While all of that was happening in the depths of the abyss, far away from the darkness that was now slowly devouring Kael
The wind gently moved across the immense fields of eternal flowers, swaying the petals with an almost unreal delicacy, while the enormous trees shone beneath a golden light that never disappeared.
It was a perfect place.
Too perfect.
And perhaps because of that… it was sad.
Sitting near the edge of one of the natural cliffs surrounding the land of the demon race, Serenna and the Queen of the Elves observed the horizon in complete silence.
At first glance, it seemed like a peaceful scene, even elegant, but the expression of the elven queen made it clear that her mind was far from there.
Her eyes, normally serene, now looked dim.
Empty.
As if she had just lost something important.
Behind her stood motionless her personal bodyguard, the captain of the elven knights, a tall blonde-haired woman whose presence commanded respect even without speaking. Her eyes watched every corner of the place with absolute discipline, though even she seemed to sense the strange heaviness surrounding her queen.
Finally, the elven queen spoke.
—So… Kael really left.
Her voice was low.
Tired.
—And he took the Seven Sins with him…
Her fingers slowly tightened around the fabric of her dress.
—How ironic.
A small bitter smile appeared on her lips.
—In the end… it happened again.
Serenna watched her silently.
—What do you mean?
The elven queen turned her gaze toward the endless horizon.
—That I always end up alone.
Those words were barely a whisper.
So weak that even the wind almost carried them away.
But Serenna heard them.
And for the first time since she had known that woman, she noticed something beyond the elegance and calm she always displayed.
Loneliness.
A deep and silent loneliness.
—Queen of the Elves… —Serenna said softly—. Will you return to your kingdom today?
The woman slowly nodded.
—Yes. There is nothing left for me to do here anymore.
Her gaze lowered for a moment.
—If the Demon King is no longer here… then this place no longer has meaning for me.
The elven captain slightly frowned, but said nothing.
The queen slowly stood up.
The wind stirred her long hair as she slightly turned her face toward Serenna.
—When Kael returns… tell him I will be waiting for him in the elven kingdom.
Serenna hesitated for a few seconds before responding.
—I will tell him.
The queen smiled faintly.
But this time her smile carried no hope.
—Yes… of course.
Her eyes slowly closed.
—If he returns at all.
And then she disappeared.
Her body faded away together with that of her bodyguard, turning into small particles of light that were carried away by the wind until they vanished completely.
The place fell silent once again.
Serenna stared at the spot where both of them had been only a few seconds earlier.
And for some reason…
She felt fear.
Because deep down, she knew something.
Kael would not return as the same person.
---
Darkness.
Pain.
Silence.
Kael's consciousness slowly returned, as if he were emerging from the bottom of an infinite ocean.
His entire body burned with unbearable intensity, and for a few seconds he could not even understand whether he was still alive or if this was some kind of punishment after death.
Then he breathed.
And the pain worsened.
—GH…!
A violent spasm ran through his body as he abruptly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was stone.
Black stone.
Sand.
Dust.
His breathing was heavy and disordered as he tried to lift himself from the ground.
—What… the hell…?
His voice came out broken.
Weak.
Slowly, he brought a hand to his head as a brutal migraine pierced his mind as if something were trying to tear it apart from the inside.
Fragments.
Images.
Voices.
Blood.
Screams.
Kael clenched his teeth tightly.
—Tch…!
The pain was unbearable.
But something else caught his attention.
The light.
That place was not dark.
Despite being surrounded by enormous stone walls and tunnels that seemed to stretch infinitely underground, a strange illumination covered the entire area.
It did not come from torches or fire, but from crystals embedded in the walls that emitted a faint blue glow.
It looked like a gigantic mine.
But not one created by humans.
The air was heavy.
Ancient.
And there was something else.
A disgusting smell.
Blood.
Meat.
Death.
Kael managed to stand up with difficulty while looking around.
The ground was covered with broken bones.
