Chapter Title: The Awakening Beneath the Earth
According to ancient scriptures and forgotten histories… there exist strange worlds around the Earth—and deep within its core.
Worlds that once held civilizations far more advanced than humans.
It is said… that in ancient times, a devastating war shattered the unified lands of Earth into countless fragments. During that era, early humans first discovered the existence of other civilizations—each belonging to different species… each given a name based on their nature.
The land of powerful, venomous serpents came to be known as Nagalok—the realm hidden deep beneath the Earth.
But as time passed…
Human greed grew.
Their hunger to discover the unknown pushed them deeper into the womb of the Earth… where they uncovered more terrifying and vastly different civilizations.
They had no idea…
That the very worlds they were so eager to explore… would one day become the reason for their destruction.
Nearly a thousand years ago, a group of royal explorers discovered a dark… horrifying region beneath the Earth.
Driven by curiosity, they entered it.
And what they found…
Was beyond their worst nightmares.
They encountered monstrous beings… gigantic demons… creatures far larger and deadlier than anything they had ever seen.
A hundred men had entered that cursed land.
Only one returned.
Half-dead.
Barely alive.
After that, kings from different kingdoms joined forces and sent a massive army into that demon realm.
But…
The result was the same.
Not a single soldier returned.
Instead—
Something else came back.
A demon.
And it didn't come in peace.
It came with a warning.
A threat.
Within one year… humanity would be wiped out.
The sheer power of that demon… the fear it spread… forced humanity to seek help from the gods.
Through intense penance and unwavering devotion, something extraordinary happened.
The birth of the Demi-Gods.
Pleased by human devotion, the gods granted divine powers to a chosen group of humans… turning them into beings of immense strength and abilities beyond imagination.
The Demi-Gods stood against the demons.
And a war began.
A war that shook worlds.
In the end…
The Demi-Gods defeated the entire demon race.
But victory came with a truth.
A truth that changed everything.
The ruler of the demon race revealed that it was humans who had first invaded their realm… disturbing their peace.
After that revelation, a pact was made—
Humans and demons would never cross into each other's territories again.
But…
The Demi-Gods didn't know one crucial thing.
In their ignorance…
Humans had already reopened the gateway to Paatallok.
For thousands of years, the demons had been trapped deep within the Earth. But humans, in their curiosity… had unknowingly unlocked the doors that connected the surface world to that dark realm.
For a while…
Everything remained silent.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Then slowly…
The demons began something terrifying.
Deep within Paatallok, ancient and colossal beings—creatures that had been in a deep, endless slumber for centuries—started to awaken.
The lower and middle-class demons began rituals… trying to bring these ancient horrors back to life.
Luckily…
The Demi-Gods discovered the truth in time.
They realized that the most dangerous demons in the universe were resting within Paatallok… and if they woke up…
Nothing could stop them.
Not even the gods.
Without wasting time, the Demi-Gods traveled across the Earth… gathering powerful beings—creatures with strange and extraordinary abilities.
They formed an alliance.
And together…
They fought again.
A brutal, relentless war.
And somehow…
They won.
The connection between humans and demons was sealed once more.
The gateway… closed.
But the Demi-Gods understood something clearly—
This wasn't the end.
It was only a pause.
A much bigger danger was waiting in the future.
And so…
They created a new world.
A world above the clouds.
Badallok.
A realm where all powerful beings from different species were brought together under one rule.
A united court was formed… where the kings of every species were given a place.
A balance was created.
A fragile… but necessary one.
—
And now…
After centuries of silence…
Hearing that Paatallok was stirring again—
Neerja Devi's soul trembled.
For a brief moment…
Fear flashed in her eyes.
Clear.
Undeniable.
Both King Ambu and the Serpent Messenger saw it.
And seeing the most powerful and fearless ruler… shaken like this—
Even their bodies went cold.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Then suddenly—
Neerja Devi spoke, her voice sharp, urgent,
"Tell me everything, Serpent Messenger… in detail."
The Serpent Messenger took a slow breath.
His voice turned darker.
"Some months ago… I was patrolling the borders of Nagalok with the Serpent King. During that time… we found a weak demon… barely alive."
He paused, recalling the moment.
"The King showed mercy. Using his powers, he healed the creature."
"But something didn't feel right."
His eyes narrowed.
"Why would such a weak demon be wandering near the border of Paatallok and Nagalok?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"So the Serpent King used his venom… to communicate with it."
What they learned…
Changed everything.
"The demon revealed… that the middle-class demons and their rulers are performing dark rituals in Paatallok."
A chilling silence followed.
"They are sacrificing weaker demons… using black magic… to awaken the ancient ones."
Neerja Devi's breath grew heavier.
The Serpent Messenger continued,
"The Serpent King grew concerned. To confirm the truth, he sent our spy serpents deep into Paatallok."
His voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"And when they returned…"
"They brought back something far worse than we imagined."
His grip tightened around the glass.
"They saw volcanoes… everywhere. Erupting with blazing red flames."
"They saw creatures… giants… larger than mountains… lying asleep across the land."
"And around them…"
His voice turned grim.
"Rituals were being performed."
"Sacrifices of demon children… and lower-class demons."
"Drums beating… chants echoing… strange, terrifying dances…"
Black magic.
Everywhere.
He looked straight at Neerja Devi.
"And according to the Serpent King…"
"This can only mean one thing."
A pause.
Heavy.
Deadly.
"The demon race… is preparing something catastrophic."
"And that is why… I have been sent here."
The garden fell silent.
Not peaceful anymore.
Not safe.
Because if what he said was true…
Then the war that once nearly destroyed everything…
Was about to begin again.