Chapter 5: Bloody Shadows_Azharian: The Battle of Shadows

Fortress of the Sun

 The Fortress of the Sun no longer held its former tranquility. While everything appeared normal on the surface, an eerie atmosphere permeated King Bahram''s palace. Since the arrival of the reconnaissance agent from the City of Zar bearing news of demons, divisions had formed among the courtiers, with debates raging about the truth of these claims. The agent remained completely unconscious, and after several weeks, everyone awaited more information. Meanwhile, tensions between King Bahram and Sahra Banoo escalated by the minute. The king had restored his trust in Tahmasb, convinced his secrecy about Princess Samin''s condition had been well-intentioned, but Sahra Banoo still believed her husband had surrendered all his power to his advisors, playing no real role in court affairs.

 The night was dark as King Bahram and Sahra Banoo lay in bed, separated by miles of emotional distance. They should have been sleeping, but their troubled minds wouldn''t permit it. One was preoccupied with the demons and uncovering the truth, while the other plotted to regain power and remove the king''s advisors. Suddenly, a knock came at the door. Tahmasb stood outside:

 <blockquote>

 "Please come with the queen to the princess''s chambers... something important has happened."

 <cite>Tahmasb said.</cite></blockquote>

 King Bahram and Sahra Banoo rushed to their daughter''s room. Samin stood motionless in the center, staring out the window at the forest.

 <blockquote>

 "My child... what''s wrong?"

 <cite>Sahra Banoo asked anxiously.</cite></blockquote>

 <blockquote>

 "I must go... the forest calls me!"

 <cite>Samin turned her gaze and said softly</cite></blockquote>

 King Bahram was at a loss for words.

 <blockquote>

 "She''s been like this for hours, unresponsive except to repeat that phrase. My lord, you know the situation - there''s no room for doubt now. Let me take some soldiers and accompany her to the forest. Something important may be happening."

 <cite>Tahmasb explained,</cite></blockquote>

 "Are you mad?" Sahra Banoo interrupted. "Send my daughter to that dreadful place in the dark? Have you lost your mind?" King Bahram shot her an angry glare. "B-Bahram?" she continued tremulously. "You''re seriously considering this? Come to your senses! Who knows what dangers lurk there?" The king ran a hand through his hair. Having witnessed his daughter''s powers, he could no longer deny her connection to the Farr of the Forest. Though Sahra Banoo knew of this too, she couldn''t bear to put her daughter in danger. Finally, the king decided: "Prepare our best soldiers. I''ll go too. We''ll take Samin to the forest and see the truth with our own eyes!"

 Sahra Banoo struck her forehead in despair and stormed out weeping. Her hatred for Tahmasb doubled - she felt all court decisions revolved around his counsel. But protecting her daughter came first. Though no skilled swordswoman, she grabbed a weapon and hurried after her husband.

 Soon, several soldiers stood ready. With Tahmasb, King Bahram, Sahra Banoo, and finally Princess Samin, they left the palace. The full moon shone through passing clouds as darkness enveloped the city. Reaching the forest, the soldiers led the way, pushing aside branches. Directionless, they let Samin pass them by. In a trance-like state, she moved ahead while the others followed warily, scanning their surroundings. They reached a clearing surrounded by towering cypress trees.

 "I''ve answered your call... Mother... come to me," Samin said in a strange, hoarse voice. As she finished speaking, a fierce wind arose, growing so strong no one could stand - except Samin, who remained unmoved at the center. Suddenly, a powerful gust threw everyone back into the trees. Sahra Banoo screamed in panic but found herself unable to move forward. In the clearing, Samin smiled. Just ahead, she saw Setayesh, the Mother of the Forest, approaching in her long black dress. Unseen creatures flanked her protectively. When Setayesh arrived, Samin instinctively bowed and kissed her hand. Setayesh smiled in return. "It''s been too long... I hope you bring good news."

 Samin, her childhood fears gone, eagerly recounted recent events - the City of Zar''s agent, the news of demons. At the mention of Mount Bidar, Setayesh knelt suddenly, chanting strange incantations as lightning flashed. The air grew colder, and Samin''s fear returned. "Please explain! These are just legends... we think that agent was mad, seeing demons in dreams!"

