The Ascendants: Early Years

In another part of town, Jonathan Reiss, Rafaela's father, strode purposefully through the winding streets. His finely tailored attire and composed demeanor spoke of his wealth and status, but his expression was warm, tinged with concern.

"There you are, my little princess!" Jonathan called out gently, spotting his daughter in the distance.

Hearing his voice, Rafaela lit up and ran toward him. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a joyful embrace.

Jonathan returned her hug, his relief evident. "I've been looking everywhere for you, Rafaela. It's getting late, and you know how I worry."

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Rafaela said quickly, her voice apologetic but cheerful. "We were just having such a great day."

Standing a few steps behind Rafaela, Artreus watched the exchange with a mixture of respect and curiosity. Jonathan noticed him and gave him a polite nod.

"Oh, Artreus," Jonathan said cordially. "How are you?"

Artreus straightened, trying to match the man's formal tone. "I'm fine, Mr. Reiss. Just walking Rafaela back to her home."

Jonathan chuckled warmly. "Thank you, young man. Your brother's victory over the Demon King has been a blessing from the gods—not just for your family but for all of us."

"Thanks, Mister," Artreus replied, his tone polite but humble.

Jonathan turned back to Rafaela, his voice softening. "Let's get you home, princess."

Rafaela hesitated, glancing over her shoulder at Artreus. "Daddy, wait…"

She skipped back toward Artreus, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I want to give you a goodbye hug before you go."

Artreus blinked, his face instantly flushing. "Uh... no, gross..." he muttered, stepping back.

"Hmph, don't be like that," Rafaela teased, moving closer with a smirk. Before Artreus could protest further, she wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug.

"Rafaela, no! No! Stay away from me!" Artreus yelped, his voice filled with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation. He stood stiffly, his face growing redder by the second.

Rafaela giggled, hugging him tighter. "Oh, don't be such a baby," she teased.

"Let go of me… you vile girl!" Artreus said, but his protests were losing their bite.

A few steps away, Jonathan watched the scene with a bemused smile. "I guess she's just too friendly," he murmured to himself.

After a moment, Artreus sighed, his resistance melting away. He awkwardly patted Rafaela on the back. "Yeah, okay, fine. Just… let go already."

Rafaela smiled and leaned closer, whispering, "Remember your promise, Artie."

Artreus nodded slightly, his voice low but steady. "Yeah, I remember…"

A Fond Farewell

Jonathan gestured for Rafaela to come. "It's really time we got home, Rafaela."

Rafaela released Artreus and skipped back to her father, her energy as lively as ever. As they turned to leave, she waved over her shoulder. "Bye, Artie! See you tomorrow!"

Artreus raised a hand in response, watching her go. "Yeah, see you," he mumbled, his face still faintly pink.

He stood on the cobblestone path, watching Rafaela and Jonathan disappear into the distance. A small smile played on his lips as he thought of the promises he'd made. The warmth of those words lingered in his chest, a feeling of pride and determination growing within him.

Suddenly, the peaceful evening was torn apart by a deafening explosion. A massive column of fire and smoke erupted from the direction of his home, painting the night sky in shades of red and orange. The ground trembled beneath his feet. Screams erupted from the townspeople, their joy replaced with raw terror.

"Monster!" someone shouted, their voice frantic. "A demon is coming from there! Run! Run!"

Panic spread like wildfire as people scattered in every direction, pushing and shoving to get away from the growing inferno. Artreus froze, his heart pounding in his chest. His wide eyes locked onto the fiery column, and realization struck him like a thunderbolt.

"Mom!" he shouted, his voice breaking.

Without a second thought, Artreus turned and sprinted toward the explosion, his legs moving as if on their own. His mind raced, filled with fear for his mother. The image of her warm smile flashed through his mind, fueling his desperation.

A Desperate Plea

Hearing the explosion, Rafaela whipped around, her face a mix of shock and horror. She caught sight of Artreus running toward the blaze. Her heart sank, and without hesitation, she shouted after him.

