"Crestcats?" Jin-ho repeated, staring at the massive creatures in the fortress stables.
They resembled nothing he'd ever seen on Earth- the size of large draft horses but with the muscular build and spotted coat of snow leopards. Their powerful legs ended in massive paws with semi-retractable claws, and thick tails longer than Jin-ho was tall swished behind them. Most jarring of all was the contrast between their predatory appearance and their gentle, horse-like faces, complete with flat herbivore teeth visible when one yawned.
"The perfect mount for mountain terrain," Kraxis explained, patting the neck of a particularly large specimen. "Their paws grip ice and rock equally well, and they can leap chasms that would stop conventional horses."
Nyvak, the Felidae scout who had reported the sabotage, was already securing weapons and equipment to his saddle. The cat-like demon moved with natural grace around the creatures, clearly comfortable with them.
"We'll need speed and stealth to catch the saboteurs," Kraxis continued. "I've selected only my most trusted soldiers." He gestured to three demons checking their gear- an Umbrite shadow demon, a Pyros elemental, and a muscular Beast demon with wolf-like features.
Jin-ho approached the largest Crestcat warily. The creature's yellow eyes tracked him with intelligent curiosity, its nostrils flaring as it caught his scent.
"This one is yours, my King," Kraxis said. "Stormrunner was your...was Malverous's favorite mount."
Jin-ho swallowed hard. There was one small problem. "I've never ridden before," he admitted quietly.
Kraxis blinked in surprise. "Never?"
"Not even a pony at a carnival," Jin-ho confirmed, his tail swishing nervously.
Grip with your knees, not your heels, the Demon God supplied helpfully. And don't pull the reins too hard or Stormrunner might decide to throw you off a convenient cliff.
"That's...reassuring," Jin-ho muttered.
"Is there a problem?" Nyvak asked, approaching with a frown.
"No problem," Jin-ho said quickly. "Just...discussing strategy with the Demon God."
Kraxis gave him a knowing look but said nothing as attendants brought forward a elaborate saddle for Stormrunner. Unlike Earth horse saddles, this one wrapped around the Crestcat's body with multiple securing straps, including a chest piece and criss-crossing bands that wouldn't shift during the creature's leaps and bounds. Most notable were the leg restraints- essentially safety belts that would keep a rider secured during the most acrobatic maneuvers.
"The safety straps are only for emergencies," Kraxis explained. "A skilled rider relies on balance and coordination with their mount."
Which you lack entirely, the Demon God commented. Use the straps.
Jin-ho approached Stormrunner with as much confidence as he could muster. The creature lowered its head, allowing him to cautiously stroke its muzzle. Despite its predatory appearance, the Crestcat's eyes held a gentle intelligence.
"How do I...?" Jin-ho gestured vaguely at the saddle.
An attendant brought forward a mounting block, but before Jin-ho could use it, Stormrunner turned and bumped him with its massive head, nearly knocking him over.
He's testing you, the Demon God explained. Show confidence or he'll never respect you.
Jin-ho straightened, meeting the Crestcat's gaze directly. "Enough," he said firmly, in his most authoritative Demon King voice.
To his surprise, Stormrunner immediately stilled, lowering slightly to make mounting easier.
With the attendant's help, Jin-ho awkwardly climbed into the saddle, his tail making the process more complicated than it needed to be. Once seated, he found the saddle surprisingly comfortable, contoured to accommodate his tail's base.
"Now what?" he asked Kraxis, trying to look like he belonged there.
"Just relax and let Stormrunner do the work," the general advised, mounting his own Crestcat with practiced ease. "He remembers you, even if you don't remember him."
Jin-ho doubted that very much, but he nodded as if this made perfect sense.
Sit straight, grip with your knees, and don't pull the reins unless you want to stop, the Demon God instructed. Stormrunner will follow Kraxis's mount unless you direct otherwise. And for void's sake, stop letting your tail thrash around like that- you're telling him you're terrified.
