Alex, Claire, Moira, and Rebecca Chambers stayed hidden behind cover, their eyes locked on the group of cultists who, with fanatical persistence, were trying to complete a summoning ritual. Even Alex struggled to understand why they would go through all this trouble—especially now, when hundreds, if not thousands, of demonic nests had already spread across the world, allowing creatures from other dimensions to easily cross into reality.
Scanning the ritual chamber, Alex quickly tried to assess what they were dealing with. His first thought: the cultists were trying to open yet another nest using an ancient ritual as a portal. The second—far more troubling—was that they aimed to summon a specific entity, possibly a high-ranking demon, and rip it from the depths of Hell into this world.
At that moment, Claire gently tugged on Alex's sleeve, catching his attention. He turned to her, and their eyes met. Without words, Claire was asking, "What now? Do we wait? Or do we intervene?"
Alex shook his head, making it clear—he was genuinely curious to see who they were trying to summon. And if it turned out to be just another nest, he'd be more than happy to beat the cultists senseless for wasting his time.
He gestured for the girls to remain completely silent—any careless movement could disrupt the ritual, and that meant he wouldn't get the answer he came for.
"Alex, do you really think this is going to work?" Recca whispered, tugging his sleeve again.
"More likely yes than no. Judging by who we're dealing with, they've got a real shot," Alex whispered back, eyes fixed on the ritual.
The girls only nodded in silence and continued watching. If Alex believed the ritual might succeed, then even they started to feel curious about exactly who—or what—these maniacs were summoning.
The cultists' voices grew louder, echoing through the chamber in a deep, humming vibration. Time passed, and nothing happened. Alex began to lose patience and was about to assume these idiots had messed something up. But then, one of them suddenly threw off his cloak.
His body was covered in strange symbols, drawn in blood. He stepped into the center of the circle and lay down on his back.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Self-sacrifice? These lunatics are really going all in," he thought.
Claire gripped his arm tighter this time.
"Are we going to save him? Or are you going to let them kill him?" she whispered tensely, her fingers clutching his sleeve.
"Why save him? He's one of them," Moira whispered doubtfully, picking up on the question.
Alex silently shook his head. He had no intention of saving anyone. Regardless of the ritual's outcome, he'd already decided—all the cultists here would die. He couldn't allow a group capable of summoning demons or opening portals to roam free.
The ritual entered its final phase. The cultists began to circle the sacrifice, chanting their mantra. Alex watched with an expression caught somewhere between boredom and irritation. But his demeanor changed instantly when the blood-drawn pentagrams lit up with a dark glow.
He understood—the ritual was nearly complete.
The lead cultist raised a black dagger above his head, its blade now etched with a glowing red pentagram. His voice grew louder with every word, almost a roar, echoing across the chamber:
"With this blade, I open the gates! Come forth at my call, Prince of Hell! Grace us with your presence and reveal your true power to this world!"
With those words, he drove the dagger into the chest of the man lying in the circle with fanatical determination. In that instant, the symbol on the blade flared even brighter. The victim's body convulsed violently. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It flooded the entire circle, but strangely, it did not spill beyond its borders.
Alex and the girls watched the unfolding scene with undisguised interest—especially when the man's body sank into the blood, as if it were thick sludge, something that should've been physically impossible.
Alex could feel it in his skin: the ritual had worked. And judging by the head cultist's words, the one they were summoning wasn't just anyone—it was the Prince of Hell himself. He stroked his chin, deep in thought. Perhaps the demon that Becca and the others had killed earlier had been summoned to this world in the same way.
Which meant... this could happen again soon.
Meanwhile, the cultists continued their chanting. The blood inside the circle bubbled more and more violently, pulsing in sync with their voices. The louder the incantations became, the more furiously the blood surged. Alex felt it—the ritual was reaching its peak. The Prince of Hell was about to arrive in this world.
And he was right.
With the final word of the cultists' chant, everything fell silent. The blood stopped boiling, the pentagrams faded, and an oppressive stillness filled the room.
"Did they mess up?" Moira asked doubtfully, scanning the now-empty circle.
"No. They succeeded," Alex said, shaking his head.
"You sure?" Recca whispered, glancing at him with worry.
Alex nodded. He saw the world differently than the girls. His eyes caught things that remained hidden to others. He saw how the pool of blood had changed—it was now a portal, a window into another world. No... more than that. It was a bridge, connecting reality to something foreign, something otherworldly. Alex even felt a spark of admiration. Opening a portal to another world with this kind of technology—he had only read about such things in books, seen them in films or other sources. But seeing it with his own eyes... it confirmed the truth.
