Chapter 788: Alexa Meets the Demon World
The transition happened like a sigh from the universe.
In one instant, Alexa still felt the silent flow of the dimensional rift around them, surrounded by broken lights and impossible paths. In the next, the ground became solid beneath her feet, the air gained real weight, smell, temperature, and presence, and a warm gust swept her white hair back. The portal behind them closed in a black line that disappeared without a trace.
Alexa blinked several times.
Then she slowly spun on her own axis.
She looked like a child who had just opened the door to a forbidden room and discovered an entire world hidden behind it.
"Where..." she began, unable to finish the sentence.
Before them stretched a colossal, ever-growing city, sprawling across valleys of black stone and hills cut by rivers of crimson energy. The sky above was neither blue, nor nocturnal, nor stormy. It was deep red, like embers shrouded in eternal smoke, streaked with dark clouds that moved slowly in elegant spirals. In the distance, cracked moons hovered motionless on the horizon, too large to seem natural.
Buildings dominated the landscape.
Gothic towers rose like ornate spears. Cathedrals devoid of religious symbols displayed black stained glass and towering windows. Victorian-influenced buildings lined wide avenues, made of dark stone, twisted iron, and smoked glass. Balconies crafted with almost impossible detail, suspension bridges between towers, gigantic clocks with living hands, chimneys spewing violet mist, and streets illuminated by blue-flame lanterns.
Many structures were still under construction.
Organic cranes made of polished bones lifted entire blocks. Winged demons carried metal beams through the skies. Enormous creatures pulled platforms of black marble. Craftsmen with multiple arms carved intricate columns at an absurd speed. The whole city seemed alive, growing in real time before her eyes.
Alexa’s eyes widened.
"This looks like something out of a movie."
Vergil, beside her, kept his hands in his pockets as he observed the horizon with absolute nonchalance.
"Welcome."
She turned her face to him.
"You say that as if you bring women here every week."
"I don’t."
"Great."
She looked ahead almost immediately, too fascinated to continue the teasing.
The ground they were on was an elevated plaza of polished black stone, surrounded by gigantic statues of ancient demonic warriors. Fountains poured luminous liquids in shades of red and gold. Wide steps descended towards the main avenues, where crowds of varied beings circulated in seemingly normal routines.
Alexa observed everything with almost childlike attention.
There were elegantly dressed humanoid demons, some with discreet horns, others with wings tucked into their backs. Four-armed creatures carried crates. Gray-skinned women with gleaming eyes chatted in outdoor cafes. Merchants sold weapons, fabrics, jewels, and fruits that floated a few inches above their stalls. Horseless carriages glided through the streets pulled by living energy. On elevated walkways, winged beings traversed the sky like urban birds.
"You’ve got to be kidding me..." Alexa murmured. "You have traffic."
Vergil glanced briefly at an avenue congested with carriages and mounted beasts.
"Unfortunately."
She laughed.
Then she ran to the edge of the square and leaned against the dark iron railing, looking down with an enthusiasm impossible to hide. Her eyes shone like those of someone who had lived surrounded by cages and suddenly found an entire metropolis built for sophisticated monsters.
"There’s a market."
"Yes."
"Do you have a bakery?"
"Yes, you do."
"Do you have a bar?"
"Many."
"Do you have illegal fighting?"
Vergil stared at her for a second.
"More than there should be."
Alexa clapped once.
"I loved it."
A warm breeze swept through the square. Instead of the smell of smoke and blood like in Sankaria, the air carried notes of metal, spices, wet stone, and something sweet she couldn’t identify. Urban sounds filled the air: distant bells, metallic wheels, voices, flapping wings, vendors calling out to customers, instrumental music echoing from some open hall.
She took a deep breath.
"This is much better than a damp forest full of prejudiced wolves."
Vergil didn’t argue.
Alexa then turned suddenly, narrowing her eyes.
"Wait."
"What."
"I didn’t die." "Congratulations."
She pointed to the ground.
"No. I mean here. In the Demon World."
Vergil nodded slightly.
"Non-demonic beings die almost instantly upon crossing over here. Especially mortals bound to simple biological energy, like werewolves."
Alexa stood motionless.
"Then why didn’t I turn to dramatic dust?"
"Because I altered your nature."
She blinked twice.
"You say that like you just changed a car’s oil."
"It was considerably more complex."
Alexa placed her hand on her chest, feeling the new energy pulsing beneath her skin.
"So... I’m really not a werewolf anymore."