 Setayesh took Samin''s hands. "Remember the demon attack centuries ago? The evil demon Belis gathered forces to conquer Azharian lands. Another tribe opposed him and, with human help, defeated Belis in brutal battle. The opposing chieftain and his mate survived, taking refuge at Mount Bidar - kind souls I often visited. Unlike the Valley of Shadows, I could never enter Mount Bidar with my forest folk. Nature died there inexplicably... Now the same corruption spreads at Mount Bidar, drawing every foul creature from the Valley of Shadows..."

 Samin interrupted excitedly, "You can speak to anyone! You must meet Tahmasb - he knows everything!" Setayesh stroked Samin''s hair. "Without the Farr of the Forest, seeing me would drive men mad." "Then he''ll keep his eyes closed," Samin insisted. "This is important!" Setayesh nodded consent.

 Samin rushed to where Tahmasb lay immobilized by the wind. Touching his hand freed him. "Close your eyes," she instructed urgently. "You must help the Mother of Nature - but never look, or you''ll be destroyed!" The terrified advisor obeyed, letting Samin guide him near Setayesh. Kneeling, he shuddered at her mesmerizing voice as she repeated her tale.

 "Belis..." Tahmasb interrupted. "That vile demon whose body was never found after the battle 500 years ago... Could he have retained his power all this time in the Valley of Shadows?"

 Setayesh pondered. "The creature at Mount Bidar now is far stronger... yet the Valley''s corruption has lifted..." Tahmasb suddenly remembered astronomer Ardashir''s words about the stars Aldebaran and Antares. As he explained this, Setayesh paled, her hands turning icy. Samin tried supporting her as Tahmasb demanded answers.

 "The apocalypse comes to Azharian," Setayesh whispered. "Belis survived the battle, hiding in the Valley while his noble counterpart sheltered at Mount Bidar. Somehow Belis found them after 500 years... Aldebaran''s return means Belis perished in that final confrontation. But Antares has vanished... meaning something worse than Belis has been born..."

 Tahmasb finished the terrible thought: "Belis raped the chieftain''s mate before dying... We face not Belis now, but his far more terrible offspring... capable of destroying us all..."

 Silence fell. Samin blinked - Setayesh had vanished. Moments later, the wind stopped as King Bahram''s group rushed in. Samin nudged Tahmasb to open his eyes. Both stood speechless with horror.

 The Crimson Realm

 Several days had passed since Sophia had been hiding alongside Commander Ashkbos, yet the patrols of the guards remained as relentless as before, blocking all possible escape routes. Shaikh had done everything in his power to find Sophia before she could flee. He had even searched house by house, but Commander Ashkbos was cunning enough to mislead the soldiers and buy them some time. However, they could no longer stay in the house. Shaikh had ordered another round of house inspections, and this time, the searches were carried out with even greater brutality.

 In the darkness of the night, Ashkbos and Sophia reviewed their escape plan. There was no way to cross the gulf unless they could find a path far from the soldiers'' sight. But all water routes were under the strict surveillance of the Crimson Realm’s guards, and any suspicious movement could lead to their capture.

 Commander Ashkbos, who had years of experience in battles, knew that crossing the gulf unnoticed was nearly impossible. Yet, he did not lose hope. Among his old friends, he remembered a former sailor from the Crimson realm who might be willing to provide them with a boat in exchange for gold. Silently, they left the house where they had been hiding. The night had cast a veil of darkness over the city, but the guards illuminated the alleys with their torches. Ashkbos took Sophia’s hand and carefully moved through the shadows. After moments of anxiety, they reached the sailor’s house.

 The old sailor, who had once known the seas of this Crimson Realm, initially refused to help them. "Shaikh has ordered that anyone who aids you will lose their life." But when Ashkbos threw a pouch full of gold coins onto the table, the old man took a deep breath and said, "There is only one way, but it is dangerous." Ashkbos was ready for any risk, and the sailor explained the only possible escape route. They had to reach an old, ruined dock in the northeast of the Crimson Realm. There, they would dig up a hidden boat and escape. However, they had to sail northward through the gulf until the fog enveloped them, then turn west toward the Azharian Realm. This way, the soldiers would not spot them at sea. Ashkbos thanked the sailor once more. The old man embraced Ashkbos and said, "Farewell, old friend... May the sea gods protect you!" Sophia followed Ashkbos, her mind so preoccupied that she didn’t notice her ornamental money pouch falling in front of the sailor’s house.

