As Jiǎo Lóng sat on the throne, Da Ming and Xiao Ming approached him, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and reverence.
"My king," Da Ming said, bowing low. "The time has come for you to claim your rightful place as the Demon King."
Xiao Ming stepped forward, holding out a small, delicate box. "This is the last artifact, the Heart of Darkness," he said. "With this, you will be fully awakened as the Demon King."
Jiǎo Lóng's eyes narrowed as he took the box from Xiao Ming. He opened it, revealing a small, glowing crystal that pulsed with dark energy.
"Leave me," Jiǎo Lóng ordered, his voice low and commanding.
Da Ming and Xiao Ming bowed and backed away, disappearing into the shadows.
Jiǎo Lóng's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he merged the Heart of Darkness with his body. The artifact seemed to dissolve into his skin, and Jiǎo Lóng felt a surge of power course through his veins.
Suddenly, the air around Jiǎo Lóng seemed to distort and ripple, and the Demon King emerged from Jiǎo Lóng's body. The two stood facing each other, their faces identical.
"You fool," the Demon King sneered, his eyes blazing with malevolence. "You think you can control me? I am the one who will rule, not you."
Jiǎo Lóng smiled, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "I am the one who has been chosen," he said. "And I will not be defeated."
With a wave of his hand, Jiǎo Lóng summoned his magical powers, and the Heart Stoppers were removed from his heart. The artifacts seemed to recognize Jiǎo Lóng as their rightful master, and they began to glow with an intense, pulsing light.
The Demon King's eyes widened in shock and horror. "No, it can't be," he cried, his voice echoing through the throne room.
But it was too late. The artifacts had already chosen Jiǎo Lóng as their master, and the Demon King's power was fading.
With a final, defeated cry, the Demon King vanished into thin air, leaving Jiǎo Lóng standing alone.
Jiǎo Lóng's eyes gleamed with triumph as he raised his hands, and the throne room was filled with a blinding, pulsing light.
When the light faded, Jiǎo Lóng stood tall, his eyes blazing with power. He was the rightful Demon King, and he would rule with an iron fist.
The throne room was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the Demon King's minions. They knew that they had a new master, one who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
After a day of preparations, Da Ming and Xiao Ming reported to the Demon King Jiǎo Lóng that the heavenly realm had arrived with a large army.
"My king, the heavenly realm has come with a massive army," Da Ming said, his voice urgent. "They are led by Tian Shang and Lingye."
Jiǎo Lóng's eyes narrowed as he stood up from his throne. "Then let us go and face them," he said, his voice dripping with confidence.
Da Ming and Xiao Ming nodded and followed Jiǎo Lóng as he marched out of the throne room and towards the battlefield.
As they arrived, Jiǎo Lóng saw the heavenly army arrayed before him. Tian Shang stood at the front, his eyes blazing with determination.
"You demon, we have come to put an end to you," Tian Shang said, his voice ringing out across the battlefield. "You are a monster, and you will be destroyed."
Jiǎo Lóng smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Then come and try," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Tian Shang snarled and ordered his army to attack. Jiǎo Lóng didn't mind, summoning his artifact weapon, the Sceptre of Light.
But just as Jiǎo Lóng was about to attack, Lingye arrived, her eyes wide with fear.
"Jiǎo Lóng, stop!" Lingye cried, rushing forward. "Don't do this."
Jiǎo Lóng's eyes flickered towards Lingye, but he seemed not to care. In an instant, he attacked, unleashing a wave of dark energy that crashed against the heavenly army's magic barrier.
The barrier held strong, protecting the heavenly army from Jiǎo Lóng's attack. But Jiǎo Lóng was relentless, summoning wave after wave of dark energy to crash against the barrier.
Lingye watched in horror as Jiǎo Lóng attacked, her heart heavy with sorrow. She knew that Jiǎo Lóng was no longer the man she loved, that he had been consumed by the darkness within him.