《Fallen Hero: The Path Home》 Chapter 1: The Farewell The soft morning light streamed through the kitchen window, filtered by the white curtains that swayed gently with the breeze. Lucas was sitting at the table, his gaze fixed on his daughter, Clara, who was playing with one of her favorite toys. She was focused, building a small city out of colorful blocks, her eyes shining with curiosity and concentration. For Lucas, those simple moments meant everything. Clara, at three years old, was the center of his world. Every laugh of hers, every little achievement, made the problems of his day seem insignificant. His work as an analyst was always filled with challenges, but nothing compared to the joy he felt seeing her smile. Even with the rare illness she had, which caused delays in her development, Clara had always been the reason for his fight. ¡°Daddy, look! I made a castle!¡± Clara exclaimed, lifting an unstable tower with her small hands, smiling proudly. Lucas smiled warmly. ¡°It¡¯s amazing, princess. The most beautiful castle in the world.¡± She turned to him, with the confidence of someone who knew her father loved her above all. He watched her, enchanted by her innocence. She was his refuge, the foundation of his existence. Every sacrifice he made, every effort in his work, was to ensure Clara had the best life possible. ¡°Daddy, look! I did it!¡± Clara shouted again, her laughter echoing through the house. At that moment, the kitchen door opened. Lara, Clara''s mother, entered with a soft smile. She was dressed in a comfortable robe, her expression calm. Lucas looked at her, relieved to see her there, as she had always been a solid and reassuring presence for Clara. ¡°You and Clara are always making these wonderful things,¡± Lara commented with a smile. She approached her daughter and hugged her affectionately, playing with her hair. ¡°What are you two doing today, girls?¡± Clara looked up at her mother and proudly said, ¡°We made a castle!¡± ¡°I see that. Well done, princess.¡± Lara smiled, caressing Clara¡¯s head. ¡°Your dad and I are trying to finish a few things here in the kitchen, but we can play with you later.¡± Lucas looked at his wife, grateful for the calm she brought to their lives. Lara had always been a present, caring, and strong mother. She understood the challenges Clara faced and did everything she could to ensure their daughter had a life filled with love and care, even with the illness she carried. ¡°I have to go out today, but I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Lucas said, taking a cup of coffee, still soaking in the last few minutes of peace. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lucas,¡± Lara replied, her voice soft. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with Clara. Don¡¯t worry. A break will do you good; you deserve it.¡± Before he could say anything more, the atmosphere began to change. The air around Lucas grew heavy, and he felt a rising hum intensifying, as if an invisible force was pulling him. He tried to grab onto the table, but it was no use. Desperately, he looked toward Lara and Clara. ¡°Clara, no! Stay with your mom!¡± he shouted, stretching toward her. Lara, confused and frightened, stood up suddenly. ¡°Lucas, what¡¯s happening?¡± But there was no time for further explanations. In the blink of an eye, the reality around Lucas distorted, and he was violently pulled to another place. Lara screamed, but the sound was muffled, as if he was being dragged into another world, far from everything he knew. When Lucas¡¯ eyes opened again, he was in a completely different place. The environment was dark, almost medieval. The ground was covered in stones, and large stone columns rose around him, as if he were in an immense, ancient castle. He was stunned, his feet firmly planted on the ground, but his mind was still spinning, trying to make sense of what was happening. In front of him, an imposing figure watched him¡ª a king, with a cold expression, surrounded by soldiers and nobles. The king smiled, but the gesture conveyed no kindness. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Finally, you¡¯ve arrived,¡± the king said, his voice filled with authority. ¡°You¡¯ve been chosen.¡± Lucas tried to absorb the information, but his mind was in turmoil. ¡°Where am I? What¡¯s happening? I need to get back to my daughter!¡± his voice trembled with panic. The memory of Clara almost made him lose control. The king remained unshaken. ¡°This world needs a hero. And you are our hero.