The valley shook beneath the marching army.
From the walls of the ancient ruins, Aren watched thousands of shadow creatures advance through the darkness. Their glowing red eyes pierced the storm, and the sound of their footsteps echoed like thunder.
At their head stood Prince Darius.
Or what remained of him.
His armor was covered in black crystal, and dark energy swirled around his body. The prince's eyes held no trace of the friend Aren once knew.
Lyra gripped her bow.
"We can't fight all of them."
"We don't have a choice," Kael replied.
Aren stared at Darius.
Deep inside, he refused to believe his friend was truly gone.
The gates of the ruins exploded inward.
The battle began.
Warriors of Elyndor rushed forward, clashing against the shadow army. Steel met darkness. Magic lit the battlefield like flashes of lightning.
Aren charged into the fight, his star-forged blade blazing with silver fire.
One by one, shadow creatures fell before him.
But Darius never moved.
He simply watched.
Waiting.
Finally, he stepped forward.
The battlefield seemed to freeze.
"Aren Vale," Darius said, his voice cold and hollow. "The Shadow King offers you one final chance. Surrender the Broken Stars."
Aren raised his sword.
"I'll never serve him."
For a brief moment, something flickered in Darius's eyes.
A memory.
A piece of the prince fighting to return.
Then the darkness swallowed it.
Darius attacked.
Their swords collided with a burst of energy that shook the valley.
Aren staggered backward.
Darius was stronger than ever.
The battle raged around them as the two friends fought beneath the storm-filled sky.
Then, during a clash of blades, Aren heard a faint whisper.
"Aren... help me..."
It was Darius.
Still trapped inside.
Still alive.
Aren realized the truth.
The Shadow King hadn't destroyed Darius.
He had imprisoned him.
And if there was still light inside the prince, there was still hope.
But freeing him would be far more dangerous than defeating him.
As lightning split the sky, a massive shadow appeared among the clouds.
The Shadow King was coming.
To be continued in Part 18...
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