A loud bang could be heard from behind me, followed by hurried footsteps echoing in the large throne room where I was standing, overlooking the destruction that had befallen my kingdom. I noticed that my hands were trembling, waiting for the information that my soldier was about to relay to me at that very moment. I steadied my breath and tried to relax my tense shoulders, displaying a calm demeanor before I turned around and faced the soldier.

The soldier was panting as if he'd been running a marathon all the way here. “Your Majesty, we've been surrounded!“ I lock eyes with him at that moment with eyes of disbelief. How big of an army to have almost conquered this capital city? Attacks are happening in the city, but to think our forces have been pushed this far into the inner sanctum.

I couldn't keep myself silent after hearing that, but before I even asked the question myself I was already answered by the same soldier, “They flanked us… they came in from two directions. We could handle it if they were coming from the front but..“ his meek voice trembled, “they came from below, Your Majesty.“

What…?

Just what sort of enemy is this?

“Are they even humans?“ I let out a curious sigh. This could very well be monsters, but those were merely bedtime stories for children! There were recorded histories of monsters roaming our realms, but it was centuries ago… “What do they look like? Have you seen them upfront? No human could have the capacity to dig from below our city and fight on equal footing!“

“They looked humanoid, Your Majesty, but under their black and crude armor… they certainly looked different… they had horns, almost like a demon.“

My heart dropped at his claim. I couldn't believe this absurdity. Demons? Bah, monsters and demons were creatures in a children's story. But the more I think, the more that it's possible. The capability of this army to fight my kingdom, which has the strongest military force. It might very well be—

BANG!

Another soldier came barging in, but he looked different; after carefully seeing his face upfront, I could tell that his eyes had seen despair, “Sir Knight, a-a powerful individual has d-d-defeated the general!“

The general? General Fuery? To think he was defeated is hard to swallow. He was by far the strongest soldier of all, despite being only twenty-six years old. None could rival his strength, let alone his quick-wittedness and intelligence on the battlefield. He was nicknamed the Sword Saint for how beautiful his swordsmanship was, even without being under the mentorship of any sword masters. That's how talented he was with the sword.

“My King, with our last hope defeated, it is best that you and your family retreat. Staying any longer would mean death to even the only history left of this kingdom.” the knight suggested.

He's right; my bloodline can rebuild this kingdom again with what's left of the people if there are any. But, I don't feel like the cowardly king to just leave my soldiers and people behind. 'A King without his people is not a King.' is a saying I once heard, and I intend to be the king who will not abandon his people.

“Honey!“ a gentle voice came from the right hall of this room. Queen Priscilla, my wife. With her flowy straight emerald hair perfectly reaching her mid-back. She was wearing a worried face with those shining amethyst eyes shimmering in the sunlight that was protruding through the windows. Her gentle, slim body is elegant yet not weak, as she was regarded as the queen of this kingdom, making her destination none other than me.

I made my way to her, but it didn't take me more than three steps to embrace her. She trembled in my arms. Her heartbeat thudded against my chest. No… who wouldn't be afraid if death was chasing them, let alone of this magnitude? I couldn't utter any words but just caressed the back of her head while her face was buried in my chest.

"Let's leave, we need to get out of here quickly, just as the soldier said, we should retreat while we can before whatever monster is coming for us!" It seems that she heard my conversation with the knight.

Trailing slowly behind her mother, I notice my daughter, who's barely six years old, is confused by the situation. She was probably thinking, 'Is mommy and daddy arguing again?'. Haha... I wish we were honey. I kneeled to meet my daughter eye-to-eye. Sarella, oh, how you've grown so much over these past 5 years, yet I couldn't help but think 5 years is too short for me. You have your mother's smooth emerald hair and your father's strong topaz eyes.

”Sarella," I hold her little face with both of my hands, feeling her warm, soft cheeks in my palms, "I love you, and I want you to never leave mommy's side no matter what happens, alright?" I could see her eyes tearing up, unable to comprehend why her father was saying things like this while looking sad.

