Betrayed by Heaven, I Became The Demon Lord
Chapter 5: The Light That Burns
A mesmerizing fissure blazed within the otherwise shadow-cloaked hall, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality itself. This radiant breach sliced through the air with an intensity that seemed to cleave not just the atmosphere, but the very essence of existence. A spear of blinding judgment, its brilliance was so profound that it threatened to obliterate the shadows I had only recently begun to master and command. Beneath the overwhelming force of its appearance, the very ground quaked violently, stone fracturing and splintering as the surrounding walls groaned in anguished protest. It was as if the Abyss itself shuddered in fear, recoiling from the invasive purity that surged forth.
Beside me, Lyris took her stance with valor, her fierce gaze reflecting a tumultuous blend of deep-seated awe and palpable dread. The demons who had congregated just moments earlier began to scatter in frantic disarray, seeking refuge within the newly forged corridors, their whispers transforming into gasps of sheer terror as the searing light bled deeper into our darkened dominion.
And then, at last... it stepped through.
A figure materialized from the fissure, its silhouette garbed in resplendent armor that shimmered with the dazzling brilliance of the sun itself. Behind it, a cadre of sanctified warriors followed each one silhouetted against the luminous backdrop, haloed by flames of gold. The foremost among them took a step forward, its voice resonating with an otherworldly echo that seemed to reverberate deep within my very core.
"You should not exist, fallen one."
The statement hung in the air, heavy with disdain and familiar pain.
My eyes narrowed in recognition. Beneath the radiance of that shining helm, I perceived the timbre of a voice I had once fervently followed without the slightest question Seraphiel, Commander of the Celestial Host. He was the very being who had once bestowed upon me the sword that now served as both my bane and my identity, condemning me to this wretched fate.
Raising a hand, Seraphiel widened the fissure behind him, causing an endless cascade of light to spill forth, consuming the encroaching darkness in relentless waves. The very contrast of that divine illumination felt fundamentally wrong blinding, suffocating, and somehow false, as though it sought to forge reality into a shape that did not allow for my existence.
Beside me, Lyris unsheathed her blade, the intricate runes inscribed across her skin igniting in a furious crimson. "My Lord, their power it's suppressing the Abyss!" she exclaimed, urgency threading through her voice.
I clenched my fist, a spark of determination igniting within me. "Then we take it back," I declared, my resolve unyielding.
As I reached toward the Throne, the chamber responded with a palpable intensity. Crimson lines flared to life beneath my feet, glowing and pulsing outward like the veins of a powerful creature awakened from slumber. The air thickened, saturated with potent energy, as shadows writhed across the walls, coalescing into familiar forms wings, claws, and the spectral faces of long-forgotten warriors answering their king's call, drawn forth by the hunger of their restless spirits.
Seraphiel tilted his head, a mixture of disbelief and contempt shadowing his features. "You would defy the Light itself? Even after being graced with its mercy?" he challenged, his confidence unwavering.
My laughter echoed hollowly, reverberating through the fractured air, a sound devoid of mirth. "Mercy? You dare call annihilation mercy?" I stepped forward, locking my eyes with his amidst the blinding glare. "You slaughtered those you deemed monsters those with hearts and hopes and when the truth seeped through your perfect lies, you discarded me as if I were mere refuse. Tell me, Commander... is that the mercy you speak of?"
His failure to respond was answer enough, a weightier truth than any declaration could convey.
The luminous light behind him condensed, morphing into a spear that sparkled with divine fury, its beauty deceiving against the backdrop of the brewing chaos. Before I could brace myself, he hurled it forward with unrelenting speed faster than thought itself, trailing an ethereal stream of pure radiance.
I raised my hand instinctively.
The spear met my palm and froze, locked in a moment of surreal stillness.
For a heartbeat, time elongated; the atmosphere thickened with tension. Then came the resounding shattering sound of divine energy fracturing into countless shards.
Cracks spider-webbed across the spear's surface, spreading like frost on glass. Its incandescent glow flickered and faltered before it imploded, dissolving into an explosion of motes crimson and gold that drifted harmlessly and chaotically through the air.
Seraphiel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible"
Drawing closer, the crimson glow enveloped me entirely, infusing me with a newfound energy. "No. I simply learned," I replied, a dark confidence surging through my veins.
The Abyss roared around us, an awakening presence, and from its shadows came the first of my newly minted legion ethereal silhouettes wreathed in both flame and smoke, the timeless echoes of the fallen who had rediscovered purpose. Their primal growls reverberated through the hall, shaking the very foundation of the Throne, a chorus of vengeance rising against the light.
