Part 1 - What can be more difficult than becoming a demon king!?

"Our men have encircled the castle and are ready to invade at your order, boss."

"Bali I told you not to call me boss. You can just call me Asura. Or at least call me a leader just like the rest."

"They are just afraid of you, boss"

"Ahh forget it. Just tell me about the enemy's situation."

"Most of the soldiers are asleep and the aerial demons on guard have been taken care of. Leaving only the four guards at the entrance. Shall I take them down?"

"No, I will do it. I am faster than you and you are not at all good at hiding your enormous presence."

I took a long deep breath and concentrated at the center of my body, decreasing my mana presence to a minimum. I slowly approached the guards and when I got behind them. Slash. With a swift single moment, all their heads fell on the ground smoothly sliced with my claws. I raise my hand and all my comrades march towards the castle to put an end to this war. Finally, it is time to change this world. This cruel demon world I was born in.

I was orphaned at a young age, which wasn't very rare as hardly any kids grew up with their parents. There was endless war and chaos and it had become a norm. You could consider yourself lucky if you survive till adolescence.

But this world wasn't like this from the beginning. All of this turmoil was due to a naive and irresponsible king, sitting on the throne of this castle ruling over the demon realm for the last three centuries. To defeat the demon king and bring order to my world had become my sole purpose, my dream.

Soon our forces had pushed their way inside the king's castle. We were on our way to the top of the castle towards the demon king. On our way in a passage, we were ambushed by a bunch of enemies. It wasn't much of a threat because we were fighting demons like this day in and day out.

"Leader watch out!"

I turned around and saw a half-dead demon on the floor of the passage was about to shoot a beam of all the left mana in his body right at me. It was too late to dodge it.

Thrash!!

Bali pummeled the demon's head with his muscular leg like a lavamelon.

I nodded at him as a way of saying thank you.

"Don't mention it, boss. I got your back," said Bali with his thumb up.

"How dare you petty demons go against the great king!" The Demon General showed up with more soldiers.

"Damn it!"

"Boss, almost all of the enemy's forces are wiped out. All that is left is to defeat the king and the general. You go on ahead and take down the king."

"What about the General?" I asked.

He pounded his fist on his chest "Don't worry about the general, leave him to me. I'll catch up to you once I defeat him to celebrate our victory," said Bali with a big assuring smile.

"Thank you, Bali." I had always been very grateful to have Bali by my side.

"Oh stop it, boss. You are making me blush." Bali covered his face with both his big muscular hands and shook his head like a twelve-year-old demon girl.

Defeating the king was easier said than done. Many demons have tried to win against the king but all of them have failed miserably. And for someone like me who didn't trust anyone easily, getting allies was difficult.

Bali had been with me since the beginning. He stood with me through all the ups and downs. He might be the only one whom I can call my friend. And here I was many decades later standing outside the King's lair.

I could feel his tremendous presence coming from inside. It was enough to paralyze anyone with a weak will. I used stealth once again to hide my presence and slowly approached him. The king was standing with his back towards the door admiring a big portrait of him holding a severed head in his hand. While his soldiers were getting slaughtered by my comrades he was still here in his room. This fitted the cruel and selfish personality of the demon king I have heard about.

"He trusted me." said the king in his gravelly voice.

Did he notice me? Who is he talking to?

"The head in the painting is of the king that ruled before me. We were good friends until the day I decided we weren't."

"I have heard about you. The infamous Demon, known for his intimidating presence and cheap tactics. Do you really think a fledgling like you can become the Demon King?" The demon king turned around and faced me. He had a big vicious smile on his face.

"I don't just think, I know I can!"

With that bold declaration, I charged towards him. The king was stronger and way more experienced than me but in terms of resolve and agility, I exceeded him by far. After deliberately waiting for an opening, I put all my strength into a final attack and he was finally down.

I became the youngest Demon King in history!

The king's lair was barely recognizable and the roof was blown up exposing the wide crimson sky. My lifelong dream was achieved and my heart was filled with satisfaction. With a fulfilled feeling of finally completing my life's goal, I looked up at the sky.

"Asura" Bali's voice called out my name from behind.

Has he finally decided to stop calling me boss? I could imagine his excitement and the joyous look on his face without even turning around.

His footsteps were slow and his breathing was shallow. This might be the longest he had ever been this quiet.

Suddenly I felt a massive mana source behind me. Something was wrong but before I could turn around a large hole opened in my chest.

Everything started looking blurry and my head became dizzy. My legs lost all their strength and with a thud, I fell on the floor. The burning hot sensation, in the beginning, was now turning into cold numbness as my blood stained the floor purple.

Did Bali do this? I felt no other presence in the room. But why would he kill me?

How stupid can I be? Of course, he took the opportunity laid down in front of him. Maybe this was his plan all along.

It was my fault. I let my guard down. I had started trusting him a little too much. Well, at least now I know for sure not to trust anyone, because once they see an opportunity that's more profitable than your relationship they tend to betray you. It's just a matter of comparing the profits. Because no one truly loves someone. No one ever did…..

Well on the brighter side, I at least achieved my dream. I became the demon king! Though it was just for a few minutes….

Everything turned black.