And he could feel it—the presence of the Prince of Hell was becoming more and more distinct. His arrival was inevitable. The cultists kept praying, whispering their spells without pause.
Suddenly, the blood shot upward in a powerful geyser, drenching the kneeling cultists around the circle. When the surge subsided, a tall figure stood in its place. Horned, with gray skin and crimson armor that resembled aristocratic garb, the demon looked like a noble of hellish descent.
The three girls froze in place, stunned by what they saw. Despite Alex's earlier words, they hadn't truly believed the ritual would succeed until now.
Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise. He partially recognized the demon standing before him.
"Prince Azrak, we welcome you to our realm," the head cultist declared, bowing even lower, pressing his face to the floor.
"Hmm... the scent of this world. It reminds me of Argent D'Nur. The same stench of blood and fear. Mortals still wish to fight. Wonderful," Azrak said, inhaling deeply with satisfaction.
Alex narrowed his eyes. According to his memory, Azrak should've been long dead. He remembered how the demon had died at the hands of the Doom Slayer—whimpering, shrieking, begging for mercy. Alex wondered: had Azrak been resurrected? As far as he knew, that should've been impossible.
"Maybe a copy? Or a descendant?" he thought.
One thing was certain—this wasn't the same Azrak he remembered. But even so, the power radiating from this demon was far greater than that of the Prince of Hell who had once been slain by Becca and the others.
Alex sensed the girls beside him tense up. Their unease was justified. Azrak exuded a primal fear. And he was strong.
"Looks like we have some rats eavesdropping on conversations they shouldn't be hearing," Azrak suddenly said, turning his head sharply toward their hiding spot.
Alex grimaced at the words and slowly stepped forward. With a subtle gesture, he signaled to the girls to stay hidden.
Azrak watched him with growing interest. The head cultist, shaking with panic, pointed a trembling finger at Alex.
"You shouldn't be here… False Savior! You're supposed to be far from this place!" he shouted.
"Hey, I go wherever I damn please. And don't point that finger at me. Or did you really think I'd miss the fun little summoning show for a mutt named Azrak?" Alex grinned, lighting a cigarette.
"So this world has its own Savior too… But you're different from the ones who stood in my way before." Azrak narrowed his eyes, studying Alex.
"And you were supposed to be dead. But I'm not rubbing it in, am I? Oh, how you screamed when the Slayer tore you apart. How did it go again? 'Nooooooo! Aaaaaaah!'" Alex mocked, clearly enjoying the way Azrak's face twisted in rage.
Azrak's eyes widened at Alex's words. He had been certain—absolutely certain—that no one in this world could possibly know the story of Argent D'Nur, let alone the history of Hell itself. And especially not the name of the being every demon in the Underworld feared above all.
Alex observed Azrak closely, watching the demon's face change expression by the second—as if ancient, long-buried terrors were awakening within him. And now Alex was sure: this wasn't just any demon. This was Azrak. No doubt remained. And there was only one being who could have brought him back… Davoth.
Claire, Moira, and Recca huddled behind a pillar, listening intently to the conversation. The way Alex casually called the demon by name, the way he spoke to him—it left no doubt. He knew Azrak. He knew he was supposed to be dead. He had even referenced the exact moment of his death. The girls exchanged glances. Suspicion was growing in their eyes. Alex was clearly hiding something. He knew too much—and preferred to keep it to himself.
"That's impossible… You weren't there! All the Night Sentinels died, and the monster was sealed away in the Kadingir Sanctum! Who are you? What are you?!" Azrak growled, his voice filled with fury, glaring at Alex from beneath his brow.
"And who told you all the Sentinels were dead?" Alex replied with a faint, dangerous smile. "Or haven't you heard? The Slayer is free again. Or did you come here without even figuring out where you were? Shame, really… because none of them are in this world. What a… tragedy." His voice was thick with mock sadness.
"Ha-ha-ha!" Azrak laughed loudly, lifting his head with arrogance. "If the monster isn't in this world, then this world will fall like all the rest. They may call you a savior—but you will never become that monster!"
"Oh, Azrak…" Alex shook his head, mocking amusement in his tone. "Looks like death didn't do you any good. Or maybe you were just too honored to be resurrected by the Dark Lord himself? Or perhaps the thought that the Slayer isn't here has made you bold. But let me tell you a little secret…"
He grinned, revealing razor-sharp teeth.
"I don't need to become a monster. I was born one."
Azrak's eyes widened in horror—but what happened next sent panic through his demonic heart.
Alex's shadow, cast by the flickering flames, suddenly stopped moving. It froze, detached from his body. And then it began to change…
In the next instant, the shadow took on the outline of a woman—with long, flowing, alive hair. It grew rapidly, stretching across the ritual hall like a spreading plague.
