CHAPTER 331: WHERE DEMONS DWELL

Krovath folded his arms, looking at Zain carefully.

Averak stood beside him, his posture calm but firm.

"You’ve proven yourself strong enough," Krovath said. "Strong enough to build your own force."

Averak nodded slowly. "But tell us, are you going to build it here? In this very area?"

Zain tilted his head slightly and smiled. "And if I do... what will you do?"

Krovath’s eyes narrowed, but a grin tugged at his lips.

"This land is between our territories. Right in the middle of the Brood’s Maw and Skyreach’s edge."

Averak added, "If you choose this place, you’d better guard it well."

"Because if something happens here... if conflict spreads..."

"You’ll fall," Krovath finished.

"You’re strong, yes. But a one-man empire won’t survive a war against two factions."

Zain gave a soft laugh. "So... this is a threat? You want me to walk away?"

Krovath held up a hand. "No threat."

"Just a warning. We don’t care where you go. We just won’t tolerate chaos within our borders."

Zain raised an eyebrow. "Then how about this? Why don’t you give me a location?"

"Somewhere that won’t bother you. Somewhere dangerous. A forbidden zone, maybe?"

Averak and Krovath exchanged glances.

"There is one," Averak said after a pause. "Old. Abandoned. Dangerous."

Krovath nodded. "A place we don’t even touch unless necessary."

Averak then pulled out a small disk from his coat.

He tapped it once, and a glowing blue map hovered in the air in front of Zain.

"This is a digital map," Averak said, "Just follow the red dot. It’ll guide you straight there."

Zain glanced at the glowing mark. It was far, farther than he expected.

"We don’t even have a proper name for the place," Averak added. "Some call it the Devil’s Nest."

Krovath crossed his arms. "The ether there is unstable, poisonous, corrosive, and thick. Most who enter don’t come out."

Averak nodded. "The history around that zone is lost."

"Some say it was once a forbidden lab. Others say it was cursed by failed rituals."

"But no one’s stayed long enough to learn the truth."

He looked at Zain, calm but curious.

"With your ether type... that place might suit you."

Zain smirked. "Then it’s perfect."

"If you settle there," Krovath said, "we promise we won’t interfere. That land is cursed, even to us."

Averak crossed his arms. "But once you make it your own, you take full responsibility. No complaints if it swallows you."

Zain chuckled. "I’ll survive. I always do."

He looked down at the map again, then placed the disk into his belt interface. It blinked green and uploaded.

"Alright," Zain said. "Then I’ll go there. I’ll make it mine."

Krovath gave a faint smile. "Good. Then we won’t have to worry about territory lines."

Averak added, "But be warned. If chaos spills beyond your new land, we will act."

Zain turned away, waving lazily. "Don’t worry. I didn’t come to be messy. I came to rule."

He began to walk off. As he moved, the air around him shifted, and his aura slowly lowered.

Krovath watched him go. "He’s dangerous."

Averak nodded. "And confident. But he’s not reckless. That makes him worse."

"Let’s see what kind of force he builds," Krovath said. "If he survives that nest... he’ll truly become one of us."

Averak looked toward the horizon, the wind blowing gently through his cloak.

"Let’s prepare," he said softly. "The balance of power just changed."

---

Zain returned to the temporary camp.

Velra, Savra, and Zelia were sitting near the edge of a rock platform, waiting for him.

When they saw Zain walking up, all three stood.

Savra crossed her arms. "So? What happened? Don’t tell me they begged for mercy."

Velra raised an eyebrow. "Did you kill them?"

Zain smiled. "Savra, don’t be like that. I’m not that bloody... yet."

Zelia looked at him calmly. "So it was just a talk?"

Zain nodded. "Exactly. I didn’t go there to kill anyone. I went to show them one thing."

He stepped closer and sat down on a large stone slab.

"I wanted them to understand that I’m on the same level as them now. That I’ve reached Supreme Rank."

Savra rolled her eyes and flopped onto another rock. "Tch. You’re no fun. I thought we’d have some action."

Zain chuckled. "You’ll get your fun soon. But not today."

Velra leaned forward with a curious smile. "So what now? Did they give you anything?"

Zain stood up and stretched. "They gave us a place."

Zelia’s eyes sharpened. "A place?"

Zain turned toward the volcano behind them and pointed away toward the far sky.

"They offered me a location. A place called Devil Nest. Some kind of old forbidden zone."

Savra looked confused. "So... you’re not going to build here? This volcano is nice. Warm. Good terrain."

Zain shook his head. "Too close. Too close to both of them."

He glanced around the rocky camp they had set up over the last few days.

"Even if I’m not afraid of either the Apex Guardian or the Serpent Overlord, it’s not smart to sit between their territories."

Velra stepped beside him and looked in the same direction. "So you trust their offer?"

Zain smirked. "No. But I’ll take the challenge."

He pulled out a glowing map disc and activated it. A red dot blinked far from their current location.

"It’s far," he said. "But that’s good. It means we’ll be left alone. For a while."

Savra stood up and cracked her neck. "So, we’re moving?"

Zain nodded. "Get your things. Tell the others. We’re heading to the Devil Nest."

Zelia walked to his side and looked at the map.

"That place... sounds like something out of a nightmare."

Zain smiled. "Perfect for us then, isn’t it?"

Velra grinned. "I love it already."

Savra laughed and tossed her jacket over her shoulder.

"You better not make us walk too far. I hate long trips without blood."

Zain chuckled. "If things go well, you’ll be bathing in blood soon enough."

He turned to face all three of them.

"We’re not just moving. We’re building something new. A force of our own. No more hiding. No more waiting."

He clenched his fist.

"They saw my power. Now we’ll make them see our rise."

The girls nodded, each one smiling in their own way.

"Let’s go," Zain said. "Our true domain awaits."