Without hesitation, Lyris sprang into action, her blade flashing like a lightning bolt as she cleaved through the first celestial soldier to breach the threshold. The clash of her crimson steel against the gleaming edge of the golden halberd generated a deafening crescendo light and shadow entwined in a furious struggle for dominance, a brutal dance of life and death.
"Do not falter!" Seraphiel ordered, raising his sword high, its edge thrumming with divine resonance, the very air humming with power. "Purge the darkness!"
But this was my domain now. This was the place where shadows thrived and darkness were not to be feared.
"Then let the darkness show you its light!" I thundered, my voice a battle cry that echoed through the cavernous chamber, igniting the hearts of my legion with the fire of rebellion. The stage was set, and the clash between light and dark had only just begun.
With a deliberate and sweeping motion, I thrust my hand toward the ominous fissure that had torn open the very fabric of reality. In immediate response to my command, the Abyss unleashed its chaotic fury dark tendrils composed of swirling shadows surged forward, striking with brutal force against the brave warriors who had dared to breach this realm. These ethereal tendrils wrapped around their radiant forms, intertwining like serpents forged from both flame and the deepest night. The brilliant golden armor that encased them began to crack under the relentless pressure, and their once-bright halos flickered and wavered like fragile candles battling against the howling winds of a tempest.
One by one, as the tendrils tightened, their once-vibrant light began to dim, surrendering to the encroaching darkness.
In that moment of chaos, I found myself once more standing face-to-face with Seraphiel, the radiant warrior whom I once considered a brother-in-arms. Our blades met in a fierce clash his sword, a beacon of light and hope, collided with the crimson weapon that had once been a symbol of divine purpose but was now steeped in a darker legacy. Each furious strike reverberated throughout the chamber, sending shockwaves racing through the air as if the very walls were shuddering in response to our battle. The tension in the space grew palpable, the atmosphere splitting with energy as the opposing forces collided.
Seraphiel struck high, attempting to overwhelm me with the sheer intensity of his attacks. I skillfully parried low, redirecting the force of his blow, and in doing so, sparks of golden fire rained down across the floor like luminescent raindrops, igniting the very air between us in a dazzling display of light and fury.
"You've fallen so far," he hissed, his voice laced with a mix of disappointment and anger as he pressed forward with ferocity. "The gods mourn what you've become, what you've chosen to embrace."
"Then let them mourn in silence," I replied, my tone cold and resolute, as I twisted his blade aside with a deft movement and drove my fist into the reinforced chestplate of his armor. The brutal impact sent him crashing backward into the far wall of the chamber, where shards of light spilled forth from the cracks in his armor as if it were bleeding luminous essence.
He staggered upright, slowly lifting his head as fury etched deep lines onto his once-serene features, transforming his visage into a mask of wrath. "You think you've won this battle?"
I shook my head slowly, my gaze steady and unwavering as I met his furious glare. "No, my former brother. I've only just begun."
Before he could rise to retaliate, the shadows surged forward once more, coiling around him like serpentine chains, dragging his radiant form back toward the ominous fissure that loomed behind him. His hand reached out in a gesture that was desperate not an appeal for mercy, but a defiance against the inevitable.
"The gods will not forget this transgression…" he warned, his voice echoing with the weight of divine judgment.
"Neither will I," I whispered, my voice barely audible yet resolute.
With one final pulse of crimson energy, the fissure collapsed in on itself with a thunderous roar, sealing the wound between worlds and bringing a profound stillness to the hall. The air grew thick with the remnants of light and ash, a haunting reminder of the battle that had just transpired.
Lyris, a fierce warrior standing steadfastly by my side, sheathed her sword, her heavy breaths punctuating the stillness. "They will return," she murmured knowingly, a hint of concern dancing in her eyes. "You know they will."
"I am well aware," I replied, turning to gaze thoughtfully at the magnificent throne that loomed before us, its crimson glow reflecting fiercely in my eyes. "But next time they come, they won't find a broken hero waiting for their judgment."
I stepped forward toward the throne, my resolve strengthening with each passing moment. "They'll find a Demon Lord ready to wage war."
As I approached the seat of power, the chamber pulsed once more steady and alive, resonating with a dark undercurrent of impending chaos.
And far above, in realms unseen and untouched by mortal hands, the heavens trembled under the weight of what was yet to come.
To be continued…