The forest had gone completely silent.
Dozens of demon corpses covered the ground around Ren and Arlen.
The remaining demons slowly stepped back, forming a wide circle.
They were no longer attacking.
They were waiting.
At the center of their formation stood the massive creature that had just emerged from the darkness.
The giant demon commander.
Nearly three meters tall.
His muscular body looked like it had been carved from stone.
Two long black horns curved from his skull.
His eyes glowed with a cold red light.
Unlike the smaller demons, this one stood calmly.
Intelligently.
Arlen tightened his grip on his sword.
"That's not a normal demon."
Ren remained silent.
But the shadows beneath his feet shifted slightly.
The demon commander looked down at the dead bodies around him.
"You killed many of my soldiers."
His voice was deep and rough, like stone grinding together.
Arlen stepped forward.
"They attacked first."
The demon slowly lifted his head.
His glowing eyes locked onto Arlen.
"Humans always say that."
Arlen smirked slightly.
"Well, you're demons."
"That's kind of your reputation."
The creature ignored the comment.
Instead, his gaze slowly moved toward Ren.
The moment their eyes met—
The demon commander froze.
For a brief moment, something changed in his expression.
Recognition.
"Shadow energy…"
The creature's voice became lower.
"You are the one."
Arlen frowned.
"The one?"
Ren asked calmly.
"You know me?"
The demon commander took a heavy step forward.
The ground trembled slightly.
"Yes."
His red eyes narrowed.
"The demon world has already heard the rumors."
Arlen glanced at Ren.
"You're famous even among demons now?"
The demon continued speaking.
"The Shadow King has appeared among humans."
A low growl escaped his throat.
"And they sent you here."
Ren answered simply.
"I came because demons were attacking a village."
The demon laughed.
A deep, rumbling sound.
"Of course you did."
He spread his massive arms.
"This forest belongs to us."
"The humans built their villages too close."
Arlen raised his sword again.
"So your solution was to kill everyone?"
The demon's red eyes flashed.
"Yes."
The air around the creature suddenly grew heavier.
Dark energy began gathering around his body.
Arlen's expression became serious.
"That aura…"
Ren felt it too.
This demon was far stronger than the others.
Much stronger than a Rank C creature.
Shade's voice whispered from Ren's shadow.
"Master."
"This enemy is dangerous."
The demon commander flexed his massive claws.
"You humans killed my soldiers."
His voice echoed through the forest.
"So now…"
His aura exploded outward.
"I will kill you."
The remaining demons roared loudly.
The forest trembled under the sudden surge of energy.
Arlen stepped forward.
His sword began glowing brighter.
"Finally."
A sharp smile appeared on his face.
"A real fight."
The demon commander lunged forward.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
His enormous claw swung toward Arlen.
Arlen reacted instantly.
His sword flashed.
CLANG.
The blade collided with the demon's claw.
The impact created a shockwave that pushed both fighters back.
Arlen slid across the dirt before stopping.
His eyes widened slightly.
"That thing is strong."
The demon commander attacked again.
This time aiming directly for Ren.
But before the claw could reach him—
The ground exploded with darkness.
Shade emerged from the shadows.
The giant shadow servant blocked the attack.
The demon commander's claw struck Shade's massive arm.
BOOM.
Both giants pushed against each other.
The forest floor cracked beneath their strength.
The demon's eyes widened slightly.
"A shadow guardian."
Shade's glowing eyes stared back.
"You will not harm my master."
The demon commander growled.
Then he pushed harder.
The two massive beings clashed like titans.
Behind Shade, Ren calmly stepped forward.
The shadows beneath the forest began spreading.
The battlefield was forming again.
Arlen glanced at him and grinned.
"Looks like this mission just got interesting."
But deeper within the forest—
Something else was watching.
Something far more powerful.
And it had just noticed the presence of the Shadow King.