57: Dark Council

Chapter 57: Dark Council

In the dark, ominous chambers of the **Demon King's Palace**, the **Four Heavenly Kings** convened. The atmosphere was thick with malice, and the air crackled with dark magic. At the center of the grand table sat the four most powerful generals of the **Demon King Roax**, each ruling over different realms of chaos, awaiting the unsealing of their master.

**Dracula**, the **Vampire King**, leaned back in his throne-like chair, his blood-red eyes glowing under his dark hood. His pale face twisted into a sinister grin as he addressed the group.

**Dracula:** (in a cold, deep voice) "The time draws near. But we are not yet ready. We still need more sacrifices… and the four rare items to complete the ritual."

Across the table, **Salazar**, the **Undead King**, sat motionless, his skeletal fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. His voice was a whisper of decay, as though each word was carried by the wind of a graveyard.

**Salazar:** (raspy) "My armies of the dead will continue to gather souls. But it is not enough. We need more... *living* sacrifices. The balance must be maintained for the ritual to succeed."

The **Dragon King**, **Murdo**, sat silently at first, his massive, armored form barely fitting into the chair. His dark, scaled face was expressionless, but his golden eyes burned with an inner fire. When he spoke, his voice was like a low rumble, as though the earth itself were shifting.

**Murdo:** (deep and growling) "The humans are gathering forces, preparing for something. They are trying to delay the inevitable. It matters not. Once we unseal the Demon King, all of their kingdoms will fall like dust."

Finally, there was **Fenrir**, the **Beast King**—a massive, wolf-like figure cloaked in shadow. His fur bristled with tension as his glowing red eyes scanned the room. He was clearly agitated, shifting uneasily in his seat.

**Fenrir:** (snarling) "Speaking of delays... my *son* has escaped again. He fled from his prison like a coward. This time, I will personally hunt him down and tear him apart if he dares interfere with our plans."

The mention of **Fenrir's child**, **Fel**, sent a ripple of dark energy through the room. The other generals exchanged knowing glances. Fel, though young, was an unpredictable factor in their otherwise meticulous schemes, and his constant rebellion against his father's dark ways was a growing problem.

**Dracula:** (mocking) "Your little pup is quite the nuisance, Fenrir. Always running off, always defying you. Perhaps if you had raised him better—"

**Fenrir:** (growling furiously) "Watch your tongue, bloodsucker. I've dealt with your mockery long enough. This time, Fel will not escape. He will learn where his true place is—or he will die."

**Salazar** cackled softly, his bony jaw clacking together in what might have been laughter.

**Salazar:** (dryly) "Perhaps we should simply use him as one of the sacrifices. He *is* of royal blood, after all."

**Murdo** said nothing, but his eyes shifted toward Fenrir, studying the beast's reaction. Fenrir's claws dug into the table, his growl growing deeper.

**Murdo:** (quietly) "Enough. Whether we use him or not, Fel is a distraction. Our priority is the ritual."

Dracula nodded, his grin widening.

**Dracula:** (silkily) "Indeed. We need the **Four Rare Artifacts**—the **Heart of the Phoenix**, the **Tears of the Sea Goddess**, the **Crown of Thorns**, and the **Dragon's Flame Pearl**. Without them, all the sacrifices in the world will mean nothing. We must locate these relics, and quickly."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of their mission hanging over them. These rare and powerful items were scattered across the world, protected by ancient forces, some even hidden within the realms of humans. Gathering them would not be easy.

**Salazar:** (whispering) "The humans grow bold. They will not make this easy for us. And they are beginning to unite... I've heard whispers of the **Four Great Nations** preparing to aid the small kingdom of Lathunia. The knights are already moving."

**Murdo:** (rumbling) "Let them come. They will fall like all the rest."

**Dracula** leaned forward, his grin disappearing, replaced with a look of dark intensity.

**Dracula:** "Let's not underestimate them. The knights have grown stronger, and there are certain... individuals who could pose a threat. We cannot afford mistakes at this stage."

Fenrir growled low, his anger still simmering.

**Fenrir:** (snarling) "The knights may be strong, but they will fall just the same. Let them send their strongest—they will meet their end at my claws."

**Dracula:** (coldly) "For now, focus on finding Fel. We cannot have him interfere with our plans. And as for the rest of us... it's time to begin searching for the relics."

The **Dark Council** had set its sights on its next goal—the gathering of the ancient artifacts and the complete unsealing of the **Demon King Roax**. The shadow of war loomed on the horizon, and both the forces of light and darkness were moving into position for the battles to come.

