CHAPTER 31: THE DEVIL’S PATH

Caelen’s laugh echoed louder, wild and twisted like the cackle of a demon unchained. It rattled through the air, leaving everyone frozen—shocked. Confused.

His emerald eyes glowed like burning jade, casting an eerie green light across his face.

Ryan’s breath caught in his throat. "My lord...?" he whispered, eyes wide in disbelief.

Garrox blinked, scoffing. "Oi... has your lord gone mad?"

But Caelen suddenly stopped laughing, the silence falling heavy like a dropped guillotine. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

He turned his glowing eyes toward Garrox.

"Oi, Garrox," he said calmly.

Garrox turned instinctively.

Caelen’s voice lowered, dangerous and cold.

"Wanna play a game... with the devil?"

Garrox frowned. "Game? What are you talking about? You’re not in any damn position to do anything—"

But Caelen took a step forward. His aura flared like a violent storm. Shadows bent away from him, torchlight twisted unnaturally.

"You still don’t get it, do you?" Caelen said, his voice echoing like two overlapping tones.

"What are you talking about?!" Garrox barked, eyes flickering with unease.

Caelen took another step, the ropes around him glowing brighter as his energy surged.

Garrox snapped, "If you move, those ropes will drain all your mana! Are you insane?!"

But Caelen didn’t care.

He kept walking. Step by step.

The ropes hissed, pulsing... then disintegrated—vanishing into green mist.

Everyone froze.

"What...?!" Garrox shouted.

BOOM!

Caelen’s foot rocketed into Garrox’s gut. The impact sent Garrox flying across the room, crashing into a stone wall. Dust exploded.

Caelen kept walking.

Selene moved, trying to react—but stopped.

Her legs refused to move.

Why can’t I move?! she thought, her eyes wide with fear. What is this pressure?!

Sweat beaded down her face.

Her sword slipped slightly in her trembling hand.

"Is this... fear?" she whispered.

But Caelen didn’t even glance her way.

He walked right past her—cold, detached. She meant nothing to him in that moment.

Garrox staggered up, coughing, clutching his ribs.

Caelen stood before him now, towering.

"You’re already enrolled in the game," Caelen said, eyes still glowing.

"What do you mean?!" Garrox yelled, swinging his fist.

But it never landed.

Garrox’s body froze in mid-air—paralyzed.

He dropped like a stone, unable to move.

Selene screamed, "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

But Caelen ignored her.

He crouched next to Garrox, staring into his wide, frightened eyes.

"You don’t get to refuse," Caelen said softly. "This isn’t a proposal. It’s an order."

Garrox trembled. His eyes... they’re glowing like a god of death...

He looked at Selene, silently pleading for her to attack—but her legs still wouldn’t move.

Why can’t I move?! she screamed in her mind.

He’s... off guard!

But her hands trembled. Her knees buckled.

Her body was paralyzed in fear.

Reina and Veralia looked on, stunned.

"What’s going on?!" Reina gasped.

Veralia turned to Ryan. "Do you... know what’s happening?"

Ryan’s voice was grim. "No... even I’m lost."

Suddenly—Selene made her move.

With a trembling hand, she pulled a small pill from her pouch.

Garrox’s eyes widened. "She’s... doing it!"

Selene whispered, "If I take this... I can move. I can fight."

She swallowed the pill.

CRACK!

Her aura exploded, red and black swirling violently.

Eyes sharp, she picked up a blade, roaring as she lunged toward Caelen.

"CAELEN!!!"

Veralia and Reina screamed, "MY LORD!!"

But Caelen only turned to her—his glowing eyes locking onto hers.

In that instant...

The world stopped.

Selene’s surroundings shattered into darkness.

She found herself standing on a barren land, scorched and lifeless. The sky was red. Fire rained from above. Screams echoed in the distance.

Flames surrounded her.

She dropped her sword.

Is this... hell?

Caelen’s voice echoed from all directions, cold and divine.

"You’re only a nuisance."

SHUNK!

Spears of ice tore through her body from every direction.

Blood burst from her lips.

Her body hung mid-air—impaled, suspended like a macabre statue.

The blade slipped from her fingers.

Garrox screamed. "SELENE!!"

Tears spilled down his face.

Ryan’s voice was hollow. "Spears... of ice...?"

Garrox’s scream filled the air. "How DARE you!!! I’LL KILL YOU, CAELEN!!"

Caelen turned, smiling creepily, his aura even darker.

"Nice... nice," he said, voice like a demon’s lullaby.

"Use that despair. Entertain me."

He turned to Ryan and the others.

"What are you still doing tied up?"

Ryan snapped out of it. "R-right!"

Caelen’s voice guided them. "Don’t break it from the outside. Focus your mana from the inside."

Ryan, Reina, and Veralia nodded.

They closed their eyes, mana surging.

SNAP!

The ropes shattered.

They stood—eyes burning.

Garrox wept beside Selene’s suspended, bleeding form.

Caelen turned to him.

"Now... let the games begin."

BOOM!

Caelen stomped his foot.

The ground quaked. Flames burst from the floor, spreading outward. The house began to burn, heat rippling like waves.

The spears melted.

Selene’s body dropped—but Caelen caught her mid-air, eyes never leaving Garrox.

"Welcome to hell."

Veralia and Reina backed away.

Ryan rushed forward, lifting Selene into his arms, trembling. "She’s still breathing..."

Caelen turned to his allies.

"I need your help to make this game function."

Veralia and Reina nodded, determination in their eyes.

"As you wish... my lord."

Caelen’s smile widened as he gave them instructions. They moved away—Ryan included—leaving only Caelen, Garrox, and Selene in the center.

Caelen crouched near Selene.

"She’s still alive..." he muttered.

He glanced at Garrox—still paralyzed.

