Chapter 102: Demon city
Noah Alaric stood at the gates of **Draegoth**, the Demon City, a place whispered about in hushed tones across the land. It was a city that thrived in shadows, built on the bones of a war long forgotten by most. Its towering obsidian walls rose high above him, stretching into the blood-red sky. The air here was thick with power, and as Noah stepped across the threshold, he could feel the weight of centuries pressing down upon him. This was where his true nature belonged. Not among humans, not among wolves, but here, among demons.
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Draegoth was not just a city; it was an empire in its own right, the last bastion of demonkind. Its history was as old as the earth itself, predating even the earliest records of humanity. The city was founded centuries ago during the **Crimson War**, a brutal conflict between the demons and the angelic forces that sought to purge them from the world. In that war, the demons fought fiercely but were pushed to the brink of extinction. However, instead of vanishing as the angels had hoped, the demons retreated into the shadows, forming hidden cities like Draegoth. Over time, they rebuilt their power, becoming a force that humanity had learned to fear, though many still believed them to be a myth.
The city itself was built into the side of an ancient volcanic mountain, with rivers of lava flowing through its streets. Massive black stone spires rose from the center, housing the **Demon Lords**—beings of unimaginable power. Draegoth was a city where strength was revered above all, and the law of might governed every aspect of life. No demon here cared for petty politics or the weaklings of other races. Only strength, both in physical prowess and magical ability, mattered.
Its inhabitants were demons of all kinds—some born from the very heart of the earth, others from the void between worlds, and still others of bloodlines long forgotten. Among them were the **Incubi**, the **Succubi**, the **Hellspawn**, and the **Demon Lords**, each class of demon with its own terrifying powers and abilities.
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Noah had traveled far from the city of humans, away from the prying eyes of the academy, and had come to Draegoth not just to escape but because he had finally come to terms with something darker, more primal about himself. His bloodline, his cursed heritage, his very being—everything about him screamed **demon**, though he had hidden it under the guise of humanity for so long. Among the humans, he had always felt like an outsider, an anomaly. But here, in the demon city, Noah felt a stirring within him, a sense of belonging he had never known.
His nature, though born of humanity, aligned more closely with the demons. The darkness in his soul, the abyss that whispered to him, the blood of his ancestors that flowed within him—it was all drawn from the same source that had once birthed the demons. This city, with its blackened skies and its ruthless, unforgiving laws, was where he felt he could truly be himself. There would be no more hiding, no more pretending. Here, he could grow stronger without fear of being hunted.
He had come to Draegoth to **regroup**, to use the wealth he had accumulated to establish a foothold, and to unlock more of the power that lay dormant within him. The city offered a sanctuary, but it also offered a crucible, a place where Noah could forge his strength.
But despite the power he had gained during his escape from the academy, Noah knew he had not yet fully reached his potential. His **level 15** remained stagnant, even after all the bloodshed. As he had fled from the academy, no level-ups had been granted to him. It was frustrating, even more so when he had expected his brutal victory over Darius and his escape to trigger a surge of power. But instead, he had felt something else—a deep, unsettling void within himself that told him there was still more to uncover.
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Demons were beings of immense power, born of the raw energies of the world itself. Their origins were steeped in mystery, but legends told that they had once been the rulers of the earth, reigning over mortals and even the gods themselves. The gods, in their infinite wisdom, had feared the demons' might and sought to cast them down.
It was then that the **Crimson War** had begun, a war between the demon lords and the gods, which had raged for millennia. The demons were driven back, scattered across the realms, their numbers dwindling to mere shadows of their former selves. Many believed the demons to be extinct, lost to time, but they had always been hiding, waiting for the perfect moment to rise once again.
Their power was vast, their classes varied, and each demon bore a unique set of abilities drawn from their infernal heritage. Some were **Sorcerers**, able to control the very elements with a flick of their fingers, while others were **Warlocks**, using dark rites to summon legions of horrors from the underworld. **Incubi and Succubi** were masters of seduction, manipulating the will of others through their charms, while **Hellspawn** were the brute-force warriors, able to crush their enemies with overwhelming strength and ferocity.
But the true danger of the demons lay in the **Demon Lords**, beings of godlike power who could shape reality itself. They were the rulers of Draegoth, and under their rule, the city had thrived. To become a Demon Lord was the ultimate aspiration for any demon. It was a title born not only from strength but from the ability to control vast swaths of reality and bend it to one's will.
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Noah's immediate plan was simple: **settle down** and **regroup**. He had amassed wealth during his time at the academy, both from his own endeavors and from the fall of the Avaros Clan. The spoils of war had been plentiful, and he had enough gold and resources to live comfortably in Draegoth for years to come.
But beyond comfort, Noah knew the city offered something more: the opportunity to **learn**. There was power in Draegoth that he could not begin to comprehend, and he would spend his time studying the ancient magic of the demons, learning their ways. He would **train** and grow stronger, and when the time was right, he would rise above even the demon lords themselves.
Draegoth, despite its dark allure, would be a safe haven—for now. He would remain in the shadows, gathering his strength, waiting for the moment when he could strike and claim his rightful place among the gods. But even as he plotted his ascent, a gnawing feeling lingered. The demons were not the only ones who would come for him. Humans, too, would seek him out. His escape from the academy had not gone unnoticed, and **Darius**—wounded but alive—would be the one to spread the word of his existence.
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Darius staggered through the academy's healing chambers, his body still wracked with pain from Noah's strike. The wound across his chest was deep, and his once-pristine clothing was soaked with blood. But his mind was focused, his resolve unwavering. Noah Alaric had done this to him—this monster, this abomination. Darius had thought him a mere child, a threat to be neutralized. But the truth had become clear. Noah was no child. He was something far worse. Darius knew, the world would never be the same.
Darius, despite his injuries, knew his duty. He was a **Level 30 professor** at one of the most prestigious academies in the world, and now it was his responsibility to make sure Noah Alaric was stopped. But there was more at stake than just Noah's life. If Noah were allowed to live, then the world would face an existential threat—a species thought to be extinct, a being whose mere existence could bring the end of humanity.
Noah Alaric was a Vampire , a being of unimaginable power, and if left unchecked, humanity would perish beneath the weight of his rise. He had felt it, that power, that primal darkness. If the world didn't act now, it would be too late.
Darius sent the message to the other **World Councils**, detailing Noah's true nature, his level, and the class he had unlocked. The demons were stirring, and the time for action was now.
The hunt had begun.
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As Noah settled into Draegoth, he could not shake the feeling that the hunt had already begun. The world was closing in on him, and it was only a matter of time before humanity's powerhouses began to look for him. He would be hunted, not just by the demons but by humans who believed themselves to be the world's heroes. But Noah Alaric was not about to go down without a fight. He had risen once, and he would rise again.
The storm had only just begun.