ALL NOVEL Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Rising Shadows
The heroes had been granted residence in the grand mansion located at the heart of Alderoth, the largest city in the kingdom of Aeldrath.
The mansion was not only their home but also the seat of the old King, who ruled the land from its towering walls.
The King had two children—a son and a daughter. The prince, at 22 years old, was known for his strong leadership, while the princess, 18, was admired for her intelligence and grace.
One evening, Leo and Max ran into each other at a local bar. It was a popular spot where adventurers gathered to relax after a long day of battling monsters in the dark forest.
"Hey, Max!" Leo called out, waving a hand from the bar counter. He was buying drinks for himself and his four party members.
Max, who had just walked through the door with his own group, grinned.
"Yoh, looks like you're still alive, Leo."
The two exchanged a firm handshake, catching up on old times. As they stood there, adventurers all around them watched in awe, whispering excitedly.
"Damn, that's one of the heroes!"
"That guy looks huge!" one adventurer muttered, eyeing Max's muscular build.
Max was decked out in shining golden armor that gleamed in the dim light.
"Blah, blah…"
"Blah, blah…"
The room was filled with whispers, many of which were about how impressive the two heroes looked. The girls in the bar couldn't take their eyes off them.
"I just unlocked a new spell yesterday," Leo said with a proud grin.
"I feel stronger now."
"Ha! I'm sure I'm the strongest—stronger than all the other heroes!" Max boasted, his chest puffing out.
Leo smirked, clearly trying to show off.
"Your muscles aren't enough, Max. I can freeze you where you stand."
Max raised an eyebrow. "Your ice won't hold me back, Leo. I leveled up too."
Max's current power level: 7
[Titan's Guardian]
Magic level
Spell 1 - Giants Strength - level 3
Spell 2 - Titan's Endurance - level 2
Spell 3 - Colossal Smash_Locked
Spell 4 - Titan's Shield_Locked
Spell 5 - Unyielding Colossus_Locked
Giant's Strength – Temporarily increases size and strength but can only be used for short bursts.
Titan's Endurance – Enhances durability, allowing him to take more damage and briefly shield his allies. However, it can drain his energy quickly.
On the other hand, Leo's current power level: 7
[Cryomancy]
Magic level
Spell 1 - Frost Touch - level 3
Spell 2 - Iceward - level 2
Spell 3 - Winter's Grasp_ Locked
Spell 4 - Permafrost Aura_ Locked
Spell 5 - Absolute Zero_Locked
Frost Touch – Can create small ice constructs or freeze an enemy's limbs for a brief moment, but it wears off quickly.
Iceward – Generates barriers of frost to protect against incoming attacks, though they can only withstand a limited amount of damage before shattering.
As the two heroes bantered, adventurers leaned closer, eager to hear more. The energy in the bar was electric, and tonight promised to be unforgettable. Amid laughter and friendly competition, they enjoyed the moment, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them in the dark forests of Aeldrath.
Deep in the heart of the dark forest, hidden from the eyes of humans, lay a group of demons who had been lurking in the shadows for 500 years.
They had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of brave Heroes, and now the remnants of their clan, mostly weaker, lower-class demons, knew they couldn't attack the human nations alone.
Only a handful of powerful higher-class demons remained, each with unique abilities but not enough strength to wage a war.
But hope flickered in the darkness—hope that they could awaken one of the most fearsome demon lords ever known: Draven, The Shackler of Souls.
Draven's power was unmatched. The Heroes of the past couldn't defeat him in battle, so they had put him into an eternal slumber, a sacrifice made by one brave hero who gave her life to seal him away.
Since then, the demons had tried everything they could think of to bring Draven back. But there was another issue—new Heroes had also been summoned to rid the world of demons for good.
Among the demons waiting for Draven's return were four elite warriors: Zephyra, Nyaxara, Lilithar, and Arkanthys.
They were descendants of legendary demon lords who had battled the Heroes of old, and they believed that with their combined strength, they could finally awaken Draven from his slumber.
Zephyra, known as the Veil of Shadows, was the most intimidating of the bunch. Standing at the height of a typical high school girl, she had long, flowing hair that appeared black until illuminated by light, revealing a mesmerizing violet hue.
Majestic black-and-silver horns curved back from her temples, resembling raven wings. Her eyes were pure black, with piercing red pupils that seemed to penetrate the very souls of those who gazed upon her.
Zephyra's Dark Power was Obfuscation. She could manipulate shadows to cloak herself and others from sight. In her shadows, time felt distorted, and fear took hold of anyone trapped within.
As she entered the dark dungeon ruins, a hush fell over the gathered demons. Her presence commanded attention.
"Move aside, you weaklings," she ordered, striding confidently past the lower-tier demons, who were as feeble as human knights, lacking real magic power.
"Wow, Zephyra is so strong!" whispered one demon in awe.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes the next demon lord," another chimed in.
"She looks so young, though," a third muttered.
"Her presence is divine!"
The whispers grew louder, filled with longing and fear.
"I'd do anything for her," one demon professed.
"It's about time we started attacking the humans!"
"Blah, blah, blah," another scoffed, unimpressed.
Zephyra settled onto a throne carved from dark stone, looking down at her minions.
"Silence! You ignorant fools!" she barked, her voice slicing through the chatter.
"I hear the humans have summoned new Heroes. I want you useless garbage to gather information about these so-called heroes. They may be fresh to this world, but don't underestimate them. If you can, kill them!"
The other factions, led by Nyaxara, Lilithar, and Arkanthys, each plotted their own paths deep within the forest, readying themselves for a war that would determine the fate of both demons and humans alike. The stage was set, and the darkness was alive with anticipation.
"Will I really be able to do this?" Xender whispered to himself, uncertainty creeping into his mind.
"No! Those who doubt themselves are the ones who always fail!" a voice in his head echoed, sharp and commanding.
To become the greatest villain, Xender knew he had to abandon his humanity. He needed to think only of darkness—the thrill of making people suffer, the joy of watching heroes fail to stop him.
Ah! Just imagining it sent shivers of excitement down his spine: the suffering, the pain, the destruction. And the killings? Oh, he could hardly contain himself. He couldn't wait for it all to begin. But first, he needed to deal with his party members. They were weak links in his grand dream.
As he walked through the darkened city streets late at night, he made his way toward the mansion, his heart racing with anticipation after exploring the dark forest.
"Heh heh. Haha! Hahaha!" he cackled to himself, the sound bouncing off the silent buildings around him.
The thrill of his plans consumed him. Soon, he thought, everything would change. The world would know his name, and nothing would stand in his way.