The grand hallway, once filled with music, laughter, and celebration, no longer resembled a place meant for peace.
In the span of a single breath, it had become a battlefield.
The vast marble floor trembled violently as invisible pressure crushed down upon it, deep fractures spreading outward like the veins of a dying world. Towering pillars groaned under the weight of clashing auras, and chandeliers shattered one after another, raining shards of crystal that echoed sharply as they struck the ground. The air itself felt heavier, suffocating, as if the palace were rejecting the power unleashed within its walls.
Nobles, kings, and elite guests stood frozen in place.
Some clutched their chests, struggling to breathe. Others fell to their knees, overwhelmed by the pressure. Many had ruled nations, commanded armies, and faced death countless times—but none of that experience prepared them for this moment.
Because the Abyss Army had arrived.
Dark figures filled the length of the corridor—soldiers formed from shadow, towering beasts radiating killing intent, warriors whose presence alone bent the air around them. Their eyes glowed faintly, weapons held steady, their formation flawless. There was no chaos, no reckless bloodlust.
Only discipline.
Only patience.
They were waiting for their king.
One word—one command—was all it would take to turn this once-glorious hall into an abyss of blood and screams.
A thunderous voice cut through the suffocating silence.
"What are you doing?!"
The Monarch of Thunder, King Raizen, stepped forward, lightning crackling faintly around his body as his aura surged in response to the darkness surrounding him. His sharp gaze locked onto a familiar figure standing calmly among the shadows.
"Zyra," he called firmly. "What is all of this? Why are you here?"
Zyra stood tall and composed, her posture dignified, her expression unwavering. Thunder pulsed gently around her—not wild, not violent, but controlled, refined. It was the aura of someone who had fallen… and risen again.
"King Raizen," she replied calmly, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. "I am here because the Abyss King is here."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the gathered monarchs and nobles.
"I serve him," Zyra continued. "I control the Abyss on his order. And because of him… I have once again become the Queen of Thunder."
Raizen's expression tightened.
"I'm sorry," Zyra added, her tone sincere yet resolute, "but I have received my orders from our leader."
For a long moment, Raizen said nothing. The crackling lightning around him slowly faded as he forced himself to remain calm.
"Then promise me one thing," he said at last, his voice heavy. "Promise me that no one here will be harmed."
Zyra met his gaze directly.
"If no one interferes," she answered, "then no one will be harmed."
Raizen closed his eyes briefly, as if accepting an unavoidable truth.
"Very well," he said quietly. "Carry out your orders. The Monarch of Shadow gave you a new life—returned the light you once lost. Do what you must."
With that, he turned away, retreating from the edge of inevitable bloodshed.
Behind Zyra, the Abyss Army remained motionless.
Silent.
Merciless.
Ready.
Their presence alone pressed against the hearts of everyone in the hall, making even breathing feel like a struggle.
"My king."
Althric stepped forward, his voice disciplined and sharp, cutting through the tension.
Ren turned slightly. "Yes, Althric?"
"Your army is waiting," Althric said. "Give the order."
Ren's gaze swept across the hall—over trembling nobles, wary monarchs, and the winged soldiers guarding their king.
"Hold," Ren said calmly. "All forces. Every beast. For now."
The pressure intensified, as if the Abyss itself was restraining its hunger.
Ren then stepped forward, his footsteps echoing unnaturally loud as he approached Zeraphion, the Winged King.
Winged soldiers instinctively moved to block his path, wings flaring and spears lowering—but Zeraphion raised his hand sharply.
"Do not touch him."
Zeraphion stepped forward himself, divine pressure erupting as his massive wings unfolded, bathing the hall in radiant light.
"Ninth King of Shadow!" he shouted. "You command monsters and demons—creatures born only to annihilate! Why are you here? This is a sacred place for angels, for those who are pure! Your very existence defiles it!"
"Enough."
Ren's voice cut through the hall like a blade of ice.
