Her chest bore three or four long, deep gashes, like sharp claws had raked across her skin. The wounds were so deep that pale bone peeked through faintly. To make matters worse, the chains had dug inside the wounds, tearing at the flesh. The iron shackles were twisted deep within, clumps of torn flesh still clinging to them.
That wasn’t all. One arm had been completely severed, seemingly unable to withstand the tightening chains. The limbs were shredded, barely held together by stretched, torn muscles—a grotesque sight. The floor beneath was stained with a dark, sticky pool of blood, a grim testament to how much had spilled.
Given this, it was no wonder the demon had hesitated earlier. The chains had stopped moving—that meant the seed had successfully taken root. But the current state of Satan was nothing more than a ragged, tattered mess. It was hard to call him alive. Perhaps he had lost not just one life, but both.
The moment doubt turned into certainty, a shadow darkened Lucifer’s face. Though he had been worried all along, now that he faced the truth he had tried to ignore, his chest suddenly felt heavy. For some reason, an inexplicable burden weighed on him.
Lilith, who had been quietly watching Lucifer, finally spoke softly.
“Is he… still alive?”
“He’s alive, yes.”
Astaroth spat out the half-chewed tobacco and answered without hesitation. It wasn’t an ordinary conversation—these two demons, who usually clashed like fire and steel, were calmly exchanging words. But right now, that was overshadowed by a far greater shock.
Astaroth slowly smacked his lips and glanced sideways.
“So, what do we do now?”
That was the most pressing question in the current situation. Five pairs of eyes fixed on one spot. But Lucifer didn’t move; he just stared into the void.
“Lucifer?”
“……”
“Lucifer!”
“……”
No matter how many times they called, there was no response. Finally, anger flared in Astaroth’s eyes. His tousled hair bristled as he grimaced fiercely.
“This is ridiculous, isn’t it? Don’t you think so?”
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the tension.
“When we descended to the Hall Plain, the situation was in our favor. But now, it’s completely reversed. Isn’t it laughable how helpless we look? Huh? And what was Satan thinking to end up like that? What was he expecting?”
“Astaroth.”
Baal spoke up.
“I thought at least Lucifer knew his role well.”
But once the floodgates opened, the words poured out like a rushing stream.
“Then what’s with that reaction? Why does he look like he didn’t expect this?”
Watching Astaroth’s accusatory tone, Lilith’s anger began to rise as well.
“Enough. You were surprised the first time you saw it too, weren’t you? And Satan definitely told me, told us, that from now on…”
“All I heard was to follow Lucifer’s orders!”
Astaroth suddenly shouted. His furious voice echoed through the dark space.
“Isn’t this ridiculous? Fine, Satan said that. But Lucifer, who opposed continuing, is supposed to take over? Damn it, then why is he standing there like that?”
“Astaroth!”
Baal’s voice rose sharply. This time, Astaroth didn’t ignore him. He whipped his head around and glared with eyes burning black. Baal met his gaze with a fierce glare of his own, and tension skyrocketed instantly.
Then, in the next moment, sparks flew as Astaroth raised his right hand.
At that instant—
“Satan said this.”
A low voice cut in, breaking the standoff. Baal, Astaroth, and the other five pairs of eyes all turned toward the source. There stood Lucifer, his face calmer than before, looking at the two demons.
“Knowing is the first step to making a plan.”
The tension that had surged moments before instantly dissipated. Astaroth’s face remained stern, but he slowly lowered his hand. Lucifer’s voice sounded hollow and weary, yet remarkably composed.
In the now quiet room, Lucifer continued softly.
“If we can make a plan, we can create an opportunity.”
“Not just for us, but for the East, West, and South continents. And if possible, even greater power. We must use everything at our disposal.”
“If even one thing goes wrong, the opportunity will be lost.”
“The summoning plan for the Hell Duke was not a failure.”
Lucifer suddenly began scanning the room.
“On the contrary, I saw potential there.”
As he finished speaking, his gaze stopped sharply on one person.
“Astaroth.”
At the sound of his name, Astaroth flinched.
In the strange atmosphere that followed, Lucifer spoke again.
“Will you take it?”
“What?”
“I know what Satan was thinking. I will share the entire plan with you. If you don’t trust me to lead, I will entrust it to you.”
“……”
His voice was calm and peaceful.
Lucifer was not angry. On the contrary, he asked sincerely, without a trace of sarcasm. Because he understood Astaroth. Even the Great Demon King Satan had been reduced to this state—so it was natural to feel anxious and uneasy, no matter how great a demon one was. Lucifer himself had looked exactly like this right after the meeting.
Perhaps sensing that, Astaroth looked at Lucifer for a long moment before quietly turning his eyes away. Lilith let out a silent breath of relief.
“So… what now?”
Baal, having calmed himself, asked. As the second-in-command after Satan, his acknowledgment meant there was no need for further debate.
“Satan said this.”
The same words echoed again.
“There is only one chance left, and he will create it… or rather, try to create it.”
“Create it, try to create it.”
Though they sound similar, those two phrases carry very different meanings.
“When the seed failed to sprout, he said to withdraw without hesitation…”
Lucifer stared bitterly into the void, then suddenly his eyes flashed.
“…We will proceed.”
In that moment, Lucifer’s demeanor changed completely. His face remained calm, but his eyes suddenly blazed with a fierce light—almost like a madman’s.
“If creating the opportunity is Satan’s role, then seizing it is ours. And until that opportunity comes, each of us has a role to play.”
He emphasized the word ‘role.’ It was unfamiliar to demons who usually acted independently.
“I intend to act immediately to support Satan’s plan. But one thing is clear: if we cannot unite the power of our seven factions, this plan will fail without a doubt. From now on, not a single mistake can be allowed. Like finely meshed gears, if everything does not turn according to Satan’s will, it might be better to give up here.”
His long speech ended. Though lengthy, Lucifer’s meaning was simple: if you can’t trust and follow me, then let’s end this now.
It was an obvious statement, and none of the five demons who agreed to proceed said a word.
Silence is consent, after all.
After a long pause, Lucifer slowly nodded and spoke quietly.
“…Then, let us begin.”
That day.
For the first time in the history of the demon world, ruled by the law of the strong devouring the weak, the Great Demons joined hands.
For a single purpose.
From a mythological perspective, Ragnarok means ‘Twilight of the Gods’—the final battle fought by the gods in ancient mythic times.
But geographically, it refers to a kind of new continent that appears when traveling north from the Southern Continent, beyond the rugged mountain peaks and the ‘Orc Fortress’ that sits atop them.
About a week’s journey north from the Orc Fortress lies a vast grassland, and on its southern edge stands a massive city named Ragnarok, after the new continent itself.
Having stood for a long time, the city’s exterior bore the marks of age. Yet recent renovations gave it a more antique charm than a worn-down look.
Though it had yet to fully regain its former glory, the city streets buzzed with lively energy, bustling with countless people—a sign of thriving prosperity.
If the city had a famous landmark, everyone would agree on one: the ‘Blue Palace’ in the city center.
The Blue Palace was enormous and the epitome of luxury—the largest building in the city. Anyone passing by couldn’t help but be drawn to it, their hearts swelling with awe.
In truth, the palace’s faint blue glow came from a massive magical array embedded in the ground, but to the eye, it looked like a special stone radiating a gentle blue light.
On a balcony high up in the palace, a woman stood, gazing out over the city.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
There’s more to the story, but I have to leave early this morning at 6 a.m.
I had to cut off here to prepare quickly.
I ask for your understanding, and I will make up for the missing parts in the next chapter.
I’m sorry. (__)