Chapter 8: Rise of the Dark Prince

Kuragami's breath was steady, his heartbeat slow despite the chaos surrounding him. The air was thick with the scent of blood and smoke, and the battlefield was illuminated by the clash of divine and demonic forces. But now, something had changed.

He had changed.

Power surged through his body, dark and unrelenting. The moment he had awakened from the Demon God's trial, he could feel it—something primal, something ancient had been unlocked within him.

His fingers twitched, still dripping with the blood of the creatures he had slaughtered in his trial. He looked up, his glowing red eyes locking onto the sky, where the gods and demons waged war.

And then, his gaze fell upon Zeus.

The God of Creation. The one who had arrived to "save" the gods.

Kuragami could feel his overwhelming aura pressing down on the battlefield like an invisible weight. Even Alexandra and his mother, the Goddess of Dragons, seemed to hesitate in the presence of such divine authority.

But Kuragami…?

He felt nothing but excitement.

A dark grin stretched across his face.

"This… this is the power I needed."

---

The Wrath of the Creator

Zeus hovered in the sky, his golden robe flowing as crackling divine energy circled around him. His eyes, glowing with an ancient light, scanned the battlefield before settling on Kuragami.

"So, this is the child of Rimuru…"

His deep voice echoed across the battlefield, sending a tremor through the land. Gods and demons alike momentarily ceased their fighting, turning their attention toward him.

Zeus raised his hand, and the clouds above split apart, revealing a massive golden spear made of pure divine energy. It radiated absolute destruction—the kind that could wipe out entire realms.

"You have defied the heavens, child." Zeus's voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of an unshakable law. "Your father, the Demon King Rimuru, was a mistake. A being that should never have existed. And now, you… another abomination."

Kuragami's black wings unfurled, their edges crackling with dark energy. His fingers twitched with anticipation, the power within him begging to be unleashed.

"A mistake?" Kuragami chuckled darkly, stepping forward. "You talk a lot for someone who's about to be torn apart."

The battlefield fell silent.

Even the gods hesitated at Kuragami's words.

Zeus's expression didn't change. Instead, he sighed. "Very well."

With a flick of his wrist, he sent the golden spear hurtling toward Kuragami.

The air around it shattered as it traveled, creating a deafening roar. The sheer pressure of the attack alone was enough to force demons and gods alike to retreat in terror.

But Kuragami…?

He didn't move.

The moment before the spear could pierce him, he lifted a single hand.

BOOM!

The impact shook the entire battlefield. The ground cracked, mountains in the distance split in half, and the sky itself seemed to shatter like glass. A storm of golden and black energy erupted from the collision, blinding everyone in its path.

But when the dust settled…

Kuragami stood there, unharmed.

His fingers gripped the golden spear, completely stopping its momentum.

A slow smirk played on his lips. "Is that all?"

---

The Awakening of a Monster

A collective gasp rippled through the battlefield. Gods who had once stood confidently staggered back, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"He… stopped Zeus's attack?" one of the celestial warriors whispered in shock.

The demons, on the other hand, grinned.

"The prince… he's a monster."

Even Alexandra, who had been watching from afar while clashing with Thor, couldn't help but let out a breathless chuckle.

"You really are your father's son."

Zeus's expression finally changed. His calm demeanor cracked, his brows furrowing as his divine aura surged.

"Impossible." His voice was no longer tranquil—it carried a sharp edge of disbelief. "No mortal, no demon, no god should be able to—"

Before he could finish, Kuragami moved.

Faster than anyone could react.

One moment he was standing still, and the next—

BOOM!

Zeus flew backward, his body crashing through the sky, shattering clouds and ripping apart divine barriers in his path.

Kuragami had punched him.

A single strike, filled with dark energy, had sent the God of Creation soaring across the battlefield like a shooting star.

A hush fell over the battlefield.

Kuragami clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins. His wings flapped once, sending out a shockwave of darkness.

"This is only the beginning." His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable madness in his tone.

Zeus reappeared in an instant, his golden armor cracked, his divine aura fluctuating. His eyes blazed with fury.

"You… you dare?!"

Lightning rained down from the heavens, engulfing the entire battlefield in divine destruction.

But Kuragami… laughed.

And then, his red eyes flashed.

With a single motion, he absorbed the divine lightning into his body.

The energy that should have incinerated him became his own.

Zeus's rage turned into something far worse.

Fear.

"This… this isn't possible…" he muttered.

Kuragami extended his arm, his fingers wrapping around the hilt of the black sword that had appeared in his grasp.

The Sword of the Demon King Rimuru.

Its blade pulsed with ancient energy.

"Your era is over, Zeus," Kuragami said, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "I will rewrite the rules of this world."

And with that, he charged.

---

To Be Continued…