It had been some time since I left Duskenfern behind, the once-bustling village now just a memory in the haze of my hurried journey. The closer I drew to the demon border, the more the landscape turned into a battlefield.


    The stench of death hung heavy in the air, mingling with the acrid scent of scorched earth. Villages lay in ruins, their once-vibrant homes reduced to charred skeletons. The roads were littered with broken weapons, shattered shields, and lifeless bodies—humans, demons, and other species alike.


    My chest tightened as I flew over the desolation. Duskenfern had been spared, thanks to my intervention. But these villages… they had no such luck.


    I gritted my teeth, my thoughts darkening as I soared above the wreckage.


    “When is that brother of mine going to finish gathering NirVanger and deal with this demon general?” I muttered under my breath.


    In the game, defeating this particular general had been no small feat. I remembered how many times I’d been wiped out before finally unlocking the NirVanger sword—a weapon of immense power, capable of cutting through the general’s defenses like butter.


    But even in the game, wielding the sword came with its own challenges. My in-game body hadn’t been strong enough to handle its full power, so I’d spent countless hours grinding quests, boosting my stats, and perfecting my strategy.


    In the end, I had triumphed. I’d defeated the demon lord, saved the kingdom, and even married my in-game lover—a bittersweet memory now, considering my current reality.


    Perfect. Ha. Not my story anymore


    But this wasn’t about kingdoms or lovers. None of that mattered anymore. All I cared about was Nyxis.


    My fists clenched as I pushed myself to fly faster, the map clutched tightly in one hand.


    “This time,” I vowed aloud, my voice echoing in the desolate sky, “I don’t need NirVanger. I don’t need a kingdom. All I need is Nyxis.”


    I could see her in my mind’s eye—her bright smile, her curious chirps, the way she clung to me like I was her entire world.


    “I’m coming for you, Nyxis,” I whispered, my voice breaking with emotion. “Just wait for me. Please, hold on.”


    The wind howled around me, carrying my promise forward. My magic surged as I pushed my body harder, ignoring the fatigue that clawed at the edges of my strength.


    I wouldn’t stop. Not for anything.


    Nyxis was waiting for me, and I would tear through heaven and hell itself to bring her back.


    The first rays of morning sun pierced the gloom as I stepped into demon territory. The border was no ordinary boundary—it was a fortress of defense. Enormous black pillars reached skyward, some crackling with magical energy. Demon forces patrolled in disciplined formations, their eerie movements synchronized like clockwork.


    Flying directly into their midst would’ve been suicide, and I wasn’t here to die. Not yet.


    Instead, I opted for stealth. Focusing my magic, I pressed my hand to the ground, whispering a spell. The earth trembled beneath me as I burrowed a tunnel, bypassing the demon patrols entirely. The oppressive darkness of the underground matched the weight in my heart, but I pressed on.


    After what felt like hours of crawling through the stifling soil, I surfaced far beyond the border. Climbing out, I was greeted by a land that was both alien and hostile.


    The land ahead was lifeless, a stark contrast to the lush fields of the Solarius Kingdom. A heavy miasma clung to everything, seeping into my lungs like smoke. The ground was cracked and barren, with gnarled plants that looked more like skeletal hands clawing their way out of the soil.


    I adjusted myself as I consulted the map.


    Edward had been the one to mark it for me, his knowledge suspiciously detailed. I remembered his explanation: a retired adventurer who had frequented Duskenfern had once explored these lands before the demon threat became insurmountable.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Convenient, I thought grimly, though I didn’t have the luxury of questioning his motives now.


    I remembered the game’s lore vividly, every detail etched into my mind. The current Demon Lord, Malachor, was no ordinary ruler. He had been born only 17 or 18 years ago but was already predicted to be the most powerful demon lord in history.


    At the tender age of 15, Malachor was crowned with full authority, marking the beginning of his tyrannical reign. From there, the tide of war shifted. His generals, seasoned monsters with centuries of experience, began carving through the light’s territories, laying waste to countless lives.


    Malachor wasn’t just powerful—he was growing stronger. The lore hinted at a “training arc,” during which he would ascend to unimaginable heights of power.


    In the game, this was the point where the hero had to act decisively. After Solarius was weakened by Nyx, the Demon Lord sought to capitalize on the kingdom’s vulnerability. But no matter how powerful Malachor grew, in the game, he would ultimately fall.


    The deeper I ventured into the demon lands, the more I realized how little I truly understood this world.


    Belphegorr showing up this early? That wasn’t supposed to happen. The game had never mentioned him leaving his fortress before the hero’s final confrontation. And yet, there he was, taking Nyxis.


    It hit me like a cold blade.


    This world wasn’t just a game anymore—it had its own laws, its own secrets.


    The Khorothians, chaos magic, ancient civilizations I had never encountered in my playthroughs. What else was hidden beneath the surface of this "game"?


    Whatever it was, it didn’t matter.


    “Nyxis,” I whispered into the night, “I’m coming.”


    The path to Belphegorr’s lair was no walk in the park. Demon villages dotted the landscape, each one more treacherous than the last. The creatures were sharp-eyed and ruthless, but I relied on every ounce of magic and cunning to slip past them.


