The sky of Hell is perpetually overcast. There is no distinction between day and night, nor any cycle of four seasons only the raging flames that burn for eternity.
These flames emerge from the depths of Hell. Though they burn, they emit no heat; they are the most common, yet most mysterious, things in Hell.
Dreamers often depict them in poetry and prose, singing praises of them as the path for the deceased to be reincarnated, fantasizing that one day a new king will be born from the flames. Such notions, however, are invariably met with sneers and a sincere, biting retort: “Don’t you have a mother?”
…Indeed, although the ways demons are born are myriad viviparous, oviparous, fission, and so on they always have kin. No demon is an island, so the idea of being born from hellfire is pure nonsense.
Hell consists of 108 levels. The tenth level acts as a transit station between the upper and lower layers, separating the territories of the Demon Lords from those of the common demon tribes.
The race that guards this tenth level is the Succubus tribe.
Although, in every conceivable way, a race as fickle and morally ambiguous as the Succubi seems entirely ill-suited for the role of guarding a strategic post.
Consequently, there are many legends surrounding this. The most widely circulated one is that the Succubus Queen seduced a higher-level Demon Lord with her unparalleled beauty, thus securing this prime location.
But as a pure-blooded succubus, Wen Ze Asmodeus knows this is absolute nonsense.
The method used to determine the rankings back then was actually quite careless.
The tenth level does indeed hold a critical position. Below the tenth level lies a spatial vortex, and only beyond that do the eleventh through the 108th levels of Hell begin.
Choosing the wrong race to guard this post could lead to a split between the upper and lower regions, turning the Demon Lords into isolated islands. One could be fighting a heated war below, and the magical fluctuations might never reach the levels above.
So, which race would put everyone’s mind at ease?
The weak ones, of course. They wouldn’t even have the capability to rebel.
However, the powerful higher-level demons weren’t willing to let a race weaker than themselves press down on them. So, after much back-and-forth, one Demon Lord’s Succubus consort grew impatient and slapped the table: “Why don’t we just let our Succubi guard it?”
According to the memoirs of that very consort, she was actually just speaking off the cuff. It was time for her and the Demon Lord to have “intimate time,” but this lousy meeting kept dragging on, consuming their precious moments.
Yet, strangely enough, after everyone discussed it, they all felt it was feasible, and so the matter was settled just like that.
After all… who doesn’t have a succubus wife at home, right?
Either way, succubi are considered higher-level demons, and as for letting their wives stay on top of them, they were more than willing!
But this brought misery to the succubi.
Powerful succubi had countless great demon lovers. However, since the teleportation arrays could not be left unguarded, the succubi had to take turns rotating shifts, forcing them to separate from their lovers every so often.
Succubi are, by nature, a race of intense desire. How could they endure such grievances? Thus, their resentment ran deep.
It is said that for the first ten thousand years, it was that trouble-making Succubus Queen who stood guard, by way of penance.
The above records are sourced from “The Family History of Succubi” and “The Memoirs of Queen Karfu (in Agony).”
The little succubus, with his fair skin, beautiful features, slim waist, and long legs, closed the book. Lying flat on his back, gazing up at the starry sky, he marveled at his great-grandmother’s immense talent for causing trouble… while simultaneously feeling resentful.
In the magic mirror at his side, a scene of burning flames flickered dazzling gold and red, with faint, distant cries of agony.
Yet, when facing the little succubus, all of that overwhelming, powerful aura vanished. A pair of tender eyes seemed to gaze across space, never leaving Wen Ze, who was hugging his book and tossing about on the bed.
Flame Demons are the subjects of Satan, the King of Wrath. Because His Excellency Satan also holds the title of Demon God, the name of “Wrath” was passed down to the Flame Demon clan. Every ten thousand years marks a cycle, and this current period happens to be the Demon Lord selection trial.
But even a matter as important as this could not force Sains to interrupt his daily connection with his succubus via the magic mirror.
Sains is the most gifted child of this generation’s Flame Demon clan and is vaguely revered as the “Little Crown Prince.” But precisely because his talent is too overwhelming, his flames are often uncontrollable.
Until he met Wen Ze.
Wen Ze is his shackle.
Tomorrow is Wen Ze’s eighteenth birthday.
Perhaps out of a sense of twisted humor, every succubus is required to read this book carefully upon reaching adulthood.
The lifespan of higher-level demons is quite long, and that of powerful higher-level demons is even longer they are practically immortal species. Therefore, even though these are memoirs from tens of thousands of years ago, all the protagonists in the stories are still alive today.
Wen Ze, as a pure-blooded succubus and a member of the main lineage, is even a direct descendant of that very Queen.
However, succubi are simply too prolific; the family tree is impossible to map out clearly, and it’s hard to tell if he’s a direct descendant or not.
Until today, Wen Ze had a very good relationship with this great-grandmother—if one ignores the fact that she had repeatedly spent long periods burying her face and cuddling against him, this rare male succubus, causing him to nearly suffocate several times or almost be killed by his great-grandfather’s death-glares.
“Sigh…”
Wen Ze turned over in his blanket, clutching that thick, hardcover book, and let out a long sigh of complaint toward the magic mirror: “I don’t like Great-Grandma anymore.”
Because of this disaster his great-grandmother created, he had to “travel a long distance” tomorrow just to see his powerful Flame Demon partner who boasted eight-pack abs to complete his succubus coming-of-age ceremony.
Oh, the succubus coming-of-age ceremony is actually just “the harmony of life.”
Although succubi have never needed guidance in matters of passion, there had always been a few oddballs throughout the millennia, forcing the tribe to set down regulations.
