Even after the eting, everyone didn’t just flood out of the Grand War Hall.
After the decisive words had been spoken and the direction of the war set, the Clan Leaders departed in waves, each of them having small chats with Jax to ask him about particular things they wanted more clarity about, such as supply chains.
As he was finishing up all his explanations, the world map above slowly dimd, projections collapsing back into dormant sigils etched into the do. The Throne of Dominion receded into nothingness as Jax rose, the pressure that had pinned the room together loosening at last.
Soon, only Aurora remained in the room alongside Jax, having waited patiently for him to finish all his conversations.
The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox stood near one of the obsidian pillars, arms folded beneath her chest, tails swaying slowly behind her in overlapping arcs of pale gold and silver light. The earlier fire in her expression, born of old wounds and older rage, had cooled into sothing more focused.
Anticipation of her and her fellow Demons crushing those who had hard them in the past. Seeing her, Jax waited for a while before breaking the silence,
"You were quiet at the end," he said, turning to face her.
Aurora’s lips curved faintly, "I was listening."
"To strategy?" he asked.
"To intent," she corrected.
She stepped forward, the light of the hall glinting off her eyes as she studied him openly, without the deference most others showed. There was respect there, but also the sharp appraisal of a leader.
"You’re serious about this war," she said.
"I wouldn’t call one unless I was," Jax replied evenly.
"No," Aurora said, shaking her head. "I don’t an the war. I an us. Demonkind. I was initially worried soone coming from another world would take a while to adapt to our culture, but you’ve been an amazing leader already,"
Jax t her gaze without flinching, "I guess I have a kind heart. I don’t think any good person can hear about what has happened to Demonkind in the past and not feel like they should help when given the opportunity,"
That earned him a quiet laugh from Aurora.
"My people were hunted for sport, we initially weren’t even aligned with the Demons," Aurora said softly, "But a long ti ago, so Pope decided we looked ’too close to demons’ to be allowed to live."
Her tails stilled.
"You understand why I’m cautious."
"I do," Jax said, "Which is why I won’t demand anything from you today."
She raised a brow, "Oh?"
He stepped closer, stopping at a respectful distance, "I know I haven’t gone to your territory as yet, but when this offensive is underway, when the rchant Foundation is broken and the Holy Church is scrambling to keep their armies fed, I will co to your lands."
Aurora’s ears twitched.
"I’ll introduce myself properly," Jax continued, "Not as the Demon King speaking through interdiaries. But as Jax. The one asking your people to walk into the future with . Just like I did with all the other Clans,"
For a heartbeat, Aurora said nothing, but then her smile widened, "I look forward to that," she said. "My people don’t kneel easily. They’ll want to see you with their own eyes."
"I expect nothing less," Jax replied.
Her gaze softened just a fraction. "You know... if you pull this off, you won’t just have their loyalty."
He tilted his head. "What then?"
"You’ll have their faith," she said. "And Beastkin faith is... difficult to break."
Jax nodded once. "Then I’ll make sure I earn it."
Aurora turned, tails flaring briefly as she stepped back toward the exit. "Finish your war," she said over her shoulder. "I’ll prepare them."
With that, she vanished in a shimr of spatial distortion, leaving the War Hall silent once more.
Jax exhaled slowly.
For the first ti since the drums of Luria had sounded, he allowed himself a mont of stillness.
The Capital thrumd beneath him, millions of lives moving through systems he had designed, blood and mana circulating through a city that was no longer theoretical.
Then, just like he had experienced before, reality tugged at him like an invitation to sowhere strangely familiar.
Jax’s golden eyes narrowed slightly as he felt the familiar pull of divine summoning brush against his awareness—not from the Holy side, not from neutral divinities, but from a presence he knew intimately.
Lilith.
The Throne of Dominion did not resist when space folded around him. It recognized the authority of the one calling him.
The War Hall vanished and Jax was teleported to the Divine Realm.
He erged in a warm area.
The air was thick with velvet mana, saturated with sensations that brushed against the mind rather than the skin. The chamber was vast yet close, its walls ford of shifting crimson crystal and living shadow, curtains of silk-like darkness drifting lazily as if breathing.
Lilith reclined upon a floating dais of obsidian and ruby, one leg crossed over the other, black horns gleaming faintly in the ambient glow. Her crimson eyes lit up the mont Jax appeared.
"Well," she purred, "you’ve certainly been busy."
Jax’s lips curved into a faint smile. "You summoned alone."
Lilith laughed softly, the sound echoing like a caress. "Sona is ditating. Skadi is... breaking sothing. I wanted this conversation to be personal. I wanted to praise you for how fantastic you’ve been after all,"
She rose, descending from the dais with unhurried grace until she stood before him, circling slowly.
"You just declared war on the world," she said lightly. "I couldn’t not check in. See how you’re feeling before the big monts,"
Jax remained still, letting her orbit him. "Any objections?"
"Objections?" Lilith stopped in front of him, tilting her head. "No. Pride."
She reached up, tracing a finger along the line of his jaw, "You’re doing exactly what we hoped you would."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"The rchant Foundation of Aurelion has annoyed us for centuries," she added. "Watching you dismantle them will be... satisfying."
"Then you approve," Jax said.
Lilith smiled, slow and dangerous. "Oh, I do more than approve."
She leaned closer, lips brushing his ear, "In fact, I’m ready to give you your reward,"
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