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no hero!¡± Lucas replied, his anger beginning to overflow. ¡°I just want to go back to my daughter! You don¡¯t understand, I need to go back! I... I can¡¯t lose her.¡± He looked at the soldiers around him, breathing heavily and irregularly. Clara... He had to get back to her, no matter the cost. The king remained calm. ¡°You have no choice, stranger. The fate of this world is tied to yours. If you refuse, you will face the consequences.¡± Lucas was growing more desperate. ¡°No! You don¡¯t understand! It doesn¡¯t matter what this world needs. I have a daughter! She needs me! I need to get back to her!¡± He looked around, searching for any sign of a way out. But the reality was too cruel. I can¡¯t lose Clara. ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t accept this!¡± he shouted, the pain in his voice giving way to pure rage. ¡°You¡¯re going to let me return to my daughter! You will do this, or you¡¯ll see what happens when a desperate man loses everything!¡± But the king, still unmoved, responded firmly. ¡°You cannot fight against your fate, Lucas. What¡¯s done is done. You must choose: follow the hero¡¯s path or be lost in the shadows he leaves behind.¡± Lucas felt as though the ground was disappearing beneath his feet. Despair consumed his heart. It can¡¯t be... He looked around again, searching for any sign of escape. But the reality was too cruel. I can¡¯t lose Clara. With his eyes fixed on the king, Lucas felt a rising wave of power within his body, but frustration and despair made him waver. He wasn¡¯t just fighting the king; he was fighting the very fate that had trapped him. Suddenly, a wave of energy exploded from deep within him. An overwhelming force, as though something inside Lucas had finally been unleashed. The nearest soldiers trembled, their bodies lifted into the air, as if they were made of paper. Before they could react, the wave of energy crushed them, their bodies disappearing in a burst of light. Lucas didn¡¯t know where the power came from, but it consumed him. He looked at his hands, the palms pulsing with energy. This... isn¡¯t possible. He had never had abilities like this, but the pain and despair were now so intense that he could barely control what was happening. The sensation of power was strange, as though he had become an extension of the destruction around him. Without thinking, he raised his hand, and the energy took form, turning into a wave of destruction that cut through the castle before him. The king watched with a cold smile, but Lucas couldn¡¯t think of anything else but his daughter. Every life he destroyed, every wall he tore down, brought him closer to the only goal that mattered: returning to Clara. The walls of the castle crumbled as though made of glass, and the sound of destruction echoed through the entire kingdom. ¡°You won¡¯t stop me!¡± Lucas shouted, the energy vibrating around him. ¡°I will destroy everything until I can return!¡± The king, visibly trembling, looked at Lucas, unable to react. Lucas approached, his eyes fixed on the weakened figure. ¡°You brought me here to save this world,¡± Lucas said, his voice low but filled with deep hatred, ¡°but you will be the one to witness its destruction.¡± With a swift movement, he grabbed the king by the neck and lifted him off the ground. The monarch struggled, but his strength was nothing compared to the power Lucas now possessed. He dragged him out of the castle, to the devastated gardens, where the sky was covered with smoke. ¡°Before I kill you,¡± Lucas said, his voice choked, ¡°I will destroy everything you love. Your kingdom will be destroyed before your eyes, and nothing will remain but the rubble of what you called home.¡± He extended his hand, and with a gesture, fired an immense wave of energy that ravaged the fields and villages surrounding the castle. Flames engulfed the horizon, and the villages were consumed by the overwhelming force of his fury. The king, powerless, watched the destruction of everything he had ruled, his face contorted with fear. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not a hero,¡± the king said with a forced laugh. ¡°You are... the Demon King. It was him who was summoned.¡± Lucas looked at him, his eyes devoid of any pity. ¡°Maybe I am the Demon King. And I don¡¯t care what they call me. What matters is that you destroyed my life. And now, your life will end.