Chapter 2.5: The General’s Mercy

  On the other side of the fracturing world, the Primordial family had already taken control. They moved through the carnage not as survivors, but as hunters. Amidst the screams and the shifting reality, Frederick was seen laughing—a manic, jagged sound. He wasn't horrified by the monsters or the merging skies; he was enraptured by the "beauty" of the chaos he had helped unleash.

  However, his brother—the Demon General—was a different breed of warrior. As he led his troops, he began to tend to the wounded demons, his gaze drifting to the "new beings" littering the streets. These were humans. To Frederick, they were subjects; to their father, they were ants. But to the General, they were lives.

  Turning his back on his father's orders, the General began slaughtering the "Equilibrium" organisms instead, carving a path through the monsters that threatened both species.

  During his lethal spree, he noticed a young woman with raven-black hair. She was backed against a crumbling wall, surrounded by a pack of mutated hounds. She was trembling, her hands shaking, unable to tap into the new powers surging within her.

  As the lead mutt lunged for her throat, she squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the end.

  It never came.

  A single, silver sword strike whistled through the air, bisecting the hound mid-leap. More beasts lunged from the shadows, but the savior moved like a ghost, getting rid of the entire pack in a heartbeat.

  As the last monster fell, the world voice boomed in the General’s mind:

  [EQUILIBRIUM ACHIEVED. MANA AND SKILL CORES ESTABLISHED TO THE WORLD'S PEAK.]

  The General paused, momentarily confused by the sudden surge of absolute mastery flowing through his veins.

  He shook the blood from his blade and turned to the girl.

  She looked up at him with wide, sapphire-blue eyes—eyes that mirrored the General’s own mother.

  He extended a gauntleted hand toward her, his expression softening.

  "I am Demon General Vergil," he said, his voice deep and calm. "Pleased to meet you, my lady."

  The girl, no older than twenty and wearing her hair in a short, sharp bob, looked at the demon in awe.

  She reached out and took his hand, the first bridge built between two worlds that were never supposed to meet.

  Now we see the human girl taking Vergil’s hand, her fingers small against his gauntlet. Around them, the dust of the "Equilibrium" was still settling.

  Several Demon Knights approached, kneeling before their commander.

  "Sir, what are our orders regarding these creatures called 'humans'?" they asked, their hands on their sword hilts.

  "For now, take them under our shelter," Vergil replied firmly. "Ensure they are fed and protected."

  "But General... the Duke?" the knights whispered, referring to the terrifying Primordial patriarch.

  "I will handle my father," Vergil said.

  The girl stared up at the General, mesmerized by the contrast of his golden hair and piercing green eyes.

  Vergil looked down at her, a slight frown of confusion on his face.

  "Is... there something wrong with my face?"

  The girl suddenly burst out laughing.

  "Lol! I feel like I’m the main character of some isekai anime, lmao!"

  Vergil blinked, his stoic mask slipping.

  "Pardon? What is... an anime?"

  "Nah, forget it, lol!" she chirped, standing up and dusting off her clothes. "I’m Hana."

  She reached up and playfully bumped her shoulder against the massive man’s arm.

  "Let’s get moving, big guy."

  The world had begun to heal, settling into its new, combined reality. Vergil and Hana walked through a vibrant garden, the red and blue skies above now a familiar sight.

  Hana, looking more mature but with the same mischievous glint in her eyes, suddenly smirked at him.

  "So, when are you proposing, then?"

  Vergil stumbled, his boots catching on the garden path. The massive General, who could slay hundreds of monsters without breaking a sweat, was suddenly red-faced and stammering like a child.

  "What—! Hana! No, I mean... I haven’t... the timing isn't..."

  "Oh, come on! Your face is red all over!" Hana teased, leaning in close.

  Vergil finally dropped his stiff, formal act and let out a genuine laugh, a sound that rarely echoed through the Primordial halls.

  "I suppose you’ve caught me."

  His expression softened as they walked.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  "In these past years, we’ve been through so much. I’ve already cut ties with my family... but I still miss my mother. She was the only one there with a kind heart."

  He looked at Hana,

  The sunlight caught Hana’s eyes, turning them briefly the same shade of blue Vergil remembered from his mother”.

  "If only Father and Frederick had been more cooperative... we could have saved her."

  "Even the strongest beings face loss, don't they?" Hana said softly, her voice grounding him.

  Vergil nodded.

  "I heard Frederick is getting married," Hana continued. "They even sent an invitation. Aren't you going?"

  "No," Vergil stated, his voice turning cold. "I won't associate with them."

  Hana reached out, taking his hand.

  "It’s not your fault, Vergil."

  "I’m responsible," he replied. "If I hadn't listened to my mother that day, she might still be alive. Perhaps then, Father and Frederick wouldn't hate humans so much."

  "Forget the past," Hana insisted. "You’ve established your own territory now. I believe your father has already forgiven you—otherwise, why would he give you a portion of his land or invite you to the wedding?"

  "Father was always complex, but never truly cruel," Vergil admitted. "He wasn't heartless the day Mother left us; I saw his facade crack, even if Frederick missed it."

  Suddenly, Hana reached up and pulled hard on Vergil’s ear.

  "What the hell are you doing?! Is this how you propose? By emotionally blackmailing me? 'Oh, I’m so lonely, please marry me!'" she mocked with an annoyed pout.

  Vergil broke out into a roar of laughter.

  "I got you, didn't I?"

  Hana blushed, turning away to hide her face as she tried to cool down.

  But when she finally turned back, her breath hitched.

  Vergil was on one knee on the garden path, a ring held out between his calloused fingers.

  "Hana... will you marry me?"

  "You already know the answer," she whispered, before jumping into his arms.