Jin-ho took a deep breath and forced his tail to settle into a gentle curve behind him. Almost immediately, Stormrunner's posture relaxed.
"The saboteurs disabled wards at three points along the western ridge," Nyvak reported, guiding his smaller Crestcat alongside Jin-ho's. "Based on the magical signatures, we're dealing with at least six demons."
"Let's move," Kraxis ordered. "The human assault begins tomorrow. We can't afford compromised defenses."
The stable doors opened to the night, revealing a steep mountain path illuminated only by starlight. Jin-ho's stomach lurched as Stormrunner padded forward, powerful muscles bunching beneath him.
Here we go, the Demon God said with entirely too much amusement. Try not to fall off and die ignominiously before your first real battle.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jin-ho muttered as Stormrunner followed the others into the darkness.
-----
Jin-ho had never experienced anything like riding a Crestcat through mountain terrain at night. Stormrunner moved with impossible grace, traversing narrow ledges that seemed barely wide enough for a human footpath, much less a creature larger than a draft horse. When the path disappeared entirely, the massive beast simply leapt from outcropping to outcropping, each landing so precise and controlled that Jin-ho barely felt the impact.
"The western defensive line begins just ahead," Kraxis called back, his Crestcat navigating the treacherous path with practiced ease. "The wards should be visible soon, my King."
Jin-ho squinted into the darkness. At first he saw nothing, but then- faint lines of bluish energy appeared, tracing complex patterns across the mountainside. Like a vast spiderweb of light, the defensive wards created an intricate network designed to alert the demons to any approach and slow enemy advancement.
But the web was broken. In several places, the blue lines abruptly ended, creating gaps large enough for human forces to slip through undetected.
"There," Nyvak pointed with a clawed hand. "The first sabotage point."
Kraxis signaled and the party slowed, approaching more cautiously. Jin-ho tried to emulate the others, pulling gently on Stormrunner's reins as the Demon God had instructed. The Crestcat ignored him completely, maintaining its previous pace.
Pull harder, the Demon God suggested. He's testing your resolve.
Jin-ho tugged more firmly. Stormrunner responded by accelerating.
Not like that! Steady pressure, not jerking!
Jin-ho yanked back in panic. Stormrunner stopped so abruptly that Jin-ho would have been launched over the creature's head if not for the safety straps he'd secretly fastened.
Kraxis glanced back, his expression a mixture of concern and poorly concealed amusement. "Everything alright, my King?"
"Perfectly fine," Jin-ho replied with dignity, despite hanging half out of his saddle. "Just...inspecting the path ahead."
Smooth, the Demon God commented dryly. Truly the majestic bearing of a legendary monarch.
Be quiet, Jin-ho thought back with an eye roll.
Jin-ho struggled back into position as Kraxis dismounted to examine the damaged ward stone. The general's hands passed over the rune-carved rock, his expression darkening.
"This was done with precision," he reported. "Knowledge of our warding system. Whoever did this knew exactly where to strike to create a blind spot."
"Can you repair it?" Jin-ho asked, finally managing to dismount without falling. His legs felt wobbly after the ride, but he forced himself to stand tall.
"Temporarily," Kraxis replied. "But the damage is extensive. Someone wanted to create a clear path for a human advance force."
While Kraxis worked on the ward stone, Jin-ho noticed Stormrunner watching him with what he could have sworn was amusement in the massive creature's eyes.
"You did that on purpose," he accused quietly.
The Crestcat made a snuffling sound that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
"Fresh tracks," Nyvak reported, examining the ground with his keen Felidae eyes. "Six demons, as I suspected. They're heading to the next ward point."
"Then so are we," Jin-ho said, eyeing Stormrunner with newfound wariness before reluctantly climbing back into the saddle.
-----
This time, the Crestcat moved more cooperatively, following Kraxis's mount down a nearly invisible path that curved around the mountainside. The terrain grew increasingly treacherous- narrow ledges with sheer drops of thousands of feet, ice-slicked stone that should have been impossible to traverse.
