Chapter Text
1203 A.D.
It was a joyous day for the Andromalius clan. The first son of the clan leader has been born. Although Kane Andromalius' birth was met with revelry, the hushed murmurs that crawled out the shadows would not only haunt him but the rest of his clan in the years to come.
His father Rox Andromalius was generally a very stoic man. It was a requirement for a clan leader to make sure he could protect his family, but this day was different. His 6ft tall frame, with short raven black hair, has been passing in front of the room his wife was in unable to be by her side to help with the birth. His pale white skin was a shade whiter due to worry, his deep blue eyes never left the door, and his 4 pairs of wings had been unfurled the entire time.
His younger brother, Gregory Andromalius, was much calmer while sitting in the hallway. He was 5'10" with the same pale white skin and raven blackhair as his brother, although his is down to his mid back tied with a ponytail. The difference between them is his eyes being a light shade of purple like thier grandfather. He also had 3 sets of wings, if he chose to show them.
"Brother you must calm down. Your worry isn't befitting your standing. Besides if there was true worry the Phenex clan has given you two of their tears."
"I know Greg," Rox sighed, "but I am still worried. You know how long Bea and I tried to have a child right?"
"If I am remembering correctly this was going to be the 100th year right?" Greg replied.
"Yes that's correct. While we have long lives, my body is screaming at me to help. The fact I cannot is what's really getting to me..." While he was trying to explain himself to his younger brother he was stopped by the sound of a wail. All of his focus once again returned to the door.
A minute later the door opened and a devil handmaid stepped out. "Mr. Andromalius, you can go be with your wife now."
He felt that was the fastest he has moved in his life. The moment he stepped in he saw his beautiful wife Bea Andromalius sitting on their bed. She was 5"4", with caramel brown skin, piercing golden eyes, and her shoulder length hair is the same color blue that Rox's eyes are. Her 3 pairs of wings also out with excitement. In her arms was a child being brestfead with skin as white as his, his eyes golden like his mother, the short strands of black hair make Rox think he will have the same.
"Look Rox. It's our son." Bea said with her voice shivering as she doesn't want to scare her son. Small teardrops are starting to form.
Rox found himself dropping to his knees by the side of the bed, grabbing his wife's hand. "Thank Lucifer. I don't know what I would do with myself if I had lost either of you."
Bea giggled lightly "You are being such a worry-wart. I was perfectly fine. The handmaids where excellent and we didn't even need to use a tear. Have you finally decided on a name?"
"Yes I have." His worry draining from his face at the good news. "His name will be Kane."
1209 A.D.
It is a cold snowy day in the human realm. Rox had decided to bring his family to a clan vacation house, out by a forest, to get away from the rest of the clan. One year ago they had come to the horrible realization that Kane did not inherent the Andromalius clan's unique magic of Antitheft. Thanks to that the rest of the quiet murmurs that surrounded his birth turned to talk, then to yelling. The rest of the clan didn't want Kane to be heir. This had disheartened the young Kane to no end. He couldn't understand why he was being yelled at because he couldn't use one kind of magic.
Kane looked just like his father but just smaller with golden eyes. He always admired his father and wanted to emulate him however he could. The best he could do at his young age was to have his hair cut short just like his father's.
Rox put his hand on his head and asked. "I know we just got here but would you like to go outside for a walk with your mother and me?"
"Yes I would father!" Kane replied ecstaticly.
"Ufufufu," Bea giggled at her sons response, "I am glad you are already so happy to run around."
"Alright let get going then." Rox turned his attention to his son's personal maid. One of the few that stayed after the news broke. "Zest would you be able to make sure everything is put away while we are out?"
"Of course sir." Zest bowed making her already eye catching yellow and black ears on her white hair stand out more. Returning to her original position her skin was caramel brown, and her eyes were yellow, making her maid outfit clash with the rest of her. "Would you also like me to make some food as well?"
"Yes please do so. I imagine we will be out for an hour or so. All depending on how long it takes Kane to get too cold."
"Of course sir. Madam, Young Master Kane please enjoy yourselves. I will take care of everything here."
"Will you make me some hot cocca when we get back Zest?" Kane asked his maid.
"Whatever you wish for Young Master. Please have fun." Zest responded with a motherly smile showing on her face.
"Okay bye Zest!" Kane shot outside followed by his parents.
