The forest no longer looked like a forest.
The ground had turned into an endless sea of darkness.
Massive pillars of shadow rose from the earth like ancient monuments.
The trees that once stood there were now half-swallowed by the spreading shadow field.
At the center of it all stood Ren.
Calm.
Unmoving.
Behind him, Shade had grown far larger than before.
The shadow guardian's body absorbed the surrounding darkness, making him look like a giant born from night itself.
Arlen slowly stood up at the edge of the battlefield.
He stared at the transformed clearing.
"This isn't normal magic."
The demon general stood across from Ren.
For the first time since arriving—
He looked serious.
"So this is your true power."
Ren said nothing.
The shadows beneath the ground moved like a living ocean.
Every inch of the battlefield responded to his presence.
The demon general slowly rolled his shoulders.
Dark energy gathered around him again.
"I like it."
His voice echoed through the shadow field.
"This will be a proper fight."
Without warning—
He vanished.
The demon general appeared in front of Ren in an instant.
His fist shot forward like a cannon.
But the ground beneath him suddenly exploded.
A massive shadow pillar rose between them.
BOOM.
The demon general's punch shattered part of the pillar.
But the attack never reached Ren.
Another shadow pillar rose from the side.
Then another.
The entire battlefield began moving.
Arlen stared in disbelief.
"The ground is attacking him."
The demon general jumped backward.
Three shadow spikes shot toward him.
He cut through them with a burst of demonic energy.
But more shadows rose behind him.
Chains.
Blades.
Spikes.
The battlefield itself had become Ren's weapon.
The demon general laughed loudly.
"So this is your advantage."
He raised both arms.
Dark energy exploded outward.
Several shadow pillars shattered instantly.
But the destruction didn't matter.
The shadows immediately reformed.
Ren stepped forward slowly.
"You're inside my field now."
The demon general smiled.
"Good."
Suddenly—
He slammed his foot into the ground.
BOOOOM.
A massive wave of demonic energy blasted across the shadow field.
Several pillars collapsed.
Arlen barely managed to block the shockwave.
"That guy is insane."
But Ren didn't move.
Instead—
The darkness beneath the battlefield deepened further.
Shade stepped forward again.
Now larger than ever before.
The giant shadow guardian swung his massive arm.
The demon general blocked it.
BOOM.
The impact sent shockwaves across the field.
Shade attacked again.
The demon general dodged.
But this time—
The ground beneath him moved.
Shadow chains wrapped around his leg.
Another chain grabbed his arm.
The demon general tried to break them—
But a massive shadow pillar slammed into his back.
CRASH.
For the first time—
The demon general was knocked to the ground.
Arlen blinked.
"Did he actually land that?"
The demon general slowly stood up again.
His armor was cracked.
Dark blood ran down his shoulder.
But instead of anger—
He began laughing.
A deep, excited laugh.
"Yes."
His red eyes glowed brighter.
"Yes, this is it."
His aura surged violently again.
"This is the power I came to see."
The demon general's body began changing.
Dark energy wrapped around him like armor.
His muscles expanded.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Arlen's smile disappeared.
"Oh no."
Ren narrowed his eyes.
The demon general raised his head slowly.
"You forced me to this point."
His voice had become deeper.
More monstrous.
"Now…"
His aura exploded across the shadow field.
"…let me show you the power of a true Demon General."
The shadows across the battlefield trembled.
Even Shade paused.
The demon general's transformation had begun.