There was a crawling chaos in my heart and mind, I had made a deal with a devil. I knew what it was but I couldn't stop myself. Time and my own tribulations had overcome me. I wanted to kill the Demon Lord, I wanted to right my wrongs. I became blinded by the need to redeem myself but I already knew, there was no redemption for me.

I never confessed myself to be a saint or a hero, I'm just a man.

A man who sometimes becomes blinded by his emotions. I've done things that I believe were right and those were the choices I've lived by. The mistakes I've made will always come back to haunt me. A reprisal for the things I've done and I accept that. This is what I've learned through my life.

I'll face my consequences in the end and that's all I could do.

I staggered out of the caves in the North Mountains, I had finally reached Demon Territory. The maze of the caves became surprisingly easy to navigate as if I knew where to walk and go. Nyarlathotep made good on his word and the monsters had stayed away from me. I didn't even see a shadow, no, I became a shadow myself. Darkness seems to be consumed by me as I walked past it.

It was a cloudy winter outside of the North Mountains in Demon Territory. The landscape reflected what I knew about the Demons, frozen and dreary. The air was cold and the sky was bleak like the foreboding of something to come. Yet the air around me was evaporating like smoke. My body was burning with an intensity I had never felt before. The power of the black ring on my finger was stronger than ever. The pact I made with that monster had given the ring a new form. That black ring became bonded with the monster which in turn was bonded to me.

I felt that I could face an army of Demon Lords and come out unscathed.

I made a foolish choice but I was not an actual fool. I understand the corruption that comes with power but I needed it, I wanted it. It was already suicide to face the Demon Lord alone. Last time I had the help of my former companions and we faced the Demon Lord together. Now, some were missing and the rest were dead. It was my mission to confront the Demon Lord and correct the mistakes I've made.

A noise could be heard from the trees close to me. Wolves as white as snow appeared before me. They looked hungry and mad at my presence. The wolves were desperate otherwise, they would know what they really faced. I pulled out my blade and waited for them. The pack of wolves surrounded me and I could see the vicious fangs they bared.

"Get on with it," I said.

Soon a wolf lunged at me and in an instant, it disappeared. A visceral explosion of guts and blood appeared before its place. My broken Mithril blade made mincemeat out of the hungry wolf. The other wolves hesitated because they didn't realize what happened to a member of their pack. Another wolf tried his luck and in return, it was cleaved in two.

Now they understood the clear difference between us. The wolves whimpered and ran off with their tails behind their legs. I sheathe my sword and look at the mess I made. For some reason, I didn't feel anything at all from doing this. No, wait, I did feel something and it horrified me. I didn't realize it until I caught myself, but I was smiling like I enjoyed the killing and I felt afraid of myself.

"What is happening to me…" I whispered to myself.

I looked at the black ring on my finger and I twisted it for a bit.

"Nyarlathotep," I said. "What are you doing to me."

A white glow flashed on my ring and I could hear the voice of Nyarlathotep.

"As I said before on our agreement my lord," Nyarlathotep said. "I will help you kill the Demon Lord."

"Are you controlling me?"

"My lord," Nyarlathotep said. "Why would I do that?"

"Don't you want my soul?"

Nyarlathotep laughed inside my mind.

"Now that's the fun my lord, what is a soul without a little sprinkle of fun? Tempting, your soul is very tempting but I've lived for a long time. I like to savor the things that I believe are delicious. The emotions you've felt, the things you've lived through. Your trials and tribulations. It's like a masterfully prepared dish and I'm just whiffing the aroma. I won't let anything happen to you until you kill the new Demon Lord. Don't worry, you are only getting a portion of my power. You will receive more when you use the black ring like you've done before. It is all for you and your struggle. Whatever you are doing now is because of you and only you. I will not change you…yet. "

The voice of the monster subsided and the ring stopped glowing.

I was alone in a white covered forest, standing on top of a pool of blood. I was becoming afraid of myself, even more, I felt like I was becoming something different. Was I transforming into something I hated? Am I becoming a monster? The idea started to fester in my heart and I trudge through the snowy forest.

I moved forward like I always did and made tracks in the snow.

I watched my surroundings carefully and looked up at the cloudy sky. Usually, there were patrols out here by the Demon army. It was eerie that I haven't seen nor heard from them yet. This white wasteland called the Demon Territory was savage in nature and plenty of cruel monsters lived here themselves. The North Mountains was a dark and terrible place but it paled in comparison to the strength of the things that lived here.

