My name is Alexander. I know this is kind of sudden, but I’d like to tell you about my death.
On that day, the Panhuman Alliance launched a surprise aerial attack on the Demon King’s castle. With the aid of the white dragons, we were able to infiltrate their territory from a high altitude. I, together with a crew of handpicked elites from different races, was planning on defeating the Demon King himself... It may sound noble, but really it was just an assassination attempt. Regardless of the outcome, the assault team’s chances of survival were slim to none. The Panhuman Alliance was in desperate enough straits that we were forced to rely on these kinds of suicidal tactics. Considering the high altitude we had to reach, a number of the assault team’s members froze to death before even reaching the target. In exchange for that sacrifice, we made it to the castle unmolested.
The battle within the castle was fierce. As one might expect, the surprise attack took the demons entirely off guard, but panicked hysteria quickly shifted into organized defensive tactics. Archdevils leading the Demon King’s armies, vampire lords with power rivaling the original vampires, lichs wielding incredible magic, and countless members of the demonic royal guard stood in our way. That battle wasn’t the kind of thing I liked reminiscing about.
Plenty of the heroes—of my allies—fell before reaching our goal. There could be debate about whether it was lucky or unlucky, but eventually we did reach the Demon King. The arrogant monarch greeted us from his throne as we stormed in. Unlike humans, the demons operated on a system of absolute meritocracy. So being the Demon King was synonymous with being the strongest battlemage demon. Even if we hadn’t been completely fatigued by the time we reached the throne room...he was still unbelievably strong.
“You’ve done quite well to entertain me, heroes,” he spoke as he hoisted my dying body with one hand, entirely unfazed by the assault.
Overwhelming physical strength. Incredible magical power that warded off any magic we might use on him. And the devil pact, the wicked heresy engraved into his very body: Soul Eater. The death of each and every one of my allies fueled him, giving him the strength to continue his carnage. The battle had been a one-sided slaughter, a scene ripped straight out of a nightmare.
“For being so feeble, you humans did well.”
“Damn...you...”
“Oh? Quite the surprise. Even at death’s door you can speak.” Slowly but surely, his grip on my neck tightened. At this rate, my neck would snap long before I suffocated. “Your soul seems quite appetizing. I shall grant you the honor of providing me with sustenance.”
The Demon King’s dark magic flowed through his hand, into my neck, and filled my body. With my physical and magical strength already exhausted, I had no means to resist. I screamed as my body was wracked with a similar sensation to a balloon popping. I felt my flesh burst, my bones shatter, my whole body scatter into a thousand pieces. The Demon King’s raucous laughter was the last thing I heard as my mind slipped away into the darkness.
I was dead. Or...I was supposed to be.
The next thing I knew, my eyes had blinked open, staring into the face of that nightmarish monster once more.
“Hmm? Even for a baby, he has quite the daring look to him.”
“Aba?! Bababuba?! (Demon King?! Why are you here?!)” I tried to scream, but I couldn’t convey my thoughts into words. Something was wrong with my body.
What had happened? It felt like someone was carrying me. For someone to hold me in their arms like this, they must have been enormous—no. I realized I was the one who was tiny. My skin had taken on a strange pale hue and my arms were flabby and weak.
“Abwaba?! (I’m a baby?!)” I had been transformed into an infant—a demon infant, no less.
“He is quite an energetic little boy,” the woman holding me said.
“Hmm. I suppose there is no harm in having more heirs.”
“Your Majesty, if you would, please grant the boy a name.”
“Zilbagias.” The name had barely left the Demon King’s lips before he exited the room.
I was dumbfounded. This was unbelievable. That was hardly the attitude of a father meeting his newborn son for the first time. However, the woman holding me didn’t seem bothered by his behavior, giving a creepy laugh as she cuddled me in her arms.
“Finally... I finally did it... I finally have my own baby...”
The next thing I saw was the cold beauty of a demon woman’s face. Wait, hold on...was this supposed to be my mother?