Yet the Crestcats moved with unwavering confidence, their massive paws finding purchase where none seemed to exist. Despite his initial fear, Jin-ho found himself gradually relaxing into the rhythm of Stormrunner's movement, his body intuitively adjusting to maintain balance.
"How did we never develop creatures like these on Earth?" he wondered aloud.
Your world lacked the necessary magical conditions, the Demon God replied. Crestcats evolved in regions where void energy saturates the mountains, affecting local wildlife over millennia.
Jin-ho was still pondering this when Kraxis suddenly raised his hand, signaling a halt. The party froze instantly, Crestcats going perfectly still.
"Listen," Kraxis whispered.
Jin-ho's enhanced hearing picked it up immediately- voices ahead, speaking in hushed tones. Demons, discussing something about "primary wards" and "channel redirection."
"They're at the main junction point," Nyvak whispered. "If they disable that..."
"Our entire western defensive line becomes vulnerable," Kraxis finished grimly.
Jin-ho felt a surge of anger. These saboteurs were endangering everything- his carefully planned strategy, the lives of demons who would be caught unprepared, and ultimately, his hopes for peace.
"How do we approach?" he asked, his voice hardening.
"The ridge above gives cover," Kraxis suggested. "We can observe first, then strike."
Jin-ho nodded, and the group guided their mounts up a steep incline that overlooked a small plateau ahead. There, illuminated by dim magical light, six figures worked around a massive ward stone that pulsed with failing energy.
"Shadow Adepts," Kraxis identified, his voice tight with anger. "Specialized in ward manipulation. They're not just disabling the defenses- they're redirecting them to create false readings."
Jin-ho studied the saboteurs, his hand unconsciously moving to Nightfang's hilt. "Why would demons betray their own kind on the eve of battle?"
"Some believe any peace with humans is impossible," Kraxis replied quietly. "They'd prefer open war, even at great cost."
"Vassek's loyalists," Nyvak suggested.
Jin-ho's grip tightened on Nightfang. "Let's find out."
-----
"Surround them," Jin-ho ordered quietly. "Nyvak, take the Umbrite and circle west. Kraxis, east with the others. I'll approach from the front."
"My King," Kraxis protested, "you shouldn't expose yourself- "
"I'm the one they least expect to find here," Jin-ho cut him off. "And I want answers."
Before Kraxis could object further, Jin-ho guided Stormrunner down a slope that would bring him to the plateau's edge. To his surprise, the Crestcat moved with silent precision, its massive paws finding footholds that made no sound against the stone.
The beasts were bred for stealth despite their size, the Demon God explained. Their paw pads absorb sound.
Jin-ho dismounted from Stormrunner and positioned himself behind a large boulder at the plateau's edge, watching as Kraxis and the others moved into position. The saboteurs continued their work, unaware of the trap closing around them.
One of them- a tall, slender demon with silver markings that identified them as a Shadow Adept- placed a crystalline device against the ward stone. The stone's blue glow immediately dimmed, power bleeding away into the device.
"Faster," the Adept hissed to the others. "We must disable the entire network before dawn."
Jin-ho's anger built as he watched them methodically dismantling defenses that protected thousands of demons. This wasn't mere disagreement with his strategy- this was treason that would cost innocent lives.
He drew Nightfang, the wavy blade darkening as it absorbed ambient light. The runes along its length began to glow with crimson energy that matched the markings on his skin.
Kraxis caught his eye from across the plateau and gave a subtle nod. They were in position.
Jin-ho stepped from behind the boulder, Nightfang held at his side. "I believe you're tampering with my defenses," he said, his voice carrying across the plateau.
The saboteurs froze, then whirled to face him. Shock registered on their faces as they recognized the Demon King himself standing before them rather than some random patrol.
"Scatter!" the lead Adept shouted, but it was too late. Kraxis and the others emerged from their hiding places, cutting off all escape routes.
"Surrender now," Jin-ho commanded, "and you might live to explain yourselves."
