Chapter 10 - Chapter 10:Echoes Of Earthquake And Fall Of Drexer

🌄**Chapter 10: Echoes of the Earthquake and Drexer's Fall – Sovereign of Earthquakes**

Dusk had settled over the Shadow Realm. A strange, mesmerizing crimson glow blanketed the entire sky. Wisps of ethereal mist drifted lazily through the air. North of the Shadow Realm lay Drexer's Town, nestled beside a colossal mountain range. At the mountain's base, inside a secluded cave, a flickering fire burned brightly. Four figures sat around it—Kai, Aya, Rai, and Shinsei.

They had only just slipped into Drexer's Town from Zalvor's School and taken shelter in this hidden cavern. Exhaustion was etched deeply into their faces. The wounds scarring their bodies bore silent witness to the titanic battle they had endured. No one spoke. A single thought consumed their minds: how they would claim victory in the looming confrontation. They knew raw power alone would not suffice this time—fate itself would have to stand with them.

Time slipped by in heavy silence until night fully claimed the realm. The campfire danced and crackled. Kai stared into the flames as though the fire raged not before him, but deep within his soul. Rai lay on his back, gazing at the cavern ceiling. Shinsei fed dry leaves into the blaze. Beside Kai, Aya sat carving their names into a flat stone with quiet concentration. She held it up for him to see.

**Aya:** "How does this look?"

Kai remained wordless, lost in thought.

Aya gently took his hand and gave it a soft shake.

**Aya:** "What's wrong? Where have you wandered off to?"

**Kai:** (snapping back) "Nothing!" (glancing at the stone) "It's beautiful."

**Aya:** "You were definitely thinking about something. Tell me."

**Shinsei:** "Sharing what weighs on your heart will lighten it."

**Kai:** "Actually… I suddenly remembered my ancestors. My father once told me their stories on a night just like this. My great-grandfather was so legendary that tales of him reached even his own grandfather's ears. How he rose as an invincible warrior, how he sought worthy rivals, how he opened the Shadow Gates and defeated the ancient champions within… But in the end…"

He paused, voice heavy. "In the end, he lost himself to solitude and turned to darkness. He fell at the hands of a lone warrior. How could such a magnificent life end so tragically?" (another pause) "Will the same fate await me?"

**Shinsei:** "You shouldn't dwell on such thoughts. There is no possibility of that. For now, we must surrender everything to time."

**Rai:** "Shinsei is right. Your ancestor's destiny has no bearing on yours. Don't cling to such superstition."

**Aya:** (placing a hand on Kai's shoulder) "Don't worry. We will never let you vanish into the shadows."

Night passed in quiet vigil.

At dawn, Kai slipped out of the cave and walked a short distance away. He began training with ferocious intensity—treating towering trees and massive boulders as mortal enemies. Blow after blow shattered stone and splintered wood.

Suddenly, with a mere gesture of his hand, the surroundings plunged into absolute darkness. Every object nearby converged into a single swirling orb. In an instant, the sphere was engulfed in pure Shadow energy.

**Kai:** "Umbral Singularity."

A cataclysmic explosion erupted. Everything inside the orb was reduced to glittering dust. The smoke slowly cleared, and serenity returned to the landscape. Kai sat down to rest. Moments later, Shinsei approached from behind.

**Shinsei:** "What are you doing out here?"

**Kai:** "Trying to master my Shadow energy."

**Shinsei:** "Good. All of us must learn to command our Shadow energy perfectly."

Shinsei sat beside him. For a while, they gazed silently at the sky.

Suddenly, Aya arrived.

**Aya:** "There you are! I've been searching everywhere. Where's Rai?"

**Kai:** "He went outside."

**Shinsei:** "Outside?!"

**Kai:** "He wanted to explore Drexer's Town a little."

**Shinsei:** "You let him go? That's extremely dangerous."

**Kai:** "I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen."

**Aya:** "Relax. I doubt he'll run into any real trouble."

They returned to the cave together.

Meanwhile, in Drexer's Town…

Rai wandered the bustling market disguised as an ordinary ninja. This place felt utterly different from anywhere else in the Shadow Realm—ninjas from every corner gathered here. Rai realized he had no idea where Drexer actually resided. It certainly didn't look like a typical overlord's domain. He decided to ask someone. Spotting a blacksmith sharpening swords, he approached casually.

