The Demon Realm That Welcomes No One

Elena stepped into the Demon Realm—a land soaked in ancient blood and scorched by silent hatred. Every gaze from the demon clans she passed was filled with suspicion, contempt, and a thirst for war.

Yet she walked forward, unfazed.

Whispers spread like wildfire.

"A human? Here?"

"She must have a death wish..."

But she paid no mind. She had only one purpose.

"I request an audience with General Kaeros."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the grand hall. Demon soldiers tightened their grip on their weapons, eyes sharp with caution. But she stood firm, her cloak tattered from battle, her voice unwavering.

"I bring a proposal—marriage, in exchange for an alliance."

Chaos erupted immediately. Shouts, curses, and mocking laughter filled the chamber. Some called her insane, while others whispered anxiously to one another 

The mocking laughter and curses from the demon soldiers echoed throughout the grand chamber, as though Elena's proposal was nothing but a joke.

But suddenly—everything went silent in an instant.

A tremendous pressure enveloped the room, and the scent of blood filled the air. The temperature dropped so abruptly that it felt as if the world itself had stopped breathing.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the far end of the room... General Kerros appeared.

Taller than everyone else, his skin was a deep red, and his pitch-black eyes seemed to have no boundary. His expression remained neutral, but there was a dark, vengeful aura radiating from his gaze. He wore pitch-black armor, scratched from countless wars, and his presence made every soldier bow their heads involuntarily.

"You... are the human who dares to propose marriage to me?" Kerros's voice was deep, cold, and ominous.

Elena stared back, unflinching.

"Yes, I am not someone who sees everything through fear—I see it through reason."

Kerros raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise, but a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"You think 'marriage' will stop me from slaughtering humans?"

"Not to stop it... but to unite power," Elena answered calmly.

"Because the war that's coming is far too great for any race to survive alone."

Her words shook some of the generals' resolve, but it wasn't enough to make Kerros change his stance.

He stepped closer, pointing the tip of his pitch-black sword at her.

"I should slit your throat right now and send your head back to your people, to show them that no human should dare to pollute the Demon Realm again."

But instead of fearing him, Elena threw back her cloak, revealing an old scar across her chest—the scar from a battle years ago when she had saved a demon's life.

And then she spoke only one sentence...

"If I were truly an enemy... the demon named Nile would not have survived to this day."

The mocking laughter and curses from the demon soldiers echoed throughout the war room, as if Elena's proposal was nothing but a ridiculous joke.

But then, suddenly—everything fell silent in an instant.

A tremendous pressure enveloped the entire room. The scent of blood was thick in the air, and the atmosphere grew so cold it felt as though the world itself had stopped breathing.

Heavy footsteps sounded from the far end of the room... General Kerros appeared.

Taller than anyone else, his skin was a deep red-brown, and his eyes were completely black, without any expression, yet filled with an intense malice deep within. He wore pitch-black armor, scratched and scarred from countless wars. His mere presence forced the soldiers to bow their heads involuntarily.

"You... are the human who dares to ask for my hand in marriage?" Kerros's voice was deep, chilling, and cold.

Elena stared back without flinching. "Yes. I am not someone who sees everything through fear—I see with reason."

Kerros raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, but a mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Do you think 'marriage' will stop me from slaughtering humans?"

"Not to stop... but to unite our powers," Elena replied calmly. "Because the war that is coming is too great for any race to survive alone."

Her words caused a slight tremor in some of the generals' minds, but not enough to make Kerros change his stance.

He stepped closer and pointed the tip of his pitch-black sword at her. "I should slay you right now and send your head back to your people, so they know better than to dare contaminate the demon world again."

But instead of showing fear, Elena removed her cloak, revealing an old scar on her chest— a mark from the war when she saved a demon's life many years ago.

And she spoke only one sentence...

"If I were your enemy... the demon named Nile would not have survived to this day."

The room fell into a deeper silence. The mention of Nile caused a ripple of disbelief. Nile, a demon who was known for his strength, and yet, it was a human who had kept him alive?

