CHAPTER 13 THE MIRROR KING

Legacy of Shadows – Chapter 13: The Mirror King

The Staircase to the Sky

The wind howled around the Summit of Silence, but Kael heard nothing but the sound of his boots on the ancient stone steps. Each footfall echoed through the silence of the heavens.

Beside him, Cynthia walked in step, her gaze distant, her hand never straying far from her Poké Balls. Gengar floated behind them like a silent sentinel, watching, waiting.

The sky above cracked with unnatural lightning. The world itself seemed to hold its breath.

They were ascending toward the truth.

Toward the one who started it all.

The Final Gate

At the top of the staircase, they found it—not a door or a throne, but a mirror suspended in midair, framed by golden branches and black steel.

It didn't reflect them.

It reflected another world.

Storms swirled within it. Ruins. Fire. Endless skies. A battlefield.

A voice came—not from behind them, not above, but from within.

"You have walked far, Shadowbearer. Too far."

Kael stepped closer. "I didn't come to turn back."

"And yet, you brought your past, your doubt, your fear with you."

The mirror rippled. And from it, he stepped out.

Tall. Cloaked in silver and black. Pale skin. Long, flowing silver hair. Eyes like twin eclipses.

He looked like Kael.

But older.

Sharper.

Darkness clung to him like armor.

He smiled.

"I am the Mirror King," he said. "The first Shadowbearer. The one who cast the curse that follows your blood."

Kael didn't flinch. "Then you're the reason my village burned. The reason my mother died."

The King tilted his head.

"No, Kael. You are."

The Legacy Revealed

The Mirror King raised a hand—and reality tore.

Visions surged:

A child Kael, alone in the woods, touching a shimmering black shard.

A storm erupting that same night.

Shadows pouring from his palms, uncontrolled.

A fire spreading through his town—his mother shielding him from it.

The townspeople calling him cursed.

Kael staggered.

"That wasn't me—I didn't mean to—"

"But you did," the King whispered. "Because I am not some distant god. I am you. The part you buried."

Cynthia stepped forward, hand clenched. "You're lying."

The King looked at her, amused.

"And you… always the anchor. The reason he hesitated."

He raised his hand again. Chains of light lashed toward her.

Kael moved faster.

"Gengar—Protect!"

A dome of shadow intercepted the strike. Cynthia jumped back, her eyes fierce now.

"I don't need protecting," she hissed.

Kael looked at her. "I know. But I won't lose you again."

The Battle Begins

The Mirror King smiled wider. "Then let us see if your conviction is stronger than your shadow."

He tossed a Poké Ball into the sky. From it emerged a Pokémon unlike any Kael had ever seen.

It was a shadow dragon—a corrupted version of Rayquaza, wings jagged like obsidian, eyes glowing with red runes.

"Meet Tenebris, the First Forgotten."

Kael breathed. "A Shadow Legendary…"

Cynthia stepped beside him. "Then we fight together."

She tossed her own Poké Ball—Lucario emerged, aura flaring.

Kael followed—Ceruledge, blade glowing.

And thus began the final battle.

Kael & Cynthia vs. The Mirror King

Round One: Ceruledge & Lucario vs. Tenebris

The battlefield exploded into chaos.

"Ceruledge—Bitter Blade!"

"Lucario—Aura Sphere, now!"

Tenebris dodged midair, faster than expected. It launched a Shadow Pulse that shattered the ground, throwing Ceruledge back.

"Too slow," the King mocked.

Kael gritted his teeth. "Then let's turn up the heat—Flame Charge, full power!"

Ceruledge surged forward, flames spiraling. The attack connected, but Tenebris barely flinched.

From above, it unleashed Oblivion Roar—a move Kael had never heard of. A spiraling blast of shadow and wind knocked Lucario down, forcing Cynthia to recall him.

"Don't falter!" she called. "This thing's drawing from Kael's emotions!"

Kael realized—his doubt, his fear—it was feeding the beast.

He closed his eyes.

And breathed.

"I am not afraid of you," he whispered.

The aura shifted.

Turning the Tide

Kael sent out Serperior. Cynthia released Garchomp.

Together, they danced around the beast, Serperior using Coil to bind its wings, while Garchomp struck with Dragon Claw.

Tenebris shrieked, cracks forming in its obsidian armor.

The Mirror King looked annoyed.

"You learn fast," he muttered.

He stepped forward.

And drew his own blade.

"Enough games. Face me."

Kael nodded. "Gladly."

He returned his Pokémon.

Cynthia looked at him. "Are you sure?"

Kael smiled.

"I have to do this alone."

Kael vs. The Mirror King – Blade to Blade

The two clashed—steel against darkness, light against void.

Each strike sent echoes through time. Every blow unleashed fragments of memory: Kael's victories, his failures, his choices.

"You could have saved her," the King hissed, striking low.

Kael deflected. "She made her choice!"

"You let her die!"

"I honored her strength!"

Their swords locked. Kael stared into his shadow's eyes.

"You're not my guilt. You're my fear. And I'm done letting you lead."

With a roar, Kael broke the blade lock—and drove his sword into the King's chest.

Shadow burst.

The Mirror Shatters

The King fell back, darkness unraveling.

He looked up at Kael, not angry—but almost… proud.

"You've done what I couldn't. You forgave yourself."

Kael knelt. "You're part of me."

The King nodded. "Then take this…"

He reached into his cloak and pulled out a final shard of shadow—pure, radiant black.

The Shadow Crown.

"Complete the Relics. End the cycle."

And with that, the Mirror King dissolved—his form scattering into stars.

The mirror above shattered, raining light.

Aftermath

Kael stood, holding the Crown. Cynthia approached slowly, her expression unreadable.

"You okay?" she asked.

Kael looked at her—and smiled.

"For the first time… I think I am."

The sky cleared.

Far above, the Summit shifted.

A new path opened.

One final gate.

The true war was about to begin.

End of Chapter 13 – The Mirror King

Next up: Chapter 14 – Legacy's End