Claire, Moira, and Recca looked down in shock—the shadow covered the entire floor. The cultists noticed too. Panic began to rise, slowly at first, but relentlessly. A wave of creeping dread slithered through their chests, growing stronger and stronger… until it reached its peak.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of eyes suddenly opened across the shadow. All at once.
Pale, thin, unnatural hands burst from the darkness—grotesque and unreal. They grabbed the cultists and began tearing them apart. Like paper, the bodies shredded under the blows of these silent executioners.
Claire, Moira, and Recca instinctively shut their eyes — the sight was too horrific. They didn't know exactly what was happening, but just one glance at the way those thin arms were tearing the cultists apart was enough to make them turn away and fight the urge to vomit.
Alex and Azrak hadn't looked away from each other the entire time. Azrak's gaze was tense as he tried to understand what kind of being stood before him. But in Alex's eyes, there was no fear, no aggression… only boredom.
"What are you?" Azrak asked hoarsely, narrowing his eyes. "You're not human… not mortal… Are you another nightmare from the past, like that monster?"
"Who knows, Azrak…" Alex smirked. "Only one being knows what I really am. But for now… I'm your new playmate. We're going to play together. And you're going to remember. You'll remember the pain, the death… the agony you felt when you died at Slayer's hand. And remember this — no one will bring you back again. Not now. Not ever. That's a promise."
He stretched out his hand, and with a loud crack, the Flail appeared — a heavy weapon with a long chain. It dropped to the floor with a dull clang, scattering sparks.
The moment Azrak saw it, it was like he was struck by lightning. The memories of his death crashed over him like an avalanche. He involuntarily stepped back. Panic filled his eyes. He felt the same thing he had felt back then, when he had stood before the Slayer — the same looming death… as inevitable as time itself.
Alex's face turned cold, emotionless — like he had donned the mask of an executioner. He began walking forward slowly, the Flail scraping across the stone floor, sending up sparks with every step. Azrak realized the truth: he had to run. He had to warn the Dark Lord. A new monster had appeared in this world.
He turned abruptly, hoping to vanish into the shadows — but he didn't make it a single step. He collapsed onto the stone. Twisting around, he saw a pale, slender hand gripping his ankle. Azrak thrashed, trying to break free, and when he finally did… the shadow fell upon him.
He looked up — and met a pair of iridescent eyes gleaming from the darkness that now veiled Alex's face.
"Noooooooooo!!!" Azrak screamed, throwing up his arm in a desperate attempt to shield himself.
"Yeeeeees…" Alex replied with a wide, toothy grin.
Alex raised the Flail — and with a smirk, brought it crashing down. The spiked iron ball smashed into Azrak's arm with a sickening crunch, shattering bone. But he didn't stop. The blows kept coming, again and again, each one aimed at the demon's face.
Recca, Moira, and Claire snapped out of their daze, only to be greeted by a horrifying scene: Alex, methodically beating Azrak to death with the Flail. Unable to bear the sheer brutality of it, they turned away — even for them, it was too much.
And yet, despite the horror, they had heard enough from the exchange between Alex and the demon to understand something crucial.Alex… was not human. He had been compared to a monster feared even by demons. Even this Prince of Hell, whose body was now being smeared across the stone, had trembled before that monster.
Metal kept striking flesh with a heavy, sickening sound. Azrak's screams grew weaker with each blow, until they were nearly silent. Alex raised the Flail one last time… but didn't bring it down. He merely smiled — and the weapon vanished from his hand.
Alex cracked his wrist, and his fingers flared with a pale, almost deathly flame. He plunged them into Azrak's chest and clenched. There was a sound like breaking glass. The girls turned around — and saw Azrak's body turning to ash.
"What the hell just happened?" Moira asked in a stunned voice.
"He died. That's all," Alex replied calmly, shrugging.
"Are you serious? Then maybe you can explain what the demon meant?" Claire said coldly, her face unreadable.
"What do you mean? The 'Nooooo!' or the 'Aaaaaaah!'?" Alex sneered, mocking the dying demon's screams.
"No, not that. We already understood why he was screaming. Why did he say you're not human and not mortal?" Recca asked, not taking her eyes off Alex.
"Because I really am not human. And not mortal," he said carelessly, lighting a cigarette.
"So who are you then? Some kind of savior weirdo? An angel fighting demons? A hero from ancient legends? A super cool guy?" Moira squinted, guessing possible answers.
"Almost got it," Alex shrugged, and confetti magically floated in the air. "I'm the Demon King from another world who saves worlds from destruction. Ta-da!"