This revelation struck Kerros like a thunderbolt. He paused, swallowing his words, his eyes narrowing.

Elena's words were starting to plant seeds of doubt in him. Could there be more to her than he originally thought?

Kerros chuckled softly but without much amusement. "You speak of Nile... But that doesn't change the fact that your kind is still weak."

Elena met his gaze unwaveringly. "Perhaps... But even the strongest have weaknesses, Kerros."

For the first time, Kerros hesitated. His mind raced, and a flicker of doubt began to seep in.

"I will not accept so easily... but you will know my answer soon enough," Kerros said, his voice still cold and heavy. He turned to his soldiers, signaling them to stand down.

The tension in the room was palpable. Although Kerros still refused to agree to Elena's request, the verbal confrontation had planted a seed of uncertainty in his mind. Elena's bravery and unwavering resolve were beginning to make him question his initial judgment.

Inside the great hall, now filled with icy tension, silence fell after Elena's final words. All eyes turned to General Kaeros, as if awaiting his ultimate command—"Kill" or "Spare."

But Kaeros remained still.

So still, it made everyone uneasy.

"Nile..." he repeated the name slowly, his gaze drifting downward, as if haunted by a memory—one he had long tried to bury, but that refused to be forgotten.

No one knew… that the demon named Nile was his half-brother—one he once hated… and had tried to kill with his own hands.

But that past ended… when a human risked her life to save Nile.

Kaeros looked at Elena again. This time, his eyes weren't as cold. There was a question in them now… and a glimmer of doubt.

"You think saving one demon... changes anything?"

Elena gave a faint smile.

"I never intended to change the hearts of all demons. I only hoped to change yours."

Her answer—bold, sharp, and full of a courage unlike any human Kaeros had ever encountered.

He was silent once more. Then, he slowly walked past her and sat upon the throne of cold iron in the center of the room. His voice rumbled through the chamber:

"I won't kill you... but I'm not accepting your proposal either."

"Prove to me that a human like you is worth the hand of the demon realm."

His voice echoed through the black stone walls like thunder.

And that... was the beginning of a blood-bound covenant.

Three days passed…

No words. No acceptance. Not even an explanation from General Keros.

Elena was held in a bare stone room, cold and dimly lit, given only dry bread for each day. No one approached. No one spoke. It was as if she were a foreign human, unseen and unwanted.

But she did not waver.

On the fourth day… the test began.

Elena was brought to a stone arena in the heart of the valley. At its center stood the "Mirror of the Mind" — a black mirror that reflected not one's appearance… but the wounds within.

"Face the part of yourself you've buried," said the demon overseeing the trial. "If you can endure without breaking, only then are you worthy of moving forward."

Elena stepped up to the mirror — and suddenly…

The screams of her past echoed in her ears:

Her mother's voice dying in a political ploy.

The friend who betrayed her to survive.

The people's voices cursing her for surrendering to avoid war.

Each image rose from the glass, revealing her bloodstained, tearful face, overwhelmed with guilt and grief.

Her knees buckled slightly—but she stood her ground.

She inhaled slowly… then whispered to her reflection:

"I haven't forgotten… and I won't let it be for nothing."

The images began to fade. The surface of the mirror returned to stillness.

The demons watching from the shadows began to murmur — some surprised, some shaken in their hatred.

General Keros, observing from a distance, clenched his fists.

For the first time, his cold eyes showed a flicker of something… uncertain.

"You passed the first test… human," he said lowly. "But the demon realm never accepts anyone so easily…"

"Prepare yourself — the hunt begins tomorrow."

And with that… the trial of surviving in the demon realm began.

Morning came...

The war horns of the demon realm echoed across the Blood Valley. Soldiers of various clans gathered at the Trial Grounds — a proving field where no human had ever returned alive.

Elena wore a thin leather outfit, barely protective, and held only a short dagger in her hand.

"Welcome to the 'Hunt of the Demon Lands,'" said the cold voice of a demon overseer. "Your objective is simple... survive until the next sunrise."

No map.

No food.

No allies.

And above all…

Nothing in this forest truly dies.

