The Demonlord Chronicles

Chapter III – The Darkness of Light
14.
Heat walled up, striking against Ardan’s face, causing him to lean back for a few seconds, until he relized the heat couldn’t possibly harm his body. Standing upright again, he was now capable to overwatch the large... well... it was probably some sort of rift or gulch, mabye one or two miles in width, stretching from one horizon to the other. The heat came from the red-orange glowing mass the rift was filled with, leaving only a few hundred meters of cliff between the ground level and the pool of molten rock.
And there, in the middle of the rift, was a large platform, surrounded by pillars and attached walls, enclosing the surrounding from whatever was there. To either side of the platform, there were two bridge-like structures, made from somethign metallic, connecting the platform to the cliff’s top. Additionally, countless metal chains appeared to be strung back and forth, ensuring the building was firmly held mid-air, above the lava.
“This is the location where the demonlords assemble, in times where a united council is ned. The Hellspoint.” Sennobar chuckled. “Hellspoint. A point. In Hell. Got it?”
Ardan ignored the messengers talk and instead inspected the metal bridge a few meters to his left. It appeared sort of solid, even if he couldn’t imagine how a few robes could actually keep such heave material in the air. May there was more to the chains then he could see right now? May the bridge was enchanted... he didn’t know.
He wanted to step forward, but a long, thin, white hand held his shoulder back. “Only demonlords and those called or ordered by them are permitted to enter the Hellspoint.”
Cyra took Sennobar’s hand off Ardan and pushed her brother forward. “That will be alright, I want him to stick around.” 
“Interesting, interesting, interesting! There is something connecting you three, isn’t it?” the demon asked.
Call it family bonds... Will the bridge thing carry me, as well? Rihukan asked. Come to think of it, Ardan realized the bridge was indeed wide enough for even Rihukan to walk along it. In fact even someone twice his side would still be able to pass through here. He remembered what Cyra had told him about the size of demons... well, maybe it wasn’t surprising to see such structures here...
Sennobar quickly reassured nothing would weight enough to cause the bridge to do as much as shake and, indeed, after a few careful steps, Rihukan even jumped into the air once, crashing back down onto the metal and neither causing it to shake, nor leaving any traces with his claws, at all.
Again lead by Sennobar, like the past hours, they made their way across the bridge, which was sloped slightly downwards, getting them closer to the source of immense heat with each step. On the way, Ardan realized any sort of mortal would probably have been fried by now. Yet he couldn’t but consider the heat a nice feeling on his scales.
Finally, they arrived in front of the large stone structure built upon the platform. Realizing he hadn’t seen any doors on the building from afar, Ardan asked: “And how are we going to...”
As if to answer his words, a rumble ran through the stone walls and suddenly the walls in front of him started to part, stone withdrawing into stone, revealing two things to Ardan: The stone wall was about one metre in thickness. And...
... he nearly stumbled backwards when something similar to a storm, an incredible gust, a powerful force washed over him. He blinked when he realized there wasn’t the slighests breath of wind in the air... but that it was the more presence of the demons ahead of him causing this impressive feeling.
Cyra and Rihukan walked past him, moving forward into the large, circular room, which was measuring maybe twohundred meters in diameter and well above hundred meters in height. Ardan followed them slowly, busy inspecting the, without doubt, astonishing architecture of this place. This world had buildings unlike anything he has seen before. Well, actually he had never seen really large buildings... but he still doubted humans were possibly capable of erecting something like this...
“So.” A loud voice thundered across the room and it felt as if the ground itself was vibrating slightly. “You are the ones who defeated Xoreyi...”
Ardan took his gaze of the prestigous roof of the Hellspoint and instead examined the room itself. It was surprisingly plain, dark rock of different grey shades around. The only things setting apart from this were the twelve black throne-like structues equally spread across the wall of the room. And, of course, the figures inhabiting said thrones.
The one who had spoken was... well... If Rihukan was big, this demon was huge, easyly towering up to ten meters... whilst sitting. The giant appeared to have a skin similar to rock itself, dark grey and crumbly. Actually he was much less looking like a demon and more like a statue.
The ‘statue’ opened it’s mouth and again a thundering voice washed over Ardan. “It has been a long time since one of us has fallen.” He appeared to bent down slightly, examining Ardan, Cyraminon and Rihukan. He grunted with a curious expression. “But... these aren’t demons!”
Ardan could hear a few surprised gasps from either side and saw other demons moving on their respective seats, shuffling, eyeing him and the other two newcomes suspiciously.
Eyeing around, Ardan realized only ten of the twelve thrones were seated. Well, it made sense for one to be empty, given it would be Xoreyi’s seat... but why was the another demonlord absent whilst... Ardan blinked in surprise when he saw how Sennobar approached one of the thrones, seating down. As if to answer his question, Sennobar whispered: “Did I ever say I was not a demonlord?” and added a chuckle.
