Demon and gods have been fighting for centuries. But there has never been success on either side, because both are equally powerful.
That's why they can't end each other's lives. And today, like always, the Damon king was fighting with the Heaven king and other gods, but something was strange today, because only the Damon king was in a rage while all the gods were smiling.
"Do you really think I wouldn't know that you kidnapped my son? Return him to me right now, or else things are going to get crazy," the Damon king shouted in anger.
His one and only heir, who was just born one month ago, had been kidnapped by the Heaven king. The Heaven king did that so he could stop more Damons from being born by killing the Damon king's heir.
"Look at you shaking like prey just because your son got kidnapped. But don't worry, I'll send his corpse to you soon."
The Damon king couldn't hold himself back now—not after hearing this. He gave the order to his army, and they attacked the gods.
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Meanwhile, on the other side—in the dungeon in Heaven where they had kept the Damon king's heir—
He sat still on the high punishment platform, fur dark as midnight, horns curved and smooth like polished stone. His gem-red eyes glowed with quiet intensity, without movement. Small, feline, and devilish—like a demon cub carved from shadow and flame, waiting.
He was looking around everywhere with his small eyes because the Heaven king had set barriers everywhere so that the little child could not escape. And suddenly, heavenly lightning began to fall on that little cub.
He howled in pain, tears flowing from his eyes. He was just scared and didn't know what to do. A new place, unfamiliar pain—everything confused him.
And just then, the dungeon door opened, and a little kid was standing there.
He had sky-blue, long, silky hair tied on his head. Fair skin, a cute and small face. He was wearing sky-blue and ocean-colored robes that were a little loose. His icy eyes looked at the cub with a pitiful expression.
The news had indeed spread like wildfire that the Heaven king had kidnapped the Damon king's heir, and everyone was happy—except Nereus.
Even though he was the Heaven king's one and only son, and the water god, he didn't like what his father did. And now, seeing him torturing the little cub, he left everything behind and came here.
When he saw the little cub howling in pain and crying, Nereus's eyes also became tearful. In the end, he was also just a kid. He used his powers to stop the lightning strikes.
He knew what he was doing went against his own father, but he couldn't leave that little cub there, enduring all that pain when he didn't do anything to deserve it.
Nereus stepped forward and sat in front of the cub, taking him onto his lap. The cub looked so weak.
"Little beast, go back to the Damon king now, because if you stay here, my father will definitely kill you."
Nereus thought the beast cub was weak and pitiful, but he didn't know that the cub was only confused about what to do. That's why he was sitting still, just waiting for the opportunity to escape. And just then, Nereus became that opportunity.
The cub licked Nereus's hand and glanced at him like he was memorizing his face. Nereus came out of the dungeon and let the cub go.
"You won't forget about me, right? My name is Aris. Let's get married once I grow up," Aris said.
Nereus was shocked because it was the first time he had heard a demon beast cub talk, but he smiled.
"My name is Nereus. I am the god of water, but His Majesty said that demons and gods are enemies, so we can't get married, little demon."
Aris's eyes became teary, and seeing that, Nereus felt guilty for making a little cub cry—he was so gentle and kind-hearted.
"I heard that if it's in our fate, then we can't stop anything from happening. So, if marrying you is in our fate, then we will get married."
Aris hardly understood anything from this, but he brightened up upon hearing it.
"Go quickly now," Nereus said, and the cub ran away, flying through the air.
Nereus stood there, watching the cub, unaware of what was waiting for him.
The demon cub had successfully escaped from Heaven and returned to the demon realm in the underworld.
But when the Heaven king found out that his own son had freed the demon cub, he was furious—because the entire Heaven was talking about it.
"Do you realize what you have done?" the Heaven king said. He was sitting on the throne, and Nereus was kneeling in front of him, looking down.
Nereus's back was bleeding because, in anger, his father had beaten him with a flame lash.
"Prepare for the execution of Nereus right now. You have betrayed Heaven, so you no longer belong here."
Nereus was crying but unable to say anything, just looking down as his tears dripped onto the ground.
They prepared everything and killed the little boy. And soon, the news reached the demon world, which left the demon cub heartbroken.
But when Nereus died, all the rivers and oceans started to dry. After all, Nereus was the water god. Without him, everything was failing.
Trees withered. Lands were becoming barren. The Heaven king used his and the other gods' powers to maintain nature in the human world, but it didn't really work.
Nereus's soul was scattered as he died, but his father had saved one piece of it and sent that soul for rebirth.
But Nereus was not reborn again. Everyone waited for his rebirth. Thousands of centuries passed, but still, nothing happened. The Heaven king continued to provide water to humans through his powers, but it was not enough.
In the meantime, the previous Demon king retired, and his son, Aris, took the throne. He was waiting for Nereus more than anyone.