Keron: The Third Rakiel!

(Why are you here, Keron?)

Ryoko stood glaring at the man seated on the throne, her piercing eyes unwavering against his overwhelming presence.

The man radiated an aura so suffocating that it seemed to warp the very air around him.

A lesser person might have collapsed under its weight, but Ryoko's resolve held strong.

The silence was deafening, broken only when the man slowly rose from his throne.

A twisted grin carved its way across his face as he descended the steps and stood on the ground.

"Hello, humans,"

The man greeted, his deep voice echoing through the cavern.

His tone was smooth, almost friendly, but it carried an undeniable edge of malice.

Each step he took reverberated like the tolling of a bell, sending a ripple of unease through the group.

"I trust your journey here wasn't too difficult,"

He continued, his words dripping with mock politeness.

As he approached, his aura intensified, pressing down on Ryuu, Seichii, Shigeru, and the others like an invisible force.

Their breaths quickened, hearts hammering against their ribs as an icy chill settled over them.

Every instinct screamed at them to flee, but their bodies refused to move, paralyzed by fear.

Ryoko, however, stood firm, her posture unyielding.

The man stopped a few feet away, his grin widening as he looked them over.

"There's no need to be so tense,"

he said, spreading his arms in a mock display of benevolence.

"I didn't summon you here to harm you."

The group remained silent, their wariness clear in their expressions.

"On the contrary,"

The man added, his voice dropping slightly,

"I called you here to welcome you."

He turned slowly, gesturing toward the expanse behind him.

"Welcome to my kingdom. Welcome to the land of the undead."

As the words left his mouth, the ground began to tremble violently.

Deep cracks formed beneath their feet, spewing thick black fumes that filled the air with an acrid stench.

The once-clear sky above them darkened, replaced by a swirling mass of ominous red clouds that crackled with lightning.

"Welcome to... Asphodel Meadows."

The name hung in the air like a curse.

Behind the man, the massive obsidian throne cracked and shattered, releasing a geyser of molten lava that erupted into the sky.

The fiery glow bathed the man's figure, making his already fearsome presence even more terrifying.

Ryuu clenched his fists, struggling to steady his breathing as his mind raced.

(Asphodel Meadows? What is this place? I've never heard of it before... Is it even real?)

Shigeru thought as he stared at the mysterious man.

"W-who are you, and what do you want from us?"

Ryuu said, his voice was steady, though the tremor in his hands betrayed his unease.

The man tilted his head, a mock expression of surprise crossing his face.

"Ah, where are my manners?"

He said with exaggerated politeness.

He placed a hand over his heart and bowed theatrically.

"I am Keron, Lord of the Asphodel Meadows and the third Rakiel of the Demon King."

The revelation hit like a thunderclap.

(W-w-what? D-demon King? What is he talking about? Didn't the Demon king sacrificed himself in the,War 500 years ago?

Then who is this man talking about?)

Everyone's mind swirled with confusion.

(What does this mean? The Demon King's legacy? And what is a Rakiel...?)

Keron's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Ah, I see the questions in your eyes,"

He said, his tone almost mocking.

"Allow me to clarify. The title of Rakiel signifies my rank—an S-rank demon blessed directly by the Demon King."

"S-rank..." Shigeru whispered, his blood running cold.

(W-what, S-rank? That's why I couldn't sense his danger level! B-but this is bad! We need to get out of here as soon as possible and inform the Headquarters about it!)

Keron's eyes darted to Shigeru, and in a flash, he was standing directly behind him.

"Thinking of running, are we?"

Keron whispered, his voice chilling. He placed a hand on Shigeru's shoulder, and the older man froze, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.

"N-no,"

Shigeru stammered, his composure breaking under the weight of Keron's presence.

Keron smirked, releasing him.

"Good," he said, stepping back.

"I wouldn't want to give you the wrong impression. I didn't call you here to fight, after all."

"Then why did you call us here?"

Ryuu demanded, his voice trembling slightly but carrying a hint of defiance.

Keron's expression darkened, his playful demeanor fading as he fixed Ryuu with a piercing gaze.

"To warn you," he said simply.

"To warn us? What does that mean?"

Seichii asked keron,Keron turned to face the massive mountain that loomed over the landscape.

"This mountain," he began, a bright smile was on his face, "is about to shatter."

Everyone's face fell asleep they looked at him.

(HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WITH THAT SMILE ON YOUR FACE!)

All the other demons sighed as they looked at Keron.

But Keron's words hung in the air, each syllable laced with chilling finality.

The group stared at him in stunned silence, their minds racing to process the magnitude of what he had just said.

"The mountain is about to shatter? What are you saying? How do you know?"

Akiko asked as she went on ahead. Keron adjusted his gaze towards his mouth as he laughed.

"My job was just to tell you all about the irony that's coming, I'm not telling to anything other than that. He-he-he!"

Keron said grinning, Akiko clenched her fist but Shigeru hold her hand and calmed her down.

(What a jerk!)

"But why?" Meiko interrupted, her voice sharp and unwavering.

"Why would you warn us? You're a demon! What could you possibly gain from helping us?"

Keron's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of mild annoyance.

"Must everything I do have a reason?" he asked, his tone cold.

He stepped closer to Meiko, his towering figure casting a shadow over her.

"Perhaps I simply enjoy watching you squirm, knowing you're powerless to stop what's coming."

Keron looked straight into her eyes.

"Or,"

Keron continued, a smirk returning to his face,

"perhaps there's something even I fear."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of his words settling heavily over them.

"What are you saying?" Carol asked hesitantly, stepping closer to Meiko.

Keron's eyes flicked to Carol, and for a brief moment, his expression grew serious.