Some human.
Others not.
Many still had pieces of flesh attached to them.
Then he felt it.
A presence.
Heavy.
Violent.
A monstrous pressure spread through the entire place like an invisible wave.
Kael slowly turned around.
And saw it.
Behind him, standing among the shadows of the rocks, was a gigantic creature.
Four meters tall.
A monstrously muscular body covered in dark golden fur that looked like gold stained with blood.
Its enormous black horns were broken in several places, as if it had survived countless battles, and its eyes…
Its eyes were completely black.
Empty.
Filled with hatred.
In one of its hands, it held a gigantic reddish axe whose blade was covered in marks and dried bloodstains.
The monster smiled.
And that smile seemed more terrifying than its size.
—AAAAAHHHHH…
The roar made the walls tremble.
—A HUMAN!
The creature began to slowly advance.
Every step shook the ground.
—I ALWAYS HATED HUMANS!
White foam came out of its mouth as it spoke, like a beast completely consumed by rage.
—I'M GOING TO RIP OFF YOUR SKIN… DRINK YOUR BLOOD… AND EAT YOUR FLESH WHILE YOU STILL BREATHE!
Kael instinctively stepped back.
His body was trembling.
And he could not stop it.
That creature was monstrous.
Slowly, he moved his hand toward his sword.
But when he drew it…
The blade was destroyed.
Broken in half.
—…Shit.
The minotaur let out a brutal laugh.
—HAHAHAHAHA.
The echo resonated throughout the entire mine.
—LOOK AT HIM! THE LITTLE INSECT IS TREMBLING!
Kael breathed with difficulty.
Then he dropped the broken sword.
And brought both hands behind his back.
Two enormous black knives appeared between his fingers.
His legs were still trembling.
So was his breathing.
But even so, he raised his gaze.
—I'm not… afraid of you… damn beast.
The Minotaur King laughed again.
But this time his laughter sounded worse.
More savage.
More violent.
—YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF ME?
Suddenly, it disappeared.
Kael's eyes widened.
—What…?
It appeared behind him.
So fast that his mind could not process it.
And then—
BOOOOM.
The monster's fist slammed directly into Kael's ribs.
The sound was horrible.
Bones exploded.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Kael did not even manage to scream before being launched into a rock wall.
The entire mountain trembled.
Stones exploded around his body as he collapsed among the debris.
—YOU ARE WEAK!
The monster slowly walked toward him.
—BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL ENTERTAIN ME FOR A WHILE!
Kael tried to move.
He could not.
His ribs were destroyed.
One of his lungs had collapsed.
Blood poured uncontrollably from his mouth.
The Minotaur King violently grabbed his right arm and lifted him as if he weighed nothing.
Kael was barely conscious.
His vision was blurry.
—Come on… human…
The monster slowly brought its enormous jaw closer.
—SCREAM.
And then it began.
The first bite completely tore off Kael's left arm.
Blood exploded like a fountain.
The pain was so brutal that Kael's body violently arched.
But the monster only laughed.
It slowly chewed his flesh right in front of him.
Enjoying it.
—HAHAHAHAHA! LOOK AT YOU!
Another bite.
One leg disappeared.
Kael screamed.
For the first time in a long time…
He screamed desperately.
The pain was unbearable.
His blood covered the ground while the monster continued devouring him piece by piece, tearing away flesh, bones, and organs as if it were enjoying a banquet.
—THAT'S IT! KEEP SCREAMING!
The monster's laughter echoed throughout the mine.
—HUMANS ALWAYS MAKE THAT FACE BEFORE THEY DIE!
Kael could barely breathe.
Half of his body had disappeared.
His eyes trembled.
His mind was beginning to fade.
And even so…
He was still alive.
Because his body continued regenerating slowly.
The flesh returned.
The bones slowly grew back again.
The monster stopped.
And its black eyes widened slightly.
—…OH.
Its smile widened.