Chapter 107: Shadows of the Past
Scene: The Eastern Kingdom. Zarek, along with his remaining allies, has retreated to their stronghold. The air is tense within the dark stone walls of their base, the weight of defeat pressing heavily upon them. Zarek, however, is more troubled by something far deeper than the loss on the battlefield—his mana, once pure and white, has turned into a dark, ominous purple.
Narrator: Zarek, the once-unstoppable force of the East, has never known his Divine Mana to falter. Yet, in his battle against the South Nation, something within him shifted. His pristine white mana, a reflection of the divine power he wielded, darkened—changing into something unfamiliar, something darker. As he sits alone in the dimly lit chambers of his fortress, his mind spirals with confusion and fury.
Zarek paces in his quarters, his hands glowing with a faint, pulsating purple light. He clenches his fists, struggling to understand what's happening to his once-perfect mana. His allies are wary, sensing his instability, and have left him alone to brood. He stops, staring at the mana flickering in his hands.
Zarek: (angrily) What… what is this? My mana… it's not right.
He slams his fist into the wall, leaving a deep crack in the stone. The power within him feels uncontrollable, like a storm brewing beneath the surface, waiting to erupt. He remembers how, during the battle, the shift in his mana caused his precision and control to falter. And now, the same chaotic energy courses through him.
Zarek collapses into a chair, resting his head in his hands, trying to calm the rage within. His breath comes in heavy, labored gasps as a strange sensation overtakes him. Slowly, visions start to flash before his eyes—images of a past long buried.
Narrator: Resting in the solitude of his quarters, Zarek's mind drifts to memories he hasn't touched in years. Memories of his childhood. Memories of a mother he barely remembers.
The world around Zarek blurs, and suddenly, he is no longer in the Eastern Kingdom. He is a child again, standing at the foot of the great mountains of the West Nation. His heart pounds in his chest, a sense of unease gripping him as he watches his mother, a woman draped in a white nun's habit, pulling him along.
Young Zarek: (confused) Mother, where are we going? Why do we have to leave?
His mother doesn't answer at first, her eyes filled with worry as she glances over her shoulder. Behind them, the towering castle of Zarek's father, the Demon Emperor, looms in the distance. Dark clouds swirl above it, a place Zarek had always called home.
Zarek's Mother: (hurriedly) We have to go, Zarek. We're not safe here anymore. Your father… he's not what you think he is.
Zarek feels a lump in his throat as his mother pulls him away from everything he has ever known. Even as a child, he could sense the hatred in the eyes of the demons around them. He had never truly belonged in the West Nation. Not with his human blood.
Narrator: Zarek's father, a powerful Demon Emperor of the Great West Nation, had always been distant, even cruel at times. His mother, a nun who had once lived in peace on the Holy Island, had fled with him when their union became a scandal in the demon courts. Their human blood made them outcasts, and soon, they were no longer welcome.
The scene shifts, and Zarek is older now, standing on the shores of the Holy Island. His mother kneels beside him, her hands resting on his shoulders as she speaks softly to the priests and nuns around them. She looks older, more fragile. Her once-bright eyes are dimmed by exhaustion and fear.
Zarek's Mother: (softly) Please… take care of him. He needs protection from his father. He's… he's special.
Zarek tries to speak, but his mother's grip tightens, silencing him. Tears well up in her eyes as she hugs him one last time before she turns and walks away, leaving Zarek behind in the care of the Holy Island's priests.
Young Zarek: (desperately) Mother! Where are you going? Why aren't you staying with me?
But she doesn't answer. She just keeps walking, disappearing into the mist that hangs over the shore. Zarek stands there, his heart shattered as the only person he had left in the world abandons him.
Narrator: Zarek was left behind, abandoned to the care of the Holy Island's priests and nuns. He never saw his mother again. Over the years, he grew to hate the humans who had raised him, and the demons who had rejected him. But he never knew why. Not until now.
Zarek snaps back to the present, his body trembling as the weight of the memories crash down on him. He presses his hand to his chest, feeling the chaotic swirl of his dark mana pulsing within him. His mind races, pieces of the puzzle falling into place.
Zarek: (whispering) I'm… I'm half-demon. That's why… that's why my mana changed.
The realization hits him like a wave, the truth of his lineage finally clear. His father's demonic blood, once dormant within him, had begun to awaken. It had corrupted his once-pure Divine Mana, transforming it into the dark, uncontrollable force he now wields. His mother had known all along. She had left him behind to protect him, to shield him from his father's influence.
But where was she now? Was she even still alive?
Zarek: (angrily) Why didn't she tell me… why didn't she come back?
His emotions swirl in turmoil—confusion, anger, and an unfamiliar sadness. He wipes away a tear that rolls down his cheek, furious at himself for feeling weak in this moment. But no matter how hard he tries, the questions linger, gnawing at his mind. He needs to know the truth about his mother.
But the mission comes first.
Zarek stands, his eyes hardening with renewed resolve. His allies—those who had followed him through every battle—must never know the turmoil that stirs within him. He strides through the hall, summoning them to a council room with an air of cold authority.
The chamber fills with Zarek's elite warriors, all standing at attention as their leader enters. Among them are the remaining members of the twenty summoned warriors. They are eager for vengeance, sensing Zarek's intense focus. He steps forward, his dark purple mana flickering in his hand, now controlled and precise.
Zarek: (seriously) We failed in the South Nation. But this is not the end. Our mission remains the same. We will take control of their lands, and we will crush anyone who stands in our way.
The warriors nod in agreement, their confidence restored by Zarek's commanding presence. His gaze sweeps across the room, his eyes cold and determined.
Zarek: (calmly) The South Nation thinks they've seen the worst of us. They haven't. We strike again, soon. But this time… we don't retreat.
One of Zarek's closest lieutenants steps forward, a burly man with silver hair and glowing eyes.
Lieutenant: (firmly) My lord, should we prepare the full forces this time? We won't fail again.
Zarek: (coldly) Yes. Prepare them. But there's no need for caution anymore. This time, I will lead the charge myself.
Zarek's wings of Divine Mana suddenly burst from his back, glowing with an eerie, twisted light—a mixture of both divine and demonic energy. The fusion of the two powers is unmistakable, and his allies can feel the overwhelming force radiating from him.
Zarek: (darkly) We leave at dawn. The South Nation will fall. And this time… no one will be spared.
The chapter ends with Zarek and his allies taking to the skies, their Divine Mana wings propelling them forward. The storm of war is on the horizon, and Zarek, now more serious and deadly than ever before, is ready to strike. His past no longer haunts him—it fuels him.
Narrator: Zarek's resolve has never been stronger, and the power within him grows with every moment. As he flies toward the South Nation, vengeance burns within him like never before. The battle is far from over, and the world will soon witness the true strength of a half-demon who has fully embraced his dark destiny.