Chapter 7: The Stone of Havoc
Meanwhile, Eric continued his frantic search for the weapon that had once defeated Zancus. He eventually stumbled upon a heavy, carved light-stone, and hidden inside was a legendary artifact. The stone did not reflect the light; instead, it seemed to absorb and consume it. "The Stone of Havoc," Eric whispered, his hands trembling as he gripped it. He erupted into a manic laugh, "Ah! Ah! Ah! Finally, I have the power to kill a demon!" However, he soon realized a dark irony: he could not truly use the weapon's power unless he successfully summoned a demon of his own.
Victoria and Lucas traveled beyond the borders of Axel, entering the Kingdom of Valor. The people of Valor were legendary for their courage, strength of spirit, and unwavering bravery. They were a fearless society that faced every danger together as one, living in a land without rigid rules, yet governed by love and peace. In Valor, strangers were welcomed with open arms—especially those who arrived as a pair. Victoria was no longer a hunted bride; she was now seen as the bride of a demon.
As they walked, Lucas critiqued her posture. "If you walk like that, people will see you as a victim rather than my bride," he warned. "You must carry yourself as a noblewoman, while I remain your silent protector."
Upon their arrival, they were invited to meet the King of Valor. "Who are you, and what brings you to my kingdom?" the King questioned.
"My Lord," Victoria replied steadily, "we fled our home because my father refused to accept our union and tried to tear us apart."
Lucas was stunned by her words. He leaned in and whispered privately, "You have never accepted me as your husband, yet here you are, introducing me as such to the King?"
When Victoria spoke, the King leaned forward, his gaze searching for any hint of deception. "A father's heart can indeed be cold," he mused. "In Valor, we live by love and peace; we do not judge children for the sins of their fathers. If your bond is true, you shall find sanctuary here. But beware—this kingdom is built on truth. If your union is a lie, the very earth beneath you will sense it." Fortunately, their bond was no fabrication; they were tied by a blood contract for a year, a span of time in which much could change.
"Our bond is no lie, My Lord. It is forged in a way most could never comprehend," Victoria replied. Satisfied, the King nodded and welcomed them as guests of the palace. He then announced that a "Tournament of Spirit" would be held the following day—a mandatory rite for all men in Valor—giving Victoria's protector a chance to prove his worth.
Once they were shown to their quarters, Lucas turned to her with a knowing smile, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "The bride of a demon?" he teased. "That was quite a bold lie to tell a King who senses the truth."
"Who said it was a lie?" Victoria challenged.
Lucas looked genuinely shocked. "It wasn't?"
"Remember the blood contract," she reminded him. Even so, the reality of their situation felt like a strange, beautiful deception.
Famine-stricken from their journey, Victoria was relieved when the head maid arrived with a feast after they had bathed. Lucas, having never tasted human food, looked at the spread with intense curiosity. "What is this?" he asked.
"Food," Victoria said simply.
Lucas tried a strawberry, his eyes widening in delight. "Hmm!" he hummed, clearly enjoying the new sensation. When Victoria urged him to try the pancakes, he finished them with equal enthusiasm. After dinner, as Victoria prepared for bed, Lucas reminded her of his nature: "I cannot sleep. My kind has no need for it."
Meanwhile, back in the forbidden chambers of Axel, Eric stood before the **Stone of Havoc**. Following King Arthur's ancient instructions, he drew a circle of salt and placed iron upon it. As he stood on the metal and performed the ritual dance, the stone emitted a deafening, violent sound. Eric began to bleed from his nose, ears, and eyes, the pressure of the magic nearly crushing him.
"By the blood of betrayal, I call upon thee!" he cried, letting the blood from his face drip onto the artifact. The stone turned a deep, abyssal black and hovered in the air before falling back to its resting place.
However, Eric had overlooked a crucial detail in his great-grandfather's scrolls: the Stone of Havoc can only truly be brought to life—or used to kill—through the **Blood of a Keeper.**
Disappointed by the initial result, Eric realized the Stone required a more violent offering. That night, he summoned his most trusted confidant, Marcus, with a dark command: bring him a soul. Marcus obeyed, delivering a victim to the hidden chambers.
As the sacrifice was made, the very center of the stone erupted into a swirling, abyssal void. From the darkness emerged a demon—not of flesh, but of pure, ancient malice. It was **Den**, the Traitor Demon who had once served as Zancus's right hand before selling him out for King Arthur's empty promises. Den remained a flickering, incomplete shadow, yet he radiated a lethality that made the air in the room feel like poison.
"You called," Den hissed, his voice echoing against the stone walls like the scratching of claws.
"I have the Stone," Eric declared, gripping the artifact despite the cold. "And I want the Prince of Darkness and the girl."
The Traitor Demon tilted his hollow, shadowy head. "Lucas... so, the cub still breathes? He lives, but not for long." Den's form shifted, a dark grin spreading across the void of his face. "You want him dead, Eric? Very well. But a demon's service is never a gift. There is a price to be paid."
"Anything," Eric replied, his voice desperate and hollow. "Name your price."
"I want the head of a Queen," Den whispered.
Without a second of hesitation, Eric thought of Phina—the woman he had just crowned to solidify his power. To him, she was merely a tool that had outlived its usefulness.
"Take whoever you want," Eric sneered, his eyes cold and pitiless. "Just bring me Victoria."