For a moment, it seemed they might comply. Then the lead Adept snarled and hurled a sphere of compressed shadow directly at Jin-ho's chest.
Jin-ho reacted instinctively, slashing Nightfang through the shadow sphere. The blade absorbed the energy, its runes flaring brighter. The other saboteurs used the distraction to attack, darkness gathering around their hands as they unleashed a barrage of shadow spells.
Kraxis and his soldiers engaged immediately, weapons clashing with magical barriers. Nyvak moved with feline speed, tackling one saboteur before they could complete a complex spell.
Jin-ho found himself facing the lead Adept, who wielded twin blades of solidified shadow. "You are no king of mine," the Adept sneered. "Trying to find peace is something you would never do."
The accusation hit Jin-ho like a physical blow. This demon somehow knew his true nature.
"Who sent you?" Jin-ho demanded, deflecting a lightning-fast strike with Nightfang. "Vassek?"
The Adept laughed, a cold sound devoid of humor. "You understand nothing of the forces aligned against you."
Their blades met in a shower of sparks and shadow energy. Jin-ho was surprised to find his body responding with perfect coordination, Nightfang moving to counter each attack without conscious thought.
Muscle memory, the Demon God supplied. Malverous was an exceptional swordsman-and you have been practicing a lot.
Around them, the battle raged. Kraxis had disarmed one saboteur and was pressing another backward with relentless strikes. Nyvak and the Umbrite soldier had subdued a third. The Pyros demon dueled with two saboteurs simultaneously, flames dancing around his blades.
The lead Adept, seeing his companions falling, grew desperate. He flung a handful of small crystalline objects to the ground, where they exploded into blinding flashes of light.
"The wards!" Kraxis shouted through the chaos. "They're destroying the central node!"
Jin-ho squinted through the magical glare to see two saboteurs placing devices similar to the first against the main ward stone. If they succeeded, the entire western defensive network would collapse- leaving thousands of demons vulnerable to the human assault.
Rage surged through Jin-ho- not the cold strategic anger he had felt before, but something primal and overwhelming. These traitors were willing to sacrifice countless demon lives, all to undermine his leadership.
Without conscious thought, Jin-ho channeled his power through Nightfang. The King's Edict- the deadly one-hit kill ability he had practiced so carefully- manifested as a crescent of pure darkness that shot from the blade.
The shadow arc struck one saboteur directly in the chest. There was no blood, no visible wound- the demon simply collapsed, life force severed by the shadow's touch.
The second saboteur turned to flee and came face to face with Jin-ho, who had used his shadow powers to traverse the distance between them instantly. Terror filled the demon's eyes as he recognized the deadly technique.
"Wait-!" the saboteur began.
Jin-ho's blade moved with terrible precision. A second body dropped to the stone.
The plateau fell silent. The remaining saboteurs, seeing their companions fall to the King's Edict, dropped their weapons and fell to their knees.
Ohhh nice, very Demon King-like, ten out of ten, the Demon God chuckled.
I-I killed them. I didn't mean to. It's like someone controlled my body, Jin-ho thought as his mind swirled.
Hey now, don't, calm down. The Demon God sighed. Also, you aren't being controlled by anyone, it was your body. Now that everything is connected, you have a natural feeling to help and protect your people. When you thought of all of the demons that would be killed, your body moved before your brain could catch up.
That sounds about right, I'm sure I would have killed the others if they didn't drop their weapons. I don't like this. I don't-
Hey, have a mental breakdown later. Finish this up.
Jin-ho straightened his back and took a breath. "Bind them," Jin-ho ordered, his voice cold. "I want answers."
----
The three surviving saboteurs knelt on the stone plateau, bound with magical restraints that prevented shadow manipulation. Jin-ho paced before them, Nightfang still drawn, its blade gleaming with residual power from the King's Edict.
"Two of your companions are dead," he said flatly. "Whether you join them depends entirely on how truthfully you answer my questions."
Kraxis stood to one side, his expression grim. The general had seen Jin-ho's power unleashed for the first time- the deadly efficiency of the King's Edict used in genuine combat rather than training exercises.
