After that meeting things took a turn I didn’t quite expect.

  Well I figured something would be up based on everything that happened but what I didn’t expect was for Elder Zal to suddenly teleport me once again. I thought it would be for some late night training, the serious expression on her face told another story.

  “The Vhampryls will not take this lying down. Offering an entire Universe for one Planet is not a simple thing to do. It is quite obvious that this Planet is integral to something that reaches the ears of their Blood Lords. That isn’t something to be taken lightly.”

  “Blood Lords…is that the strongest among them?”

  “No. Do not concern yourself with the name of their so called ‘strongest’. You would die just from hearing it.”

  That kind of came out of nowhere…dying from hearing someone’s name? That seems a bit out of left field. Hmm. Fine, add it to the list of things I’m apparently not ready to learn more about yet, like demons for example…she dropped that on me and never once elaborated.

  “So Elder Zal, you said they won’t take this lying down. Should I be preparing my City Guard for some type of battle?”

  “Your City Guard is it? I suppose you should.”

  She paused and stared at me intently with the abyss that doubled as her eyes.

  “Raizen. These factions that have visited you recently. They have left gifts, they have sought favors and most of all, they want to ensure they have a good relationship with you.

  “Not a relationship with Black Clove City, but you. The Infernal known as Raizen.

  “You should know by now from conversations with members of the Olirag Clan, and from some of things I’ve told you, that all factions in the Tutorial are there for some form of benefit for themselves.

  “And whatever these benefits they seek are, or however they choose to be attain them, it will be all be different for all of them, but one thing will typically always remain the same.

  “The true Hegemons of whatever faction is present on this Planet will not know about the happenings here.

  “It is simply too inconsequential in the wider Multiverse to worry about a few Nascent Realm members and a Planet full of weak mortals.

  “Especially not a specific one in a specific Galaxy in the new Universe.

  “That was until news of your presence was spread. News of an Infernal.

  “You being here changed that for many of these factions. Small time plans were thrown out of the window and the eyes of the truly powerful shifted in this direction. Some of them will make new plans centered around you, while others will try to simply fit in where you allow them.

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  “All of that happened or will happen for every faction save for one.

  “The Blood Lords themselves had plans for this planet. Plans that are unlikely to be stopped by your presence.

  “So before this conversation continues, you need to answer something for me.

  “How badly do you want to remain here? To build this City of yours? How badly do you want Earth to stay in the hands of the people of Earth as you’ve put it.

  “Is it something you are willing to put your life on the line for Raizen?”

  I didn’t even need to think about it.

  “Yes.”

  “Then it’s time you prepare for a war.”

  “A war? Wouldn’t that mean a war with Infernals then?”

  I don’t want to come off as arrogant, but based on everything Elder Zal has taught me so far. Infernals have started Universal Wars for less, but here we are talking about involving a new Patriarch. That sounds like a prime reason for a war.

  “Of course it would. No Infernal Patriarch will ever stand alone. But the blood suckers are deep and vast enough to ensure that this won’t be a quick war, and it is likely they have been preparing for it long before this meeting.

  “Meaning they will be prepared for brutal retaliation from us. You will not be left fight alone, but Infernals aren’t immune to death Raizen.

  “We will bring death, destruction and leave no room for mercy to those who wade too deep into our fires, but we are not incapable of dying.

  “And depending on what they have in store, you could find yourself without much outside support with no one to rely on but yourself and others on this Planet.

  “Things are already happening, and war preparations are underway. We will attack their homes, we will use their precious blood as fuel for flames, we will raid everything they know and love and burn it to the ground

  “But they are not fools. They know we will do this and thus you need to be prepared as well.

  “I will give you a day to get your City in order. Then it will be seclusion with the boys.”

  “…Wait seclusion?”

  “Yes. War is coming boy, and we are Infernals. We thrive on it, we live in it, and no matter how many of us fall, our flames remain Eternal. Flames that are kept aflame by powerful Patriarchs and Matriarchs of our people. That means you. Seclusion will list until trouble arrives.”

  “I understand, but Elder Zal… what if we’re wrong about all of this? Is there a chance that war isn’t coming to Earth.”

  In response to my question, a grotesque corpse suddenly appeared on the floor. It was a dull pinkish red. It had two lanky arms that ended in what appeared to be a veiny blade of sorts and made out flesh.

  The same could be seen regarding its feet.

  “Do you remember what I told you? Demons and conflict. This is a demon. Or at least one type of one. There are hundreds of thousands of them on this Planet. Most of them are wearing the skin of your fellow natives and living in the Cities dotted around the Planet.

  “Your City Population is on the lower because I kept most of them out. It wasn’t yet time for you to deal with this, but I cannot reality. The demons have long since been here, and I’ve fought in enough wars to know when the next one is coming. Your conflict, our conflict, it is here.

  “Go prepare.”

  And with that I was sent back to my conference room.

  I suppose there’s part of the elaboration on demons that I was looking for.

  Instead of immediately leaving to wake Richard and whoever else up to warn about all of this, I instead took a seat.

  I needed a moment to calm down.

  The emotion I was feeling wasn’t fear or even worry.

  It was excitement.

  I was feeling excited at the prospect of war.

  To fight Vampires, to fight demons.

  All of it excited me.

  The flames that dwelled within me were practically boiling with excitement. I wanted this, I needed it. It makes me feel like a crazy person to have these thoughts, but I am not a human being, and I do not conform to their emotions. Elder Zal helped me understand this better. I am an Infernal. War is our playground and our flames will burn Eternally.

  So, I needed to calm down, because It would do well for me to go wake Richard up out of his sleep about war with a massive grin on my face.