**Rai:** "You craft truly exquisite weapons. How many years have you been at it?"

**Blacksmith Ninja:** "Not too long—twenty years. Planning to buy one?"

**Rai:** "I already have my own. But tell me, where does Lord Drexer live?"

**Blacksmith Ninja:** "What? You don't know? Which territory are you from?"

**Rai:** (slightly flustered) "Zalvor's School. I… don't get out much, so I'm unfamiliar with these parts."

**Blacksmith Ninja:** "Ah, a fresh recruit. Makes sense. Actually, Drexer doesn't live in the town anymore. This realm once belonged to him, but he found the mountain far more suitable. No one claimed it, so he moved there and gifted the town to the ninjas."

**Rai:** "Oh! Truly remarkable."

**Blacksmith Ninja:** (showing a book) "Here—buy this. It contains everything about the Shadow Realm. You'll find it in any shop."

**Rai:** "Understood. Thank you."

Rai left, inwardly amused at how easily he had fooled the man. Still, he took the information seriously and entered a nearby shop.

**Rai:** "Hello, do you have that book about the Shadow Realm?"

**Shopkeeper:** "Which one?"

**Rai:** "The comprehensive one on the entire realm."

**Shopkeeper:** (pulling out a volume) "This?"

**Rai:** "Yes. I'll take it."

**Shopkeeper:** "That'll be fifty Abyssal Obols."

**Rai:** "What are those?"

Suspicion flashed across the shopkeeper's face.

**Shopkeeper:** "The currency of the Shadow Realm."

**Rai:** "I don't have any Abyssal Obols." (pulling out a gleaming diamond) "Would this suffice instead?"

**Shopkeeper:** "Hmm… an exceptionally flawless, radiant diamond."

**Rai:** "Indeed."

**Shopkeeper:** (suddenly furious) "Tell the truth! Where did you get this?"

Rai tensed but kept his composure.

**Rai:** "Soryth's Forest!"

**Shopkeeper:** "Liar! Such a diamond doesn't exist anywhere in the Shadow Realm. I know that for a fact!" (shouting) "Thief! There's a thief here!"

**Rai:** "No, you've misunderstood—"

The shopkeeper continued yelling. With no other choice, Rai lunged, clamping a hand over his mouth.

**Rai:** "Silence! Not a sound."

He struck the man's head, knocking him unconscious.

**Rai:** (glaring down) "Hah! Thought you could expose me?"

He turned—only to find a crowd gathering. Realizing he was cornered, Rai snatched the book and bolted. Ninjas pursued him relentlessly. He leaped across rooftops with masterful agility. The chase intensified. Suddenly, Rai remembered: these were merely ordinary ninjas. Why was he fleeing? He summoned Shadow energy into his hands, forging twin Axes, and spun around. Hundreds of armed ninjas charged. He gripped his weapons tighter—then hesitated.

What if powerful Shadow Entities hid among them? He would be overwhelmed and captured.

**Rai:** "Bad idea."

He resumed his desperate sprint. A ninja on a massive, horse-like beast thundered toward him, weapon leveled. The creature was far larger and fiercer than any horse.

**Mounted Ninja:** "Halt!"

Rai closed the distance in a single bound, delivering a devastating spinning kick to the rider's face. The ninja flew several meters. Rai vaulted onto the beast, yanking its reins. The creature surged forward at blinding speed. The pursuers were left far behind. Before returning to the cave, Rai gathered timber and hastily constructed a cart, hitching it to the beast. He arrived triumphantly.

Aya, Kai, and Shinsei waited anxiously.

**Aya:** (to Rai) "Why were you gone so long? We've been waiting forever." (noticing the beast and cart) "What is that?"

**Rai:** "Sorry for the delay. But I learned something crucial—Drexer doesn't live in the town. He resides on that mountain."

**Shinsei:** "I suspected as much. Still, Rai, venturing out alone was reckless. Don't do it again."

**Rai:** "Understood. I'll be more careful."

**Kai:** "We should move now. We've already delayed too long. And Rai, that beast and cart will prove useful on the mountain."

Their journey began. Despite the rugged terrain, the beast climbed effortlessly; only the cart jolted slightly. Hour after hour passed. Suddenly, in the distance, they spotted a gathering—ninjas sparring and lounging. Among them stood three Shadow Entities: Elaric, Dravos, and Belmor. They served under Drexer and had organized the tournament purely for amusement.

Kai, Aya, Rai, and Shinsei dismounted and readied their weapons, advancing toward the Shadow Entities.

