Chapter 3 – The Demon King
The forest seemed endless, yet each step I took, the shadows shifted as if watching me. My energy blade hummed faintly in my hand, responding to the tension in the air. Every instinct screamed danger, and I knew I couldn't wander aimlessly forever.
Then, the ground shook violently, and a deep, resonating voice filled the clearing:"Who dares step so boldly into my domain?"
I froze. The voice was massive, commanding, yet eerily calm. Slowly, I turned and saw him—the Demon King.
He was taller than any man I had ever seen, cloaked in a black robe that seemed to swallow the light around him. His eyes burned like molten rubies, and the air itself seemed to warp under his presence. In his hand, he held a colossal sword, its edge glinting with an unholy blue light.
"I… I didn't mean to intrude," I stammered, my voice small against the power radiating from him.
He stepped closer, each movement deliberate and terrifying. "You did not intrude… yet fate brought you here." His eyes locked onto mine, piercing, as if peering into my soul. "You are not an ordinary human. I can sense it. Power… potential… untapped."
"Power? I'm just a normal student!" I shouted, disbelief warring with fear.
The Demon King chuckled—a sound that seemed to shake the very trees. "Normal? You call yourself normal, yet here you stand in my forest, surviving forces that would kill any ordinary man. That alone proves your worth… or your recklessness."
I swallowed hard, gripping my energy blade. "Then… what do you want from me?"
His gaze softened just slightly, though the intensity remained. "I want you to choose. Serve me and learn the rules of this world, gaining strength beyond your imagination… or refuse, and die here, alone, unprepared for the dangers that await you."
I trembled. Choice? Life or death? Could I trust him? And yet… the pull in my chest, the energy I felt coursing through me, told me this was my only chance to survive.
"I… I'll learn," I said, my voice firm despite the fear racing through me.
The Demon King nodded slowly, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Good. Then your first lesson begins immediately. You will train, and through trial, you will awaken the strength within you. Fail… and you will understand the price of weakness."
He raised his sword, and a portal of swirling black and blue energy opened behind him. "Step through this, and your journey officially begins. Survive the forest, face the beasts, master your newfound power… then you may call yourself my pupil."
I hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward. The portal's energy enveloped me, twisting my senses and pulling me deeper into the unknown.
When I emerged, I found myself in a clearing surrounded by towering, jagged rocks. Strange creatures prowled the edges, their eyes glowing like fire. The Demon King's voice echoed behind me:"Remember… only the strong survive here. Let the forest decide your worth."
A monstrous howl cut through the air, and from the shadows, a massive wolf-like beast with eight glowing eyes charged at me. My energy blade flared instinctively, and I braced for the first real battle of my life.
Cliffhanger: The beast lunged, faster than I could react—and then another shadow appeared behind it, moving even faster, watching… waiting. Survival was no longer optional.