Leo slowly lifted his head, tears streaming down his red eyes as he looked at his older sister. His voice trembled with pain as he struggled to ask, "Big sis… please… tell me what happened."
Skye flinched at his question. For a moment, she fell silent, her lovely silver hair cascading messily around her pale face. Eventually, as if she could no longer stand, she pulled over a chair and sat down in front of Leo and Rina. She clasped her shaking hands on her knees, took a deep breath, and began to speak.
"You know that Father and Leonis went to check out a dangerous portal that opened up in the Solomon Desert."
Leo nodded, his expression stiff. "I know."
The Solomon Desert was infamous for its scorching heat and shifting sands, located about a hundred kilometers west of their home, Babylonia. The Roschild clan, their family, was responsible for protecting the area from various threats. When a portal appeared there, it was serious threat. If it wasn't sealed quickly, dangerous magical forces could escape and unleash hordes of terrifying monsters, wreaking havoc everywhere.
These monsters were particularly sinister, coming from another realm. Even the weakest of them could destroy a small town, while the strongest could wipe out entire cities. Reports confirmed everyone's worst fears: this was a high-level threat, classified as a Red Gate, which required immediate action.
That's why Skye explained their father had not gone alone. Two powerful warriors, including the Flame Giant, were sent along with the best fighters of their clan. Leonis, the family's star and future leader, also joined. They were a formidable team, ready to take on whatever came through the portal.
But…
Skye's voice broke, and she clenched her hands in her lap, gathering the strength to continue.
"They never came back."
After a shaky breath, she revealed what had happened next, sending chills down Leo and Rina's spines.
"A demon appeared."
"What?!" Leo gasped in disbelief.
"A… a demon?" Rina whispered, her hand covering her mouth as she began to tremble.
The thought of a demon was terrifying. They were living nightmares, as dangerous as the most powerful monsters imaginable. Both were capable of causing mass destruction and chaos.
Skye, her voice weighed down with dread, continued. "And it wasn't just any demon. It was a powerful one—among the most feared."
Leo felt like the air had been knocked out of him. His hands balled into fists, his nails digging painfully into his palms. This demon was part of a notorious group known for their destructive power. They weren't mindless beasts; they were intelligent and cruel beings that had appeared throughout history, always bringing disaster with them.
This time was particularly dire.
"Rank Nine," Skye whispered, the name sending an ominous chill through the room. "Belial."
When Leo heard that name, he felt hopelessness wash over him, his arms falling helplessly to his sides. A demon of that caliber could change the fate of the world. Suddenly, everything made sense—the tragedy they faced was no accident.
Skye forced herself to continue, her voice trembling.
"Of the fifty brave warriors who went… only three returned alive, and they were in bad shape. Two of them would never be able to fight again." She paused, then delivered the crushing news.
"Abel Ashfall… he lost his son, an arm, his legs, and an eye. He won't be able to grow stronger ever again."
Leo's face twisted in anguish, his jaw clenched with frustration. Abel Ashfall was the leader of a rival clan, and even though he had survived, his immense suffering felt unjust. Their father and brother were gone, while someone from their enemy had lived through it all. The weight of this unfairness pressed heavily on Leo's chest.
Yet, even in the midst of grief and despair, a clear thought emerged in his mind.
Something about this… doesn't feel right.