¡± With one final gesture, Lucas focused his energy and unleashed an explosion of power directly at the king. The monarch tried to react, but he was destroyed instantly, disintegrated before his very eyes. With the remains of the castle around him and the pain of his transformation consuming him, Lucas knelt in the devastated field. He touched the bracelet once more, feeling it warm against his skin. The longing for Clara consumed him. He looked to the horizon, knowing he had no more time. What he had become was no longer who she remembered. But still, he would fight. He needed to see his daughter, even if it was for the last time. ¡°I will come back, Clara. I promise¡­¡± And with those words, he prepared for what remained of his journey. Chapter 2: The Massacre The hall was drowned in silence. Lucas could feel the weight of dozens of eyes locked onto him, their faces frozen between horror and uncertainty. The blood of the guard he had just killed still stained the golden marble floor. His twisted corpse lay lifeless, a heap of shattered flesh and metal. Lucas breathed heavily, his fingers tingling with the black energy pulsing within him¡ªhot and insatiable. "Continue." The voice whispered again. Clearer this time. More present. The soldiers hesitated. Some stepped back, others swallowed hard, but none attacked immediately. They were afraid. Lucas wasn¡¯t sure what he felt. Fear? Rage? Something inside him screamed to stop, to find a way out. But there was another part¡­ a part that savored this moment. "They took everything from you." Lucas closed his eyes for a second. He didn¡¯t want this. But then he heard it. The sharp ring of metal. The whisper of a blade cutting through the air. His body reacted before his mind. He turned, and his hand closed around the incoming sword. The steel bit into his flesh, but he felt no pain. His eyes met those of the soldier who had attacked him¡ªwide, confused, mortal. Lucas twisted the blade with a sharp pull. The soldier¡¯s wrist snapped. He screamed, but before he could retreat, Lucas grabbed his face with his other hand. The black energy pulsed. The man¡¯s eyes rolled back, and within seconds, his skull imploded inward, collapsing like a crushed eggshell. Warm blood splattered across Lucas¡¯s face, and something inside him opened. The hesitation disappeared. The hall erupted into screams. The soldiers charged¡ªbut it was too late. Lucas moved before them, his body a blur of shadow and violence. He wasn¡¯t fighting. He was destroying. The first fell when Lucas tore off his leg with a single swipe, leaving him writhing on the ground in agony. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The second tried to stab him with a spear, but Lucas grabbed the shaft, snapped it in half, and drove the broken end into the man¡¯s throat, feeling the hot blood gush over his hand. He was unstoppable. "More." He lunged forward, and chaos swallowed the castle. The nobles ran¡ªbut there was no escape. Lucas raised his hand and let the black energy flow. It slithered through the air like a living entity before striking the massive wooden doors. They exploded into a thousand pieces, the shrapnel piercing the bodies of those trying to flee. The screams of panic became music. "Continue." The surviving soldiers tried to regroup. An archer drew his bowstring, aiming directly at Lucas¡¯s chest. He fired. Lucas raised his hand, and the arrow halted in midair, hovering inches from his skin. With a mere thought, the wooden shaft twisted back toward its origin, piercing through the archer¡¯s eye and bursting out the back of his skull. Blood splattered across the remaining soldiers. They trembled. Lucas smiled. "Cowards." His voice was low, almost a growl. He surged forward. This time, it was a massacre. His fingers pierced flesh like sharpened blades. He tore off arms and heads, crushed chests with his fists, split bodies open as if they were made of paper. With each kill, he felt stronger. More alive. More complete. The voice inside him was no longer a whisper. "Kill. Devour. Become what they fear." Lucas laughed. His gaze fell upon the throne. The king was still there. He had not run. He had watched. Lucas walked toward him, his feet leaving crimson trails on the ruined marble. The monarch remained seated, his white robes now stained with dust and blood. His eyes held only understanding. "So, it¡¯s true." His voice was soft, almost resigned. Lucas stopped before him. "You knew." His voice was no longer the voice of a mere man. It was deeper. Darker. Monstrous. The king smiled faintly. "We did not summon a hero." He looked over the ruined hall, at the bodies scattered like discarded puppets. "We