Meanwhile, the trio and the ninjas enjoyed the spectacle. Belmor suddenly sensed approaching presences. He looked up and saw figures heading straight for them.

**Belmor:** "Quiet! Someone's coming."

**Dravos:** (dismissively) "Who would come here? Probably just more ninjas."

**Belmor:** "No. Someone else."

**Elaric:** "Someone else?"

They all turned. The approaching group did not look friendly.

**Dravos:** "Who are they? They don't seem like easy prey."

**Belmor:** "Easy or not, we must capture them and deliver them to Drexer. Ninjas—attack!"

Hundreds of ninjas surged forward like a tidal wave.

**Shinsei:** "Kai and Aya, circle around and strike the Shadow Entities directly. Rai and I will handle the ninjas."

Kai and Aya split left and right to flank. Shinsei and Rai stood firm, awaiting the horde.

**Rai:** "We need to eliminate many of them quickly. Long-range weapons would make this simple. But you only use your fists…"

A faint smile crossed Shinsei's lips.

**Shinsei:** "In my youth, before I ever touched Shadow energy, I was the finest weapon master on my planet. There is no blade I cannot wield with perfection."

With those words, he forged a long katana from Shadow energy. The crimson aura of his Fist of Harm instantly infused the blade, making it blaze like living flame.

**Rai:** "Cool!"

Rai summoned a Kusarigama crackling with Shadow energy.

The ninjas closed in. Shinsei and Rai plunged into their ranks. Shinsei's katana danced with lethal grace; each swing, empowered by Fist of Harm, cleaved through five or six foes at once. Rai's Kusarigama whirled like a deadly storm, shredding ten to fifteen enemies per rotation. Its weighted, spiked end crushed skulls with brutal efficiency.

From afar, Dravos, Elaric, and Belmor watched.

**Elaric:** "I think we should join."

**Belmor:** "Agreed. They look formidable."

As they moved, Kai and Aya struck from the flanks. Aya hurled her giant knife at Dravos, slamming him into the mountainside. She summoned her knives and charged. Dravos rose, extending his Crescent Knives' chains with Shadow energy. Aya's blades shattered against them. Dravos smirked contemptuously.

**Dravos:** "Well, well. Intruders in our domain. We must offer proper hospitality."

He lunged with his Crescent Knives. Aya met him with a barrage of thrown blades. Dravos spun his chains into a protective sphere, deflecting every strike. Aya, bewildered, clasped her hands together. Darkness swallowed the area. Dust swirled. Countless motes of Shadow energy appeared.

**Aya:** "Knives Inversion!"

The motes transformed into a raging storm of blades. Dravos slammed his Crescent Knives into the ground.

**Dravos:** "Lithic Shield!"

Earth erupted, forming an impenetrable dome around him. The knife storm hammered the shield. Inside, Dravos bled from the strain. When the assault ended, he burst forth and closed the distance, slashing Aya viciously. She blocked with her arms, but the force shattered bone and drove the blade into her abdomen. She flew backward. Dravos struck again, opening a gash on her head. Believing her defeated, he turned away.

Suddenly, darkness returned. Shadow energy surged. Aya stood, eyes glowing violet despite her wounds. Energy coalesced in her hand into a magnificent dagger named Collapse—swirling with crimson, violet, and obsidian light. Before Dravos could react, she hurled it. He dodged, but Collapse burrowed into the mountain behind him. At Aya's command, it reversed course. Dravos blocked with his knives, yet the impact sent shockwaves. Aya unleashed relentless strikes. One finally pierced his chest. She recalled Collapse and slammed it into the ground. A rift of Shadow energy tore upward, striking Dravos. He screamed. Before he could rise, Aya triggered Collapse once more. His bones splintered apart. Dravos fell, defeated.

Meanwhile, Kai battled Belmor and Elaric simultaneously with his twin swords. Their overwhelming power gradually wore him down. Realizing he needed to separate them, Kai retreated. Elaric spun his Kunai and charged. Kai scattered Shadow energy like sand into the air, creating thick smoke that engulfed him. Elaric plunged in—only to find Kai gone. He stumbled. Belmor rushed to assist but found Kai behind him. Darkness spread. Belmor turned to see a spiraling vortex of Shadow energy forming.

Belmor clapped his hands, unleashing a devastating Shockwave. 

