Chapter 23: Who Killed the Demon Lord?

Xender sat on his newly constructed throne, the black marble seat gleaming under the dim glow of enchanted torches. The throne room, though still lacking the grandeur he envisioned, exuded an ominous presence befitting a dark lord.

Standing at his sides were Lilithar and Zephyra, the two elite demons who now served as his closest guards and advisors. Both stood rigid, their faces solemn as they awaited his command.

Xender leaned back, resting his chin on his hand, and smirked.

"Come on, girls. You don't have to act so tense around me. Relax. Be normal. You're not just soldiers anymore—you're my elite guards, my advisors, and my protectors."

The unexpected warmth in his words caught them off guard, and a faint smile crept onto their faces. For demons accustomed to cold orders and fear-driven obedience, Xender's approach was something new. Yet, it drew them in, forging a deeper bond.

Zephyra glanced at him, her icy dark eyes softening.

"Thank you, my lord. Your trust in us is... humbling."

Lilithar nodded, her crimson gaze flickering with a sense of pride. They both felt it—a connection growing between them and Xender, as if fate itself had chosen this path. Serving him didn't feel like an obligation anymore; it felt like destiny.

As the atmosphere in the room shifted, Xender leaned forward, his dark eyes glinting with mischief.

"You know, I wasn't always like this. Back in my world, I hated heroes. All that righteousness and justice nonsense—disgusting. I've always admired villains. Chaos, destruction, the freedom to take what you want… that's true power."

Lilithar tilted her head, intrigued.

"So, my lord, if you despise heroes so much, what's our next move?"

Xender's smirk widened.

"The heroes are probably leading an army to the ruins right now. They think they're heading to stop the demon lord's awakening. Too bad for them—they'll find nothing but empty halls and shadows." He leaned back, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.

"Let them waste their time. They don't even know this fortress exists… yet."

Zephyra hesitated before speaking, her voice cautious.

"What about this throne room, my lord? It's impressive, but you mentioned wanting more."

Xender chuckled, glancing around the room. "You're right. This place is far from worthy of me. I want gold, gems, and treasures to fill these halls. It needs to shine like the throne room of an emperor."

Lilithar frowned slightly.

"My lord, we don't have such riches. The demons have been in hiding for centuries. We lack resources."

Xender waved a hand dismissively.

"Then we'll take them. The human kingdoms are overflowing with gold, aren't they? Soon, this fortress will be a beacon of darkness, a place that screams power. One step at a time."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. A lesser demon burst into the room, falling to his knees before Xender. His body trembled as he spoke.

"My lord, a human army—about 7,000 strong—is marching toward the dungeon ruins!"

Xender leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he laughed.

"Let them. Those fools think they can save the world by stopping Draven, unaware that he's already gone. They don't know about this place, and by the time they do, it'll be far too late." He gestured dismissively.

"You're dismissed."

The demon bowed and scurried out of the room, leaving Xender to continue his discussion with his elite guards.

"My lord," Zephyra began, "you asked earlier about the dark forest. It's vast—larger than any human kingdom. Even we haven't explored its deepest parts."

Lilithar added, "There are rumors of demons hidden in those depths, ancient and powerful, waiting for the demon lord's return."

Xender's eyes lit up with interest.

"Pathetic. They've been hiding like cowards. But I suppose someone will have to bring them out of the shadows." He stood, a wicked smile spreading across his face.

"Imagine it—a legion of demons, an unstoppable force under my command. Together, we'll rewrite reality and turn this world upside down. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil."

As he spoke, a dark aura erupted from his body, filling the throne room with an oppressive energy. His long black coat billowed as if caught in a fierce wind, and the air around him seemed to hum with power.

Lilithar and Zephyra couldn't help but smile, their loyalty deepening with every word. They no longer feared him—they revered him. To them, Xender wasn't just a man or even a demon lord. He was the embodiment of true darkness, a force worthy of following into any battle.

"My lord," Zephyra said, her voice steady, "we will stand by your side until your dream becomes reality. No matter the cost."

Lilithar nodded.

"Your vision is our vision. Lead us, and we will make the world tremble."

Xender turned to them, his expression unreadable. Then, he grinned.

"Good. Now let's begin."

