Claiming the Throne of the Demon King

Just a few meters away from the towering walls of Slavara, Ruya, Kajin, and Cracknut stood hidden behind a large tree. The city loomed ahead, its imposing structure casting long shadows in the fading light. Kajin's expression was firm, his eyes focused as he spoke. "Now that we're here, it's time to put the plan into action," he said, his voice steady and filled with determination.

Ruya nodded but then hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "What was the plan again? I remember the first part, but the rest..." he trailed off, stretching his neck and looking away with an innocent expression.

Kajin and Cracknut both stared at him, their faces a mix of annoyance and disbelief. Cracknut, perched on Ruya's shoulder, bit his ear sharply, causing Ruya to yelp in pain. Kajin sighed deeply, a mix of frustration and resignation on his face. "Okay... I'm going to explain this one last time," he said, his tone firm but patient.

"As I said before, trying to enter the city directly or sneaking in won't work. Faking our identities? Forget it. We'd be caught immediately, and that would be the end of us," Kajin explained, his voice low but urgent. "The city is heavily guarded, with every corner monitored and defended. Except..." He paused, pointing a finger at Ruya, who blinked in confusion. Cracknut tilted his head, equally curious.

"The canals under Slavara," Kajin continued. "They're a massive underground network of tunnels that can lead you anywhere in the city. The problem is, they're considered naturally defended because of the monsters that live there. These monsters are called «Black Jumpers»."

Ruya's eyes widened slightly, and Cracknut's fur bristled as Kajin went on. "Black Jumpers are monkey-like creatures with thick black fur. They cling to the walls of the canals, and if an intruder enters their territory, they attack without mercy, using their long claws to tear their victims apart."

Ruya and Cracknut exchanged a glance, their faces pale as the gravity of the situation sank in. Kajin pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head in disbelief. "Don't be scared," he said, his voice firm. "If you go in thinking you'll die, you will. But if you stay focused, we can pull this off."

Ruya gulped audibly, and Cracknut let out a small, nervous chirp. Kajin rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "There's no room for fear here," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned and walked toward a small, deep hole in the ground, barely visible in the dim light.

"Are we ready?" Kajin asked, glancing back at them.

Ruya stepped closer, peering into the hole. "Umm... isn't this hole too small for us?" he asked, his voice tinged with doubt.

Kajin looked at the hole again, tilting his head slightly. "Hm... maybe you're right," he muttered, though his expression quickly shifted to one of resolve. He turned back to Ruya and Cracknut, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm going in," he declared.

Ruya's eyes widened in panic. "K-Kajin, wait! What?!" he stammered, but it was too late. Kajin leaped into the hole without hesitation, disappearing into the darkness. Cracknut, after a moment's pause, followed suit, leaving Ruya standing alone.

"Why do you guys always do this...?" Ruya muttered under his breath, his heart racing. After a moment of hesitation, he took a deep breath and jumped into the hole after them, his nervous mutterings swallowed by the darkness.

Kajin finally landed on the ground with a soft thud, the impact sending a faint echo through the dark, silent space. Slowly rising to his feet, he glanced around, his eyes struggling to pierce the thick darkness. Raising his index finger, he ignited a small flame, the fire casting a faint, flickering light that barely illuminated the area.

"Just as I expected," Kajin muttered to himself, his voice low. "This place is dead silent. And judging by how little light my fire gives off, the darkness here is incredibly dense."

As he surveyed the surroundings, Cracknut landed gracefully on his shoulder from above, his tiny claws gripping Kajin's shirt. "Cracknut," Kajin said, acknowledging the small creature. Cracknut grinned up at him, his beady eyes reflecting the faint glow of the flame.

"Now that you're here..." Kajin began, but before he could finish, Ruya came crashing down from above, landing directly on top of them. The three collapsed in a heap, Kajin's flame extinguishing as they hit the ground.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, Ruya slowly pushed himself up, groaning softly. "Ah... How long was I falling?" he mumbled, rubbing his head. He glanced around, squinting into the darkness. "Wow... This place is really dark," he said, his voice tinged with awe and unease. "Wait... Where are the others?"

Before he could process what had happened, the ground beneath him began to tremble slightly. Ruya's eyes widened in panic. "W-what's happening?!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the cavernous space.

"You little... Get off me..." Kajin's voice came from beneath him, strained and barely audible. Ruya froze, realization dawning on him as he looked down to see Kajin flattened beneath him. His face flushed with embarrassment and guilt. "Oh no..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"I SAID GET OFF ME!" Kajin roared, his voice filled with rage.

"O-oh! Sorry!" Ruya scrambled to his feet, quickly stepping away from Kajin. As Kajin slowly got up, brushing himself off, Ruya rushed over to help him. "H-hey, are you alr—" he started, but before he could finish, Kajin's fist connected with Ruya's face, sending him sprawling into the darkness.

Kajin dusted off his clothes, his expression calm but clearly annoyed. He reignited the flame on his finger and looked down to see Cracknut flattened on the ground, his tiny body slightly squished. Kajin sighed, leaning down to pick up the small creature and placing him back on his shoulder. "Ah..." he exhaled, shaking his head.

Turning around, Kajin walked over to Ruya, who was now lying upside down against the wall, his left cheek red and swollen from the punch. "Get up," Kajin said, his tone sharp and impatient.

Ruya remained motionless, his eyes closed as if pretending to be unconscious. Kajin sighed again, crossing his arms. "I guess you want to be food for the monsters," he said dryly, turning and walking toward the canals.