The girls exchanged skeptical looks and involuntarily started scanning his head for horns. Then his arms and legs. Alex's eye twitched nervously. He was already tired of this — the same thing every time. He even started thinking about growing a couple of horns on his head just as a joke so no one would ask him silly questions about where his horns are.
"I don't have horns! And no hooves either! How many times do I have to say it? You're not the first to try and find them!" he said irritably.
"Sorry… you know, demon, horns, all that stuff," Recca said embarrassed.
"Even my brother doesn't have horns. Only wings. Why should I be an exception?" Alex muttered, rubbing his face.
"And who's your brother, if you're so sure about it?" Claire smirked, trying not to laugh.
Alex silently pointed downwards. The girls followed his gesture but didn't understand what he meant. He kept pointing down, hoping they would get it. And finally...
"You mean…" Recca began, "...that your brother is…"
"Who exactly?" Moira asked, looking at her.
"Lucifer," Claire said, trying to process the new reality.
"Bingo," Alex smirked, walking past them.
He calmly headed back to the corridor leading to the stairs that went up to the surface. The day had been interesting — especially with Azrak's appearance and death.
Recca, Moira, and Claire remained standing, stunned. The news about who Alex really was left them speechless. They exchanged looks, and realizing Alex was leaving, hurried after him. They caught up with him near the exit, just as he was almost at the car.
"If your brother is Lucifer… then your father is…" Recca started, hinting.
"Yeah," Alex nodded. "How does it feel to kiss the Son of God?"
"Nice… Wait, what?! That's not what I meant!" Recca immediately blushed. "If your father is that one, then why are you even here?"
Alex sighed tiredly and got into the car. He understood that the explanations would take quite some time, and telling the whole truth in the middle of a ruined Hong Kong wasn't the best idea. The girls, noticing that he had settled behind the wheel, silently took their seats inside the car.
As soon as the doors closed, Alex began to tell everything from the very beginning — just like he had with others before them. He almost knew by heart all the questions that were about to come. Why was he in this world? Why didn't God intervene? Who was he really? These and dozens of other questions he had heard many times before — from other girls, in different circumstances. His answers sounded steady, almost mechanical, like an answering robot: what he did for a living, why he hadn't destroyed the villains immediately, what heaven and hell looked like, and why he hid his true nature.
But for Recca, Moira, and Claire, all of this was new — every answer from Alex was like a revelation to them. Their reactions were a mixture of shock, amazement, and confusion. Alex's identity, his power, his origin, even the mention of family — all of it turned their understanding of the world upside down.
As the car slowly drove through the ruined Hong Kong, the girls tried to process what they had heard, while also trying to lighten the mood a bit.
"So… wait, Recca really kissed the Son of God? Damn, that's pretty cool," Moira said, trying to get used to the new reality.
"That's the only thing that surprised you?" Recca gave her a tired look. "And the fact that two super-powerful beings are waging a war over this world, one of them created the Red Markers, and the other is the very progenitor of demons… you don't care about that? The main thing is that I kissed Alex?"
"Well… Alex did say it's his job to take them both out. And unlike you, I haven't kissed the Son of God yet," Moira replied with a sly smile, crossing her arms.
"Recca's not the only one who kissed him," Claire chimed in, leaning wearily against the back of the seat. "He's definitely no stranger to kisses."
Alex listened silently to their banter, slightly taken aback. But deep down, he was glad the truth hadn't broken them — or maybe they just hadn't fully grasped it yet. He knew new questions would come soon. Did he have doubts about whether to tell everything? Of course. But once he started, he couldn't stop. Especially with Recca — she would find out the truth eventually anyway, once their relationship grew closer. And the fact that Moira and Claire were now in the loop wasn't such a tragedy.
While the girls tried to ease the atmosphere with jokes, Alex rolled down the window and activated a portal leading straight to Alaska. The car smoothly entered the portal and, after a couple of seconds, emerged onto a snowy highway near a settlement.
He stopped at the house where the girls lived, turned off the engine, and got out of the car. The girls followed him, stopping nearby.
"We're here. If you have any more questions or need help — you know where to find me," Alex said with a slight smile.
"Sure, Demon King... But first, I need a hot bath to process all this," Claire sighed.
"My advice — just don't overthink it. Everything will settle down," Alex replied, trying to keep it simple.
"Wonderful. Advice from the Son of God. How sweet. Here's your gratitude," Claire said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"Sweet of you," Alex chuckled, not hiding his smile.
"Now I've kissed the Son of God too," Claire smirked and headed inside the house.