The massive army of knights, mages, and adventurers stood at the edge of the dungeon ruins, their weapons drawn and spells at the ready. But as they surveyed the ancient remains, an eerie silence hung in the air. The ruins were lifeless—no demons, no monsters, no sign of battle.

"What the hell is this?" Leo muttered, his voice breaking the tense quiet. He looked around, frustration and confusion evident on his face. The others were just as puzzled.

Max frowned, stepping forward cautiously. "This doesn't make sense. Where are the demons? This place should be crawling with them."

"Something's wrong," Mei said, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword.

"It feels... empty. Like something happened here, but it's been abandoned."

Princess Violet, standing behind the heroes, furrowed her brow. "Let's investigate further. If the demon lord has awakened, we need answers."

The heroes, along with the princess, ventured deeper into the ruins, leaving the army to stand guard outside. Inside, the air grew colder, and the walls were covered in ancient carvings depicting past battles between demons and humans. Dust and vines had overtaken much of the structure, but the oppressive atmosphere remained intact.

Finally, they reached the central chamber—the room where the demon lord had been sealed. It was a vast hall, dominated by a crumbling altar at its center. Surrounding the altar were broken chains and fading magical symbols, remnants of the ancient seal.

But what truly caught their attention were the bodies. Two headless corpses lay sprawled near the altar, their blood staining the cold stone floor.

Max froze, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene.

"What the...?"

Mei stepped closer, her gaze fixed on one of the bodies.

"Look at this one," she said, her voice trembling slightly. She pointed to the severed head lying nearby. The long, dark horns and flowing hair were unmistakable.

"This... this was Nyaxara."

Leo clenched his fists, scanning the room. "Who could've done this? She was one of the strongest elite demons. For her to die like this…"

"Not just her," Mei added, gesturing to the second body.

"Another elite. Whoever did this didn't just kill them—they made it look easy."

The heroes exchanged uneasy glances, their worst fears taking shape.

Max swallowed hard.

"Could it be the demon lord? Could he have already awakened… and killed them both?"

Silence fell over the group as the weight of the possibility sank in. If the demon lord had truly returned at full strength, their chances of survival were slim.

But before despair could fully take hold, Princess Violet stepped forward, her hands tracing the symbols etched into the altar. Her expression grew thoughtful as she closed her eyes, focusing on the lingering energy of the seal.

"Wait," she said, her voice steady but filled with intrigue.

"The seal... it's strange. It hasn't been broken."

"What?" Mia asked, her brows furrowing.

Violet nodded, her fingers brushing the surface of the altar. "The seal is intact. And more than that—I can sense the demon lord's presence inside. He hasn't awakened." She paused, her eyes widening slightly. "In fact… he's dead."

The heroes stared at her in stunned silence.

"Dead?" Leo repeated, his voice disbelieving.

Violet stood straight, her expression grim. "Yes. His body is lifeless within the seal. The demon lord Draven is no more."

Max shook his head, his confusion deepening.

"But if he's dead, then who…? Who killed Nyaxara and the other elite?"

"I don't know," Violet admitted, glancing uneasily at the bodies. "But someone—or something—powerful did this. And they didn't leave behind any clues."

Leo let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "This doesn't make sense. If the demon lord is gone, that's good news. But now we've got an even bigger problem. Who's strong enough to do this… and why?"

As they searched the chamber, another unsettling realization struck them. There was no sign of Xender. His body, which they assumed would have been left behind if he had been killed during the attack, was nowhere to be found.

"It doesn't add up," Max said, shaking his head. "Xender was weak. There's no way he could've done this."

"But where is he?" Mei asked, her voice quiet.

No one had an answer. The idea of Xender being involved was unthinkable—yet the mystery of his disappearance lingered in their minds.

With nothing left to investigate, the group made their way back to the surface, their spirits heavy with unanswered questions.

Outside, the army waited anxiously, their faces expectant as the heroes emerged.

Leo raised his hand to address them. "The demon lord is dead. But something else is out there—something dangerous. We need to return to Alderoth and prepare for whatever's coming."

The soldiers murmured among themselves, but they obeyed. The march back to the city began, with the weight of uncertainty pressing on everyone's shoulders.

As they moved through the dark forest, one thought haunted the heroes: if the demon lord wasn't the one they were meant to fight, then who—or what—was waiting for them in the shadows?