The Reincarnations of Veldanava

Short Stories: Gods and Devils

Short Story 1: The Black Line

A few days before Walpurgis—

A series of unfortunate events had plunged the Underworld into chaos. Just recently, the Primordial Yellow had disappeared like White and Purple before her. This place had truly become a kingless land.

The war between factions still raged on, it was a daemon's instinct to seek violence after all. But without the kings to rule them, and commanders to provide them with strategies, there was no clear winner. At some point, it devolved into just an act of petty violence.

In the lawless place that was the Underworld, a lone daemon lived a peaceful life, unaffected and unconcerned by the pandemonium unfolding around him. He was the only descendant of Black King Noir.

Unlike other Primordials, Noir only created one member of his line, and it was more of an experiment rather than an attempt to grow an army of his own.

Later when the Black King abandoned his palace to incarnate and serve the True Dragon, this daemon was left behind. He was also one of the oldest daemons second only to the Primordials themselves, having a rank of an archduke just like White's closest man.

Daemons fought each other without any rhythm or reason, that was in their nature, but they usually left him alone. They recognized that he had a duty to uphold.

Noir's hell gate was unique from the rest, it wasn't just connected the Underworld to the Material Realm, but it connected to the Otherworld as well.

And from this gate, the aggressors would come out. They were races born in the realm beyond and tried to invade the Cardinal World.

Insectoids led by the Insect Lord, and phantoms led by the Star Admirals under the Phantom King, these were the aggressors he had to deal with on a daily basis.

He was only an unnamed archdaemon, but he held his own quite well against a general-rank phantom.

Daemons already had an advantage against angels, and since all fights took place in the Underworld, his domain, he was stronger than usual.

And those insectoids, they were daemonkind's natural enemies due to their high resistance to magic, but he could still kill them in hand-to-hand combat.

Sometimes, when there was a swarm of insects, the High Blood would come down from the realm above to help him with pest control. He was very accustomed to her visit as she was also a disciple of his king and ancestor.

Today, however, was a peaceful day.

There was no risk of insectoids or phantoms invading today, so the daemon took this day slowly.

While he was watering his plants outside the palace, the daemon was interrupted. There were no less than a hundred daemons in his domain, all of them were colorless.

"You over there! Are you the master of this land?"

"I believe so," the daemon spoke back.

The leader of the intruders was a greater daemon. Despite his low rank, he had a form that looked mostly human, his horns and wings were hidden.

He took the form of a blond, young man, unlike the daemon he was challenging which looked truly demonic. Dark skin, hollow eyes, defined fangs and a pair of large demonic horns.

"I am the last dependent of Black, and you are?"

"Are you living under a rock or something?" The boy shouted, he was really obnoxious. "I have heard from those weaklings I beat that you are a real deal, do you want to join force with me?"