"You could still be useful."

He placed his hand on her chest.

"Heal."

Green light enveloped her body. Wounds closed. But her consciousness didn’t return.

Garrox’s eyes filled with tears. "Thank you..."

Caelen’s expression turned cold. "Huh? What makes you think I did it out of kindness?"

Garrox’s eyes widened.

"I don’t care whether she lives or dies," Caelen said flatly.

Garrox clenched his fists. "Then... why heal her?"

Caelen grinned, eyes flashing. "She’s a player now."

"She’s unconscious!"

Caelen lifted her in his arms. "Exactly. In her current state... she’s perfect for her role."

"No!!" Garrox cried. "Just leave! Take her and go! I won’t chase you!"

Caelen turned.

"Shut up before I change my mind and kill you both."

Garrox flinched as the words hit like blades.

Caelen snapped his fingers.

SHRING!

Chains of fire wrapped around Selene’s unconscious form.

"Wait patiently," Caelen whispered, "while I prepare our playground."

Caelen tapped the scorched ground.

FWOOOSH!

A narrow, flaming bridge rose into the air—long and suspended above a massive pit.

At the end of the bridge, Selene hung upside down, her body scorched, chains slowly melting thread by thread. Lava bubbled below.

"Something’s missing," Caelen said, tapping his chin. "Ah, right. We can’t play without a pool..."

He turned. "Veralia."

She stepped forward, staff in hand. Her mana surged.

THOOM!

A pool of lava erupted beneath the bridge.

Garrox growled. "You’ll burn the whole place down, you lunatic!"

Caelen shrugged. "You kidnapped us, so I assume this place is far from the village. And even if not..."

He pointed.

"Ryan’s cooling the fire with ice. Reina’s camouflaged the whole building."

Garrox turned—he could see the faint shimmer of Reina’s camouflage spell and feel the drops of cold from Ryan’s ice barrier.

"You madman..."

Caelen smiled. "Let’s enjoy the game."

He placed his hand on Garrox.

"Heal."

Garrox’s body twitched. Movement returned to his limbs.

He jumped to punch Caelen—

—but his fist stopped just inches away from Caelen’s face.

Caelen didn’t move.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you."

Garrox scowled. "What are you talking about—?"

"Look," Caelen said, pointing behind him.

"To the cinema I’ve prepared."

Garrox turned.

He saw Selene.

Chains melting. Her body twitching.

"SELENE!!"

He rushed forward—but Caelen tripped him with a foot.

He fell to his knees.

Caelen crouched beside him.

"You seem eager. Then let’s begin."

"The name of the game is..."

"The Devil’s Path."

Caelen gestured at the bridge.

"You will answer questions. Each correct answer lets you move forward. But each step burns. And when the chain melts completely..."

Garrox looked at Selene, dangling above lava.

"...she dies."

"NO!" Garrox shouted. "Fine! I’ll play your sick game!"

"Good choice," Caelen said, standing.

"First question—how long have the deaths been happening?"

"...Five years," Garrox muttered.

Caelen stepped on molten stone.

"Correct. Now..."

"How many died under your watch?"

Garrox hesitated.

"...Too many."

"Step."

Garrox stepped.

SSSSHHHHHHHH!

His foot sizzled. Skin scorched. He bit down hard, suppressing a scream.

Caelen took another step forward.

"Next question..."

"What do you know about the Blood Pact Edge?"

Garrox stiffened. His eyes widened.

"That name...!"

"I’m waiting," Caelen said.

"...It’s not a weapon. It’s a contract. A cursed pact we made with... something... five years ago."

"We tried to control it. But to sustain the pact... we needed lives. So we sacrificed villagers. One by one. Month after month."

Caelen’s expression didn’t change. But his aura grew heavier.

"Forty-three lives..." he whispered.

"Next."

"How many villagers?"

Garrox hesitated again.

Then, with trembling lips...

"...Forty-three."

Chains melted again.

"Why should you live?" Caelen asked.

"...We shouldn’t."

Caelen nodded.

"One more question..."

"What are the beasts attacking the village?"

Garrox’s voice cracked.

"I... I don’t know!"

PING!

A chain snapped. Selene’s body dropped lower.

"I’LL TALK!!" Garrox screamed. "We called them Offerings! We never saw them! Just shadows when the pact failed! They were guardians—monsters summoned from the first ritual!"

Silence.

Then...

"...Is that all?" Caelen whispered.

"Yes!"

"Liar."

Garrox froze.

Caelen stepped closer. His voice dropped.

"Tell me what you’re hiding. What place are you afraid I’ll find?"

"...The library."

Caelen’s eyes sparkled. "There’s a hidden library."

"What’s in it?"

"Ancient scrolls... a map... to the temple where the original beast sleeps."

Caelen smirked. "Thank you."

He stepped off the bridge. The lava cooled.

Garrox rushed forward, reaching Selene. He collapsed beneath her, catching her as she fell.

"You’re safe..."

Caelen approached. "So, you truly love her."

"...Yeah."

"When are you getting married?"

"...We are."

"Liar."

Garrox chuckled weakly. "Was it obvious?"

"No. But you both weren’t wearing any rings."

"...So it was that simple..."

His eyes dimmed.

"I have one request."

Caelen raised a brow. "A deal with the devil?"

Garrox smiled. "Better than praying to a god who doesn’t answer."

Caelen laughed.

"Tell me."

"I don’t mind dying. Just... protect Selene. I promised her parents I would. Please..."

Caelen crouched beside him.

"So many promises... So many broken trusts..."

"I’m no caretaker," Caelen said, raising a hand.

"But..."

"Heal."

Warm green light engulfed them.

Garrox smiled faintly.

"...It’s warm..."

And his eyes... slowly... closed.