Dragon King: Throne of Demons and Gods-Chapter 192: Act III, Scene XIV: The Curtain Falls, Then Rises

Castella was in complete panic. People ran through the streets, shouting and crying, not knowing where to go.

Some dropped to their knees, hands raised toward the sky, begging for help that wasn't coming.

A strange purple light covered everything, drowning everything and people look even more scared.

Even for normal citizens, it wasn't a normal light. It felt heavy and wrong, like something powerful and dangerous was behind it.

Everything had happened in just a few seconds. The destruction had come so fast that no one even had time to react.

Some buildings were cracked, parts of the streets had collapsed, and the city was filled with rubble. People were lost, confused, and terrified.

But after that... nothing. No more noise, no more falling buildings. Just silence.

The purple glow was still there, surrounding everything like a thick fog, but the chaos had stopped. It was like time itself had paused.

On top of a tall, damaged building, Bel stood completely still. His eyes were shut, and he looked like he was deep in thought.

Just a moment ago, he had been moving so fast that it was like he was in a different world. He had killed many demons in seconds, jumping from one place to another like lightning.

But now, something was wrong.

"Where are they?" he said quietly.

He had searched the entire city. Every street, every building, every single place where someone could hide. He had checked all the important areas more than once. He had used his speed and tracking skills to their fullest... but nothing.

"I don't get it," he said. "Is this another dimension spell?"

Airi, Crest, and his three drakes were nowhere to be found. Not even a trace of them remained. It was like they had just disappeared. No energy. No signs. Nothing.

Bel slowly opened his eyes. The purple light reflected in them, glowing faintly. He didn't like this feeling. He didn't like not knowing.

He remembered the warning from the Crimson Bloom. She had said that whichever path he chose, someone was going to meet their demise.

He had thought going after the Slumbering King was the right move. He knew Mammon wouldn't show up here without a plan.

But now he understood something important:

He shouldn't have left Airi to face him alone.

Then, someone appeared behind him. It was Regulus.

"There aren't many demons left," Regulus said quietly. "Hypnos is gone. That makes three of the Slumbering King's top demons taken out. It's time we go for the King."

Bel looked at him.

"Can you teleport?"

Regulus flinched.

"Sorry... not exactly. I placed a marker on you, so I can just come to wherever you are."

He rubbed the back of his head.

"It won't be a problem for long. I only plan to help with the King. That's it."

Bel shook his head.

"No need to apologize. I'm not mad. I'm just... annoyed. I can't find five energy signatures."

Regulus went quiet. He stared up at the moon for a second.

"Do you think... it's the Slumbering King?"

Bel shook his head.

"No. Airi went after Mammon."

Regulus's eyes widened.

"... Mammon? Here? Are you.... Damn it... and the Crimson Bloom should also be around... that makes three Demon Lords in one city."

Bel looked up at the moon again. It was still blue.

Then a voice spoke behind them.

"Mind lifting the pressure?"

Regulus turned.

It was Maël.

He stood there, and besides him was Astros.

Bel didn't move.

Astros stepped forward.

"Your aura... it's messing with our senses. We can't sense danger like this. Please. Help us not being useless and drop it."

Bel slowly turned to face them.

Then, his pressure faded.

The air cleared. The city looked normal again. The night sky returned to its peaceful state.

Astros let out a breath of relief.

"Thanks."

Bel studied their reactions. Neither of them seemed to notice Regulus standing there. Strange.

Maël looked back at Bel.

"So, can we quickly debrief on the situation? I left the old woman in the coliseum. Kardrax is badly hurt, so she's helping him. I don't think they're in immediate danger, demon numbers dropped fast... your work, I'm guessing? That's all I've seen."

He paused.

"Everything seems good, but there's a problem. My dad and Regulus are both missing."

Astros added.

"Same for Airi."

He looked Bel in the eye.

"What about the other Demon Lords?"

Bel answered calmly.

"Aurus is fighting the Slumbering King. And Regulus is dead."

Astros' eyes widened. For a few seconds, both were frozen. Then, Maël lowered his head for a moment, and right after looked back up, more serious now.

"I see."

That was all he said.

Astros clenched his jaw.

"So one of us didn't make it after all..."

The three of them stood there in silence. For warriors like them, grief had no place in the middle of war. They didn't have time to cry. Mourning was a weight they couldn't afford to carry.

Behind Bel, Regulus stood quietly.

They didn't see him. They didn't hear him.

But Bel did.

He glanced over his shoulder. Regulus gave him a small nod. A message passed between them without words.

Keep it quiet. For now.

Maybe Regulus had a plan.

Maël finally broke the silence.

"If my old man is still fighting... how do we reach him?"

Bel looked back up at the moon.

"The King isn't fighting here," he said. "He's in another dimension. I learned that during the last wave. That means..."

Suddenly, a massive pressure slammed into the city.

It came from above. Like a weight dropped from the sky, pressing on everything at once. Buildings creaked. Trees bent. Every civilian was forced on their knees.

Astros stumbled.

"What the hell is that?!"

Maël straightened, his expression sharpening.

Regulus looked up at the moon.

"That's..."

Above them, the sky cracked open. A vortex formed in the clouds, swirling wider by the second. Its center pulled at everything below like a black hole.

Astros stared, stunned.

"What is that?!"

Then, a strange blue wave poured out of the vortex.

Bel's eyes narrowed.

"... That's... The dreamscape... it's coming back."

The wave hit the city. It wasn't violent, but it was unnatural. Everything it touched bent and shifted. Walls twisted, roads curled, colors melted into each other like wet paint.

Maël and Astros watched, powerless, as the dream swallowed the city once again.

Castella was pulled back into the nightmare.

The Dreamscape was back again.

The world bent and twisted, the buildings no longer looked right, even the streets looped in on themselves.

Maël and Astros blinked, coming back to their senses.

They looked at each other.

"It happened again," Astros grumbled. "Everything's twisted. And... I can't feel anything!"

He shouted in frustration, clenching his fists.

"Just what is this?! How are we supposed to fight like this?!"

Maël turned to ask Bel, but stopped.

Bel was gone.

In his place, a burning pentagram glowed on the ground.