Northern Path – Frozen Fields
The road stretched endlessly beneath a pale gray sky, snow spiraling in lazy, wind-driven flurries across the withered grasslands. Each breath hung frozen in the air, and even through fur-lined cloaks, the cold crept in like fingers of dread.
Five figures pressed forward, undeterred. Before them, the horizon sharpened into jagged peaks—mountains like dragon's teeth, piercing the heavens.
This was the road to the Frozen Abyss, the rumored throne of Lucifer, the Demon King.
> Bjorn (grumbling):
"Can we talk about how ridiculously cold it is?"
> Seraphina (smiling faintly, breath misting):
"We're only at the edge. Wait until we reach the Abyss itself."
> Silas (deadpan):
"Maybe the demons are just trying to freeze us before we fight."
> Rael (quietly, eyes fixed ahead):
"No. This cold isn't natural. It's fear… leaking from what lies ahead."
The group fell into a silence more chilling than the wind. Even Roric, normally the first to speak when silence stretched too long, said nothing. His golden hair, tied back in a warrior's braid, whipped in the breeze. His eyes stayed forward, his grip tight on the hilt of his sword.
They marched on.
---
Smoke on the Horizon – A Village in Peril
Just before dusk, Roric raised a clenched fist from the front of the group. The others halted instantly, instincts sharpened.
Far ahead, beyond the white hills, a black column of smoke rose into the sky—thick, acrid, unnatural. Flames licked the heavens. And then… a sound.
Screams.
Distant but unmistakable.
> Rael (grimly):
"That's not wildfire."
No hesitation.
They ran.
---
Charred Hope – The Village of Elwynd
The first thing they saw was fire.
Thatched rooftops were ablaze, smoke curling through the shattered windows of once-humble cottages. Snow melted beneath the flames, forming rivers of ash. The stench of burning wood and flesh choked the air.
Crimson runes glowed across the ground—twisted demonic symbols carved with precision and blood. At the center of the square, a dark ritual circle pulsed ominously, its core filled with writhing black mist.
Terrified villagers—men, women, and children—were being herded toward the circle by a pack of skeletal demons, their spines exposed and faces locked in grotesque grins.
And then…
> Envy.
The Demon General stood calmly amidst the chaos, clad in robes of black and viridian, elegant yet sinister. His pale, porcelain-like skin shimmered faintly against the glow of the portal, and emerald eyes gleamed with cruel intelligence.
His expression was serene.
But his presence was wrong. Too still. Too perfect.
> Envy (murmuring to himself):
"Yes… just a few more. Then the gateway will open. And He will speak…"
A demon soldier dragged a sobbing child across the snow, toward the center of the ritual.
Rael's fist clenched.
> Rael (voice like steel):
"Not today."
---
The Heroes Strike
Rael moved first—silver flame erupting from his sword as he launched forward, cloaked in streaks of burning light. He landed between the portal and the child, blade flashing once.
A demon's head hit the ground.
> Rael:
"Get the villagers out. Leave the rest to us."
> Bjorn (grinning):
"Finally! Real action!"
Bjorn charged with thunderous steps, hammer raised. It crashed into the frozen earth with a sound like breaking stone, pulverizing two demons in a single blow.
Seraphina raised her staff, golden light bursting from her fingertips. Shields shimmered into place around fleeing villagers, while healing magic closed their wounds mid-flight.
> Seraphina (to the villagers):
"Run! Follow the light!"
Silas melted into the shadows. He reappeared behind a demon captain, blades slicing silently across its throat before vanishing once more, nothing left but a spurt of black ichor in the snow.
Roric moved with cold precision. His blade danced like firelight—no wasted movement, only perfect slashes that left corpses in his wake. But even as he fought beside them, his eyes flicked once—just once—toward Rael, narrowing with something unspoken.
Rivalry. Jealousy.
And yet… admiration.
---
A Sin Unveiled – Envy Speaks
Envy's eyes finally opened wide—not in fear, but recognition.
He stepped forward through the chaos, hands still clasped behind his back like a nobleman observing peasants. His eyes locked onto Rael.
> Envy (smiling, voice smooth):
"I see you at last. The Goldenblooded. The obstacle in our Demon King Lucifer grand design."
Rael raised his sword, golden fire coiling up its edge like smoke.
> Rael:
"You talk too much."