In the Northern region of Mégia; a world that exists beyond the doors of Avalon exists a continent far from the light's reach, Daemonia. Filled with ash smoke and dark clouds created from erupted and live volcanos, the continent had rarely seen light, creating a home for creatures born from the darkness, the demonic race.
They were the rulers of the land, a race which values power and strength above all. They may seem primitive as a race, but they are as civilized as the other races of Mégia.
Their country is ruled under a hierarchy, the strong ruling the weak, where the female demons are the dominant of their race. Their value on intelligence is as much as on strength, putting them apart from the males. Their physique is no larger than the males, as the male demons have a monster-like appearance; some may even reach to the size of 12 feet tall.
Unlike the male demons, the females retain a humanoid form measure by their power. Those who are on the top would have an appearance comparable to a human's, while the weak would have their demon-like features more flushed out; horns, scales and even wings.
The demon race is governed under a council of twelve Demon Generals, who are handpicked for their accomplishments, by the absolute ruler of the continent, the Demon Queen, Lilith. Who like all else lusts for power.
But even with such obsession, she yet remains fearful and recognised for her wisdom and cunning ways. Her decision has accomplished a great of many things during the years of her rule over the continent. Keeping the Demon race striving with life, and surviving through countless wars that had erupted several times in the past hundreds of years.
It was a trait that many would have assumed special in her royal blood, being passed down through generations had made her the most cunning in the royal ancestry.
In the city of Ixerath, held a council where the twelve Demon Generals had gathered about for a conference in the presence of their queen.
The city was massive and filled with technology. The demons may have been viewed as a primitive race, but the ruling under a hierarchy of intelligent demons had brought their civilisation into a prosperous state. Their technologies may not be as advanced as back on Earth, but they were as advanced as the other races in Mégia.
The city was filled with lights, not candles nor torches, but with lights powered by energy. Ixerath wasn't just an ordinary city, but it was the heart of Daemonia. The city was built closest to the largest live volcano in the region, where the demons had discovered a method in extracting the energy from the volcano to power their city and to use as an aid in their engineering, science and daily lives.
A gateway was present in Ixerath, similar to its counterpart in Avalon, yet holds a smaller size in height, only measuring up to 30 metres tall. Even to the demons, the structure and its engineering were foreign, as records of its construction had been lost over the past dozen centuries through wars.
Even till now, the gateway had remained unfunctional and had been left as a historical remnant of the Demon race of the past.
Just like the other parts of the Northern region, there were no trees and grass in the city, as the sky was filled with only smoke as not even light could penetrate through. But even under the darkness, the city was bright not just from their lights, but the magma from the volcano gave a brightness, surrounding in the colour of red.
The council's gathering was held in the queen's castle which was built up high, overlooking the city from the volcano. There the Demon Queen, Lilith, sat on her large throne overlooking the council, in a relaxed position.
The Queen, Lilith had jet black hair with a mix of red stripes lining down from her head. Her appearance was almost human as many would've mistaken her for one if not for her large horns and her razor-sharp wings. She was a beauty with a face of a woman in her early twenties, but her age remained unknown, as she the superior of her race, have a life spanning up to several hundreds of years, yet still retaining their youth. It was a given trait that all strong demons like her possess.
Her skin had a light colour of brown that would've resembled a tan. She wore a queenly dress. The dress was simple yet elegant with the colour of black. The skirt flaring out from her hips and stretched up to her knee.
Her fingers tapped in a rhythm, as she saw a reflection of herself shining on the smooth table.
The hall was decorated with lights as chandeliers sprouted and dangled from above. The walls were decorated with maroon drapes and a large long table made of smooth stone was placed in the middle, where the twelve Demon Generals were seated.
Large maroon drapes dangled from the cobblestone walls, where above had statues of gargoyles decorated at the ceiling. It gave out a horrifying terror as the gargoyles seemed to be clawing their way in. Even for statues, their expressions were too real as their faces screamed out of fear and desperation that even from a look would cause such discomfort in a person.
Queen Lilith looked around to see that all her subordinates were still present, arguing over for a solution for their current crisis.
The twelve Demon Generals were seated accordingly to their ranks. The closest to the Queen were ones who had worked as the Queen's subordinates longer than the newer promoted generals.
They had gained their Queen's trust, with their reputation widely known through the continent of Daemonia and even the neighbouring countries. They were feared and respected for their fame they found in their strengths and accomplishments. Even amongst the generals, they were feared and highly respected as a title was given to them; The Four Generals of the Infernal Region.
