Chapter 24: Xender the Dark Sovereign, the Bringer of Nightmares

The dark forest buzzed with rumors of the new demon lord. Demons of all kinds—beasts, soldiers, and monstrous entities—were drawn by the news, eager to see this self-proclaimed lord with their own eyes.

They needed to know if he was worthy of commanding them, and if he truly deserved the title that once belonged to Draven.

In the fortress, Xender leaned back on his throne, a wicked smile playing on his lips. The dim torchlight flickered against the cold stone walls, casting eerie shadows around the room. He had a plan—one that would not only announce his existence to the world but also ensure every demon pledged their loyalty to him.

Summoning Zephyra and Lilithar to his side, he began to speak.

"The time has come. The world must know my name. My existence cannot be ignored any longer."

Zephyra, her crimson eyes gleaming with curiosity, stepped forward.

"What do you propose, my lord?"

Xender's grin widened, his voice dripping with malice.

"Ha! This will be glorious. The human nations are vast—filled with towns and cities ripe for the taking. As their so-called heroes cower in Alderoth, they'll realize they cannot protect every corner of this world. And I shall ensure they drown in despair."

Lilithar's face lit with excitement as she grasped his intent.

"A calculated strike, my lord? Targeting the weak to spread your name like wildfire?"

"Exactly," Xender replied, his voice calm but laced with menace.

"We leave the heroes for now. They'll come to me eventually, but not before I've made the entire world tremble. We target the unprotected towns and villages—places where no heroes or armies will come to their rescue. We'll bring destruction and chaos, leaving survivors to spread the word of a new demon lord."

Zephyra's lips curled into a cruel smile.

"What are your orders, my lord?"

"Gather one thousand soldiers," Xender said, standing from his throne.

"And add a selection of monsters—vicious, feral creatures that will tear through the humans. I want them to see what true despair looks like. Let them hear the screams as their loved ones are devoured alive. This is not just an attack; it's a message. A message that their peaceful days are over."

Zephyra and Lilithar bowed deeply before leaving to carry out his command. Within hours, the fortress courtyard was alive with the growls of monstrous creatures and the disciplined ranks of demon soldiers. Xender stood before them, his dark aura radiating an oppressive energy that made even the most seasoned demons shudder.

His voice boomed across the courtyard as he began his speech:

"Today, we march not for conquest but for revelation. The humans have lived in blissful ignorance, clinging to the fragile hope that their heroes will protect them. But that hope is a lie! I am here to shatter their illusions, to strip away their peace and replace it with unrelenting darkness. We will burn their homes, crush their spirits, and drown their lands in fear!

Let them see the destruction we bring and know that it is only the beginning. Let their cries echo through the ages as a reminder that no hero, no kingdom, no god can stand against us.

This world is mine to shape, and under my rule, it will bow to the weight of despair! Follow me now, and together we will forge a new age—an age where demons reign supreme, and I stand as your ruler, your lord, your god!"

The demons erupted into cheers, their bloodlust stoked by Xender's words. Zephyra and Lilithar exchanged a glance, their pride in their lord evident as they stood by his side.

As the army began its march through the forest, Xender's thoughts turned inward.

'What am I now? A human? No, being human would only hold me back. I must abandon my humanity and embrace the darkness fully. This is my destiny. My vision is clear: to bring this world to its knees, to become the greatest, most merciless villain in history.'

The army's destination was a town far from Alderoth, a peaceful place with no defenses to speak of. Xender's strategy was simple: strike fear into the hearts of the weak, spread chaos, and ensure his name would be etched into the minds of every living soul.

The march continued, the sound of growls, heavy footsteps, and the rustle of the forest growing louder with each step. Xender led them confidently, his coat billowing behind him like a shadow. As they drew closer to the unsuspecting town, a dark grin spread across his face.

The age of darkness had begun.

The sun hung low over the horizon as Xender stood atop a hill, his black coat billowing in the wind. Below him lay the unsuspecting town of Brightmill, its cobbled streets bustling with life, oblivious to the nightmare that loomed above.

The population of roughly 10,000 went about their peaceful lives, their laughter and chatter echoing faintly in the distance.

Xender stretched his arms wide, a wicked smile spreading across his face as he basked in the anticipation of the chaos to come.

"It begins now," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper but brimming with malice. In his mind, a torrent of dark thoughts swirled.

Blood... screams... despair. That's what I want to see. Humans, broken and hopeless. Damn it, why wasn't I summoned as a demon? But perhaps this is even better—a human, betraying his own kind and tearing down their nations. Being a demon lord isn't enough. I'll become something greater.

The town's guards were the first to spot the approaching horde. Their eyes widened in horror as they saw the army of demons and monsters, their silhouettes framed by the dying light of the evening. One guard fumbled for his horn, blowing a desperate warning call, but it was already too late.

The monstrous army surged forward, their snarls and howls breaking the tranquility of the town.

Xender lowered his arms, his voice cold and commanding.

"Go. Show them what true despair looks like. Leave a handful alive to spread my name—Xender the Dark Sovereign, the Bringer of Nightmares. Let the world tremble when they hear it."

With a deafening roar, the demons charged. Their footsteps shook the ground, their weapons gleaming wickedly in the fading light. The small force of town knights scrambled to form a defense, but they were no match.

"Hold the line!" one knight yelled, his voice quivering with fear.

But the demons fell upon them with savage ferocity. Blades and claws tore through flesh, shields splintered under the sheer force of the assault, and the cobblestones ran red with blood.

A young knight, barely out of training, screamed as a demon twice his size cleaved him in half with a single swing.

"No! Please—" a veteran knight begged, only to be silenced as a monster's jaws snapped around his neck.

Behind the crumbling defenses, the town erupted into chaos. Civilians fled in every direction, their screams piercing the air.

"Run! They're killing everyone!"

"Where's the militia? Someone help us!"

"Mommy! Mommy, wake up!" a child sobbed, clutching the lifeless body of his mother as a monster loomed over him, its fanged maw dripping with blood.

The monsters ignored the knights entirely, focusing on the helpless townsfolk. They rampaged through the streets, ripping through homes and devouring anyone they found.

A baker's shop burned, the scent of bread mingling grotesquely with the stench of charred bodies. A young woman, clutching her infant, screamed as a beast tore her apart, her cries cutting off abruptly, leaving only the wails of the orphaned baby.

Xender watched from the hill, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

"Beautiful," he muttered, stepping forward. As he descended into the chaos, the blood of the slain soaked into his boots. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and the metallic tang of blood.

"This," he said with a dark chuckle, "is the work of a true villain. Heroes protect; I destroy."

He laughed, a deep, malevolent sound that echoed through the burning town.

"Hahahaha!"

The demons spread his name as they slaughtered.

"Bow before Xender the Dark Sovereign!" one roared, holding a severed head high.

"Your pitiful gods won't save you now!"

A handful of survivors, trembling and bloodied, cowered in the shadows. They would live to tell the tale of the nightmare that descended upon Brightmill.

As the fires consumed the last remnants of the town, Xender turned to Zephyra and Lilithar, who stood beside him, their faces alight with pride and admiration.

"Don't worry," he said, his grin widening.

"You'll have your fun next time. This was just a warm-up." He extended his arms again, his dark aura crackling like lightning.

"The next town will face complete annihilation. I'll test my powers, and we'll leave nothing standing."

His laughter rang out once more, darker and colder than before.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

With that, the army withdrew, leaving behind smoldering ruins and a sea of blood.

Brightmill was no more, and the world had just begun to learn the terror of Xender the Dark Sovereign.