Claiming the Throne of the Demon King

Ruya, Kajin, and Cracknut moved silently through the dark, winding canals, their footsteps echoing faintly against the damp stone walls. Kajin led the way and Ruya followed closely behind, his eyes darting nervously from side to side, while Cracknut lay lazily on Kajin's shoulder, his tail swishing back and forth as he gazed upward.

"If I remember correctly," Kajin thought, his expression hardening slightly, "this tunnel connects to the main one. And that's where the real danger begins."

Ruya quietly rushed up to Kajin and tapped him on the back. Kajin turned, his brow furrowed in annoyance. "What's the matter?" he whispered sharply. "If you tell me you're scared again, I'll punch you. Again."

Ruya shook his head frantically, his eyes wide. "No-no!" he whispered back, pointing ahead with a trembling finger. Kajin followed Ruya's gaze, his eyes narrowing as they landed on a Black Jumper lying on the ground, its back turned to them. The creature's thick black fur glistened faintly in the dim light, and its long claws rested against the stone floor.

"Damn it... I didn't expect to run into one so soon," Kajin thought. "But it seems to be asleep. If we're careful, we can slip past without waking it." He turned to Ruya and gestured silently for him to follow, pointing toward a path that would take them around the creature. Ruya nodded, his face pale but determined.

They moved cautiously, each step deliberate and quiet. Cracknut, unaware of what was happening, suddenly let out a loud yawn, the sound echoed through the tunnel. Both Kajin and Ruya froze, their eyes widening in panic. Slowly, they turned to look back at the Black Jumper. The creature shifted slightly, adjusting its legs, but it didn't wake. Kajin and Ruya exhaled silently, their shoulders relaxing just a fraction.

Kajin grabbed Cracknut, his expression a mix of frustration and relief. "You little..." he muttered under his breath, pulling a nut from his pocket and stuffing it into Cracknut's mouth before placing him back on his shoulder. Ruya leaned in closer to Kajin, his voice barely audible. "How much longer are we going to be down here?" he asked, his tone laced with worry.

Kajin thought for a moment before responding in a hushed whisper. "We're in one of the smaller tunnels that connects to the main canal. Once we reach it, we'll follow it until we find another side tunnel that leads to the surface. In short... about 20 minutes, if everything goes according to plan."

Ruya shivered at the thought. "I hate this," he muttered, falling back into step behind Kajin.

They continued walking, the tension in the air palpable. After a while, they finally reached the main canal. Kajin's flame illuminated the larger space, revealing the rough stone walls and the faint outline of the path ahead. "Good," Kajin said quietly. "The darkness isn't as thick here. We can see much more clearly now."

Ruya nodded, his eyes scanning the area. "Yeah... it does seem a bit brighter," he agreed, though his voice still carried a hint of unease.

They continued to walk in the main canalKajin's gaze shifted left and right, his expression serious and his guard up. "It's strange," he thought. "I expected this to be the hardest part, but... we haven't run into any real obstacles yet. This is too good to be true. Suspiciously good."

Suddenly, Kajin stopped in his tracks. Ruya, confused, halted as well. "Hey, why'd we stop? What's wrong?" he whispered.

"Ruya," Kajin said, turning to face him. "Have you noticed anything... off? Anything suspicious?"

Ruya tilted his head slightly, his fingers resting on his chin as he thought. "Suspicious...?" he repeated. "Well... aside from the awful smell, I don't think so."

Kajin sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. But before he could say anything, Ruya froze, his eyes widening in fear. Kajin turned to follow his gaze, his heart sinking as he saw what had startled Ruya.

A Black Jumper stood directly in front of them, its yellow eyes glowing in the darkness. Its long, sharp claws dug into the stone floor, and its body leaned slightly forward towards them.

"Damn it..." Kajin thought, his mind racing. "I hope it didn't notice us..." Ruya stood frozen in place, his body trembling slightly, his face pale with fear. "Why did I even listen to you Kajin?!" Ruya wondered, his heart pounding in his chest. Cracknut, still clutching the nut in his mouth, scrambled to hide behind Kajin's back, his tiny body pressed tightly against him.

The Black Jumper stood motionless for a moment, its yellow eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. Then, without warning, it leaped into the air, disappearing into the shadows above. The three of them let out a quiet, collective sigh of relief. "That was too close," Kajin thought, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He glanced back at Ruya and signaled for him to keep moving. They continued walking, their footsteps as quiet as possible, each step measured and cautious.

Kajin exhaled softly, his expression showing a hint of fatigue. "I'm getting tired of this..." he thought, his eyes scanning the endless darkness of the main canal. The air was cold and damp, the silence broken only by the faint sound of dripping water. Finally, they exited the main canal and entered another tunnel. "The final stretch," Kajin thought. "It's only been 10 minutes since we entered, but it feels like an hour."

Ruya, still visibly nervous, crept closer to Kajin. "Once we get to the surface, what's the plan?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Kajin turned his head slightly to respond, but before he could speak, his foot caught on a loose rock. He stumbled and fell to the ground with a loud thud, the sound echoing through the tunnels. "Shit!" Kajin cursed under his breath, his heart sinking as he saw the faint glow of yellow eyes appearing in the darkness above.

