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The sky was still dark when Chirag opened his eyes. There was no sunlight in the Demon Realm, but today the air felt heavier, like the world was holding its breath.
Today was the day they would march to war.
He sat up in his chamber, the silence around him almost sacred. He could feel the flame inside his chest pulsing with energy—stronger, more focused than ever before. It wasn't wild anymore. It was steady, powerful, ready.
He looked around the room. The sword Kael had sharpened for him rested against the wall. The armor Siya had crafted for him shimmered faintly, laced with runes to protect against divine magic. Every piece of it carried meaning. Every mark, a memory.
Siya entered quietly, already dressed in her dark battle robes. Her long hair was tied back, and a soft glow circled her hands—the energy she had inherited from her father and gifted to Chirag long ago.
"You ready?" she asked.
He nodded. "I've never been more ready."
They didn't need to say more. They had already said everything the night before.
---
Outside, the Demon Realm looked different.
Thousands of warriors stood in formation across the valley. Some were tall and horned, others shadowy and lean, and some had wings of fire or stone. Yet despite their differences, they stood as one.
The sound of drums echoed through the ground, deep and steady, like a heartbeat guiding them forward.
Kael stood at the front of his unit, twin daggers strapped to his arms, his armor black as midnight. He gave Chirag a nod.
Raegor, the Demon King, climbed the stone platform and raised his sword high.
"This is no longer just our battle," he declared. "This is for all beings who have been forgotten, cast aside, and used. Today, we rise not to conquer—but to free."
He turned to Chirag. "Lead them."
Chirag stepped up, the Chrono Flame in his hand. He raised it to the sky, and for a moment, it lit the realm in golden fire. The demons roared—not out of rage, but out of hope.
Then, with a single word, Chirag gave the command.
"March."
---
They traveled through the Ashen Path, a road that crossed the border between the Demon Realm and the Realm of Time. It was a place no army had ever dared to cross. But this was no ordinary army.
Siya flew above them, her wings of flame lighting the path. Kael led the scouts, ensuring no traps lay ahead. Chirag walked at the center of the army, surrounded by warriors who once wouldn't have looked twice at a powerless human. Now, they followed him.
As they moved forward, strange signs began to appear. Statues of gods cracked in half. Trees twisted by magic. Broken symbols carved into stone. All signs that the gods knew they were coming.
And that they were afraid.
---
By the third day, they reached the Gate of Dawn.
It was the only entrance into the Upper Realm, the place where the gods lived. The gate was massive—golden, bright, and humming with divine energy. It stretched across a canyon, protected by light barriers and holy knights.
Siya landed beside Chirag. "We'll need to break the barrier. And fast. The longer we wait, the more time they have to prepare."
Kael appeared from the shadows. "They know we're here. Their soldiers are already gathering on the other side."
Chirag took a deep breath and looked at the five relics they had gathered, now fitted into the sacred circle carved into the ground:
The Flame of the Demon Realm, burning bright.
The Mirror of Truth, glowing with hidden knowledge.
The Names of the Forgotten, inscribed into stone.
The Eye of Reflection, watching all directions at once.
And the Chrono Flame, pulsing in his hand.
He placed the Chrono Flame in the center of the circle.
The relics activated, spinning slowly, forming a light strong enough to tear open the barrier.
But just as the shield began to crack, the air exploded with energy.
A dozen divine knights descended, dressed in armor of light, wings glowing. Their leader—a tall goddess with hair like white fire—stepped forward.
"You dare enter the realm of gods?" she asked coldly.
Chirag didn't flinch. "We came to end the war you started."
The goddess raised her sword. "Then bleed for it."
And the first battle began.
---
The demons surged forward with roars and fire. The divine knights met them in the sky, clashing with the sound of thunder. Chirag and Siya fought back to back, flames and light swirling around them.
Kael moved like a shadow, taking down enemies before they even saw him. Raegor led the charge, cutting through holy armor with strength unmatched.
The battle was fierce.
But then, Chirag saw it—the shield was rebuilding. They didn't have much time.
He reached for the Chrono Flame.
"Now!" he shouted.
As he activated it, time around them slowed. Arrows froze midair. Swords moved like molasses. Only Chirag, Siya, and a few near them could still move.
In that brief moment, he struck the shield with all five relics aligned—one hit, perfectly timed.
The shield shattered.
The Gate of Dawn opened.
And behind it, the realm of the gods waited.
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