**Kai:** "Too late. Shadow Blast!"

The spiraling energy collided with the Shockwave and blasted Belmor into the mountain. Elaric hurled his Kunai, which transformed into blazing Shadow Chakrams. Kai crossed his swords to block, but the impact hurled him back. A second chakram pierced his chest, slamming him into rock. Even critically wounded, Kai rose, leaning on his blades. His Shadow aura thickened to pure midnight. His swords grew heavier and wider. His Shadow form intensified.

Elaric charged in panic. Kai met him head-on. With each clash, Kai's power surged—his strikes became faster, heavier, unstoppable. One blow severed Elaric's arm. Another sent him crashing into the mountainside. Kai's blood, still staining the rock, animated at his command and pinned Elaric.

**Kai:** "Shadow Slash!"

Invisible waves of darkness sliced through Elaric repeatedly. As Kai continued, Belmor erupted from the mountain, landing with earth-shaking force. Kai stumbled. Belmor charged with Steel Batons. Kai countered with a powerful kick. Their weapons clashed repeatedly, generating shockwaves. Belmor's raw strength matched Kai's enhanced form. Kai's swords began to fracture. He leaped back, then spun both blades in wide arcs. Belmor's armor shattered. Before the finishing blow, Belmor clapped.

**Belmor:** "Shadow Clap!"

A massive blast cleared the area. Belmor stomped the ground.

**Belmor:** "Shadow Earth Spikes!"

Razor-sharp stone spikes erupted, piercing Kai's Shadow armor and gutting him. Kai wrenched the spike free. Belmor advanced.

**Belmor:** "You made a grave mistake invading Drexer's domain. I swear I will grind your bones and hang them from this mountain."

Kai scanned the battlefield—now littered with stone and hardened earth from Belmor's ability.

**Kai:** "Perfect. Exactly what I was waiting for."

**Umbral Singularity.**

Shadow energy engulfed everything. A colossal vortex formed, drawing in every rock, every grain of sand—and Belmor himself. All converged into a single shadowy orb. Inside, chaos reigned. Stones collided at lightning speed, shattering. Belmor's batons could not block them all; smaller fragments pierced his armor. A final explosion obliterated the orb. Belmor lay broken and unconscious amid the dust.

The remaining ninjas, sensing total defeat, fled. Shinsei and Rai rejoined Kai and Aya. Aya rested while Kai healed his wounds. Belmor lay nearby, still unconscious.

**Rai:** "Looks like you had quite the workout. Rest a little, or head straight for Drexer?"

**Kai:** "We go now."

**Shinsei:** "Very well. Let's move."

They resumed their ascent. Soon after, Belmor regained consciousness, wounds slowly mending. He whistled sharply. A black winged creature swooped down. He sent it racing toward the summit to warn Drexer.

Meanwhile, Rai drove the cart up the mountain, Kai, Aya, and Shinsei seated inside with tense anticipation. The cart halted. They had arrived. They stepped out into swirling sandy winds. The air grew darker with every step. Suddenly, a massive stone throne emerged—fused to the mountain's core. Drexer sat atop it, sharpening one cleaver against another, sparks flying. Chains lay coiled at his feet. Belmor's messenger bird perched on his shoulder.

The bird took flight. Drexer sensed his prey had come. He looked up, eyes locking onto the group. A razor-sharp grin split his face. He rose. The ground trembled beneath his boots.

**Drexer:** "So these are the fools who dare challenge me. Come, my prey. I cannot wait to grind you into this very earth."

With a savage laugh and crimson eyes blazing with fury, he advanced, chains of his cleavers whirling. Kai, Aya, Rai, and Shinsei raised their weapons. Drexer charged. Rai unleashed Diamond Storm while Aya hurled Collapse. Drexer halted, lengthening his chains and spinning them into a whirlwind that sliced every diamond and repelled every strike. Kai seized the opening and flashed forward.

**Kai:** "Shadow Cutting Flash!"

In a streak of lightning, he severed the chains and drove his katana into Drexer's chest, then summoned his twin swords and unleashed a hundred strikes. Drexer staggered back, blood trickling from his mouth. He caught Aya's returning Collapse and flung it back at her. As he pulled Kai's blade free, Shinsei struck from behind with Fist of Pressure.

**BOOM!**

Drexer flew backward. He rose, reforming his cleavers with Shadow energy, wrapping the chains around his fists. Shinsei's hands glowed deep crimson. They collided in a barrage of punches. Shinsei's Fist of Harm spread agonizing, venomous pain through Drexer's body, while Drexer's blows rattled Shinsei's very skeleton. Their impacts echoed across the mountain. Shinsei dodged aside. Drexer lashed out with freed chains. Shinsei leaped across them and delivered a charged kick to Drexer's leg. Both landed simultaneous strikes.