Ruya and Cracknut panicked, their eyes wide with fear. "Oh no! We're going to die!" Ruya whispered, his voice trembling.

Kajin quickly pushed himself up, his arms igniting with white flames. "Ruya! Cracknut!" he called, his voice urgent but steady. "Go! I'll hold them off while you find the exit. It shouldn't be more than two minutes away with your invisibility skill!" He dropped into a defensive stance.

Ruya's face was a mix of fear and worry. "But—" he started, but before he could finish, a Black Jumper lunged at him from behind, its shiny sharp claws raised to strike. Kajin reacted instantly, darting forward and delivering a fiery punch to the creature's stomach, sending it flying backward. He turned to Ruya, his expression fierce. "There are no «buts»! Now go!" he shouted.

Cracknut leaped from Kajin's shoulder and scrambled onto Ruya's head. Ruya hesitated for a moment, his eyes locked on Kajin, before he turned and began to run. "Don't you dare die on me!" he called back, his voice cracking as he activated his invisibility skill and vanished from sight.

Kajin stood alone, surrounded by Black Jumpers as they dropped from the ceiling, their yellow eyes glowing menacingly in the dark. He glanced around at them, a grin spreading across his face despite the danger. "Come at me, you stinky monkeys!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the tunnels.

The Black Jumpers screeched in anger, their claws glinting as they charged at Kajin all at once. Kajin stretched out his arm, his palm facing the oncoming horde. "Barrier Push!" he called. A white barrier of flame erupted around him, blocking the Jumpers' attacks. The barrier glowed brighter and brighter until, with a blinding explosion, it blasted the creatures backward, sending them flying through the air.

Kajin didn't waste a second. He turned and began to run, emerging from the cloud of dust left by the explosion. "That should buy us some time," he muttered, his breath coming in short gasps. "I hope Ruya and Cracknut made it out safely."

But as he ran, more Black Jumpers began to drop from the ceiling behind him, their numbers growing rapidly. Kajin glanced over his shoulder,as he saw the horde of creatures chasing him, their screams echoing through the tunnels, hungry and relentless.

Kajin sprinted through the tunnel, his legs now engulfed in white flames as the horde of Black Jumpers chased him relentlessly. "There are so many of them..." he muttered, his voice tinged with annoyance and exhaustion. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening in shock. "What the hell?!" he exclaimed under his breath. The tunnel was nearly filled with the creatures, their yellow eyes glowing like lanterns in the darkness, their deafening screams echoing off the stone walls. "This is bad... really bad," Kajin thought, his mind racing.

He extinguished the flames from his arms and focused his magic on his legs, the white fire intensifying as he picked up speed. The ground beneath him cracked and splintered with each powerful step, the force of his movements sending small tremors through the tunnel. Kajin leaped into the air, twisting his body to face the oncoming swarm. He pulled his right leg back, a small white fireball forming just centimeters away from his foot. "White Omega!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the tunnel. With a swift, powerful kick, he launched the fireball toward the Black Jumpers.

The fireball grew larger and larger as it hurtled toward the creatures, its light illuminating the tunnel in a blinding glow. The Black Jumpers screeched in panic, trying to scramble away, but their sheer numbers made escape impossible. The fireball struck the center of the horde, erupting into a massive explosion that sent flames rippling through the tunnel. The force of the blast shook the walls, causing rocks and debris to rain down from the ceiling.

Kajin immediately turned and bolted, his legs a blur of white fire as he raced toward the exit. "The Black Jumper problem might be solved, but now I've got a bigger issue," he muttered, his voice strained. "The tunnel's collapsing, and I need to get out of here fast."

Sweat dripped down his face as he weaved through the falling debris, his movements precise but frantic. "I need to find Ruya and Cracknut," he thought. But just as he began to gain momentum, a Black Jumper lunged at him from above, its claws gleaming in the dim light. "Huh?!" Kajin's eyes widened in alarm as he barely dodged the attack, a few strands of his hair sliced off by the creature's razor-sharp claws.

The near-miss threw Kajin off balance, and at his high speed, he crashed hard into the tunnel wall. "Agh...!" he groaned, pain shooting through his body as he slumped to the ground. "Right... never underestimate Black Jumpers," he thought, gritting his teeth as he pushed himself back to his feet. The tunnel continued to collapse around him, larger rocks crashing down and filling the air with thick dust.

Kajin glanced at the Black Jumper that had attacked him, now crushed beneath a massive boulder, its blood splattered across the ground. He shook his head, refocusing as he reignited the flames around his legs. "No time to waste," he muttered, breaking into a run again. The debris fell faster now, the tunnel shaking violently as he dodged and leaped over obstacles.

"So many obstacles..." Kajin thought, his breath coming in short gasps as he narrowly avoided another falling rock. "Do I really have to go through all this just to reach my goal?" His eyes, tired but determined, scanned the path ahead. "My goal... it'll have to wait. But what if it's too late? What if I'm too slow?" His thoughts raced, his fists clenching at his sides. "People will keep dying. They'll keep suffering... because of me. Because I couldn't save them in time."

