The massive sphere of demonic energy floated above the forest clearing.
It pulsed like a dark sun.
The air around it vibrated with terrifying power.
Arlen looked up at the sky and cursed under his breath.
"That thing will wipe out the entire forest."
The demon general stood calmly beneath the growing sphere.
Dark energy flowed from his body into the attack.
"This battle has gone on long enough."
His red eyes focused on Ren.
"You are strong."
"But this is where it ends."
The sphere continued expanding.
Trees around the clearing began cracking under the pressure.
Even the ground beneath their feet started to sink.
Shade stood in front of Ren again.
His damaged shadow body tried to rise higher.
"Master."
"I will block the attack."
Ren looked at the giant guardian.
Shade's shadow form had already taken heavy damage.
If that sphere landed—
Shade would be destroyed.
Arlen staggered forward from the broken rocks.
His sword was still in his hand.
But even he looked uncertain.
"There's no way we stop that."
The demon general raised his arm slowly.
The sphere above them trembled.
Energy gathered at its center.
"Die."
He swung his hand downward.
The dark sphere began falling toward the clearing.
The sky itself seemed to collapse with it.
Arlen shouted.
"Move!"
But Ren did not move.
He stood completely still.
The shadows around him began reacting violently.
The ground beneath his feet darkened.
Shade looked back.
"Master?"
Ren slowly closed his eyes.
Inside his mind—
The darkness felt different.
Stronger.
Deeper.
Like something sleeping beneath the shadows.
A voice echoed quietly in the darkness.
"You are holding back."
Ren's eyes opened slightly.
The voice belonged to Shade.
But it sounded deeper than before.
"Your power is not just control."
The voice continued.
"It is dominion."
Above the battlefield, the sphere of demonic energy continued falling.
Arlen looked up in panic.
"We're out of time!"
The demon general watched silently.
He expected fear.
Desperation.
But Ren's expression had changed.
His eyes were calm.
Completely calm.
Ren raised his hand.
The shadows across the entire forest suddenly reacted.
Darkness spread across the ground like an endless ocean.
The clearing disappeared.
The trees disappeared.
Everything beneath the sky turned black.
The demon general frowned slightly.
"What is this?"
Arlen stared at the ground.
The shadows had spread for hundreds of meters.
Ren's voice echoed quietly.
"Shadow Field."
The darkness beneath the battlefield began rising.
Massive pillars of shadow erupted from the ground.
Not small spikes.
Giant structures of pure darkness.
The falling sphere of demonic energy collided with the shadow pillars.
BOOOOM.
The explosion shook the entire forest.
A blinding storm of black energy and demonic power filled the sky.
Shockwaves tore through the trees.
Arlen was thrown backward again.
Even the demon general was forced to step back.
When the light faded—
The battlefield looked completely different.
The forest clearing had become a sea of shadows.
Massive pillars of darkness stood everywhere.
At the center of it all—
Ren stood calmly.
Behind him, Shade had grown larger again.
Much larger.
The shadow guardian's body had absorbed the surrounding darkness.
The demon general looked around slowly.
For the first time—
His expression showed surprise.
"You expanded your shadow domain."
Ren stepped forward.
The shadows beneath his feet moved like living creatures.
"You wanted to measure me."
His voice was calm.
"Now you can."
The demon general's red eyes narrowed.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"Excellent."
His aura expanded again.
"Now the battle is finally worth my time."
Arlen slowly stood up in the distance.
He stared at the transformed battlefield.
The entire forest had become Ren's domain.
He shook his head.
"Alright…"
He lifted his sword again.
"This is officially the craziest mission I've ever been on."
And in the sea of shadows—
The real battle between the Shadow King and the Demon General had just begun.