Maldrak's grin was wide, his confidence unmatched. He had completed his task, and it had been a success—or so he thought. His blade still gleamed with the blood of King Aldric, the monarch who had once held the kingdom in his grasp. The curse, the symbol of the Eye, had been cast. The king was weakened, on the verge of death, and Maldrak had delivered the message he sought. He was eager to return to the Demon King and claim the recognition he believed he deserved.

As he approached the Demon King’s throne, Maldrak dropped to one knee in an exaggerated gesture of mock humility. "My lord," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance, "I have fulfilled your command. King Aldric is on the brink of death, his will broken. The curse is now in place, and he is under my control. The symbol of the Eye marks his fate, and soon, the kingdom will fall into chaos."

The Demon King’s expression remained impassive, his cold eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Beside him, the other high-ranking demons—each one a formidable force in their own right—watched with interest, but their silence only seemed to intensify the tension.

"You believe you’ve succeeded?" the Demon King’s voice echoed through the cavern, heavy with a chilling authority.

Maldrak’s grin faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Of course, my lord," he said confidently. "The king is already weakened, his fate sealed. No one will be able to stop the Eye from taking full control."

The Demon King sat back, his fingers tapping the armrest of his throne, as if considering something. "You are certain?"

"Absolutely." Maldrak’s tone was full of pride. "No one can remove such a curse once it has been placed. The mark is a binding, and once the king succumbs, the kingdom will fall under our dominion."

The Demon King remained silent, and a slight unease began to creep over Maldrak. The other demons exchanged glances, but still, no one spoke. The tension in the room grew, and the longer the silence stretched, the more uncomfortable Maldrak became.

Finally, the Demon King spoke, his voice colder than the abyss. "You are mistaken."

Maldrak blinked, confusion clouding his features. "What do you mean, my lord?"

"The curse you placed on King Aldric... has been removed." The Demon King's words struck like a blade to Maldrak’s chest, and for the first time, doubt crept into his heart.

"What?!" Maldrak’s voice rose, his arrogance crumbling. "How... how is that possible? No one could remove the mark of the Eye! It’s not something that can be undone!"

The Demon King’s expression remained unchanged. "It has been removed. And if you had been watching more closely, you would have seen the signs. The king is still alive, his wounds healing. Someone intervened. Someone who possesses power beyond what you could imagine."

Maldrak stood up, his fists clenched in fury. "Impossible! This cannot be true!"

One of the other high-ranking demons, a figure cloaked in shadows, stepped forward. "You’ve failed, Maldrak. You’ve underestimated the enemy. It seems there is someone powerful enough to unravel your work."

Maldrak’s mind raced. He had been so certain that the curse was foolproof. And now, to hear that it had been undone—it was a blow to his pride, a sign of weakness. He couldn’t believe it. His hands trembled with frustration, and for the first time, he felt vulnerable.

The Demon King’s cold gaze bore into him. "You will go back. You will fix your mistake. If King Aldric lives, it will be because you were careless. But if he dies, we will show him just how much power the Eye truly holds."

Maldrak gritted his teeth, fury and humiliation burning in his chest. "I will not fail again. I’ll finish what I started, and this time, no one will stand in my way."

The Demon King nodded once, his tone final. "Go then, Maldrak. You have one chance to prove your worth. Fail again, and you will not return."

With those words, Maldrak stormed out of the cavern, his mind racing. His plan had been disrupted, but he wouldn’t let it end here. He would return, stronger than before, and this time, nothing would stop him from claiming King Aldric's soul—and with it, the kingdom.

As Maldrak disappeared into the shadows, the Demon King’s expression softened, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips. He was confident that Maldrak’s failure would be more than just a setback. The king was alive, yes, but the true test was only beginning.

The Eye would always watch. And those who dared to defy it would face its wrath.