I stood back up, staring at my wife's beautiful eyes once more. Has she always been this beautiful? "My love, I want you to retreat with Sarella." I could see her eyes widen with the words I had just uttered.

"Honey, have you gone mad?!" she yelled. I expected this much. "What are you going to do staying in this soon-to-be hell?! Are you just going to leave our daughter without a father? Staying here to die?" her voice cracked with rage, and a vein throbbed at her forehead.

I couldn't look her in the eye anymore. Most of what she said is true; there's no reason for me not to retreat with them. But, before I am a father, I am a King. I will stay and fight with my people.

Holding both of my wife's arms, I gently kissed her lips, calming her down instantly. Her eyes fluttered as I pulled my face away from hers, and tears began to flow down her cheeks. I can understand her frustration, but this is what I've set my resolve on.

"I love you, Priscilla..." With a last hug as if combining our hearts, I let out a gentle smile as if to show that it would all be fine. It's a heavy thing to do, but this is my duty.

"You," I pointed to the knight, "gather your men and retreat with the queen and princess, and be sure to keep them safe," I ordered with a faint shake in my voice. I'd be lying if I said that I'm not scared, that I'm not sad. Everyone has feelings, even rulers have emotions.

The knight could be seen wanting to invite me to retreat together, but he knew what I wanted and respected my choice. "I will fulfill your last order until the last of my breath, My King!" he did not waste any second and escorted the queen and princess out to the left hallway where the secret escape tunnel is.

It's quiet now.

Haha... a lone king atop the throne, how befitting it is. As I sat here, I observed how gently the wind kissed the curtains, making them flow so beautifully. How the stillness of life is and will always be so graceful.

What's this? My vision is blurry… ah, that's it.

I'm crying. It's okay, Ren. No one can see you, so let it out. Let it all out. Consoling myself was the only thing I could think of right now. Soon, the tears began to dry and I had to ready myself.

The sounds of swords clashing and screams of men can be heard just outside the throne room's two and a half meters-tall door. It's about time for me to confront this 'disaster'. I clutched the hilt of my sword strapped to my waist. The sword that I wielded was the perfect size for me, with its beautifully decorated handle and delicately and intricately designed golden guard holding the shining silver blade. A sword fit for a king, if I might say.

BANG!

For the third time, the door was barged open, but this time, it almost tore the door off its hinges. Did they use a battering ram to open the door? I didn't remember having this door locked like it was the kingdom's main gate.

After the dust and debris had settled down, caused by the battering ram-type force, I noticed a hand, fingers were a bit longer than normal, and I could see black, pointy nails almost one inch off the tip of the fingers. The palm was facing where the doors used to be.

Steps echoing in the room. A figure that looked almost humanoid, yet not one that could be called human, presented itself in front of me. Standing almost two meters tall, clad with dark armor, almost as black as the night, absent of the moon, accented with shining gold patterns almost foreign to what I've ever seen. But, nothing could catch my eyes more than the unmistakable… horns.

“Was he the strongest?“ he scoffed. On his other hand, it couldn't be mistaken. General Fuery's decapitated head, the Sword Saint, was thrown in front of me. My stomach twisted. I fell to my knees and retched. Fuery’s face… frozen in pain.

His blood-red eyes, almost bloodshot, glared at my eyes with a subtle smirk formed on his mouth. I can feel his intense power overwhelming me with every step he took to my throne.

It's crushing me, his presence alone.

Gasping with every strength I had, “Why… are you… doing this?“

“Don't you think that a worthless piece of meat like you should stand below me?“ With just a simple downward gesture he made with his index finger, my body was subconsciously and viciously dragged down the stairs of my throne with an unknown force. My face was planted on the floor, where I could only see his boots. This is pathetic, I couldn't lift a finger at all in this current state. “Now that suits you.“ Having uttered those sinister words, he laughed hysterically.

I now know that this presence in front of me is…

A demon.