"ARTREUS!"

She started to run, but Jonathan quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. His grip was firm, his voice steady but filled with deep concern. "Rafaela, it's too dangerous!"

"But what about Artreus?" Rafaela cried, her voice trembling. Her gaze remained fixed on the boy running toward the danger, his figure growing smaller against the backdrop of fire and chaos.

Jonathan knelt slightly to meet her eyes, his expression a mixture of fear and resolve. "I don't want to lose you too," he said softly but firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Before Rafaela could respond, Jonathan scooped her up in his arms and began moving in the opposite direction, away from the danger. Rafaela squirmed, trying to free herself, her eyes never leaving Artreus.

"Artreus!" she called again, her voice breaking. Her hand reached out as if trying to pull him back through sheer force of will. "Come back! Please!"

But Artreus didn't stop. His feet pounded against the cobblestones as he raced toward his home, his mind focused on one thing: saving his mother.

As Artreus sprinted through the burning town, chaos erupted around him. Flames devoured the buildings, their roaring heat lighting up the sky with an ominous glow. Screams of terror pierced the air, mixing with the crackling of fire.

A burning roof collapsed in front of him, sending up a shower of sparks and debris. Artreus skidded to a stop just in time, shielding his face from the heat. Determined, he pushed forward, weaving through the wreckage.

Then he saw it—a grotesque shadow in the flames. His breath hitched as the shape solidified into a hellhound, its massive frame hunched over something. The creature's grotesque jaws clamped around a severed arm, swallowing it whole with a sickening crunch.

Artreus's stomach churned, and fear gripped him like ice. These were the monsters from the stories—hellhounds, creatures of nightmares, now terrifyingly real.

Instinct took over, and he dove beneath a fallen beam, pressing himself flat against the ground. The hellhound lifted its massive head, sniffing the air. Its glowing red eyes scanned the area, searching. Each step it took shook the ground near Artreus's hiding spot. He held his breath, his heart hammering in his chest.

Suddenly, a scream rang out from elsewhere in the town. The hellhound's head snapped in the direction of the sound, and with a guttural growl, it bounded off, leaving Artreus temporarily alone.

"I have to keep moving," Artreus whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

He crawled out from under the beam, carefully scanning his surroundings. But just as he stood, a loud crash erupted to his side. A hellhound smashed through a nearby window, its glowing eyes locking onto him. With a feral snarl, it charged, its massive jaws snapping inches from his heels.

"Ahhh!" Artreus shouted, adrenaline surging as he darted down the burning street. His lungs burned, and his legs ached, but he didn't dare slow down.

He spotted a narrow alleyway ahead and sprinted toward it. Ducking into the tight space, he pressed himself against the wall. The hellhound lunged after him but got stuck, its massive frame too large to fit through. The beast snarled and snapped, its razor-sharp teeth just inches from Artreus.

"Raaaawwrr!!" The hellhound's roar echoed through the night, shaking him to his core.

A Warrior Appears

Suddenly, a blur of motion caught Artreus's eye. A figure appeared behind the hellhound, moving with precision and grace. In one swift motion, a gleaming blade arced through the air, slicing cleanly through the beast's neck. Its growl was cut short, replaced by a sickening thud as its head hit the ground.

A familiar voice called out, filled with concern. "Are you alright, dear?"

Artreus blinked, his breath catching as the figure stepped into the light. It was his mother, Hildagard—but not as he'd ever seen her before. She stood clad in the armor of a Valkyrie, radiant and fierce. Her golden blade glistened with the black ichor of the hellhound, and her eyes burned with determination.

"Mom?..." Artreus managed, his voice trembling with both disbelief and relief.

Hildagard moved quickly to his side, pulling him into a protective embrace. Her arms, strong yet comforting, wrapped around him as her eyes scanned the burning streets for signs of more danger.

"Artreus, we need to get out of here now," she said urgently, her voice steady but laced with concern. "More might be coming."

