Chapter 5: The God of Fire – Azazel
Sirbs had won the war. He had killed every knight who was responsible for the destruction of his village, the death of his mother, his father—everyone he had ever loved. But now, as he walked through the burning ruins of the city, stepping over the bodies of the dead, a heavy weight crushed his heart.
During the battle, his mind had been full of rage. He hadn't thought. He only wanted revenge—revenge on the knights and the prince who destroyed everything. But now that it was over… he looked around and saw the cost. Hundreds of innocent people were dead. Children. Women. Families.
He whispered to himself, "Why… why did I do this? Why couldn't I control myself? These people had families too. I killed them… I'm no longer human. I've become a monster. I should be dead. There's no reason left for me to live."
Tears streamed down his face as he stumbled through the destruction. "I'm evil… I killed children. I don't deserve life," he muttered.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him began to shake. The earth cracked open, glowing red like fire. A massive rumble echoed through the city, and people screamed, "Oh God, save us! We don't want to die!"
Then, something enormous rose from the ground. A giant figure made of burning iron, flames spilling from his body—his very blood seemed to be made of fire.
It was the God of Fire.
Sirbs stared in shock. "What… what kind of power is this? I've never felt anything like it. He's not human… he's something else."
The fiery god looked down at Sirbs and spoke in a deep, terrifying voice:
"I'm late. They told me to arrive before you killed all these fools. You're strong, I admit that. But now I'll give you an offer. Stand still, and I'll give you a quick and painless death."
Sirbs felt the pressure of the god's power pressing down on the entire city. The energy was overwhelming.
"You're stronger than any man alive," Sirbs said. "Then why do you serve the Dragon Kingdom? You don't need to follow anyone."
The god answered, "I don't have to… but I made a deal. Two hundred years ago, I and eleven other gods made a pact with a powerful king. He couldn't win wars alone, so he offered us freedom in exchange for our support. We could do anything we wanted—as long as we helped him conquer the land."
The god's eyes glowed. "Now, I like you, Sirbs. You have power. So I'll make another offer: I'll eat your soul. You'll live forever—inside me."
Sirbs took a deep breath. "I want to die. But not like this. If I die, I'll die fighting. What's your name?"
The god grinned. "I am Azazel, the God of Fire."
Sirbs opened his magic book and shouted, "Then let's begin!"
He summoned a powerful Fire Arrow, launching it straight at Azazel. A massive explosion filled the sky with smoke.
But from inside the smoke came Azazel's mocking voice: "You fool. You dare fight a god?"
He raised his flaming hand to the sky. Countless portals opened above, raining fire down on Sirbs. Sirbs ran as fast as he could, dodging the deadly blasts.
As he ran, he saw a child he had saved earlier. A fireball was heading straight for the boy. Without hesitation, Sirbs shouted, "Light Speed!" and threw himself in front of the child, shielding him from the blast. His body caught fire, but he smiled.
The boy's mother rushed over, crying, and hugged her son. Sirbs, still burning, smiled through the pain.
Azazel saw him and asked, "Your body is in flames, yet you smile. Why?"
Sirbs replied, "I destroyed this city. I did something terrible. But saving this one child… it gave me a new purpose. I want to build a world where everyone can live in peace. And to do that… you must die, Azazel."
Azazel laughed. "Kill me? That's a good joke! Let's continue!"
He summoned more fire from the heavens. Sirbs ran, defending himself the best he could.
Then he remembered something his mother had once told him:
"Son, even the greatest fire… can be stopped by rain."
Sirbs focused and whispered, "Turn fire… into ice."
He changed Azazel's flames into cold winds, then yelled, "Arrow of Ice!"
He attacked again. But once more, Azazel stood unharmed.
Azazel laughed, "You're fast. You have mana. But I am a god. I've lived for thousands of years."
He drew his flaming sword. Every swing launched blasts of fire that slammed into Sirbs, burning him again and again. Sirbs died… but his body healed. He rose again.
Desperate, Sirbs shouted, "Open the Door to Hell!"
He summoned countless fire demons to fight Azazel—but the god wiped them out in a single breath.
Sirbs had used up nearly all his mana. But with his last strength, he activated a forbidden spell:
"Open the Age of Ice!"
The entire city froze. Cold winds blew, covering the land in snow and ice. Azazel was trapped in a frozen prison. Sirbs collapsed to the ground, exhausted and almost unconscious.
But Azazel shattered the ice and rose again. "Amazing magic," he said. "But now… I will eat your soul."
He grabbed Sirbs in his flaming fingers and began pulling his soul from his body.
But Sirbs' soul was unlike anything Azazel had ever consumed. It exploded like a bomb in Azazel's hand, blasting him backward.
Azazel gasped, "What… are you?"
He stepped forward, ready to kill Sirbs—but then paused.
"No… I need to take him alive. I must find out what he truly is."
But before he could act, a mysterious figure appeared from a portal of light. The man grabbed Sirbs and chanted, "Open the Gate to My Realm!"
A portal opened, and they disappeared inside.
Azazel stood in silence, fire burning in his eyes.
"You escaped today, boy… but I now know your soul is priceless. One day, you will be mine."
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Next Chapter: The key to becoem king