"What I'm saying, little one, is that you should prepare yourselves.

The collapse of this mountain will set events in motion that none of you can comprehend. Even I..."

He paused, his gaze distant for a moment.

"...Even I cannot predict what lies beyond."

The tension in the air grew thicker, pressing down on them like an invisible force.

"But..."

Ryuu's voice faltered as he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Keron, who stood motionless, staring at the distant mountain.

"I want to ask you a question..."

The air around him shimmered with heat, and his body was soaked with sweat.

"The town at the foot of the mountain... did you turn it into a hellscape?"

Ryuu's voice echoed in the heavy silence that followed.

Every demon present turned their gaze toward him, their eyes sharp and unreadable.

Ryuu's heart pounded in his chest as confusion swirled within him.

Psh!!!

Without warning, a wave of overwhelming energy surged through the air, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.

The sheer force of it left everyone frozen, stunned.

Keron slowly turned his head toward Ryuu, his eyes blazing with pure bloodlust.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the fabric of reality itself, burrowing deep into Ryuu's soul.

"Do you truly wish to know?"

Keron's voice was ice-cold, laced with an unfathomable menace.

His words carried a weight so powerful they seemed capable of shattering the earth beneath them.

Ryuu's body trembled uncontrollably.

(W-What is this tremendous power? Just a single word from him—was that enough to make the land tremble?)

Carol felt a chill run down her spine, her body shaking in response to the oppressive aura.

Rika and Meiko stood frozen, unable to react, their minds overwhelmed by the raw force radiating from Keron.

"WAAH, WAAH! -Hic!"

Suddenly, Zanu's soft cries broke the silence.

"P-Papa... Don't leave Zanu..."

Masumi turned to Zanu, her face softening as she cradle Zanu in her arms.

"It's okay, Za-chan," she said gently, pulling her into her arms.

But Zanu's cries seemed to agitate Keron. He turned toward her, his expression unreadable.

Without warning, he appeared in front of Masumi and Zanu, bending down to her level.

The group tensed, ready to spring into action, but Keron raised a hand to stop them.

"Relax," he said, his tone unusually soft.

He looked at Zanu with a strange expression—almost... tender?

"Ah, did I woke up the little princess?," he said, his voice a soothing contrast to his earlier menace.

"Don't be scared. Uncle Keron didn't mean to frighten you."

He reached out a hand, his movements slow and deliberate, as if trying not to startle her.

Zanu hesitated, her big eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but she didn't pull away.

"There," Keron said, ruffling her hair gently.

"See? No need to cry. Uncle's not so scary, is he?"

The group watched in stunned silence, unsure of what to make of the scene unfolding before them.

"Are you seriously playing the 'kind uncle' now?" Carol muttered under her breath, her arms crossed.

Keron shot her a sharp glance, his usual grin returning.

"And what if I am? Even demons have a soft side, you know," he said, his tone playful once again.

Before anyone could respond, Keron stood abruptly, his demeanor shifting back to one of authority.

"But enough of this," he said, turning his attention back to the group.

"It's getting late, and I'm sure you'll want to rest before the chaos begins."

With a snap of his fingers, the massive bat demon from earlier reappeared, landing gracefully beside him.

"Show our guests to their quarters," Keron commanded.

The bat demon bowed deeply before turning to the group.

"This way, please," it said in a deep, gravelly voice.

Reluctantly, the group followed, exchanging uneasy glances as they trailed behind the creature.

(What? Demons also lives in houses?)

Everyone's face fell at the thought.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at an old, decrepit mansion at the base of the mountain.

The building was in ruins—its windows shattered, the walls covered in cracks and overgrown vines.

Bats fluttered in and out of the broken roof, their shrill cries echoing through the air.

"This is where you will stay for the night," the bat demon announced, gesturing toward the mansion.

"You must be joking," Meiko said, her voice laced with disbelief.

"This place looks like it's about to collapse on top of us!"

The bat demon ignored her, flapping its wings as it prepared to take off.

"Rest well," it said simply before disappearing into the sky.

The group stood in silence, staring at the mansion with a mixture of dread and resignation.

"Well," Shigeru said finally, breaking the silence, "I guess we don't have much of a choice."

He stepped forward, pushing open the creaking front door.

Inside, the mansion was just as dilapidated as the outside. Dust and cobwebs covered every surface, and the air was thick with the smell of decay.

"This place is giving me the creeps," Rika muttered, sticking close to Akiko.

Suddenly, a basket appeared on the floor in front of them, seemingly out of nowhere.

They all jumped, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.

But when they looked closer, they saw that the basket was filled with ripe, colorful fruits.

A note was attached to the handle, written in elegant, flowing script.

"Enjoy," it read, signed with a flourish: "Keron."

The group stared at the basket warily, their instincts screaming that it was a trap.

But Zanu's soft voice broke the tension once again.

"Ma-chan, Zanu's hungry..."

Masumi's heart clenched at the sight of Zanu's tearful face.

"Ah, what the hell," Seichii said, stepping forward and grabbing a fruit from the basket.

"Seichii, wait!" Masumi called, but it was too late.

Seichii took a big bite, chewing thoughtfully before his face lit up.

"Wow, this is delicious!" he said, taking another bite.

"Masumi-san! These fruits are really ripe, I think Zanu will like them too!"

He took a fruit in his hand and went near Zanu, he feeded her the fruits and finally she stopped crying.

The others hesitated, but eventually, they followed his lead, each taking a fruit from the basket.

As they ate, the tension began to ease slightly, though the unease in the back of their minds never fully disappeared.

.

.

.

"It's slowly becoming interesting! He-he-he!"

In far, a mysterious dark figure covered with pure darkness laughed as the demonic smirk on his face became more brighter...