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White, ethereal wings emerged as they flew up, their auras shimmering. They moved in sync, tracing complex patterns with their hands, starting with a circular motion. With both palms pressed together, they unleashed a cacophony of brilliant beams of light that resonated through the stone walls and shook the floor, filling the air with a burning scent.
Deming smirked, his eyes reflecting the flickering light of the beams. "They're courting their demise." The chains around his limbs and neck vanished. With flawless precision, he dodged the attack, tilting his shoulder and spinning to face his opponents.
Blazing fire emanated from his eyes. He raised his arms and redirected them back toward the soldiers until they met their end, exploding in blinding light and deafening noise. Arms crossed, a fleeting satisfaction softened his aloof demeanor as he took in the explosion.
"You tried," Deming mused with a short, dismissive wave, his expression twisting with malevolence. A cruel smirk settled on his lips as he taunted in a deep voice, "I wish you could see your faces."
"Stay alert, everyone!" the faerie general ordered, his voice unsteady. "Lord Muchen is nearly here! Hold your positions!"
"What? You cannot stop me without him?" Deming ridiculed, though the mention of Muchen made his jaw clench and a bitter taste rise in his throat. 'Does Muchen have another trick up his sleeve to trap me?'
As he observed the general's trembling form, his eyes drifted toward the shadows, where a fleeting tension marred his otherwise composed expression.
His low, venomous voice resonated in the stone chamber. "How amusing... I suppose it is your lucky day. I may have to postpone my plan to obliterate this realm. But do not worry; I always keep my promises. And when I return, perhaps I will start with your loved ones first. I shall chain them deep in your dungeons, make them yearn to see the light and sky again, knowing they can only dream about it, day after day. They shall scream in agony while you watch helplessly, begging me to stop. And I shall remain still, just as you did all these years, watching me suffer."
The general narrowed his eyes, confusion etched across his face. 'What is he... talking about? I've never...'
Deming's voice dropped to a vicious growl. "And it shall not stop there. On the lands where you have raised your children, I shall build statues of our people from your ashes. And as for Muchen, he shall be where he always needed to be—under our feet."
The general's face drained of color, his lips parting as his breath came in shallow, ragged gasps. His eyes widened, and his hands shook with unrestrained intensity.
Meilin sat, her hands hovering over the glowing keyboard and mouse. 'The coach is making me nervous... How am I supposed to concentrate like this?'
Once the game began, she mapped out her jungle path and cleared the camps. An opposing player had set a trap near the red buff, hiding in a patch of tall grass to ambush her. She hesitated, a gut instinct urging her to reconsider her path. Instead of walking into the trap, she exposed the trap and adjusted her route, avoiding the ambush.
Ningshun's eyes moved between her and the large monitor, tracking every action she took. 'Good. She isn't as reckless here as in her other matches.'
She observed the mini-map for threats. She coordinated with her team, setting up ambushes to turn the tables in her favor, which left the other team frustrated as their traps and tricks failed to land.
The coach leaned in, eyeing her speed and accuracy. 'With Ningshun's incredible gameplay mechanics and Meilin's strategy, this team could be... unbeatable.'
Near the end of the match, the opposing team tried one final tactic—setting an ambush near the Dragon Pit. Unease struck her; something was off. She signaled her team to hold back, choosing not to rush in. When the other team revealed their ambush, she pushed toward the enemy base, instructing her team to delay the enemies' teleportation. Her strategy paid off, leading to her team's victory.
After a few more solo sessions and matches with Solaris' team members, the coach's skepticism melted away, replaced by a genuine smile and a light clap. "Well done. I think we've seen enough. Welcome to the team, Meilin. We're glad to have you." The coach extended his hand.
Meilin, her heart still racing from the intense gameplay, shook his hand with a firm grip. "Thank you so much!" She glanced at Ningshun, who nodded back.
"Oh, and Ningshun, come to my office. Help me with paperwork." The coach's gaze bore into him, lingering longer than necessary, hinting at suspicion.
The coach's modern office featured a large desk, comfortable chairs, and a wall adorned with photos from past tournaments.
He sat behind the desk, tapping a pen against a stack of organized papers, his mind lost in concentration. When the tapping ceased, he leaned back in his chair, studying Ningshun for a moment. "Well, I'll admit it... Meilin did a great job today—better than I expected. You were right about her."
Ningshun, seated across from him, nodded with a faint smile. "Told you she's good."
The coach leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his gaze sharp as it met Ningshun's. "Yeah, about that. When we first talked about her, I thought she was cheating. But after today, it's clear she's just really good at reading people in the game." He glanced at the team's large logo on the wall and then back at Ningshun, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "I see you weren't swayed by... other things. Well, she's a beauty, after all."
Ningshun gave a light chuckle, dismissing the comment with a casual wave. "Oh, you think so? I don't know, maybe... I didn't really notice."
The coach's eyes narrowed, smirking. "You really didn't notice?"
"Seems to me you noticed it more than I did." Ningshun laughed.
"Watch what you say, Ningshun," the coach teased, lifting his pen with a playful smile, as if to swat him with it.
Ningshun leaned back, crossed his arms over his chest, and gave a deep sigh. "Look, beauty doesn't win games. Skill does."
The coach nodded and accepted the answer. "Good point." Satisfied, he picked up the contract from his desk and handed it to Ningshun. "Take this to Meilin. It's our offer for her to join the team. If she's okay with it, I'll sign it."