The monsters here didn't hide in the dark, they let you see them and devoured your body as you watched.

I knew that the Demons were in disarray after we had killed the previous Demon Lord. I had heard from some scouts in the Bareth army before that the Demon Territory had broken into four parts. The West territory was ruled by the Demon Duchess, the North by the Demon General, the East by the Demon Princess, and the South by the Demon Marquis. They fought with each other over control and bickered.

If they were all united again by the new Demon Lord, then all hope is lost as our Hero is gone.

I heard the whispers and rumors that somehow found its way down to the Kingdoms. The Demon Lord had returned and its people would rise against humanity again. I witnessed firsthand the terrifying power of the Demon Lord. I knew the prowess and combat ability of the Demons themselves. They had survived in this winter wasteland and nourished their skills to adapt to this climate. Their magic was above and beyond what most considered humanly possible.

We had a ray of hope against the Demons before and that was the Hero.

Now he was gone and only I was left to take this mission.

It was my duty, my obligation, my reason for life.

A massive shake occurred in the forest and I stood still as I listened. I heard the sound of footsteps but it was in exact unison. It was the march of soldiers and I quickly ran for cover. I hid behind a tree and made myself small. The steps became louder and louder until they stopped.

Then I heard some voices coming from around the trees.

"Is this the area?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"The Oracle said he would be in this vicinity."

"Where is she anyway?"

"She said she had matters to do before she came."

"How will we know what he looks like?"

"We don't, only the Oracle knows."

I peered behind the tree I was hiding around and I saw them.

It was a troop of Demons with a commander. The Demon commander was a woman with silver hair and white horns on her head. There were small black wings on her back and I could tell that she was very powerful. But this was strange, I could never understand Demons before. Only the Hero and Liz were able to. They used to sound foreign to my ears but now it was like they were speaking the common tongue.

I looked at the black ring on my finger and knew that the ring was the reason for this.

The commander was sitting on horseback and wearing some light armor. The rest of her Demon troops were covered in the elite black armor of the Demon army. These weren't just any troops but the ones who protected the Demon Capital. What were they doing here and who are they looking for? Who is this Oracle that they are talking about?

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Suddenly a force of wind blew in my direction and I ducked instinctively. The tree I was hiding behind had been cut in half and I rolled away before it could topple over me. I stood up and saw that the Demon commander was looking at me from on top her horse. She had a sword out and pointed towards me. I looked at the tree stump and saw that it had been cut clean by the wind.

This Demon commander was a sword mage and a powerful one.

"Who are you and why are you hiding?" The commander said.

I looked at the Demons who drew their weapons out and faced me.

"Talk now or be silenced forever."

I looked at the ring on my finger but I didn't want to show my trump card yet.

"I'm just passing through," I said.

"Out here? So close to the North Mountains?" The Demon commander said.

I held up my hands but my fingers twitched slightly as if I wanted to grip my sword.

"Liar," The commander said. "You are an assassin against our Lord!"

Was I found out already?

"The Demon Lord is here?" I asked.

"Humph!" The commander showed disdain towards me.

The situation was becoming grim and I didn't think I could talk my way out of this.

"Should we take care of him, Ma'am?" One of the soldiers said.

"No, no need to stain our hands," The commander replied. "Bring out the Golems."

Some of the troops behind her came forward and they made way for them. They had metal packs on their back and they laid them down. There were four in total and they uncovered what looked like metal armor. Suddenly the troops incanted a spell and the armors stood up from the ground. Those armors were mechanized Golems and an unnatural light seem to shine through the slits of their armor.

"Take care of him," The commander pointed at me.

The Golems rushed at me before I could react in time. One of the Golems backhanded my face and I flew backward. My body struck a tree and I coughed out blood. Another Golem dashed toward me and I rolled away. The Golem struck the tree with its metal arm and punctured it like it was nothing. I drew out my broken Mithril blade without thinking and stabbed the Golem in the neck.

The Golem stood up and turned its head to look at me.

"Damn!" I said.

Stabbing them wasn't going to work.

Another Golem tackled me from behind and I fell over several yards in the snow. The Demons seem to be laughing at my plight but I couldn't worry about that now. My body ached in pain but I moved off the ground before another Golem could rush me. The mechanized Golems were relentless and felt no pain. I was slowed by the snow and the pursuit of the four Golems.

I let them chase me for a bit so I could settle my thoughts.

