Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…
Thick crimson bubbles rose and burst across the surface of the boiling blood pool. Deep underground, an enormous pit churned like a living heart, exhaling the metallic stench of blood into the air.
At the edge of that pit stood Balder, his gaze fixed on the monstrous shape forming within the roiling blood.
More precisely — he was staring at the creature being forged.
A massive arm plated in demonic armor, a body of molten flesh that shimmered like black steel, horns curved like a raging bull, and veins glowing with magma-red fire — the blood of fire demons itself.
Every limb, every organ had been taken from a different kind of hellspawn. Now, all of them were fusing into one — a being no demon could have imagined or dared to create. Even though the process was incomplete, the aura it radiated had already surpassed that of ninety-nine percent of all demons.
A soft voice broke the silence.
"This is… enough to shake the entire world."
Balder's golden eyes slid sideways. Dr. Wade stood beside him, gazing at the figure with awe. Her boldness amused him — and impressed him.
After all, an ordinary woman, upon learning what he truly was, would have either fled or called the authorities… not crawled into his bed.
"How strong will it be?" Dr. Wade asked curiously.
Balder smiled faintly.
"The perfect warrior."
He lifted his hand slightly, as though listing the creature's blessings.
"Strength beyond fifty tons.
Speed rivaling the wind.
Regeneration that borders on immortality.
Flames hot enough to melt reinforced armor.
Resistance to almost every modern weapon.
With this body alone… it could conquer humanity itself."
Dr. Wade's lips parted in shock. There was admiration — and fascination — in her eyes.
"And… could it live long?" she asked after a pause.
"A thousand years," Balder replied smoothly. "An eternal body. An unaging face."
That struck her deeply. Dr. Wade had everything — beauty, intellect, ambition — but not immortality. The thought of eternal youth shimmered before her like a forbidden fruit.
Had it not been for such desires, she might never have had the courage to approach — or seduce — a being like Balder.
She fell silent, her blue eyes fixed on him, unblinking.
Balder reached out, brushing her golden hair with surprising gentleness.
"You'll have your chance… but not yet."
She nodded obediently, taking his hand and pressing it against her cheek.
"Then I'll wait."
A blaring alarm shattered the moment. Crimson warning lights flashed throughout the underground facility.
Balder tilted his head, glancing toward the ceiling.
"So the little insects finally arrived."
He patted Dr. Wade's hair again, his tone calm as ever.
"Find somewhere safe. I'll play with them for a while."
"Be careful," she murmured before turning, hips swaying as she left.
In the next instant, a trail of fire erupted — and Balder's body vanished upward in a pillar of flame.
Aboveground…
A dark sky churned over the city. Dozens — nearly a hundred — winged beings hovered in formation.
They were hideous, yet divine. Each creature bore scaled wings, cold silver eyes, and an aura of sanctity that made even demons tremble.
They were the Nightwing Gargoyles — descendants of celestial drakes, beings once blessed by Heaven but exiled for their pride.
Now, nearly a hundred of them filled the sky, their sheer presence pressing down like a divine storm.
Below, from the skyscraper, demons poured out — some human-shaped, others with horns and molten eyes, all snarling as they faced their winged foes.
The air crackled.
From the swarm above, a path opened, and a single pure-white Nightwing Dragon emerged. Smaller than the others — yet far more radiant. Holy light rippled across her body, her wings carrying the commanding grace of a queen.
Her gaze locked onto the tower below.
"Nobilis," she called out coldly, "show yourself!"
Flames burst upward, coalescing into the familiar, regal form of Balder — the demon prince humans called Nobilis.
"Your crimes have gone too far!" she hissed.
"Your armies slaughtered millions in the Black State. You've committed genocide!"
Balder's smile was faint, mocking.
"A few million black-skinned cattle. How are they different from the chickens and ducks you feast on?"
The Queen's expression hardened.
"We of the Nightwing Clan do not consume flesh."
"How noble," Balder chuckled. "Because of your mercy, a few dozen chickens get to live another day. Truly — Heaven must be proud of you."
Rage ignited in her golden eyes.
"Enough of your mockery! They were humans, not livestock! For their blood, for their souls — you shall be judged!"
She raised her spear.
"Nightwing Warriors! Do you fear death?"
"No!"
"No!"
"No!"
Their united cry shook the clouds.
"Then cleanse this world of evil! Attack!"
The sky erupted as the Nightwing Gargoyles dove in formation.
Balder lifted a hand lazily — and the demons surged upward like a black tide, roaring, transforming into their full infernal forms.
In moments, the air became a storm of flame, claws, and holy light.
Explosions thundered. Wings clashed against claws. Holy energy tore through hellfire.
The Nightwing Gargoyles were individually stronger — but the demons outnumbered them tenfold.
The battle was chaos — a ballet of light and blood.
And through it all, Balder never moved. He simply watched, calm, detached — like a god observing lesser creatures play out their fate.
But the Queen couldn't stay calm. Her kin — her few remaining kin — were dying before her eyes. Even if she knew they would "return to Heaven," the grief tore at her heart.
Her gaze snapped back to Balder — wary, uncertain.
For years, neither had truly fought each other. Both knew the cost such a battle might bring.
Still… she made her choice.
"If he's holding back because he fears chaos among his ranks," she reasoned, "then I'll strike first. Without him, Hell collapses."
Her eyes hardened.
"You three," she commanded, pointing to three elite Nightwings, "kill Nobilis."
"With his death, humanity may finally know peace!"
The three warriors dove without hesitation, holy weapons gleaming.
Balder sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"So predictable. 'Strike the leader first,' is it?"
Before they could reach him, their blades shattered midair — and their bodies slammed into the ground like meteors, carving deep craters.
Three beams of holy light shot upward — their souls ascending.
The Queen froze, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Impossible… his power… it's beyond anything I've seen!"
Then —
"ROAR!!!"
The sound shattered the sky.
Every window within hundreds of meters exploded.
A demonic roar of pure savagery erupted from the depths below.
The ground trembled.
"Perfect timing," Balder murmured, a faint smile on his lips.
A massive shadow burst from the earth — the fusion creature had awakened.
A monstrosity of fused demonic parts: arms like molten pillars, horns like mountains, wings vast enough to blot out the moon. Its very presence crushed the battlefield into silence.
Even the Queen trembled — her divine blood recoiling.
"A… great demon," she whispered hoarsely. "No… something even worse…"
The creature's roar shook the heavens again.
Balder watched with admiration.
"Flawless. You've mastered the power of every demon — nearly reaching the transcendent threshold."
He smiled, voice like command code.
"Go. Show them your strength."
At once, the creature's eyes blazed crimson. Its wings unfurled — and it shot into the sky like a burning meteor.
What followed wasn't battle.
It was slaughter.
Nightwing Gargoyles were torn apart midair, their blood raining like crimson snow.
"Stop! Please!" the Queen screamed — but her words were swallowed by death.
Within two minutes, the Nightwing Clan — nearly wiped out.
As the abomination turned toward her, Balder's voice echoed through the flames:
"Stop. Leave her alive."
The creature froze — its massive fist stopping an inch from her face, the wind pressure alone distorting her features.
It grabbed her by the throat and turned to Balder, awaiting further command.
Balder's eyes glowed faintly.
"Take her to the chamber. She's different from the rest… she'll be useful."
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