"Hey, I don't want to be last..." Moira said abruptly, stepping up to Alex. "Here's my gratitude." She grabbed him by the collar and kissed him on the cheek.
"You're just doing it because you want to kiss him," Recca said dryly.
"Maybe," Claire answered innocently, disappearing inside.
Moira just winked at Alex and followed her. Only Alex and Recca remained on the porch. She stepped closer, stood on tiptoes, kissed him on the lips, then hugged him tightly.
This trip and everything they had learned had truly brought them closer. Much more than before. Recca pulled away, smiled, said goodbye, and disappeared behind the door.
Alex stayed standing for a moment, then went back to the car and headed home. Upon arriving, he entered and found Alcina and Namiyo chatting animatedly.
"You're back already? How did it go?" Alcina asked, looking at him.
Without answering, Alex waved his hand, and his clothes changed into casual homewear. He approached the couch, jumped onto it, and laid his head on Alcina's lap, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
Seeing that he ignored her, Alcina frowned. Her eye twitched, and she pulled Alex's cheek.
Namiyo quietly laughed, watching this.
"I asked a question. How did the virus experiments go? Or are you pretending not to hear?" Alcina repeated sharply, pulling his cheek again.
"I heard. Just wanted a bit of love, and you're torturing me... Where's all your love, Alcina?" Alex mumbled, opening one eye.
"You'll get it tonight. But for now — tell me how it went. Stop playing with me," she replied, sighing irritably.
Alex looked at Alcina with interest when she promised he'd get his "dose of love" tonight. Certain images immediately popped into his head, but catching the annoyed look from his beloved, he quickly cleared his throat, pushing the thoughts away.
At first, he wanted to explain everything at once to everyone, to avoid endless repetition, but since things had gone this way — he'd have to make some small sacrifices. Alex began recounting the events: from arriving in ruined Hong Kong and the experiments on the Imps, to the appearance of cultists and the summoning of the prince of Hell, whom he ultimately killed. Namiyo and Alcina listened attentively, and when the story came to the revelation of his identity, Alcina couldn't help but comment.
"You brought it on yourself. Letting that idiot talk too much," she said coldly.
Alex just shrugged, settling comfortably on her soft lap, and closed his eyes, savoring a rare moment of peace.
After a short rest, Alex decided to visit Brunhilda, Koko, Yuriko, and Saya to share the results of the virus experiment. Getting up, he threw on his coat and left the house, heading toward the building used for meetings.
When he entered, everyone was already there: the girls, as well as Balalaika, Svetlana, and a few others.
"Yo, looks like you're all here," Alex said as he walked inside.
"Back already? How did it go?" Yuriko asked with a light smile.
"Pretty well," he nodded, approaching the table.
"Then spill it. We need to know what to expect from the new weapon," Svetlana said, folding her arms.
Alex began telling everything in order, answering questions as they came up. His story made it clear to everyone that they now had another powerful tool in the fight against demons.
He also asked if Chris had made contact while he, Claire, Recca, and Moira were away. Saya shook her head:
"No, he hasn't. Except… Hannibal called. Said he sent a group of civilians toward the settlement."
Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise. Listening to further explanations, he realized Hannibal had indeed taken his advice and started relocating civilians closer to the settlement, leaving soldiers at the base. Alex approved of this decision and was even pleased — a step in the right direction.
When the conversation ended, Alex decided to stay with the girls. Fortunately, they were almost done with their tasks, and soon they headed home together.
On the way, Alex told them about the summoning of the prince of Hell and how the prince accidentally revealed his identity, which forced Alex to come clean to Recca, Moira, and Claire.
"You let them talk again, huh?" Brunhilda said with a tired smile.
"Thanks, girls. Feeling all your endless love," Alex said dryly.
"You asked for it," Koko snorted. "You always give those bastards way too much time to talk. Isn't it easier just to take them out?"
"Koko's right," Yuriko confirmed. "All they do is drool and spout pompous nonsense."
"Well, next time I'll just beat them silently," Alex grumbled, feeling his eye twitch.
"Oh, do you even believe that yourself?" Saya smirked, pinching his side.
"Alright, alright. You're right… But hey, sometimes I just want to let the enemy have their say!"
"Suit yourself, dear. But they never say anything new anyway," Yuriko smiled.
Brunhilda, Koko, and Saya nodded in unison, agreeing with her. Alex just shrugged and went home with the girls.
Soon it was time for dinner, and Alex went to gather the rest of the girls. It took a little while — mostly because, as usual, he accompanied some home before going for the others. After dinner, as usual, there was movie night, followed by well-deserved rest and sleep.
To be continued...
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