"There is no place in this world that is pure," he said coldly. "You abducted Yume from my territory. You tried to force her into something she never wanted. And you dare speak of purity?"
Zeraphion faltered, his words dying in his throat.
"I warned you," Ren continued. "I told Aurelion to leave her behind. He ignored me. Because of that decision, those who came with him were killed instantly."
Ren's eyes darkened.
"Now," he said quietly, "it's your turn."
The atmosphere shattered.
Zeraphion roared and launched himself forward, spear blazing with divine energy as he attacked Ren. At the same moment, Zyra moved, thunder erupting as she shielded Yume behind her, forming a barrier that crackled violently under the pressure.
Elsewhere—
Althric clashed with Aurelion.
Steel screamed as their weapons collided, shockwaves ripping through the hall and tearing chunks of marble from the floor. Ren was driven backward by Zeraphion's overwhelming force, while Althric sent Aurelion skidding across the fractured ground.
"You cannot defeat me!" Aurelion roared. "Knight of Shadow—you are weak!"
Althric said nothing.
Then his power surged.
Darkness wrapped around his body like living flame, shadows coiling tighter and tighter as his aura expanded violently. The pressure alone forced monarchs to step back, fear gripping their hearts.
"He feels like a king…" someone whispered.
"Almost like…" the Monarch of Wind narrowed his eyes. "The Monarch of Shadow himself."
The Monarch of Ashes stood frozen.
"Did you stop me earlier because you knew how terrifying the King of Shadow was?" he whispered.
"No," the Monarch of Wind replied. "But when you disrespected him, something responded. An intense darkness. That's why I stopped you."
"This level of power," the Monarch of Ashes murmured, trembling. "It shouldn't be possible."
Althric and Aurelion collided again.
Shockwaves erupted. Sparks flew. Aurelion attacked relentlessly, his spear blazing with golden light, but he could not force Althric back even a single step.
Aurelion snapped.
"Who are you?!" he shouted. "No one survives my attacks! No one dodges them! But you—how are you doing this?!"
Althric's form darkened further.
"I see it now," Aurelion laughed bitterly. "You were created from your king's shadow."
His armor evolved, golden runes igniting as flames erupted along his spear.
"Then allow me to power up!"
Aurelion attacked with everything he had.
Yet Althric stood unmoved.
"Aurelion Varkane," Althric finally spoke, his voice calm and absolute. "You may be stronger than most kings and their generals."
His aura exploded outward.
"But we are the soldiers of the Abyss."
The shadows surged violently.
"Stronger than kings. More powerful than monarchs."
His voice hardened.
"And I, Althric, am the First General of the Abyss."
In a flash, Althric severed Aurelion's arm and hurled him across the hall.
Aurelion screamed as golden blood splattered across the shattered marble. Still, he forced himself upright.
"I am the General of the Wings!" he roared. "A mere shadow cannot surpass me!"
Althric vanished.
He reappeared instantly, slamming Aurelion face-first into the floor, shattering his helmet. Aurelion couldn't even see the attacks—Althric moved as if he were part of the atmosphere itself.
Punch after punch descended without mercy.
Bones cracked. Armor collapsed. The hall echoed with the sound of destruction.
When Althric finally stopped, Aurelion lay broken.
"This fight is finished," Althric said calmly. "There is nothing left between us."
He turned away.
But Aurelion staggered to his feet, golden blood pouring from him.
"I will not be stopped!" he screamed.
Althric turned, drew his blade, and threw it.
The sword pierced straight through Aurelion's skull, slamming him into the wall behind him. His body hung lifeless, pinned like a broken relic.
Fear spread across the hall.
The strongest warrior—feared even by monarchs—was dead.
Althric returned to Zyra's side, calm and silent.
"Didn't you go too far?" Zyra asked quietly.
Althric remained silent.
"Arrogance destroys everyone," she said softly.
Meanwhile, Ren stepped forward once more, his presence darkening the battlefield as the war between kings continued.