Rebirth of the Shadow Warrior

The battlefield laid in ruins beneath the moonless sky with thunder cracking violently as if the heavens themselves had felt his presence.

Thaddeus Lynwood stood alone amid the carnage, breathing heavily as blood dripped from his fingers, each drop hissing as it struck the cracked stone below.

All around him lay scattered bodies of attackers and exceptionally skilled bandits who had ambushed him.

He let out a gentle cough, forcing his trembling body upright.

His cultivation churned violently, unstable as his energy kept depleting by the seconds.

He let out a sigh of relief.

Even though he was badly injured and weak, he was grateful his men were safe

His legs trembled in pain which made him collapse on one knee. Blood dripped from every part of his body, soaking into the ground beneath his feet. His men had brought him here in secrecy, claiming there was something he alone needed to see.

He coughed again, blood spilling from his lips as he observed the cuts carved across his body. Each cut burned far deeper than it should have, gnawing at his cultivation, weakening his very core.

Despite the agony tearing through his body, he managed to pull himself up and noticed the attackers had all used silver blades which were deadly to cultivators like him which explained why his wounds refused to heal.

And the only people who knew this weakness were his men.

“You shouldn’t have followed us here, Master,” Thorin, his most loyal disciple said quietly and that was when he realized.

He slowly turned, not wanting to believe his eyes.

Thorin stood there, unharmed, in his simple disciple robes etched with sigils Thaddeus had designed himself.

Behind him emerged the rest of the inner circle, four figures Thaddeus had raised, trained, and entrusted with his secrets and knowledge.

Each of them avoided his gaze except Thorin.

“These useless fools couldn’t even finish the job,” one of them said, glancing at the dead bodies surrounding them." Incompetent dogs."

Thorin drew his sword.

“ Guess we have to finish the job ourselves.”

Thaddeus felt weaker than before.

These were his closest disciples—the ones who had eaten at his table, trained under his guidance, bled beside him on countless battlefields. Together, they had conquered enemies and carved legends into history.

How… how could they betray him?

When he had followed them here, he had believed they were ambushed. Without hesitation, he had fought to the death, cutting down their attackers to protect them, never realizing he himself was the true target.

The realization broke him and he fell down on one knee.

He hadn’t brought his protective armor which would have revitalized his energy, sealed his wounds, and sustained his life. Now, he could see it all clearly as he felt life slowly draining from his battered body.

He raised his eyes and looked at them.

“…What is it worth?”

Thorin smiled.

“You taught me many things, master.” he replied, hand resting on the hilt of his blade. “Including how to recognize a tyrant disguised as a savior. You have become too dangerous.”

A bitter smile tugged at Thaddeus’s lips, streaking blood across his chin. “Is that the lie you were told?”

The silence lingered for a while as none of them answered.

He looked at them slowly, surveying them. He remembered each face clearly.

Rethar, who once swore loyalty with tears in his eyes...

Selah, whose life he had saved from the mountain beasts...

Celvin, who had begged to be taken as his disciple...

And lastly Thorin.

The disciple he pulled from a slave caravan...

The boy he personally trained and hoped would be his successor one day.

His eyes scanned the faces of each of them and his face fell in despair.

He knew the Council must be behind them.

“So the Council finally grows bold enough to strike from behind,” Thaddeus finally said. “Or was this your idea, Thorin?”

Thorin’s jaw tightened. “The world fears you, Master. They fear your strength. Such power isn't meant for one man alone. Balance needs to be maintained.”

“Balance?” Thaddeus laughed softly, then coughed, blood splattering the ground. “The same balance that I dedicated my life to? I taught you better!”

He slowly stood up and his knees trembled slightly, struggling to hold him upright

Unable to hide her emotions, Selah moved forward.

“ Yes! Which is what makes this the right thing to do.” she fired.

Thaddeus met her gaze and disappointment streamed across his face.

Thorin drew his blade fully now and the others followed.

“You were meant to lead us,” he said, raising his voice.

“Not become a god who decides how the world should be organized. If left alive, you will eventually become an irreversible threat. We're simply doing the world a favour.” he gritted his teeth.

Thaddeus’s expression turned sour at his words.

“ I raised you better than this,Thorin." he said with guilt. “The council deceived you and you were weak enough to believe it. You allowed the council’s lies to blind you. Disappointing.”

Thorin raised his blade.

“ Enough, let's end this,” one of them shouted.

Together they attacked him.

Thaddeus raised his arms, and dark shadows charged outward like a tidal wave, swallowing their attacks whole.

The betrayal gave him a strength he didn't know he had and the ground shook as he unleashed what remained of his power.

Instantly, three of them were thrown back as their bodies crashed into stone. Rethar screamed as the shadows pierced his armor, pinning him helplessly while Selah collapsed into a nearby tree.

Only Thorin remained standing.

Thaddeus staggered as his body kept losing strength rapidly. For a moment, they remembered why he was feared and why he earned the title of the shadow warrior.

“You hesitate and won't harm us ” Thorin said, advancing. “ And that’s why you lose.”

Thaddeus smiled.

In that split moment, he saw the boy he raised from childhood and his smile grew wider.

He couldn't bring himself to harm his little boy.

He dropped down his hand and hoped for one last time he would see reason

“Yes,” he replied. “ Which is why I want you to stop this.”he said quietly with love in his eyes, letting down his guard.

Thorin had expected him to block the attack and was surprised when the blade struck deep into his master.

Pain instantly exploded through Thaddeus's chest. The shadow cloak around his shoulder disintegrated, dissolving into fragments of petals.

Thaddeus staggered, then fell to one knee, feeling betrayed his most trusted disciple would stab him.

Thorin stood over him, a wicked smile on his face, not a trace of remorse in his eyes.

That smile hurt more than the wound itself.

Tears slipped from Thaddeus’s eyes as he clutched the gash in his chest, trying to hold on to life but his legs finally gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

The cold earth pressed against his body as his vision darkened and the sounds of thunder grew distant, like they were coming from another world.

Thorin leaned closer with a deadly smile.

“You really believed we would follow you forever?” he scoffed. “The council offered us something greater. You were just… in the way.”

The words shattered what little strength Thaddeus had left.

He coughed hard, blood staining his lips, and forced himself to look up at the man he once called a disciple.

“I raised you better than this,” Thaddeus whispered in a breaking voice. “I trusted you… with everything.”

Thorin laughed out at his word, followed by the others.

Hearing their laughter and mockery, heavy pain flooded his chest and his vision blurred as his tears mixed with blood. In that moment, regret, rage, and sorrow twisted together in his heart.

"If there is another life… " He said in his thoughts.

" If fate dares to give me another chance…"

His fingers dug weakly into the earth

" I will not be merciful..."

“I swear it,” Thaddeus whispered, his voice barely audible. “I will return… and you will pay for this.”

Thorin’s smile faltered for just a heartbeat.

With that, Thaddeus’s strength gave out and his body went still, the storm above roaring one final time as his eyes slowly closed.

Then, suddenly, a loud crack suddenly came from Thaddeus’s chest and dark light poured out.

The group watched in horror as the ground ruptured and a vortex of pure void spiraled upward, swallowing the corpse whole. The pull was violent, and irresistible.

“What is this?!” Selah screamed.

STOP IT!” Thorin shouted.

But it was too late.

They all watched as Thaddeus’s body vanished into the void.

As the vortex sealed shut, Thorin stood frozen, bloodied blade hanging at his side.

He had slain his master but deep down, the sight of what he just witnessed terrified him.