Infernal Ascendancy
Chapter 41: A Predator’s Salvation

Chapter 41: A Predator’s Salvation

The heavy doors to the Fourth Gate of Hell creaked open. Aria’s footsteps echoed through the vast, dim corridor as she approached the throne room. The air was thick with a cold, eerie energy.

Inside, seated on a throne forged from blackened iron and twisted shadows, was Selmora. Her eyes gleamed like emeralds in the gloom, and her sharp smile held both amusement and cruelty.

"How are you feeling?" Selmora’s voice was low and smooth, like venom wrapped in silk.

Aria swallowed hard but kept her voice steady. "Better."

Selmora leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "You came here to train, right?"

Aria nodded. "Yes."

Selmora’s lips curved into a sly smile. "Good. Then go with Nyssara."

"Nyssara?" Aria blinked, confused.

Selmora laughed softly. "Dear me... I haven’t introduced her yet." She gestured behind Aria. "Look."

Aria turned. Standing there was a girl with long, glossy green hair that shimmered like serpents’ scales. Her eyes were narrow, sharp slits—like a snake ready to strike. She walked forward with a sinuous grace.

"It’s nice to meet you, Lady Aria," the girl said smoothly, her voice carrying a hypnotic hiss.

Aria blinked. "Uh... nice to meet you, too."

Selmora raised an eyebrow. "Nyssara."

"Yes, my lady," the girl responded, bowing her head.

"Take her to the Serpentine," Selmora ordered.

Nyssara smiled—a cold, knowing smile—and turned toward Aria. "This way."

Aria hesitated, then followed, her mind racing. Serpentine? The word echoed in her head like a warning. I hope I don’t meet any giant snakes down there. Forget training—if it’s like that, I’m not coming back.

Suddenly, a voice whispered inside her mind—familiar, commanding.

"And what about the mission Lord Azreal entrusted to you? Will you abandon that too?"

Aria’s chest tightened. She puffed her cheeks, trying to find an answer. No way she could run now.

---

Arrival at Serpentine

Nyssara suddenly stopped, causing Aria to bump into her. "Sorry!" Aria said quickly.

Nyssara just smiled, revealing a hint of sharp teeth. "No problem."

She pointed forward. "Welcome to Serpentine."

Aria looked ahead and froze.

The ground beneath their feet was shaped like a giant snake coiled in an endless circle. The entire area was engulfed in eerie green flames that flickered and twisted like living things. In the center was a raised stage, blackened stone cracked and glowing faintly with ancient runes.

Aria whispered to herself, "What was I expecting? I should have known from the name..."

Nyssara’s voice broke through her thoughts. "Are you alright?"

Aria blinked, then nodded. "Yeah, I’m fine."

Without another word, Nyssara turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Aria alone.

She took a deep breath and scanned the place carefully. Every corner seemed alive with danger—the crackling flames, the serpent-shaped ground, the suffocating atmosphere.

Just then, footsteps echoed sharply.

Selmora appeared, stepping onto the stage with her usual confident grace. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Aria bowed slightly. "It’s no problem."

Selmora’s eyes locked onto Aria. "Do you know why you’re standing on this stage?"

"To train," Aria answered, heart pounding.

Selmora smiled coldly. "Yes, to train."

Then, with no warning, she shouted, "Now, come at me."

Aria blinked. "What?!"

"Come at me."

Aria’s eyes narrowed. "Are you testing my speed?"

Selmora shrugged. "Why not?"

A fierce grin spread across Aria’s face. "Then you’re going to regret that."

Suddenly, fiery cat ears sprouted from Aria’s head, glowing bright orange. Two flaming tails flickered behind her like living fire. Her whole body hummed with fierce energy.

Compress.

Flames gathered at her feet in a blazing circle.

Boom!

She dashed forward like a comet, leaving a trail of fire in her wake.

Aria swung a punch at Selmora—but Selmora barely moved. She kicked Aria hard in the gut, knocking the wind out of her.

With a flash of her palm, Selmora formed green flames that roared like a serpent’s breath. She blasted Aria with them. Aria flew backward, crashing into the cracked ground.

Selmora’s voice cut through the smoke. "Is that what you call speed? Come on. Show me more."

Aria gritted her teeth and stood, flames flickering fiercely at her feet. Boom! She surged forward again.

Selmora only smiled wider. "Again."

She caught Aria by the neck mid-rush and slammed her down with brutal force. The earth cracked beneath them like shattered glass.

---

Meanwhile, Nyssara watched from the shadows, a twisted smile on her lips. "Looks like Lady Selmora is finally getting serious."

Her tongue flicked out—slender, serpentine—as she hissed softly. "Aria, you better find a way to move faster... or you’ll die."

---

Aria coughed, gasping for breath. Selmora grabbed her roughly and flung her across the stage.

Aria pushed herself up, breath ragged. Why is she faster? She wasn’t even using condensation or any visible magic to speed up. How?

