Leon awoke, drifting in a void with no gravity. Around him, there was only darkness—no living creatures, no objects, just endless emptiness.
"Finally, you awaken... young demon."
The voice sent chills down Leon's spine. From the darkness, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared, followed by two horns—one of them cracked—and a body cloaked in swirling black smoke.
Gradually, the smoke formed into the shape of a demon, cloaked in a robe made from the still-squirming hide of a dragon.
"At last... after thousands of years... I've found you."
Leon tried to scream, but his mouth wouldn't move.
"You must be confused," the demon continued, slowly approaching him.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Satan—one of the ancient Demon Kings and an ancestor of the demon race."
"Sa...tan?" Leon tried to back away, but his body wouldn't move.
The demon drew closer, placing a hand on Leon's chest—right where he had been stabbed.
"They killed you once. Do you want to die again?"
FLASHBACK
A human sword pierced Leon's chest...
He was mocked by demon soldiers before the battle...
Then, a faint smile as he embraced his death...
FLASHBACK ENDS
"I... have no choice."
Satan laughed, his voice shaking the entire space.
The dream ended. Leon woke up gasping and clutched his chest, now fully healed.
"Where am I?"
Creak...
The door creaked open. Leon instinctively prepared to attack.
"A-Ahh!"
Startled by Leon's sudden movement, the person at the door tripped and fainted.
Panicked, Leon realized it wasn't an enemy—but a woman with dark bluish-black hair and violet eyes.
He carefully carried her to the bed.
Two hours later.
The woman regained consciousness.
"I'm sorry, miss. I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's fine. You did nothing wrong."
"If I may ask... where am I?"
"You're at the Belphegor family estate."
"The Belphegor estate? But how did I get here?"
"My brother rescued you from the battlefield."
"Nice to meet you. My name is Sylvaine Belphegor."
"Belphegor...?"
Upon hearing that name, Leon immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.
"My deepest apologies, Your Highness! Forgive my insolence!"
"Ah, enough of that!"
"Get up! Our family doesn't like excessive formality."
Leon slowly lifted his head.
Tok! Tok!
"My sister," a deep voice came from behind the door,
"I heard our guest is awake?"
"Come in, brother!" Sylvaine replied.
The door opened.
Standing tall at 2.5 meters, with one torn wing and a broken horn, was the Demon King Zephyr, wearing a warm smile.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Leon trembled. "My name is Leon Astaroth, Your Majesty... a low-class demon from the city ruled by the Beelzebub family."
"I apologize... someone like me shouldn't be in a noble estate like this."
"And why not?" Zephyr laughed.
"As long as you have power, your class doesn't matter."
"I'm intrigued by you, Leon. It's rare to see such a strong aura in a low-class demon."
"Stay here. Become a commander of my army."
Leon was shocked by the king's offer.
"If this is how I can repay Your Majesty's kindness... then I accept."
Zephyr smiled. "Sylvaine, help Leon get familiar with the estate."
"Yes, brother!"
Sylvaine then gave Leon a tour of the estate: starting with the library filled with ancient books, followed by the beast stables, and finally, the garden.
"And this—"
**BAM!**
Something slammed into Leon from the side.
"Uwah! Ow!"
=== END OF CHAPTER 2 ===