"Now, now, what's this? The old dogs are still fighting the same wars... and I'm here to save the day? How quaint."
The battlefield was silent, save for the crackling remnants of Kael's shadowed flames and the sound of his enemies' approaching march. The Vanguard, led by General Haldric Voss, had arrived.
But before they could even fully step onto the scene, Kael's cold, mocking voice echoed through the ruin of Verech's Pass.
"More dogs sent to bite at my heels?"
The shadows around him writhed and whispered, a storm that coiled around his form. Kael's violet eyes flashed with murderous intent as he gazed toward the incoming soldiers.
General Haldric Voss, tall, unyielding, and with a scarred face that spoke of many battles, led the charge. He gave a sharp nod to his men, and they spread out, ready for a battle that would surely decide the fate of the Empire.
Lyra, her body battered from the earlier exchange, stood unsteady beside Kael. She gripped her starlight blade, her eyes still locked with the Hollow King's.
"You'll need more than an army to defeat me," Kael said, his voice full of malice.
Haldric raised his sword, unsheathing it slowly. His gaze never left Kael. "If we must."
Suddenly, before any of them could make a move, a new voice rang out, dripping with mockery.
"Ugh, do we have to start without me?"
Lyra turned, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Standing there, leaning casually against a half-broken column, was a figure who didn't look like he belonged in such a tense moment. His silver hair bounced lightly as he tilted his head back and grinned widely.
Silas. The Unshaken King.
The man exuded a carefree confidence, as if the universe itself bent to his will. He stretched lazily, completely unfazed by the chaos unfolding before him.
"Now, now, what's this? The old dogs are still fighting the same wars... and I'm here to save the day? How quaint."
Kael's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. "You… You shouldn't be here."
"Oh, but I am," Silas said, his voice full of amusement as he lazily flicked his hand toward Kael, and in a single moment, Kael's wraiths were scattered by an invisible force.
"You're still the same fool I knew," Silas continued, his tone mocking. "All that power, all that noise. And yet you've never learned to just chill out."
Lyra, recovering from her surprise, glanced over at Silas. "You're… him?"
"The one and only," Silas said, winking. "You've got to try a little harder, girl, if you want to get me in a good mood. I'm here for the fun. Kael? Not so much."
Lyra raised her brow. "You think you can take him down?"
Silas grinned wider."Let me show you how it's done baby."
In an instant, Silas vanished from sight, reappearing in front of Kael with a speed that defied all reason. His fist slammed into Kael's chest, sending shockwaves through the Hollow King's body. Kael barely managed to raise a hand to block, but Silas' blow was too much — the Hollow King staggered backward, his eyes widening in shock.
"You can't be serious!" Kael spat, gathering his power. "You were always weak. Just a puppet."
Silas chuckled, not even breaking a sweat. "Weak? Really? I just never had a reason to try my best... anyway you should have stayed dead, Kael. This is getting embarrassing."
Kael snarled, summoning the power of the Hollow Crown. Shadows surged around him, slithering like serpents, but Silas casually swiped them away with a flick of his wrist. His movements were fluid, effortless.
Lyra's breath caught. The Vanguard frozen with their jaws dropped. "He's… he's toying with him."
"Exactly," Silas said, his grin growing wider. "The Hollow King's problem is he forgot to have fun. It's all about the thrill of the game, man."
Kael's fury was mounting. He swung his staff, unleashing a blast of dark energy that roared toward Silas. But Silas, in a move so quick it was a blur, dodged the attack with a simple sidestep.
"Aw, did you want me to take you seriously?" Silas teased, his tone light and playful, though the energy around him crackled with raw power. He raised his hand, and in a blink, a wave of purple energy crashed into Kael, throwing him across the battlefield like a ragdoll.
Kael's chest heaved, his face twisted in rage. "I will destroy you."
Silas didn't even flinch, taking his time to stretch again. "You're welcome to try."
The Vanguard, with renewed confidence and now in full motion, charged forward, but Kael raised his staff. With a brutal shout, the ground trembled and erupted in a dark, violent surge. Hundreds of wraiths swarmed from the earth, their eyes burning with malice.
But just before they could overwhelm Silas, he raised his hand, a radiant pulse of energy exploding outward. The wraiths disintegrated on contact, their forms evaporating into the ether.
Lyra, seeing her chance, charged at Kael once more, her blade shining with a dazzling light. Kael turned, catching her with a savage backhand that sent her flying.
"Pathetic." Kael sneered.
Just as he prepared to finish her off, Silas interjected, appearing before him in an instant.
"Not so fast, Mr. Shadow King." He grabbed Kael by the throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air.
Kael struggled, his power surging wildly, but Silas simply tilted his head, a look of amusement dancing across his features. "You don't get it, do you? You're already finished."
Kael's face twisted with realization. "You… you were always this strong?"
Silas smirked. "Nah. I just didn't feel like fighting. But now?"
In a blinding flash of light, Silas slammed Kael into the ground, shaking the very earth beneath them. Kael's body cracked against the stone, his form twitching as he struggled to rise.
But Silas didn't give him the chance. With a mocking look, he loomed over Kael, his power radiating like a sun.
"This is where it ends, Kael. Time to say goodbye to that crown of yours."
Kael's breathing became ragged as his vision blurred. His form flickered between shadows and flesh. He knew, deep in his gut, that this was it. The Hollow King was about to be undone.
But just as Silas raised his hand for the final blow, a sharp crack echoed through the air.
Kael's eyes widened in disbelief as a shadowy figure surged from the depths of the earth. With terrifying speed, the figure pierced Silas's side, sending a wave of darkness through the Unshaken King's body.
"You..." Silas gasped, stumbling back.
Kael's laughter bubbled up, weak but triumphant. "You didn't think I was alone, did you?"
From the depths of the darkness, a new presence had arrived.
And as the shadowed figure loomed above them, Silas's playful smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing with the recognition of something far darker than Kael's Hollow King.
To be continued...