Chapter 235: Meeting Daniel

The gate shimmered like it had been painted onto the air.

Lucifer stepped through first, Ruka following just a step behind.

The heat hit instantly—thick, dry, carrying the faint smell of brimstone. The sky was a molten red, clouds like slow-moving embers drifting high above. Blackstone towers pierced the horizon, connected by bridges carved with twisting demonic runes. The air felt heavier here, every breath laced with magic that bit at the skin.

Waiting for them at the foot of the landing steps was Teemah.

Lucifer’s eyes landed on her, and for a brief moment, the corner of his mouth curved in recognition. Memories flickered—her standing between Ruka and that spirit girl, Temmy, cutting off their advance without breaking a sweat.

He turned his gaze to Ruka, his expression flat but sharp enough to cut.

"I still got a lot to teach you, little brother," he said, shaking his head once before starting forward.

Ruka didn’t answer. Just followed.

Teemah stepped aside without a word, gesturing toward the massive obsidian doors ahead. They swung open slowly, revealing the throne hall of the Demon Realm.

It was nothing like the Vampire Realm’s sleek order. This place was raw power shaped into stone and fire. The floor was polished black rock, reflecting the crimson light pouring from braziers that lined the walls. Massive chains hung from the ceiling, holding banners of deep red, each one marked with the sigil of the Demon King.

And on the throne—Daniel.

He sat back, one leg draped over the armrest, dressed like someone who didn’t need to try to look dangerous. His eyes locked on Lucifer the moment he entered. The shift in the room’s air was instant—like two predators sizing each other up in silence.

Then Daniel’s mouth curved into a grin.

"It’s a pleasure to have you here," he said, his voice carrying easily across the hall. "I know it’s your first time here... so, I’ll be your personal tour guide."

Lucifer didn’t break stride. He walked right up to the base of the throne steps and stopped.

"Fuck it," he said, voice even but cold. "Tell me why you pestered our little brother to drag me here."

Ruka’s eyes flicked between them. Teemah stood off to the side, arms folded, unreadable.

Daniel leaned forward slightly, resting an elbow on his knee. "Straight to business, then. Fine. I want your help."

Lucifer raised a brow. "Help?"

"With the realm," Daniel said. "Keeping it together until Mother... gets herself back."

Lucifer’s expression didn’t change. He tilted his head slightly, studying Daniel like he was trying to see if this was some elaborate joke.

"I thought you wanted to rule so bad you had to come to the mortal realm yourself to try and kill both of us." He gestured briefly toward Ruka without looking at him. "So, what changed?"

Daniel’s grin faltered for a second, but only just. "Things aren’t the same as they were then."

"No," Lucifer said, voice low, almost amused. "They’re worse."

Daniel’s jaw tightened. "The realm is... volatile. Old lords are pushing boundaries. The borders are bleeding into places they shouldn’t. Some of the lower rings are trying to crown themselves kings. If I don’t lock it down now, it’ll splinter. And once it splinters, it’s not coming back."

Lucifer stepped onto the first stair, closing the distance by a fraction. His presence pressed against the air like a storm front rolling in.

"And you think I’m the answer to that?"

"You’ve kept the vampires in line," Daniel said. "Against worse odds. You’re not... political. You’re decisive. That’s what I need."

Lucifer gave a short, dry laugh. "You mean you want me to do the work while you sit here and smile at the banners."

"That’s not—" Daniel started.

"It is," Lucifer cut in, his tone sharp enough to slice through the heat of the room. "And the part you’re not saying is the one that matters—why should I care if your realm burns?"

The silence stretched.

Ruka shifted slightly, but didn’t speak. Teemah’s gaze never moved from Lucifer.

Daniel leaned back, exhaling through his nose. "Because if this place falls, the ripple will reach every realm. Including yours. Including the mortal world. You think I’m the problem now? Wait until there’s no king here. Wait until the rings are in open war and the old demons start pulling at the roots of the multirealm."

Lucifer didn’t answer right away. His eyes wandered around the hall—the way the banners swayed slightly though there was no wind, the faint cracks in the blackstone near the base of the throne, the guards standing too far apart like they didn’t trust each other. He could see it. The fractures. The slow bleed.

He looked back at Daniel. "You’ve already lost parts of it."

Daniel’s jaw tightened again, but he didn’t deny it.

Lucifer took another step up the stairs. "If I do this, I’m not your second. I’m not your advisor. I’m the one making the calls. No council, no approval. My way. That’s the only reason the Vampire Realm still stands, and it’s the only way this one won’t fall apart before our mother crawls back to her throne."

Daniel met his gaze, the heat between them sharp enough to burn. "Fine."

Lucifer smirked faintly. "That easy?"

"I’m not here to fight you, Lucifer. Not today."

Lucifer gave a slow nod, as if weighing whether that was truth or convenience. Then he stepped back down to the floor.

"Then we start now. First, I’m clearing out the weak links in your guard. Second, your outer rings get locked down—completely. I want every portal sigil accounted for, and if one’s unmarked, it’s burned."

Daniel listened, expression unreadable.

"And third," Lucifer continued, "I’m going to every lord in every ring and reminding them why they never should’ve thought about making a move. Personally."

Ruka finally spoke, his tone even. "You’re just going to rule the place by fear?"

Lucifer looked at him briefly. "Fear works. And when it stops working, they’ll already be too broken to try anything else."

Teemah’s lips curved just slightly at that, but she didn’t comment.

Daniel leaned back in the throne again. "Then let’s see if you can keep the realm standing, Progenitor."

Lucifer’s smirk didn’t reach his eyes. "You’ll see."

The hall fell quiet again. The flames in the braziers crackled softly, but even they seemed to hold their breath. Somewhere beyond the throne room, a deep, distant roar echoed—one of the older rings testing its boundaries already.

Lucifer didn’t turn toward it.

"Looks like they’re eager," he said.

Daniel didn’t move either. "Then you’d better get started."

Lucifer adjusted his cloak, already walking toward the doors. Ruka fell in beside him, silent. Teemah watched them leave, eyes following Lucifer’s back until the massive doors shut with a heavy, echoing thud.

Outside, the Demon Realm stretched before them in all its jagged, burning glory.

Lucifer glanced sideways at Ruka.

"Lesson one," he said. "If someone invites you to talk in their throne room, they’re already playing their angle. Don’t make them work for it."

Ruka gave a faint smile, almost tired. "Guess I’ll keep that in mind."

"You’d better," Lucifer said, stepping forward into the heat. "Because we’re about to make this realm remember what order feels like."