The capital's declaration echoed across the kingdom.But Kael was already moving.By sunrise, his army had left the battlefield and begun marching north.Thousands followed him.Some were former Royal soldiers who had abandoned the king. Others were villagers who had lost their homes to the Void. Hunters, blacksmiths, merchants, farmers, and wandering warriors had joined them.They had one thing in common.They had nowhere else to go.Kael rode at the front with Lyria, Raven, Aric, and Garran.Behind them marched the Shadow Army.They moved without sound.Thousands of black figures walked in perfect formation, their weapons resting on their shoulders.To Kael, they were more than weapons now.They were his responsibility.“How many people have joined us?” Kael asked.Aric looked at the group behind them.“Nearly five thousand humans.”Kael frowned.“That many?”“And more are coming.”Kael looked back.A long line of people stretched across the road.Children walked beside their parent

The battlefield had become strangely quiet.Not silent.Soldiers were still fighting. Mages were still throwing spells. The cries of wounded men still filled the air.But around Kael, everything seemed to slow.General Varkas stood a short distance away, holding his massive sword in one hand.He looked calm.Too calm.Kael tightened his grip on the Shadow Blade.Varkas studied him.“So you're the one causing all this trouble.”Kael didn't answer.Varkas smiled.“I expected someone older.”Kael stepped forward.“You should have expected someone strong.”Varkas laughed.“Show me.”He disappeared.Kael barely saw him move.A massive blow came from the side.Kael raised his Shadow Blade.Boom!The impact threw him several meters backward.His boots dragged across the ground.Kael looked at his hands.They were shaking.That attack had nearly broken his defense.Varkas walked toward him.“Your shadows are impressive.”He raised his sword.“But you're still inexperienced.”Kael's eyes narro

The first war horn sounded from the eastern hills.Then another answered from the west.A third echoed across the valley.Kael stood in the middle of the battlefield, watching the Royal Army reorganize.Their soldiers had retreated, but they had not fled.They were preparing for another attack.This time, their formation was different.Five enormous banners rose behind the army.Each carried a different symbol.Aric's expression became tense.“They're here.”Kael glanced at him.“Who?”“The remaining Royal Generals.”Before Aric could explain, the ground began to tremble.A line of armored cavalry emerged from the eastern hills. At their front rode a woman carrying a golden spear.“General Selene,” Aric said. “Commander of the Eastern Legion.”From the western side, a massive man wearing iron armor approached with an axe resting on his shoulder.“General Dren,” Aric continued. “The strongest siege commander in the kingdom.”Three more figures appeared behind the Royal Army.One carrie

The battlefield had stopped.Thousands of soldiers stood frozen, staring at the creature that had emerged from the Void Sword.It towered above them, its body formed from twisting darkness.No face.No eyes.Yet Kael could feel its attention fixed entirely on him.“You carry the lock.”The words echoed inside his mind.Kael tightened his grip on his Shadow Blade.“What lock?”The creature didn't answer.Instead, it reached toward him.Kael immediately summoned Shadow Chains.Hundreds of black chains erupted from the ground and wrapped around the creature's arm.The creature stopped.For the first time, it seemed surprised.Kael pulled.“Stay away from me!”The creature's arm began breaking apart.But instead of falling, the darkness simply flowed around the chains.Garran shouted.“Kael! Don't let it touch you!”Kael looked at him.“Why?”“Because it's trying to reach your Shadow Core!”The creature suddenly pulled.Kael's body flew forward.He slammed into the ground.The creature's

The heartbeat echoed through the mountain.BOOM.Kael stood at the entrance of the Fifth Shrine, his Shadow Blade in hand.Behind him, thousands of soldiers waited.Nobody spoke.BOOM.The sound came again.Louder.The ground shook beneath their feet.Lyria looked toward the dark entrance.“Something is alive in there.”Garran nodded.“Something that should have remained asleep.”Kael stared into the darkness.“What is inside?”Garran's expression was grim.“I don't know.”Kael stepped forward.“Then we'll find out.”Aric moved beside him.“We go together.”Kael shook his head.“No.”Aric frowned.“Why?”“The shrine may react to the Shadow Core. If it is another trial, everyone could be placed in danger.”Lyria stepped forward.“Then