 Ashkbos and Sophia began their journey toward the northwest of the Crimson Realm. The distance wasn’t great, and within less than ten hours, they found the ruined dock. Shaikh’s soldiers had sealed the water borders but paid little attention to internal travel within the Crimson Realm. After a brief search, they located the mark left by the sailor in the ground and, with minimal digging, uncovered the buried boat. Now, it was time to wait. They had to endure until nightfall to begin their sea voyage. They settled down to rest, and Sophia, to pass the time, began talking to Ashkbos:

 "Do you think King Bahram will believe me? Imagine the daughter of one of your friends suddenly appearing before you, claiming you’re her father... Isn’t it a bit strange?"

 Ashkbos, while lighting a fire to roast a hunted rabbit, replied, "Don’t worry. I will testify to the truth as well... But Sophia... I’m sure King Bahram himself is somewhat aware of the situation. I knew about his secret relationship with your mother, Shirin. There was a time when King Nima was caught up in civil wars, and long before that, a close bond existed between King Bahram and Shirin. I even remember that every time we traveled to the city of Zar, he paid special attention to you. I felt there was a deep connection between you two... It’s not something he would find hard to accept!"

 After eating, they decided to sleep to prepare for their late-night voyage. The journey would be long and exhausting. Hours later, darkness fell, and a sudden noise jolted them awake. Terror seized them—Shaikh’s agents had surrounded them. Shaikh stood nearby, and moments later, he stepped forward with a rope around the old sailor’s neck. Glaring at Sophia with contempt, he shouted, "Where were you going, my dear? Is this how a man abandons his beloved?" Then, right before Sophia and Ashkbos’s eyes, he slit the old sailor’s throat. Blood gushed out, and Ashkbos was horrified at the fate of his old friend. Nevertheless, he drew his sword and shielded Sophia, ready to fight.

 Shaikh screamed again, "You stand no chance against my soldiers! Take your hands off my beloved! I have business with her..." With a gesture, he sent his soldiers forward.

 Commander Ashkbos struck first, charging ahead and cutting down two soldiers with his sword. Sophia retreated to a corner, watching the battle in fear. The soldiers closed in on Ashkbos one after another. Finally, a spear pierced his shoulder, but he did not retreat. He knocked down several more soldiers before another spear struck his leg. Sophia screamed in terror, but her cry was muffled by hands gripping her. Shaikh stood behind her, his yellow teeth bared: "No savior remains, girl... Come, we have matters to settle!" With brutality, he grabbed Sophia’s hair and yanked her back. He forced her head up to witness the battlefield one last time.

 Ashkbos beheaded several more soldiers with his sword. A mace struck his back, forcing him to his knees. Even then, he drove his sword into another soldier’s stomach. But now, multiple soldiers aimed their weapons at him simultaneously. Spears pierced his back, shoulder, and leg. A soldier approached from behind and pressed a knife to his throat. With a bloodied face, Ashkbos cast his final glance at Sophia—and suddenly, everything stopped.

 Sophia, who had been paralyzed with fear just moments ago, looked around in shock. No one was moving—it was as if time itself had frozen. She felt the world shift around her, witnessing something impossible. The soldiers'' blades hung suspended in the air, even Shaikh’s mouth was frozen mid-laugh. She stood up, took a few steps, and her first thought was that perhaps she had died.

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 The air gradually turned crimson. A sinister presence loomed beside her, and finally, she saw him—the vile, repulsive Jinn who had once tried to violate her. Mared stood just a few steps away. He let out a piercing shriek, then spoke in a commanding tone:

 "You know there’s no escape now... The blade is pressed against Ashkbos’ throat. The moment time resumes, you’ll witness his brutal death."

 Sophia’s voice trembled. "W-what do you want? You saw for yourself... I’m not the one you were looking for..."

 Mared stepped closer. The hoof of his right hand brushed against Sophia’s cheek. "No... you’re not. But soon, you’ll get close to her. Your stepsister, Samin, is the one we’ve been waiting for all these centuries. I must claim her, and now I have an offer for you."

 He gestured to the frozen carnage around them. "You see my power? Just as I’ve stopped time now, I can annihilate every soldier here in an instant—clear your path to freedom. With a single touch, I can heal all of Ashkbos’ wounds."

 Sophia pleaded, "Then please, do it! Ashkbos is innocent—he only wanted to save me!"

 Mared smirked. "Have you noticed how everyone who tries to save you meets a grim fate? Regardless, I can give you a second chance... under one condition." His voice darkened. "I know Shaikh is a weakling who won’t keep his word. But you can bring Samin to me. The ancient magic of the Azharian Realm strips us Jinn of our power there. That’s why I need you."