But in the council, they remained silent as they together had come to an agreement to play the role of an observer. Observing the value and capabilities of each of the newer Demon Generals in their understanding towards their current crisis with a task of finding a solution for it.
Each of the Demon Generals varies in different appearances, some may have horns, wings, and even other demonic features like scales, claws and hollow eyes.
"Given the current state of the issue, if we don't find a solution for it-- our continent would suffer a great loss and might even be led to chaos and into extinction." The seventh Demon General, Xen, informed the council.
The Demon race was facing a crisis in overpopulation. Their population had tripled over the past years. With the demons having a long lifespan spanning up to three times of a human’s age, it is more severe to them than to the race of Men.
The growth a demon was rapid, at the age of 15, one would consider to be a fully grown adult. They were in a haste in need to solve the issue before their continent would start suffering a large loss under the shortage of food.
"And what would you propose of what we should do? It would've been much more favourable if you had an answer to support your observation." The sixth Demon General, Alathea taunted Xen in a foul tone, giving her a dark look of dissatisfaction in her eyes.
The Two Demon Generals had been at an odds against each other even before the time of their service as generals.
"Wasn't that your duty to keep watch over our region, Alathea? You of all should've noticed the rapid growth in our population before it even reached a dire state as it had now." She replied, provoking Alathea with her words. She sneered back at her as she saw Alathea's face went foul with anger.
“You wretch! How would I have expected it to worsen?” Alathea lost herself into a rage as she banged her hands on the table out of anger as she rose from her seat.
“By using that thick headed brain of yours, of course,” Xen added with her sneer still intact, and herself remained in her seat.
"Enough!" One of the Demon Generals roared from her seat.
“You're in the presence of the Queen! Speak at your turn and only if you must! Abide by the rules or I'll throw both of you out myself.” She roared once again, as her voice echoed through the hall.
The council looked her way and saw that it was the third Demon General, Azaeth who had risen from her seat and took action against the two general's behaviour before the Queen.
The two demon generals, Alathea and Xen were shocked and frightened by Azaeth's rage, deciding it was best that they remained quiet as General Azaeth slowly returned to her seat, allowing the council to continue.
“What if we have a purge. A purge to annihilate most of our population. We could rid of those who live in the slums, with the men too.” The twelve Demon General, Saryn, cautiously shared her idea, but the rest of the council seemed to not be in favour of her suggestion.
“That wouldn't do. Using our power to turn against our own cause a revolt, we may out power them, but they outnumber us. Even if we do succeed, we'd suffer a great loss in our own strength.” General Azaeth shook in disagreement to Saryn's idea.
“Then we send them to war. Let them fight the other races for the land, it would help in expanding our territory, and to worse, we'd only suffer a loss in numbers.” Demon General, Saryn added as she was not too quick in giving up on her idea.
“Starting a war would break the peace treaty that our Queen had fought hard for,” Azaeth informed Saryn with a small sigh.
“Of course, we would suffer a loss in resources but the outcome of doing nothing would be worse. Going through with this idea would minimize our losses. And it'd even give her Majesty the chance in finding a strong hero as her bride.”
“She's been waiting for so long with no successor in line. It fills me with worry if the royal bloodline would be preserved.” Saryn added and at last, it had seemed to have changed the favour of the other Demon Generals.
“Now it does seem a promising idea, but let us leave it as it is for her Majesty to decide our course of action," Azaeth concluded, as it filled Saryn with happiness as one of the four infamous generals had taken into her idea.
"What say you, your excellence?" Azaeth asked the Demon Queen as the council then turned to face Queen Lilith for her reply. But it had seemed that their Queen had dozed off during their discussion.
It was a surprise to see as none of the Demon Generals had noticed her falling asleep as she had been sleeping so soundly, even after Azaeth's loud rage.
“Ehem.” The Demon General closest to her cleared her throat as she tried to wake up her up from her sleep.
Queen Lilith immediately went wide awake as she had realised the silence in their discussion. Her eyes scanning around to see them waiting for a word from her.
“Oh... yes? Where were we?” She asked so casually, pretending as if she was not at fault and hadn’t fallen asleep during the council but it was pointless as the council members were already aware of her absence in their discussion.
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“We had a discussion in finding a solution to solve the crisis we have in overpopulation. And Saryn here gave a wild idea of starting a war with the other races. It'd help minimize our numbers, by sending the weak demons on the frontlines.” Azaeth explained.
It wasn’t the first time that Demon Queen Lilith had fallen asleep in midst of their council. She had done so more than a dozen times as she always ends up falling asleep whenever an uninteresting topic pops up and it seemed that she had done so again.