“Does it matter whether my brother and I are of pure, or half blood? The demonlords are those strongest twelve immortals in this realm. Each for his own, either of us could claim that twelfth place, given we both share the level of our strength. And if we combine our forces and fight in unison, noone can dare to dispute our right to inherit this throne. I’m Cyraminon, the one changing her scales, successor of Xoreyi: Demonlord.” Without waiting for a further answer, she moved over to the last free seat, followed by Rihukan.
Considering the throne was probably too large as it was, Cyra suddenly grew twicefold in size, before seating down, the throne now properly fitting, whilst the dragon curled up around the throne, eyeing the other demons thoroughly.
Curiosuly, Ardan reached for his brother’s mind. Uhm.. is that alright for her to simply...
Yes, we talked about this beforehand. Only one of us can officially take on the title of demonlord. I wouldn’t fit into that seat eitherway, thus I can pretty much leave that spot to her...
“A Half-Demonlord! Interesting, interesting, interesting!” Sennobar squealed in audible delight. “Ord, what are you going to do about that?” he asked, directed at the large giant, who’s name apparently was Ord.
“I don’t see an issue with this. She has spoken right, if she has the power to defend her position, why should it matter whether she’s a half-breed or not?” Apparently a few of the other demonlords were about to raise concerns, when Ord continued: “And if you can’t accept it like that, simply consider they, together, are equal to a full demon... two halves are one full. And if you still don’t like it, go up ahead and challenge them!”
Silence.
Ardan couldn’t but feel lost like this, standing in the middle, surrounded by twelve... uhm, thirteen powerful entitys. “I’m sorry if this goes against the common protocol in any way... But may I speak?”
Ord chuckled with a deep tone, before answering. “You already started speaking.”
Ardan took that as a hint to keep talking and proceeded. “You are named Ord? My name is Ardan Flamehearted. Given the fact you are the one doing the talking and... sort of cancelling the complaints of those other demonlords before they even show up... are you some sort of superior?”
A sound like a landslide and a grumbling pretty much accompanying that picture, the demon Ord burst into laughter, though Ardan realized a few other demonlords didn’t look quite as amused. “You...” the stone giant slowly calmed down. “You got some guts, young one. No. I and everyone else in this room, excluding you, carries the title of being a demonlord. We’re equal amongst each other. Though, there is no doubt that it is my right to make decisions. Not because I’m anything special... but simply because I’m the strongest and most powerful of the demonlords. Not by oppinion, but by fact.”
The way he said this, with a confidence as solid as his skin... Ardan had no reason to doubt what Ord had just said. “Then you’re the one I wanted to adress. Though of course, since all other demonlords are gathered here, I may talk to them, as well:
I’ve come to ask for your help. Not as an individual immortal with a single problem. But as someone who has seen what is going on in the other realms. The angels are ge...”
“Yes, the angels are preparing to purge the realm of mortals. And?” a different demonlord said, with a arrogant and annoyed tone. Ardan turned around, directly facing him. This demonlord had the appearance of what appeared to be some sort of giantic insect, maybe between four and five metres high. His skin was as mix of green and purple and whilst still in humanoid shape, he had two additional arms just below his first set, those seonnd arms ending in two long lethal looking blade-like appendages, reminding Ardan of a mantis. The demon’s head was as well similar, remotely triangular in shape, with antennae emerging from his forehead, and constantly twitching around. His eyes as well appeared insectoid, facetted, dark green spheres. And whilst there was a slight clicking sound in his voice, Ardan could still understand him.“We have long ago stopped caring for the mortals and their wars. If the angels decide to obliterate or slave them, we don’t care.”
“But aren’t we demons...” Ardan started.
“Don’t compare yourself to us, small prey!”
“Even if I am small and possibly weak... I’m still an immortal, a demon. And you and everyone else, regardless of the difference in strength, are demons a well. We are demons.”
“If you compare yourself once mo” the Mantis started to threaten.
 “Seriously, let him talk. I think his words could turn out interesting, interesting, interesting!” Sennobar interrupted the other demonlord.
“Thank you.” Ardan adressed Sennobar directly, before starting to turn on the spot, speaking to everyone and noone at once. “We are demons. We are those called ‘guardians of darkness’. We are not simply some random powerful beings, but those choosen by destiny to be the rivals of those immortals who call themselves angels.
They claim to be justice, order and light, but their actions speak of tyranny and outright genocide, aiming to destroy a whole race for no better reason then to hunt down a single person. But the war in the human realm is just the beginning, who says the angels will not proceed into this realm once they have gathered their forces?
We can wait here, doing nothing until it’s too late, or gather our forces and strike them when they don’t exspect it and...”
“... save your butt?” the mantis asked with a clicking laughter. “You’re the one the angels are after, aren’t they? It would be amusing to see what they do if I simply kill you right here, wouldn’t it?”

Ardan sighed. “I do not seek to fight you or anyone else. What is your name, by the way?”
The mantis chuckled. “I’m the bringer of pestilence and death, the demonlord Enitey!”
Ardan blinked in surprise. “Oh well... then I’ve to retract my statement from right now: Enitey, I challenge you to a fight on life and death!”