I Was Supposed to Be a Demon King, but They Made Me Save the World

Olivia's mother struggled to steady her breath, the world around her a haze of dim light and muffled sounds. Her vision swam, shapes flickering at the edge of recognition. Slowly, the room sharpened, and she saw him—a child with crimson eyes that glowed faintly in the darkness, as if they were lit by an otherworldly fire.

"Wh... who are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling, weak from fear and exhaustion.

The boy tilted his head, his youthful features calm yet unnervingly composed. "Oh, I'm a friend of Olivia," he said softly, his voice carrying a calm certainty that belied his small frame. He offered a faint, almost reassuring smile. "I'm here to rescue you."

Her daughter's name hit her like a bolt of lightning, a flicker of hope igniting in her chest. "Olivia..." she murmured, her cracked lips forming the name as though it were sacred. Her eyes, dull with despair moments before, now shimmered with fragile hope. But the reprieve was short-lived.

A guttural groan echoed behind her. She turned sharply, her body tensing as the sound grew louder. One of the hulking guards Baldwin had thrown into the wall was stirring, his massive frame rising like a dark wave. Blood streaked his face, but his eyes burned with fury.

"You little brat!" the guard roared, his voice reverberating through the stone chamber. He reached for his sword, unsheathing it in one swift, menacing motion. "Do you have any idea who I am?!"

Baldwin didn't flinch. His glowing eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "No," he replied, his tone as sharp as the blade in the guard's hand. "And I don't care. I'm not here to learn your name, but don't worry—I'll find out everything I need soon enough."

The guard's face twisted with rage, his hands gripping his weapon tightly. "You think this is a game?! I'll—"

Before he could finish, the second guard, who had remained silent until now, launched forward with alarming speed. His sword slashed through the air, aimed directly at Baldwin's throat. The attack was quick, ruthless, and precise.

But Baldwin was quicker.

With an effortless motion, Baldwin raised his hand, catching the blade mid-swing. The sharp edge stopped dead in his palm, as though time itself had obeyed his command. A chill radiated from his touch, frost creeping along the metal's surface, freezing it solid.

The second guard's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Baldwin's free hand shot forward, pressing against his stomach. A ripple of darkness spread from the contact point, and in a heartbeat, the guard's body disintegrated into a cloud of wooden ash, dissipating into the cold air.

The first guard froze, his confidence crumbling into raw terror. "What... what are you?!" he stammered, his voice shaking as he stumbled backward, his sword trembling in his hands.

Baldwin turned toward him, his crimson eyes glowing brighter, like embers stoked to life. "What am I?" he repeated, his voice low and deliberate. "I am the King of the Soulless Continent, the Ruler of my kind. But that's not the question you should be asking."

The guard's breath hitched as Baldwin took a slow step forward, the shadows around him writhing like living entities.

"Why are you here?" Baldwin continued, his voice colder now. "What are you doing to these prisoners? And why do they feel... empty? No scent, no presence, as though they're nothing but shadows themselves."

The guard's lips trembled, but he forced out a laugh, hollow and desperate. "You'll get nothing from me! Do your worst!"

Baldwin's expression darkened, the faint smile vanishing from his face. "You should be careful what you wish for."

The room dimmed as the shadows around Baldwin grew, seeping into every corner, twisting and coiling like serpents. The air turned frigid, and the oppressive weight of his power pressed down on the guard like an invisible hand. The shadows crawled up the man's legs, slithering toward his face. He struggled, thrashing and gasping for air, but it was futile.

The last thing he saw before the darkness consumed him was Baldwin's glowing eyes—unyielding, merciless, and devoid of hesitation.

When the shadows receded, the guard was gone, his existence erased as though he had never been there. The room fell silent, the tension so thick it was suffocating.

Olivia's mother stood frozen, her body trembling as she stared at the boy who had just obliterated two grown men without so much as breaking a sweat. Fear warred with gratitude in her chest, her mind racing with questions she dared not ask.

Baldwin turned to her, his eyes softening slightly. "Let's get you out of here," he said, his voice gentle.

She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who... who are you?"

"Baldwin," he replied simply, extending his hand. Despite the cold power he wielded, his touch was warm, steadying her trembling fingers.

"You're Olivia's friend?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"That's right," Baldwin said with a faint smile. "Now, follow me."

They moved cautiously through the empty grand hall, Baldwin leading the way with an air of unshakable confidence. Yet, Olivia's mother couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at her. Baldwin seemed too calm, too composed for someone his age—if he was even a child at all.

As they passed the strange cells, Baldwin paused, glancing at the occupants trapped within their surreal environments. "Auntie," he said suddenly, his voice thoughtful. "Do you know what these are? Are they illusions, or something else? I can't sense them... can you?"

She frowned, glancing at the cells. "Yes... I can," she murmured. "But they feel faint, distant, like whispers of life."

Baldwin's expression darkened. "Interesting. That makes them even more dangerous."

She opened her mouth to ask more, but Baldwin cut her off. "Save your questions for later. We're not out of danger yet."

As they approached the drain leading outside, Olivia's mother hesitated. "There's no way out through here," she said, her voice tinged with doubt.

Baldwin turned to her, his crimson eyes glinting with quiet assurance. "Oh, don't worry. This isn't my first escape."

Before she could respond, the shadows surged upward, engulfing them both. The air grew cold, and for a moment, Olivia's mother felt the world vanish beneath her feet.

When the darkness lifted, they found themselves outside, the cool air biting at their skin. But even as they emerged into the open, the tension lingered, a palpable reminder that their ordeal was far from over. Danger still loomed, hidden in the shadows, waiting to strike.