He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "Whether I like it or not, I need to set aside my dream for now and focus..." His white eyes narrowed, a flicker of determination burning within them. "On achieving freedom."

With that, Kajin surged forward, his body moving like a flash of light as he sped through the collapsing tunnel, the flames around his legs blazing brighter than ever.

~~~

Ruya sat on the cold stone floor of a narrow, shadowy alley, his back pressed against the wall. The alley was flanked by tall buildings that blocked out most of the light, leaving the space dim and eerie. Cracknut lay stomach-down on Ruya's head, his tiny body relaxed but his eyes sharp and focused. Both of them stared intently at a small hole in the ground, their expressions a mix of worry and anticipation.

"Kajin..." Ruya thought, his green eyes clouded with concern. His face was a blend of worry and sadness, while Cracknut's expression remained oddly confident, as if he had no doubt Kajin would make it out alive. "If only I could use my bow," Ruya muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with frustration. "I could've been there with him, fighting those monsters instead of sitting here uselessly." His shoulders slumped, and his gaze dropped to the ground, his usual spark of determination dimmed.

Cracknut, hearing Ruya's self-pitying words, let out a small sigh and promptly punched him on the head. "OUCH!" Ruya yelped, his hand flying to the spot where Cracknut had struck him. He glared up at the small creature, his face red with irritation. "What was that for?!" he demanded, his voice rising slightly.

Cracknut gestured for Ruya to keep quiet and, without warning, punched him again. Ruya's teeth clenched, and his patience snapped. He grabbed Cracknut by the tail, holding him upside down and dangling him a few inches from his face. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't throw you into that hole," Ruya threatened, his voice low and menacing.

Cracknut, unfazed, simply shrugged and crossed his arms, turning his head away from Ruya to look back at the hole. Ruya's eye twitched. "Oh, so it's my fault for worrying about Kajin, is that it?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Cracknut remained silent, his expression unreadable.

"You're not going to talk, huh?" Ruya said, his frustration mounting. He thought for a moment, then pulled a nut from his pocket, holding it up like a bargaining chip. "I'll give you this if you apologize to me," he said, shaking the nut lightly to emphasize his offer.

Cracknut, however, wasn't interested in negotiations. In one swift motion, he swung his body forward and bit Ruya's nose. "OUCH!" Ruya shouted, his face turning deep red with anger. "You little bastard!" he cursed, his fist clenching as he prepared to retaliate.

But before he could swing, a hand suddenly emerged from the hole in the ground. Both Ruya and Cracknut froze, their eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, they just stared, unsure of what they were seeing. Then, realization dawned, and their faces lit up with relief. "Kajin!" Ruya shouted, dropping Cracknut and rushing to the hole. Cracknut hit the ground headfirst with a soft squeak of pain, but Ruya was already grabbing Kajin's hand, pulling him out with all his strength.

"Agh! My muscles are killing me," Ruya thought, his arms straining as he dragged Kajin out of the hole. Finally, Kajin emerged, collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud. His breathing was ragged, his eyes half-closed from exhaustion. Ruya and Cracknut stood over him, their expressions a mix of worry and relief.

After a moment of silence, Kajin's eyes flicked open, and he glanced up at them. "Give me... water, you monkeys..." he said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ruya and Cracknut snapped into action. Ruya leaned down to grab Kajin's waist bag, while Cracknut jumped onto Kajin's chest, gently lifting his head to make it easier for him to drink. Ruya pulled out the water tank and carefully poured water into Kajin's mouth. After a few sips, Kajin grabbed the tank from Ruya's hands and dumped the remaining water over his head, letting it soak his hair and run down his face.

"Ahh... so refreshing," Kajin said, his voice stronger now. He glanced at Ruya and Cracknut, who were still staring at him intently. "What's with the staring?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cracknut immediately turned his head away, pretending to be uninterested, while Ruya rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath. "Nothing!" Ruya said, walking away and kicking a small rock in frustration.

Kajin watched him go, shaking his head as he flicked the water out of his hair. "We'll rest for a moment before continuing," he declared, his tone serious as he looked down at his hands. Ruya and Cracknut nodded, gathering around Kajin as he began to explain the next steps.

"Now, things are simple," Kajin started, but he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his head tilting slightly as if he'd heard something. "What's wrong?" Ruya asked, his confusion evident.

Kajin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he raised his voice, his tone cold and commanding. "Guys," he called out. "Why don't you show yourselves instead of hiding like cowards?"

Ruya blinked, not understanding what was happening. But before he could ask, four figures dressed in black coats dropped down from the rooftops, landing silently in a semicircle around them. Ruya stepped back, his initial confusion quickly replaced by a serious expression as he realized the gravity of the situation. Cracknut leaped onto Ruya's shoulder, his tiny body tense.

Kajin stood up slowly, his eyes calm but his presence radiating danger. He crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the newcomers. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but laced with threat. "Who the hell are you?"