**BOOM!**

The ground cratered. Both warriors were hurled a hundred meters apart. Blood dripped from Drexer's hands; Shinsei's leg was shattered. Dust filled the air. From three directions, Aya, Kai, and Rai launched coordinated assaults.

**Drexer:** "You haven't trapped me—I have trapped you. Cataclysmic Impact!"

He leaped high and slammed down. The entire mountainside erupted. A cataclysmic storm tore everything loose.

**Drexer:** "Shadow Clap!"

A shockwave cleared the dust. Kai, Aya, and Rai were hurled away. Drexer leaped again, extending his chains to impossible lengths. One cleaver spun in the air while the other flew at Rai. Rai dodged, but the blade severed his arm. Drexer spun the second cleaver, coating it in his own blood, and hurled it at Kai. Aya threw herself in front.

**Aya:** "Shield of Collapse!"

Massive daggers formed a protective wall. The cleaver shattered them and buried itself in Aya's stomach. Blood sprayed everywhere. Kai froze in horror. Drexer yanked the chain. The cleaver tore free, his blood now coursing through Aya's veins, preventing healing. Kai rushed to her side, desperately trying to staunch the bleeding. Drexer pressed the attack.

**Kai:** "DREXER!!!"

He blocked and counterattacked furiously. Drexer parried.

**Kai:** "AHHHH!"

**Drexer:** "Scream louder! The sound of enemies in agony is music to my ears."

He discarded his broken armor and wrapped his forearms in chains up to the elbows. Kai's Shadow energy surged wildly. A titanic duel erupted—Kai's speed versus Drexer's overwhelming power. Kai's weapons shattered repeatedly against the chains; he kept reforming them. Their fury intensified.

Shinsei and Rai worked frantically to stabilize Aya. Shinsei realized healing would not activate until Drexer was defeated. His gaze fell on Drexer's throne. A plan formed. He signaled Kai. Kai disengaged, struck once more, and raced toward the throne. Rai followed Shinsei's cue.

**Drexer:** "Time to end this."

He drenched his cleavers in fresh blood and hurled them at the fleeing Kai. Rai intercepted with a diamond barrage, shoving Kai aside. The cleaver struck the throne instead. Because the throne was fused to the mountain, the blade embedded deep. The chain, still wrapped around Drexer's fist, dragged him forward. He slammed into his own throne and became entangled.

Kai calmed.

**Kai:** "Shadow Sonic Barrage."

He unleashed a blistering barrage of strikes. Drexer was ripped free and launched skyward. Kai followed at light speed, delivering hundreds of devastating blows that left Drexer mangled. Kai collapsed from exhaustion. Drexer crashed to the ground, yet still struggled to rise. Suddenly, Shinsei descended like a meteor, Fist of Destruction blazing black.

The impact shook the entire mountain. Dust billowed. Aya's healing finally activated. Rai rushed to her.

**Rai:** "You're up. We need to leave—now."

He lifted Aya onto his shoulder. They boarded the cart and began their descent.

**Rai:** (to Shinsei) "Got the key?"

**Shinsei:** "Yes!"

As twilight fell, two Shadow Entities—Kaelen and Vornik—ascended the mountain path through the market district.

**Vornik:** (irritated) "I don't understand these ninjas. Claiming intruders entered the Shadow Realm and beat everyone. Ridiculous nonsense."

**Kaelen:** (laughing) "Intruders in the Shadow Realm? Impossible. They're losing their minds and trying to drive us mad too."

Vornik glanced upward. The entire peak was fractured. The summit looked as though a cataclysm had ravaged it.

**Vornik:** (astonished) "Look ahead."

**Kaelen:** "What the—?! How did this happen? Our mountain—what has become of it?!"

They sprinted to the summit. Drexer was gone—only a crater remained. Inside, they found him unconscious, body covered in horrific wounds slowly knitting together.

They drew closer.

**Vornik:** "The ninjas were telling the truth. Someone truly came. And they were far more powerful than we imagined."

**Kaelen:** "I can barely believe it. But where are they now? How do we find them?"

**Vornik:** (noticing the key missing) "They've already taken it. We will avenge our lord. Without question."

**To be continued…**