Greater Demon Lord Api

"And done." Taking a step back from Savina, Elenwen admired her work. "You know, judging how I've never cut another person's hair. I think I did pretty good."

Running her hands through her hair, Savina looked at Elenwen. "Do you have a mirror?"

Hesitating for a moment, Elenwen quickly shook her head. "Ah, sorry. I actually don't have any mirrors in my house." Elenwen slightly laughed as she spoke. "But you look nice. Well, nicer than when parts of your hair were singed and burnt. Well, if you don't take my word for it, I'm sure Rio and Iseul will agree with me."

"Thank you, Elenwen, but I don't think Iseul will be of much help in that department." Savina chuckled as she got up.

As Elenwen had started walking to the stairs, she stopped, looking back at Savina."What? Why?"

"Elenwen, you do know Iseul is blind, right?"

"Wait, he's actually blind? Like completely blind? I didn't actually think they were being serious. Iseul's able to function so well for not being able to see."

Joining her, Savina listened to the sounds coming from the kitchen. "Well, he's not completely 'blind' Iseul's able to use one of his Champion skills to enable him to see. From how it was explained to me, it enhances his hearing. So it works like a form of super-advanced echolocation... I think"

Laughing, Elenwen stretched her arms. "Oh, well then. Now I'm just a bad friend."

"Speaking of friends, how did you meet Rio and Iseul?"

"We bumped into each other a year ago. I helped them out with something, they helped me out with killing a Chimera. We spent some time travelling together, and then we went our separate ways. We haven't seen each other in some time, and then Rio sought me out after Iseul got captured by the slavers."

"I still need to ask those two how they got in that situation. I met Rio and Iseul on the ship, then I accidentally burnt it down, but hey. That wasn't really supposed to happen." Rubbing her brow, Savina looked at the ring. "Do you have all the materials you need for the summoning circle?"

"Oh, don't worry about summoning circles, Savina." Patting her waist, Elenwen winked. "I've got everything I need."

~~

With the food eaten, the group now stood outside of Elenwen's home in the forest clearing.

Holding her hands out, Elenwen called to Savina. "I'm just making sure, but you know what happens when trying to summon a Demon Lord, right?"

"Of course I do." Savina casually replied.

Putting his hand up, Rio gestured to himself and Iseul. "Can someone explain for the two of us who do not?"

Glancing at them, Savina stretched her arms. "Demon Lords are just like the Divine Gods. Just like how the Gods are unable to leave the Divine Realm unless they are exiled. The Demon Lords are unable to leave Hell unless certain conditions are met. So, we are going to meet some of those conditions."

"Wait, you're going to actually summon the Demon Lord? I thought you were just going to speak to it?"

"Oh sure, with a lesser Demon Lord, you could just summon them into the confines of a summoning circle and speak with them. But Api isn't some random Demon Lord. Api is a greater Demon Lord recognised by the Divine Gods as their equals, one of the twenty-five rulers of Hell, attendants to the Qliphoth, yadda yadda yadda. They all have a bunch of titles, so I won't bore you. All I'll say is, that we will have to do the full process. Elenwen, if you could begin."

Flexing her fingers, Elenwen's grimoire appeared floating between her hands. Opening itself with a flutter, the grimoire pulsed with an orange light.

"Before I do this, Savina, I should tell you. If this meeting goes wrong. I will cut the connection, I cannot allow Api to cause an incursion. There is something here I have been ordered to protect." With a nod of acknowledgement from Savina, Elenwen began. "I will now bridge our two worlds. If you faint easily, I recommend you take a seat."

"Faint easily?" Rio muttered. "What do you think she means by that."

Looking at him, Iseul rolled his eyes.

"Piercing the veil between worlds. It's thought to be a complicated affair." As Elenwen began to speak, an intricate orange circle began to burn itself into the ground ahead of the group. Multiple circles appeared around the initial circle forming concentric circles, unintelligible runes ran the length of each ring.

"Your average practitioner would have to spend weeks preparing their ritual. Spending hours checking and double-checking that the summoning circle was properly made, as an improperly constructed summoning circle can cause an incursion. It would cause the careful incision, to become a tear in the fabric of reality. Allowing demons of Hell to spew forth without end… But I am not an average practitioner."

After moments, the circle stopped expanding.

"The circle is finished. I have wrapped the summoning circle in warding runes and protective sigils." Taking a step back, she gestured for Savina to step forward. "Just speak the name you desire, the circle will do the rest."

Nodding, Savina approached the circle.

Clearing her throat, she called out why she was there.

"My name is Savina Estia, daughter of Lamen Estia. Queen of Ruoroa. I call to speak with the Greater Demon Lord of Fire and Flame, Api." Falling quiet. Savina waited, after a few moments. She turned to Elenwen. "What happens now?"

"We wait," Elenwen replied. "The summoning circle I created won't forcibly summon Api, he will have to choose whether to come here. I thought that would help since you wanted to talk to him."

"Good, it's best not to anger Demons."

"Um, guys?" Pointing into the sky, Rio took a breath. "I'm guessing the sun is supposed to look like that."

As both Savina and Elenwen looked into the sky. They saw what Rio was pointing to.

The sun was eclipsed by a black moon.

Savina hadn't noticed it, but the surrounding area had been thrown into shadow.

"So he's accepted," Savina smirked. "I knew he wasn't going to deny the summons when I'm the one calling his name."

The area within the summoning circle began to crack, the grass wilting, the colour of the earth turning a blood-red. Part of the ground collapsed in on itself, similar to a sinkhole. A clawed hand grabbed onto the side of the hole.

