CHAPTER 332: THE DEVIL’S GATEWAY

The sky above them shimmered faintly, cloudless and blue, as the flying boat drifted slowly across the horizon.

Zain stood at the edge of the deck, his black coat fluttering in the wind.

Behind him, Velra stretched her arms. "Mmm... this wind feels good."

"Almost makes me forget we’re heading to something called the Devil Nest."

Savra leaned against the railing, one leg crossed. "Yeah."

"What kind of place even gets a name like that? Sounds like a cave full of angry monsters."

Zelia sat quietly near the back, polishing her blade. "We’re not going straight there. The map says we’ll reach Devil City first."

Zain nodded. "It’s the nearest human place. After that, we’ll go on foot."

Velra turned, raising a brow. "Wait. We can’t fly all the way?"

"No." Zain held up a glowing screen, his digital map.

"Flying transportation stops working properly near the Nest. Too much corrosive pressure."

Savra chuckled. "So they made a city just outside the danger zone, huh? Smart."

The flying boat glided smoothly across the sky.

Below, the terrain shifted from vast crystal forests to broken ridges and glowing lakes.

The kind of beauty only found on Supreme Island.

"This place really is something else," Velra whispered, stepping beside Zain.

Savra joined them, smiling. "A paradise if you have money. Or power."

Zain stayed silent, but his gaze never left the horizon.

---

Hours passed. The sky darkened slightly as they approached their destination.

Finally, glowing walls appeared in the distance. Lights flickered from buildings.

A massive city stretched out at the edge of a broken cliff.

"There it is," Zelia said, standing. "Devil City."

As they landed, the flying boat gently docked at a floating station.

They stepped off onto a polished stone platform.

The air was thick but breathable. A faint red mist lingered in the distance.

Velra looked around. "Honestly, I expected screaming demons or something."

Instead, people walked calmly through the streets.

Some wore armor, others wore robes, and some wore normal clothes.

Soldiers, merchants, and healers mixed together.

No chaos or even madness.

"Not bad," Savra said, adjusting her orange-red jacket.

"They weren’t lying. It really is peaceful."

A merchant nearby waved. "Welcome to Devil City!"

"Watch your step and don’t breathe too deeply near the outer border!"

Velra laughed. "See? Nice people!"

Zain glanced at a large board on the side.

It showed the city’s structure, guard points, safe zones, and the nearby path to the Devil Nest.

"This whole city was built to hold the aura back," he muttered.

"They placed strong people here to keep the corruption from spreading."

Zelia stood beside him, arms crossed. "Smart choice. A living shield. And a training ground."

Savra walked ahead. "Let’s take our time. No rush. The Nest’s not going anywhere."

---

Later, they sat on a raised platform, overlooking the misty cliffs near the Nest.

Zain placed the map on the table. "Tomorrow, we head to the Nest entrance."

Velra stretched her legs. "Mmm~ You sure we can’t just blow it up from here?"

Zelia replied, "We don’t even know what’s inside."

Savra smirked. "We’ll find out. That’s half the fun."

Zain leaned back. "Rest tonight. Once we go in... no turning back."

The wind howled gently through the edges of the city.

The mist near the Devil Nest shifted and pulsed like a living thing.

But none of them looked worried.

They were not just travelers but devils that were coming home.

---

The next morning, Zain opened his eyes before the sun fully rose.

He sat up in his bed in the quiet inn room. The others were still resting. He didn’t disturb them.

He stood, fixed his long coat, adjusted his clothes, and left the room.

Walking down the quiet hall, he reached the main floor and headed straight to the reception desk.

The receptionist was a young man with short hair and a badge marked with a city crest.

He looked up as Zain approached and froze briefly, sensing the pressure Zain gave off.

Zain placed a hand on the counter. "I need information about the Devil Nest."

The receptionist straightened himself quickly. "Y-Yes, sir. What would you like to know?"

"Start with this," Zain said. "Why is it considered a forbidden zone?"

The receptionist nodded. "The main reason is the type of ethers in that place."

"It’s not normal ether. It corrodes living things... slowly eats away at their minds and bodies."

Zain narrowed his eyes. "So that’s what turns the creatures there into devils."

"Yes," the man continued.

"Most of the monsters in that area weren’t born there. They mutated. The aura drives them insane over time."

Zain leaned slightly closer. "Tell me about the zones. I want details."

"Of course. The Nest is divided into three zones," he said, pulling out a basic map from a drawer. "Here."

He pointed.

"This is the Outer Zone. It’s dangerous, but not impossible to pass through."

"The creatures here are called devils, but most are still part-beast."

"Their strength usually reaches Fake Royal or Half Royal Rank. Not easy to handle, but possible for elite teams."

Zain nodded once. "Next."

The man’s finger moved inward on the map.

"This is the Inner Zone. This is the real forbidden part. Both the city guards and outside forces tightly watch it."

"Very few go inside and come back. The devils in there... they’ve fully mutated."

Zain crossed his arms. "What rank?"

"Most are True Royal Rank. Some even reach Supreme Rank... though not many. Still, a single mistake in there means death."

Zain stared at the map for a moment. "And the core?"

The receptionist hesitated before pointing to the very center.

"This is the Core Area. No official map exists. We only know from rare survivors."

"That entire zone is full of Supreme Rank devils. Not one or two. All of them."

Zain stayed quiet.

The man added, "We don’t recommend going past the Outer Zone. Even powerful heroes avoid the center."

"I see," Zain said calmly. "That’s enough. Thank you for the information."

The young man gave a small nod, trying not to tremble. "Y-You’re welcome. Please be careful out there."

Zain turned without another word.

His coat swayed behind him as he walked toward the exit.