Awaiting her were mutated beasts, rogue demons, and creatures cursed with an eternal thirst for human blood.

Elena said nothing.

She simply took a short breath…

Then stepped into the darkness of the forest.

…

Nightfall came too quickly.

A chorus of howls rang from the dry, withered trees. Surrounding her were a pack of Crawalks — translucent-skinned demons that could see the fear in one's heart.

Elena plunged her dagger into the ground, drew a deep breath, and used her own blood to draw a protective sigil from ancient spells she'd studied as a child. A temporary magic barrier shimmered to life.

"Don't fear… Don't waver… If the heart trembles, they will know."

But the more she resisted…

The more the Crawalks twisted against nature's laws — crashing into the barrier, screaming in shrill, maddening tones.

The sigil began to crack.

The pressure gnawed at her sanity.

The scent of flesh began to thicken.

And just as their fangs nearly tore into her skin—

"ROAAAAR!!"

A thunderous roar shook the earth.

Something massive slammed into the ground between her and the Crawalks.

Something drove them away in a blink.

She slowly looked up…

And saw a tall figure in the shadows.

General Keroth stood there, his eyes still cold—

But something in his gaze had shifted.

"You survived because you were clever... not because of me," he said before turning his back.

And he left her with one warning—

"This isn't over... Tomorrow will be ten times worse."

Another dawn arrived...

Elena's body was scratched and bruised from the previous night, but she stood tall, proud that she had survived on her own.

But the trial was far from over...

The clang of iron bells echoed from the stone tower — the signal for "Night Two."

And this time... there was no warning.

No time to prepare.

"The Shadow of Death" — a special kind of demon — was released into the forest.

It made no sound. Had no scent. Moved faster than wind.

No barrier could stop it.

No shield could protect from it.

There were only two options: run or die.

...

Elena was hiding inside a hollowed-out tree trunk, struggling to keep her breathing shallow and quiet.

Step... step...

The nearly silent sound of footsteps crept closer.

Her heart pounded like thunder.

But just before "The Shadow of Death" could find her—

A strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking her out of the hollow in an instant.

She almost screamed — but a large hand covered her mouth, silencing her.

"Quiet..." Keroth whispered, his voice so low it was barely sound.

He pulled her into a crevice beneath a thick stone ledge, their bodies pressed tightly together in the narrow space.

In that silent, dim shelter...

Elena could feel his heartbeat.

Steady.

Unshaken.

But... just slightly faster than usual.

She glanced up—

And unintentionally met his eyes.

Those cold, piercing eyes... flickered for a split second.

...

The Shadow of Death slowly drifted past, never detecting them.

But inside the crevice... the real danger was no longer the demon outside.

It was something else—

Something beginning to stir inside them both.

Something... perhaps more dangerous than any demon.

…

The footsteps of the "Shadow of Death" gradually faded into the darkness.

But in the narrow crevice of stone, neither of them dared to move.

Elena's breath brushed against Keros' chest. She could feel the heat radiating from him—heat he clearly tried to hide, but was now seeping out undeniably.

She glanced up again, locking eyes with him.

"...Your heart's beating fast," she whispered—her tone playful, but her gaze carried something deeper.

Keros stiffened slightly. His cold expression returned—but it was too late...

She had already seen it: the faint blush blooming on the tips of his ears.

Elena smirked subtly.

He frowned.

"Do you think now's the time to joke?" he growled lowly, voice dangerously close to her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

But she didn't back away. Her gaze remained locked on his.

"I just wondered... if the infamous, heartless General Keros could be shaken this easily."

For a moment… his hand clenched tight.

"I only fear... fools who fear nothing," he replied slowly, his eyes now unreadable—admiring? Cautious? Conflicted?

Silence.

After a moment, he slowly moved out of the crevice, speaking coolly.

"Move. We need to relocate before it comes back."

But just as he took his first step, Elena spoke softly behind him.

"General Keros... if I die in this forest, I'll haunt you every night."

He froze.

Turned back to look at her.

And said in a low voice—

"…Then I'll make sure you don't die."

They ventured deeper into the forbidden part of the forest…

A place where even some demons dared not tread.

