horns forward.

"I was never talented in the ways of magic," he responds shakily.

The driver stiffened once he saw he was driving a demon, as they aren't common in the Overworld. As they are otherworldly beings, they rarely come into our world. If they are sentient demons, they are most likely extremely strong. By using dark magic, you can summon demons of darkness which originate from Hell, but aren't enlightened. If a demon like Amon exists, it is a miracle. I was surprised that the driver even believed he was driving a demon.

His good instincts were his downfall, as he almost crashed many times from his stiff body movements. He was scared of a little kid.

"Talent is overrated these days. You just need a good mentor," he says while puffing his non-existent muscles.

He had a lean structure that any kid his age would have even if they were a worldly race. His claim about talent might be a bit biased, as he has plenty. His strength is purely derived from his royal background.

After only 10 minutes, we got into a tight traffic jam, which didn't compliment Amon's whining in the back seat. He was truly an impatient child, and one could see he was treated as royalty. Although his constant nagging was uncalled for, we were moving at a snail's pace, which made me give up on the stealthy plan of getting to the 1st Sword House.

"Here, keep the change," I tell the driver while handing him the money for the trip.

I look at Amon while opening the doors.

"Let's go with your plan."