Vergil surveyed the city below.
"No."
The answer came simply, without cruelty or ceremony.
Alexa remained quiet for a few seconds, absorbing it. Surprisingly, there was no sadness on her face. Only relief.
"Great."
She smiled broadly.
"Because honestly, that race was a disaster."
Vergil let out a short sound that could almost be considered humor.
She resumed walking through the square like someone exploring a theme park. She touched columns, peered at fountains, examined statues, ran to one edge to look at a street and then to another. At one point she saw a small, round creature with three eyes selling black flowers in floating vases.
"Vergil!" she called, pointing. "Look at that!"
"I see it."
"Is that a plant or an animal?"
"The vendor or the flower?"
"Both."
"Depends on your point of view."
Alexa chuckled.
She ran down a few steps and stopped again when she saw a suspended metal tram pass between two towers on tracks in the air, red sparks running beneath it.
"You have aerial public transport!"
"Yes."
"You’re better than a lot of mortal world."
"I know."
She turned dramatically.
"Do you even live here?"
Vergil raised an eyebrow.
"This territory belongs to me."
Alexa looked at the city, then at him, then at the city again.
"You literally brought me to your own private hellish city."
"Basically."
She put her hands on her hips.
"That’s absurdly attractive."
Vergil decided to ignore the comment.
In the distance, deep bells tolled six times. Part of the city responded with automatic lighting: hundreds of blue lampposts lit up simultaneously along the streets, while arcane signs appeared on elegant facades. The reddish sky darkened slightly, entering a kind of perpetual twilight.
Alexa opened her mouth.
"You have a red sunset."
"Technically it’s not the sun."
"It doesn’t spoil anything."
She ran back to him and grabbed his arm, pulling him down the stairs.
"Show me everything."
"No."
"What do you mean no?"
"You need to rest."
"I destroyed half a kingdom today. I rest by walking."
"That logic is bad."
"It works."
She kept pulling him anyway. Vergil didn’t really resist, only adjusted his pace to keep up with her.
As they walked down toward the main avenues, many locals noticed who was approaching. Some bowed discreetly. Others veered out of the way. Certain demons simply froze and pretended to be too busy window shopping.
Alexa noticed.
"They’re afraid of you."
"Functional respect."
"Fear."
"Little practical difference."
She smiled slightly.
"I like it here."
They passed a street of outdoor cafes where elegant creatures drank glistening liquids from slender cups. On another corner, blue-skinned musicians played white bone violins. Further on, a bookstore occupied three entire floors, with moving staircases ascending on their own between endless bookshelves.
Alexa stopped.
"There’s a bookstore too?"
"Yes."
"I’m going to live here."
Vergil kept walking.
"You’re already walking behind me."
She ran to catch up with him.
"Does that count as an invitation?"
"No."
"Yes, it does."
They turned onto a main avenue where carriages passed between beds of black flowers and flaming fountains. Above them, bridges connected buildings as tall as the ribs of a sleeping creature. On some balconies, demons discreetly watched the newcomer.
Alexa raised her arms as she twirled in the middle of the street.
"I survived, gained power, escaped the racial prison, and now I’m in a demonic gothic city."
Vergil stopped beside her.
"Are you calling Sankaria a racial prison?"
"I’m being kind."
He considered.
"Fair enough."
She lowered her arms and looked at him more calmly.
"It’s better than staying away from you."
The sentence came out simple, sincere.
"I couldn’t come here before."
Vergil held her gaze for a few seconds.
"Now you can."
Alexa smiled in a smaller, more intimate way.
"So I came."
A small creature passed by offering sweets on a floating tray. Alexa took one without asking permission. She bit into it.
Her eyes widened.
"Vergil."
"What?"
"This tastes like cinnamon, fire, and sin."
"It’s just ordinary dessert."
She took two more. "I’m never coming back."
Vergil sighed.
"We’ll see."
They continued walking through the city as lights lit up in every direction. For Alexa, every corner was a discovery. Every detail seemed impossible and enchanting. After a life surrounded by tribal codes, predictable violence, and dense forests, this extravagant, demonic civilization seemed like freedom materialized in black stone and infernal neon.
She looked at everything like a child seeing snow for the first time.
At one point, she grabbed Vergil’s hand again without thinking.
This time, she didn’t let go.
He didn’t comment either.
They walked together down the main avenue as the red sky burned above them and Vergil’s city grew vibrant around them, as if even hell itself knew how to welcome someone finally free.
