The city lay in ruins, smoke rising from shattered buildings. The air was thick with the smell of burning and blood. Jin-Woo's shadows moved like living darkness, stretching far and wide, ready to crush anyone who stood against him. The Monarchs came back, more furious and desperate. Sillad's cold breath froze the air, his hands glowing icy blue. He slammed them down and the ground erupted with jagged ice spikes, sharp and deadly, shooting toward Jin-Woo and his army. Jin-Woo's eyes narrowed. Without a word, he sent Beru and Iron forward. Beru flew fast, claws tearing through the ice pillars. Iron smashed the frozen spikes into dust with powerful fists. Shards flew like bullets, but Jin-Woo's shadows moved faster, cutting and blocking every attack. The battle sounds were deafening — metal clashed, monsters roared, magic exploded.
Rakan crashed down like a raging storm, his roar shaking the ground. His claws shredded buildings, fangs dripping venom. He charged Iron and Igrit, slashing and biting with wild fury. Iron blocked with arms like hammers, metal ringing against claws with every hit. Igrit moved like a ghost, slicing Rakan's limbs with glowing sword strikes, slowing him down. But Rakan was a beast, wild and relentless, fighting with savage rage. Jin-Woo vanished in shadow and reappeared behind Sillad. His black sword swung in deadly arcs, slicing ice armor and sending shards flying. Sillad tried to block, but Jin-Woo's strike broke his shield and cut deep, blood spilling.
Querehsha floated above, insect wings buzzing. She spread green poison clouds that drifted down, wilting plants and burning earth. Her insect army swarmed the shadows, biting and poisoning. Beru screamed, cutting through bugs with lightning speed, but the swarm was endless. Jin-Woo shouted, "Tusk, fireball!" The shadow mage raised his hands and threw a massive fireball that exploded, burning poison clouds and clearing the sky for a moment.
Jin-Woo charged, shadows rushing like a flood. He struck Sillad's armor again and again, breaking ice and flesh with every slash. Sillad roared, calling down a blizzard that froze Jin-Woo's sword mid-air. Jin-Woo vanished, dodging a giant ice spear, and reappeared at Rakan's side, stabbing deep into the Beast Monarch's flank. Rakan howled in pain and swung wildly, but Jin-Woo blocked and pushed him back with powerful strikes.
The battle was chaos. Earth cracked, buildings fell, sky burned with fire and ice. Jin-Woo called, "Beru, with me!" Beru dove down, roaring, and together they attacked Querehsha, cutting her insect wings. She screamed in rage and flew higher, releasing a deadly poison cloud, but Jin-Woo raised a shadow shield, blocking it easily. He smiled and whispered, "You can't stop me."
Rakan returned, furious and bleeding, crashing into Jin-Woo like a wild storm. They fought hand to hand, sword flashing, claws ripping. Iron and Igrit joined, slashing and smashing, fighting beasts summoned by Rakan. The fight was fierce and fast, every second full of deadly strikes and close calls. Jin-Woo's shadows grew larger, swallowing attacks and turning them back on Monarchs.
Sillad summoned a giant ice dragon, roaring and breathing freezing wind. 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, hair standing on end, eyes blazing purple. He moved like a whirlwind, cutting through Monarchs and monsters, leaving destruction behind. He struck Sillad hard, shattering ice armor and sending the Frost Monarch crashing, 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 storm around him. The city was silent, but a new darkness stirred just beyond the horizon—something worse, something hungry.
And from the shadows, a faint whisper echoed, colder than death itself:
"This is only the beginning."