Unlike the Demon Queens before, the Lilith was more carefree. She normally does get too involved into discussions which would bore her as she was only energetic and would only partake in activities she deems fun.
“At worse, we'd only suffer a defeat in loss of numbers and resources. At best we'd be able to secure more land, expanding our territory.” Azaeth continued.
“And to a fact that it'd be a chance for a hero to be born in the fires of this war, one who would match your calibre and worthy as your bride,” Azaeth finished.
“I would say all yes to everything but the matter of my bride.” Queen Lilith declared, she agreed in the idea for the solution of their crisis but the topic of her having a bride had given her discomfort.
“I'd prefer to be able to choose one for myself, a man to my liking, with qualities that match my preferences, but it is rather embarrassing to continue with such topic.” She said as she began covering her blush.
The Demon Generals had faces filled with concern as it had seemed that it was still hopeless for their Queen to search for a bride but Azaeth decided to answer their Queen’s statement.
“I'd normally question in your taste in men, but without a successor in line, anyone who you choose, I would quietly accept.” She said as the others reluctantly agreed.
“But for a war to start, we must all come into an agreement with a vote.” Queen Lilith declared as she had risen from her seat to face them.
“Those who are in favour of a war, raise your hands. And to those who are against; speak now so that we would listen to your reasons.” She announced, giving a chance for those who were to question the idea a chance to speak. But none did as all the Demon Generals had agreed with their arms raised in vote.
"Then it has been decided, a war shall begin. But first, we must discuss the strategy and the current state of the army before our invasion begins." Queen Lilith declared returning to back onto her throne.
They began their planning for a strategy as the Demon Queen gave designated tasks for each of the twelve Demon Generals. There were those who would be in charge of the command of the demon armies. The army was split into different divisions, and each of them was in charge of it. There were three groups of each division, the leading army that would invade the other regions would be the largest division with six generals in charge. Followed by the other two divisions; who were tasked with scouting and safekeeping to protect their continent.
The scouting division would be sent out to invade the other continents first as spies, gathering more intel of the current state of each continent's forces before deciding for an appropriate strategy that the offensive division would partake.
Even if their main goal was to dwindle their population, it would still be a shame for them if they were to lose purposely, resulting in a total defeat. They still have their pride as a demon race as they would go all out in their war, to flex and to boast of the strength.
A sound of a humming was heard outside the doors to the hall. It attracted the demon council's attention as it was a rather unexpected time and a place to have a visitor, as there were royal guards stationed on the other side of the doors to the hall and outside the castle.
But it would seem that an intruder had managed to breach through security as loud steps were heard, drawing closer and closer towards the large double doors.
The large double doors gave a soft cranking noise as it sprung open. A human man entered through, revealing himself towards the council. He was tall with broad shoulders and wore a large furry, black coat. His face was white and clean, giving off a dashing look from a man.
A large creepy smile on his face and most would assume that he was unaware of the danger he was in.
He stood proud and tall, with a smile that would creep people out given to the danger that he was in. But his confidence was high and his eyes were bold to stare deep into the demon council's silent observation before they went on alert as a human had made its way into the heart of the demon's home.
The man ignored them as he slowly continued on to approach them, heading closer towards the table before halting into a stop, facing the Demon Queen as he gave her a low bow.
"My apologies for the intrusion, your highness." He apologised politely as he waited for the Queen to give him permission to speak.
"You may speak, human." The Demon Queen Lilith said with a menacing voice that sent chills within the hall, but the man seemed unaffected as he raised his head to face them with a smile.
"I understand that I am in no place to be asking for favours, but I have an offer that I would like to make. And it would be wonderful if you would be so kind as to lend me your ears." He asked with his smile still intact.
"And what is it that you would ask for?" Queen Lilith asked, granting him the opportunity to speak his mind. She was rather curious to hear the man's request, but it would seem that the other Demon Generals were in disapproval as they like the majority of the demon race, aren't too fond of humans who do not know their place.
“I have a proposition, the command of your army, for the world's domination.” The man said at last with his request.
“Explain yourself,” She demanded of him as she like the others were confused by his words.
“Of course,” he said as he understood that he hasn’t explained much of his offer towards them.
“By granting the command of your army to me, I will assure you victory over the lands.” He explained as Queen Lilith understood that she had not misinterpreted it wrong.
"Making such a bold offer, don't you understand that you are in no position in asking of such things from us, human?" Dreneva, one of the Demon Generals closest to him snapped as she could no more tolerate the man's cocky attitude.
"Of course, I do. I stated it before didn't I?" He replied politely, his smile yet still intact even when he was being denounced. But it had seemed that his words had done no better but to rile up Dreneva into a rage.