I see a Golem separated from the others and I make my move. I flash towards the Golem and roll on the ground before it could attack me. I cut through the leg of the Golem with my blade and it fell over in the snow. As it fell faced down on the ground, I use my blade to slice off its head. The light that shone in the armor disappeared and I knew what I had to do.

There were only three Golems left and they didn't stop to look at me.

They all rushed to attack me and I evade the attacks as best I could. The mechanized Golems fought like fighters using an array of punches and kicks. I side stepped what I could and I used my sword to deflect any hard blows. As more blows came into contact with my Mithril sword, I could hear a cracking noise. One Golem tried punching me in the face and I use my blade to block.

My broken Mithril sword shattered before the Golem's fist came into contact with my face.

Again I was sent several meters away and tumbled to the white ground. Sweat was dripping from my forehead and blood leaked from my mouth. My Mithril sword was broken by the Golems. What were they made out of? I stagger up off the ground and look at the Demon commander who had a stoic expression. Her sword was still in her hand as she watched me from afar.

I flashed forward towards her and use my magic steal to grab her sword.

Two Golems quickly rushed me from behind but I swung around and use the sword to lop off their heads. Almost instantly they fell down to the ground without the light of life. Now only one Golem remained and it leaped towards me. I flashed away to the side before it landed and crushed the ground I used to be on.

The Golem looked at me and I quickly flashed around it to the side. Again, I kept flashing around the Golem and it tried to follow my movements. I circled around the Golem by using my flash step and the Golem kept spinning around. Then in one moment I flashed toward the back of the Golem and use the commander's sword to cut off the Golem's head. I tried to catch my breath as I had finished destroying the last Golem.

My gaze moved toward the Demons and I point the sword at them.

"You're right," I said. "I am an Assassin and I will kill your Demon Lord!"

The Demons looked at me with pierced menacing gazes.

"Where is your Demon Lord!?" I said. "Let him come face me!"

"You don't need to know," The Demon commander said.

I walked towards the Demons and kept the sword pointed at them. The Demons encircled their commander in a defensive position. I was ready to fight them as I spit out my red blood to the white snow. They held out their weapons waiting for me to come forward. The Demon commander showed me no emotion as she looked at me from atop her horse.

"Be ready to strike him down," The Demon commander said.

The Demon commander goaded me to come forward with her hand.

"WHERE IS THE DEMON LORD!?" I screamed.

I grabbed the black ring on my finger and was about to pull it off.

"Stop!" A voice called out.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the ground between us and I jumped away. In the air, I saw a robed figure drift down from the sky. The Demons all stopped and saluted to the robed figure. I twisted my face in anticipation and waited for it to come down. I noticed the robed figure looking at me but I couldn't see their face with the hood covering their head. Who was this? And what did they want from me?

The robed figure came down onto the snow and I noticed a long river of blue hair.

My breath left me for a moment as the robed figure uncovered their hood. I clearly saw the robed figure's face and I was shocked momentarily. It was the little wizard Lizzie who the Demons were saluting. Lizzie looked a little more mature now, she was slim and taller than before. She looked like what most men would call beautiful. The robes she wore fluttered in the wind.

The Demon commander went off her horse and rushed to her side.

"Oracle," The silver haired Demon said to her. "As you commanded, we are waiting for the Demon Lord but there was trouble."

"No, there's no trouble here," Liz said.

Liz looked at me with a smile like she always had.

"Where is the Demon Lord?" The Demon commander said.

I quickly looked around our surroundings to see where the Demon Lord could be.

"Liz," I said. "What's going on? The Demon Lord is here?"

Liz nodded her head at me.

"Where is the Demon Lord!?" I said.

Liz pointed at me and the rest of the Demons looked at my direction.

"You are the Demon Lord," Liz said.

A whirl of confusion hit my mind and I stumbled backward.

"You were chosen by the black ring," Liz said. "You are the Demon Lord, Demitri."

Suddenly all the Demons knelt on the ground before me. The Demon commander looked at me hesitant but looked at Liz. Her face only smiled at me and then she nodded her head again. The Demon commander saw this and then knelt like the rest. My eyes kept moving from the Demons on the ground to Liz who stared at me. 

I looked at Liz and the Demons before my eyes went to the black ring on my finger.

A faint laughter of madness echoed from the black ring.

A shock of terror and despair came over me.

I hadn't become a monster but a Demon instead?

Am I the Demon Lord?