Chapter 29: The Betrayal Within

Kuragami sat atop his Forgotten Throne, his piercing purple eyes scanning the vast, twisted landscape of the domain he had forged. Demonic flames flickered in the darkness, casting eerie shadows upon the thousands of warriors who knelt before him. His army had grown beyond expectation—ghouls, vampires, demons of all ranks, and even fallen angels who had renounced their celestial origins. Yet power did not guarantee loyalty.

As Kuragami's influence spread, whispers of doubt and treachery festered within the ranks. Some believed he had become too powerful, that his path led to something beyond demonhood—something unnatural. Others feared that his war against the gods would end in disaster, dooming them all. And among them, there were those who secretly sought to strike him down before his ascent became irreversible.

The Conspiracy

In the darkened halls of a ruined fortress, deep within the Forgotten World, a clandestine meeting took place. Ten figures stood in a circle, their faces obscured by shifting shadows. Among them were commanders who had once sworn allegiance to Kuragami, warriors who had fought beside him. Yet now, their voices were laced with hesitation and fear.

"We followed him because he promised us power," one of the traitors growled, his voice a venomous whisper. "But look at what he has become—something beyond gods and demons. He no longer belongs to any side. If we allow him to continue, he will consume everything… including us."

A vampire lord stepped forward, his crimson eyes gleaming. "We must act before he becomes truly unstoppable. The gods fear him, the demons do not understand him, and even Alexandra watches him with unease. If we strike now, we may yet seize control."

A silence settled over the group, then one of them—a demon emperor, a being of immeasurable power—spoke. "Betraying him is suicide. Have you forgotten how easily he crushed the strongest of Hell's beasts? Do you think mere deception will work against him?"

The vampire grinned, revealing elongated fangs. "We will not attack him directly. No, we will strike where he least expects—his trust, his belief in loyalty. We will break him from the inside, force him into despair. And when he is weakest, we will deliver the final blow."

The Battle of Shadows

The next morning, Kuragami stood atop a blood-soaked battlefield, his Forgotten Sword resting against his shoulder. He had wiped out an army of gods' followers with a mere flick of his blade, his strength growing with every battle.

But something was wrong.

As he turned to return to his domain, a surge of energy lashed out at him from behind. A spear—glowing with cursed magic—pierced through his side, sending a wave of burning pain through his body. He staggered, his golden blood staining the ground.

He turned, his glowing eyes locking onto the figures that had attacked him.

His own commanders.

The vampire lord. The demon emperor. The ghouls he had trusted.

"Why?" His voice was eerily calm, yet the ground beneath them trembled.

The vampire grinned. "Because you are no longer one of us, Kuragami. You are something else. Something unnatural."

Another strike came, a storm of spells and weapons aimed at his heart. But Kuragami did not flinch.

His eyes darkened. His aura exploded outward, a monstrous energy that drowned the battlefield in suffocating dread.

"You think betrayal will stop me?" His voice had changed, deeper, resonating with something ancient and malevolent.

His body healed instantly, the spear disintegrating into dust. He raised his hand, and the very air twisted in agony. The traitors screamed as their bodies were contorted, their souls ripped from their flesh and devoured by the darkness.

The ground cracked. The sky darkened. The Forgotten Throne appeared behind him, and as he sat upon it, the very essence of the world seemed to bow to him.

He gazed at the survivors—those who had hesitated to strike.

"You have two choices," he said, his voice cold. "Swear absolute loyalty… or be erased from existence."

Trembling, they fell to their knees.

And at that moment, Kuragami understood.

Trust was a weakness.

Love was a deception.

From this day forward, he would walk alone.