After walking 30 minutes through the forest the trio ended up in a clearing. Kane then proceeded to expend a lot of energy playing in the snow. Rox's and Bea's smiles growing larger as the time past. They were both enjoying seeing their son be the happiest he has been in a year. Unfortunately, fate seemed to decide that their happy times had to end. While Kane was playing both Rox and Bea sensed something coming towards them at high speeds. This made Rox ready himself to fight while Bea grabbed Kane and put him behind her to protect him.
A few seconds later 5 devils each with 3 pairs of wings appeared in front of them. "Who are you and why are you in Andromalius territory!" Rox yelled at the intruders.
The one the lead the five floated forward and responded jeer in his voice. "We've come to kill the head of the Andromalius clan and their disgraceful welp." The response caused Kane to shake in fear and his parents in anger.
"You wish to kill me?!" His 4 pairs of wings flap out to make his overt threat more valid. "Very well, come and try. The last one alive will not have the pleasantries of a swift death as I figure out who sent you." Many black magic circles, with a silver scale in the middle, were formed around him and he shot his magic at his five enemies.
Four were able to quickly put up barriers in response. The unlucky fifth was instantly killed by Rox's magic. Seeing his comrade die the male leader scream. "I will hold him off you three go for the bitch and the welp!"
"No you won't!" Rox shot more out more magic. Trying to keep all fours attention on himself. "Bea take Kane and get out of here! Get Zest and call the rest of the clan!" Rox's order getting right through to Bea she grabbed Kane and tried to fly away. Unfortunately for Rox the leader was a professional with barrier magic and was able to stop him from hurting the other three. Which allowed them to chase Bea uninhibited.
Bea understood that she was no match to three opponents of similar strength to her if she needed to protect Kane at the same time. So she tried to put as much of her energy into fleeing. Kane started crying as the situation was too much for him to handle. "It will be alright Kane mommy will make sure to keep you safe." Bea told Kane trying to reassure him. But before he could calm down and respond they were knocked out of the air by magic and crashed into the ground. "KANE!" Bea screamed as she watched her son roll on the ground and stop by a tree.
"Ahahahaha that's what happens when you try to play hero and not fight bitch." The lone female devil laughed and spat at her. "Now be good and hand over the boy, while we were ordered to kill him I think I can raise him into a good toy."
"Hey thats not what we were paid for, what will happened if the boss learns about that?" One of the male devils asked.
"Who cares, now you two go after her and if you can beat you her do whatever you want before she dies." The two male's eyes light up with lust as they hear her order. They then look to Bea planning what they will do.
"I will kill you all." Bea stood up and growled. She then started to channel her magic, which appeared as golden circles with lions in the middle. As she was shooting her magic she summoned a whip to use as a weapon. Thanks to it she was able to suprise the lust driven devils and grab one and hurt him with her magic.
"You skank!" The hurt devil screamed. And lunged at her. If they were paying more attention and knew who they were told to kill they would have known that Bea's magic proficiency was in traps. As he lunged Bea snapped her whip again and made him pause long enough to have her trap spring. Some tree roots shot up from under the snow and wrapped around his feet while others skewered his arms. "AAAAAAAAAH" the pain causing him to lose consciousness.
While she was getting ready for the second man she noticed something, more specifically a lack of someone. While she was focused of the one in front of her the female devil took her chance and got behind Bea. By the time she turned around Kane was behind held by his throat. "Stop your magic now or I will kill him." The devil ordered. Kane was waking up from the fall and started trying to free himself from her grasp.
Bea hesitating because she knew that it would be worse to stop, finally listened to her. "Okay you win. Please just don't hurt him anymore." Sorrow and powerlessness entering her voice. As she stopped channeling her magic she was kicked in the knees and fell down. Her hands tied behind her back.
"What should we do about him?" The remaining male asked.
"Kill him, he was stupid enough to fall for the obvious trap and if he dies we get paid more." The female said nonchalantly.
"Ah good point." He agreed and shot one final magic bolt at his previous partner taking his life. He stood Bea up and commanded "Walk back to the clearing!". With no other choice she began to walk.
Back at the clearing Rox was able to slowly overpower the leader, as evident by the larger amount of wounds on him compared to Rox. As the four entered the clearing Rox heard the female yell. "Hey clan leader! Unless you want me to skin your bitch alive in front of your son stop fighting and give up!" Which caused him to look away from the leader long enough for the horror to set in his face and the leader knock him to the ground.
The devil leader looked over. "About fucking time. Where's the other dumbass?"
"He got trapped in the bitches' magic and died." The female lied as easly as she breathed.