Rumor had it that "cursed spirits" wandered there.

But Keros chose this place as a temporary hideout—

To hide from the demons outside… and perhaps, from his own feelings.

Amid the cold air, crackling leaves, and heavy fog,

He built a crude fire for warmth.

Elena sat only a few inches away, her gaze locked on him like a predator.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he finally asked without turning to her.

She smiled slightly, her voice soft.

"Just thinking… even someone like you has a warm side."

She slowly leaned closer—calm but deliberate.

"Don't do that," he said firmly, though his eyes avoided hers.

"Do what?" she asked sweetly, her smile teasing.

"Getting that close… Don't you know it's dangerous?"

He turned to face her—his eyes cold, but something within them conflicted.

Elena tilted her head nearer, close enough to feel each other's breath.

"Or is it because I'm dangerous… that you're too afraid to run?"

Keros clenched his jaw.

"I've never feared any woman…"

"But I'm not just any woman," she whispered.

"I'm the one you want to know—but won't admit it, right?"

For a moment… the silence around the fire felt like it held its breath.

He grabbed her wrist tightly, his gaze flickering.

"If you know you're playing with fire… then be ready to burn."

She smiled—unshaken.

"Sometimes… fire won't burn us,

if it's the same fire that's already burning in your heart."

Keros went silent. Their eyes reflected the same flame between them.

Something exploded inside both their chests.

And suddenly—

A sharp, bone-chilling roar erupted from the north,

swallowing the moment whole.

"They're coming again…" Keros stood immediately.

But Elena held her gaze, her voice calm as she spoke one last line:

"You might be able to stop demons—

But you can't stop me…

especially not the heart you made beat like this."

...

The roar of a demon echoed from the north, carried by the wind.

But in Elena's mind, she heard nothing—

Nothing but the pounding rhythm of her own heart that hadn't yet calmed.

Kairos said nothing.

He stood with his back to her, eyes cold and focused on the dense forest ahead.

Elena slowly stepped closer.

Even though she knew she shouldn't—she couldn't stop herself.

"Why did you save me?"

Her voice was soft, as if afraid of the answer.

He didn't turn around,

but his fist tightened slightly.

"Because I didn't want to see you die... that's all."

She went quiet.

"What if it had been someone else?" she asked again. "If it wasn't me… would you have risked that much?"

This time, he turned to face her.

"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to."

...

His eyes now weren't as cold as before—

But full of conflict, confusion, and something he himself seemed afraid to admit.

Elena gave a small, unintentional, sad smile.

"You're the one person I shouldn't trust…"

She spoke, her voice starting to tremble.

"But you're also the only one I want to trust."

...

Silence again.

"Don't do this," he said softly. "Don't make me… falter."

"Could you handle it… if I told you I'm starting to really feel something for you?"

She asked it plainly, with more sincerity than ever before.

Kairos pressed his lips into a hard line.

"We're in a war… not a romance novel," he replied.

"I'm not someone you should love… and you're not someone I should protect."

...

But those words couldn't hide the softness in his eyes.

"If we make it out of here alive…" Elena whispered,

"I'll ask you that question again… and you're not allowed to run away."

He stayed silent.

Then gave a slow, slight nod.

...

Tonight isn't over yet

But something inside their hearts… will never be the same.

...

After Elena's almost-confession,

Silence fell upon the frigid night.

Kheros still stared at her, no longer looking away.

His eyes held a thousand answers he refused to speak.

But before she could say another word—

A shrill roar ripped through the sky—!

The ground trembled.

The air grew distorted.

Darkness swirled unnaturally fast.

"Run—!" Kheros shoved Elena away just as black flames slammed into the spot she'd just been standing on.

Amid the grey mist...

A new demon emerged.

It was bigger than any they had seen before.

Thick gray skin, eyes glowing crimson—

And…

A sigil—the same one Kheros bore—was branded on its forehead.

...

Elena froze.

"That…"

"It's Karanos, a demon born from the power of blood contracts," Kheros muttered through gritted teeth.

"And it... is my past."