summoned ruin." Lucas did not hesitate. He grabbed the king by the throat and lifted him into the air. The monarch did not struggle. That enraged Lucas. He wanted this old man to beg. He wanted him to fear. Power roared inside him, and in a single brutal motion, he ripped the king¡¯s arms from his body. Blood gushed in torrents. The monarch screamed. That was good. Lucas gritted his teeth. "Before I kill you¡­" He dragged the king outside the castle. He wanted him to see. With a single gesture, the horizon ignited into flames. The villages surrounding the castle burned. The earth cracked. The sky itself seemed to darken beneath his presence. The last thing the king saw was his world falling apart. Lucas turned to him. The old man¡¯s breath was weak. His eyes, fogged with pain, met Lucas¡¯s. He smiled faintly. "You¡­ are¡­ the Demon King¡­" Lucas drove his hand into the king¡¯s chest. The monarch choked. Coughing blood. Lucas smiled. Then, he crushed his heart. The body collapsed. Lifeless. Without a kingdom. Without anything. Lucas stood there, staring at the destruction. His breath heavy. His chest rising and falling. Silence fell. And then, he felt it. His fingers brushed against his wrist. Clara¡¯s bracelet was still there. The darkness roared inside him, hungry, demanding more. But he held it back. For a moment. Just long enough to remember why he was here. He looked up at the darkened sky. "I will come back, Clara. Even if I have to destroy everything to do it." And in the depths of silence, the shadows smiled. Chapter 3: The Sage of Shadows The wind howled through the ravaged fields, carrying the acrid scent of burnt earth and decay. Lucas wandered aimlessly, his feet sinking into the fine dust that blanketed the ground. How long had it been? Days? Weeks? He no longer knew. The gray sky was always the same, always the same, as if he were trapped in an eternal dusk without a sun. The sensation of being displaced in time grew stronger with each passing moment. Sometimes, he wondered if he was dreaming. Or if he was still human. The heat of the day seared his skin, but he felt no pain. The night was cold as a corpse, yet his body did not tremble. The weight of exhaustion pressed on him, but his steps never faltered. Something inside him pushed him forward. Was it still him? Or was it something else, something that had begun to consume him from within? The Phantom Village Lucas saw the ruined village before he even realized he was walking toward it. The houses were abandoned, shattered windows staring at his arrival like empty eye sockets. No sound. No scent of life. He stopped, unease creeping up his spine. The silence was unnatural. He had passed through devastated towns before, but there was always something¡ªthe wind howling through broken buildings, rats scurrying through the debris, the unseen presence of something still alive. Here, there was only emptiness. He kept walking. And then, he saw the child. She was cornered in an alleyway, her gaze unfocused, as if trapped in a silent nightmare. Her skin was too pale. Her body, too thin. Something twisted inside him. He took a step forward. The girl did not move. Another step. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. A blur appeared at her side. Before he could react, a man grabbed the child and pulled her into a crumbling building. Their eyes met. And in that man¡¯s eyes, Lucas saw something terrible. Fear. Not ordinary fear. Fear of him. ¡°Stay away from her!¡± The man¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°You... you don¡¯t belong in this world!¡± A cold shiver ran down Lucas¡¯s spine. He wanted to respond. To say that he wasn¡¯t a monster. That he wasn¡¯t some faceless killer. But then, the dried blood on his clothes answered for him. He was. The man vanished, slamming the door shut behind him. Lucas stood frozen in the middle of the street, staring at the lifeless houses around him. ¡°I¡¯m not a monster¡­¡± he whispered. But his voice was unconvincing. A shadow moved behind him. He spun¡ª But there was nothing there. He was alone. Or at least, he should have been. The Fire in the Forest He wandered into the forest. The trees were ancient, their twisted trunks reaching for the sky, their dense canopy allowing only slivers of light through. Everything was too quiet. And then, he sensed it. The scent of smoke. The aroma of burning wood cut through the air¡ªwarm, strangely inviting amidst the lifeless cold. He followed the trail. The clearing opened before him, and there, beside a crackling fire, sat the old man. His clothes were little more than tattered rags, his unkempt beard hiding part of his face. But his eyes... His eyes burned too brightly for a mere beggar. Lucas hesitated. He didn¡¯t want to interact with anyone. He didn¡¯t want to see more judgment, more fear in someone¡¯s gaze. But the silence of the forest was unbearable. ¡°Can I... sit?