 He leaned in, his breath like sulfur. "All you have to do is find Samin and bring her to the middle of the gulf. I’ll take her from you, and it’ll all be over. But remember—this isn’t an ordinary promise. Agree, and I’ll pave your escape."

 Sophia’s mind reeled. After years of loneliness, she had finally found a family—a sister she could cherish. Now she had to choose: a gruesome fate at Shaikh’s hands, or betraying her own blood and sacrificing an innocent girl... all while blind to the consequences.

 But if Jinn had no power in Azharian lands, then breaking her oath might carry no penalty. She could lie to Mared, escape, and forget. But was that the right choice? Could she outwit a creature like him?

 Her eyes flicked to Ashkbos—bleeding, frozen at death’s door. Her choice was made. "I’ll do what you ask."

 The moment the words left her lips, Mared’s jaw unhinged. A crimson light erupted from his throat, swirling in the air before shooting into Sophia’s mouth. She screamed, clawing at her neck as searing pain wracked her body. The agony was unbearable—she collapsed, writhing.

 Mared crouched beside her. "Forget your promise at your peril... You have one year. Fail to deliver Samin, and your death will make a thousand sword wounds feel like mercy. Remember—no one cheats Mared."

 Her hands shook. She could feel the curse inside her—a monstrous seal that could snuff her life out in an instant.

 With a final laugh, Mared raised his arms. A gale-force wind blasted through the battlefield, forcing Sophia to shut her eyes.

 When she opened them again, the scene had transformed into a slaughterhouse. Shaikh’s soldiers lay in pieces, limbs and entrails strewn across the ground. Nearby, Shaikh himself crawled, drenched in blood but still alive. "What did you do, you filthy whore?!" he snarled. "I’ll make you pay—"

 Sophia ignored him. Her gaze locked onto Ashkbos—alive, unharmed, but unconscious. She dragged him to the boat, shoved it into the sea, and rowed north as the old sailor had instructed.

 Freedom was close... but the weight of her betrayal gnawed at her soul.

 She had damned herself to save a life.

 And now, she had to condemn another.

 Daryashahr

 Esfandiyar, the chief advisor to King Bahram, had just concluded a council meeting with the commanders of Zar City. Over a year had passed since the attack on the trade ships of Dezh-e Aftab (Fortress of the Sun), yet no explanation had been found. Even the ship sent by one of Zar City’s commanders to investigate the attack zone had never returned.

 Just days after arriving in Daryashahr, Commander Ashkbos had bid Esfandiyar farewell, departing on a secret mission. Now, command of the soldiers stationed at Dezh-e Aftab fell to Esfandiyar. The endless confusion and fruitless search for answers had driven him to the brink of madness—his only solace being the company of the city’s courtesans.

 After the meeting, Esfandiyar returned to his quarters. His favorite courtesan, Ahlam, had been waiting for him. For the past month, he had chosen her for her striking beauty, summoning her to his chambers every night. Through their repeated encounters and idle conversations, Ahlam had become privy to his investigations. Tonight was no different.

 "Still nothing… I’m losing my mind," Esfandiyar muttered as Ahlam helped him remove his armor. "How can such a savage attack leave no trace? An act of that brutality requires planning—we expected more assaults by now. Yet it seems that one attack was enough."

 Ahlam sighed. "Stop searching for reason. Some men do things simply because they can. Not everyone is as logical as we Azharians." She hesitated, then added, "I’ve had lovers from the Crimson Realm. Once, they invited me to a feast… and what I saw still haunts my nightmares."

 Esfandiyar turned to her, intrigued.

 "They dragged a virgin girl into a square, tied her to four horses, and sent them galloping in different directions. She was torn apart—just to answer a meaningless question: ‘What happens if we do this to a human?’" She shuddered. "I’ve told you before—blame the savages of the Crimson Realm. Return to Dezh-e Aftab, tell King Bahram they were behind it, and free yourself from this endless search."

 Esfandiyar guided her toward the bed. "King Bahram trusts me above all others. As his chief advisor, it’s my duty to uncover the truth—I won’t falter." He kissed her. "I feel change is coming. Ashkbos should return soon. I hope his mission bore fruit…"

 Their nightly ritual began—but was abruptly interrupted.

 A scream echoed from the docks. Then another. And another.

 Esfandiyar threw on his clothes, grabbed his sword, and rushed outside.

