The city lay in ruins, the aftermath of the battle between Alan and Steve still hanging heavy in the air. Alan's body was battered, his strength nearly depleted, as he lay on the ground, barely conscious. Steve stood over him, a dark smile of triumph on his face, his shadowy Arcon looming like a specter of death.
But just as Steve prepared to deliver the final blow, a sudden, overwhelming surge of mana filled the air. The sheer intensity of it was enough to make even Steve pause, his confident smile faltering as he turned to face the source of the power.
From the shadows, a figure appeared, moving with a speed and grace that seemed almost otherworldly. Before anyone could react, the figure leapt into the air, a sword gleaming with a brilliant light raised high above his head. In a single, powerful slash, the sword cut through the air, and with it, the massive shadow monster that Steve had summoned was obliterated in an instant.
The shadowy creature didn't even have time to scream as it disintegrated into nothingness, the dark energy that had formed it dissipating like smoke in the wind. The force of the attack was so immense that it left a deep, smoldering crater in the ground where the monster had stood, as if a bomb had gone off.
As the dust settled, the figure landed softly on the ground, standing tall and resolute. It was Sam, his presence radiating with an aura of overwhelming power. His sword, Valkor, still crackled with energy, the aftershock of his attack sending ripples through the air.
For a moment, there was silence. The sheer force of Sam's arrival had left everyone in stunned disbelief, their eyes wide with shock and awe.
Steve, who had moments ago been so sure of his victory, now found himself staring at the remains of his shattered Arcon, his confidence completely shattered. He turned to look at Sam, his face pale, fear slowly creeping into his eyes.
Sam looked down at Alan, who was struggling to regain his senses. "Sorry for being late, Alan," Sam said, his voice calm but filled with an underlying intensity. "But I'm here now."
Alan managed a weak smile, relief washing over him as he realized that Sam had saved him from certain death. "You're always just in time," Alan replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
The tension in the air was palpable as the other members of the Shade Society—Elizabeth and Violett—watched in stunned silence. Elizabeth, who had been so sure of their victory, now found herself questioning everything.
Elizabeth turned to Violett, her voice shaking slightly. "Who is that guy? How did he...?"
Violett's eyes widened as she recognized the figure standing before them. "You don't know him?" she whispered, disbelief lacing her words. "That's Samuel Carter, the one the majesty warned us about. The No.1 threat to the Shade Society."
Elizabeth's confidence wavered, and for the first time, she felt a genuine sense of fear. "The No.1 threat?"
Sam didn't give them time to process the gravity of the situation. He took a step forward, his gaze locked onto Elizabeth and Violett, his presence commanding and unyielding.
"Listen closely," Sam said, his voice carrying a weight that made the air around them seem heavier. "Go back to the Shade Society and tell them this: From now on, if anyone from the Shade Society sets foot in the Void, I will kill them all. Consider this your only warning."
The sheer authority in Sam's voice sent chills down the spines of Elizabeth and Violett. They had faced countless opponents, but there was something about Sam—something terrifyingly powerful—that made them realize just how outmatched they were.
Elizabeth swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. But deep down, she knew there was no point in fighting. Not against someone like Sam.
"We… we understand," Elizabeth stammered, her voice trembling. "We'll deliver your message."
Violett, still reeling from the shock, nodded in agreement. "We won't step foot in the Void again."
Sam's expression didn't change. He simply nodded, satisfied with their response. "Good. Now get out of my sight."
Elizabeth and Violett wasted no time. They quickly turned and fled, their minds still grappling with the sheer magnitude of the power they had just witnessed.
As they disappeared into the distance, Sam sheathed his sword, the aura of power around him slowly fading. He turned back to Alan, who was finally starting to recover, albeit slowly.
"Are you okay?" Sam asked, his tone softening as he knelt beside his friend.
Alan nodded weakly, his strength slowly returning. "Yeah… thanks to you."
Sam smiled, offering Alan a hand. "We've still got a lot of work to do. Let's finish this together."
As Sam helped Alan to his feet, the two of them turned to face the direction where Elizabeth and Violett had fled. The battle was far from over, but Sam's arrival had turned the tide. The Shade Society had been dealt a severe blow, and now they knew—Samuel Carter was not a force to be trifled with.
Epilogue
Back in the Shade Society, far away from the battle that had just unfolded, a man sat in a grand chamber, his face obscured by the shadows that danced across the room. Despite the darkness, his eyes gleamed with a knowing light, as if he had been watching the events from afar.
A small, satisfied smile curled at the corners of his lips as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.
"So, Samuel Carter… you've finally shown yourself," the man murmured to himself, his voice smooth and contemplative. "It seems things are about to get very interesting."
With that, the man's smile widened, and the room was filled with a low, ominous chuckle that echoed through the empty halls of the Shade Society.
The real battle was only just beginning.