Chapter Three: The Ascension
A few days passed since the council meeting, and with the lords' agreement — despite their fear and worry — the Demon King Diablo decided to execute his plan without delay, for time was passing, and every minute meant the threat of the gods drawing closer.
In the throne room, Herfort stood before him, his most loyal and trustworthy servant, the only one who had earned his trust in the Kingdom of Hell.
Diablo, in his deep voice that shook the walls: "You... will be the next Demon King. I grant you all my authorities, except two... the authority over the Vault, and the authority to grant titles to the lords."
Herfort, with a bow and sincere respect: "My lord... no matter what titles you grant me... in my eyes, you alone will remain the Demon King... forever."
A rare, faint smile appeared on Diablo's face, then he continued in a tone full of confidence:
"Don't worry about the lords... they are all under my curse, the curse of the Tenth Circle... they cannot rebel... in fact it's impossible for them to betray me, even if they wanted to, even if they were forced... their fate would be death, again and again, until their souls are utterly annihilated."
A cold, deadly laugh escaped him, and the corners of the hall trembled with it:
"Hahahahahahaha... I love torturing those bastards..."
Herfort bowed even deeper, his voice sincere, full of reverence: "Thank you, my lord... I will wait for you... even if thirty years pass."
Diablo stood before the sacred platform, its stones carved from the remains of the enemies' temples, the ashes of heroes covering the ground.
His steps were confident, calm, removing his armor piece by piece, and with every piece that fell, part of his physical weight faded away... he was preparing to transition from body... to essence.
In his mind, images of the lords echoed, their fears, their doubts... but they evaporated before his aura, which had forced them into absolute silence.
He raised his head, his eyes burning with an unquenchable hellfire:
"This is the plan... simple on the surface... but it will shake the worlds."
First, I will completely abandon my physical body... I will vanish from this existence as a body, but my soul will remain present.
Second, I will implant my soul into a single human body... but not just any body... a body that meets strict conditions:
A lineage of dragon blood running through his veins, an inheritance of legendary power.
An extraordinary talent for manipulating mana, a level only the elite can achieve.
An exceptional innate ability in magic, swordsmanship, or both together.
Third, it must be outside our continent that we have conquered... Hectaros... for surveillance there is suffocating... rather in the enemy continent... Afrir, the stronghold of the Church of Azafel, our most dangerous enemies.
Diablo smiled with deadly sarcasm, looking at those present:
"And I know that among you there are those who oppose me... excellent... kekeke... I love opponents, they add extra enjoyment."
He raised his hand, his aura exploded, and the ground began to shake, heralding the beginning of the Ascension project...
To be continued...