 The ship carrying the commander and soldiers of Zar City had returned. After months of absence, it had come back in a ghastly state. One of its sails had turned crimson, and as Esfandiyar drew closer, the nauseating stench of blood and rotting flesh made him retch. Several commanders from Zar City and a few from the Fortress of the Sun, along with battle-ready soldiers, assumed defensive positions. Esfandiyar took the lead as the soldiers of the Fortress of the Sun waited, watching as the ship fully docked.

 No one disembarked.

 Seagulls, having fed on the corpses inside, took turns flying in and out. Esfandiyar cautiously stepped closer. At his command, several soldiers boarded the ship—only to immediately vomit. The remaining commanders, along with Esfandiyar, covered their noses and entered, only to be met with horror.

 What had happened to the soldiers inside was indescribable.

 None had ever witnessed such savagery before. The entire deck was smeared with a mixture of blood and flesh. The bodies of Zar City’s soldiers lay arranged in a grotesque, meticulous pattern. None had heads or hands. Their placement was deliberate—every other corpse was positioned upside down, their legs aligned with the necks of the ones beside them.

 On the chest of each soldier, a letter had been written in blood. In the far right corner of the deck, the severed heads—still helmeted—were stacked in a pile. Each helmet bore a number, deeply scratched into the metal.

 The slain commander hung from the ship’s mast, crucified, his face pecked beyond recognition by the seagulls.

 Esfandiyar leapt off the ship without thinking. His breath came in ragged gasps as he fought to steady his trembling limbs. One of Zar City’s commanders, seeing his state, rushed to help, slapping his back until his breathing steadied.

 No one could stand to remain inside. Esfandiyar knew there was meaning in these symbols, in this calculated brutality—but he couldn’t decipher it. Then, a familiar voice cut through his confusion, bringing a sliver of calm.

 Commander Ashkbos, having finally reached Daryashahr after weeks at sea, approached from behind and gripped Esfandiyar’s arm. "Breathe… They will pay for this."

 Sophia, her face veiled, stood at a distance. Since she was with Ashkbos, no one questioned her presence—assuming she was his lover or concubine.

 Ashkbos tied a cloth over his mouth and stepped onto the ship to assess the scene. Esfandiyar, though disgusted, followed.

 At a glance, Ashkbos was certain—this was a message. He ordered the soldiers to remove the corpses exactly as they were arranged, laying them out on the shore for further examination. Next came the severed heads and helmets, placed separately.

 As the men circled the bodies, a howl pierced the air.

 Before the soldiers could react, a pack of dogs lunged at the helmets, snatching several heads as food. The men chased them, recovering some—but two dogs escaped, carrying two helmets with them.

 However, this brief interaction with the helmets gave Ashkbos an idea. He ordered the heads inside the helmets to be matched with the bodies, and as much as possible, based on skin color and the type of neck wound, each head was placed on its corresponding body. It took some time, but the operation was successful. Then, he gave another order: the bodies were to be arranged in the order of the numbers engraved on the helmets. Two helmets had been stolen, but when Ashkbos cross-referenced the letters written on each corpse''s armor, they managed to guess the sequence of the last four letters as well.

 Everyone stared in shock and confusion at the constructed sentence:

 "We swear by vengeance and the sweetness of blood; we will reclaim our land. Owner of the land, Dream!"

 These words made no sense. Esfandiyar ordered the last words to be rearranged, changing the sentence to: "Dream, Owner of the land!" He turned to Ashkbos and said, "The savages probably aren’t well-educated. They likely meant to say that owning our land will be a dream to us. a warning to our Realm. They intend to attack us, and we must prepare..."

 A murmur spread among the soldiers and commanders. A great war was coming, and no one was ready for it. Sophia, still standing in her place, glanced once more at the words and the numbers on the severed heads—and suddenly, her face turned pale. She motioned for Ashkbos to come closer and whispered something in his ear. Ashkbos returned to the corpses, rearranged the sentence to its original form, and adjusted the placement of the two headless bodies based on his own deduction. The older commanders, including Esfandiyar, froze when they saw the new sentence:

 "We swear by vengeance and the sweetness of blood; we will reclaim our land. The owner of the land, Mared!"

 The name was familiar to them—but only as part of legends and tales. In their childhood, whenever mothers wanted to scare their children, they would say, "Mared will come for you." They had heard many times that creatures called Jinn existed, born of fire, with red eyes and hooves instead of hands and feet. And at the highest rank of these beings, their great chieftain, Mared, ruled.

