The scorching air from Volcano Mountain still lingered on Alex's skin as the group set off towards the Kingdom of Eldoria – the human capital, located in the center of the continent of Elyria. With the new alliance from the Dragon tribe, Ignis had sent a young dragon named Pyra – in human form with fiery red hair and eyes sparkling with fire – to accompany them. "I will scout ahead by air," Pyra said, her voice echoing like fire. Alex, Elara, Grom, and Pyra formed a small but formidable team, moving swiftly across the vast plains. Alex's level was now 28, with Shadow Army allowing him to summon a small legion of shadows, but he remained cautious about the backlash. "The Dark Lord knows we are coming. He won't let Eldoria fall easily," Alex murmured, gripping his Mithril sword tight.
Elara walked beside him; her wounds from the previous battle had healed, but her eyes were filled with worry. "Eldoria is the military and commercial center of the human race. If it falls to the darkness, the whole continent will descend into chaos." Grom nodded, his Mithril hammer on his shoulder: "We Dwarves have a treaty with them. If the capital falls, our ore supply will be cut off." Pyra flew high above, reporting back: "The Shadow Legion is besieging the city! They are as numerous as ants, led by Dark Generals." Alex felt the darkness within him tremble, as if responding to a call from the abyss. The System chimed: [Main Quest: Defend Eldoria. Reward: New Skill – Shadow Eclipse, Level +10.]
They reached the outskirts of Eldoria in the afternoon, and a horrifying scene unfolded: the great city with its sturdy stone walls was surrounded by thousands of the Shadow Legion – corrupted Orcs, dark Goblins, colossal Shadow Beasts, and invisible phantoms hovering. The sky was gray; the darkness spread like a black cloud, obscuring the sun. The Dark Generals – three tall figures in black robes, wielding staffs – stood in the center, summoning waves of darkness that crashed against the city walls. Human soldiers on the walls fired arrows and fire magic, but the enemies were too numerous, and the walls were gradually cracking. "We have to break the siege from the rear!" Alex yelled, leading the charge.
The battle erupted fiercely. Pyra transformed into her dragon form, breathing fiery red flame that incinerated a squad of Orcs; their bodies turned to black ash. "Dragon's sacred fire!" Grom yelled, swinging his Mithril hammer and beheading two Goblins; black blood splattered. Elara fired green arrows continuously; the bolts pierced Shadow Beasts, exploding and burning them from within. Alex immediately activated Shadow Army: "Summon!" Five phantoms – Orcs, Goblins, and Beasts from previous battles – appeared, lunging and tearing at the enemies with hideous growls. They drained life force, throwing the Shadow Legion into chaos. [Experience +500.]
But the enemies counter-attacked fiercely. One Dark General turned, his staff raised: "Shadow Sovereign? You dare challenge the Dark Lord!" He summoned a gigantic wave of darkness, engulfing the entire group; visibility was murky like a black night. Invisible phantoms attacked; one grazed Pyra, tearing a dragon scale; hot red blood sprayed. "Aargh! My fire will burn you!" Pyra roared, breathing fire to push back the darkness. Grom was surrounded by two Orcs; his hammer cleaved one, but the other struck his leg with an axe; blood flowed profusely. A phantom wrapped around Elara's leg, draining her life force. "Alex!" she cried out.
Alex rushed over, using Shadow Barrier to create a black shield around Elara, blocking the phantom. But the General's darkness was potent; the shield cracked quickly. "Shadow Fusion with Fire!" Alex yelled, combining with the residual fire from Pyra – dark-red tentacles coiled, sweeping across dozens of enemies, burning and draining life force simultaneously. Their bodies charred black, dissolving with agonizing screams. [Experience +700. Level up: Level 28 → Level 29.] The Dark General charged at him, his staff striking down like a black lightning bolt, tearing the air. Alex dodged, but the blow grazed his shoulder, ripping his cloak and skin; blood flowed painfully. "Shadow Strike Barrage!" He shot a series of dark blades, cutting the General's robe, revealing a monstrous face – gray skin, blood-red eyes. He laughed: "You are weak! The Dark Lord will devour your soul!" He countered with dark tentacles wrapping around Alex, fiercely draining his life force; the backlash surged. "Devour... Become a part of me..." The darkness whispered intensely; Alex's eyes turned bloodshot, nearly losing control.
The image of the injured Elara, the collapsed Grom, and the roaring Pyra brought him back. "No! Shadow Army – Attack!" He upgraded the summon; now ten phantoms rushed out (thanks to the level up), wrestling with the legion, biting and tearing in chaos. Elara combined her forest magic, creating green vines that wrapped tightly around the General, supporting Alex. Grom leaped up, his hammer smashing against the staff, creating a resounding metal clang. Pyra breathed sacred fire, burning the General from afar. The Dark General roared in pain, but summoned more darkness to cover himself. In that life-or-death moment, Alex felt a new power: "Shadow Eclipse!" – the new skill unlocked from the previous quest. He created a colossal area of darkness that swallowed the enemies, draining their entire life force and transferring it to his allies. The legion vanished in droves; the General convulsed and collapsed. [Experience +1000. Quest Complete: Shadow Eclipse Skill acquired, Level +10 (Level 31 → Level 41).]
But the remaining two Generals turned back, summoning new legions. "Retreat? Never!" they yelled, charging in. The battle dragged on; Eldoria's soldiers rushed out from the city to support, arrows raining down, fire magic exploding. The Human King – a tall elder named Eldric – stood on the wall, rallying: "The allies have arrived! Push back the darkness!" Alex used Shadow Eclipse again, swallowing a large group, but the backlash was fierce – his head pounded, his vision blurred. Elara ran to him, touching his hand: "You have to stop! Don't let the darkness control you!" She used forest magic to balance him, helping him regain clarity. Pyra flew around, breathing fire to burn the second General; Grom hacked at his leg with his hammer. The last General fled; the legion disintegrated. [Quest Complete: Shadow Eclipse Skill acquired, Level +10 (Level 31 → Level 41).]
Eldoria was saved, but suffered heavy damage: walls cracked, many people dead. King Eldric welcomed the group in the stone palace: "Thank you! Shadow Sovereign... The prophecy is true. Humanity will fully ally with you." But bad news arrived: a messenger ran in, panting: "The Dark Lord has fully awakened! He is summoning a massive legion from the abyss, heading straight here!" Alex clenched his fist, the darkness surging powerfully: "This is the final battle." But in his dream that night, the Dark Lord appeared more clearly: "My son... You belong to me." Alex woke up with a cold sweat, realizing a terrifying secret: Could the Dark Lord be his biological father in this world?