"Motherfucker, boss is going to be pissed. Oh well more pay for us I guess." The leader shrugged his shoulders. "Now what should we do with them?"
"I say we make sure their trip to nothingness is the most painful way possible while we have the brat watch." The female laughed at her idea.
"I love the idea. Maybe the boss will forgive the two deaths if we bring the brat for him to kill himself." The leader thought out loud. "Oh well let's get paid."
The unspeakable torture Kane was forced to watch was so traumatic he forgot his pain and couldn't even cry. Watching his parents' wings be ripped off one by one, their bones breaking, the screams of agony haunted him. What was worst was the whispering going in his ear from the female devil. "This is all your fault." "This is what happens when devils don't inherit their magic properly." "Your uncle will be paying us handsomely for this. I want you to know that. I'm not supposed to tell, but thats who hired us. Your own blood. Hilarious isnt it?" The whispers caused his brain to short circuit. Blame filled his being.
After an unknown amount of time his parents finally died face down in the snow. Which has turned red with their blood. "Well I feel refreshed." The leader stretched his arms above his head. "Let's get going and get this brat to the boss." As he got ready to leave a massive energy surrounded them. A large fissure appearing in the air. As it opened a rainbow aura enveloped them and the power released became suffocating. A massive red dragon, covered in open wounds and blood, shot out and skidded on the ground. Being faced with a dragon the three living devils fled. Leaving Kane behind as they just didn't care enough to bring someone who was fated to died anyway.
As Kane laid on the ground his eyes couldn't leave the dragon in front of him. The dragon was large, larger than anything he's ever seen before. It was a deep shade of red, but he couldn't figure out if that was its natural color or that was because of its blood. The horn on his head was shattered and pieces were slowly falling and turning into dust as gravity took them.
But what got his attention the most was its blood. The blood from the dragon poured out faster than his parents. It quickly covered him and forced him into an unwanted bath. While staring at what he imagined would end his life. It flowed into his mouth and he was forced to drink. As he swallowed he could feel his body pulse in a way unknown to him. His body started to burn and he could hear and feel his wounds forcibly close.
It was only then when the dragon opened its eye and looked back at him. It was a dark green darker than the emeralds he had seen at his fifth birthday party. As the dragon focused on the lone devil child, it could tell it was getting stronger by drinking his blood. With a weak voice it asked "Devil child... are you a part of the vampire race? I haven't seen somebody get strong as quickly as you have from eating a dragon."
Kane wasn't able to comprehend that this massive dragon wasn't killing him outright and even asked him a question. His words were stuck in his throat.
"Child I asked you a question. Are you a vampire?" The giant dragon asked again but sounding angrier.
"N-n-n-no I'm a devil master dragon." Kane stuttered while he was trying to force himself to stand up.
"Is that so? Hmm well I guess since I saw something unique before I die. I guess I'm not entirely unlucky." The dragon announcing his own demise shocked the young Kane.
"W-what do you mean you d-die master dragon?" Kane asked confused about what could kill a dragon.
"Well since my time is limited I guess I'll allow you to call me by my name. I am Great Red the True Dragon of the Dimensional Gap. To answer your question, young devil, the gap connects many universes. One from a higher plane came and kicked me out of my home... rather violently I might add. Since I am allowing you to call me by my name I should ask you for your as well."
"My name is Kane Andromalius of the Andromalius Clan of the 72 Pillars."
"Well than young Kane I have a request for you. Since it seems you are able to get more powerful if you eat me I want you to take my being and grow strong enough to take back my home."
Kane's eyes shot open at his request. "But if I get stronger by eating you how will I do so? I am so much smaller than you?"
"Before I die I will remove my heart. Given its likely to grant you the largest portion of my power and being small enough for you to eat. If my guess is correct taking in the power of the True Dragon will allow you to evolve into a grater being."
"But why would you do that?!" Kane asked slowly getting used to Great Red's power stood and slowly moved towards him. As he reached the dragon he put his hand on his head. "I am a worthless devil who caused his parents to be tortured in front of his eyes." Kane's eyes began filling with the tears he was denied earlier. "If I was able to inherit my clan's magic my parents wouldn't have died. If I wasn't born they wouldn't have had to die." Unable to control his emotions he cries while holding Great Red's head.
"You caused their deaths? Impossible. Did you kill them with your own hands?"
"N-no."
"Did you ask somebody to kill them for you?"
"No."
"Are you glad they are dead?"
"Of course I'm not!" Kane yelled. "I wasn't strong enough to protect myself and my parents died because of it." Kane quieted to a whisper by the end of his statment.
