the demon of supernatural

**Chapter 6 - The Trial of Hell**

The stillness of Hell was becoming increasingly unbearable for Alex. He felt the weight of his own ascension, each step heavier, but also more necessary. With each passing day, his ability to control the infernal energy grew, but he knew that none of that mattered if he couldn't understand what he truly wanted. Hell offered power, but he needed something more to survive this endless existence. He wanted revenge, yes, but more than that, he wanted change. He wanted to challenge the very structure of that place, to begin a new cycle where he was the ruler, not a subordinate.

After his encounter with the mysterious demon, Alex wasted no time. He knew that Hell would not be easily subdued. The battle against his own instincts was constant, and he knew that to achieve what he wanted, he would need to understand the inner workings of that dark realm. It wouldn't be enough to just be strong; he needed to be intelligent, manipulative, more than any demon that had ever crossed his path.

It was on a sultry night, while training alone in one of the deepest chambers of Hell, that he heard heavy footsteps approaching. He turned quickly, prepared for any threat. What awaited him, however, was not a direct enemy. It was an imposing-looking demon, with horns that curved backwards and a black cape that floated in the air as if it were made of shadows.

"Alex Ribeiro," the demon said in a deep, authoritative voice. "You are much bolder than I thought. The time has come for you to be tested."

Alex eyed the new visitor with suspicion, but maintained his posture. "I do not seek tests. What do you want from me?"

The demon laughed, a deep, cruel laugh. "I am one of the Judges of Hell. I am responsible for evaluating those who ascend like you, who defy the norms of this place. You have been an exception, Alex. If you truly believe you can challenge Hell, you will have to prove that you deserve this chance. Judgment is the only way."

Alex felt uneasy. He had heard of the Judges, powerful entities who decided the fate of souls and demons in Hell. If the Judge was here, it meant he would be subjected to a test far more complex and dangerous than anything he had faced thus far.

"I don't need judgments," Alex replied, trying to hide his apprehension. "I know what I'm capable of. And I know what I want."

The Judge smiled enigmatically. "It's not about what you want, Alex. It's about what you're willing to sacrifice to achieve it. And with every decision you make, Hell will see if you truly have what it takes to rule this place. Only those who bear the weight of their own choices can achieve ultimate power."

Without another word, the Judge reached out his hand, and in the next instant, a wave of energy enveloped Alex, pulling him into a dark arena filled with opaque fog and stifling heat. The surroundings seemed distorted, as if space and time did not follow the same rules. He felt the pressure of all his past and future choices pressing down on his chest.

"This is your trial," the Judge declared in a somber tone. "You will face three trials, each representing a part of your essence. What will you sacrifice to achieve your goals? And what are you willing to lose?"

Alex looked around, sensing the gravity of the situation. He knew the trials would be intense. They would not only be physical challenges, but psychological and spiritual. Everything he had learned, everything he believed in, would be put to the test.

"I am not afraid of challenges," Alex replied, his voice firm. "I know who I am and what I can do. Let us begin."

The Judge gestured, and the environment around Alex began to transform. He found himself in a desolate landscape, filled with fire and darkness, where echoes of distant screams seemed to rise from the cracked ground. Ahead of him, a familiar figure appeared.

It was his human self.

"This is the first trial," the Judge said, his voice echoing throughout the arena. "You will see your former self, who you were in the world of the living. You will have to face that part of yourself. What do you sacrifice to become who you are now?"

The sight of his human self made him pause for a moment. He stared at it with a sense of loss, remembering everything he had been. His memories of his old life began to seep back in, and he remembered how helpless he had felt, how the weight of the world seemed to crush him. The pain of death still haunted him, the pain of being ripped from his existence.

But he knew he could not go back. He was no longer that man. He had overcome this.

"I sacrificed my humanity," Alex murmured, staring at his former self. "But because of it, I became something more. Something stronger."

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