Vengeful Ascension: The Rise of a Demon Emperor

The grand chamber of Vauhan Keep was suffocating with a chill that had nothing to do with the cold stone walls. Dim torchlight flickered along grotesque tapestries—scenes of battle, betrayal, and power—mirroring the very intentions of those gathered at the polished mahogany table.

At the head sat Baron Elric Vauhan, his sharp, hawkish features etched with impatience. His fingers drummed rhythmically on the table, the sound echoing ominously through the room. The air was thick with tension, but this time, it wasn't the usual petty disputes between the nobles that festered. No, this time, an outsider stood in their midst.

The man in question was clad in pristine white robes embroidered with golden sigils. He held himself with unsettling calm, as though untouched by the pettiness of mortal politics. His sharp eyes, however, betrayed his intentions—they were cold, calculating, and piercing. He was Father Jereth, a representative of the Divine Kingdom of Sucaria.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Jereth began, his smooth voice carrying an air of dangerous tranquility, "I believe we can all agree that the boy you call Adrian Falter has become… problematic."

The name fell like a stone into a still pond, rippling across the gathered nobles.

A Shared Resentment

Baron Vauhan sneered first, his lip curling. "Adrian Falter," he spat, venomous disdain dripping from his voice. "A common-born mongrel whose only claim to worth is his brute strength. And now the emperor elevates him as though he were one of us?" He slammed a fist onto the table. "It's an affront!"

"More than an affront," chimed in Countess Marlisse Aylen, her sharp cheekbones catching the flicker of torchlight as she leaned forward. "This… knight undermines everything we've built. Do you not see? The people love him. To them, he's a symbol—an ideal that stands above our rule."

Across the table, Lord Tiberius Grath, a man as broad and brutish as the war axe he was infamous for wielding, growled low in his throat. "Symbols can burn. He may have struck down Dravokh, but that makes him dangerous. To think a single boy could defeat one of the Lower Seven…" His knuckles cracked as his fist clenched.

"A single boy who already challenges our power," added Viscount Reynard Celdain, the youngest and most ambitious of the group. His perpetual smirk widened. "He inspires hope among the peasants. And hope, my friends, is more dangerous than any sword."

Jereth smiled faintly, as though pleased with their unity. "You speak wisely, Viscount. Adrian Falter is not merely a warrior—he is a disruption. To your power, yes, but to the balance we in the Divine Kingdom are sworn to uphold."

"And what balance would that be, priest?" Marlisse's tone was sharp, testing.

"The divine balance," Jereth replied smoothly, "between light and dark, order and chaos. His existence—elementless, yet so powerful—defies this order. He is an anomaly, and anomalies must be corrected."

Vauhan's eyes narrowed. "Then you propose an alliance, priest? Between us and your… holy order?"

Jereth spread his hands in a gesture of peace. "A mutual understanding, my lord. The Divine Kingdom has no interest in your throne or your politics. However, we both recognize that Adrian Falter must be dealt with before his influence grows further."

"And how do you propose we 'deal with him'?" Grath growled. "You priests claim to know much. Let's hear it."

Jereth's smile remained serene, but his eyes glinted with something sharper. From within his robes, he produced a rolled parchment and spread it across the table. It was a map, detailed and marked with ink—of the Sylphera Borderlands, a no-man's land rife with demonic corruption and untold dangers.

"This region," Jereth said softly, tapping the map, "is where light and darkness collide. It is treacherous—unpredictable. A perfect trap."

Vauhan leaned in, intrigued. "Go on."

Jereth's voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone. "We suggest sending Adrian on a mission he cannot refuse—a task so dangerous, so critical to the empire, that he has no choice but to accept. Once he is there, his strength will be tested against forces no man can overcome. The demons, the terrain… they will finish what Dravokh could not."

"And if they don't?" Reynard asked, arching a brow. "Adrian has a knack for surviving the impossible."

Jereth's smile turned icy. "Then we shall ensure it is not impossible. We have agents capable of stacking the odds. Adrian Falter may be powerful, but he is not invincible."

Countess Marlisse steepled her fingers, a satisfied glint in her eye. "It's elegant. His demise will seem natural—another tragic loss to the demon scourge. Meanwhile, we can cast his failure as proof of his weakness."

Vauhan nodded, his sneer returning. "And the emperor will see that his so-called champion is no savior."

Lord Grath's booming laugh filled the chamber. "Then let's make it happen! Enough scheming—let's see how this hero fares when the world turns against him."

Jereth watched their growing fervor with satisfaction. "Then we are agreed?"

The nobles exchanged glances, their faces hardening with shared purpose. It was Duke Callen Drestar, silent until now, who spoke last.

"This plan is sound," Drestar said calmly, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs. "But know this—if we are exposed, we risk more than Adrian's wrath. The emperor is no fool."

Jereth inclined his head. "That is why subtlety is paramount. Leave the groundwork to us. The Divine Kingdom knows how to operate in shadows."

Vauhan rose to his feet, his fists resting on the table. "Then it's settled. Adrian Falter will be sent to his doom."

The nobles began to disperse, their hushed voices carrying their wicked plans into the corridors beyond. Jereth lingered, his serene expression giving no hint of the malice behind it.

As the last noble exited, Vauhan turned to the priest, his voice low. "And what of your kingdom, priest? Why does Adrian matter so much to you?"

Jereth's gaze was cold as frost. "Because power unchecked becomes chaos, Baron. And we are tasked to prevent that. Adrian Falter is not your only problem—he is ours as well."

Vauhan smirked. "Then let's ensure he remains no one's problem for long."

Jereth said nothing, only bowed his head in parting. As he exited the chamber, the priest's thoughts lingered on Adrian Falter.

'You are formidable,' Jereth mused silently.

'But even the strongest flame can be snuffed out.'