Numaro: The Demon King's Heir

Chapter 10: "The Crimson Throne"

The trials were taking their toll on Numaro, and it was clear that the darkness inside him was growing stronger with each challenge. But now, standing at the entrance to the final trial, he knew there was no turning back.

The doors to the throne room loomed before him—massive, black stone gates etched with ancient runes that pulsed with dark magic. Beyond them lay the seat of his father's power, the heart of the Demon Realm.

"The final trial," Reina said, her voice barely above a whisper. She hadn't looked at Numaro since the trial of shadows, and her distance only fueled his unease.

"What is this trial?" Numaro asked, though he had a sinking feeling he already knew.

Reina hesitated, then finally turned to face him. "You'll face the Demon King. Your father. This trial is not about power—it's about choice."

Numaro blinked in surprise. "Choice?"

Reina nodded. "The Demon King will try to tempt you, to pull you into his world. He will offer you power, a place at his side. You must resist, Numaro. If you accept his offer, if you embrace the darkness fully, there will be no coming back."

Numaro's heart raced. He had always known that the final trial would involve facing his father, but now that the moment was here, fear gnawed at him. Could he really resist? Could he turn his back on the power that had already saved his life so many times?

Before he could respond, the gates creaked open, revealing a vast chamber bathed in a deep crimson light. At the far end of the room, sitting on a massive, obsidian throne, was the Demon King.

His father.

The sight of him was overwhelming. The Demon King was enormous, his body radiating dark power. His eyes—piercing red—locked onto Numaro with an intensity that made his blood run cold.

"Welcome, my son," the Demon King's voice boomed, filling the chamber. "I have been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Numaro took a step forward, his legs feeling like lead. "I'm not your son. Not in the way you want me to be."

The Demon King chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Numaro's spine. "You are more my son than you realize. I can feel the power within you, the darkness. It's a part of you, Numaro. You cannot deny it."

Numaro clenched his fists, fighting the pull of the darkness that stirred at his father's words. "I won't be like you. I won't hurt people."

The Demon King rose from his throne, his towering figure casting a long shadow across the room. "You are already like me. The power you've used, the lives you've taken—it's only the beginning. You were born to rule by my side, to conquer the mortal world and beyond."

Numaro's heart pounded in his chest. The temptation was strong. The power his father offered was immense, and with it, he could be unstoppable. But then he remembered Reina's words. The darkness wasn't his to control—it was trying to control him.

"I won't join you," Numaro said, his voice trembling but resolute. "I'll fight the darkness. I'll find my own path."

The Demon King's expression darkened, and for the first time, there was a hint of anger in his eyes. "You are a fool, Numaro. Without the darkness, you are nothing. Weak. Powerless. But if that is your choice—then so be it."

The air in the chamber shifted, growing colder as the Demon King raised his hand. Dark energy crackled around him, and Numaro braced himself for the final battle.

The fight for his soul had only just begun.

To Be Continued...