"I had enough of your attitude! Don't you understand that you're talking to a superior?" Her eyes glared into him with anger and disgust as a human was speaking boldly back against her.
“No, it is you who do not understand.” He replied calmly yet it seemed from others' eyes that he was provoking Dreneva. And it had seemed that she had taken into his bait.
“This Filth!" She screamed out of irritation.
"I will teach you manners in how you should address us with respect!" Dreneva roared in anger. The other Demon Generals tried to stop her but she ignored them as her fuse already blown. Going for her weapon; a large battleaxe, she stood tall against him, ready to strike their intruder.
"And you would resort to violence," the man said with a sigh his smile finally died away. Slowly closing his eyes as it seemed that he had accepted her attack, but he didn't back down as his eyes sprung open once again, revealing the monstrous killing intent from it.
Dreneva who was once so quick to attack him was struck by his killing intent, as she for a moment had lost her footing, stuttering back and falling into her seat.
She like the others were wildly confused. Giving a look back at him, she saw that nothing had changed, only but the look in his eyes. The ominous look in his eyes that were filled with a killing intent that she had never faced before.
Her instincts warned her all over, as she felt her hands shaking, her feet trembling. Her instincts informed her that if she had attacked him then, he would've killed her with only but a moment's breath.
Her emotions were jumbled but ended up feeling her with fear, as she surrendered herself. Frightened as she was, her expressions stayed true as it was seen all over her face.
"W-what are you?" She asked cautiously, fearful of the man's wrath.
“A god.” He finally answered with a large mocking smile returned on his face.
The other Demon Generals were on high alert, but Queen Lilith had her brow furrowed as she like Dreneva saw the change in the man's aura. She decided that it would remain best to allow the man to continue with his words, as it would have seemed that his killing intent had placed her in such a discomforting position. The other Demon Generals looked towards their Queen and saw that she wasn't taking a stand against him, and decided to follow suit.
"It seems that I should've introduced myself first." He said with a small sigh, releasing his mistake as he scratched his lower cheek.
"Very well then." He said at last, once against standing tall and straight, ready to introduce himself, like a student in a classroom.
"I used to go by the name Nick Ohmsford, a man who once had achieved the impossible. And I can definitely assure you that I am no human. I despise them as very much as I despise you demons." He declared, pondering his words.
"So I would very much appreciate it that I am not compared to such lowly beings." A shown of disgust filled his face as he imagined his words being true.
"Then what are you truly?" Amongst the all of the silent Demon Generals, only Queen Lilith was bold enough to ask. For she still reigns power as there exists a big gap in power between her and her subordinates.
"An Angel," He answered with his arms opening wide. The Demon Generals were filled with disbelief as they could not accept him being an Angel from the heavens as he does not have any similarities in appearance to them.
"No, no. Not the type of Angel that you would all have in mind. I am not an Angel who descended from the heavens, but I am one who came from a distant far future." He corrected them as he could tell from the look of their eyes.
"I was known as many things then. A hero, an emperor, and even as a god." He boasted with his undying smile.
"But it would seem that fate is cruel, returning me to a time where my younger, foolish self-exists." He mumbled to himself out loud. His voice had gone cold with his smile gone.
"It may be a dozen millennium ago, but I am still able to recall every one of you. Truth be told, I've fought and won against you generals. It may have been a tough battle then, bloody and bruisey. But it wouldn't be now, for you see. I have grown a lot from the time we fought, you may not even land a scratch on me."
"Not that you would believe." He sighed.
“But General Dreneva here would gladly take on the role to convince you.” He gave a glance at Dreneva as he gave a kind smile at her, but she knew that he was mocking her with her overwhelming defeat.
"You are all in no place in going against my offer, if push comes to hand, I will regretfully kill all of you to seize command." He threatened them with his words.
A few of the Demon Generals seemed provoked by his words, filled with irritation and wanted to attack him, but for the Queen to remain silent and for them to act disobediently before her would be unfavourable to them. Knowing it best, they kept their cool and let the Queen handle the situation.
“So please, do give some thought in regard to my proposal,” He pleaded nicely and politely, lowering his head.
“I'm not here to kill you, I'm here to offer aid.” He assured them, raising his head to face them.
"Why would an Angel who you claim to be, offer us such help?" Queen Lilith asked him with a genuine curiosity. There were holes in the information he had given her, as she wishes to understand why such a being would appear before them offering his aid.
"In what way would, having the command of my army and rewarding us with the world's dominion be favourable to you?" She asked again, bringing up questions that she require answers to.
