Amid the chaos near the dark gate, Shan and Rosy crouched behind a jagged stone. Their breaths were shallow, and their faces pale, but their eyes burned with determination. The battle between gods and devils raged ahead, and they were far too close for comfort. Yet, neither dared to move.
"Rosy," Shan whispered, peering out from behind the stone. "We need to get out of here. If the Dark Devil or his legion spots us—"
Rosy grabbed his arm, shaking her head. "We can't run now, Shan. The Celestial King is here. He'll stop them."
Shan scoffed, frustration clear on his face. "That old man? I don't care who he is. We're just going to get killed here!"
Rosy's eyes widened at his words, but she didn't reply. She turned her attention back to the battlefield, silently watching as the Celestial King stood tall, his aura radiating divine energy. Despite the devastation surrounding them, his presence brought a faint glimmer of hope.
Shan's gaze shifted past the Dark Devil, and his eyes widened. There, behind the towering figure of the devil, lay the Celestial King's weapon—the Crystal Carrier. The large staff glimmered faintly, its golden crystal atop it pulsating with an otherworldly light.
"The Crystal Carrier," Shan whispered. "It's right behind him."
Rosy's eyes followed his line of sight, and she gasped. "If the Celestial King gets his weapon…"
Before she could finish, the Celestial King moved. With a flick of his hand, the Crystal Carrier responded to his command. It shot into his grasp with blinding speed, its golden crystal igniting with power as he swung it toward the Dark Devil with all his might.
The Dark Devil's grin faltered as the weapon approached. But before the strike could land, shadows erupted around him, forming into a dozen of his legion. They darted forward, intercepting the attack. The collision sent shockwaves through the air, shaking the ground violently.
As the dust settled, the Dark Devil sneered. "Impressive, but you won't get another chance like that."
Suddenly, the shadows shifted again, and Shan and Rosy gasped as several legion soldiers appeared behind them. Their clawed hands gripped the pair tightly, dragging them out from their hiding spot.
"Let us go!" Shan shouted, struggling against the inhuman strength of his captors.
The Dark Devil turned his crimson eyes toward them, his grin returning. "Well, well. What do we have here? A couple of insects scuttling around where they don't belong."
The Celestial King's gaze snapped to the pair. For a moment, his calm demeanor faltered, and a flicker of emotion crossed his face.
"Rosy, what's going on?" Shan asked, his voice tinged with panic.
Rosy hesitated, her lips trembling as she looked between Shan and the Celestial King. "Shan…" she began, her voice low and strained. "There's something you need to know."
Before she could continue, the Dark Devil laughed, the sound cold and menacing. "What will you do, Celestial King? Will you drop your weapon and save them? Or will you strike me down and let them die?"
The Celestial King's lips pressed into a thin line, his grip on the Crystal Carrier tightening. He radiated calm, but his eyes betrayed a deep sadness.
"Why is he hesitating?" Shan demanded. "Just kill that devil already!"
Rosy's voice broke as she finally blurted out, "Because he's your father, Shan!"
Shan froze, the words hitting him like a thunderbolt. "What… what are you talking about?"
Tears streamed down Rosy's face. "The Celestial King… he's your father. He's always been watching over you, protecting you from the shadows. He never told you because he wanted you to live a normal life."
Shan's knees gave way, and he fell to the ground. His mind raced, piecing together moments from his past, times when he felt inexplicably safe, as though someone powerful was looking out for him. "Why didn't he…?"
The Celestial King's voice cut through the chaos, firm yet gentle. "Shan, there wasn't time for you to know. I wanted to keep you far from this war. But now, I see there's no running from destiny."
The Dark Devil grinned, his claws twitching in anticipation. "How touching. A father's love. But it's meaningless now."
He raised his hand, preparing to strike. But before he could, the Celestial King moved faster than the eye could follow. With a single, resounding blow, he struck the legion soldiers holding Shan and Rosy, freeing them.
"Run!" the Celestial King commanded.
Shan hesitated, staring at the man he now knew was his father. "I can't leave you here!"
The Celestial King smiled, his expression filled with pride and sorrow. "You must. There's no other way."
As Shan took an unsteady step back, the Dark Devil lunged. His clawed hand, wreathed in black energy, plunged through the Celestial King's chest. The impact sent out a shockwave that flattened the nearby ground, and the Crystal Carrier slipped from the king's grasp, falling to the earth with a dull thud.
Rosy screamed, and Shan's cries echoed through the battlefield. The legion released them, letting them fall to their knees beside the king's lifeless body.
"Father…" Shan whispered, his hands trembling as he reached out to him.
The Dark Devil sneered and twisted his hand, driving it deeper into the king. "Your arrogance is what brought you to this moment. You gods are nothing but relics of a bygone era."
With one final push, the Dark Devil pulled his hand free, and the Celestial King collapsed to the ground.
Shan's cries grew desperate. "No! Father!"
Rosy sobbed uncontrollably, pulling Shan away as the Dark Devil turned, triumphant. But the Celestial King's final words lingered in the air:
"You haven't won. Not yet."