Chapter 10: The King of Destruction
The night trembled under the clash of darkness.
The forest outside the castle had turned into a battlefield.
Dark energy exploded across the sky like violent storms. Trees cracked and fell, the ground shattered, and the air itself seemed to scream under the overwhelming power.
The Shadow King stood in the center of destruction.
His red eyes glowed fiercely.
Across from him stood his former general — the man with cold blue eyes.
Both radiated darkness.
Both dangerous.
But only one ruled the shadows.
"You've grown stronger," the Shadow King said coldly.
The former general smirked.
"And you… have grown weaker."
The air trembled.
Without warning—
The general raised his hand.
Dark spears shot toward the Shadow King.
The Shadow King vanished instantly.
The spears pierced through the ground, leaving deep cracks behind.
The Shadow King appeared behind him.
A blade of darkness formed in his hand.
He swung it down.
The general blocked with his own shadow shield.
Boom!
Dark energy exploded outward.
The forest shook violently.
Their power was monstrous.
"You still move fast," the general said calmly.
"And you still talk too much."
The Shadow King attacked again.
Dark claws formed around him.
The general dodged smoothly.
But this time—
The Shadow King was faster.
He grabbed the general's collar and slammed him into the ground.
The earth shattered.
The general coughed slightly.
Then he smiled.
"You're angry."
The Shadow King's grip tightened.
"You betrayed me."
The general laughed softly.
"You abandoned us."
The Shadow King's eyes narrowed.
"I saved you."
"No…"
The general's voice darkened.
"You turned us into monsters."
The silence grew heavy.
The general kicked him away.
They separated again.
Dark energy swirled between them.
"After you embraced darkness," the general continued, "you left us behind."
The Shadow King's expression remained cold.
"You chose your own path."
The general's smile faded.
"And now I've come to finish what you started."
Suddenly—
He unleashed a massive wave of darkness.
The Shadow King blocked.
But he slid back slightly.
His control was unstable.
The general noticed.
His smile returned.
"So… it's true."
The Shadow King's eyes sharpened.
"You're losing control."
Darkness exploded again.
The Shadow King attacked fiercely.
The general barely blocked.
The battle intensified.
Meanwhile—
Liora ran through the forest.
Her heart pounded loudly.
The ground trembled under each explosion.
She could see flashes of darkness ahead.
"They're fighting…"
Her breath grew uneven.
Suddenly—
A shockwave blasted toward her.
She gasped.
Her light activated instinctively.
The shockwave stopped.
But she stumbled slightly.
"This power…"
She continued forward.
Then—
She saw them.
Her eyes widened.
The battlefield was terrifying.
The Shadow King stood in the center.
The general faced him.
Their power clashed again.
Her heart raced.
He was fighting alone.
She stepped forward.
But suddenly—
The Shadow King froze.
He sensed her.
His eyes widened.
"Liora…?"
The general followed his gaze.
He saw her.
A slow smile appeared.
"So… this is the girl."
The Shadow King's expression darkened instantly.
"Stay back!"
Liora hesitated.
But she didn't leave.
The general chuckled.
"You brought a human into this?"
His blue eyes glowed.
"Interesting."
The Shadow King moved instantly.
He stood in front of Liora.
"Leave now."
She shook her head.
"I came to help—"
"No."
His voice was sharp.
"This is not your battle."
The general smiled.
"But she already joined."
He raised his hand.
Dark chains shot toward Liora.
Her eyes widened.
The Shadow King blocked instantly.
The chains shattered.
But—
The distraction was enough.
The general attacked.
A dark blade pierced the Shadow King's shoulder.
Her breath stopped.
"Shadow King!"
He stepped back slightly.
Dark energy leaked from his wound.
The general smirked.
"You're distracted."
The Shadow King's eyes glowed violently.
"You shouldn't have touched her."
Darkness exploded.
The ground shattered again.
His aura became darker.
More dangerous.
The general's smile faded slightly.
"Oh…"
The Shadow King stepped forward slowly.
"You made a mistake."
The air grew heavy.
The darkness around him changed.
It became deeper.
More violent.
Liora felt it.
Her heart raced.
"This power…"
The Shadow King raised his hand.
The sky darkened.
Shadows covered everything.
The general's expression hardened.
"You're using that power?"
The Shadow King's voice dropped.
"You wanted to see my weakness."
His eyes glowed brighter.
"I'll show you my destruction."
Dark wings formed behind him.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Liora's breath trembled.
He looked terrifying.
Like a true villain.
The general attacked first.
But—
The Shadow King vanished.
He appeared behind him instantly.
A massive strike.
Boom!
The general was thrown across the forest.
Trees collapsed.
The Shadow King moved again.
Faster.
More brutal.
He grabbed the general and slammed him repeatedly.
The ground shattered.
The general coughed blood.
His eyes widened slightly.
"You've become… worse."
The Shadow King didn't reply.
His eyes were cold.
Emotionless.
He raised his hand.
Dark spears surrounded the general.
"This ends now."
Liora's heart tightened.
He was going to kill him.
The general laughed weakly.
"You truly… became the king of destruction."
The Shadow King prepared to strike.
But suddenly—
Liora's voice echoed.
"Stop!"
Everything froze.
The Shadow King paused.
His eyes shifted toward her.
Her heart pounded.
"Don't kill him…"
Silence.
The general smirked faintly.
The Shadow King's eyes darkened.
"He tried to kill you."
"I know…"
Her voice trembled.
"But… killing him won't change anything."
The Shadow King stared at her.
His darkness flickered.
The moment stretched.
Finally—
He lowered his hand.
The spears vanished.
The general laughed softly.
"Your weakness…"
The Shadow King's eyes flashed.
"Leave."
The general stood slowly.
"This isn't over."
He disappeared into darkness.
The battlefield fell silent.
The Shadow King's power faded slowly.
His wings vanished.
He looked… exhausted.
Liora stepped closer.
"You're hurt—"
But suddenly—
He grabbed her wrist.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"You disobeyed me."
Her heart skipped.
"I… I was worried."
Silence.
Then—
His grip loosened.
"...Don't do that again."
She nodded slowly.
"Okay…"
He turned away.
But his expression remained dark.
Because deep inside—
He realized something dangerous.
When she was in danger…
He lost control.
And that meant—
She was becoming…
His greatest weakness.