Anubis left her class and walked toward the fire elemental classroom to wait for Telma, who was just finishing up. When Telma emerged, she bowed slightly.
Anubis frowned.
"Don't bow to me in public. I'm keeping a low profile here, understand?" she warned. Telma nodded quickly.
Anubis gave her a brief glance, then turned and began walking. Telma followed close behind. They were just about to leave the school compound when a voice called out.
"Anubis!"
She turned to see Zenel hurrying toward her. She stopped and waited.
"I have something to say to you, if you don't mind," he said, catching his breath.
Anubis gestured for Telma to give them space. Telma nodded and stepped away.
"What is it?" Anubis asked.
Zenel took a moment, then began.
"It's about my friend, Uriel... I just want to tell you about him. Maybe then you can decide if what you did was right or wrong.
"We're both orphans. We lived in an orphanage where we were constantly mistreated for not awakening our elemental powers. One day, we ran away. We had no one to rely on—we worked hard, did manual labor, odd jobs for mages... anything to survive. It took us years to save enough money to attend this school, hoping we could finally awaken our elements."
He paused, eyes lowering.
"It took five painful months. We had no money to buy elemental seeds. But eventually, we awakened the air element. That's when Uriel changed. He became obsessed with strength—tired of being weak, tired of being scorned. He joined a gang, and it changed him... that's the version of him you saw today.
"But deep down, he's not like that. He just wanted to stop being a victim."
Anubis remained silent, her expression unreadable.
Zenel sighed.
"I'm sorry for what he said to you, but... you went too far. You almost killed him. The healer said his inner core is severely damaged. He might never perform magic again. He's dying—slowly—inside. I can't lose him. Not like this. Please... if there's anything you can do, anything at all... he needs hope, or he might do something irreversible."
Zenel turned and walked away, not bothering to wait for her reply.
Anubis stood still. For the first time in a long while, her emotionless mask twitched. She clenched her fists and threw a frustrated punch into the air.
---
Later, back home, Anubis sat cross-legged on the floor in her room and summoned the three fire elementals. They emerged from her body and bowed before her.
"How may we serve you, your highness?" the first one asked.
"I want to help someone whose inner core is damaged. He can't use magic anymore. What can I do?" Anubis asked with worry in her voice.
The elementals exchanged glances before the second one responded.
"There is only one way... but unfortunately, it's not something you can currently do."
Anubis frowned.
"What way is that? And why can't I do it?"
"You would need to become a Demon Lord," the first elemental replied.
"Only then could you turn him into a lesser demon to keep him alive. But you don't yet meet the requirements. You may carry traces of dark element, but it's far from enough."
"Then what are the requirements?"
"There is a place called the Den of the Demon Lord—deep within the Demon Realm. The current Demon God lives there. You must go there while he sleeps, cut out his heart, and eat it. That is the only way to become the next Demon God. But..." the elemental paused,
"You must not be seen. If the Demon God or his guards spot you, you won't leave alive."
Anubis's resolve hardened.
"How do I get there?"
She made up her mind. She would go, regardless of the danger. She didn't even know why she was calling Uriel her friend, but something inside her couldn't let go of what she'd done. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was responsibility.
She stood and looked out at the garden through her window, deep in thought. Then she summoned the fire elementals again.
"I'm ready. Open the portal."
They obeyed.
A swirling black portal emerged.
"This will take you to the Demon God's den," the first elemental warned.
"But once you enter, your presence may still be sensed. We can't help you conceal your aura. The portal will close behind you. To return, you must consume the Demon God's heart. Are you sure?"
"Yes," she said.
"Wait—Lilith? Can you hear me?"
The elemental spirits glanced at one another at the mention of her name.
"Yaaawn... Anubis, why do you always wake me when I'm finally having a good nap?" Lilith groaned.
The three spirits stared, stunned.
"That voice..." the second one murmured.
"That's our former empress..."
"Why are you three staring at me like that?" Anubis asked.
"The voice we heard—it belongs to Lilith, our former empress. Why is she inside you?"
"She never told me. Only said the former empress was in slumber. So she was the reason I could summon you all so easily..."
Anubis's expression darkened.
"Lilith... why didn't you tell me the truth?"
"I had my reasons," Lilith said softly.
"There's much you don't yet know about me. Things you're too young to understand. I'll tell you when the time is right. Yes, I was once the empress. But after being cast into the Dark Abyss by the Origin, I began to wither. My powers faded. My soul left my dying body to find a worthy successor. And then I found you. I gave you the elemental fire orb and made you the next empress. That's why the spirits accepted you."
She sighed.
"My body is likely gone by now..."
"We're sorry, Your Highness," one of the spirits said, bowing.
"We tried to save you. We failed..."
"No need to apologize," Lilith interrupted gently.
"You did your best. Now your duty lies with her."
Anubis absorbed everything in silence. Her anger faded. She looked at the portal again—then remembered her new goal: bring Lilith's body back too.
"Lilith, can you conceal my aura so the Demon
God won't detect me?"
"Yes."
She waved her hand, murmured a spell, and shimmering dust surrounded Anubis like a protective cloak.
"Your aura is masked. But tread carefully. The Demon God is sharp."
Anubis stepped through the portal.
The world shifted.
She emerged in a thick, shadowy forest. The air felt heavier, thicker—this was the Realm of Demons.
"Lilith... where do I go first? I'm not sure."
Lilith appeared, sitting cross-legged on a chair that materialized from nowhere.
"Hmm. Maybe go left? My instincts say so, and they're never wrong."
Anubis sighed.
"She definitely knows the way but wants me to figure it out myself..." she thought.
She went right instead. Something told her Lilith was testing her.
As she moved deeper into the forest, she passed strange, malformed lesser demons. Fortunately, her aura was cloaked—they didn't notice her.
Eventually, she reached a large, shadow-covered cavern, guarded by two towering demon sentinels. They sniffed the air and looked at each other.
Anubis tensed and took a step back.
"Relax. They only sense something unfamiliar. They won't see you," Lilith reassured her.
With silent steps, Anubis slipped into the cavern. The place was simple but radiated raw, oppressive power. Fitting for a Demon God.
At the center, on a black stone bed, the Demon God lay sleeping.
"He sleeps so carelessly... doesn't he realize the danger?" she thought.
She scanned the room—and spotted a silver dagger on a nearby altar. Grinning, she grabbed it and crept toward the sleeping figure.
She raised the blade—
BANG!
A loud explosion sounded outside the cavern.
"Damn it!" she cursed under her breath.
The Demon God stirred and sat up.
Anubis quickly ducked into a shadowed corner.
Outside, the two guards were battling a red dragon-like man.
The Demon God stormed outside.
"How dare you?!" his voice thundered with ancient rage.
The dragon man smirked—and lunged.
The Demon God raised his hand. Thunder boomed, and a weapon appeared—black lightning danced around it. He unleashed it, but the dragon man dodged swiftly.
Then the dragon drew a blue sword and slashed forward. Flames of pure sapphire burst forth and struck the Demon God squarely, sending him flying and engulfing him in flame.
"That sword..." Lilith said suddenly,
"You need that sword, Anubis."