The air in Elderion's domain grew cold, the brightness dimming as a chilling presence descended upon the realm. The gods, deep in heated discussion about Kaelan's fate, fell silent as a sinister energy rippled through the expanse.
A figure emerged from the encroaching darkness—a towering entity cloaked in shadows that seemed to writhe and flicker like living flames. His sorrowful eyes, glowing a deep crimson, fixed on Kaelan's limp form. The being exuded an overwhelming aura of dread and power, his presence eclipsing even the gods.
"You….impossible…" Elderion's voice was a low growl, his golden eyes narrowing. "You dare to intrude here?"
Equinox stepped forward, his stance rigid as he addressed the intruder. "You are not welcome in this sacred domain, Demon King. Leave, or face annihilation."
The dark figure ignored them, his gaze solely on Kaelan. His sorrowful expression softened as he approached the boy. With a flick of his hand, a wave of dark energy exploded outward, sending the gods around kaelan and the group flying like leaves in a storm. They landed harshly at the edges of the domain, restrained by dark magical barriers.
The Demon King knelt before Kaelan, gently cradling the boy's broken body. His voice, deep and resonant, carried an unexpected tenderness.
"My son…" he murmured, brushing a hand over Kaelan's forehead. "What have they done to you?"His gaze turned to everyone in the domain "What did you do to my precious son?."
Elara struggled against the invisible force holding her back, her voice trembling with both fear and defiance. "Stay away from him! He's not your son!"
The Demon King's gaze snapped to her, his sorrow replaced by a flicker of anger. "Do not presume to tell me what he is, child of the stars. His blood calls to mine—he is as much my son as he is your companion."
Elderion stepped forward, his presence radiating authority. "He is not yours, creature of darkness. Kaelan is under our protection."
Protection?
He growled,his powers surging fiercely,a few of the gods stood ready to subdue the demon king.
He rose as he carried the boy, holding him close to his chest as if shielding him. His sorrow had turned to fury, his voice a thunderous roar that echoed across the domain. "Your protection?" He spat the word with venom. "Is this what you call it? Beating him down, tearing apart his essence, and casting him aside like a discarded tool?"
Equinox's expression hardened. "The boy's existence is an anomaly. His destruction is necessary for the balance."
"Balance?" The Demon King laughed, a sound devoid of humor and filled with bitterness. "You speak of balance as though it is some divine truth. Yet you gods know nothing of true balance. You fear what you cannot control. And now, you fear him."
Elderion's hand rested on the hilt of his golden blade, his tone unyielding. "You will not take him. Release the boy and leave, or I will ensure you regret this intrusion."
The Demon King's crimson eyes burned brighter as he embraced Kaelan protectively. "You may be the king of gods, Elderion, but even you will fall before me if you dare challenge my claim."
With a wave of his hand, he conjured a massive vortex of darkness that began to swirl around him and Kaelan. "Hear me, gods of this so-called balance," he declared, his voice resonating with unmatched power. "This boy is mine. And if you dare come for him again, I will bring ruin upon your realms."
The vortex intensified, the shadows growing denser. As the others watched helplessly, the Demon King locked eyes with Elderion one final time. "You think yourselves untouchable, but I will remind you of your vulnerability, your place. "
With a final surge of energy, the Demon King and Kaelan vanished into the void, leaving the gods and the group behind in stunned silence.
Elderion's fists clenched, his expression grim. "The war we feared has begun.We are so busy with ourselves we didn't notice the demon king had awaken."
Equinox remained silent, his eyes fixed on where the Demon King had stood. The other gods exchanged uneasy glances, while Elara sank to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
Orin placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice somber. "We'll get him back. No matter what it takes."
The group, battered and shaken, could only stare at the void left in the Demon King's wake, knowing that their greatest challenge had only just begun.
"Balance is...shattered,the scale has tilted". Equinox announced to the gods."
They stood motionless for a moment, the weight of Equinox's words pressing down on them like an invisible force. The wind howled softly through the clearing, carrying a sense of foreboding. It was Orin who broke the silence, his voice steady and reassuring.
"We don't have time to wallow in fear. Kaelan's out there, and he needs us."
Liora turned to Orin, her sharp gaze softening. "He's right. If the Demon King sees Kaelan as his son, then he's in grave danger—not just physically, but spiritually. We can't let the darkness consume him."
Draven adjusted the straps of his weapons, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "The Demon King's grip will only grow stronger if we hesitate. We need to move now."
Elara's fists clenched at her sides, her luminous eyes burning with determination. "Kaelan would never give up on any of us. We owe him the same. No matter where he is, we will find him and bring him back."
Orin nodded. "But we'll need to be smart about this. The Demon King won't make it easy, and the gods aren't entirely on our side. We need to prepare for anything."
Thorne, his massive hammer resting against his shoulder, stepped forward. "Whatever it takes, I'm ready. Kaelan's proven himself to me time and time again. I won't let him fight this alone."
Eira, who had been silent, finally spoke. "If the Demon King seeks to corrupt Kaelan, then we'll need more than strength. We'll need wisdom, strategy, and magic to counter his influence."
