What does it mean to be lord of hell?

Some say eternity of pleasure, excess, and depravity of unimaginable scale. But for one of them, it meant something else entirely.

Boredom

Unending, mind-numbing work with the singular purpose of enrichment of his pockets. Be it gold, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and all types of magical items or the most precious of them all. Souls of sentient creatures.

But even that can be boring after a long period of time. And so all look for entertainment wherever they can be found. Some start word domination on one of the planets which host life. Others join the old war between good and evil, and everything and anything between.

And here lies the problem as The Lord of Gold had nothing new to do he often played with a golden egg that he found ages ago. It was some kind of puzzle which he was never able to open until today.

"Fascinating." He spoke in a booming voice as the egg opened and from its core pale white light glowed.

"Into what time do you wish to open the portal?" After a few moments, he could hear a feminine voice from the egg.

As he was about to touch the inside of the egg he heard the door to his throne room open. From behind the door, a red-haired demoness entered leading four demons behind her. While she walked he could hear her hooved feet creating noise every time she took a step.

After he looked at her he knew who she was. She was his high priestess, leader of his cults, and his right hand who followed him from the beginning. She was the first infernal being to fully commit to him to give her all so his will would be brought.

When she stood before the stairs that lead to the throne she knelt down and the demons that followed her did the same. She made no sound as she kneel before him, as she was awaiting permission to speak.

Lord before her taped his finger on the throne and she took it as the sign to speak.

"My lord, it is pleasure to be in your presence. It is my honor to introduce to you these newborn demons that were just formed from Pit." She kept her head down as she spoke but the same could not be said for the demons behind her that were still kneeling but looking directly at their lord.

Such manners weren't uncommon for newborns as they weren't taught properly. It was only natural for them to be brought before the lord immediately after their forming.

But today was different as one of the demons was familiar to the lord. He still remembered his face even after all this time.

Four demons were kneeling behind the demoness. One on the far most right was two meters tall thin red skinned creature with four arms and two black wings. Demon next to it stood a one-meter tall imp-like creature with needle-like teeth, four black eyes, and greenish scales on its body. The third demon was three meters tall with a skin of gold, its golden horns glittered with rubies, and its goat eyes glowed dark red. It wore the golden regalia of a greater demon which differentiated it more from other demons as they were naked. Forth demon looked like a combination of centipede and spider if it had bat wings.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

When the demoness did not hear her lord speak in acknowledgment she raised her horned head and saw her lord looking attentively at the golden object in his left hand. She knew what it was as her lord often played with it but she never saw it open.

When she was about to ask her lord a question she heard his laughter. "Ha ha ha, so that's how it was! YOU, step forward!" He spoke in a commanding voice as he cast his gaze on the golden demon.

Golden demon hurriedly walked past demoness "Yes my lord! How may I be of service?" He spoke in an excited voice.

Demoness did not understand what was happening so she watched her lord anxiously as this have never happened before. In past, her lord would be excited when a greater demon was formed but never to this extent. She thought about possibilities and she came with a multitude but many she disregarded in heartbeat as at closer examination they became foolish.

Only different thing was that opened egg, 'That should be it. But what it is?' She thought as she waited for her lord to do something.

Then she saw him raising his right arm and touching the egg and she could see how its glow strengthened from his touch. The warm sensation could be felt from the egg as it glowed moved about a meter from the egg and started to grow.

"So the mystery is finally solved." Her lord spoke and then laughed. His eyes then shifted back to the golden demon who shivered in expectation and her lord raised his hand and aimed his palm at the demon.

Golden demon's joy was shattered when it was pierced with mind-tearing pain it started to howl in agony. But it would not end here as the golden demon felt as if its heart was torn by its lord's arm. Only confusion could be seen in the golden demon's eyes as well as in the eyes of the remaining demons and demonesses.

Demoness could not fathom the reason why her lord would kill his new greater demon but dared not to question him as his will was absolute. Then she saw her lord raise his arm while holding the golden demon by the horns and put his left hand on the demon's face. She could see that her lord put some kind of curse on the demon and even transferred some type of energy into the demon. While holding him her lord took a golden string with nine golden keys on it and put it around the golden demon's neck. Then he took out ten gold rings each with a different gem and put them on each of the demon's fingers. Lastly, he put a black and gold book that was bound in chains and stab it into a golden demon's wound.

Then he trowed the golden demon into the white glow that formed a portal to an unknown location, at least the demoness did not know where it lead.

"So that's how it all began, now just die properly you loot box." She heard her lord speak as he sat back on his throne. She could see the joy in her lord's eyes and with it, all doubt melted away. If it takes greater demon life to bring her lord joy then she will bring thousand to him every day, for her lord is all that matters.

While she thought of all the greater demons' locations she heard her lord speak and so she immediately started to pay attention. "You may wonder why I did what I did. And I would not fault you for it but know in the right storm seeds of the future can be blown to take root in the past. Sacrifices of today shall bring bountiful harvests in ages past and with it, all shall be as it is today. Past shall repeat in a cyclical way as it did all the time.

"But truth be told I do feel slightly jealous of it as it was a marvelous journey. The first chest taken and opened, first souls harvested and demons created." He sighed at the memories and looked at the dissipating portal longingly.