The council chamber fell silent as Jin-ho entered. He had been gone for hours after his abrupt departure, and the assembled demon leaders regarded him with a mixture of curiosity, wariness, and- from Vassek's corner- barely concealed contempt. Jin-ho's tail remained perfectly still behind him, a control he was deliberately maintaining despite his inner tension.
"My King," Kraxis said, bowing deeply. "We were concerned by your absence."
"I was communing with the ancient powers at the Void Chamber," Jin-ho replied, the explanation he had prepared on his walk back from the temple. "Seeking clarity for our path forward."
He moved to the central map table, noting the figurines representing demon and human forces. A memory surfaced from his human life- countless hours spent leading guild raids in Kingdoms of Eternity, planning strategies, analyzing enemy movements, coordinating diverse player classes. He had been exceptional at it, rising to become one of the top guild leaders on the server.
This was different, of course. Real lives hung in the balance, not digital avatars. But the principles of strategy remained the same.
"The humans outnumber us," Jin-ho observed, gesturing to the map. "Direct confrontation would be suicide."
Vassek snorted. "So you advocate cowering in our mountain while they pick us off? That's hardly-"
"I advocate winning," Jin-ho interrupted, his voice cutting through the chamber. "And victory requires strategy, not just courage."
The assembled demons straightened, surprised by this new assertiveness.
Jin-ho began moving pieces on the map, recalling battle formations he had perfected in countless virtual wars. "The humans expect us to attack from the north, through the mountain passes. It's direct, predictable, and exactly what we won't do."
Jin-ho remembered from the scrolls that every time the demons attacked back, it was always a direct attack.
"What do you propose instead, my King?" Lord Morthal asked, leaning forward with interest.
"A defensive perimeter here, here, and here," Jin-ho indicated, placing markers at key mountain passes. "Strong enough to suggest we're preparing for a conventional assault. Meanwhile, we strengthen our position at these secondary locations."
His finger traced a series of lesser-known pathways through the mountains- routes he had discovered in the historical scrolls at the Void Chamber, but that matched terrain he had navigated in strategy games.
"The humans will focus their forces against our obvious defenses while we fortify these alternative routes. Not for attack," he added, seeing Vassek's expression brighten, "but to ensure we have multiple escape and supply paths should they breach our primary defenses."
"A purely defensive strategy?" General Thorne asked, his scarred face thoughtful.
"For now," Jin-ho replied. "We're outnumbered. We need time."
"Time for what, my King?" Lady Draven of the Blood Devils inquired.
Jin-ho met her gaze steadily. "Time to understand our enemy's weaknesses. Time to gather intelligence about their champion's abilities. Time to prepare properly rather than rushing headlong into slaughter."
His words hung in the air. Even Vassek seemed unable to find an immediate objection.
"This approach has merit," Lord Morthal finally said, stroking his pointed beard. "It protects our people while positioning us advantageously for the future."
Others nodded in agreement. Jin-ho felt a surge of satisfaction- his first real victory in council. He had used his gaming experience not as a guild leader, but as the Demon King, and somehow, it had worked.
"There is another matter," Kraxis announced, stepping forward. "With the threat of war looming, tradition dictates the King must undergo the Ritual of Blood Binding."
Jin-ho glanced at Kraxis, confused. This hadn't been mentioned before.
"After your return," Kraxis continued carefully, "his soul, body, armor, and blade must be reconnected through ancient magic. The ritual is typically performed before leading forces into potential conflict."
The re-binding ceremony, the Demon God explained in Jin-ho's mind. It strengthens the connection between a king and his regalia after separation. In this case, your soul is entering Malverous's body.
Jin-ho understood the subtext- this would further solidify his position as the legitimate Demon King.
"When?" he asked.
"Tonight," Kraxis replied. "The Blood Moon rises at midnight."
"Then it shall be done," Jin-ho declared, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt. Another ritual, another performance, another opportunity to expose himself as an impostor.
