亚洲综合中美

“Good evening, my lord,” stomped a charming man. The long black hair parted down the middle, a dark circle aroused the outline of his eyes, the lashes were sharp and menacing. A tattoo of a beast’s head quietly rested on the neck. Aside from the masculine horns and heavy personage, the entity felt human. Vesper cowered in the corner. The gentlebeasts mounting the door glared, they oppressed her aura in much easiness.

“Good evening,” returned Igna, he stepped closer and threateningly gawked. “Can I help you?” he asked, the ominous man backed off and nodded.

“I’m Asmodeus, one of the four princes of hell, and current ruler of demons in Totrya. My other brothers have done many absurdities over the ages, especially Lucifer, he’s turned into quite the hotshot. I must digress,” he straddled a stool, “-it’s quite a pain to watch.”

“The demon of lust said to have the head of a sheep, bull, and one human, though the latter is quite the jarring sight to watch. Texts speak of the seven princes of hell, not that it matters here. There’s also the part of being the son of Lilith, the mother of all succubus.”

He stopped, the flabbergasted demon chuckled, “-you don’t seem surprised?”

“No, not really,” said he walking to the demon’s side, “-actually, I’m very interested. Out of the others, you have a lust for revenge and a playful personality. One can say, a childlike motive fuel thine desires.”

.....

“And I say, ” he whispered, “-you’re also quite the subject of discussion. The man with the strength to defeat an army of five-thousand, the harbinger of Origin, the heir to death, Kronos, and Nike. An unrivaled pioneer in Magiology with knowledge exceeding the Librarian of Nexsolium.”

“I see the prince is well informed,” he sidestepped and grinned, “-might I ask why the prince is here?”

“My story is a dull one,” said he in much agony, “-I was bested in a game of dice and ousted to the realm of nothingness. There, a man bearing white hair flew on an azure dragon. I won’t lie and say he didn’t make my heart skip a beat. In that instant, he rescued me and my troublesome brother, Beelzebub. Between me and you, my brother is quite the pain to deal with, there’s no arguing the fact.”

“Can’t be worse than my children.”

“Did you say something?”

“No, nothing of importance,” hard-pressed to be attentive, “-Prince Asmodeus, might I know of thy standing in current affairs. Vesper’s rather traumatized from the sudden audience, she’s shaking vividly. You’re an essential figure in Totrya, who will you side with?”

“Depends,” he reached for the upper pocket, “-here’s a six-faced die. Lady fate shall decide my actions. We each pick two numbers and hope for the best. If it lands without any victor, we go again till a winner, acceptable?”

“Alright,” said Igna, “-can I hold the die first?” a kindling of a smirk perturbed Vesper’s cowardly attitude,”-I pick three and five.”

“I pick one and six,” said the prince. The immaculately designed die left his palm, it hung and fell, the display was quite the treat. The cube bounced, hitting many o’ obstacles until the number three.

“Lord Igna is the winner,” proclaimed a gentlebeast.

“Damn it,” facepalmed Asmodeus, “-here I thought I could control outcomes.”

“I see, Prince Asmodeus was fooled by Lucifer and me.”

“What do you mean?” he frowned, “-I didn’t cheat, I only manipulate the fate of the cube.”

“There’s the issue, manipulating the cube was the downfall. Pre tell, is this the one Lucifer asked to battle with?”

“Yes, how did you know?” he jumped into Igna’s face, “-are you psychic?”

“Space, highness,” he kindly stopped the impudent approach, “-the die is rigged. Tis a magical object, or a weighted die as commonly referred to by humans. There’s a slow-acting spell that reacts to mana. It works perfectly fine without the convenient backdoor. If pushed to odd odds, one must do all to bring favor to his side. A good leader must be ready to commit treason if need be. You lost to wit, Prince of lust and gambling.”

“Not wit,” he pouted, “-it was cheating, clear cheating!”

“There, there,” a brotherly tap resolved the misunderstanding, “-let’s call it even?”

“No,” he stepped away with confidence, “-as the bet states, I must pledge myself to the new king of monsters, the new demon king of Totrya,” he dropped on one knee.

“So be it,” thundered Igna, “-Prince of Lust and Gambling, Asmodeus, will you stand by my side as we conquer the new age?” he held out a hand.

“Excuse me?” inquired the prince, “-should I not be under?”

“No, no, heavy mistake. I don’t care for hierarchy amongst my comrades. Thou art my sword and shield, my bastion of hope if even the quest crumbles. I began as a humble mercenary and have made it to this position using wit and meeting competent people. I say it again, prince of lust, will you be my comrade?”

“Comrade?” the face lightened, “-I’ve never heard that one before,” he gladly took Igna’s offer, “-show us the way forth, majesty.”

The scenery changed to an amphitheater, the stage was replaced for an elaborate podium lined by red and gold. The throne of the Founder waited impatiently. Time seemed to match the occasion; the suns left for the moon. Dusk dowsed the landscape in black outlines and chilly breeze. Streets leading to the place of the occasion were well-lit. The hardened paths divulged into alleys and streets throughout the town. In that instant, the concentrated number of monsters made the theater to be a beating heart. Cheers pulsed; the event welcomed many o’ influential figures. Igna dawned a majestic robe. The audience fell silent as he walked into sight. Therein harbored the qualities and mannerism of a great leader. Vesper, Kul, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, and a few others laid in wait behind the throne. The great priest of Shcenlta, Guardian of Scifer’s domain, approached opposite Igna. A gem-stuttered white robe and imposing staff carried to the throne where the would-be-king waited.

