The Demon King let out a deep laugh, a sound that resonated like the echo of a thousand distant storms. Yet the laughter carried a hint of irritation, as though Link's words had pierced his façade of supremacy. The light of the Master Sword continued to intensify, a beacon of hope cutting through the oppressive gloom of Lookout Landing.
"You speak of courage as though it's enough to challenge me, Hero," the Demon King said with disdain. "But courage alone will not save Hyrule. It will not break the endless cycle of destruction and suffering. You are nothing more than a pawn in an eternal war."
Link remained silent, staring steadfastly at the Demon King. His blue eyes, usually as calm as a still lake, now burned with the intensity of an unquenchable flame. The light radiating from the Master Sword grew brighter, mirroring the fire that blazed within him. Around him, the sages gathered, forming a circle of light and strength that stood in stark contrast to the enemy's shadows.
"Even if the cycle continues," Link replied, his voice low but resolute, carrying the same fury that blazed in his sword, "as long as we have the courage to face it, as long as there are those willing to fight for something greater than themselves... there will always be hope."
The sages, inspired by his words, nodded and raised their weapons. Each one glowed with the light of their respective elements, their combined power erupting in a burst of energy that defied the oppressive presence of the Demon King.
"You speak of hope," the Demon King sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "But all you do is delay the inevitable. Do you truly believe a shining sword and lofty words can stop me? I am no mere adversary, Hero. I am Power itself."
Link halted a few paces from the Demon King, his allies forming a steadfast wall behind him. With deliberate precision, he drove the Master Sword into the ground, a gesture that radiated unshakable confidence. His stance was relaxed, yet his gaze was as sharp as the sacred blade he wielded.
"If you truly are Power itself," Link replied, his voice firm yet composed, "then why haven't you ended this already? Why hide behind traps and illusions? Perhaps you're not as powerful as you claim to be. Perhaps… you're just a coward, afraid to face the light."
The Demon King let out a thunderous roar that echoed through the abyss, a dark reverberation that seemed to shake even the bones of those who heard it. His eyes blazed with hatred and disdain, like embers fanned into a raging inferno.
"How dare you call me a coward, whelp?" he bellowed, each word vibrating with barely restrained fury, threatening to erupt at any moment.
Link held his ground, his gaze steady and unmoving. He took a single step forward, unflinching in the oppressive aura of malevolence that surrounded Ganondorf. He knew that each word he spoke struck at the very core of the tyrant's being.
"Isn't it obvious?" Link said, his tone cutting with a calm yet scathing edge as he gestured toward the horde surrounding Lookout Landing. "You skulk in your lair, sending waves of monsters and puppets to do your bidding, relying on cheap tricks and deceit. You don't have the courage to face me yourself. You manipulate others to hand you their power. You claim to come here to rule Hyrule, yet you don't even know what that means."
The Demon King's fiery gaze bore into Link, his anger visibly mounting like a storm on the brink of unleashing its fury.
"I know more about ruling than you ever will," the Demon King spat, his voice laced with contempt. "Lest you forget, I was once the King of the Gerudo. And what are you? A servant to a spoiled princess, playing at being a hero. What could you possibly understand of kingdoms or power?"
But Link didn't fall for the Demon King's attempt to undermine him. Instead, he pressed on, his words piercing like daggers.
"You speak as if I don't know what a kingdom is. Do you even know Hyrule? Do you know anything about the people who live here, their dreams, or their lives that you seek to rule? Have you ever even stopped to look at their mountains or to listen to their rivers? You are a stranger who comes to proclaim power without knowing anything, without understanding what it truly means to be part of this land. That is what you are: a fraud who plays at being a king but knows nothing of the kingdom you covet. A king without a kingdom, an ignorant without power, and a coward without honor."
Link's words hardened, striking the pride of his enemy like a direct blow.
"You have no right here!"
After a pause that stretched on endlessly, Link continued, his tone sharper than ever:
"What you don't understand, Ganondorf"—each word from Link was a thorn piercing his rival's pride—"is that you will never know what it means to fight for something greater than yourself. You are not a king; you are just a monster who needs to destroy everything to feel powerful. But today, that ends."
With Link's final words, a dark shadow began to grow around Ganondorf. Then, in an explosion of fury and wounded pride, his form began to twist and change. The spectral figure disappeared, and before them stood the Demon King in his original form. He was taller, more imposing, and in his eyes burned unleashed malice, as if hatred and arrogance had reached their peak, transforming him into something even more sinister.