Ruya's eyes shot open, and he scrambled to his feet, rushing to catch up with Kajin. "Ah... It hurts..." he muttered, rubbing his cheek as he fell into step beside Kajin.

~~~

Fiona walked silently through the grand hall of the Royal Castle, her footsteps echoing faintly against the polished marble floor. The light streaming through the tall windows illuminated her hair, fangs, and armor, casting a soft glow on her figure. Her expression was serious, her piercing blue eyes fixed straight ahead as she moved with purpose. After a while, she stepped out of the castle and into the expansive royal garden. The setting sun bathed the garden in a golden hue, highlighting the vibrant purple roses, multi-colored flowers, and neatly trimmed bushes. The air was filled with the faint scent of blooming flowers, creating a serene yet somber atmosphere.

Fiona made her way toward a figure standing amidst the garden, his back turned to her. He held a single red flower delicately in his hand, his posture relaxed yet commanding. As she approached, Fiona straightened her posture and cleared her throat softly. "Captain Francis," she called, her voice calm but firm.

The figure turned, revealing a man dressed in a long, double-breasted gray trench coat adorned with black buttons. A black belt cinched his waist, and his attire was completed with black gloves and boots. A red cape draped over his left shoulder, partially covered in red feathers at the top. His sharp, well-defined features were accentuated by his pale skin and vibrant red hair, which was tousled and slightly messy. His light blue eyes met Fiona's, and his thin lips curved into a slight smile.

"Ah, Fiona," Francis said, his voice smooth and charming. "It's been a while." His tone was calm, almost playful, as he regarded her.

Fiona offered a small, polite smile in return. "Yes, Captain Francis, it has been quite some time since our last meeting," she replied, her voice steady but carrying a hint of formality. "Ever since the first time I saw Francis, he's always given me the creeps. He might appear like a gentleman on the outside, but there's something about him, a mix of elegance, danger, and charm that's hard to ignore," she thought.

"I assume the king's orders have reached you," Fiona said, her gaze steady as she studied him.

Francis sighed softly, turning his attention back to the flower in his hand. He brought it to his nose, inhaling its scent before responding. "Yes, I received the orders from His Majesty," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But don't you think he's being... a bit too concerned about this? Perhaps even... overly cautious?" He turned his sharp gaze back to Fiona, his expression unreadable.

Fiona's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you questioning His Majesty's decisions?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

"No, no, of course not," Francis replied, raising a hand in a placating gesture. "I would never dare. It's just... does this Kajin really warrant almost our entire focus?" He paused, waiting for Fiona's response.

Fiona remained silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. "I'm sorry, Francis, but that's not for me to decide. What the king commands, we obey. I have no authority to question his decisions," she said, her tone cold and resolute.

Francis studied her for a moment before turning his gaze away, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Hmph, just as I expected," he said, letting his hand with the red flower fall down. Fiona watched it drift to the ground, her eyes following his every move, her guard still up.

"Fiona," Francis began, his tone shifting slightly. "You're a strong demon. Your beauty is radiant, and your swordsmanship is unmatched. But..." He paused, and Fiona's eyes widened slightly, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "You're worse than a slave when Darius is around you," he declared, his voice quiet but laced with a playful edge.

Fiona's eyes hardened, her anger flaring. "You have no right to speak to me like that, Francis!" she snapped, her voice sharp and commanding. Her hand instinctively moved to the hilt of her sword. "If you dare utter another word about me, I'll happily end you right here, right now," she warned, her tone icy.

Francis remained silent for a moment, then smirked. "Okay," he said simply. "I apologize for my harsh, yet truthful words... Vice Royal Knight Commander." He took a step closer to her, his presence looming. Fiona's grip tightened on her sword, her gaze locked onto his.

Now inches away from her, Francis looked down at Fiona, his expression unreadable. "You're just... a mere slave to Darius," he said, his voice low and chilling. A dark, oppressive atmosphere seemed to envelop them, and Fiona found herself frozen, unable to move her hand from her sword. "What is this...?" she wondered, her mind racing.

Francis leaned in slightly, his forehead almost touching hers. "Until you move on from that tragedy, you'll forever be... a toy of Darius," he said, his words cutting deep. Fiona felt a shiver run down her spine, her breath catching in her throat. "I... I can't!" she thought, her mind in turmoil.

Above them, the sky darkened as four massive dragons appeared, flying in a triangular formation with a gap at the top. Francis glanced up, then back at Fiona, whose feet trembled slightly under the weight of his words. Without another word, he clenched the flower he had been holding and gently tucked it behind Fiona's ear. Then, in one fluid motion, he leaped into the air. A burst of magical fire shot from his body, surrounding him, and within moments, he transformed into a massive red dragon, his wings stretching wide as he joined the formation in the sky.

Fiona stood frozen, her hand slowly rising to touch the flower behind her ear. She plucked it gently, holding it in her palm as she stared at it, her emotions swirling. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she clenched the flower tightly in her hand.

In the sky, Francis flew in silence, the other dragons glancing at him curiously. Finally, one of them, a dark blue dragon, spoke, his deep, rumbling voice breaking the quiet. "Francis, is everything alright?" he asked.

After a moment of silence, Francis replied, his voice calm but firm. "Yes, everything is alright." He straightened, his gaze fixed ahead. "Special Dragon Force," he called, his voice carrying authority. "In one hour, we arrive at the city."