As the council adjourned, Jin-ho noticed something surprising- respect in the eyes of demons who had previously regarded him with skepticism. His strategic approach had impressed them. Perhaps he was finding his footing in this role after all.
Not bad for a gamer, the Demon God commented. Though I notice you didn't mention continuing the Marriage Circle research.
"Some secrets are best kept," Jin-ho murmured as he left the chamber.
The ritual chamber deep beneath the fortress was ancient, its walls carved with symbols that pulsed with inner light. At its center stood a circular platform surrounded by seven obsidian pillars, each inscribed with runes that matched those on Jin-ho's skin.
Jin-ho entered wearing a simple black robe, Nightfang sheathed at his side. His royal armor had been placed on a stone altar at the chamber's edge. Kraxis and a group of elder demons waited silently, their expressions solemn.
"The Ritual of Blood Binding dates back to the First King," Kraxis explained quietly as they waited for midnight. "It ensures that the King's power flows seamlessly between his essence and his instruments of war."
Jin-ho nodded, trying to hide his nervousness. His tail twitched slightly, betraying his anxiety.
"You've done this before," Kraxis reminded him with a significant look. "Before your...sleep."
Follow their lead, the Demon God advised. The ritual itself is straightforward. A few words, a little blood, nothing too dramatic.
As midnight approached, the elder demons took positions around the pillars. Kraxis guided Jin-ho to the central platform.
"When the Blood Moon reaches its zenith, speak the words of binding," he instructed. "Then use Nightfang to open your palm and let your blood touch both blade and armor."
Jin-ho swallowed hard. "The words..."
"Will come to you," Kraxis assured him. "The ancient tongue is in your blood."
I'll translate for you, the Demon God added helpfully. Just repeat what I say.
A bell tolled somewhere above, signaling that midnight had arrived. Red light suddenly poured through an opening in the ceiling- the Blood Moon perfectly positioned to illuminate the ritual chamber.
The elder demons began a low, rhythmic chant. Jin-ho closed his eyes, waiting for the Demon God's guidance.
Repeat: Nak'tor vesh'na mor'kalil...
Jin-ho spoke the words, surprised at how easily they flowed from his tongue. Though he was speaking sounds he'd never heard before, in his mind, he heard himself saying: "Blood of my blood, shadow of my shadow, I bind myself to blade and shield..."
The chanting around him intensified. Jin-ho continued the incantation, feeling power building in the air around him. The runes on his skin began to glow brighter, matching the pulsing light of the pillars.
Now, the Demon God instructed Jin-ho as he finished the words. Cut your palm with Nightfang and let your blood touch both the sword and armor.
Jin-ho drew the wavy blade, its edge gleaming in the crimson moonlight. Taking a deep breath, he pressed it against his left palm.
Just a small cut-
But Jin-ho's anxiety made him press too hard. The supernaturally sharp blade sliced deeply into his palm, blood immediately pouring forth in an alarming quantity.
That's...a bit excessive, the Demon God observed dryly.
Jin-ho panicked internally. Blood gushed from the wound, far more than he had intended, splashing onto the platform beneath him.
Oh God, I've cut an artery or something! he thought frantically. I'm going to bleed out during a stupid ceremony!
In his head, he could hear the Demon God laughing, a bit too hard for Jin-ho's liking.
The elder demons didn't seem alarmed, however. If anything, they looked impressed by the copious offering of royal blood.
Jin-ho forced himself to remain outwardly calm while internally freaking out. He moved to the altar where his armor waited, blood dripping dramatically with each step. When he reached out to touch the armor, blood flowed over its surface in rivulets, seeping into the etched runes.
To his surprise, the runes began absorbing the blood, glowing brighter as they did. The same happened when he pressed his bleeding palm against Nightfang's blade. The wavy edge seemed to drink in his blood, the runes along its length illuminating one by one.
