LINES OF DESTINY

Gremory explained, his voice filled with reverence. "Hell is divided into five areas. Four of them are territories ruled by the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and in the center is the largest territory, ruled by Lucifer. Sinners who arrive there are greeted by Lucifer, who welcomes them to Hell. Afterwards, they are judged by the seven deadly sins, and depending on their actions in life, they are sent to one of the five territories to live in."

Theo felt his world turning upside down. He wasn't just an ordinary boy; he was tied to something much bigger, something that linked him to Hell and its dark secrets.

Coming back to the present, he looked at Chloe, who was watching him intently.

"So Astharot is a ruler of Hell…" Chloe whispered, feeling overwhelmed by the revelation. "And you have his power?"

"Yes," Theo replied confidently. "Ever since I learned to control it, I have trained to use it to benefit myself and those I love. I can't let Selena or any other demon use that to harm me. I must learn to control this, and I have."

Chloe walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're amazing, Theo. Sometimes I'm amazed at how strong you are."

"It's not just me. Astharot has also been my guide. Without his help, I couldn't have gotten this far," Theo said, feeling a deep gratitude for his demonic companion.

Chloe smiled, feeling relieved that Theo was in control. "And I'll be by your side through this. No matter what happens, I'll always be here to support you."

As Theo was lost in the memory, the scene unfolded before him. Gremory, with a serious expression on his face, drew a star inside a circle on an ancient card. With a determined gesture, he threw the card to the ground, and a roaring portal opened before them, revealing the dark and burning landscape of Hell.

"Demons can come and go from Hell whenever they want," Astharot explained as they crossed the threshold. "But Selena only wanted to summon me to control me and use my power to rule the world."

Theo felt the tension rising as they made their way towards Astharot Castle. Upon arriving, several demons stopped in their tracks, surprised to see Gremory accompanied by a human.

"What's going on here?" one of the demons shouted, mockingly.

Gremory stood firm. "Silence. This is Theo, the new lord of Astharot."

Murmurs of disbelief filled the room. Theo felt the demons' skeptical gaze upon him, but he stood firm.

"Listen," Theo began, his voice clear. "I am the son of Astharot. Selena attempted to summon him, and in the process, I learned of his power. I am here because I have a connection to him."

Despite his explanation, a demon named Paimon with the appearance of a 30-year-old man with white skin and hair, known to be one of the smartest and strongest in Hell, stepped forward.

"I do not accept you as king, human," Paimon challenged him, her gaze defiant. "If you have the courage, prove it in a duel."

Gremory wanted to intervene. "Theo, wait. There's no need…"

"No, I want to," Theo interrupted, a spark of excitement shining in his eyes. It was the perfect opportunity to test his skills.

The showdown took place in a large arena, where the demons gathered to watch. The tension was palpable as Theo and Paimon faced off.

Paimon was the first to attack, launching a beam of ice towards Theo. With speed and determination, Theo cut it in two with one precise movement.

"Awesome!" Paimon exclaimed, surprised by his opponent's prowess. He then decided to freeze the entire arena in an attempt to trap him. The vast ice surfaces expanded rapidly, trapping Theo.

But to everyone's surprise, the ice began to break. Theo, fascinated by the battle, decided to test what he had learned from Astharot. Concentrating, he began to create several ice spikes, launching them towards Paimon.

Paimon raised a wall of ice to stop the attack, but Theo didn't stop. Instead, he decided to increase his effort, creating a large ice spike that spun like a drill.

"This is a game, Paimon!" Theo shouted, launching his attack with all his might.

Paimon, seeing the attack, also decided to do the same. However, in the clash, Theo's attack was stronger and overcame the ice wall. The spike pierced the air, passing right past Paimon.

Impressed and acknowledging Theo's skill, Paimon raised his hands in surrender. "I lost. You're stronger than I imagined."

"And now?" Theo asked, with a satisfied smile.

"I pledge my loyalty to you, Theo," Paimon replied, bowing her head in respect. "You are worthy of being called king."

Back at the castle, Theo began to contemplate what he had seen and learned in Hell. Looking out over the vast landscape of his hellish realm, he realized that this territory needed a king to rule it constantly. Inspired by that idea, he stopped and, with a single movement, cut off his finger. Within seconds, an identical clone of Theo emerged from the wound, while his finger rapidly regenerated.

Gremory and Paimon watched him in amazement.

"Theo, what are you doing?" Gremory asked, clearly puzzled.

Theo gave them a calm look. "I've decided that I want to live in the human world. But this sector of Hell needs a ruler, someone to make sure everything is in order."

Paimon frowned, confused. "What do you mean by that?"

Theo pointed at his clone. "This clone is both the real one and a fake one. What I've shown so far are just sub-skills of my main skill. To make a long story short, I not only cut off my finger, but also a small part of my soul. This means that I can make this body disappear and transfer into the clone with all my power easily, and vice versa."

Both demons looked at him with respect and acceptance.

—So… the clone will rule Hell while you live in the human world? —Paimon asked.

"Exactly," Theo replied. "This way, I can live a normal life in the human world, but I can also return to Hell if necessary. So, he will be the king of this territory, and I will continue with my life in the human world."

Gremory and Paimon nodded solemnly, respecting their new lord's decision. But before they left, Theo felt a presence in his mind. It was Astharot, communicating with him.

"Before you go, Theo," Astharot said, "there is something you must take with you. Go to one of the castle's chambers."

Intrigued, Theo obeyed Astharot's words and headed towards the chamber he was indicated. As he entered, his eyes fell upon an imposing double-edged sword hanging on the wall, radiating a powerful and ancient aura.

"That is the Double Sword of Hell," Astharot explained. "It has a special ability that will make you stronger. Take it with you and train with it. It will be a key instrument to further master your power."

Theo, excited by the prospect, reached out and took the sword. Touching it, he felt an immediate connection to its power, as if the sword was responding directly to his energy.

"This is incredible," he murmured, feeling the potential the sword offered him.

"You still have much to learn," Astharot added, "but with this sword and my guidance, you will become even more powerful."

Theo smiled, excited for what was to come. With the Double Sword in hand and a clear path ahead, he was ready to face his destiny, both in the human world and in Hell.

And so, the flashback ended, as Theo, in the present, continued to remember how those moments had changed the course of his life.