Chapter 10: The Fall of Hope
The air in the Demon King's fortress was thick with suffocating dread. The crumbling stone walls seemed to close in on Nathan and Scarlet as they faced the towering figure of the Demon King. His immense form radiated an aura of unrelenting power, casting a shadow that threatened to swallow them whole. His eyes, glowing with a cruel, almost otherworldly light, fixed on them, sharp and predatory.
Nathan's hands trembled, instinctively reaching for his "Blessings of Nature," but he knew that mere power would not be enough to overcome the force before them. Scarlet stood beside him, her fiery red hair a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness that surrounded them. They had prepared for this moment for years. But nothing could have prepared them for what lay ahead.
The Demon King's laugh echoed, cold and mocking, filling every corner of the vast chamber. "So, you are the ones who think they can defeat me? The ones who dare challenge the Demon King himself?" His voice reverberated with a dark promise of destruction.
Nathan's pulse quickened, but his resolve did not falter. "We've lost too much. We won't let you continue to destroy everything we care about. This ends tonight."
Scarlet's eyes blazed with defiance. "You won't get away with this. We'll stop you, no matter the cost."
The Demon King's smile twisted with malicious amusement. "Very well, then. Come at me, children. Let's see if your strength is worthy of my attention."
System Notification:
Battle Initiated: Demon King
Level: Impossible
Warning: Enemy Strength Far Exceeds Your Capabilities
Recommended Action: Retreat
The notification sent a cold chill through Nathan's spine. Retreat? His heart sank, but the word was not an option. He couldn't back down now, not when they were so close. He had promised to avenge his fallen friends, to protect what remained. They had to finish this.
With a shout, Nathan summoned his powers. Vines erupted from the ground, twisting toward the Demon King, their tendrils lashing out in an attempt to bind him. The air around Nathan shimmered with the force of nature's energy flowing through him, but it was like striking an immovable mountain.
The Demon King raised a single hand, and with a casual flick of his wrist, the vines disintegrated into nothingness. "Is that all?" His voice was dripping with scorn.
Scarlet reacted immediately, unleashing a barrage of fireballs, each one sizzling through the air and exploding in brilliant bursts of heat. But the Demon King stood unmoved, his dark armor absorbing the flames with ease. His mocking laughter echoed again, filling the chamber like a death knell.
"Pathetic," he sneered.
Nathan clenched his fists, frustration building within him. He called on every last ounce of energy, drawing from the deepest wells of nature's power, but the Demon King's overwhelming presence pressed down on him like an unyielding weight.
System Notification:
Your Abilities Are Insufficient to Overcome the Demon King
Strength: 25% of Maximum Power
Energy Depleted: Regeneration Required
"Keep fighting!" Scarlet's voice pierced through his growing despair, though he could see the fear in her eyes. They were reaching their limit, and the Demon King was only growing stronger.
With a cruel wave of his hand, the Demon King sent a tidal wave of dark energy surging toward them. Nathan barely had time to react before it hit. The world exploded into blackness.
***
Return to the Ruins
Nathan awoke to searing pain. His body felt heavy, broken, as though the weight of the world was pressing down on him. Blood filled his mouth as he coughed, gasping for air. His head throbbed, and his vision swam. Through the haze, he saw the familiar shape of Scarlet kneeling beside him, her face pale with worry.
"Nathan…" Her voice trembled, relief flooding her features as she whispered, "You're alive… Thank the gods…"
He tried to move, but pain shot through his chest like lightning. He collapsed back onto the cold ground, his mind racing with the memories of their defeat. The Demon King had crushed them—utterly and without mercy. They were nowhere near strong enough.
System Notification:
You Have Been Defeated by the Demon King
Resurrection Status: Partial Recovery
Warning: Strength Inadequate for Combat
Scarlet's voice was firm as she took his hand, her gaze filled with determination. "We're not done yet. We'll keep fighting. We'll rebuild. And we'll come back stronger."
Nathan's heart ached, not just from the pain of his body but from the crushing weight of failure. He had given everything in that fight—everything he had. But he knew, deep down, there was no turning back now. They couldn't stop. Not after everything they had lost. They had to press on, no matter the cost.
Slowly, with Scarlet's help, they made their way back to the ruined village—the place that had once been their home. Now it was a desolate graveyard of memories, the ashes of their former lives scattered in the wind. The orphanage was a smoldering ruin, a testament to the destruction that had shattered their world. But they couldn't ignore it. They had to return. They had to honor what was left.
They stood at the graves, silent for a long moment. Clara, Robert, and the children—they had all perished in the flames of war. The weight of their loss hung heavily between them, but there was no time for grief. Not yet.
Nathan knelt before the graves, his voice low and cracked. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his chest tight. "We're not strong enough yet. But we will be. I promise."
Scarlet joined him, her tears streaking down her face. "We'll do whatever it takes. For all of them."
The wind stirred the air, carrying the faint scent of earth and the rustling of the trees. In that moment, the world seemed to hold its breath as they made their silent vow to the fallen.
***
A New Resolve
They couldn't stay. The world had moved on, and so must they. As they turned to leave, a faint shift in the air made Nathan freeze. Shadows stirred at the edge of the village, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the figures approaching.
It was the Blackfang Clan.
System Notification:
Blackfang Clan Detected: Possible Conflict
The clan's members had followed them. At the front of the group was Garrick, the man who had once led them into the clan. His face was tight with anger, his eyes blazing with frustration.
"You two," Garrick barked, his voice like iron. "Where do you think you're going? You leave without a word, and now you think you can just walk away? Do you have any idea what you've done to the clan?"
Nathan's chest burned with the remnants of the previous battle, his muscles aching, but he stood tall. "We didn't ask for your help. We didn't owe you anything."
Garrick stepped forward, his face a mask of fury. "You think this is about what you owe us? We took you in when you had nothing! We trained you, we fed you, and now you walk away like it means nothing?" His eyes narrowed. "You'll pay for this."
Scarlet stepped forward, her fiery gaze locking onto Garrick's. "We didn't ask to be adopted by you, and we don't owe you loyalty. If you want compensation, come and take it."
A tense silence followed, broken only by the rustling wind. Nathan's temper flared, a mixture of frustration and the weight of everything they had lost. He was done being threatened. They were done being pawns.
Without warning, Garrick lunged at them, and the Blackfang Clan followed in a deadly rush. But Nathan and Scarlet were faster. Their training had forged them into weapons of precision.
Vines erupted from the ground, striking with deadly force, while Scarlet unleashed a barrage of searing flames. The Blackfang Clan members stood no chance against their speed and power. In moments, they had overpowered them, leaving only the quiet aftermath of their victory.
As Garrick lay defeated, Nathan stood tall over him, his chest heaving with exertion. "Tell your leader," he said coldly, his voice laced with finality, "we'll pay what we owe. But not to you."
Turning away, Nathan and Scarlet walked away from the ruins of the orphanage, leaving the remnants of the Blackfang Clan behind them.
***
A New Beginning
The road ahead was uncertain. They knew that. The Demon King was still out there, waiting for them, and their last battle had proved just how far they still had to go. But their resolve had only hardened. They would become stronger. They would find a way to defeat him.
Their journey was far from over. And with each step, Nathan and Scarlet felt the weight of their mission, but also the spark of hope that nothing—not even the darkness of the Demon King—could extinguish.
"We'll find a way," Nathan murmured, his voice thick with determination.
Scarlet's smile, bright and unyielding, reflected the fire within her. "We will."