"Indeed, handing the world's control to you would be unfavourable to me, but fear not, for I will stay true with my words and hand the world to you if given the victory."
"But I can understand that it would be hard to believe words from a stranger. But that is all I have to back up with my words."
"Aren't you all having a crisis of your own too?" He said with his brow raised in question.
The Demon Generals were surprised to see him bring about their crisis as they realised that he had mentioned that he had was from the future.
“Just the command of the army?” The Queen asked.
“Just the command of the army.” He pleading her with a smile.
It took only a brief moment for Queen Lilith to make her decision, as she had decided and entrusted the control towards. “Then very well. I shall make adjustments and place you in command of our army's offensive division.” She answered.
“But your excellence, for a being like him to take command of our army would bring shame to our kind—” Azaeth tried to stop her.
“Silence!” The Demon Queen roared with a thundering voice as it echoed through the hall and out through the corridor.
The Demon Generals and even self-proclaimed Angel felt the fierce rage in her words as it sent a chill down their spines.
“As expected of her.” He thought, feeling nostalgia as he remembered her being his strongest opponent in his past.
"My decision has been made, and my words are absolute. Have you forgotten that we demons would always acknowledge and show respect to those with immense strength? No matter the race. And here is one, who is much more worthy than I to go on a conquest of the world." She announced, without feeling regret as her words were only filled with the truth.
“I'm sorry, your Highness—” Azaeth began to apologise as it was the first time for her to see Queen Lilith unleash her anger upon her. She was afraid of her wrath and was quick to apologise.
“Save it for later.” The Queen cut her short once again before turning her attention back towards the Angel who was waiting for his turn to speak.
“Then everything seems to be in order. Thank you then, your excellence.” He said giving her a bow as he seemed to be quick to return.
“But I must know, what is your objective in all of this? There must be a reason for you to return here.” The Queen asked him just before he was about to leave.
“To change the course of my path.” He announced.
There was no need for him to remain as he had already succeeded in his own task to gain the control of the demon army. Happy with the outcome that avoided needless bloodshed, he started off back towards where he once came from.
Just before heading out of the hall he stopped in his feet as he had just remembered something to ask of them.
"Ah yes, there's a favour I'd have to ask for. In a week or so, there would be a boy that I'd bring along back here. I want him to be kept in captivity, with the utmost care. And as soon as a week went by, he is to be released back through the gateway."
"The gateway? You got it to function?" The Queen was surprised to hear along with the others.
"Yes, I have my ways. And also, with a warning. If I ever see him harmed."
"I wouldn't mind, repeating history, with your deaths on toll." He smiled back at them, before turning away and headed out through the corridor.
"Such a foul, unpleasant look in his eyes. It reeks of pain and grief." Queen Lilith said in disgust as she watched him walked out of sight. The other Demon Generals had begun murmuring to one another, bickering in regards of their intruder, while Lilith turned her attention back towards her third Demon General, Azaeth.
"And Azaeth, I indeed had given him the command of the army. But it was the best favourable outcome for us. Let him and the races of Mégia battle it out. He's not someone we would hope to go against alone." She informed Azaeth and the rest.
"Forgive me, for speaking out of turn, your excellence," Azaeth begged her for forgiveness as she had realised her wrongs.
“No matter, what is done has been done.” The Queen assured her with a warm smile.
"What of the Queen's Guards who were stationed outside? How could they possibly allow an intruder in without our consent?" Xen asked, looking irritated as the royal guards who she was in charge of had neglected their duty.
The Demon Generals came to the same sudden realisation as they realised that the royal guards had been absent. It was strange as the royal guards were soldiers who would fight till the ends of the earth for their Queen, and for them to have ignored their duty was uncharacteristic.
They stood up together, for a better view over through beyond the doors, searching for the signs of the stationed guards. Their eyes were all widened into shock at what they saw were the bodies that once belong to the Queen's Guards, all bloodied and lifeless.
There were scrapes and markings on the ground around their bodies as if they were attacked by a battalion of spearmen.
"What an interesting yet fearsome individual." Queen Lilith said with an astonished look as she seated back onto her throne once more.
"Forgive me, for having a say in this, but it would be absurd if there's a thought of you having a monster such as him as a candidate as your bride," Xen quickly responded on top of Queen Lilith's statement, as she was concerned and afraid for her Queen.
“Of course not,” Queen Lilith shook her head in regards to Xen's concern.
"But I'm rather more interested in the boy he spoke of." She announced as her crimson red coloured eyes were shining bright with an idea. The Demon Generals stared at her in confusion as they slowly started beginning to understand the Queen's intentions.