¡± His voice came out rough. The old man didn¡¯t look at him immediately. He stirred the embers with a branch before finally nodding. ¡°If you have something to share, you¡¯re welcome.¡± Lucas approached. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a piece of stale bread, offering it to the old man, who took it without a word. For long moments, there was only fire and wind between them. Then, the old man broke the silence. ¡°You have the look of someone who¡¯s lost something.¡± Lucas swallowed dryly. ¡°My daughter.¡± His voice nearly cracked. ¡°I was taken from her.¡± The old man studied him with interest¡ªnot just his words, but what lay behind them. ¡°And now you wander, searching for a way back.¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°I would do anything to see her again.¡± The old man smiled. But it was not a comforting smile. ¡°Anything?¡± The fire crackled louder. The shadows flickered, twisting as if they were alive. Lucas hesitated. ¡°...Yes.¡± The old man stabbed the branch deeper into the embers, stirring the fire. ¡°They say there is a power capable of bending the laws of existence. Breaking the barriers between worlds. But all power comes at a price.¡± Lucas lifted his gaze. ¡°What kind of price?¡± The old man smiled. ¡°The greater the desire, the greater the cost. And in the end, what you find may not be what you expected.¡± Lucas did not waver. ¡°I¡¯m willing.¡± The old man held his stare for a long moment. Then, chuckling softly, he murmured: ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re already on the path...¡± His gaze lifted to the dark sky. ¡°...or perhaps it has already found you.¡± A chill ran through Lucas¡¯s spine. A gust of wind swept through the clearing. The fire¡¯s flames surged, twisting unnaturally, as if they were alive. Lucas blinked. The old man was gone. No footprints. No trace. Only the fire. And the shadows smiling at him from the depths of the forest. Chapter 4: The Price The road was a river of dust and loose stones. Lucas walked without hurry. But he was not alone. ¡°Keep going.¡± The whisper slid through his mind like a thread of mist¡ªsoft, tempting. ¡°The path is before you.¡± He did not answer. He could not answer. On the horizon, the city emerged like a scar upon the landscape, its tall walls, darkened by time, resembling the charred remains of an ancient beast. Lucas stopped for a moment, studying the entrance. The wind blew dust through the half-open gates, as if the very earth was trying to avoid that place. He knew he was not welcome there. But that had never stopped him before. The City of Shadows Lucas stepped through the gates. The stench hit him first¡ªa mix of rotting spices, rust, and dried sweat, thick in the suffocating heat. The city was alive, but there was nothing healthy about it. The streets were a choking mess, crowded with grimy tents and makeshift stalls vying for space. Merchants shouted offers in unfamiliar dialects, while beggars crawled through the muddy ground, skeletal hands reaching out for scraps. The scent of freshly baked bread lingered in the air, but it was drowned beneath the reek of dried blood and filth embedded in the cobblestones. Lucas passed a butcher¡¯s stall where chunks of dark meat hung from rusted hooks, flies circling the slabs like vultures. A group of men played dice on a crooked table, their drunken laughter filling the air. The game was short-lived¡ªa blade flashed, and one of them slumped backward, a thin red line trailing down his throat. No one reacted. The body remained, forgotten on the stone floor, while the others continued playing. ¡°This is the kind of place where death means nothing.¡± Lucas kept walking. He could feel the eyes on him. Hollow, sunken faces watching from the shadows. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The city recognized predators. And Lucas was one of them. The Tavern of the Condemned The wooden door creaked as it opened. The air inside was thick¡ªheavy with smoke and secrets. Dim lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting flickering shadows across the stained tables. For a moment, the conversation stilled when Lucas entered. It was enough. They could feel it. He walked to the counter without haste. Ordered a drink. A mechanical gesture. A social ritual. A voice came before the man. ¡°Looking for something, stranger?