"Who ordered this sabotage?" Jin-ho demanded.
The saboteurs remained silent, eyes downcast. Jin-ho raised Nightfang, shadows gathering around the blade.
"Perhaps I wasn't clear," he said, his patience wearing thin. "One way or another, I will have answers. The only question is how many of you survive to see tomorrow."
The youngest of the three- a Shadow Adept barely past adolescence- trembled visibly. "We serve the true vision," he blurted, earning glares from his companions.
"Whose vision?" Jin-ho pressed.
"We cannot-" one of the others began.
Jin-ho flicked Nightfang almost casually. A tiny crescent of shadow detached from the blade, slicing through a lock of the speaking demon's hair before dissipating. The message was clear: next time, he wouldn't miss.
"The Keeper of Histories," the young Adept said quickly. "She guides us toward the true path."
Jin-ho froze, his tail going completely still behind him. "The Keeper of...Lyria?"
Kraxis's head snapped up, disbelief written across his features. "Impossible. Lyria is loyal to the crown."
"She serves a higher purpose," the older saboteur said defiantly. "The ancient ways must be preserved."
Jin-ho's mind raced. Lyria- his advisor on the Marriage Circle, the keeper of the Void Crystal, the scholar he had trusted with his hopes for peace. It made no sense.
"Explain," he commanded, bringing Nightfang's point to rest under the defiant saboteur's chin.
"The peace you seek is false," the demon replied, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Humans cannot be trusted. The Keeper knows this better than anyone- she has studied their betrayals for centuries."
"Yet she researches the Marriage Circle," Jin-ho countered. "She works toward restoring peace."
A cruel smile twisted the saboteur's lips. "Is that what she told you?"
Dread pooled in Jin-ho's stomach. "What does she want with the Void Crystal?"
"Ask her yourself," the saboteur replied. "Though you may not like the answer."
Jin-ho turned to Kraxis, whose expression had hardened from shock to calculation. "Take them back to the fortress. Maximum security, no visitors."
"And you, my King?" Kraxis asked.
Jin-ho sheathed Nightfang with a decisive movement. "I'm going to have a conversation with the Keeper of Histories."
The ride back to the fortress was swift and silent, Jin-ho's thoughts churning with possibilities. Could Lyria truly be betraying him? What purpose could she have for the Void Crystal if not peace?
Stormrunner seemed to sense his urgency, moving with greater speed and purpose than during their outward journey. Jin-ho found himself working in perfect harmony with the beast, anticipating its movements, leaning into turns, maintaining balance during impossible leaps between outcroppings.
You ride well when you stop thinking about it, the Demon God observed. Like many things in life.
The fortress loomed ahead, its spires silhouetted against the pre-dawn sky. In mere hours, the human assault would begin- an assault that might have found the demons fatally unprepared if not for tonight's discovery.
But even as they approached the gates, Jin-ho felt a deeper unease. If Lyria had betrayed him, what of the Void Crystal? What of his hopes for peace?
-----
The ancient library was dark when Jin-ho entered, but his enhanced vision easily picked out the shape seated at the central table. Blue skin, silver markings, hands folded patiently as if she had been expecting him.
"My King," Lyria greeted him, her voice as measured and scholarly as always. "You've had a busy night."
"Your saboteurs were clumsy," Jin-ho replied, allowing the doors to close behind him. "Two are dead. Three captured."
If this news disturbed her, she showed no sign. "An unfortunate loss."
"Why?" Jin-ho asked, the simple question containing multitudes. Why betray him? Why undermine their defenses? Why pretend to seek peace?
Lyria rose, moving around the table with the same elegant grace she had always possessed. "Because some things are more important than temporary victory or defeat. Some principles transcend tactical advantage."
"You were going to get demons killed," Jin-ho said, anger creeping back into his voice. "Our people."
"Some sacrifices are necessary for the greater design," she replied calmly. "I had hoped you would understand that, in time."