    When flying was too risky, I crept through shadows. When hiding failed, I used quick bursts of magic to silence any witnesses. My heart pounded with every close call, but I didn’t falter.


    By the time I reached Belphegorr’s castle, the midnight moon was high above, bathing the fortress in an eerie silver glow.


    The lair was massive—an imposing structure of jagged black stone that clawed at the sky. Fiery cracks ran through its walls, pulsating like veins. Demon guards patrolled the perimeter, their monstrous forms bathed in the glow of flickering torches.


    This wasn’t just a castle; it was a fortress built for war.


    I crouched in the shadows, my eyes scanning the defenses. Sneaking past this many guards wouldn’t be easy.


    “Time to get my hands dirty,” I muttered, a grim smile on my face.


    Water Magic wasn’t my specialty, but it would do. I formed small, silent spheres of water and sent them floating toward the guards’ faces. As the spheres encased their heads, I followed up with razor-sharp Wind Magic, slicing through their throats before they could sound the alarm.


    It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t heroic.


    But it was necessary.


    I crept through the outer defenses, leaving a trail of lifeless bodies behind.


    The castle''s interior was even more foreboding. The walls were adorned with grotesque carvings and banners soaked in dried blood. The air was thick with the metallic tang of iron and something far fouler.


    “Dark, cold, and massive,” I muttered, my voice echoing faintly in the empty corridor.


    This wasn’t just a lair; it was a maze, designed to disorient intruders.


    But I wasn’t here to admire the architecture.


    “Nyxis... hold on,” I whispered, gripping my wand tightly as I pressed forward.


    Every step deeper into the castle brought me closer to the answers I desperately sought—and the horrors I feared most.


    I slithered through the castle''s dark corridors, each shadow seeming to pulse with malevolence. My ears perked as a low conversation drifted toward me from a nearby corner.


    “Did you see Lord Belphegorr today?” one guard grunted. His voice was raspy, his words laced with fear.


    “Yeah,” the other replied, shivering. “He’s in a damn good mood. Probably ‘cause of that Skyrend he captured.”


    Nyxis.


    My fists clenched as I listened. The words that followed were even worse.


    “You know,” the first guard continued, his tone dropping to a whisper, “I once saw him experimenting. It was… unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Just talking about it makes me want to puke.”


    My blood ran cold.


    A storm of horrifying possibilities raced through my mind. What had that monster done to Nyxis?


    No. I couldn’t let myself think like that. She’s alive. She has to be.


    I stepped out of the shadows, my eyes blazing with fury. Before either of them could react, I slashed my blade of wind across one demon’s throat. He crumpled to the ground, choking on his own blood.


    The other guard froze, trembling as I loomed over him.


    “Where is Belphegorr?” I growled, my voice like a knife against stone.


    When he hesitated, I grabbed his hand and twisted. The sickening snap of bones echoed through the corridor.


    “Gah—AHH!” he tried to scream, but I clamped a hand over his mouth, cutting him off.


    “Talk,” I hissed, digging my blade into his arm. “Or the next scream you let out will be your last.”


    Sweating profusely, the demon finally caved. “H-he’s in the grand chamber! At the end of the west wing! Please… let me go!”


    “Thanks for the tip,” I said coldly.


    Without hesitation, I drove my blade into his chest. The light left his eyes as his body slumped to the floor.


    I dragged the bodies under a nearby table, concealing them as best as I could.


    There was no more sneaking.


    I stormed through the west wing, cutting down any demon that dared stand in my way. Blasts of wind magic sent guards flying, and bolts of chaos magic struck down others where they stood.


    Their screams echoed through the corridors, but I didn’t stop.


    Nyxis. Nyxis. Nyxis.


    Her name pounded in my head, fueling my rage and desperation.


    At last, I stood before a massive set of iron doors. The intricate carvings on its surface depicted grotesque scenes of suffering.


    This was it.


    Belphegorr’s lair.


    I pushed the doors open, stepping into a room shrouded in darkness.


    The air was heavy, almost suffocating, and the silence was deafening.


    As I stepped forward, a voice echoed through the chamber, deep and mocking.


    “Welcome,” it said, dripping with malice. “I’ve been waiting for you.”


    I froze, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.


    “I sensed you the moment you set foot in my domain,” the voice continued. “Did you think you could sneak in here unnoticed?”


    A sinister laugh filled the room, sending chills down my spine.


    “This lair,” the voice said, “is filled with my devices. Every step you’ve taken, every breath you’ve drawn… I’ve been watching. And now, here you are, standing before me.”


    A spark of light flickered, illuminating the room for a brief moment.


    And then I saw him.


    Belphegorr.


    Seated upon a throne of bones, his crimson eyes glowing with wicked amusement. His massive form loomed over me, exuding an aura of absolute power.


    “Come,” he said, spreading his arms in mock invitation. “Let’s see if you’re as entertaining as your little Skyrend.”


    The room erupted into laughter, the sound coming from unseen demons lurking in the shadows.


    “This ends here,” I growled.


    And then, with a roar of fury, I charged.