Jin-ho glanced down at his palm, expecting to see a horrific injury, but was stunned to find the deep gash already closing, healing at a supernatural rate. His blood continued to flow over the armor and sword, far more than should have been possible from a single wound.
"The King offers his essence freely," Kraxis announced to the assembled elders. "The bond is strong!"
The other demons murmured approvingly, clearly impressed by the bloody spectacle. Jin-ho stood awkwardly, his robe now splattered with blood, his armor and sword practically painted with it. What he perceived as a humiliating mishap, they saw as a powerful demonstration of commitment.
Perhaps a bit theatrical, the Demon God commented, but effective. The elders are impressed by your...enthusiasm.
As the Blood Moon's light began to fade, Jin-ho felt a strange sensation- a connection forming between himself, Nightfang, and the armor. The runes on all three pulsed in perfect synchronization, power flowing between them.
"The ritual is complete," Kraxis declared. "The King is bound to his instruments of war."
The elder demons bowed deeply. Jin-ho stood amid the bloody scene, feeling both ridiculous and somehow more powerful than before.
Once the elders had departed, Jin-ho turned to Kraxis. "Is it normal to bleed quite that much?" he whispered.
Kraxis's lips twitched with suppressed amusement. "Most kings make a small cut. But your...abundant offering impressed them. They'll speak of 'The Generous Binding' for generations."
Jin-ho groaned. "Great."
"Clean yourself," Kraxis advised. "Then don your armor. You'll want to test its new connection to you."
After washing away the excess blood, Jin-ho approached his armor with new appreciation. The once-black metal now gleamed with an inner crimson light, the runes no longer simply etched into the surface but somehow alive, pulsing with energy that matched his heartbeat.
As he donned each piece, he felt the power of the binding ritual. The armor, once heavy, now felt like a second skin. It moved with him perfectly, amplifying his strength rather than hindering it. His tail slipped through the specially designed opening with unusual grace, as if the armor itself was helping to control its movements.
When he finally strapped Nightfang to his side, the connection was complete. He could feel the sword's presence like an extension of himself, a constant awareness in the back of his mind.
"How does it feel?" Kraxis asked.
"Different," Jin-ho admitted. "Like...like it's part of me now."
"As it should be. The Blood Binding creates a true connection between king and regalia."
Jin-ho nodded, flexing his hand where the cut had been. No trace remained of the wound, not even a scar. "Now what?"
"Now," Kraxis said with a gleam in his eye, "we test your new capabilities."
----
A few hours after the ritual, the private training yard was hidden deep within the mountain, accessible only through a series of winding passages. Unlike the main training grounds where soldiers drilled in formation, this space was designed for a single purpose- allowing the Demon King to practice his most devastating abilities away from prying eyes.
The circular arena was ringed with obsidian pillars that absorbed stray magic. Target dummies made of enchanted materials stood at various distances, designed to register and measure the force of attacks without being completely obliterated.
"Your ancestors have trained here for millennia," Kraxis explained as they entered. "It's shielded against detection. What happens here remains secret."
Jin-ho moved to the center of the arena, feeling the armor respond to his slightest movements. Nightfang hummed at his side, eager to be drawn.
"The Blood Binding enhances your natural abilities," Kraxis continued. "But it also grants access to techniques that require the unity of king, armor, and blade."
Jin-ho drew Nightfang, the wavy blade leaving trails of darkness as it moved through the air. "What kind of techniques?"
"The most feared is the King's Edict," Kraxis said. "A strike that separates soul from body. A single blow that kills instantly, regardless of armor or protection."
Jin-ho nearly dropped the sword. "You're giving me a one-hit kill ability? That seems...excessive."
"It is the ultimate expression of the King's judgment," Kraxis replied solemnly. "To be used only when absolutely necessary."
A responsibility, not a gift, the Demon God added. Malverous used it rarely, understanding its weight. You also got something else, but let's start with King's Edict.