Lifting himself out of the hole. The Greater Demon Lord Api towered over the humans.

Looking down at them, a faint smile could be seen on his lips. "I would ask who summoned me. But I see the answer is pretty obvious."

Api's forearms were purely comprised of made the pure blue fire, tipped with five-clawed fingers. His legs were more bone than flesh, his head adorned with two short horns, and a strip of fire running down Api's tail. The parts of Api's body that were not made of fire, were wreathed in his flickering, deep blue fire.

In the presence of the Demon Lord, Rio realised what Elenwen had meant. The moment Api appeared out of the hole in the ground, Rio felt as if his head was going to burst.

Seeing this, Savina turned to the Greater Demon Lord.

"You ass! Reign your aura in before you make my friends faint." Savina snapped.

Rio, Iseul and Elenwen were all shocked by Savina.

"S- Savina." Rio stuttered. "Should you really be talking to this guy like that?"

Laughing, Savina shook her head.

"No, no." Api smirked. "She's right, I was expecting this to be a more, heavily diplomatic meeting, the kind where you have to throw your weight around. You know." Kneeling to be closer to Savina's height. Api smiled. "You look, well. For someone who's supposed to be dead."

"You know me, Api." Rubbing her hands together, Savina shrugged. "Not even death can keep me down."

It slowly dawned on Elenwen that this was not Savina and Api's first time meeting. "I presume you two are acquainted?"

"We are." Savina smiled. "When I was younger, my father took me and my siblings to the Demon Capital during important debates. He always said that it was to ensure we could always see things from more than one point of view. The Demon King allowed us to interact with the Greater Demon Lords contracted to him."

"Simpler times." Api sighed. "Before this madness occurred… I can feel that you have been embraced by a God. How is that possible?"

"When Vesh killed me, I met the Goddess Nama, she brought me back as her Champion."

Hearing this, Api looked away for a moment. "Nama. She was always one to try and bend the rules. Which I have always found humorous, judging as she helped make them. Well then… Why have you summoned me here?"

"I'm sure you know why I wanted to speak to you, Api." Clearing her throat, Savina crossed her arms. "Why is the Demon King preparing to wage war against Ruoroa. Between the Demon King, my father and the Beast King, those three kept the peace for decades. Now this peace is being disturbed. Api, tell me why."

Taking a moment to consider the question, Api answered. "The Demon King was outraged upon learning of your death. A meeting was called between the seven leaders of the Demon Clans. And by the end, a target had been marked on Ruoroa."

"My death… just like what that shifter said. What was his name, Sk'er."

Hearing this name, Api's eyes widened slightly. "You've met Sk'er?"

"Mm, I wouldn't really call it 'met'. He tried to kill us and then wound up getting bisected. Although I am sure he is still alive. Shifters are hard to kill."

"It would be nice if Sk'er survived that. He is young, he has much to prove in the eyes of his father… being the son of a human woman. He has more to prove than others of his age."

"Son of a human woman. I'll make sure to remember this if I ever meet him again. I have one more question, Api."

"Yes, Savina?"

Looking at the ring on her finger, Savina frowned. "I am unable to use my violet fire… due to unforeseen circumstances. My question is, I want to form a contract with you. With your fire, I would be able to replace the firepower I have lost."

Hearing her question, Api shook his head. "I am sorry, Savina. I am unable to make a contract with you."

"Is it because of your contract with the Demon King? I know enough about it that you are able to form contracts with others, such is the nature of the Demons of Hell."

"You misunderstand me, Savina. Such as how the Gods choose one person to grant their power, and eldritch beings locked outside spread their power over their sect of witches. My Demon kin and I are able to form contracts with mortals to give them power in return for a price."

Feeling irritated by his response, Savina snapped at Api. "You just said it yourself. You are able to form contracts with mortals. So what's the problem?"

Observing Savina, Api's frown slightly changed, a small smirk replaced it. "You don't even know why we can't make a contract? All this time and he never told you."

Becoming increasingly frustrated, Savina felt like she was talking to a wall. "Wh, what are you talking about? Are you willing to help me or not?"

"Put simply. I cannot."

"Fine, be like that. I'll figure something out on my own then. Without you." Rubbing the side of her face with one hand, Savina exhaled. "Just please tell the Demon King I'm alive, we can't let this bloodshed begin."

Without hesitation, Api narrowed his eyes. "No."

Freezing, Savina blinked. "Wh- what did you just say?"

"I won't tell the Demon King that you are alive."

Balling her hand, Savina was flustered. "Why would you do that. So many will die if this war begins."

"Oh I know. That's what I'm counting on. I am a Demon Lord, a Greater Demon Lord. My duty is to my people. The denizens of Hell in the land I rule. Through this potential bloodshed, we would be able to feed ourselves for a long time to come."

"But, the death…"

"It would be unfortunate to be sure. But, this is the sacrifice we make for our people. One ruler to another. I hope you understand. In acknowledgement of our history, and our friendship. I will do my best to slow down the start of the war, to buy you time, but even I cannot delay the inevitable… speaking of the inevitable…"

Running his hand on the ground of the summoning circle, the protective barrier glowed as his hand neared it. "This is a very well-made summoning circle, and these warding runes and protection sigils, the craftsmanship, these are truly masterful. You know, these would probably be enough to keep your average Demon Lord contained indefinitely, but, there is one problem." Standing back up to his full height. Api looked down on Savina and the others.

"Api!" Savina called.

A spark of blue fire crackled around Api's fingers. "I'm not your average Demon Lord."

Slamming his hands together, the spark between his palms exploded outward. Api disappeared as the inside of the summoning circle was filled with fire.