Ningshun took the contract and smiled. "No worries. I'll see if she gets it."
He stood and headed for the door, his gaze lingering just a beat too long on the coach's eyes as they followed him. Then, with a turn, he went down the hallway, replaying the earlier conversation in his head with his lips curled, but the smirk never reached his eyes.
"You can never read me, coach." Ningshun's voice had a sharpness, a cutting edge just beneath the surface.
As he prowled back toward Meilin in the training room, his footsteps echoed in the silence. His gaze flicked to the far door—so quick, it could have been missed—before his features smoothed into something more neutral. Too neutral.
A soldier rushed into the throne room, his voice urgent. "My lord, the Astaran prince is on the verge of breaking free!" Intense and glaring sunlight bounced off his gleaming white armor, illuminating the crystal pillars of the chamber in a vibrant glow. A faint scent of incense filled the room, blending its sweet and earthy fragrance.
This news filled Lord Muchen's heart with anxiety as he murmured, "That cannot be..."
Lord Muchen, a middle-aged man, wore a long, white robe that signified his authority. His hair, tied back in sections and as black as night, allowed a few stray strands to frame his sharp features. Atop his head rested a golden crown, its twisted plant stem design symbolizing his connection to nature and his role as ruler.
Muchen's hands trembled without control. "Seal... that... demon," he urged in a strained voice, his teeth clenched to the point of almost shattering, his eyes bulging with fear. "Summon all the high gods. IMMEDIATELY!"
"Yes, my lord," the faerie soldier bowed, only to be interrupted by the ground shaking with great force. Both their eyes widened in shock.
"Hurry!" Muchen scowled in disdain. 'If Feng Deming roams free, our demise is inevitable.'
Deming tilted his head, regarding the faerie general with a cold stare as the general's breath hitched, sweat trickling down his forehead. Overwhelmed by fear, he could only meet the demon prince's sharp, menacing gaze with trembling eyes.
The demon's golden eyes now blazed fiery red, his dark aura pulsating and radiating eerie energy as he clenched his fists. Time froze, and in an instant, a violent eruption shook the dungeon.
The unfortunate faeries near him vanished in a cloud of smoke, the painful screams of hundreds echoing throughout the dungeon. The air filled with a strong, smoky odor of burnt matches and materials for those who survived the attack.
The general, overwhelmed, succumbed to the ruthless assault. Drops of blood trickled from his trembling lips as he muttered in confusion and fear, "What... what is he?"
"Make sure you prepare well for my return," Deming declared with a cold grin as he ascended into the air. Fierce black flames erupted from his back, forming broad wings that crackled and burned. A swirling cloud of black smoke surrounded him as he departed, leaving behind a bone-chilling nightmare for the witnesses.
The training room had quieted down. Meilin sat at her gaming setup, headphones resting around her neck, while her computer screen displayed a gentle shade of blue.
Ningshun entered the room with a document in hand, his demeanor composed. With a nod, he spoke in a low, smooth voice, "Good job today. You impressed the coach, and trust me, that's not easy to do."
"Thanks... Honestly, I, uh, some teammates almost got the best of me."
He chuckled. "Don't worry about getting tilted. It happens to all of us... Anyways, here's your offer." Stretching out his arm, he held the contract before her. "The coach will sign it as soon as you give the word. Just make sure to read through it carefully."
She took the contract and skimmed through it. "I owe this all to you," she confessed. "I know I wouldn't be here without you."
His expression softened, and he tried to find the right words. "You did the heavy lifting. I just noticed the potential," he murmured, his voice warmer now. His eyes shifted downward for a split second, then flicked back to hers before he added, "I'm glad you proved him wrong."
Meilin leaned forward and caught his scent—a mix of pine and something darker, almost musky. "Thanks for believing in me... You've changed my life for the better. I'll make you proud!"
"I'll make you proud, Father."
"By playing video games for a living?"
Ningshun blinked, shaken from a brief flashback of his father raising his voice. His eyes held hers as if he had something more to say, but he shook his head with a sigh. "I know you will."
Muchen and his soldiers stormed into the dungeon, their eyes sweeping over the dusty area with heavy hearts, taking in the remains of their loved ones reduced to ashes. Shock and grief gripped them, their jaws dropping as they struggled to comprehend the loss. Frustration and sorrow tightened their fists, some suppressing tears at the sight of their once-living comrades, now gone.
"L-Lord Muchen," the general clung to life, his voice a weak whisper.
Muchen, paralyzed with fear, snapped back to reality, turning his attention to the fortunate survivors. His eyes fell on the injured man lying on the ground who had spoken his name and recognized him. "Yize..."
"I... I failed in my duty." Yize's eyes narrowed in pain. Two of Muchen's soldiers knelt beside him, reaching out their arms to help him as he tried to get back on his feet.
Yet, before he could gather himself, Muchen's gaze froze him in place, like ice on a winter's day. He bowed his head in shame, bearing the silent disappointment of his lord.
In the middle of the wrecked dungeon, Muchen stood still for a moment, surveying the chaos. His eyes narrowed, calculating. "Hope is but a fragile illusion... Once he returns to us, Feng Deming will beg for mercy before the end," he murmured, his smirk unfurling like a serpent coiling around its prey, venomous and inevitable.
Oh, I love adding some trouble for... well, the characters. Hahaha!
Tell me what you think and please give a like to help; I'll always appreciate it!
Demon King's Love - Copyright © 2023 by Aurora Luxi. All Rights Reserved.
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