The Demon King stood still, and the silence in Lookout Landing became unbearably heavy. A twisted smile began to appear on his lips, a grimace that seemed to feed the shadows surrounding him. His figure inspired a terror that petrified all who stood before him.
"You speak of bravery," the Demon King murmured, crossing his arms as he tilted his head slightly, like a predator sizing up its prey. "I await you in the depths, hero of pretension. Let's see if your grand words don't crumble when you face the true face of despair."
The air grew even colder, as if the place were plunged into eternal winter. The Demon King narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Link, burning like infernal embers. His voice turned into a guttural growl, laden with a dark promise.
"But I warn you of something... If you fall, you will not find rest, not even in death. The shadows of the abyss will claim you, and your soul will be mine for all eternity."
The Demon King stood motionless, and the silence in Lookout Landing grew unbearably dense. A twisted smile began to appear on his lips, a grimace that seemed to feed the shadows surrounding him. His figure inspired a terror that petrified all who stood before him.
A shiver ran down the spines of the onlookers like the edge of a dagger. Some instinctively stepped back, unable to hold the gaze of the imposing figure of the Demon King. The atmosphere grew so heavy that it became difficult to breathe.
Paya let out a whimper, clutching Purah tightly, who stood motionless, trapped between horror and disbelief at the vision before her. It was as if her body itself had forgotten how to move.
The soldiers, now reduced to little more than trembling figures, pressed together, seeking comfort in camaraderie that could not shield them from the overwhelming power of the Demon King. Their weapons clattered, not from the movement of the air but from the uncontrollable trembling of their own hands.
"Excellent, we shall meet face-to-face in the depths," Link said, forcing a smile onto his lips that betrayed the fear compressing his chest. He glanced at the horde of monsters surrounding Lookout Landing, feeling the weight of the lives depending on him. A plan began to take shape in his mind, one that would ensure no more harm came to those under his protection while he faced the Demon King. "And since we're talking about proving courage, I hope you'll live up to your name and face us alone. Stop hiding behind your monsters to terrify the weak and show that you're capable of facing worthy opponents."
The Demon King seemed thoughtful. His expression was one of perverse satisfaction.
"Very well, Hero. But remember: if you fall, nothing, not even the memory of this kingdom, will survive." The echo of his threat resonated in the air as he raised his hand, the pact sealed in a gesture loaded with dark promises.
The vision of the Demon King began to fade from Lookout Landing, but Link, driven by a mix of distrust and desperation, shouted, "Wait, don't leave!" The Demon King's fading stopped, and his image became clearer again. "If you are true to your word, I want proof. Order your hordes to retreat from Lookout Landing now. No more civilian lives will be taken while we settle this."
The Demon King let out a bitter laugh that seemed to tear through the air.
"As you wish, Hero. Enjoy your respite... while it lasts." With a snap of his fingers, the horde began to pull back, a tide of darkness retreating.
Link felt a surge of relief, but it was fleeting, and his heart sank once more as he saw that the monsters weren't returning to the abyss. Instead, most began to gather on the path toward Hyrule Castle, forming a menacing circle, blocking their way to the abyss.
With his heart pounding wildly, Link hurried up the stairs leading to the telescope. From there, he scanned the battlefield, horror dawning on his face as he saw the horde gathering. Five Hinox, three Lynels—one silver. This is not good, Link thought, his heart racing. And then, his horror multiplied when a Royal Gleeok descended from the sky, its claws glowing with a malevolence that defied all hope.
"They won't attack anyone other than you, but of course, you're excluded from that deal," said the Demon King with a sardonic smile before vanishing into thin air, leaving behind a shadow of darkness that seemed to devour hope itself. The Demon King, master of manipulation, had deceived him once again.
Link sighed. "At least they won't attack the civilians. The problem is how we get there. If we have to face each and every one of the monsters, by the time we reach the castle, we'll be more than finished. I need to come up with a plan."
As Link descended, he saw the five sages positioning themselves beside him, flanking him on both sides. He saw the determination in their eyes and turned to face them, a growing sense of dread constricting his chest.
"No! Don't even think about it!" Link's voice broke, the desperation overwhelming him as he saw his friends' resolve to step into danger. "Don't do it! I don't want you risking any more for me! Sidon, you have Yona, a future waiting for you... Yunobo, what will happen to Yunobo SG if you fall?" Link's voice trembled, but the urgency wouldn't let him stop speaking. "I'll face the horde alone, just like I have these past months! Once I draw them in, you take the safe route and contact Mineru at the agreed meeting point!"
