Ryder opened his status screen to check.

[Name: Hades

Title: Successor of Salem

Species: Demon

Level:20

Experience: 1230000/4000000

HP: 10000+1000

Mana: 4000

Strength: 242(+403)

Defense:235(+420)

Speed: 180(+487)

Stamina:200(+800)

Dexterity:100(+753)

Intelligence: 80(+217)

Available stat points: 20

Skills: 

Enraged Slash: Level 3  (35% mastery)

All-Seer: Level 2 (53% mastery)

Flame blast: Level 4 (62% mastery)

Shadow ball: Level 3 (22% mastery)

Stealth: Level 1(3% mastery)

Sand Storm: Level 1(12% mastery)

Strengthening: Level 1( 1% mastery)

Taunt: Level 1( 0% mastery)

Intimidation: Level 1 (1% mastery)

Items:

Moon Scythe: Unique Grade 

Bracelet of Immortality: God Grade (sealed) (0/25 fragments collected) ]

"Hmm? What's that? 0/25 fragments? That wasn't there last time. Did this appear after I killed the dragon? That activated the curse of the bracelet as well, but this too?" Ryder muttered with a frown on his face.

"Wait a minute? Aren't there 25 characters on the bracelet as well?" Ryder muttered as he started observing the bracelet.

"Janus? Do I need to collect 25 of those fragments to break the curse?" Ryder inquired.

<I guess you're not as stupid as I thought. Since you've already guessed that much, I'll give you some more information in exchange for your origin points, >Janus replied.

"Alright, just tell me," Ryder straight away agreed.

<Collecting the fragments is one way to break the seal, and if you did that, even the curse of the gods wouldn't be able to affect you anymore. You'll return to your former glory and understand everything,> Janus replied to him.

"My former glory? What do you mean?" Ryder asked in confusion.

Janus didn't explain the meaning of his statement.

<Each of those fragments will break the seal a little and unlock some of its power until the whole seal is destroyed,>  Janus answered him.

"That's stupid. Collecting 25 of those fragments sounds impossible. Won't I die of old age before that?" Ryder let out in an annoyed tone.

<If it were someone else that found it, that would indeed have been impossible, but for you…> Janus said till here before he stopped.

"Do these fragments have something to do with the characters? Lightning, Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind, and whatever the other 20 are?" Ryder further inquired.

<Indeed. These 25 are not ordinary characters but the seals of the strongest gods. Each character represents a god that placed their seal on the bracelet,> Janus replied.

"This game is getting too complicated. Is this the final plotline of the game? Each fragment should be with a boss level monster?" Ryder jokingly said.

<No, most fragments shouldn't even be here in this world. As I said, it's too soon for you to know,> Janus answered him.

"Tell me just a few more things. If the bracelet is so dangerous, Why didn't the gods keep it with them? Also, they should know about the fragments that can break their seals. Why didn't they destroy them?" Ryder further asked as he thought of something.

He waited for Janus' response, but Janus didn't answer this time. He again asked but received no response.

He was still standing there when Devilia came up to him and caught his hand.

"Hey? It's already been 20 minutes. Let's go. If we delay even a single second, we'll be late!" She said.

"Oh, ok. Let's go," Ryder agreed.

"Wear these clothes. This will be your coronation dress," She gave Ryder a pair of clothes.

"Alright. Turn back and let me get dressed," He said as he took clothes from her hand.

"Sigh, you're going to make us late,"

Devilia turned back. Bulga did the same.

In no time, Ryder got ready.

"I'm done. Let's leave," He told her.

Devilia flew away with Ryder towards the Royal Palace.

Bulga also climbed back on his flying beast and left. His work here was done, and he left to do his duty back at the Duke's palace.

Ryder and Devilia flew without delaying for even a single minute.

                         ****

Devilia landed near the entrance of the Royal Palace with Ryder and entered with him.

Ryder was quite amazed to see the turnout. He wasn't able to count how much, but there were over 100 thousand demons already standing outside the palace waiting.

They weren't told that it was a coronation ceremony. All they were told was that there was going to be an important announcement today from the Grand Dukes.

Each demon had a different guess of their own about the reason behind this assembly.

"Is there another war with the Death Domain? The last time we were called here, it was an announcement of war under the order of the Demon King. It should be something similar this time as well?" 

"I think that shouldn't be the case. The Death Domain had never attacked us in such a long time after last time's defeat. They wouldn't dare attack us. Also, my brother is a guard. He told me that they weren't told to prepare for any war,"

"What can it be then? Is it possible that our  king is back?"

"The chances of that are low as well. What I feel is that the Great Dukes have decided to select a king. One of the Great dukes might announce themselves as the new King," 

"It must be the First Grand Duke if I'm not wrong,"

                       ****

While the citizens were discussing the event today, Devilia and Ryder had entered the palace and found that all the Dukes and High Dukes were there.

"You're late!" High Duke Magna said as he glared at Devilia.

"Leave that. They must have a reason to be late. Now that they're here let's begin the ceremony!" High Duke Oris asserted.

"Hades! Come forth!" High Duke Oris told Ryder that was standing behind.

Ryder stepped forth and walked to the front.

All 4 High Dukes were standing together, and Ryder stood before them.

"Come with us!" They said to Ryder as they continued walking towards the hallways.

The High Dukes led Ryder to a room. The door of the room was pitch black and made of something that Ryder had never seen before, but it looked like the strongest material he had seen yet.

There were 4 keyholes on the door.

All 4 High Dukes brought a key out from their storage space and inserted it inside the keyhole. All 4 of them swung their key at the same time.

'Is this a treasure room? Are they going to give me treasures?' Ryder thought as he looked at the door.

The door was opened, and they all entered the room.

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