"Then you need more power. Easy. I will grant you the power to protect those you cherish. I will grant you the power to take what you wish and live how you wish. All you need to do is agree to my request."
"Do you really think I can get strong enough to protect others? Can I get revenge on my Uncle who ordered their death?! Will I be able to make sure it never happens again!?" Kane gets more fired up while he asks Great Red.
"While I cannot promise it 100%. Considering how much your power increased during our conversation I am willing to bet everything on it."
"I've been getting stronger?" Kane doesn't understand what Great Red means.
"Of course you have, young Kane. At the start you couldn't stand and were being pressed by my power. Now you are able to walk, yell, and even touch me. My powers haven't dropped yet so all I can surmise is you got stronger." Great Red hypothesized.
Kane blinked his eyes a few times while trying to processes Great Red's thoughts. After a few minutes a fire starts burning behind his golden eyes. A desire for revenge, a desire to make his uncle face the same fate as his parents, to take everything from his uncle. "Okay Great Red I'll take on your final request. I will eat your heart and punish my uncle. I will then grow stronger and take back the Dimensional Gap!"
"Ahahahahaha!" Great Red's laugh makes the ground below him rumble. "Excellent! I will hold you too that Kane. Now let's get to this before I am no longer able."
As Great Red says that he slowly stands up. Kane is able to see more of him and he just keeps getting larger. How is he supposed to eat anything from the True Dragon!? While he is thinking that he hears Great Red speak again.
"Now Kane Andromalius I will remove my heart. I will compress it with my remaining power so you can eat it as it is many times your size now. Afterwards, I will die and turn to dust." Great Red makes sure Kane sees him. "Maybe with this you will be able to understand what your problem with your clan's magic is. Beware though, just as medicine can be a poison in large enough doses. The same can be said of magical power. This will likely change your very being. Make sure to try and retain yourself as much as possible. Focus on what you truly desire. It will help you."
Kane nods his head. "Okay Great Red I will do that!"
"Very good! Now as my final words thank you for taking my request. Please make those bastards who took my home pay! I am glad I didn't have to die alone." As he finishs he thrusts his claws into his chest and pulls out his heart. It was massive and a deep red. Before Kane could get a good look it began to shrink rapidly. While it shrank it slowly floated to him. By the time it reached his face it was the size of his fist. Such a dark red it almost seemed black. He reached out and grabbed it.
"Great Red with your heart I make this vow. I will make you my strength. I will make both of our dreams come true." His golden eyes reflecting his honesty and determination at the True Dragons sacrifice.
"Thank you Kane, if I do come back to life sometime... I hope to meet you once again after our home is safe." As Great Red says his final goodby. He rapidly turns into a red dust. The sound of gratitude obvious in his voice.
After Great Red turns completely, the dust falls slowly around him almost mimicking the snow around him. While admiring the scenery Kane finalized his determination and started to eat.
The first bite tasted sweet, much sweeter than any candy he has ever ate.
The second made him hungrier.
The third made him eat faster, its like its his first meal after starving for a month.
The fourth made his body pulse again, only much stronger than before.
The fifth made him feel sick. His body wanted nothing more than to throw up and remove the poison in his stomach. As a fire was starting in his body.
The sixth did make him stop and almost throw up. His determination shown through and forced the bile down.
The seventh and second to last bite made his body shake uncontrollably, the burning he felt made him feel like he was melting. He was in so much pain that what he felt earlier was at the level of a joke.
The final bite caused many pulses to start. Everytime it did a portion of his body transformed into a deep fleshly red. It was much like Great Reds own scales.
It started with his feet, his shoes exploded as his feet transformed. Then his legs, his muscles becoming increasingly dense and more powerful. Then his chest, and with it the rest of his clothes are shredded off him. What fat he had disappeared with the smoke that was coming from his body. With his arms he watched them grow in size and he felt himself become stronger. Then his hands grew and his fingers ended with razor sharp claws. The last thing he remembered is the pulse that started at his head. What formed was a head exactly like Great Red's. The horn that grew on Kane was what should have been there before it shattered. His eyes shown a great flash of gold with a green tint.
His new body demanded to be heard and be heard it was. After his eyes finished glowing Kane's new form yelled as hard as it could. It's primal yell made it known that it was the most dangerous being around. Once it finished and caught its breath a red steam escaped and the last thing it heard before completely blacking out was a voice it found familiar screaming "Young Master Kane!"