The Flame Demon on the other side chuckled softly, crushing the head of a Minotaur who dared to provoke him without a second thought.
The attendant at his side trembled, offering a handkerchief and carefully dragging away the Minotaur’s corpse.
The Flame Demon didn’t spare it a glance, his gaze fixed on Wen Ze’s gorgeous face through the mirror. The fierce intensity in his expression melted into uncontrollable tenderness, his voice softened to a whisper, as if afraid of startling this little succubus: “Actually, it’s not Queen Karfu’s fault. Even if she hadn’t spoken up, the outcome probably wouldn’t have changed. After all, it concerns the grand strategy of all of Hell.”
“I know that! I’m not a child!” Wen Ze pouted his red lips slightly, his beautiful purple pupils gazing at that shapeless ball of flame, complaining, “But am I not even allowed to be angry?”
Of course he was allowed; how could he not be?
The Flame Demon didn’t say anything more, simply listening quietly to Wen Ze’s complaints.
It wasn’t until Wen Ze fell into a deep slumber that the Flame Demon reluctantly closed the magic mirror.
Activating the magic mirror consumed magical power from both parties. The magical power of a little succubus who hadn’t yet reached adulthood simply wasn’t enough to keep it running indefinitely.
However, they would be able to see each other tomorrow.
The Flame Demon crushed the head of a Bone Bird beneath his foot until the faint blue flames in its eye sockets were extinguished completely, thinking to himself with a smile.
That night, in a place beyond the Flame Demon’s gaze, his little succubus endured much weight that he should not have had to bear.
That hardcover book was simply too heavy. There were only a few pages of actual content, while the rest was entirely filled with the complaints of various elders. Combined with the thick, heavy cover, it was essentially a giant brick the kind that would crack a skull even if a tough demon were hit by it.
When he woke up the next day, the little succubus, who usually slept soundly and woke up glowing, had dark circles under his eyes, as if he had already undergone the coming-of-age ceremony.
In reality, he had just been pummeled by the “brutality” of knowledge (?).
Wen Ze got up, washed up, and headed out briskly. Walking down the resplendent, grand corridor, he offered polite, reserved smiles to every servant he passed, feeling confused as to why none of his aunts, older sisters, younger sisters, or nieces reached out their “wicked little hands” to him today.
After all, wasn’t that supposed to be the daily routine?
It wasn’t until he stepped into the main hall and saw the sea of succubi crowding the room, with his mother standing at the very front, that he suddenly understood.
So they were all waiting for him here?!
“Oh~ my dear baby, good morning. You are still as beautiful and cute as ever~”
A female succubus with a sultry figure leaned forward, planting a hot kiss on both of Wen Ze’s cheeks.
The succubus’s beauty was breathtaking; every gesture was mesmerizing, making it impossible to guess her true age.
“Good morning, Mom.” Wen Ze struggled with all his might amidst the “swelling waves” of his family, “But could you please let me go first?”
The female succubus released him with regret.
The child was growing bigger and bigger; it was getting harder to tease him.
After a few pleasantries, seeing that Wen Ze could hardly stand on his own feet due to their constant clinging, the female succubus let out a soft laugh, ignoring the other sisters, daughters, and granddaughters behind her who were equally eager and whose purple eyes were practically glowing green: “Go on, baby. Mom won’t delay your time any longer. Hurry off and come back early, alright!”
The coming-of-age ceremony was indeed something that would excite any succubus. Having been through it herself, the female succubus understood perfectly.
“If I could come back early, you’d be the one who should be worried.” Wen Ze sighed. In the end, he couldn’t withstand their pressure and gave each of the family’s succubi a hug, leaving the house with only his last breath remaining.
The Flame Demon occupied the eleventh level with his formidable strength, so their relationship had been relatively smooth sailing.
Unlike his older sisters and younger sisters, some of whose lovers were mere lesser demons or low-level demons on the seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, or even over a hundredth level, making simple communication a struggle.
Wen Ze hummed a song happily, rejecting the Earth Dragon cart and Ghost Flame carriage sent by his family, planning to walk to the teleportation array to warm up in advance so he wouldn’t be unable to crawl back up after the act, which would be quite embarrassing.
Hell is also quite prosperous, not as barren as in fantasy works. Tall city walls and rows of shops can be seen everywhere, and the streets are bustling with demons, with laughter and chatter filling the air.
“Today is a good day~~~”
The succubus’s humming carried far into the distance. Nearby demons immediately covered their ears in agony and fled; merchants rolled up their bundles and ran; and the black crows perched on dead trees were frightened away.
Wen Ze didn’t mind, feeling immense confidence in his own singing voice.
Hmph, a bunch of demons with no aesthetic taste.
Obviously, my aunts and sisters all said it sounded wonderful!
Poor child, he didn’t know that there was such a thing as “800-meter-thick filters” in this world.
His mouth was busy singing, and his heart was busy fantasizing. Multitasking was already difficult enough, so he naturally couldn’t spare any attention for the road beneath his feet.
Thus, it wasn’t until the runes of the magic circle lit up that Wen Ze realized he had stepped into an unknown magic array.
Then, everything went black before his eyes, and he lost consciousness.
About an hour later, a figure in a black robe arrived nearby and saw Wen Ze lying on the ground.
“Isn’t this that little succubus from the Sally family? Heard he was coming of age today, so why is he passed out here?” The black-robed figure muttered, summoning a magic flying carpet to wrap around Wen Ze’s body, carrying him toward the direction of the Succubus Castle.