What?! You're a Demon Lord?!

I stared at his long horns and deep bloody red eyes. I was shocked, terrified to speak. All this time he disguised himself as a human!

He laughed at my surprise and said, "Surprise? Were you expecting something else?"

I couldn't believe it. My head spins with confusion. I expected a different outcome, and instead, I'm here, this creature holding my throat at the edge of the cliff. I feel embarrassed and betrayed.

That's when I spot Tomas in the distance, walking out of the tunnel.

"HELP! HELP ME! TOMAS! HIS GOING TO KILL ME!" I scream and bag.

But Tomas stood staring at me with guilt. "I'm sorry, Aimi, it has to be this way."

I look at him, disbelief in my eyes. I can't believe Tomas, a friend, betrays me. Tears stream down my face as I realize I am completely fooled along.

"How?" I gag feeling chills down my spine as he tightens his hand on my throat. "How could this be? Why did you trick me?"

He just smiled and said, "It's all part of the plan. You were never meant to know what was really going on."

"PART OF YOUR PLAN? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO FIND YOUR FAMILY AND BUILD YOUR KINGDOM!"

Lucifer leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, "That was a lie. Let me tell you my full story since you'll meet your end soon."

"My name is Lucifer Chain and I am known as the Demon Lord in Lumeria, but unknown to the inhabitants. A long time ago, my family lived in a peaceful nation where humans and demi-humans coexisted in harmony. But then, dark forces began to emerge after a human ruler declared war on the demi-humans. They sought to enslave them and use them for their own gain while others were driven out of their homes and hunted down mercilessly. I had to take action and fight on the side of the demi-humans. I became their new ruler, and I worked tirelessly to restore peace and justice to the land. But in the end, we lost and the demi-humans were forced to flee and hide."

"But how did you end up in a mirror?" I asked. "You said the war was over. How did you trap yourself for so long?"

"I would have won the war, but I was stopped by this group of adventurers who humans call "heroes of Lumeria." They managed to bind me to this mirror, so I could not leave or move. I have been here ever since, watching as the world changed around me. As a result of the war, my kingdom fell and my people were scattered across the land. I have been left here, alone and powerless. My only plan was to summon someone from the outside world not knowing my own fate. That person would be my only hope of breaking the curse and allowing me to reclaim my kingdom."

I paused for a moment before responding. "But why? Why do you want to kill me? I HELP YOU BREAK YOUR CURSE! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME LUCIFER?"

Lucifer leaned closer to me. "Because I despised humans. Tell me, Aimi; are your people peaceful in your world? Do they get along?"

I shook my head in response. "No, we fight. We fight for power, resources, and control."

Lucifer smiled. "Exactly. You humans always make a mess no matter which realm it is."

"But we demons," Lucifer continued. "We strive for something different. We fight for glory and for the challenge. So, since your realm is no different from ours, I could just kill you like any other." He finished, his eyes alight with a fierce determination.

As he released one of his fingers, I cried, "BUT I'm good! I have freed you! Please spare me! Just send me back home!"

"Good enough to save the homeless? Good enough to feed the hungry? Good enough to care for the sick?" He sneered. "You will never be as good as you think you are."

Lucifer smiled. "But don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for your help. If it wasn't for you, I'll still be stuck in that mirror. Now that I'm free, I'll take over the kingdom, regain my people and destroy the human race once and for all. I owe you my life and I'll never forget what you've done for me."

He pulled me closer and said, "Thank you, and goodbye."

"PLEASE NO!" I begged and cried but he wouldn't listen.

With a smirk, he let go of me as I fell off the cliff. I screamed in terror, my voice echoing off the cliff walls. As I looked up, I saw Lucifer perched atop the cliff, watching me with a satisfied grin. I closed my eyes and braced for impact.

But then I heard a roar in the distance. I open my eyes only to see a huge dragon up ahead. The dragon opens its mouth and intends to eat me.