Demon Lord Azmodan was seated upon his massive throne in the subspace of Hell.
His mental power continued to grow. He was enormous, but far from foolish. In truth, he was even more intelligent than Malakor and Vorthak.
He had encountered those demons before and fought them. He defeated them all. What truly surprised him was that they had lost to a newly born Sentinel, the Tenth Sentinel named Michael. But Azmodan was different. He would not lose to a Sentinel.
Azmodan was three hundred million years old.
He had never fought a Sentinel before, but he had slain warriors who stood on the same level as them. Sixty million years ago, he fought a being who was not a Sentinel yet possessed terrifying strength. That warrior transcended to a higher plane just as Azmodan did, and Azmodan never learned what became of him.
Now, his inner desire grew greedier than ever simply by imagining the Tenth Sentinel.
This was his moment. His chance to fight a Sentinel and kill one. Soon, the other Demon Lords would know Azmodan as the first demon to ever kill a Sentinel alone.
His assistant, a massive giant floating within subspace Hell, spoke carefully.
"My lord, should we begin planning the attack, or wait?"
Azmodan responded calmly.
"Not yet. We must prepare more than ever. The Tenth Sentinel is mine, and mine alone. It has been sixty million years since my last equal battle. Now it is time for me to face the Tenth Sentinel."
Azmodan was the Lord of Sin. He showed no mercy. He was not a bluffer. When he said he would kill, he meant it. He was a demon who had slain more beings than most demons combined.
"Other Demon Lords fear me," he said to his assistant.
"Even Malakor feared my existence. But that no longer matters. He has been dead for five years."
The giant assistant spoke again, his voice tense.
"But my lord, the Tenth Sentinel seems stronger than the warrior you fought sixty million years ago. I can feel it. My ascension and sensory manipulation can sense his presence. He is far stronger than I expected. Even my body trembles slightly, my lord."
Azmodan laughed softly and waved away the concern.
"Do not fear. I am here. This war is for greed and battle itself."
His voice grew louder, filled with madness and joy.
"I am addicted to war. I love blood. Blood, blood, blood. I am the Giant Lord of Sin. I am Azmodan. Endless worlds will fear me."
Once he killed Michael, he would ascend to another plane. He would invade the unreachable higher plane of God, His angels, and the Sentinels who resided there. He would fight them alone.
"I fear nothing," Azmodan declared.
"I am Azmodan. I fear nothing but enjoy war. I crave destruction."
His laughter echoed as his demons roared with him, their voices screaming across endless subspace Hell.
Azmodan was ready. His power intensified simply by imagining the Tenth Sentinel.
Vastyrion Realm
Aldervain Kingdom
Michael stood by the window, gazing at the winter night sky.
Baldrick stood beside him. Michael spoke calmly, yet his voice carried weight.
"I know who will cause the next war."
Baldrick stiffened at the tone.
"It is Azmodan, the Lord of Sin. He loves war and blood."
Baldrick frowned.
"How do you know?"
"I possess the ascension of possibilities," Michael replied.
"I tracked him. I saw him and his endless demon legions. Giant demons, flying demons, creatures of every kind. But I am confident the Vastyrion Realm alliance can handle them. I will face Azmodan myself. He is eager to kill me to prove his worth. He is delusional, even more so than Vorthak and Malakor."
Michael paused.
"But he is far stronger than them. In my judgment, he could defeat both of them with a single strike."
Baldrick's expression hardened.
"Then this war will be difficult. Another war will begin. Are you ready?"
Michael looked at him calmly.
"I am always ready. I do not fear death, even if it costs my life. But I am the Tenth Sentinel. I will not die. I exist to eliminate demons."
Baldrick looked down at his own hand.
"Thankfully, I have grown much stronger."
Michael nodded.
"You are stronger than Malakor now. You have grown beyond my expectations. Whether Vorthak could defeat you no longer matters. They are both gone. I only say this because your strength is remarkable."
Baldrick smiled faintly.
"I grew stronger for the Vastyrion Realm. I am ready to sacrifice my life if necessary."
He stared at the winter sky alongside Michael, unafraid and resolute.
Meanwhile
Fred lay in his bed when he suddenly awoke from a nightmare.
In his dream, he was fighting countless demons. To him, it was a sign of an approaching war. As a nineteen year old general, he was always prepared and always thinking ahead. His military inventions would be used. As a general of Aldervain Kingdom, he would prove his worth.
He looked at his sister sleeping nearby and felt worry tighten his chest. His nightmare was already a warning.
The peace was nearing its end. Another war was coming, and this one felt far more dangerous than anything he could comprehend. Still, it did not matter. He would fight for Aldervain Kingdom and the entire Vastyrion Realm.
He stood, looking at his reflection and the moon beyond the window. Half of it was swallowed by darkness.
"This is it," he whispered.
"Endless blood will flow. May the Highest Being guide us to victory against the demons."
Meanwhile
Before stepping through his portal, Michael turned to Baldrick.
"Be prepared. I will return tomorrow in case they attack. Ready your army. Ready the alliance. The war will begin soon, before it is too late."
He vanished through the space time portal, leaving Baldrick alone atop the tower.
Baldrick stared at the moon, half shrouded in darkness.
Another bloody war was about to begin.
Subspace Hell
Michael floated in the air, his cloak drifting as his face remained hidden beneath its shadow.
Endless demons stared at him in shock.
Azmodan watched calmly from his throne.
Michael looked upon him. Azmodan was massive enough to devour continents, capable of destroying endless spacetime with a single strike. But it did not matter. Michael had come to weaken them.
"I am Michael," he said calmly.
"The Tenth Sentinel. You demons will experience the best sleep of your existence."
Giant demons rushed toward him.
One movement. One slash.
They were severed in half, falling endlessly into subspace Hell.
Azmodan smirked.
"He is fast. Excellent. My hunger for war grows even stronger."
Michael turned his gaze to the enormous Demon Lord upon the throne.
"You seem happy to see me," Michael said casually.
Azmodan laughed.
"Of course. You have advanced toward your death. And you will die by my hand alone."
Flying demons charged at Michael, striking only his afterimages.
In an instant, he was behind them. One swing, and they were cut down, falling into the abyss.
Azmodan's giant assistant stepped forward.
"My lord, allow me to attack him."
Azmodan permitted it.
The assistant manifested a massive burning sword, powerful enough to destroy an endless multiverse, surpassing hyperverse, matter, space, and beyond.
Michael's sword glowed brighter as he tightened his grip.
He felt no fear.
He stood within subspace Hell, prepared to weaken the demon legions.