Chapter 0: The Beginning

A cloaked figure is walking through a dark and damp cave holding a lantern.

Eventually, the cloaked figure entered a cavern that had three pillars set in a triangular position with three people chained to each of them. On the ground beneath their feet is an odd and eerie symbol.

The prisoners were two women and a male. One was a woman from a race that called themselves the Espers. The next hostage was a Lycan and the last one was a Terran.

"Please...thou doth not have to do this! Judging from the color of thy skin thou is one of my people. Let me go and I shan't speak of this." The Esper pleaded as the cloaked Esper approached her. The figure caressed her face gently as she appeared to tremble in fear.

She pulled away from his hand causing him to clench his fist before striking her. She let out a loud yelp as she winced in pain.

"What I'm doing is protecting the king and his family. Thy sacrifice is for our king." The hooded figure said as the Esper began to struggle in an attempt to free herself.

It wasn't long before more cloaked figures started shuffling into the cavern. It was five of them and once they were all inside, they moved away from each other. A cloaked figure made a hissing sound as she got close to the unknown Esper near the pillars.

"Are you certain you can perform this ritual?" She hissed silently as the unknown Esper scoffed as he waved her away.

"Do not question my skill, you Serepen. Out of all of us, I have the greatest magic abilities." The cloaked Esper gloated as he returned his attention to their captives.

The Lycan snarled as he tried to lunge at the cloaked figure."Monster-kin and beast-kin may have their differences but how can you willingly work with demons?" The Lycan howled, staring at the cloaked figure that was a Serepen.

"Our goddess is imprisoned somewhere whilst yours is in a magnificent tree being healed by the prayers of your people. My people have been suppressed while yours are worshiped and trusted." The Serepen hissed angrily as she placed her cold dry pale green hand on his face.

He pulled away from her causing her to hiss in a laughing manner.The atmosphere in the room became cold as a cloud of smoke began to appear in the room.

The cloaked figures tensed up before slowly turning and kneeling before the entrance of the cavern. The footfalls of what sounded like a large figure could be heard.

A set of horns emerged from the smoke first causing the Esper's eyes to become widened and her pupils shrank as her lips parted, struggling to speak.

She let out a small whimper as a tall demonic looking figure appeared. His red eyes gazed upon everyone in the room as he stood silently. His presence changed the atmosphere and made the weight of gravity feel heavier on the Esper's body.

"By the gods...what form of demon is that?" The lycan shouted nervously as his cold blue eyes showed that he was beyond afraid.

The demon breifly glared at him before turning his attention to his followers with his menacing red eyes. Around his eyes, he had black markings that all demons had. The markings were often referred to as the mark of despair.

"We are creating this gate so people of the underworld can come to your world and seek refuge. I'm certain there will be much conflict with this. Do any of you wish to change your mind about this endeavor?" The demon questioned in a deep and rugged voice.

No one uttered a word until one of the hidden figures pulled back their hood. It was a Vesper which is a race similar to the Espers but with darker skin. They were practitioners of shadow magic and worshiped the goddess of night.

The Vesper looked up at the demon with his blue eyes."Thou killed my king, and I swore I'd find a way to avenge him." The Vesper said as the demon looked at him silently.

Before the demon could do anything else the Vesper lunged at him throwing a set of daggers that then multiplied into twenty. He watched as the daggers bounced off the demon's skin. He was surprised and confused as they did not affect him.

Another cloaked figure grabbed the Vesper and held him in place."Forgive this fool, lord Naeghi. He knows not what he is doing." The cloaked figure said as she turned trying to reason with the demon referred to as Naeghi. Naeghi simply smiled as he began to clap his hands slowly.

"What is your name?" Naeghi asked as he glared at the Vesper who tried to kill him. The Vesper was hesitant as he pushed the female cloaked figure aside.

"Arlen." The Vesper replied, causing Naeghi to begin stroking his beard as he glared at him.

"The fact you have the gall to speak your truth...I'll let you live." The demon said wickedly as he glanced at the other cloaked figures. "Stop hiding your faces from one another. You will no longer have a conflict with each other. It is time you set aside foolish differences." Naeghi ordered as the cloaked figures all slowly took off their hoods.

The Serepen looked surprised to see a female Ocuro. A tall muscular woman with green skin and armored scales on her body.

The Ocuro bowed her head to Naeghi as he nodded slowly in return. The woman who stood beside Arlen was another Vesper who had a slight resemblance to him.

"I take it this lovely woman is your sister." Naeghi said as he began walking over to them. Arlen put himself in between her and Naeghi with a serious look on his face. "Calm yourself, Arlen. I merely wish to speak with her." Naeghi said with a wicked grin on his face.

Arlen remained in place unwavering, causing Naeghi to sigh in disappointment. The Esper that was standing near the hostages raised his hand. A bright magic circle began to form in front of him.

The light from it was immense and blinding. Arlen glanced back to see a beam of light that cut the side of his face. He fell back and cried out in pain. Naeghi rubbed his eyes for he was briefly blinded. When his vision stabilized, and he saw Arlen on the ground he was surprised.

He noticed the wound and looked around to see the Esper with his hand raised. Naeghi could see magic energy fading from around him.

"Apologies, lord Naeghi." The Esper said with a bow. Naeghi nodded before he pointed at him.

"What is your name, Esper?" Naeghi questioned as the Esper became nervous and shifted his stance.

"Merith Gretris, my lord." Merith said with a bow as Naeghi frowned, seeming displeased about the name. He looked over at the Serepen and waited for her to speak.

"My name is Murla." The Serepen hisses at Naeghi then glanced over at the Ocuro who was standing silent.

"Uzera is my name." The Ocuro said as she bowed once again. Naeghi then looked at the cloaked figure that had been silent for the longest time. They slowly pulled down their hood to reveal their long white hair and dark purple skin.

