Chapter 59: Ashes Beneath the Sky
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Smoke lingered in the sky long after the battle had ended. The five enormous craters where the Demon Lords had fallen still pulsed with black energy, slowly fading into the earth. The land was torn and broken, like the aftermath of a great storm.
Shen Karguro stood alone at the edge of the cliff, his black coat fluttering in the wind. His blades—chipped and bloodstained—rested on his back. His expression was unreadable.
Behind him, the others were beginning to gather.
Eliz was the first. Her steps were light but hurried, her eyes never leaving Shen's back.
> "You pushed too far," she whispered, almost to herself.
She didn't know what to say. None of them did.
Kenya Naro approached next, his jacket half-burned, hands scorched. But his fire still simmered in his eyes.
> "You sealed them alone," he said, voice low. "Why?"
Shen didn't look at him. "There wasn't time. One of them was about to escape."
> "We could've—"
> "No," Shen cut in gently. "If even one of them escaped, this continent would've burned by morning."
A long silence followed.
Eliz clenched her fists. "But what about you?"
Shen turned to her now, finally. His face was pale, his lips slightly cracked. His magic reserves were nearly gone—but his eyes remained calm.
> "I'm still standing."
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Scene: Temporary Drifter Medical Wing
Hours later, inside a temporary medical tent, Shen sat with one arm wrapped in glowing bandages. Magic healers worked quietly around him, whispering about the fight they had witnessed—some in awe, others in fear.
Eliz entered with a datapad in hand, her face tight with worry.
> "No trace of demon essence left in the air… but we found this."
She handed the datapad to Shen. The image showed a strange black marking embedded deep into the ground beneath one of the fallen Demon Lords.
A sigil. Old and cursed.
Shen's expression darkened.
> "This wasn't their final form."
He stood, ignoring the healer's protest.
> "They were sent ahead. As a warning."
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Scene: Demon Realm – Unknown Chamber
In a dark, forgotten part of the world, where the sky was always crimson and the air heavy with cursed heat, the last remaining high demons knelt before a massive throne of molten stone.
On that throne sat Varkhal.
The Supreme Demon Emperor.
He was silent as he listened to the report.
> "The Five have fallen," said one demon general. "Sealed by the boy with the Supreme Lord Eye."
A low rumble filled the hall.
> "Then it begins," Varkhal whispered. "The War of Eclipse."
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Scene: Academy Tower – Midnight
Back at Drifter Base Alpha, Shen stood at the top of the north tower, gazing over the ruins in the distance.
The sky was quiet. Too quiet.
Kenya joined him, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
> "You're not sleeping?"
> "No."
> "You're not going to rest, are you?"
> "I will," Shen said. "Eventually."
Kenya gave a short laugh.
> "Idiot."
But behind that word was respect.
The battle was over, but the war had just begun. Shen could feel it. Something darker, colder, older was waking.
He placed one hand on his chest, feeling the dim heartbeat of his power.
> "I'll be ready."
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End of Chapter 59