The sages exchanged glances, and Yunobo was the first to speak, his tone firm but full of warmth.
"You're not going to face this alone, not a chance. And you know perfectly well it's not true that you've been fighting alone all this time," he replied, his voice steady, attempting to reassure Link.
"Eh..." Link blinked, stunned by his friend's words. "I don't understand..."
"We know perfectly well you've been using our pact, Link," Sidon said, wrapping him in a warm, comforting embrace. "Brother, thanks to that power, we have been together. Whether to help you in battle, jump from one sky island to another, or simply because you felt alone and needed someone by your side."
Link remembered those moments, every time he felt lost. The presence of his friends had always been his beacon, a whisper in the dark guiding him.
The determination in their eyes was stronger than any fear. Link felt overwhelmed by the weight of his companions' loyalty, but before he could respond, Tureli broke the silence with a firm voice.
"From our side," Tureli smiled at him, "we also felt something strange. Our stones would glow for a few moments, and we would sense your presence. We have been more together during this time than you realize."
His words resonated with the group, creating an invisible bridge that connected them beyond distance or time. Then, Riju stepped forward, her gaze one of confidence that dared the danger.
"Decided, we will face the horde together," Riju announced, her voice filled with the strength that only comes when everything is at stake. "Just like in the temples, we will work as a team."
A lump of emotion formed in Link's throat. His eyes misted as he pulled the sages close. The five formed a circle, a circle of unspoken promises, of a fate they would share until their last breath.
At that moment, the sages raised their weapons, and their voices joined with Link's in a shout that tore through the darkness.
"For Hyrule!"
And with fervor that sprang from their hearts, they added in unison:
"For Zelda!"
Link felt both moved and grateful for the loyalty and bravery of the five sages. Together, they began to walk toward Hyrule Castle, toward the abyss and the Demon King's lair. The horde awaited them, a sea of darkness promising to devour them, but they pressed forward with light as their only guide.
Meanwhile...
In the vast gloom of the underground, the figure of the Demon King materialized on his throne of darkness. His eyes, two embers ignited with malevolence, lit up the blackness, piercing the void and searing into the soul of anyone brave enough to meet them.
From the shadows, a nervous figure emerged from his hiding place like a rat fleeing the hunter. After a clumsy bow, he fell to his knees on the icy floor, his face marked by fear and servitude. His breathing quickened, an uncontrollable tremor shaking his body.
"Welcome, Master Kohga, leader of the Yiga clan," the Demon King's voice resonated, deep and cold, like an echo in the eternity of darkness. "Tell me, what brings you here?"
The silence that followed was palpable, and the presence of the Demon King, immense and oppressive, seemed to consume everything, leaving only the unease and despair of the one who dared to stand before him.
"Master Ganondorf," Kohga said, his voice trembling, as he pointed to what appeared to be a metallic figure reminiscent of Mineru, but more grotesque and twisted, exuding an aura of malevolence and darkness. "Here I bring the ultimate weapon as we agreed... I've also set up a few of my own traps. Once they trigger them unwittingly, they'll be 'crushed' by the pressure..."
"Hmph... we'll see if your tricks and your 'ultimate weapon' amount to anything, Kohga. So far, you've done nothing but fail time and time again against the 'Hero of Hyrule,'" Ganondorf said, his voice deep and loaded with authority and distrust, each word falling like a sentence. "If you fail again..." his eyes locked onto the Yiga Master, making him shudder, "...you won't get another chance to redeem yourself."
Kohga nodded quickly, feeling his forehead sweat beneath his mask.
"This time, I won't fail you, master. I promise!" he exclaimed, bowing until his forehead touched the cold floor of the throne while murmuring to himself, "That damn hero... he's going to fall, no matter what. I'll make sure that once they enter, they'll never see the light of day again. They'll be trapped here forever."
"And now retreat until I call for you again," the Demon King said, dismissing Master Kohga with a gesture. Kohga stood up and, after giving an exaggerated bow, ran out. No matter how loyal he was, his mere presence inspired an indescribable dread.
In silence, the Demon King's gaze returned to the distance of the abyss, where the shadows seemed to whisper secrets to him. He knew his adversary was approaching. This was a battle he had been waiting for eons, and he would leave nothing to chance.
Darkness began to fill the throne room. In the gloom, the two orange flames that formed the Demon King's eyes extinguished, filling the space with an ominous silence that foreshadowed what was to come.