The courtyard still reeked of divine blood.
The headless corpse of Azrael Noctis Vael, the former Heavenly Demon Lord, lay cooling on the shattered stone, black ichor spreading like an omen beneath the moon. Jin stood above it—silent, unreadable, eyes cold enough to make even death flinch.
His aura, thick with Demon-God Death Qi, rolled like a tide no mortal sect was meant to withstand.
The elders knelt.
Not out of loyalty.
Not out of respect.
But because their souls understood one chilling thing:
A new apex predator had risen.
A faint clap echoed.
From the shadows, a bent old man with wine on his breath walked forward, holding a familiar clay jug.
Elder Wu.
The same elder Jin met outside the sect gates weeks ago.
The same elder who trickled a drop of Heaven’s Shame down Jin’s throat—the celestial liquor meant to test destiny itself.
Wu chuckled, shaking the jug as if it were a rattle.
> “So… you really killed him.”
A sip.
“Good. The old bastard needed to die.”
The elders paled at the disrespect, but Wu ignored them completely and approached Jin until he stood only a few feet away.
His eyes—usually lazy, clouded—were sharp now. Predator sharp.
> “Boy,” he said quietly,
“I gave you Heaven’s Shame hoping it would reveal something—whether you were a fool or a monster. Turns out…”
He grinned.
“…you’re both.”
Jin said nothing.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
His eyes—dark, calm, ancient—stared through Wu as if evaluating whether to kill him next.
Elder Wu raised the jug and toasted him.
> “Congratulations. You just changed the fate of the entire demonic path.”
Deep in Jin’s consciousness, Vorgath materialized—towering, crimson-skinned, sigils glowing, eyes like burning furnaces.
> “Now you understand,” he rumbled, voice shaking Jin’s inner world,
“why the Demon Gods ruled without opposition.”
Jin remained silent.
Vorgath continued:
> “Azrael tried to force himself into demonhood by devouring the death qi of corpses. A cheap imitation. A begging dog trying to become a wolf.”
A grin, tusks glinting.
“But you… you awakened a true demonic physiognomy. One that adapts and evolves.”
Jin didn’t look away.
> “Explain.”
Vorgath smirked.
> “Your body has become a vessel worthy of Demon-God inheritance. Your bones harden like primordial obsidian. Your blood burns hotter than the abyss. Your soul?”
He tapped Jin’s forehead.
“A throne capable of hosting a god.”
Jin’s eyes darkened in thought.
> “…Good.”
Outside, the elders gathered behind Elder Wu.
They whispered:
“He killed Azrael… in that state…”
“Is he truly human?”
“What will become of the sect?”
“We cannot oppose him. Even the Heavenly Alliance may not…”
“Is he the reincarnation of the first Heavenly Demon?”
Fear spread like wildfire.
And then Jin turned his head.
Just one glance.
Every elder immediately knelt.
He lifted Esdeath, its blade humming with hunger, the moon reflecting in its edge like an omen.
His voice was quiet—dangerously quiet.
A tone that carried the detachment of Elijah and the cruelty of Klaus.
> “Rise.”
They stood—slowly.
Jin continued:
> “From this moment on…”
His aura tightened around their throats like invisible chains.
“…I am the Heavenly Demon Lord.”
None dared speak.
> “Azrael devoured his own people.
The sect decayed under cowardice, politics, and rotting tradition.”
He raised Esdeath and pointed it at the heavens.
> “I will tear down everything weak—and rebuild this sect on dominance, discipline, and perfection.”
The elders felt a chill rip through their marrow.
Jin’s decree:
> “Any elder who schemes… dies.
Anyone who betrays… dies.
Anyone who doubts me…”
His eyes sharpened.
“…pray your death is quick.”
And then, softer—almost gentle:
> “Those who follow me… shall rise.”
A rumble shook the night sky.
Elder Wu’s face immediately stiffened.
The other elders gasped.
Twelve colossal divine pillars of light pierced the clouds, descending like the wrath of gods.
The Heavenly Alliance.
The governing power of the cultivation world.
Armor glowing with divine qi.
Spears crackling with heavenly judgments.
Their banners—white, gold, untainted—fluttering like holy execution orders.
Someone whispered:
> “Why are they here…? This fast?”
Elder Wu muttered:
> “Azrael’s death… broke an ancient treaty.”
Jin watched the pillars descend, expression unreadable.
Even Vorgath stirred.
> “Ah… those pompous worms.”
A grin.
“One of them is strong enough to kill early-stage demon gods.”
Jin tightened his grip on Esdeath.
> “Let them come.”
His First Act as Demon Lord
Jin turned to the kneeling sect.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Absolute.
> “Prepare the sect.”
A long pause.
> “We go to war.”
The elders trembled.
Some in terror.
Some in awe.
Some in worship.
Lysandra—barely able to stand—looked at Jin with both hope and fear.
Elder Wu chuckled, raising his jug again.
> “Ah… the world is about to burn.”
The twelve pillars landed outside the sect gates.
Swords drawn.
Spears lowered.
Heavenly soldiers in formation.
And at the center…
A man radiating divinity so pure it made the earth tremble.
The Heavenly Alliance’s strongest judge.
The Seraphic Arbiter.
He spoke:
> “Jin Valentine.”
His voice cracked the sky.
“By heavenly decree—your existence is to be erased.”
Jin stepped forward, raising Esdeath.
His eyes held no fear.
Only hunger.
> “Then come.”
A faint, cruel smile.
“Let’s see if heaven bleeds.”
