Chapter 112: Preparation

With the introduction and all of those festivities finished, Jax immediately headed back to the capital, undertaking a rather silent journey.

The journey was silent not because the world lacked sound or incidents occurring all around him, actually far from it, but actually because Jax chose not to bring any with him.

Instead of riding Hydra back, which he usually did to give himself time to think, he just cut a hole in space, stepping through space itself and folding distance with casual precision to arrive at his destination.

Nightengale’s spires collapsing into nothing behind him as the Demon King returned to the heart of his dominion, the Capital that at this point, was pretty much nearing the end of construction, only putting the finishing touches on this masterpiece of a city.

What had once been a concept, an idea sketched in mana and intent, was now a real physical location that looked absolutely spectacular.

Colossal black-and-crimson towers pierced the sky, their surfaces etched with glowing runic lattices that pulsed in steady rhythm. The High-Speed Rail lines cut through the city like veins of light, already active, already humming with purpose.

Water Purification Systems were working perfectly, as was the roadway system to make traffic flow extremely smoothly and avoid any long waits for traveling.

The architecture was fluid, and built with spacial formations to give more space to all the civilians. Housing sectors were also very luxurious.

The Military Sector was fully complete, with the Headquarters operational.

At the very center stood the Cathedral, and Jax immediately headed there, greeting all the guards as he headed to the Dungeon below, descending without any need for an escort.

The Cathedral Dungeon did not need guards in the conventional sense. The walls themselves enforced obedience. Reality bent subtly here, mana density compressing space, intention, and will. Every step downward felt like passing through layers of authority, his authority.

Jax had infused his authority into this place the last time he visited, meaning anyone locked in here would need to overcome his power to even think about escaping.

At the lowest level, the air changed.

The chamber that held Natasha was circular, vast, and immaculate. Crimson sigils glowed faintly along the walls, not restraining her physically, but defining the rules of existence within the space. A throne-like chair of obsidian rested at its center.

And seated upon it was Natasha, not wearing any chains as she didn’t need them anymore after what happened between her and Jax last time.

Her posture was relaxed, too relaxed. One leg crossed over the other, fingers idly tracing the armrest as if she were waiting for someone important to arrive.

Because she was. The moment Jax entered, her head snapped up and her eyes lit up instantly.

“…You’re back,” she breathed.

The way she said it wasn’t relief.

It was hunger.

Jax stopped several paces away, golden eyes calmly assessing her. She looked healthier than when he’d left her. After all, he’d allowed them to give her proper food since she’d become part of his plan.

The feverish instability that had once defined her had settled into something far more dangerous.

“You were gone longer than I expected,” she said, voice low, intimate, as if they were alone rather than separated by power so vast it bordered on the absurd.

“You expected me to return quickly,” Jax asked.

“I was hopeful,” Natasha said, groping her own breasts as she stared at Jax, feeling her panties getting damp just by looking at him, “I’m just desperate for you,”

“The Heroes have reappeared,” Jax replied, focusing on the task at hand.

That got a reaction for Natasha, and her fingers tightened, just slightly as she thought about Killian and the others.

“…They did?” she asked carefully.

“In Lumeria,” he continued. “They announced their intent to ’save’ you.”

For the first time since he’d entered, her composure cracked.

A laugh escaped her, sharp, incredulous, almost hysterical.

“Save me?” she echoed. “From you

?”

She leaned forward now, elbows resting on her knees, eyes gleaming.

“They still don’t understand,” she murmured. “Do they?”

Jax’s expression didn’t change.

“No,” he said. “And I’m not going to correct them.”

She went still.

Slowly, deliberately, she leaned back again, studying him with renewed intensity.

“…You’re going to use me.”

“Yes,” Jax replied.

There was no cruelty in his tone. No mockery. Just fact.

She swallowed,and then smiled.

“Good,” she said softly, “Anything for you, as long as you do what you did again” Natasha said with a whimper.

“They won’t listen to reason. They never do. But they’ll come for me anyway.” Her eyes burned as she continued, “And when they do… they’ll see what you made of me.”

Jax stepped closer.

“You are not what I made,” he corrected. “You are what you became when your illusions collapsed.”

She didn’t argue.

Instead, she tilted her head, voice lowering.

“So,” she asked, “what role do I play?”

Jax met her gaze fully now, pressure rolling outward—not crushing, not violent, but absolute.

“You are the proof,” he said. “That they can lose. That their gods won’t save them. That defiance has consequences.”

Her breath quickened.

“…And after?”

“That depends on how well you perform.”

A shiver ran through her, a shiver of anticipation.

The doors to the chamber opened smoothly.

Sabrina entered without hesitation, heels clicking softly against the obsidian floor. Her expression was composed, but her eyes flicked briefly to Natasha before returning to Jax.

“My King,” she said, bowing. “The Capital stands ready.”

“Good,” Jax replied.

He turned slightly, addressing both of them.

“Begin the unveiling,” he commanded. “Full ceremonial activation. Open the public sectors. Let the world see what we’ve built.”

Sabrina nodded immediately. “And the prisoner?”

Jax’s gaze returned to Natasha.

“Prepare her.”

Natasha straightened, lips parting.

“She will be revealed,” Jax continued, “As our prize.”

Sabrina’s smile sharpened. “That will provoke them.”

“That’s the point.”

Jax stepped away, already moving toward the exit.

“Let the Heroes come,” he said calmly. “Let them bring witnesses and hope to their people, and let’s crush it by showing them how Natasha is now under our control,”

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