The stars shimmered across the endless sky as Ken and his companions stepped onto the sacred planet of the Seven Star Lords.
A divine silence filled the air, and the weight of destiny pressed upon them.
The Wise One stood before them, his silver robes flowing with a faint golden glow. His eyes, old as time itself, studied Ken with a grave expression.
"Warrior," he said, his voice echoing across the marble halls, "you don't have time to waste. The war begins in seven days — at the place of chaos and despair, Chaos Zero."
Ken crossed his arms, his tone calm yet confident.
"Seven days? That's more than enough. I already defeated the Dark Dragon. I doubt this Demon King is any stronger than him."
The Wise One's expression hardened. "Do not underestimate your enemy, Ken. The being we are about to face is not ordinary. He is the strongest existence in the universe — second only to the Gods of Creation, Order, and Destruction. Long ago, even they could not destroy him. They merely sealed him away."
Ken's eyes widened slightly. "You mean… even the gods failed to defeat him?"
The Wise One nodded slowly.
"During that battle, their powers clashed so violently that a new entity of pure destruction was born — the Dark Dragon. The creature you defeated was a fragment of the Demon King's and the Gods' combined energy. That's why neither divine beings nor demons could ever destroy it. But when you fought the Dark Dragon, your clash of power shook the entire universe… and that ancient seal — broke."
A chilling silence filled the air.
"The Demon King has been freed," the Wise One continued, "and now, he seeks to conquer the Seven Cities of Gold. As he rises, every demon in existence grows stronger just by feeling his presence."
---
The Land of Hell
Far away, in the depths of the Lands of Hell, flames of dark crimson burned through the sky. A throne of obsidian stood tall in the center of an ancient fortress. Before it, thousands of demons knelt in silence.
A figure stepped forward, removed his crown, and bowed deeply.
"My Lord," he said, his voice trembling with both fear and devotion, "I have waited so long for this moment. Every demon in Hell has already felt your return. But now… it is time to make it official — to announce your revival so that even the Gods tremble upon hearing your name."
A deep, terrifying voice echoed through the hall — the voice of the Demon King himself.
"Yes… let them know," he said slowly, his eyes glowing like dying suns. "Let the Gods hear it. This will be the last message they ever receive."
He turned toward his loyal general.
"General Adam, summon the Seven Demon Generals. But not yet. First, I will stand before my army and remind them of the power they serve. After that, we will prepare for war."
The air grew colder as the Demon King's aura thickened, filling the hall with despair.
"As for the Gods," he said with a twisted smile, "we don't need meetings or strategies. We only need to erase them — from existence itself — and take the Seven Cities of Gold."
General Adam lowered his head.
"Yes, my Lord. As you command."
---
The Planet of the Seven Lords
Back on the celestial planet, the Wise One's staff struck the ground, sending a pulse of light across the marble floor.
"Ken, we must begin your training immediately. We have no time to spare."
Ken tilted his head slightly, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
"If the Demon King is that powerful, why don't we ask for help from the Gods of Creation, Order, and Destruction again?"
One of the Star Lords, cloaked in blue starlight, stepped forward.
"That is no longer possible. After the last war — the war that nearly destroyed the universe — the Gods made an oath never to intervene again. They sealed the Demon King and swore never to aid either side — divine or demonic — ever again."
The Wise One added,
"They helped us one final time — by creating your Sword and Ring of Elements, and by blessing the Seven Cities of Gold with divine energy to keep them stable and prosperous. They even left a portion of their energy in the Lands of Hell to maintain cosmic balance. But now, if the Demon King merges both divine and demonic powers with his own…"
He paused, his voice heavy.
"He will change the very concept of reality itself."
Ken nodded firmly.
"Then we train. What about my friends? What will they do while I'm training?"
The Wise One's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
"Don't worry, Warrior. I have a plan for everything. Though my habit of going silent at critical moments has caused many problems," — he chuckled softly — "this time, it won't. I'll train your friends personally. They may not reach your strength, but if they unleash their true potential and fight with perfect strategy, they can stand beside you — as equals."
He raised his staff once more, and the seven stars above the planet began to glow.
"But first, you must master the teachings of the other six Lords. Once you complete their trials, return to me with Lexus. I'll guide you through the final stage myself."
He turned toward the heavens, his expression solemn.
"Remember, Ken. We have only five or six days. The last one or two must be spent seeking the Gods' audience — and preparing for the greatest war the universe has ever known."
The wind howled across the shining plains as Ken looked up at the distant stars — his resolve burning brighter than ever.
The fate of creation itself now rested on his shoulders.
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