He was an Edahs and his kind was always hidden in the shadows but was known for their dealings with demons. It was believed that Vespers had been convinced by his kind many years ago to follow a similar path.

"My name is Tazrak Hylis. My people are at thy service." The Edahs said with a bow as Naeghi nodded his head. Naeghi seemed pleased as he then returned his attention to Arlen. Naeghi stuck his hand into a pouch he had strapped to his belt. Slowly he pulled out a vial filled with a pale blue substance.

Naeghi approached Arlen and knelt before him. He grabbed Arlen by his head and forced him to open his mouth. Arlen struggled as Naeghi began to laugh.

"The blood of a devil can make demonic beings known as fiends. Fiends are unique because they retain the attributes of their race but also gain demonic abilities." Naeghi laughed in a deep and rugged tone. Arlen's sister tried to run over to him, but Naeghi looked at her.

With a simple gaze, blue flames surrounded him and Arlen. Naeghi then returned his attention to Arlen and forced the devil's blood down his throat.

"My lord, what is the meaning of this?" Merith asked as Naeghi stood to his feet. Arlen began to cough uncontrollably as he tried to crawl away. Unfortunately, he couldn't leave because of the hellfire.

"He piqued my interest, so I figured I'd like him better if he was a demon." Naeghi said as he waved his hand and the hellfire slowly disappeared. Arlen's sister tried to run to him, but Naeghi tried to grab her. She leaped away from him with a surprised look on her face.

"Go away! Leave this place and don't look back." Arlen spat as he pointed to the exit of the cavern.

"I'm not bloody leaving without thou!" She yelled as Naeghi began to approach holding up another vial of devil blood.

"Then take this journey with him." Naeghi said with a smile. Arlen staggered to his feet and threw a dagger at the vial. It shattered causing the blood to spill to the ground.

"Thou claim to want to live in peace with other races, but thy demonic nature is showing. Now sister, get out of here. I never wanted thee to come with me in the first place." Arlen said as he pulled out another dagger and began to wheeze uncontrollably.

"But...." Arlen's sister started to say but he yelled angrily as he threw a dagger at her, but it went passed her. She was shocked with horror as he looked at her with bloodshot eyes.

"I don't need thou to bloody save me! Leave got damn it!" He yelled as he watched her back away. Black smoke began to rise up from her feet before she faded into the smoke.

"Shadow magic, how interesting." Naeghi said sounding intrigued. "I'm certain we'll cross paths with her again so don't worry, Arlen." Naeghi smiled as he looked over at Merith. "Start the ritual, I've played around enough." Naeghi ordered causing Merith to bow his head and turn toward the hostages who were all trembling in fear.

****

After the gate opened demons of different races began to step foot into the world of Innethus. They had believed they'd be welcomed as Naeghi had desired. Unfortunately, the land they first appeared on was Alfheim.

The Espers and Vespers were once enemies but when the demon scourge appeared they united and set out for war. The Vespers lacked a king, so they were forced to take orders from the king's closest comrade.

Rydel Beldros was the leader of the Vesper army. He swore to avenge his king and his best friend. Despite the numbers, the Vespers had when united with the Espers their efforts were meaningless. Rydel watched his soldiers fall at the hands of the demons.

After a while, the Espers turned their swords to attack the Vespers. He was betrayed by the king of the Espers, Asha Faelock. When Rydel caught sight of him he climbed atop his four-legged beast and began to charge over to him.

Rydel struck down the Espers and demons that got in his way. Before he could get to King Asha a large shadow obscured his vision. Boom, debris blew everywhere in front of him as something crashed on the terrain.

The sheer impact sent a force that knocked him off his beast. Rydel winced in pain as he looked to see Naeghi emerging from the debris.

"At this very moment, this little battle is over! My kind only came to seek refuge from the horrors that have begun to appear in the underworld. Despite how this all began we are now starting a new." Naeghi said as he glared in the direction of the Esper king.

"You Vespers require a king and with that being said you will be appointed one. One who will be willing to let demons have refuge in your country." Naeghi said in a serious tone as Rydel stood to his feet and picked up his sword.

He pointed it at Naeghi with a serious look on his face. "We shall not welcome thou into our country and we will be the ones who decide our new king!" Rydel shouted as Naeghi began to smile wickedly.

"You bear a striking resemblance to a young man I met not long ago. You wouldn't by chance be his father, would you?" Naeghi asked with a twisted grin on his face. Rydel was shocked and his hands began to tremble.

It wasn't fear but the rage that caused his trembling. He roared in anger as he sprinted forward preparing to face the threat before him. He raised his sword as it was engulfed in energy.

Naeghi looked intrigued as Rydel tried to bring the sword down on his shoulder. Naeghi caught the weapon with his bare hand. It surprised him to see that he was bleeding.

"I'm bleeding?" Naeghi said as he pulled the sword away from Rydel. He grabbed Rydel by the throat and looked at him with a surprised look on his face.

"My sword is enchanted with a curse that allows it to cut through anything." Rydel choked out as Naeghi smiled while he tightened his grip around his throat.

"The fact it couldn't completely cut through me means your enchantment isn't very strong." Naeghi said as he tightened his grip even more. Rydel's eyes were bloodshot as he began to choke and spit out blood.

He kicked and punched in a futile effort to get free but to no avail, Naeghi didn't let go. After a few minutes, Rydel went limp and was thrown to the ground. Naeghi returned his attention to king Asha who sat on top of a Pegasus.

"I will have my people yield. Thou will be welcomed in our country if so pleased." King Asha said and Naeghi nodded his head. He waved the sword in the air and the demons howled with joy as they were not going to find their new home.