Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods-Chapter 194: Act IV, Scene II: The Pet and the Puppeteer

A heatwave rolled off the purple pentagram, making the air shimmer and bend.

The glow deepened red along the curves and dimmed at the tips, a slow pulse of light and heat filling the rooftop.

From the center, amber fire twisted upward, wrapping tight around a figure stepping through.

She looked human… almost. The rest of her was all dragon. Red wings stretched wide, scattering sparks into the wind. Scales climbed her arms to the shoulders, edged her sides, traced her legs, and framed her face like a crown. Her short red hair whipped in the heated air.

She held the Infernakar Blade, the huge edge glowing like molten steel. Her golden eyes opened, thin pupils like a snake's, sweeping over the rooftop before fixing on one person.

Elysia.

Astros froze.

"This... Sienna?"

Maël turned briefly to him, his move sharp enough to be noticed by Astros.

"She... she was Crest's friend." Astros started. "Bel turned her into a demon. He... Wait... I see... he used the pentagram to bring in his sidekick."

Maël frowned, glancing from her to the glowing seal.

"This is the Demon's Lord sidekick?"

Novaria didn't look at them. In fact, she was completely ignoring their existence. All her attention stayed on the Crimson Bloom.

Elysia's mouth opened in pleased surprise. She let her black daggers fade and clapped slowly.

"Oh… now this is beautiful. I'm not sure who you are, but... I see the traits of someone I do. Those little details… they remind me of that sweet girl, Sienna. Bel turned you into his pet, didn't he?"

She bit her finger, her eyes glinting with twisted joy.

"Oh, I'm thrilled."

Novaria's stare stayed hard.

"And how are you doing? Do you like being a demon? And you're surely stronger now... Oh... how jealous I am. I would have loved to have my own demon to play with Bel's... But, wait a minute... There's this one... that other girl..."

Elysia's eyes sparkled.

"The one with disgusting blood. Wouldn't it be lovely if she woke up and became my pawn? But... What was her name?"

Novaria's eyes widened.

"…sia…"

Elysia tilted her head, enjoying the reaction, and cupped her face in her hands, tilting side to side like a child pretending innocence.

"Ah... I remember... Dusteria… your little friend. Such a bright thing. I showed her half of my love. My... how long has it been? Last week? Yesterday? It's hard to remember all the people I turn to lovers..."

At the name, Novaria's fingers twitched. Her shoulders tightened.

Elysia clasped her hands together.

"If only she'd stop wasting time and let me turn her into a proper demon. Then I could have you two tear each other apart for me... That would be the perfect show of love for me and Bel."

Novaria's body trembled, then snapped.

"ELYSIAAA!"

Fire exploded from her, a wave of heat rolling over the rooftop. Her whole body became a burning shape, the Infernakar Blade blazing into a giant arc of flame.

Maël and Astros were experienced enough to know when to leave the boat. They leapt off the building, shielding themselves from the blast.

Elysia only tilted her head with a soft, curious "Ah?"

Then the rooftop vanished in a blast. Flames rushed like a living thing, devouring the building and racing through the twisted streets. Heat and fire roared down alleys, tearing through walls and swallowing the screams of fleeing people.

The night sky burned red and gold.

The battle had begun.

From far off, the roar of Novaria's fiery blast still rolled over the skyline, fading into the warped streets.

Beyond that light, Bel's hand tightened around the void orb, now shaped into a long black scythe.

He drifted down over the platform, eyes locked on the giant obsidian figure ahead.

The Slumbering King stood still, the face of his helm turned his way. Above, Aurus watched, his frown growing sharper.

Too many questions turned in Aurus's head. Bel could swing the fight any way he wanted. To him, it felt like he stood as the lone hero between two Demon Lords.

The King might know Bel was an enemy, but would that mean they could both attack him? Or would Bel aim for the throne and take out whoever was left? The not knowing made Bel even more dangerous.

Bel landed without a sound. His white eyes stayed on the King.

The Slumbering King finally spoke, voice carrying a low sadness.

"Mammon walks these streets, yet you went through all this trouble to reach me. Tell me, Lord Ravager, why are you working so hard to kill me and my people? Have I ever wronged you?"

Bel didn't answer right away. Then, his eyes slid to Aurus.

Aurus held the look, his frown deepening. Here was the sign he was expecting.

"Hmph. As I thought. Showing your true colors."

Even as an ally, a demon was still a demon, and here, far from the eye, Bel had every reason to dispose of him.

His aura surged, heavy waves shaking the air. He raised his sword slowly, the blade drawing a clean line until it was flat at shoulder height. His boots ground into the stone, planting him.

The pressure made the scattered puppets twitch and sag, but Bel and the King were unaffected.

"Give it your best shot," Aurus said.

The air felt ready to snap, Aurus's sword up, his power climbing, the King frozen like a statue, Bel just in front.

It was then that Bel's eyes turned from Aurus back to the King.

"I'm glad I met people like you," Bel said.

Aurus didn't move. From experience, he had learned to become deaf during a battle. But the mightier was an enemy, the stronger was his interest when they started talking.

"People like you and Airi," Bel continued, "remind me there are reasons not to let them wipe out humanity."For a moment, Aurus was immobile, his mind blank. Bel's words were confusing, and he had a hard time processing them.

They seemed off, and something made him know that those words weren't meant for him.

Behind Bel, Regulus, hidden from all eyes, stiffened in surprise.

Bel let out a slow breath, purple haze curling from his mouth.

He straightened, squaring his shoulders, the scythe's black edge glowing deep purple. With Aurus poised, the King silent, the air tightened even more.

"I believe you had your reasons for coming here," Bel went on, his voice still aimed at the invisible Regulus. "I don't know your plan, but I'll keep my side of it."

He lifted the scythe, pointing its blade at the Slumbering King.

"And I'll honor another contract, by removing him from the race."