ACT I - IX
THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CANDIDATES

'Finally.' King Reno relaxes in his seat after he seals the last letter.

He glances at the glass window basking on the light of the Azure Sun. Outside, his daughter is conversing with his niece, surrounded by nature with a calm breeze swaying around them. It is similar to the picturesque scene he came across years ago when he was just a mere Candidate.

Almost a millennium has already passed since he became the Devil King yet he cannot forget such peaceful memory when he traveled to the Mortal Realm. Their lives are the kind of life that he once dreamed of.

And soon, he will achieve it.

The Candidates have already completed their training. One more year and he will be able to abdicate his throne and return to his homeland. With the little amount of time remaining in his life span, he only wishes to live in peace and avoid the purge.

But at the reminder of that word, exhaustion instantly envelops him.

With great power comes great responsibilities, he knows that more than anyone else. Hell, a place already notorious for its depravity, only gets worse the more he discovers the secrets of his ancestors.

No wonder the previous kings lost their vigor after centuries of ruling Hell. The glory can never compensate for the burden that comes along with the title.

He shut his eyes close, rendering himself to the fatigue consuming him.

'One more year. Just one more year,' he chants to himself like a lifeline that will eventually free him from his shackles.

><><><><><><><

Izael bolts upright upon the sight of golden irises and hollow sockets staring at him. Ravenous strands, that are similar to his, cascade on the woman's shoulder as she descends from her pet.

A pet that not many demons will want, save for his cousin who likes to show off. Those who have the blood of a Daemon are given a lower demon to have and Lucienne chose the hardest to subdue.

If it is him, he'll never pick it even with a sword on his throat. Just thinking about the amount of work he'll have to put through to tame the skeletal dragon is already making him tired.

"What are you doing, Izael? When are you getting your ass up?" Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed with annoyance.

"Let me sleep," he says.

"Again?! That's the only thing you know!"

"I'm a dream demon, what do you expect?" Izael lies again and reaches for another pillow to cover his head and mute the grating voice of his cousin.

"Get up, you rascal. Today's the Assembly," she reminds, crossing her arms.

Izael jerks up once again, his eyes widening. He can't believe he forgot about it. His father has been telling him about it countless times. Even his mother, who rarely talks to him, reminded him as well.

'It's because of that dream...' Lately, all his dreams have been Hell-fire submerging the Rings of Hell. Every time he sees it drains his power for reasons he cannot explain. When he tries to talk about it to his father, his mouth shuts open on its own and his fingers won't move when he writes anything concerning it.

Lucienne snaps her finger right in front of his tranced face.

"Get moving, rascal. Five minutes and I'll take you whether you're dressed or not," she warns before waving her hand.

A black vortex materializes and she disappears, leaving him to scramble on his feet.

><><><><><><><

Burning incense fills the chamber. The hint of balsamic scent from harvested myrrh in the human realm, along with the woody musk and lemon, is a favorite among the demons in Hell.

The incense sticks line up to the boiling crimson lake which leads to the stone statue at the center. It is a figure of a man levitating. His wings drip with molten fire as if it is the source of the magma heating up the room.

Upon closer inspection, Adelheid realizes it is her ancestor, the first Devil King of Hell, King Inferno. Despite staying in Hell's Court most of her life, she has never been in this place until now.

This is the location King Reno specified for the Assembly but no one's here yet except for her. There is nothing much to do but stare at the lava bubbles popping one after another. She dips her finger, circularly motioning until it creates a whirl on the sweltering liquid.

"It must be pleasant not to get burnt by fire," a voice says.

Adelheid jumps on her feet. Her brows twitch from annoyance but she quickly smoothens her face before turning to the person who arrives.

She is greeted by two men smiling at her. Her body has been eternally warm since she recovers from the punishment but suddenly, her cheeks feel several times warmer as her gaze travels to the guy on the left side.

Jin stands there with his hand on the hilt of his sword, a common stance for someone who works as a Cavalry. In addition, the black cloak with the golden insignia of the Court of Mammon shows that he is one of the Captains on the Ring of Avaricia.

Adelheid feels some sort of pride just looking at him when he is able to achieve such accomplishments despite being a low-class Shade.

"You must be Lady Adelheid, His Majesty's niece." It is the same voice as the one who previously spoke.

"Yes." She pauses with a smile as she adjusts her tone to become sweeter. "Then I suppose you are Levi, the Court Liege of Leviathan." She turns to Jin, her lips tilting higher. "And you're Jin, correct? "

"An honor that you know of our names, Miss," Levi says.

'Can you just shut up?' She bites back her reply. She doesn't want to hear his response. She wants Jin to talk.

The two men are frequent visitors of the Hell's Court. It didn't take long before her Uncle gave in and told her they were also Candidates. From that point, she always makes sure she is present whenever Jin visits the Ring of Animian.

But before she can even grab the opportunity to initiate a conversation, a vortex appears.

