Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Elion stopped in front of the heavy black steel door, the old engravings emitting a reddish glow into the darkness. The air was charged with intense pressure, as if the place itself were rejecting its presence. Behind him, Veyla and Eridan stood alert, their eyes scanning the shadow.

"This door..." whispered Eridan. "It is imbued with a magic seal of a higher level. It's no ordinary barrier."

Veyla approached, putting a hand on the cold surface of the metal. A wave of energy traveled through her hand, forcing her to back off.

"It's a magic of confinement."

Elion raised his hand, a silvery glow wrapping his palm.

"If this door seals the access to the power of the Fallen King, then just break the seal."

Eridan looked at him anxiously.

"If the seal is there, maybe it's for a good reason."

Elion turned his head towards him, his gaze cold and resolute.

"My kingdom is in danger. The power of the Fallen King is the only way to protect it."

He put his hand on the door. The silver light of his Ki intensified.

- "Lunar Awakening... Third Phase."

His Ki spread along the door, infiltrating the magic engravings. The symbols shone violently before exploding into a sheaf of dark energy.

A dull rumble rang out in the room.

The door opened slowly, revealing a corridor plunged into deep darkness.

"Let's go in." said Elion.

He stepped forward, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. Veyla and Eridan followed him closely, arms ready.

The corridor seemed endless. The stone walls were cold and moist, crisscrossed by filaments of dark energy.

"This magic..." whispered Veyla. "It is ancient. Older than the magic of the gods."

Eridan nodded.

"You feel corruption in the air. Something malicious lies here."

Elion felt a presence. He stopped short.

"Someone's coming."

A metallic noise echoed in the corridor. Silhouettes slowly emerged from the darkness. Knights in black armor, their eyes shining with a blood-red light, advanced towards them.

"Knights of the Fallen King..." whispered Elion.

One of the knights stepped forward, raising a dark sword.

"King of Heaven," said the knight's hoarse voice. "You broke the seal." The legacy of the Fallen King belongs to you. But before you claim it... you'll have to defeat us."

Elion raised his sword, a silvery glow escaping from the blade.

"Very good."

The knight raised his gun.

"Let the test begin."

Three knights swooped down on Elion, their blades creating arcs of red light.

Elion blocked the first blow, the shockwave cracking the ground beneath his feet. He deflected the second stroke of a wrist rotation, sending the knight against the wall.

Veyla jumped up, throwing a series of daggers at the third knight. The blades flew like lightning, but the knight raised his shield, deflecting the projectiles into a metallic crash.

"Their armor is imbued with black magic!" cried Veyla.

Eridan struck his shield against the ground, releasing a wave of golden light.

"Aura of Bravoure!"

The golden light enveloped Elion and Veyla, strengthening their speed and strength.

Elion advanced with a sharp step, disappearing into a shard of Ki. He reappeared behind one of the knights, his blade crossing the black armor.

The knight uttered a hoarse cry before falling apart into a swarm of black ashes.

The second knight charged, his blade crackling with red energy. Elion blocked the attack, but the knight quickly chained a series of powerful moves.

"Lunar Crescent Ascendant!"

Elion hurled a wave of silvery energy that smashed the knight against the wall.

The third knight raised his blade, a red glow intensifying around him.

"Demonic invocation..." whispered Elion.

The knight pierced his own torso with his sword. A wave of dark energy bursts out of his body.

A magic circle appeared beneath him, and a massive creature emerged from the ground.

A four-legged bête noire, with a mouth full of sharp fangs, opened his eyes. Two red orbs sparkled in the dark.

"Level 8..." whispered Veyla.

Elion slid his sword along his wrist, a blood line flowing along the blade.

- "Lunar Awakening... Fourth Phase."

His silver aura exploded around him. Lightning flashed across the ground as the Ki of light concentrated in its blade.

The beast charged.

Elion leaped forward, his blade sharpening the air.

"Perforating Lunar Crescent!"

The silvery energy ray pierced the creature, but it continued its course, its claws spinning towards Elion's chest.

"Wall of Light!"

Eridan created a golden barrier that stopped the creature's charge.

Veyla threw a series of enchanted daggers into the open mouth of the beast. The blades exploded in a flash of purple light.

The creature retreated, but it was not defeated.

Elion planted his sword in the ground.

- "Lunar Crescent Ascendant... Second Phase!"

A wave of silvery energy rose from the ground, forming a storm of light.

The creature howled when the light devoured it entirely.

Silence fell in the room.

Elion sheathed his sword, his slow, controlled breathing.

- "Proof over."

A pedestal appeared in the center of the room. On its top, a black sphere pulsed weakly.

Elion approached the pedestal.

"The Heart of the Fallen King..." he whispered.

He held out his hand to the sphere. A dazzling pain went through his arm when he touched it.

"Elion!" cried Veyla.

A voice echoed in his mind.

"Accept this power... and pay the price of blood."

Elion clenched his teeth, his silver Ki wrapping his arm.

"If this power is the price to save my kingdom... then I accept it."

The sphere fused with his arm. A black, silvery glow enveloped his body.

A broken moon symbol appeared on his forehead.

Elion opened his eyes.

"This is the beginning..."

He raised his sword.

"From my reign."