¡± Lucas did not turn. The scent of cheap wine and grease told him that the man behind him survived by selling information and betraying promises. ¡°Information,¡± he replied. ¡°About powerful figures.¡± A short laugh. ¡°Power has a price. And you don¡¯t look like you have enough gold.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay. You just need to take.¡± Lucas tilted his head just enough for the man to catch the eerie glint in his eyes. The informant¡¯s breath hitched. He stepped back. Then, he smiled. ¡°If it¡¯s power you seek¡­¡± He gestured toward the farthest corner of the tavern. ¡°¡­perhaps that man can help you.¡± At the very back, where darkness swallowed the lantern light, a hooded figure waited. Lucas walked toward him. Kael, the Negotiator ¡°My name does not matter,¡± the man¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°But if you need one, call me Kael.¡± Lucas sat. The game had begun. ¡°I seek a way to reclaim something lost,¡± he said, choosing his words carefully. ¡°I need to find the Demon King.¡± Kael remained silent. ¡°He¡¯s testing you.¡± Lucas ignored the voice. Kael leaned forward. ¡°There is a legend¡­ about a power that can bend the laws of existence. But, like all power¡­¡± He smiled. ¡°¡­it comes at a price.¡± Lucas did not blink. ¡°What price?¡± Kael placed his hands on the table. ¡°To give you the map to this temple, I require a symbol. Something that proves you understand what you are about to do.¡± Lucas remained still. ¡°What kind of symbol?¡± Kael leaned in closer. His gaze pierced through Lucas. ¡°Every man has something that keeps him tethered to the past.¡± Lucas did not respond. Kael continued, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°If you had to choose between moving forward or holding on to the last thing tying you to your past¡­¡± His eyes fell on the bracelet. ¡°¡­what would you choose?¡± The air grew heavier. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t know.¡± Lucas swallowed hard. ¡°Does he know?¡± Kael did not look away. He waited. Lucas looked at the bracelet. Clara¡¯s laughter. Her shining eyes. The warmth of her tiny hand in his. ¡°Let go.¡± Lucas clenched the bracelet tightly. ¡°She has already forgotten you.¡± He closed his eyes. And then, he opened his hand. The bracelet slipped from his fingers, landing on the table. Kael picked it up carefully, as if holding something sacred. Lucas said nothing. But something inside him shattered. Kael smiled. ¡°May this sacrifice grant you the clarity you need for what comes next.¡± Lucas took the map. Stood up. And walked out of the tavern without looking back. Every step he took felt heavier. More empty. And then, he heard it. ¡°Now you belong to us.¡± The voice no longer whispered. It laughed. And Lucas laughed with it. Chapter 5: Hunted by the Sky The Hunter and the Prey Dust still haunted Lucas¡¯s steps as he left the city. The map rested in his hand, but his mind was restless. ¡°They are coming.¡± The whisper slid through his mind like a cold blade. Lucas stopped. The wind shifted. The scent of rust and ash filled the air. The sky darkened¡ªnot with clouds, but with moving shadows. He looked up. And then, the roar came. A wall of fire tore through the sky. The impact shattered the ground, rock fragments scattering like razor-sharp blades. Lucas leaped back, but the attack came again. A second blast. This time, there was nowhere to run. Lucas did the unthinkable. He moved forward. He ran through the flames. His skin burned. The stench of charred flesh filled the air. But he did not stop. The Dragon Knights Dragons carved through the sky like spears of fire and destruction. Riding them, knights in black armor wielded enchanted lances, each one pulsing with raw magic. Lucas did not need to ask who they were. He recognized the symbols on their armor. They were from the kingdom he had destroyed. The leader landed first, dismounting with military precision. His eyes were not those of an ordinary man. They were the eyes of someone who had survived hell. And decided to come back. ¡°You should not exist.¡± Lucas remained silent. Another knight stepped forward, his voice boiling with hatred. ¡°You slaughtered our king. You destroyed everything.¡± Lucas watched them. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The leader clenched his fists. **¡°We were the last battalion of the kingdom. We had been sent on a mission, far from the capital. We returned to find only a graveyard.¡± Something twisted inside Lucas. But then, the voice whispered. ¡°They became what they hated most. Survivors. Nothing more than walking corpses.¡± Lucas rolled his shoulders. And smiled. ¡°If you came for revenge¡­¡± His eyes burned scarlet. ¡°¡­then come.¡± And then, hell began. The Perfect Hunter The first knight lunged. Lucas did not move. He let the blade come to him. And at the last second¡ª He vanished. The strike cut through empty air. Before the knight could comprehend what had happened¡ª Something brutal unfolded. The world spun. No. His head spun. His body was still standing. Lucas reappeared behind him, holding his severed head by the helmet. He dropped it to the ground like nothing. The second knight came from above. Lucas looked up. Perfect timing. The blade descended¡ª Lucas stepped aside, dodging it by a hair¡¯s breadth. The knight landed. Lucas was already behind him. His hand pierced through the armor¡ªand then, he pulled. The knight screamed. But the scream didn¡¯t last. Lucas ripped his chest open in a single motion. The ground was painted red. The Wrath of Dragons The dragons roared. One dived in a deadly spiral, its jaws opening in an inferno of flames. Lucas charged into the fire. His body burned. But he felt nothing. He leaped straight at the beast, his hands locking around its horns. ¡°Down.¡± Lucas pulled. The dragon¡¯s head twisted violently. Its neck snapped. A second later, it was dead. Lucas jumped off the corpse before it hit the ground. He had no time to breathe. Another shadow fell from the sky. Lucas twisted mid-air and drew his blade. The blade screamed against the wind. And then¡ª A dragon¡¯s head soared into the sky. The Spear of the Gods The leader of the knights spat on the ground, his gaze boiling with pure contempt. He lifted his spear. But it was no ordinary spear. Lucas felt it. The very air split apart around its edge. ¡°That weapon¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± The knight saw his hesitation. ¡°You can feel it, can¡¯t you?¡± ¡°This is the Spear of the Gods. One of the three sacred treasures granted to our kingdom centuries ago.¡± Lucas did not respond. ¡°It was forged in the last war against the Demon King.¡± ¡°Crafted from the bones of a God.¡± Lucas clenched his jaw. ¡°It does more than pierce flesh.¡± The spear¡¯s tip glowed, absorbing the light around it. ¡°It erases existence.¡± Lucas averted his eyes from the glow. The knight charged. Lucas tried to dodge. But the air beside him disintegrated. The spear didn¡¯t need to touch him to kill him. One mistake. One single mistake, and it would be over. Lucas grit his teeth. But before he could react¡ª The wind changed. The Arrival of the Mage Lucas frowned. The knights sensed it first. The leader froze mid-strike. ¡°What¡­?¡± Lucas felt it. The shadows around them shifted. And then, he saw him. At the top of the hill. A man with glowing eyes. He wore no armor. He carried no blade. But the knights stopped. They were no longer focused on Lucas. Now, their attention had shifted to him. The knight leader narrowed his eyes. ¡°This is not your fight.¡± The man smiled. ¡°Interesting.¡± The knights exchanged glances. The dragons snarled, uneasy. And then, the leader saw Lucas. He hesitated. Something was wrong. He clenched his teeth, looked at Lucas one last time¡ª And made his decision. ¡°Retreat.¡± Chapter 6: The Abyss That Watches You The Revelation Lucas panted, his chest rising and falling violently. Blood still dripped from the cuts on his arms, and the earth around him was drenched in the crimson of the fallen knights. Vaelin stood before him, expressionless, as if the scene of carnage meant nothing. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Lucas growled, fists clenched. Vaelin tilted his head slightly, as if listening to something Lucas couldn¡¯t perceive. Then, he smiled. ¡°Kill him.¡± The voice inside Lucas was no longer a whisper. It was an absolute command. His body stiffened. His muscles tensed instinctively, ready to strike. Vaelin raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with genuine interest. ¡°These voices... always so impatient.¡± Lucas felt something lock inside him. Vaelin took a step forward, his presence suffocating, as if every word he spoke carried weight of its own. ¡°Echoes of the power you awakened,¡± he said, his voice calm. ¡°The same power that shaped the Demon King.