  But as the saying goes: when things are at their sweetest, the sourness is never far behind.

  Chapter 2.6: The Duke’s Heir

  The residence of Duke Vergil was a beacon of light in a world still struggling with the scars of the merger.

  His territory was an anomaly in the Demon Realm—the only place where humans and demons lived as equals, protected by the progressive rule of Vergil and his Duchess, Hana.

  It was an auspicious day.

  The town square was packed with subjects from both races.

  Vergil stood on the balcony, looking more mature and grounded than the warrior he once was.

  Beside him stood Hana, her presence commanding respect and warmth.

  "People of the Dukedom!" Vergil’s voice boomed. "Today, we celebrate. We finally have a new heir!"

  The crowd erupted into a deafening roar.

  Subordinates smiled at one another; humans and demons raised their glasses together, toasting to a shared future.

  "For this occasion," Vergil continued, a rare smile breaking across his face, "we will host a grand festival across the territory. We hope you all enjoy this moment and toast to the future of our two worlds!"

  Inside the private chambers, the world was quiet.

  Hana sat by a cradle, watching the sleeping infant.

  Vergil entered the room, his heavy footsteps softening as he approached.

  "Is he awake yet?" he whispered.

  "Shh," Hana replied, glancing back with a smirk. "You’ll wake him."

  Vergil complied, moving silently to her side.

  He looked down at the baby boy wrapped in white cloth.

  The child had a shock of dark hair.

  "He got your hair," Vergil noted softly.

  Suddenly, the baby’s eyes blinked open.

  He didn't cry; instead, he let out a tiny, bubbling giggle at the sight of his parents.

  Vergil’s breath hitched.

  "His eyes, too..."

  Hana looked up at her husband, her expression filled with a profound, quiet love.

  "I hope these happy times last forever," she whispered.

  Vergil leaned down, hugging her from behind as they watched their son.

  The quiet baby had grown into a whirlwind of energy.

  A young Mitsuo was seen sprinting through the dukedom with a group of other children.

  One of the kids tripped over a loose stone and tumbled to the ground.

  Instead of helping, Mitsuo stopped and pointed, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  "You didn't even see that big stone? What are you, blind? Lol!"

  Before he could finish his taunt, he felt a sharp, practiced pull on his ear.

  "Ouch! Mom! It hurts!"

  "Does it?" Hana asked, standing over him with her hands on her hips. "And what did you do wrong?"

  "Tch. Sorry!" Mitsuo muttered.

  "Huh? You’re apologizing to me? I don't remember being the one you were rude to," Hana countered, her brow arched.

  "Alright, alright!" Mitsuo huffed.

  He turned to the child who had fallen, extending a hand to pull him up.

  "Sorry," he said, though his face still held an irritated pout.

  Watching the scene from a nearby terrace, Vergil stood with his right-hand man, Ron.

  "Your Highness," Ron said, sounding concerned. "Is it truly necessary to make the young master apologize? It is only natural for a lord to speak his mind to his subjects."

  Vergil broke out in a hearty laugh.

  "Oh, Ron, you’re such an old-fashioned man. Are you sure you’d like my son bullying yours?"

  Ron stumbled over his words, his face flushing.

  Vergil placed a firm, friendly hand on his shoulder.

  "I believe in Hana’s guidance," he said, his gaze returning to his wife and son with a look of absolute pride. "She’s teaching him to be a leader, not just a ruler."

  Chapter 2.7: The Duke’s Heir

  The afternoon was quiet until a sudden, whistling roar tore through the sky, ending in a thunderous crash in the center of the palace garden.

  Vergil, who had been reviewing trade ledgers in his office, was on his feet in an instant.

  He arrived at the garden to find his elite guards already surrounding a strange, metallic sphere that had carved a shallow crater into the manicured grass.

  "Stay back! I’ll check it," Vergil commanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

  "But your highness, this could be a trap!" Ron protested, his aura flaring in defense.

  Vergil offered him an assuring, calm smile.

  "Don’t worry. The world itself selected the Primordial lineage as the strongest; I don't think a piece of metal is going to be my end."

  He stepped toward the object.

  As he reached out, the machine hissed, and a flickering blue hologram materialized in the air.

  The guards instantly leveled their spears, but the figure in the light remained still.

  It was a man, dressed in a sharp, structured uniform that looked far more advanced than anything in the Demon Realm.

  "Is this Duke Vergil of the Demon Territory?" the man in the hologram asked, his voice echoing with a slight metallic distortion.

  "It is," Vergil replied, his eyes narrowing.

  "My apologies, Duke, for interrupting your peace. I am a leader representing the Human Territory. Our intelligence suggests you are remarkably benevolent to the humans under your care. We are also aware that your Duchess is, herself, a human."

  The temperature in the garden seemed to drop as Vergil’s expression turned dangerous.

  "What of it?"

  "Pardon me, I mean no harm," the man continued, unfazed. "I am here with a proposal. We wish to establish formal trade arrangements and resource sharing between your dukedom and humanity."

  Vergil blinked, the tension in his shoulders shifting to genuine surprise.

  "Trade? You’re proposing diplomacy?"

  "You don't have to answer now. You may discuss it with your Duchess—or your Demon King," the man said. "If your answer is yes, light a green flare above your territory. We will send our ambassadors to begin the dialogue."

  The machine hummed one last time before the hologram dissolved into nothingness.

  "It’s a trap," Ron spat, looking at the dead machine with deep suspicion. "They’re using the Duchess as leverage."

  Vergil looked at the machine, his mind already weighing the possibilities.

  "Perhaps. But if there is a chance to bridge our worlds for the sake of the next generation... we have to think about it."

  To be continued…

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