Liora placed a hand on Eira's shoulder. "Agreed. We must combine our strengths, as we did before. Only together can we stand against this darkness."
Elara looked at the horizon, her heart aching. Kaelan, wherever you are… hold on. We're coming
The Demon King's Domain
Kaelan awoke to a suffocating darkness. His body ached, and his mind swirled with confusion. He could barely move, his limbs feeling as if they were bound by invisible chains.
"Awake at last," a deep, sorrowful voice echoed around him.
Kaelan lifted his head, his vision slowly adjusting to the dim light. The Demon King stood before him, his massive form cloaked in shadows, yet his eyes burned with an otherworldly intensity.
"Who are you? Where are the others?" Kaelan's voice was hoarse, his throat dry.
The Demon King knelt before him, his expression a strange mix of sorrow and longing. "I am your father," he said, his tone heavy with emotion as he ignored the boy's second question.
Kaelan's heart raced, confusion and disbelief warring within him. "That's not possible. My parents… they died protecting me.Elara told me that".
The Demon King's gaze softened, and for a moment, Kaelan thought he saw genuine pain in the being's eyes. "Your mortal parents were noble and brave, but they were not your true progenitors. You are born of shadow and fire—my blood runs through your veins."
The boy struggled against the invisible chains holding him. "You're lying. I'm nothing like you!"
The King's expression hardened, his voice turning cold. "Deny it all you want, but the truth is undeniable. The gods fear you because of what you are—because of what we are."
He placed his hand on Kaelan's shoulder, and Kaelan felt a surge of power, dark and consuming. "Embrace it, my son. Together, we can destroy those who have wronged you. The gods who cursed your lineage, who seek to destroy you for simply existing—they will pay for their sins."
Kaelan gritted his teeth, resisting the pull of the Demon King's influence. "I'll never join you."
The Demon King's eyes narrowed. "You think they'll accept you, Kaelan? That they'll ever see you as anything but a monster? They will turn on you the moment you are no longer useful."
Kaelan glared at him. "Maybe. But I'll decide my own fate. Not you. Not them."
The Demon King let out a low growl, rising to his full height. "Then I will make you see the truth. You will come to understand that your destiny lies with me—whether you wish it or not."
With a wave of his hand, the shadows around Kaelan deepened, and the air grew colder. "Rest, my son. When you wake, we'll continue this conversation."
As Kaelan was enveloped in darkness once more, he clung to the flickering image of his friends, their voices urging him to fight.
I won't give in. I can't give in.
Kaelan's mind was a battlefield, his thoughts tangled in a storm of conflict. Two voices echoed in his head—one, a quiet whisper of his friends' encouragement, urging him to resist, to fight for the light. The other, a deep and commanding voice, promised power, vengeance, and freedom from the gods' judgment.
He knelt in the suffocating darkness, his chains glowing faintly with the binding magic that kept him restrained. Sweat beaded on his brow as he clutched his head, his teeth gritted in pain.
"You're weak," the darker voice hissed. "You cling to their hollow words. The gods will never accept you. They fear you, and your so-called friends will abandon you when they see what you truly are."
"No…" Kaelan whispered, his voice trembling. "They won't abandon me. I trust them."
"Trust?" the voice spat. "Trust won't save you when the gods strike. They will turn against you, just like everyone else has. Embrace the truth, Kaelan. You were born of fire and shadow—you are meant to rule, not grovel at their feet."
The lighter voice grew fainter, drowned out by the dark one. Kaelan's breathing grew ragged as he felt the chains tighten around him, a physical manifestation of his inner struggle.
Finally, his body convulsed as a wave of dark energy surged through him. His eyes snapped open, glowing with an eerie red beam. The softer voice was gone, replaced by an overwhelming rage.
With a guttural roar, Kaelan rose to his feet, his chains snapping like brittle twigs under the force of his newfound power. Darkness swirled around him, coiling like a living thing, as his once-golden Soulfire turned black.
Kaelan's features twisted into a cruel smirk as he took his first steps,his dark instincts following the demon king's dark aura to his throne. His movements were confident, predatory. He was no longer the hesitant boy who had clung to the hope of acceptance—he was something far more dangerous.
The Demon King watched him approach, a satisfied gleam in his fiery eyes. "There you are, my son. The true you."
Kaelan's voice was colder, devoid of the warmth it once held. "I see clearly now. The gods feared me because they knew I was stronger. They're right to fear me."
The Demon King rose, gesturing to the vast chamber. Dozens of dark, humanoid figures emerged from the shadows, each resembling Kaelan in form but lacking his essence. Their movements were jerky, their eyes dull, ruthless and lifeless.
"I've studied you since the day you were born," the Demon King said, his tone both proud and calculating. "I've tried to recreate you, to perfect you. These are my attempts—failed echoes of your power."
Kaelan eyed the clones with disdain, his lip curling. "Imitations. They're nothing compared to me."
The Demon King chuckled. "Indeed. But they were necessary. Each failure brought me closer to understanding you. And now, with your darkness quite awakened, you are ready for what's ahead of you."
Kaelan stepped closer, his dark flames licking at the ground as he moved. "So, what now? Do you expect me to kneel before you, Father?"