Raizel's laughter echoed coldly, resonating with a chilling darkness as he stared down at Ignis and Zephyros.
"You wished for battle and chaos," Raizel murmured, his crimson eyes glowing brighter, almost aflame. "Then allow me to invite you to my birthplace—the depths of Hell itself."
Before they could react, Raizel's fingers sliced open a void of swirling darkness, dragging Ignis and Zephyros through it effortlessly. The void snapped shut, sealing them in the merciless grasp of the abyss.
Zephyros fell to his knees, coughing violently as they landed on searing earth. Heat wrapped around them viciously, blistering and unending. It was unlike anything they'd experienced—smoke-filled air, haunting screams from unseen souls, the smell of agony hanging thickly.
Hell itself had welcomed them.
Ignis stood shakily, glancing around defiantly. "Cute trick, demon. But your little realm means nothing to a god!"
Raizel merely smiled, soft and deadly. "Then show me your godly power. I'll wait."
A thunderous growl echoed through the shadows, a sound so deep and monstrous that Zephyros recoiled instinctively.
"What was that—?" Zephyros stammered, panic rising quickly.
Raizel's smirk widened knowingly, but he offered no answer. Instead, he raised his hand lazily, inviting Ignis forward.
Ignis roared with fury, flames exploding violently around him, manifesting a blazing inferno. His form shifted and twisted into a colossal, monstrous creature of flames, eyes white-hot with rage. "I'll melt the skin from your bones, demon!"
Raizel's laugh was colder than ice. "Do your worst."
Ignis lunged, a storm of flames erupting with each strike. Raizel fought elegantly, dodging flames with sinister grace, eyes gleaming excitedly with every near-miss. Ignis' strikes, wild and unpredictable, finally landed—searing Raizel's flesh. Blood splattered the ashen ground.
Raizel stumbled slightly, his eyes flickering dangerously. The pain, familiar and intoxicating, flooded him. Memories struck him violently, raw and scorching.
Flashback
Chains rattled harshly. Young Raizel lay trapped, his small body blistering in eternal flames. Screams tore from his throat, begging, pleading for mercy.
"Burn, demon spawn!" a voice echoed cruelly, laughter following.
Raizel cried out, his vision blurring in agony as the flames consumed him, the laughter of gods ringing endlessly in his ears. Their mocking faces burned into his soul forever.
End Flashback
Raizel snapped back violently, reality surging around him again. Rage boiled inside him, fury raw and primal. Flames erupted from his own body, darker and deadlier than Ignis had ever known.
"This is what you made me into!" Raizel's voice thundered, his flames surging forward like living nightmares.
Ignis screamed in shock and agony, writhing helplessly as Raizel's cursed fire surrounded him, burning through divine protection like paper. Zephyros, frozen by terror, could only stare in horror as his friend was consumed by agony.
Raizel approached Ignis, flames dancing harmlessly around him. He slowly crouched beside Ignis, whispering softly, tauntingly.
"How does it feel, Ignis?" Raizel's voice was velvet smooth, chillingly tender. "To be so close to death, to see the end, and then—"
Suddenly Raizel placed a gentle palm on Ignis' burning chest, dark magic surging gently from his fingertips. Ignis' flesh restored instantly, leaving him trembling violently.
"—ripped back to life." Raizel leaned close, eyes mercilessly cold. "You made me relive this nightmare endlessly. It's your turn."
Ignis, eyes wide with agony and terror, struggled to breathe, broken and silent.
Raizel rose slowly, turning calmly. Zephyros watched helplessly, paralyzed and speechless, as Raizel walked toward a massive obsidian throne carved from nightmares. Raizel sat regally, flames dancing gently along his fingertips as the world around him stilled in awe.
From the shadows behind the throne, Fenrir emerged—a monstrous beast, his scarred, mangled face gazing coldly at Zephyros. The wolf-like creature stopped just behind Raizel, his presence overwhelming and terrifying.
Raizel began to laugh, soft at first, building slowly into dark, chilling echoes that resonated throughout Hell itself.
Zephyros finally broke, collapsing onto the ashen ground, shaking uncontrollably.
"Who—who are you?" Zephyros choked desperately, tears of fear streaming down his face. "Why are you doing this? We don't even know you! We've done nothing to you!"
Raizel's laughter faded slowly, his gaze sharpening. He stood slowly from his throne, the flames calming around him. He approached Zephyros, his footsteps echoing across Hell.
"You're right," Raizel spoke softly, almost gently. "You don't know me. No god does. But you will."
He knelt down, eyes blazing as he held Zephyros' terrified gaze. "I'll tell you exactly who I am... and exactly why every single one of your kind must suffer."
Zephyros swallowed hard, fear choking him. "W-who...?"
Raizel looked up, eyes locked on the dark, twisted sky above Hell. The flames around him flared violently as he shouted into the void itself.
"Do you hear me, Eiden?!" His voice, dripping venom and wrath, thundered across the realms. "You cannot hide from me forever!"
Lightning crackled violently through the clouds. Raizel slowly lowered his head, crimson eyes glowing fiercely as he whispered:
"Let me tell you how this all began..."
Zephyros' breath caught painfully, his eyes wide with dread and anticipation as Raizel began to speak, his voice darkening, promising nightmares, agony, and war:
"My name is Raizel. And this is my revenge."