Chapter 1: The Weight of the Universe
The Heavens were a place of peace, where gods of unimaginable power held court, watching over the mortal realms. At the center of it all sat their King—an ancient god, ruler of all, draped in regal gold, his eyes cold and calculating. His throne was placed high among the clouds, a position of authority, surrounded by his fellow gods who bowed in respect.
The King's voice cut through the air like thunder.
"Banish them all."
At his command, a war began. The peaceful skies became filled with the chaos of destruction. All around, the gods began to turn against each other, their power clashing in ways unseen for eons.
Below, on the marble steps leading into the grand hall, a man was brought to his knees. His once-proud figure was now bent low before the divine rulers. His heart beat with fury, yet he dared not speak, not yet. Before him, the gods were silent for only a moment before laughter rang out from the throne.
The King of the Heavens looked down at him with a twisted smirk, mocking his broken state.
"Look at him, the so-called 'mighty man.' Do you think you can challenge us? Do you think you are worthy to stand among us?" The King scoffed, the laughter of his followers ringing in the air.
But before the man could respond, a voice rose from the shadows.
The Princess, the King's daughter and heir to the throne, stepped forward with a defiant gaze. Her presence was commanding, though her heart was torn. The whispers of the gods died down as she approached the man on his knees.
"Father, this isn't right." Her voice was firm, yet there was a hint of sorrow beneath it. She stood tall before her father, not flinching.
The King narrowed his eyes, his face twisting with a hint of irritation. "Why do you act so rude, daughter?"
Her gaze softened for a moment, but her resolve remained unwavering. She turned to the man, her heart heavy with words she had longed to say.
"I am in love with him, Father." She spoke clearly, her voice rising with a force that even the gods could feel. "We are soon going to have a child together."
A murmur ran through the gods as they exchanged glances, incredulous at the audacity of her words. The King's expression hardened.
"You're a fool to speak such things." He sneered. "And what of your future? Do you think love is enough to save you from the fate I've set for you?"
The Princess stepped forward, never breaking her gaze from her father. "I will follow him, to the roots of Hell itself, if I must."
The King's eyes burned with fury. He clenched his fists, his power radiating like a storm. He turned his gaze upon the kneeling man and his daughter, his words laced with venom.
"Then know this, you miserable fools. I curse the child that you bring into this world." His voice boomed across the heavens. "The weight of the universe will be upon that child's shoulders, and they will never know peace."
He then turned to his daughter, his voice dark and foreboding. "Never set foot in the Heavens again, or you shall face a fate darker than death itself."
With that, the Princess and the Demon King—now bound by their cursed fate—turned to leave the palace. The man, now branded with the title of Demon King, led the way, his heart filled with both rage and sorrow. As they exited the grand hall, the doors closed behind them, sealing their fate.
Chapter 2: The Rise of the Castles
Part 1: The Fall and the Rebirth
After the curse had been spoken, the Princess—still pregnant with the child of her forbidden love—left the Heavens behind, bound to a fate unknown. Along with her was the man, now known as the Demon King, though he bore no such title with pride. The Gods had cast them down, and so they had fallen to the mortal realm, seeking refuge in the farthest reaches of the world. The place they chose would become the foundation of their empire, a land of harsh beauty and fierce struggle. The land was soon named The Castles, a reflection of the many fortresses that would rise from the soil, each one built upon the bones of their enemies, each a testament to their power and defiance.
It was here, far from the divine reach of the Heavens, that the Demon King began to shape his empire, fueled by the bitterness of his exile. His hatred for the gods turned into an insatiable drive to grow stronger, and the land became a canvas upon which he would carve his vengeance.
He built castles—fortresses of obsidian stone that reflected the stormy skies above. The air around the Castles was thick with an unnatural energy, a fusion of dark magic and wrathful determination. It was a land where the strongest survived, and the Demon King, as if born anew, set out to prove that even the gods themselves could be dethroned.
Part 2: The Seven Pillars
As his power grew, so did his need for order. He began to form ranks, not only among his followers but also among the powers that shaped the world. One by one, he found those who could aid him in his quest for supremacy, each one more formidable than the last.
The Soulkeeper, an eerie figure who controlled the souls of the dead, ensuring that life and death were bound to his will.The Beastmaster, a giant who could command the demon monsters that roamed the land, bending them to the Demon King's will.The Harbinger of Despair, a sorcerer whose very presence could summon waves of sorrow and fear, bringing destruction through negative ability.The Tempest, a powerful being who could control the very forces of nature—earthquakes, storms, and hurricanes—all became weapons in the Demon King's arsenal.The Plaguebearer, who wielded the power to bring diseases and corruption to any who crossed their path, a true agent of decay.The Seven Sins, a collection of beings each embodying one of the seven deadly sins, whose unique powers kept the empire in constant fear and chaos.
Together, they formed the Seven Pillars—each one a living manifestation of a force far greater than any mortal could comprehend. Their combined powers made the Demon King's empire one of unimaginable strength.
Part 3: The Betrayal and the Fall of Love
The Princess, now more of a pawn than a partner in this dark empire, soon found herself alone in a cold and unfamiliar place. She had followed the man she loved, but what she found in him was not the person she once knew. His laughter echoed through the halls of their new castle as he surrounded himself with many wives, each one chosen for their strength and beauty. His desire for an empire of strong bloodlines took priority over his promises of love.
One day, as the Princess approached him, her heart heavy with the weight of their future, he looked at her with a bitter smile.
"You left the Heavens to follow me, just for love." His voice was dripping with mockery. "You're annoying, you know? I never cared about you. The only reason I was with you was for the thrill of it." He turned away from her, his eyes now focused on something more important—the future of his empire. "I don't care about you or that child."
The Princess's heart shattered. The man she had followed across the heavens, the one who had once shown her kindness, had become something entirely different. She was nothing more than a tool in his grand plan.
Locked away in her room, isolated and mistreated, she felt the curse that had been placed upon her deep in her soul. The Demon King's empire, built upon rage and ambition, had no room for love, only power.
Yet, despite it all, the Princess's resolve remained unbroken. She was carrying a child cursed with the weight of the universe, and she would protect them with everything she had.