Great, Jin-ho thought. Just what my anxiety needed- the power to kill people with a single hit, and some other thing. That's for future Jin-ho to worry about.
"How does it work?" he asked reluctantly.
"Focus your intent through the blade," Kraxis instructed. "The armor will channel your power, the sword will direct it. Your shadow magic forms the edge that cuts beyond the physical."
Jin-ho raised Nightfang, concentrating on one of the distant targets. He tried to focus as Kraxis had described, channeling his energy through the armor into the blade. The runes on both began to glow brighter.
"Now strike, not with the blade itself, but with the shadow it casts," Kraxis instructed.
Jin-ho swung Nightfang in a wide arc, focusing on the shadow extending from its edge. To his shock, the shadow detached from the blade, flying across the arena like a crescent of pure darkness. It struck the target dummy with devastating force, slicing cleanly through enchanted material designed to withstand tremendous damage.
The dummy didn't just break- it disintegrated, its essence somehow unraveled by the shadow's touch.
Jin-ho stared in horror at what he had just done. "That's...terrifying."
"It is meant to be," Kraxis agreed. "The King's Edict is not just a weapon but a statement- defiance means destruction."
"I don't want this power," Jin-ho said, lowering Nightfang. "It's too much."
"Which is precisely why you should have it," Kraxis replied. "Those who hunger for such abilities should never wield them. Those who fear them might use them wisely."
Jin-ho considered this, his tail swishing thoughtfully behind him. "How do I control it? How do I ensure I never use this accidentally?"
"That's why we're here," Kraxis said, gesturing around the arena. "To practice control. To master your abilities rather than being mastered by them."
For the next several hours, Jin-ho worked with Kraxis on controlling his enhanced powers. He learned to adjust the force of his shadow strikes, to maintain the connection between blade and shadow even after they separated, and most importantly, to distinguish between an ordinary attack and the deadly King's Edict.
The armor responded to his intentions, seeming to anticipate his movements. His tail, usually so uncooperative, now moved in harmony with his body, balanced and controlled. The connection established by the Blood Binding had improved his physical coordination dramatically.
By the time they finished, Jin-ho was exhausted but more confident in his abilities, and the sun was well up in the sky. He hadn't mastered the King's Edict, but he at least understood how to avoid deploying it accidentally.
"You've made good progress," Kraxis said as they prepared to leave the training ground. "Both as a warrior and as a king."
"It doesn't feel like it," Jin-ho admitted. "Every step forward reveals ten more challenges ahead."
"That's leadership," Kraxis replied with a shrug. "Always more problems than solutions."
As they walked back through the mountain passages, Jin-ho reflected on how much had changed in just one day. He had formulated a military strategy that impressed the council, undergone an ancient blood ritual (albeit messily), and gained devastating new powers he both feared and respected.
Most importantly, he had begun to find a balance between the shy programmer he had been and the Demon King he needed to become. Not by abandoning his former self, but by finding ways to apply his existing strengths to new challenges.
"There will be war," he said quietly as they reached the main fortress.
"Yes," Kraxis agreed. "But perhaps not the war everyone expects."
Jin-ho nodded. The Path of the Demon King was not a straight line. It twisted like Nightfang's wavy blade, finding unexpected routes to its target. And for the first time, Jin-ho felt that he might be able to follow that path without losing himself completely along the way.
As they parted, Jin-ho caught his reflection in a polished wall. The figure that stared back- crimson skin, golden eyes, obsidian horns, and gleaming armor- looked nothing like Park Jin-ho, the programmer. But behind those eyes, the same mind worked, calculating, analyzing, planning.
Finding your way at last? the Demon God asked.
"Finding a way," Jin-ho corrected. "Not necessarily yours, and I'm tired as hell."
The Demon God's laughter echoed in his mind as he returned to his chambers, Nightfang humming contentedly at his side.