The tense atmosphere in the chamber was suddenly disrupted by the arrival of a new figure. The heavy doors creaked open, and a figure strode into the room with an air of arrogance and menace. It was none other than **Scient**, the primordial **Fire Demon**, known across the realms as the **Sage of Hell**. His fiery aura flickered like flames, his eyes glowing with a burning intensity. He was not just any demon—he was the **right hand of Demon King Roax**, a title that carried immense weight and authority.

As he entered, he casually surveyed the room, a smirk playing on his lips.

**Scient:** (mockingly) "Well, well... what do we have here? The newcomers are getting ahead of themselves, aren't they?"

The entire room went silent as **Scient's** gaze fell on **Murdo** and **Salazar**, the two newest additions to the **Four Heavenly Kings**. **Murdo**, the replacement for his father, **Murdoch**, and **Salazar**, who had taken the place of the **Dark Elf King** after his defeat and betrayal by his own people, were not yet fully settled into their roles. Scient's arrival was anything but a warm welcome.

Murdo's massive, scaled form tensed at the insult, his molten eyes narrowing as he stared back at Scient. His pride as the **Dragon King** wasn't something he would allow to be trampled on easily.

**Murdo:** (growling) "Watch your tongue, Scient. You may be the right hand of Roax, but do not forget your place."

**Salazar**, on the other hand, remained eerily calm, his bony fingers twitching slightly. The **Undead King** knew better than to react to taunts, but even he couldn't ignore the open disdain from someone as high-ranking as Scient.

**Salazar:** (coldly) "What do you want, fire demon? Do you come to boast, or do you have something of value to say?"

Scient's fiery eyes flicked between the two new generals, his smirk widening. His aura grew hotter, filling the room with an oppressive heat.

**Scient:** (chuckling) "Relax, boys. I'm not here to fight—at least not yet. I just thought I'd remind you who you're dealing with. Your predecessors... they were more capable, and even they couldn't secure victory for our king. I wonder... will you two fare any better?"

Murdo's claws scraped against the table, his anger barely contained.

**Murdo:** (snarling) "I am not my father. I am stronger, and I will not fail."

**Salazar** leaned forward, his hollow eyes fixed on Scient.

**Salazar:** (hissing) "The **Dark Elf King** was a fool who let his arrogance blind him. I will not repeat his mistakes."

Scient raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by their defiance.

**Scient:** (mockingly) "We shall see. Roax doesn't need failures. He needs results. And if you can't deliver, well... replacements can always be found."

The room was thick with tension, but no one dared to speak out. Even **Dracula** and **Fenrir** remained silent, observing the exchange with interest. The power dynamic was shifting, and it was clear that **Scient** was asserting his dominance.

After a moment of silence, **Scient** turned toward the **Four Heavenly Kings**, his tone shifting from mocking to serious.

**Scient:** (sternly) "Enough games. The Demon King's revival is all that matters. We need those relics and sacrifices, or everything we've worked for will be for nothing. You've all been assigned your roles—now get it done."

He paused for a moment, his fiery gaze sweeping over the group one last time.

**Scient:** (calmly) "And as for the boy—**Fel**—leave him to me. I'll take care of Fenrir's little problem personally."

Fenrir let out a low growl but didn't object. Even he knew better than to cross **Scient** when it came to matters like this.

With his final words, **Scient** paused at the entrance, turning back toward the table. His fiery aura flared up, and the oppressive heat in the room intensified. Flames flickered around his hands as the temperature soared. In a mere instant, the entire chamber was engulfed in an inferno of searing heat, though none of the generals moved, their eyes fixed on him.

With a flick of his wrist, **Scient** sent a column of fire crashing down just inches away from **Murdo** and **Salazar**, the flames licking the stone floor, leaving it scorched and cracked. The raw power he displayed was a clear warning.

**Scient**: (voice dripping with menace) "If you still haven't learned your manners by now, let me make this very clear..."

He let the flames flicker out, but the oppressive heat lingered, suffocating. His burning eyes locked onto the two new Heavenly Kings, his voice low and dangerous.

**Scient**: (coldly) "Next time, I won't be so gentle."

Without another word, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving the room simmering in silence, the weight of his threat hanging heavy in the air. The **Four Heavenly Kings** exchanged tense glances, knowing full well that **Scient**'s power was far beyond their own.

The mission was clear: gather the relics, secure the sacrifices, and revive **Demon King Roax**. The war for domination was about to begin in earnest, and the forces of darkness were ready to unleash their full power. But with **Scient** now directly involved, the stakes had risen even higher.

As the flames of hell continued to flicker in the distance, the dark council resumed its preparations, the fate of the world hanging in the balance.