The night was dark, the moon burning red like it was bleeding, casting a fiery glow over the city ruins. Jin-Woo stood in the middle of the chaos, shadows swirling around him like a living storm, thick and heavy. The Monarchs had returned, more furious, their power crackling in the air like thunder ready to explode. Sillad, the Frost Monarch, raised his hands and the ground beneath them cracked open. From the cracks shot giant pillars of ice, sharp and cold, piercing the broken streets like deadly spears. The cold air was sharp, biting like knives, but Jin-Woo didn't flinch. Beru screamed as he flew fast, tearing through the ice pillars with claws that shined like black steel. Iron slammed his fists hard into the ground, smashing the frozen spikes to shards. The shards flew toward Jin-Woo's shadow army, but the black soldiers moved faster, cutting the shards down before they could reach them. The air was filled with the sound of battle — the clash of claws and swords, the roar of monsters, the crackle of magic.
Then the ground shook again, louder this time. Rakan, the Beast Monarch, crashed down like a storm, his roar shaking the sky. His fur was wild, his claws sharp as razors, and his eyes burning with savage fury. He charged at Iron and Igrit, swinging claws and biting with teeth like daggers. Iron met the attack, blocking with powerful arms, metal ringing against claws with every hit. Igrit moved like a shadow, striking Rakan's legs and arms with glowing sword slashes, trying to slow him down. But Rakan was a beast, wild and fierce, and he fought back with all his might, roaring in pain and anger. Jin-Woo vanished in a shadow blink and reappeared behind Sillad. His black sword swung in a deadly arc, slicing through ice armor and sending shards flying like deadly rain. Sillad tried to block, but the sword broke his shield and Jin-Woo followed with a quick stab that drew blood.
Above the battle, Querehsha floated, her insect wings buzzing. She spread green poison clouds that drifted down, wilting plants and burning the earth. Swarms of poisonous bugs flew out, attacking the shadow soldiers. Beru screamed, cutting through bugs with lightning-fast claws, but more came, faster than he could kill. Jin-Woo called out, "Tusk, now!" The shadow mage gathered dark energy, then hurled a massive fireball into the sky. It exploded, burning away the poison clouds and clearing the air for a moment.
Jin-Woo charged forward, shadows rushing behind him like a dark flood. He struck Sillad's armor again and again, breaking ice and flesh with each slash. Sillad roared and called down a blizzard, freezing Jin-Woo's sword mid-air. But Jin-Woo was faster, vanishing and dodging a giant ice spear, then appearing at Rakan's side. His sword cut deep into the Beast Monarch's flank, making the beast howl in pain. Rakan swung wildly, but Jin-Woo blocked and stabbed again, pushing him back.
The battle was chaos. The earth cracked, buildings fell, and the sky burned with fire and ice. Jin-Woo shouted, "Beru, with me!" Beru dove down, roaring, and together they attacked Querehsha, tearing through her insect wings. She screamed in rage and flew higher, releasing a cloud of poison that almost caught them, but Jin-Woo raised a shadow shield, blocking it easily. He smiled and whispered, "You can't stop me."
Rakan came back, furious and bleeding, crashing into Jin-Woo like a wild storm. They fought hand to hand, Jin-Woo's sword flashing, Rakan's claws ripping. Iron and Igrit joined, slashing and smashing, fighting beasts and monsters summoned by Rakan. The battle was fierce and fast, every second filled with deadly strikes and close calls. Jin-Woo's shadows grew darker and larger, swallowing attacks and turning them back against the Monarchs.
Sillad summoned a giant ice dragon, roaring as it breathed freezing wind across the battlefield. Jin-Woo sent his shadow dragon to meet it, and the two beasts collided with a blast of shadow and ice that shook the city.
Jin-Woo's body glowed dark as he entered Shadow Ruin form, his hair standing on end and his eyes blazing purple. He moved like a whirlwind, cutting through Monarchs and monsters, leaving destruction behind. He struck Sillad hard, shattering his ice armor and sending the Frost Monarch crashing to the ground, wounded but alive.
Rakan roared and charged again, but Jin-Woo was ready. His black sword stabbed deep into the beast's chest, forcing him to stagger back. Querehsha screamed, releasing a final poison cloud, but Jin-Woo raised a giant shadow shield and laughed, "You're weak."
The Monarchs, battered and angry, retreated into the dark sky. Jin-Woo stood tall, breathing heavy, shadows swirling like a dark storm around him. The city was in ruins, but the Shadow King was alive and ready.
"Come," Jin-Woo whispered to the night. "Show me what you got."