The forest trembled under the clash of giants.
Shade and the demon commander pushed against each other like two massive forces of nature.
The demon's claws scraped against Shade's shadow arm, releasing sparks of dark energy.
The ground beneath them cracked deeper with every second.
Behind the giant shadow guardian, Ren watched calmly.
His eyes carefully observed the demon commander.
This creature was far stronger than the other demons.
Stronger than expected.
Arlen also noticed.
He stepped beside Ren, sword still glowing faintly.
"That thing isn't Rank C."
Ren nodded.
"No."
Arlen narrowed his eyes.
"Probably Rank B… maybe higher."
Before they could say more, the demon commander suddenly pushed forward with explosive strength.
BOOM.
Shade was forced back several steps.
The giant shadow's feet dug into the ground, leaving deep trenches in the dirt.
The demon commander roared.
His massive fist slammed toward Shade again.
Shade blocked the strike, but the impact sent a shockwave through the surrounding trees.
Several nearby trunks cracked and collapsed.
Arlen whistled quietly.
"That's not normal demon strength."
Ren raised his hand slowly.
The shadows beneath the forest began moving again.
Dark tendrils spread across the ground like creeping vines.
The demon commander noticed immediately.
His red eyes turned toward Ren.
"So the shadow king controls the battlefield."
Ren said nothing.
Instead, the shadows suddenly rose from the ground.
Ten shadow soldiers formed around the demon commander.
Each one held a blade of darkness.
The soldiers attacked at the same time.
The demon commander moved instantly.
His claws tore through the first soldier.
The second was smashed apart with a backhand strike.
The third leaped toward his head—
The demon grabbed it and crushed it like dust.
Arlen watched with interest.
"He's strong."
Ren nodded slightly.
"Yes."
The demon commander laughed.
"These weak shadows cannot stop me."
He slammed his foot into the ground.
A burst of dark energy exploded outward.
The remaining shadow soldiers shattered instantly.
The forest shook again.
Arlen frowned.
"That attack destroyed them all at once."
Ren's eyes remained calm.
But his shadow slowly expanded again.
The demon commander stepped forward.
"You are powerful, Shadow King."
His voice echoed through the forest.
"But you are still young."
His aura grew heavier.
"Too young to defeat me."
Suddenly—
He moved.
The demon commander charged directly at Ren with terrifying speed.
The ground cracked beneath every step.
Arlen reacted instantly.
His sword flashed forward.
SLASH.
The blade cut across the demon's chest.
But the wound barely slowed him.
The demon commander swung his arm.
Arlen barely blocked the strike.
CLANG.
The impact sent him flying backward through the trees.
He crashed into a large trunk before stopping.
Arlen coughed slightly as he stood up again.
"Okay…"
"That hurt."
The demon commander continued moving toward Ren.
But Shade stepped forward again.
The giant shadow threw a heavy punch.
The demon blocked it.
Their fists collided like two crashing boulders.
BOOM.
Shockwaves spread through the forest.
Trees bent from the force.
The demon commander grinned.
"So this is your strongest guardian."
He pushed Shade backward again.
But this time—
Ren moved.
His hand lifted slightly.
The shadows beneath the forest suddenly surged upward.
Not as soldiers.
Not as spikes.
But as chains.
Thick, powerful chains of darkness shot out of the ground.
They wrapped around the demon commander's arms.
His legs.
His torso.
The creature roared in anger.
"What is this?"
The chains tightened.
Dark energy flowed through them.
Holding the massive demon in place.
Arlen watched from a distance.
"Nice."
But the demon commander's muscles bulged.
With a powerful roar—
CRACK.
One chain snapped.
Then another.
Arlen's smile faded.
"That's bad."
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
The demon was even stronger than expected.
The demon commander ripped apart the remaining chains.
His red eyes burned with fury.
"You dare restrain me?"
His aura exploded outward violently.
Dark energy blasted through the forest.
Even Shade was forced back a step.
The demon commander pointed directly at Ren.
"Shadow King."
His voice echoed like thunder.
"I will take your head."
Then suddenly—
Another voice echoed through the forest.
Cold.
Calm.
And far more powerful.
"You will not."
Every demon in the forest froze instantly.
Even the giant commander stopped moving.
Arlen looked around.
"Who said that?"
Ren turned his head slowly.
Because he could feel it.
A new presence had entered the forest.
A presence far stronger than the demon commander.
And the shadows beneath the trees reacted immediately.