An Osseus, a skeletal deformed dragon, emerges. It's on the smaller side yet it still has to crouch because of the low ceiling. On its back is a woman dressed in a deep purple gown hugging every crevice of her body. Behind her is a man with tousled hair paired with drowsy eyes. The crow on his shoulder pecks his cheek but he remains unbothered.

To know those who belong to the Daemon race, one must only see if they have a lower demon accompanying them.

Both of them get down and the Osseus returns to the portal. The woman runs her golden irises on them, obviously scrutinizing them as she crosses her arms.

Hell is a vast place. It is larger than both the Human Realm and Heaven combined. Not everyone knows each other but Adelheid has heard about Lucienne.

The demons love to copy the concept of humans. What they lack, they find ways to make up for. Hell has no real sun, moon, and stars, instead, they crown these titles to women. Shanea, the Devil King's beloved star, Eralde, the most beautiful moon, and Lucienne, the pompous and grandiose sun.

"Oh, a Sere has been chosen?" Lucienne's mocking tone echoes.

'Smile, Adleheid,' she reminds herself and holds back a retort from the derogatory term of her kind. Fallen angels and Daemons can never stand each other since time immemorial. Even with hiding her wings, a Daemon will always be able to tell a Nephilim, the children of Fallen Angels.

"Short and looks weak," Lucienne continues. "Are you even a Candidate? Even Izael who looks like an indulgent human scum looks better. Have you ever trained? Are you even suited to be a Candidate?"

Indeed, the arrogance in Lucienne's words lives up to her infamous reputation. She is the epitome of how a human depicts a demon, full of savagery and malice. A demon that will play with its victim's soul until it withers so that not a single Court Rule can hinder her.

But of course, Adelheid keeps her opinions to herself.

She has to retain her façade of a fool to survive. King Reno is her Overlord, the mentor assigned to her. He has warned her to lie low and prevail. There is no rule about killing each other but it happens.

And she is not here to die.

"Yes, I have. I'm Adelheid, by the way. I never once dreamed of meeting you, Miss Lucienne," she responds with a bright curve of her lips.

"Wow, you're a fine bootlicker," the man on Lucienne's side comments.

'Izael of the Court of Belphegor,' she notes on her mind. The progeny of the worst marriage in Hell. What is her uncle thinking when he arranges the marriage of the two Overlords who despise each other?

"Shut up, Izael," Lucienne commands with wrinkled brows.

"Well, not everyone can smile right after you insulted them. Anyway, when are we starting? I want to go home already."

"You just arrived, rascal," Lucienne reprimands.

"The Court of Beelzebub and Asmodeus has not yet come," Levi chimes in.

"Asmodeus... I wonder who it will be. It is the only Court that not a single news traveled," Izael remarks.

"Many are speculating it will be Eralde," Levi informs.

'That bitch?' Adelheid immediately keeps her tongue in check. She has to keep her sentiments about the woman who acts like a saint and not a demon. She just knows a two-face shrew when she sees one. In this regard, she much prefers Lucienne to Eralde. At least the former knows how to get herself what she wants rather than hiding behind someone's back, acting all innocent.

While the others talk, a blonde man enters. His piercing gray irises are almost silver, reminiscent of an angel's eyes.

"Is this the meeting place?" he asks upon drawing closer.

All of them are observing the new man. They have heard rumors about the Candidate of Beelzebub. They say he came out of the blue and presented his Devil's Crest to the Court. No one knows his real race until now.

"Damn. Another Sere?" Lucienne groans.

"I am a Ghoul," the man clarifies but he is only answered by disbelieving looks.

He shakes his head and lets his demon form talk. The pale skin is replaced with a ghastly green complexion. His irises became slits and his lips transformed into a darker color. It stretches to both his ears, ripping the flesh as it goes. Those characteristics are what a Ghoul is supposed to look like.

When everyone comprehends he is not lying, the men quickly cozy up to him. Lucienne minds her own business and Adelheid can only listen.

She is almost dying staring at the empty space when the door opens once more.

A woman walks in with her head low. She mumbles an incoherent greeting before dispersing herself on the corner.

"Who the hell is that?" Lucienne points at the woman.

"Must be the Candidate of Asmodeus," Levi answers.

"The Ring with all the demons of seduction have that?" Lucienne points at the woman who appears extremely fascinated to the floor.

This time, Adelheid has to agree with Lucienne. She never imagines a timid demon coming from the Ring of Libidine.

"It seems everyone's here."

Seven pairs of gazes are directed to the man adorned in stygian clothing. His tapered-shaped eyes curved with a welcoming mien. They immediately fell on their right knee upon recognizing the new guest.

"I greet you, His Majesty, the Devil King," they say in unison.

"Arise, Candidates, and have a seat." With a swift gesture of his hand, a long table and chairs made of stone spring out of thin air. "Let the Assembly begin."