CHAINS OF WATER RISE OF A KING

🔥 Episode 12: "The Unseen Power! Shadow King's Wrath!" ⚔️💀

The Battlefield in Ruins

The once-proud castle of the Zen Kingdom was now a crumbling wasteland. Brick by brick, the grand fortress fell apart, shaking the ground with every collapse. The air was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe. The battlefield, once filled with the war cries of warriors, was now eerily silent, except for the sound of crackling flames and the groans of the wounded.

Zedo, Karota, and Raiga lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies battered and bruised from their failed Zenjutsu Attack. The ultimate technique they had spent years perfecting… had failed. Their hopes shattered as they struggled to stand.

Zedo clenched his fists, his fingers trembling from both pain and frustration.

"Why didn't Zenjutsu work?!" he growled, his teeth grinding together.

Karota wiped the blood trickling down his forehead, his breath ragged.

"Something is blocking our energy… This isn't normal!"

They barely had time to process their failure before a deep, ominous voice cut through the battlefield like a knife.

🌑 The Shadow King's Presence

Standing tall amidst the destruction was the Shadow King. His very existence seemed to swallow light itself. His crimson eyes gleamed with an eerie glow, like two burning coals in the dark. His long, tattered cloak fluttered in the wind, and the dark aura around him pulsed like a living entity.

With a slow, deliberate motion, he raised his hand. The ground beneath him twisted unnaturally, and from the shadows, monstrous creatures began to emerge. Horrifying, grotesque figures formed out of pure darkness, their eyes glowing red as they let out earth-shaking roars.

Zedo's heart pounded. These weren't ordinary shadow beasts—they radiated a power far beyond anything they'd faced before.

"We're finished…" Raiga muttered under his breath, gripping his sword tightly, but his arms were too weak to lift it.

The Shadow King let out a deep, cold chuckle.

"You truly believed Zenjutsu would work against me? Foolish children. My darkness is beyond your comprehension."

His voice sent shivers down their spines.

Zedo gritted his teeth. He refused to accept defeat.

"I won't let you win!"

⚡ Setsuke Strikes First!

Before anyone could react, a blur of motion shot across the battlefield—Setsuke!

The silver-haired warrior dashed forward, his sword shining with golden energy. With blinding speed, he reached the Shadow King and swung his blade!

CLANG!

His sword clashed against the Shadow King's dark blade, and a massive shockwave exploded from the impact, shaking the battlefield!

Zedo and the others were forced to shield their eyes from the energy blast. The two warriors moved with lightning speed, exchanging strike after strike, each clash sending out a flurry of golden and black sparks.

The Shadow King let out a cold laugh.

"You think you can defeat me, Setsuke?"

Setsuke's blue eyes burned with fury.

"I don't think… I KNOW!!"

He pushed forward with a devastating slash, but the Shadow King dodged effortlessly and retaliated with a dark explosion!

💥 BOOM!!

The impact sent Setsuke flying, his body crashing through a crumbling pillar before hitting the ground hard.

He coughed, blood dripping from his mouth. His sword lay beside him, its golden glow flickering weakly.

Zedo, Karota, and Raiga watched in horror.

"No way…" Karota whispered.

"Setsuke is down?!"

If even their strongest warrior couldn't stand against the Shadow King, then… what hope did they have?

💀 The True Power of Darkness!

The Shadow King slowly stretched out his arms, and suddenly—

The entire sky turned black.

It wasn't just darkness—it was emptiness. The very concept of light seemed to disappear. The battlefield was swallowed in a pitch-black abyss, and for a moment, the entire world stood still.

Then…

The ground beneath them began to crack.

A deep, guttural rumbling filled the air as a massive vortex of shadows formed above the Shadow King. It swirled and twisted like a black hole, devouring everything in its path.

Then, from the depths of that abyss, something began to rise…

A colossal beast, formed entirely from shadow energy, emerged. Its size dwarfed everything in sight. It had four glowing eyes, jagged horns, and its body pulsed with pure malice.

Zedo took a step back, his breath shaky.

"This is… beyond anything we've ever faced."

Karota activated his Third Eye—his ability to see the truth behind energy and attacks.

His eyes widened in horror.

"Zedo… this thing… It's not just made of shadows. It's made of our FEARS!"

The beast snarled, and instantly, their minds were flooded with visions—visions of their worst nightmares.

Zedo saw himself standing alone, his friends lifeless around him.

Karota saw himself drowning in darkness, unable to breathe.

Raiga saw himself failing to protect his family, watching them disappear into the void.

Their bodies trembled. Their energy drained. This was the Shadow King's true power—Fear Incarnate!

⚔️ The Last Hope!

But then—

A bright light flickered in the darkness.

It was faint, almost invisible, but it was there.

Zedo clenched his fists. He refused to give in to fear. He wouldn't let it consume him.

He took a deep breath.

"Fear is only as strong as we let it be!" he shouted.

The light inside him grew stronger.

Karota, still trembling, looked at Zedo. His best friend… standing tall despite the overwhelming darkness.

That gave him strength.

Raiga gritted his teeth.

"He's right… We can't let fear control us!"

With determination burning in their eyes, they forced themselves to stand up, ignoring their wounds.

🔥 Their resolve shattered the illusion of fear. 🔥

The massive shadow beast roared in frustration, its power fading slightly.

The Shadow King narrowed his eyes.

"Hmph. Impressive… but futile."

Zedo's X-Zenjutsu Aura ignited around him, brighter than ever! His golden energy pulsed like a star, pushing back the darkness!

Karota's Third Eye flashed with powerful clarity, allowing him to see through the Shadow King's illusions!

Raiga raised his sword, electricity crackling around the blade, his lightning energy surging!

Zedo clenched his fists, stepping forward.

"No more holding back."

The Shadow King smirked.

"Then show me what you've got."

The battle was far from over.

⚔️🔥💀

To be continued…