She turned to him, eyes wide and shaken.

"…What?"

Kheros said nothing.

He stepped forward, slowly.

His back looked like it was walking straight into hell—to face a memory he once tried to bury.

"Go back and hide, Elena," he said without turning.

"This is a demon I let live… and I have to end it myself."

...

But Elena didn't move.

"No," she muttered.

"I just started to trust you… Don't leave me behind."

The demon roared again, shaking the forest as leaves rained down like ash.

The shadow of death crept closer with every heartbeat.

And in the center of that scene…

One man still couldn't escape his past.

And the other—was willing to stay, even if it meant dying together.

…

The demon stepped out of the shadows.

A tall, hulking figure—its grayish skin covered in scars, as if it had survived countless battles.

It stood still, cold and composed.

But the moment its crimson eyes locked with Kaeros's—

its lips moved.

"…Brother."

That voice—deep, low, and chilling, laced with frozen hatred.

Elena snapped her head around, eyes wide. "It… can speak?"

Kaeros didn't answer.

He simply stood there, his gaze hardened.

"…It only speaks to me," he said softly. "Because I'm the one who taught it how."

A faint, bitter laugh echoed from the demon.

"Do you remember who left me behind in that hell?"

…

Elena stepped closer, but Kaeros raised a hand to stop her.

"Don't come any closer."

His voice was colder than ever.

"This isn't your battle. This is my sin…"

"Asael," Kaeros finally said the name—

and his voice… trembled ever so slightly.

The demon smirked.

"At last… you say my name, brother."

"I never wanted to be a demon... but you chose to be 'human' instead."

…

Kaeros clenched his fists until his palms bled.

"I left you… to help you survive. You chose this path yourself."

The demon's shriek rose—raw, high-pitched, echoing from the depths of bitter anguish.

"You left me with humans who tortured me like a lab animal!"

"You escaped, and left me to die in that hell for years!"

The shadows behind it writhed.

The air dropped several degrees, as if hatred itself was freezing the ground.

…

Kaeros turned slowly to Elena.

"If you survive this… tell the others that I killed my own brother.

No one should ever have to face this monster again."

Elena shouted,

"No! You're just another soul who's hurting!

If I'm still standing here… I won't let you kill your own family just to stay alive!"

…

Just as she finished—

Asael's roar shattered the forest air,

and a wave of dark energy surged toward Kaeros at lightning speed.

In the midst of that black light—

a cold older brother,

and a cursed younger brother filled with hate,

faced each other on a battlefield where even breathing felt impossible 

…

Azazel's dark power surged toward Kaeros without mercy—

But in the fraction of a second before impact—

"Azazel!"

Elena's voice cut through the chaos.

She stood right in the middle—

Her small arms spread out, unprotected, eyes locked fearlessly onto the approaching demon.

Azazel froze.

The surge of darkness that could have destroyed everything—

Halted for just a moment, as if swallowed by the air itself.

He stood still, staring at Elena…

As though he'd just seen something—no, someone.

"…That gaze…"

His voice dropped to a whisper.

The blazing red in his eyes wavered.

Not with rage—but confusion.

Like a lost child recognizing the shadow of someone from a dream.

"Mother…"

The voice cracked.

"That's… Mother's eyes…"

Kaeros flinched, his heart pounding.

Elena blinked, stunned. Her voice trembled slightly.

"I'm not your mother… But if you still remember a gaze like that—

It means something inside you is still human."

Azazel clenched his teeth, rage rising again.

"Don't try to manipulate me!!"

His voice exploded, dark energy swirling around him once more—

But his eyes… were no longer steady.

…

Kaeros slowly reached out a hand.

His voice was low, but steady.

"If you can still remember our mother…

Then you're still my brother."

…

Azazel screamed, lifting his hand again—

But it trembled.

His eyes clenched shut.

His entire body tensed.

Then…

The darkness vanished into the wind.

…

The demon dropped to his knees,

like a lost child unsure whether to scream or sob.

His once-imposing back now shook—vulnerable, exposed.

"Why…" he whispered,

"Why… does someone still look at me like that…?"