Demon Legacy

Lyvessa crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "How are we even supposed to get to Hell? Jump from planet to planet until we stumble upon it?"

Scarlett frowned, pacing in frustration. "That could take years, maybe decades."

Lie's eyes narrowed, and her voice was steady, almost commanding. "We won't have to wait that long. Li, show them what your father showed you."

Li hesitated, looking between her mother and the others. "Are you sure?"

"Do it," Lie said, raising one hand. "Time is not mine… Time is the lost. Open."

The air in front of them shimmered, then cracked apart like glass, revealing a swirling portal of golden and silver light. Lyvessa's jaw tightened as she stepped back cautiously. "What is that?"

"It's a portal," Li said, stepping closer. Her voice softened, almost reverent. "Dad called it the Crossroads. Inside, there are doors—one for every realm."

Lie nodded. "And maybe one of those doors will lead to Hell."

"Maybe?" Lyvessa's voice rose with disbelief. "You want us to walk into that thing on a 'maybe'? Is it even safe?"

Li gave her a small smile, trying to ease her fears. "It is. Dad took me inside once. I came out fine."

Scarlett, arms tense at her sides, stepped forward. "Then we have to try. It's the only way."

With reluctant agreement, they all entered the portal.

Inside the Crossroads

The group emerged into an endless, shimmering expanse filled with floating doors stretching into the horizon. Each door was etched with glowing symbols, and they were arranged in alphabetical order, stretching from A to Z. Some doors flickered with light, while others loomed in dark, foreboding shadows.

Li led the way, her eyes scanning the rows. "This place feels... heavier than last time," she murmured, her voice echoing.

"Which one of these leads to Hell?" Lyvessa asked, her voice hushed.

"I don't know exactly," Li admitted, her brow furrowing. "But there has to be a clue somewhere."

Before they could continue their search, the scene shifted.

At the Demon Girl's Prison

The Demon Girl paced in her cell, her frustration mounting. The walls were lined with enchanted chains, glowing faintly blue, suppressing her power. She clenched her fists, anger bubbling to the surface.

With a sharp cry, she raised her hand, summoning a brilliant blue flame that burst from her palm. The fire consumed the chains around her, and with a mighty surge of energy, she shattered the walls of her prison cell.

Alarms blared across the fortress as demon soldiers rushed toward her. "Stop her!" one of them shouted, raising his hands to launch a barrage of fiery projectiles.

The Demon Girl leapt into the air, her dark wings unfurling as she dodged each blast with precision. She soared above them, her movements fluid and effortless. Though the soldiers attacked relentlessly, she refused to retaliate with deadly force.

Raising her hands, she released a pulse of weak blue flames, knocking the soldiers back without killing them. The demons fell to the ground, injured but alive. She hovered above them for a moment, her expression unreadable, then turned and flew toward the fortress gates.

At Kiki's Camp

Kiki sat cross-legged on the cold ground, his face impassive. He had been lost in thought, his mind swirling with guilt and despair, when the sound of footsteps pulled him from his reverie.

A group of demon soldiers approached, their armor battered and their faces weary. They bowed low before him.

"My king," one of them said, his voice steady but worn, "the war with Tiji is over. The Queen has claimed victory."

Kiki's gaze remained fixed on the ground. "I heard," he said quietly. His tone was devoid of triumph or relief. "But we're still at war with stronger kingdoms. This victory means little."

One of the soldiers hesitated, then said, "Even so, the Queen's battle has weakened our enemies for now. We must prepare for what's next."

Kiki closed his eyes and sighed, his voice heavy with weariness. "More kingdoms. More bloodshed. This cycle never ends."

At the Demon Queen's Defeat

Far from the camp, the Demon Queen sat slumped in a dark prison, her wrists bound by glowing chains that pulsed with unfamiliar magic. Her once-immaculate armor was cracked and scorched, and her hair hung in disarray.

She winced as she moved, the bruises from her battle still fresh. The memory of the fight burned in her mind. The stranger who had bested her—a warrior from a distant planet—had fought with strength and precision she had never encountered before.

Her pride stung worse than her injuries. She had sworn to protect Hell, to defend her people at all costs, but now she was a prisoner on a foreign world.

A guard approached, his footsteps echoing in the dimly lit chamber. "Your reign ends here, Queen of Demons," he sneered.

The Demon Queen raised her head slowly, her eyes burning with defiance despite her condition. "You think this is over?" she said, her voice low and threatening. "You think a few chains can hold me?"

The guard hesitated, but before he could respond, a faint smile tugged at her lips. "You don't know what you've unleashed."