The night sky burned.
What had once been a peaceful kingdom was now drowning in flames.
Lothan stood atop the city wall, his crimson eyes fixed on the endless army advancing toward Nethoria. Thousands of human soldiers marched forward beneath banners bearing the symbols of several human kingdoms.
This wasn't a simple attack.
This was an invasion.
A war.
A war they had never expected.
Another explosion rocked the city.
A tower in the eastern district collapsed, sending debris crashing into nearby buildings.
The screams of civilians echoed through the night.
Lothan clenched his fists.
"Protect the citizens!" he shouted.
His voice thundered across the battlefield.
Immediately, hundreds of demon warriors rushed to obey.
The city guards moved quickly, escorting civilians toward underground shelters hidden beneath the capital.
But the attacks continued.
Flaming projectiles rained from the sky.
The enemy had prepared for this.
They knew exactly where to strike.
Someone had given them information.
Someone had betrayed them.
"Lothan!"
A familiar voice called out.
General Varis landed beside him.
The veteran warrior's armor was stained with blood.
"We've lost the southern gate."
"What?"
"The attackers destroyed it using enchanted weapons."
Lothan's eyes narrowed.
Enchanted weapons were rare.
Very rare.
Human kingdoms shouldn't have possessed such powerful artifacts in large numbers.
This attack had been planned for years.
Perhaps decades.
"Where is my father?" Lothan asked.
"The king is organizing the city's defense."
"And my mother?"
"She's helping evacuate civilians."
Lothan nodded.
At least they were safe.
For now.
Suddenly a deafening roar echoed across the battlefield.
Both sides froze.
Something enormous emerged from the darkness.
A massive beast covered in black armor charged toward the city walls.
Its glowing red eyes burned like molten fire.
"Impossible..." Varis whispered.
"A siege beast?"
The creature smashed into the wall.
Stone exploded everywhere.
Soldiers were thrown through the air.
The entire structure trembled violently.
Lothan didn't hesitate.
With a single step, he launched himself forward.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
Within seconds he reached the creature.
The beast swung a massive claw.
Lothan caught it effortlessly.
The impact generated a powerful shockwave.
For a brief moment, silence fell over the battlefield.
Thousands watched in disbelief.
The gigantic monster pushed forward with all its strength.
Lothan remained unmoving.
Then he squeezed.
CRACK.
The creature's armored limb shattered instantly.
The beast roared in agony.
Lothan raised his hand.
A sphere of crimson energy formed above his palm.
The air itself seemed to tremble.
"Disappear."
The energy erupted.
A pillar of scarlet light pierced the night sky.
The siege beast vanished completely.
Nothing remained.
Not even ashes.
The battlefield became silent.
Human soldiers stared at him in horror.
Even many demons looked shocked.
This was the power of Lothan Xander Maeve.
The strongest demon alive.
But despite his victory, his expression remained grim.
Because he could feel it.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
This attack wasn't meant to defeat him.
It was meant to distract him.
"Lothan!"
A wounded messenger stumbled toward him.
Blood covered his body.
The soldier fell to his knees.
"The royal palace..."
Lothan's heart skipped a beat.
"What happened?"
"The enemy broke through."
For the first time that night, genuine fear appeared in Lothan's eyes.
Without another word, he vanished.
A sonic boom echoed behind him as he raced toward the palace.
The city blurred around him.
Burning buildings.
Fleeing civilians.
Dead soldiers.
The sights became more horrifying with every passing second.
When he finally reached the palace grounds, he stopped.
The world seemed to freeze.
The magnificent palace had been destroyed.
Entire sections had collapsed.
Flames consumed the royal gardens.
Bodies littered the ground.
Both demon and human.
Lothan's breathing became uneven.
"No..."
He rushed forward.
Please.
Anyone but them.
Please.
He searched desperately through the ruins.
Then he found him.
Kael.
The young prince lay beneath a collapsed pillar.
Blood stained his clothes.
His eyes were closed.
Lothan dropped to his knees.
"Kael..."
No response.
The cheerful boy who dreamed of becoming stronger.
The boy who had laughed with him only hours ago.
Gone.
Lothan's hands trembled.
For a moment he couldn't move.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't breathe.
Then another voice reached him.
"Lothan..."
Weak.
Faint.
Barely audible.
His head snapped upward.
Not far away, Queen Seraphina lay against a broken wall.
His mother.
Lothan immediately rushed to her side.
"Mother!"
She smiled weakly.
Even now.
Even in pain.
She smiled.
"You've grown so much..."
"Don't talk."
Lothan desperately poured energy into her wounds.
Nothing happened.
The injuries were too severe.
Far too severe.
"Lothan..."
Tears filled his eyes.
"No."
"You must listen."
"No!"
The queen gently touched his face.
"You have a kind heart."
The words struck him harder than any weapon.
"You must never lose that kindness."
"Please stop talking."
"Promise me."
His vision blurred.
For the first time in centuries, Lothan cried.
"I promise."
The queen smiled.
A beautiful smile.
One he would remember forever.
Then her hand fell.
And she moved no more.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Lothan sat motionless.
The world around him seemed distant.
Meaningless.
Everything he loved was disappearing.
Everything.
A heavy hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.
His father stood behind him.
The Demon King.
Covered in wounds.
Exhausted.
Yet still standing.
"Lothan."
The king's voice was calm.
Far too calm.
As though he already knew his fate.
"They've taken everything from us."
The king looked toward the burning city.
"Not yet."
His gaze returned to his son.
"You are still here."
Lothan lowered his head.
"I failed."
"No."
The king shook his head.
"You protected as many people as you could."
"But Kael..."
"Was my son."
The king's eyes softened.
"And yours."
For several moments neither spoke.
Then a terrifying presence descended upon the battlefield.
A pressure so immense that the ground itself cracked.
The king's expression darkened.
"They're here."
Lothan slowly turned.
Far above the burning capital, several figures floated in the sky.
Each radiated enormous power.
The leaders of the invading force.
The true architects of the war.
And among them stood a familiar face.
A man whom the royal family had trusted for years.
A human diplomat.
A friend.
A traitor.
The moment Lothan recognized him, something inside his heart broke.
The war had not begun because of fear.
It had begun because of betrayal.
And before this night was over, countless more lives would be lost.
To be continued...