¡± Lucas remained silent. Vaelin continued, his eyes studying Lucas like a puzzle missing its final piece. ¡°But there¡¯s something different about you.¡± He leaned in slightly. ¡°You didn¡¯t just receive this power...¡± A chill crawled up Lucas¡¯s spine. Vaelin smiled. ¡°You broke it.¡± The air around them grew heavy. ¡°And now, it¡¯s trying to fuse with you.¡± Lucas clenched his fists. ¡°Does that mean I can control it?¡± Vaelin chuckled. Low. Hoarse. ¡°It means that if you¡¯re not careful...¡± He stepped even closer, his voice a razor-sharp whisper. ¡°...you¡¯ll be consumed before you even realize it.¡± The Candidate for the Throne Lucas¡¯s throat felt dry. ¡°I¡¯ve heard this before.¡± He tried to sound in control. ¡°You¡¯re not saying anything I don¡¯t already know.¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Vaelin tilted his head, measuring his response. ¡°No, you don¡¯t know.¡± He corrected him. ¡°You feel it.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t answer. ¡°When you fight, when you rage... have you noticed?¡± Vaelin continued. ¡°Your body moves on its own. You dodge blades before your eyes see them. You strike before you decide to. You kill before you think.¡± Lucas swallowed hard. That battle... He hadn¡¯t been thinking. He just knew. He dodged before attacks came. His blows were precise, brutal. As if¡ª ¡°That¡¯s not reflex,¡± Vaelin interrupted his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s not instinct. Not talent.¡± Something dark stirred inside Lucas. ¡°It¡¯s the power taking control.¡± Lucas clenched his teeth. ¡°No...¡± Vaelin¡¯s voice dropped lower. More dangerous. ¡°The power you inherited is not human. It moves on its own. It guides you.¡± Sweat ran down the back of Lucas¡¯s neck. ¡°You¡¯re not in control,¡± Vaelin concluded. ¡°Not yet.¡± The Lie of the Fallen Kingdom Lucas gritted his teeth. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Vaelin watched him for a long moment, then sighed. ¡°They called you a hero when they brought you here, didn¡¯t they?¡± Lucas nodded slowly. Vaelin smiled. ¡°They lied.¡± Lucas felt his stomach churn. ¡°What...?¡± ¡°The kingdom you destroyed,¡± Vaelin began, ¡°had a revelation centuries ago.¡± Lucas narrowed his eyes. ¡°They learned that the Demon King would return,¡± Vaelin continued. ¡°And they panicked.¡± A shiver ran down Lucas¡¯s spine. ¡°They did everything to prepare,¡± Vaelin said, his voice cold. ¡°They forged sacred weapons, sealed forbidden magics, sacrificed thousands to try and predict when the Demon King would awaken.¡± A weight pressed against Lucas¡¯s chest. ¡°And then,¡± Vaelin said, ¡°they had a grand idea.¡± The air around him thickened. ¡°They decided to summon a hero,¡± Vaelin whispered. ¡°Someone from another world. The perfect weapon against the Demon King¡¯s return.¡± Lucas froze. ¡°And that¡¯s how you ended up here.¡± Silence choked the air. Lucas blinked, his mind spinning. ¡°But,¡± Vaelin took another step forward, ¡°they made a mistake.¡± Lucas¡¯s breath quickened. ¡°They summoned the Demon King himself.¡± The ground beneath him might as well have vanished. ¡°You are the candidate,¡± Vaelin declared. ¡°The only vessel strong enough to house this power. From the moment you stepped into this world, your fate was sealed.¡± Lucas felt as if he was being crushed by an invisible force. ¡°They called you a hero,¡± Vaelin said, his voice dripping with irony. ¡°But you never were one.¡± Vaelin then pointed directly at Lucas¡¯s chest. ¡°You are the successor.¡± Lucas clenched his fists. ¡°No...¡± he muttered. ¡°Deny it all you want,¡± Vaelin said. ¡°But the truth has already been written.¡± The Path to the Abyss Lucas¡¯s breath was heavy, his thoughts tangled. ¡°And then?¡± He lifted his eyes, his rage burning like embers. ¡°If I¡¯m this so-called candidate... what happens now?¡± Vaelin smiled. ¡°Now?¡± He turned. ¡°Now you choose.¡± Lucas stood still. ¡°You can keep running, pretending you still have a choice,¡± Vaelin said. ¡°Or you can come with me.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t move. Vaelin began to walk away but then stopped. ¡°If you want to survive what¡¯s coming...¡± he paused, not looking back, ¡°I¡¯ll show you where it all began.¡± Lucas hesitated. He looked down at his hands. And then, for just a fleeting moment, a vision flashed through his mind. Clara¡¯s face. Her smile. He felt the warmth of her tiny fingers lacing through his. Then, the vision vanished like smoke. Lucas closed his eyes for a brief second. When he opened them again... He walked toward the abyss.