Artreus nodded slowly, his mind reeling. This was his mother—gentle, nurturing Hildagard—but now she stood before him as a warrior, powerful and unyielding. Her presence filled him with awe and a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

As Hildagard guided Artreus through the chaos of the burning town, the boy's awe couldn't be contained. His eyes kept darting to her gleaming armor, which seemed to radiate a light of its own amidst the flames.

"You... you're amazing!" Artreus said, his voice filled with wonder.

Hildagard cast him a small, reassuring smile but kept her focus sharp. "We can be amazed later. Right now, we survive," she said firmly.

She tightened her grip on his hand, skillfully leading him through the wreckage. Her movements were quick, her gaze scanning for danger, as she navigated the burning streets with practiced ease. As they ducked under a collapsing beam, Artreus couldn't help but marvel.

"You're wearing armor I've never seen before. You look so cool!"

Hildagard let out an exasperated sigh. "This isn't the time for this, Artreus... Why are you here? Why did you run back?!"

"I came to save you!" Artreus said, his voice rising with determination. "I thought you were stuck in the house after that big explosion..."

Her eyes softened briefly, but her tone remained firm. "Artreus, this is a dangerous situation. You must hide—"

Before she could finish, a sinister laugh echoed through the streets, cutting through the roar of the flames. From the shadows emerged three great demons, their monstrous forms distorted and menacing.

"Well, well, we've found you, Brynhildr," sneered the first demon, its voice dripping with malice. "Ahahaha..."

"You can't escape from the Demon King," the second demon growled, its claws gleaming in the firelight.

The third demon's glowing eyes locked onto Artreus. "And the offspring is with you. Looks... tasty."

Hildagard's eyes blazed with fury as she stepped in front of Artreus, her shield raised. "Hands off my son!" she roared.

The first demon lunged at her, but Hildagard was faster. Her axe swung with precision, slashing into its shoulder as she kicked another back. "Stay right behind me, Artreus!" she commanded, her voice firm and unwavering.

Hildagard moved with practiced skill, her axe and shield a blur as she countered every attack. The first demon clawed at her, but she bashed it away with her shield, following up with a swift strike that sent it reeling. The second demon tried to flank her, but she whirled and drove her axe into its chest, ice spreading from the wound and freezing it solid.

"You won't touch him!" she shouted, her voice a mix of rage and resolve.

The third demon charged, its claws slashing through the air, but Hildagard swung her axe, unleashing a burst of icy magic. The demon froze mid-lunge, and with a powerful strike, she shattered it into countless pieces.

Artreus stood a few steps behind her, his jaw slack with amazement. "Wow... Mom, you're a Valkyrie!" he breathed, his admiration spilling out.

Before she could respond, a fireball streaked through the air, hurtling toward them. Hildagard raised her shield just in time, deflecting the blazing attack. The force of the impact sent her skidding back slightly, but she held her ground.

The sound of deliberate, heavy footsteps echoed through the street, growing louder with each step. The air seemed to grow heavier, and an oppressive aura filled the space. Demon King Abaddon emerged from the flames, his towering figure fully visible.

The Demon King Revealed

Standing at a monstrous 11 feet tall, Abaddon was a terrifying sight. His long, fiery-red hair cascaded down his back, and his glowing orange skin was marked by a massive, fiery wound on his chest that pulsed with malevolent energy. His two curved horns jutted out menacingly, and his beard framed a face twisted with power and cruelty.

"Valkyrie," Abaddon said, his deep voice reverberating through the street. "No matter where you go, you cannot escape from me."

Hildagard gritted her teeth, her grip tightening on her axe. "Tsk..." she muttered under her breath, her frustration and anger clear.

Abaddon's fiery gaze shifted to Artreus, a cruel smile forming on his lips. "And you've brought a little lamb to the slaughter. How quaint."

Hildagard positioned herself protectively in front of Artreus, her stance unwavering. "Over my dead body," she said, her voice laced with defiance.

The street seemed to hold its breath as the two forces prepared to clash, the flames around them roaring as if in anticipation of the battle to come.