 This message clarified everything. The tales of sailors who spoke of terrifying shadows in the water, the letter received during last year’s ship attack—where the sole surviving captain kept screaming, "This is the blood price of Jean Luc!" Everyone knew Jean Luc, the leader of the Farsa, was versed in the occult, and many claimed he had risen to power through black magic. Now, with Mared’s name appearing, they realized the Jinn had allied with him and had been planning an attack on the Azharian Realm for years.

 All the old myths had now become undeniable truths. An unimaginable threat loomed, and no one had expected anything like this. Everyone began voicing their concerns, talking among themselves. Ashkbos said to Esfandiyar, "We must return to the Fortress of the Sun without delay. Our investigation is over—King Bahram needs to hear the truth."

 Esfandiyar summoned all his soldiers and, ignoring the darkness of night, gathered their supplies and set off toward the Fortress of the Sun. The commanders of Zar City did the same. Sophia rode behind Ashkbos, and out of respect for his privacy, no one questioned her identity.

 A long journey lay ahead, and the exhaustion of Ashkbos and Sophia meant nothing now...

 City of Zar

 The Supreme King, Nima, along with a powerful and well-equipped army, was marching toward the Fortress of the Sun. Only a few days remained until they reached their destination, where the Supreme King, in his mind, would reclaim his only daughter, Sophia. Contrary to all the information and reports he had received, he still harbored his greatest suspicion toward King Bahram and would stop at nothing to take back his beloved daughter. Not just out of paternal love, but also because of the promise he had made to Shaikh and his guarantee of the Realm''s security. Thus, he ordered his army to take the quicker route through the Valley of Shadows.

 After passing through a terrifying narrow path between towering cliffs, they entered a winding valley. The valley walls were so high that even light barely reached the bottom. Fear permeated the air, and the soldiers anxiously awaited passage through this eerie place. A little further ahead, the horses stopped. It seemed some force ruled there that none dared to challenge. Some of the soldiers from the City of Zar dismounted to proceed on foot, clearing any potential dangers so the riders could continue. The Supreme King and the other commanders remained in place.

 An entire hour passed, but none of the scouts returned. Unease spread through the army, and suddenly, the horses neighed wildly. They had gone berserk, and no amount of whipping could tame them. No matter how hard the soldiers tried to restrain them, they failed, and in the end, the horses bolted, throwing off their riders and fleeing back the way they had come.

 A moment later, gigantic shadows appeared on the valley walls. Everyone held their breath as they were confronted with the most brutal scene of their lives.

 Before the army of the City of Zar stood several demons, each fifty times the size of an ordinary human. They emerged from the twists of the valley and charged toward the soldiers. The commanders of the City of Zar ordered an attack, but the soldiers only sought escape. Even the Supreme King, now horseless, ran toward the exit while his commanders cleared his path.

 The demons reached the army, smashing soldiers against the valley walls with their massive clubs and scattering their remains. However, some soldiers managed to launch stones from their catapults at one of the demons, knocking it to the ground. Its weight was so immense that the valley shook upon its fall. A massive boulder broke loose, crushing the demon''s head and killing it.

 The remaining demons grew even angrier. In less than a few minutes, they destroyed all the equipment of the City of Zar''s army. The Supreme King and his commanders finally reached the rear exit, but before they could escape, another colossal creature blocked their path. Its grotesque face and sharp teeth multiplied King Nima''s terror.

 Kiyadiv, recognizing the Supreme King''s status from his attire, bent down and struck the surrounding commanders aside, leaving them as food for the other demons. With two fingers, he lifted the king.

 One surviving commander, unaware of the consequences, drew his spear and shouted: "I order you to put the Supreme King down! You have disrespected the ruler of the Azharian Realm, and this will not go unpunished—"

 A demon hurled a boulder at him, crushing his body beneath it.

 The king was speechless, unsure of what to do. Kiyadiv grinned horrifically and screeched: "I didn’t expect to catch you so easily! I have thousands of plans for you—prepare to wish for death every day!"

 Then, holding the king like a pebble in his hand, he strode toward their hideout in the heart of the Valley of Shadows.

 Many thoughts raced through Kiyadiv''s mind. Now that he had captured the Supreme King, he could extract all the necessary information about the Azharian Realm and human life. And that meant he was one step closer to his sinister goal—the conquest of the Azharian Realm.

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Chapter 5: Bloody Shadows