“Greetings, people of Totrya,” murmured the priest, “-today, after bravely proving might in body and soul, the heir to the founder has stepped to take the mantle of king,” a well-dressed maiden carried the crown on a cushion of scarlet-gold. Concurrently, Igna stood at the foot of the stairs, the priest nodded, the ceremony ensued. Cheers accompanied his walk, he walked passionately, ‘-our time has come.’

“By the grace of our eternal guardian, Shcenlta, I, high priest, deem Igna Haggard to be fit for kingship. May his rule lead us to greater heights and may his enemies perish in the abyssal flame.”

He dropped to one knee and bowed; the crown soon followed. Sparks flickered, a charge of energy dispersed from the throne outward, the weather greyed to a raging thunderstorm. “Inheritor of Scifer,” thundered a frightening voice, “-tis thy last trial. Defeat the Protector of Lightning and lay claim to thy title.” A bolt of lightning struck, flames crackered by a pool of smoke. A greyish humanoid figure clambered out the hole, lines of purple exuded bolts, the body visibly burnt, steam as in raw power built as a protective layer.

“The last trial of kingship,” explained the priest, “-is to battle the strongest representative of the elemental tribe. They’re the strongest entity in the whole of Totrya, each has the strength the take on and defeat angels and demons alike. Their power slices through the dimensional levels of protection. One can say, they’re Lord Scifer’s private army.”

“I understand,” said Igna. He unbuttoned the robe and leaped into battle. *Blood-Arts: Enlian,* wings sprouted, the hair whitened, he fully materialized as a true noble vampire, “-hear me, protectors of lightning,” Orenmir slid out of the guard, “-I won’t hold anything back.” Thunder echoed; a whirlpool of lightning bolts summoned. The grey figure vanished; a pool of white levitated under Igna’s feet. The bolts fired, the pool caught his legs, a bolt-made sword ran through Igna’s chest. ‘So fast,’ he coughed and fell, the figure spazzed in and out of existence. The crowd’s excitement nulled, protectors of the elements were strong.

‘Strong,’ he clenched, *Ancient Magic: Teleportation,* and escaped the pool of retardation. ‘-Don’t underestimate me,’ now in its blind spot, he leaped and made contact, the body vanished to knee Igna into the ground, *Teleportation.* he fell a few meters away, ‘-holy hell,’ the eyes barely registered the opponent’s face, much less movement. Without warning, another bolt-shaped dagger stabbed his back, he coughed, a kick had him flung across, *Bzz,* the protector leaped and summoned countless projectile. The moment Igna hit the wall, the projectile impaled head to toe. *Crash,* the grey figure landed for a merciless strangle, electricity sprouted left and right. Consciousness faded, the defeat was apparent, ‘-don’t forget who I am.’ *Death-Element: Unleash Aura,* an explosion of dark mana broke the hold, he dropped to his knees, “-ha-ha-ha,” the battered visage turned to the skies, “-is this the best the world can offer?” a lustful glare befell the protector, the wounds healed, *-knowledge known to only the watcher, I, master and inheritor of Origin, beckon thee; Mantia, Library of the all-knowing. Realm Expansion.* A mosaic hue halted time for the present, “-foolish bearers of hope,” *snap,* unseen projectile bound the entity, it struggled and shifted out of existence.

He reappeared in the blank spot, “-won’t work again,” a golden hammer slammed the guardian onto the ground, “-as ruler of the Shadow Realm,” he nonchalantly turned, “-my realm is as strong as the people it harbors,” an elegant melodic cry echoed, the shadow of a magnificent bird circled the battleground. A dart of flame crashed, a spiral of pure power shot to the sky’s, “-I present thee, the phoenix,” he smirked, “-no matter one’s power,” the posture lowered, “-the strength of my companions flows through me,” shadows of Gophy, Intherna, Miira, Adete, Lilith, and a mountain of faceless residence linked into a single person. Orenmir swallowed the majestic bird’s flame, “-the battle is over,” a flash blinded the spectators, *Realm Release,* the sword sheathed, the guardian fell, and thus, the battle ended. “Good fight,” he said.

The display frightened the crowd, cheers dwindled to a minimum. The ceremony completed; the mantle of Demon-King rested as the crown. The unoccupied seat at least had a master. The defeat of a thunder guardian held a lot of merits, the valiant show cemented the start of his legacy.

A banquet hosted many o’ delicacies and influential figures. The newly crowned king retreated to the balcony after hours of meeting guests. An oval-shaped terrace gave onto a training field for the strong. ‘-I saw Scifer’s memories, a common man born to a normal family from another world. The defeat didn’t end so graciously, he died and moved to the initial world, where, he fell in a coma. The boy’s slowly recovering, though, there’s no way of telling. The guardian was strong, far stronger than me, I should keep Mantia as a last resort. I ought to master the partial realm expansion. I’m mentally drained, conjuring Origin’s knowledge is strenuous. One day use, after that, my mind buckles. It’s worth the bearable strain.’

“Majesty, does the crowd displease you?”

“Prince Asmodeus, shouldn’t you be entertaining the ladies?” he slyly glimpsed the horde of maidens, “-look, they’re calling for their master.”

“Please, can the jest be any less flavorful? I confess the maidens of Totrya have differing charm. Each race offers a certain spice. I prefer humans, they’re easy to break and provide the best experience once in one’s control,” he pointed over the balustrade, “-see the girls there.” Igna took notice, “-they’re slaves I stole in my limited trips to Hidros. My liege, I have a favor.”

“Go ahead.”

“Please allow me the grace to be part of thy inner circle of confidants.”

“My inner circle,” he paused, “-the idea crossed my mind. Why not, I have a single condition.”

“Which is?”

“The Shadow Realm is a place of rest; I wish nothing bad on them. As prince of lust, I entrust the mission of bringing females to the domain, the world must grow.”

“Most pleasant.”