Jin-ho's hand moved to Nightfang's hilt. "The Void Crystal- was that all a lie too?"
At this, Lyria finally showed emotion- a slight smile that held no warmth. "The crystal is quite real, as is its purpose. Though perhaps not the purpose I described to you."
"Explain," Jin-ho demanded, drawing Nightfang in a single fluid motion. "Now."
Lyria regarded the wavy blade without fear. "The Marriage Circle indeed created a zone where humans and demons could coexist. But what I didn't tell you was its true function- to strengthen the Demon God's connection to this world."
Jin-ho frowned. "What?"
She speaks true, the Demon God admitted, surprising Jin-ho. The original Circle served multiple purposes.
"The Goddess abandoned this world," Lyria continued. "But the Demon God remains, his power diminished by her departure. The Void Crystal, infused with both divine and void energies, could restore the balance- could make our god whole again."
"And why conceal this from me?" Jin-ho demanded.
Lyria's silver eyes seemed to look through him. "Because you are not Malverous. You are something else wearing his skin. Something that doesn't understand the true purpose of demonkind."
Jin-ho's blood ran cold. "How long have you known?"
"From the beginning," she replied simply. "I am the Keeper of Histories. I knew Malverous for centuries. Did you think I wouldn't recognize an impostor?"
The revelation struck Jin-ho like a physical blow. All this time, she had known his secret- had played along with his plans while pursuing her own agenda.
"The sabotage?" he asked. "How does weakening our defenses serve your purpose?"
"The humans must breach our lines," Lyria explained, as if discussing a theoretical problem rather than life-and-death strategy. "Their champion must face you directly. The divine energy he wields must clash with your void powers at full strength. Only then will the crystal absorb enough essence to reactivate the Circle properly."
Understanding dawned on Jin-ho with horrible clarity. "You're using me as bait. You want the champion to attack with his full power while I'm wearing the crystal."
"Precisely," Lyria confirmed. "Your plan to avoid direct confrontation was...inconvenient. I needed to ensure the humans would break through, that you would have no choice but to face their champion directly."
Jin-ho raised Nightfang, shadows gathering around the blade. "And you're willing to sacrifice countless demons for this?"
"For the restoration of our god's full power?" Lyria's voice took on a fervent quality he had never heard before. "Gladly."
The library doors burst open behind Jin-ho. He didn't need to turn to know who had entered- his enhanced hearing had already picked up the familiar heartbeat.
"My King," Kraxis's voice was tense, urgent. "Dawn approaches. The human army is on the move."
Jin-ho kept his eyes fixed on Lyria. "Have the Keeper of Histories arrested for treason."
Lyria's expression didn't change. "It's too late," she said softly. "The pieces are already in motion. The champion comes. And one way or another, the Circle will be restored."
As guards moved to seize her, Jin-ho felt the weight of the Void Crystal pendant against his chest- a weight that suddenly felt like a ticking bomb rather than a hope for peace.
The first light of dawn broke through the library windows, illuminating the scene in gold and crimson. Battle awaited. Betrayal surrounded him. And somewhere beyond the mountains, the human champion advanced, unwittingly playing his part in Lyria's grand design.
Jin-ho's tail lashed behind him, betraying the turmoil beneath his outwardly calm demeanor. Once again, he found himself facing impossible choices. But this time, lives beyond his own hung in the balance.
"Prepare for battle," he ordered Kraxis. "But change nothing in our strategy."
"My King?" Kraxis questioned, glancing toward Lyria as guards led her away.
"If the humans expect us to be vulnerable, let's use that expectation," Jin-ho replied. "The trap remains-we just need to be more careful about who gets caught in it."
As he spoke, Jin-ho made a decision. The Void Crystal remained around his neck, its power dormant for now. Whatever Lyria's true plan, whatever the Demon God's involvement, Jin-ho would forge his own path forward.
Neither pure demon nor entirely human, he stood at the crossroads of two species' futures. And perhaps that unique perspective was exactly what this world needed.