The portal deposited them in a vast, desolate plain that stretched endlessly in all directions. The ground was cracked and barren, as if life itself had given up trying to exist here. The sky above was a swirling mass of dark clouds shot through with streaks of crimson lightning that never quite touched the ground.

But what dominated the landscape was the structure in the distance—or rather, the ruins of one.

Massive stone pillars jutted from the earth like the ribs of some colossal beast, each one easily a hundred feet tall. Between them, shattered platforms hung suspended in the air through some ancient magic, defying gravity even in their broken state. The whole area had an aura of age and significance, as if countless important events had transpired here over millennia.

"The Arena of Fallen Stars," Loki said, gesturing to the ruins. "One of the oldest neutral grounds on the continent. No demon lord holds territory here. No kingdom claims it. It exists outside normal politics, which makes it perfect for... settling disputes."

Satou's enhanced vision picked out details even from this distance. Scorch marks on the pillars. Deep gouges in the stone. Bloodstains that had become permanent fixtures despite the passage of time.

"How many have fought here?" Satou asked.

"Thousands, over the centuries," Loki replied, starting to walk toward the ruins. "Demon lord candidates testing their worth. Champions settling grudges. Occasionally, demon lords themselves when disputes become... irreconcilable." His voice grew darker. "Chronus and I nearly fought here once. About two hundred years ago. Malakor intervened before it came to that, which is probably the only reason one of us is still alive."

"What stopped you from killing each other later?"

"Oh, we've tried," Loki said with casual menace. "Multiple times. Assassins, political maneuvering, proxy wars through our subordinates. But direct confrontation between seated demon lords is... complicated. We have treaties, agreements, mutual destruction clauses. If Chronus and I went at it seriously, it would destabilize the entire demon lord council and possibly trigger a continental war."

He glanced at Satou. "Which is why he's using Richard Clay as his champion. He can kill you without technically breaking any agreements, and if you die, my influence takes a significant hit. It's brilliant, really. I'd admire it if I didn't hate him so much."

"What exactly did he do to you?" Satou asked. "You've mentioned bad history, but never the details."

Loki was quiet for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice carried centuries of barely suppressed rage.

"He killed someone I loved. Used his time manipulation to age them to death while I watched, helpless to stop it. By the time I broke through his temporal barrier, she was already dust. He claimed it was an accident, a side effect of a spell gone wrong. But I saw his smile. He knew exactly what he was doing."

Satou felt a chill run down his spine. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Loki said, his usual pleasant demeanor sliding back into place like a mask. "It was eight hundred years ago. I've had plenty of time to refine my hatred into something useful. And now, watching his champion fall to my candidate will be the first installment of my revenge. The fact that you're doing it not for me, but for your own reasons—to protect your people—makes it even better."

They walked in silence for a few moments before Satou spoke again.

"You're using me," he said. It wasn't an accusation, just a statement of fact.

"Of course I am," Loki confirmed without shame. "I've been honest about that from the beginning. You're a piece on my board, Satou. A very important, very powerful piece, but a piece nonetheless."

"And if I die?" said Satou

"Then I lose an interesting piece and Chronus gains a temporary victory," Loki said. "But I don't think you're going to die. Call it intuition developed over a millennium of reading people, but you have that same quality I saw something special in you. The ability to find a way forward even when there isn't one."

He stopped walking and turned to face Satou directly. "You're going to win, Satou. Not because I need you to, not because your people need you to, but because you're simply too stubborn to die. And when you do win, when Richard Clay's corpse is rotting on that arena floor, Chronus will realize that I've found something he can't easily destroy. A candidate who might actually change things."

"I won't let you down and help you get your revenge" said Satou.

"Oh, there's enormous pressure," Loki corrected with a grin. "The eyes of every demon lord will be on you. Your performance here will determine how they view you, how they interact with you, what opportunities or threats they present. This isn't just a fight—it's your formal debut as a provisional demon lord. First impressions matter."

They reached the edge of the ruined arena. Up close, it was even more impressive. The pillars were carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles. The floating platforms hummed with residual magic that had kept them aloft for centuries.

And standing throughout the ruins were figures.

Demon lords and their retinues.

Satou's enhanced senses picked them out one by one. Morgana stood near one of the pillars, speaking with several other vampires who must have been part of Morganna the Blood Queen's court. Cassius had apparently arrived early as well, standing at attention with military precision.

Further back, partially hidden in shadow, Nyxara the Shadow Weaver existed more as a presence than a physical form. Her ninth-seat position meant she was powerful, and Satou could feel her attention on him even if he couldn't quite see her.

Grimfang the Devourer was impossible to miss—the massive werewolf-like demon lord stood over nine feet tall, his yellow eyes tracking Satou with predatory interest. Around him, various beast-folk and monsters waited, clearly part of his retinue.

Seraphine the Corrupted stood on one of the elevated platforms, her corrupted angel wings spread wide. Even from a distance, Satou could feel her attention on him like a physical touch. She smiled when she noticed him looking, the expression holding far too much hunger.

"Ignore her," Loki muttered. "Seraphine collects powerful beings like trophies, If she approaches you before the fight, be polite but firm."

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