Chapter 12: The Sealed Monster Awakens
The roar echoed again.
This time, it was louder.
Deeper.
More terrifying.
The entire castle trembled violently.
Liora grabbed the balcony railing to keep her balance. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
"What… what is that…?"
The Shadow King's eyes glowed brighter than before.
His expression had turned unusually serious.
"This presence…"
The wind howled around them.
Dark clouds twisted across the sky like a massive storm.
"...I thought it was sealed forever."
Liora's breath caught.
"Sealed? By who?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains beyond the kingdom.
"By me."
Her eyes widened.
"You sealed it?"
"Yes."
Another roar echoed.
The ground trembled again.
But this time—
The tremor felt heavier.
Like something massive was moving underground.
Liora's hands trembled.
"If you sealed it… then why is it waking up now?"
Silence.
Then—
"Because… my power is weakening."
Her heart skipped.
The words felt heavier than anything else.
"You mean…"
He nodded slowly.
"The seal was bound to my darkness."
The sky suddenly cracked with lightning.
The roar echoed again.
Closer.
Louder.
Liora felt fear crawl up her spine.
Something terrible was coming.
Suddenly—
The shadows around the castle moved violently.
Guards made of shadow appeared.
Hundreds of them.
Liora looked around.
"They're gathering…"
The Shadow King spoke coldly.
"They sense danger."
His voice grew lower.
"So do I."
The wind howled stronger.
Then—
The ground suddenly cracked far in the distance.
Liora gasped.
A massive dark pillar shot into the sky.
The clouds twisted around it.
The air itself seemed to distort.
Her breath trembled.
"That's… huge…"
The Shadow King narrowed his eyes.
"It's awakening."
Her chest tightened.
"Should we stop it?"
Silence.
Then—
"Yes."
But his voice lacked certainty.
For the first time—
The Shadow King looked… cautious.
Moments later—
They stood at the castle gate.
The air outside felt heavier.
Colder.
The shadow wolf followed closely behind Liora.
"You should stay inside," the Shadow King said.
She shook her head immediately.
"I'm coming with you."
His gaze hardened.
"This is not like before."
"I know."
Her light flickered faintly.
"I can help."
Silence.
He studied her quietly.
Then—
"...Stay close."
Her heart skipped slightly.
"Okay."
The shadows gathered around them.
Then—
They vanished.
They appeared near the mountains.
The air felt suffocating.
Dark mist covered everything.
Liora coughed softly.
"This place… feels horrible…"
The ground beneath them trembled again.
Then—
They saw it.
A massive crater.
And inside—
Darkness moved.
Like liquid shadows.
Something was emerging.
Her breath caught.
"That's…"
The Shadow King's eyes glowed faintly.
"It's not fully awakened yet."
Suddenly—
A giant claw burst from the ground.
Liora screamed softly.
The claw was massive.
Bigger than the castle towers.
Black and covered in dark cracks.
Another roar echoed.
The ground shattered further.
A second claw emerged.
The earth split apart.
Then—
A giant head slowly rose.
Liora's entire body froze.
It looked like a monstrous dragon.
But more terrifying.
Its body was made of shadows.
Its eyes glowed deep purple.
Dark smoke poured from its mouth.
Her voice trembled.
"What… is that…?"
The Shadow King's voice dropped.
"The Abyss Beast."
Her heart nearly stopped.
"It feeds on darkness."
The creature slowly rose fully from the crater.
It was enormous.
Towering above mountains.
The air trembled from its mere presence.
Then—
Its glowing purple eyes locked onto them.
Liora felt her body freeze.
Fear overwhelmed her.
The beast opened its mouth.
A terrifying roar shook the world.
The shadow soldiers behind them trembled.
Even the Shadow King stepped forward protectively.
"Stay behind me."
She nodded quickly.
Her heart pounded.
The Abyss Beast moved.
One step.
The ground shattered.
Another step.
Mountains cracked.
Its power was overwhelming.
The Shadow King raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered.
"This ends now."
He unleashed a massive wave of darkness.
It struck the beast directly.
Explosion.
Dust filled the air.
Liora waited nervously.
Then—
The dust cleared.
Her eyes widened.
The beast… wasn't injured.
Not even scratched.
Her heart sank.
"It's… too strong…"
The beast roared again.
Then—
It attacked.
A massive claw swung toward them.
The Shadow King grabbed Liora instantly.
They vanished.
The ground exploded where they stood.
He reappeared nearby.
His eyes narrowed.
"It's stronger than before."
The beast attacked again.
This time—
It released dark flames.
The flames spread across the land.
The Shadow King blocked with shadows.
But he slid back slightly.
Liora felt fear growing.
Even he was struggling.
The beast roared again.
Then—
It looked at Liora.
Her heart stopped.
Its purple eyes glowed brighter.
The Shadow King noticed.
His expression darkened.
"No…"
The beast moved suddenly.
It lunged toward her.
Too fast.
Too sudden.
Liora froze.
But before it reached her—
The Shadow King appeared in front.
He blocked the attack.
But—
The force sent him flying.
He crashed into the mountains.
"Shadow King!"
Liora's voice trembled.
The beast turned toward her again.
Her heart pounded.
She couldn't move.
Fear paralyzed her.
The beast raised its claw.
Then—
Her hand glowed.
Bright light burst from her palm.
The beast paused.
Its eyes flickered.
The light expanded.
The darkness around them trembled.
The beast roared angrily.
The light hurt it.
Liora realized.
"My light…"
She raised her hand.
The light grew brighter.
The beast stepped back.
For the first time—
It retreated.
Then—
The Shadow King returned.
He grabbed her arm.
"Stop."
Her light faded slowly.
His eyes looked shocked.
"You pushed it back…"
Her breathing was uneven.
"I… I didn't mean to…"
He looked at the beast.
Then at her.
Something changed in his expression.
"You… are more dangerous than I thought."
The beast roared again.
It was angry now.
Its power increased.
The Shadow King stepped forward.
"Stay back."
Dark wings formed again.
His villain aura returned.
He looked terrifying.
He attacked again.
Darkness exploded.
The beast roared back.
Their battle shook the mountains.
Liora watched in fear.
This wasn't just a fight.
This was destruction.
The Shadow King attacked brutally.
But the beast matched him.
The ground collapsed.
The sky darkened.
Then—
The beast struck him directly.
He crashed to the ground.
Her heart stopped.
"Shadow King!"
He struggled to stand.
Blood of darkness dripped.
He looked injured.
The beast raised its claw again.
Liora ran forward.
"Stop!"
Her light exploded.
Bright light covered everything.
The beast screamed.
The Shadow King looked shocked.
The light pushed the beast back again.
The mountains trembled.
The beast retreated slowly.
Then—
It roared.
And disappeared into darkness.
Silence fell.
The battlefield was destroyed.
The Shadow King stood silently.
He looked at her.
Long.
Deep.
"You… saved me."
Her heart skipped.
She smiled faintly.
"We saved each other."
Silence.
But inside—
He realized something terrifying.
Her light…
Was stronger than his darkness.
And if she ever turned against him—
She could destroy him.
For the first time—
The Shadow King felt fear.
Not from the monster.
But from her.