"Have you given up?" Selmora taunted. "If so, pack your bags and move on. But don’t worry—I’ll tell Lord Azreal his ’favorite student’ passed with flying colors."

Aria’s lips curled into a fierce grin. "One more time."

She crouched like a wildcat, flames humming beneath her feet.

Boom!

She shot forward again, faster than before.

She lunged, fingers ready to grab Selmora—

—but Selmora slipped away like a shadow, stepping left as if strolling casually.

Aria froze, stunned.

Before she could react, Selmora’s kick slammed into her side, cracking the earth once more.

Blood bubbled at Aria’s lips as she fell to the ground, coughing.

Selmora stepped closer, holding Aria’s head with a cold smirk.

"Is this your best? Your limit?"

She turned to leave.

"I guess Lord Azreal’s hopes were misplaced. You’re worth nothing."

Her smile twisted into a cruel grin, eyes gleaming with wicked thoughts as she recalled her private conversation with Azreal.

---

Moments after Aria left the palace

Azreal sat on his throne, eyes closed, voice calm but serious. "Selmora?"

Her voice echoed in his mind. "Oh? Am I the only one allowed in for the telepathic meeting? Should I link the others?"

"No, it’s fine," Azreal replied.

"Okay."

"I reached out to inform you Aria will be stopping by your gate for training."

Selmora’s grin spread wide. "Finally. I’ve been waiting to meet this so-called Aria—the girl with the God’s mark and holy flames. I heard she was even given a medal by Dragos."

"Surprisingly, yes," Azreal said.

Selmora laughed darkly. "She’s already wormed her way into his heart. I guess she must be beautiful to do that."

"Why? You think so?"

"Obviously. Beauty is power—it’s a woman’s most trusted weapon."

Azreal smiled faintly. "Alright, now I believe you."

"The reason I called is this: guide her, but don’t go easy just because we’re close."

Selmora’s voice turned mischievous. "Lord Azreal, have you forgotten who I am? There’s no way I’ll go easy on her. Besides, she has the God’s mark—that alone is reason enough to get serious."

She chuckled softly. "I might even get a good scream out of her."

Azreal shrugged in his mind. "Do what you wish."

Selmora’s voice darkened. "Aren’t you worried I might go too far? Kill her?"

"Try," Azreal said calmly. "But I doubt it will be that easy."

Selmora laughed maniacally. "This will be fun. I’ve gotten myself the perfect prey. Thanks, Lord Azreal."

Azreal’s voice softened. "Be careful. For now, you might be the prey. But don’t forget—the predator can also be targeted and become prey. You might end up hers."

Selmora laughed again, wild and sharp, then suddenly stopped. Her voice grew serious.

"I can’t wait to devour that predator."

She ended the link. "I’m leaving now."

"Be careful. She has holy flames. I don’t want to lose you."

"Don’t worry, Lord Azreal. I won’t die. If anyone should worry, it’s that girl with the God’s mark. She’d better start praying to the Gods—if they can hear her."

Azreal sighed. "Your hatred for the Gods hasn’t faded, has it?"

Selmora’s voice was quiet but bitter. "No. It still stings, like a bee."

Azreal said softly, "Maybe try getting close to Aria. For now, she’s the closest to the Gods. Only she can subdue your hatred."

Selmora smiled darkly. "She’ll only get burned and swallowed by my hatred."

The voice link faded.

Azreal sat back and sighed deeply. "Your hatred is understandable, Selmora. But holding onto it for so many years... you have to let it go. It isn’t getting you anywhere. Aria’s purpose at the Fourth Gate is to free you from your burning hatred. Aria... please free Selmora."

---

Fourth Gate of Hell — Serpentine

Aria lay on the cracked ground, battered and bleeding. Selmora turned her back and walked away, mocking, "Free me? That’s a joke. Look at her—she can barely stand. This is hopeless. I guess you weren’t the Ultimate Prey I was expecting."

Nyssara knelt beside Aria, tears streaming silently down her face. "She just wasn’t the one. The one to free Lady Selmora."

She looked at Aria with sorrow. "I really hoped you’d be the one. I expected too much... depending on you just because you had the God’s mark and holy flames. It only made Lady Selmora suffer more."

Selmora’s voice echoed coldly behind them. "My years of burning hatred can’t be quenched by someone like you. Someone who can’t define worship. Someone who doesn’t know devotion, faith, or belief. Someone who doubts the Gods."

She spat out venomous words. "I was a fool to listen to Lord Azreal’s words. The Fire is the cause of everything. The reason for my hatred—and the reason Aria suffers now."

"Curse you, Aria. You were chosen as the Gods’ messenger. No one... no one can free me."

Suddenly, an explosion of pink flames burst from Aria’s body, swirling violently, humming with raw energy.

Nyssara stared in shock, tears still falling.

Selmora halted, turning back slowly with a mischievous smile. Her eyes glittered with anticipation.

Aria stood tall, flames crackling fiercely around her.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Master," she said, voice steady and full of fire.