The clash of swords echoed sharply through the dense forest, each strike sending ripples through the still air.

  “How long have you been hiding there, Nix?” Hela demanded, landing gracefully on the ground after deflecting a swift attack.

  “Why does it matter to you?” Nix replied coolly, his voice calm and detached.

  “It matters! First, you claim the Demon King is too weak. Then, when those creatures attacked, you just stood there and watched!” Her voice trembled, edged with frustration and anger.

  Nix sighed, the weight of his role apparent. “My duty is to observe, not to interfere.”

  Hela clenched her fists tightly but forced herself to steady her temper. “If I had died, would you have just stood by and watched?”

  “Then I would have stepped in,” Nix said quietly, leaping down from a tree, his black cloak fluttering behind him like a shadow.

  “Hmph. Idiot.” She pouted, turning away briefly, her irritation clear.

  “Stop acting like a child. Come with me,” Nix said firmly, turning and heading deeper into the woods.

  “Why should I follow you? And where exactly are you taking me?” she asked, genuine curiosity mingled with skepticism.

  Nix paused and glanced back, his expression unreadable. “Follow me. I’ll get you out of this forest safely.”

  “You should’ve said that in the first place, idiot!” she shouted, breaking into a run to catch up.

  As they moved through the thick underbrush and towering trees, the tension between them softened slightly, replaced by a shared urgency to escape the dangers lurking in the shadows.

  At the Border of Abyss and Zephyria

  The war between Zephyria and the Abyss was on the brink of eruption.

  All the races of Zephyria had gathered—humans, elves, dwarves, giants, and others—united for the first time in centuries to stand against the demons who had plagued their lands with endless suffering.

  At the forefront of the assembled forces stood a man clad in dark silver armor, his presence commanding and resolute. Raising his voice, he thundered across the battlefield, “ATTACK THE DEMONS!”

  The army responded with a deafening roar, surging forward as one, their determination burning fiercely in their eyes.

  But the demons were ready. They met the assault with savage fury, their monstrous forms cutting through the ranks with terrifying power. The battlefield quickly became a chaotic sea of blood, screams, and clashing steel—a brutal testament to the stakes of this monumental conflict.

  Amid the chaos, every warrior fought not just for survival, but for the hope of a future free from darkness.

  In the Demon King’s Castle

  “Father, you should have listened to me! Now the entire land of Zephyria has declared war on us!” said a young demon, his voice filled with worry.

  The Demon King sat on his throne, unbothered. “Listen, my son, Jini. We are demons—born from fire and destruction. Why should we make peace with the dirt of Zephyria?”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He rose, his crimson eyes burning with pride. “Peace is weakness. They chose war, and we shall finish it. We will erase Zephyria from existence.”

  “Father, that will awaken Xala! Have you thought about that?” Jini protested, desperation in his tone.

  The Demon King waved his hand dismissively. “We demons will seal Xala again—just as we did a thousand years ago.”

  “But, Father—”

  “ENOUGH, JINI!” The king’s roar shook the chamber. “I did not raise you to show mercy to the filth of Zephyria! I raised you to conquer them—and one day take my throne.”

  Jini fell silent. His jaw tightened. “So be it, Father,” he said coldly before leaving.

  In the Forest

  As Nix and Hela emerged from the dense forest, Nix suddenly came to a halt, his expression growing grave.

  “Don’t tell me…” he muttered, voice tense.

  “Don’t tell me what, idiot?” Hela snapped, clearly frustrated.

  Nix’s eyes darkened. “The forces at the border—they’ve already attacked.”

  “Attacked? What are you talking about?” she asked in confusion—until the weight of his words sank in. “WHAT!? Now!? The attack wasn’t supposed to start for three more days—after everyone had gathered! Don’t tell me I’m late!”

  Nix sighed deeply. “No, they struck early… and not everyone is there yet.”

  “Then why—?”

  “I don’t know. But we need to move. Now.”

  “How? The border is too far—HEY! PUT ME DOWN!” she yelled as Nix lifted her into his arms, her face flushing crimson with indignation.

  He ignored her protests, leaping into the trees with practiced agility. Their bodies blurred and dissolved into black smoke, racing swiftly toward the battlefield.

  “Damn it,” growled the man clad in dark silver armor, frustration thick in his voice. “Why are we losing?”

  The demons’ counterattack was brutal, overwhelming. Their numbers seemed endless, and their ferocity unmatched. Zephyrian soldiers were torn apart, devoured alive amid the chaos.

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve had an elf for dinner,” one demon cackled cruelly, sinking his teeth into a torn heart.

  Suddenly, a chilling command echoed inside every demon’s mind:

  |Let no Zephyrian live. Eradicate them all.|

  The battlefield erupted into a frenzy of bloodshed and screams.

  “The Demon King wants no survivors!” one demon roared. “Then tonight, we feast!” another snarled.

  Blood flowed like rivers across the scarred earth.

  A dwarf warrior fell to his knees, trembling. “No… spare me,” he begged as a snarling demon advanced.

  Before the beast could strike, its head exploded violently.

  The dwarf turned to see a tall figure standing behind him—Jini, the Demon Prince—eyes blazing with fierce determination.

  “Jini, what are you doing?!” one of the demon general shouted, landing nearby.

  “I’m ending this,” Jini said quietly, his power surging outward like a storm.

  “The Demon King—” the general began, but his words were cut short as Jini’s overwhelming force obliterated him instantly.

  “I’m done listening to my father,” Jini declared, crimson eyes burning. “I want peace—and I’ll have it, even if it means defying my own kind.”

  At that moment, the black smoke reformed into Nix and Hela.

  Nix dropped to the ground and grabbed the man in dark armor by the collar. “Why did you attack early!?”

  The man stammered, “I-I wanted to surprise them!”

  “Yeah, great job,” Nix muttered, releasing him. “Now look at the mess you’ve caused. Evacuate the wounded and fall back immediately.”

  “Y-Yes, right away!”

  Nix’s gaze swept the battlefield and landed on Jini among the fallen demons. “What is the Demon Prince doing here?”

  “Oh, hush, human,” Jini replied with a smirk. “I’m on your side, as you can see.” He gestured toward the carnage.

  “I’m not buying it,” Hela snapped, drawing her sword. “You demons are all the same!”

  Nix raised a hand calmly. “Hela, don’t. He’s telling the truth.”

  Jini smiled faintly. “Thanks for believing me, human.”

  Hela hesitated but lowered her weapon. “Fine. But only because Nix said so.”

  Back in the Demon Castle

  The Demon King sat in silence for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

  Finally, he stood, his aura spreading like fire through the hall.

  “Jini… you’ve left me no choice,” he said, his voice low and cold.

  “I’ll just have to kill you myself.”