Deep within the core of Tenria, the air shimmered with a dark, oppressive energy. The faint hum of power seeped through the jagged walls of the cavern, echoing the pulse of a force long imprisoned. A small, trembling goblin knelt before the shadowed throne, sweat running down his green, wrinkled face.
"My lord… the boy… he has destroyed him… your right-hand general…" the goblin stammered, his voice barely audible over the thrum of the core.
The shadowed figure atop the throne stirred. His presence alone made the cavern feel colder, heavier. Even the dark magic that permeated the walls seemed to shrink away from him. His voice, when it came, was a whisper of death.
"Explain," the Dark King said, the simple word slicing through the goblin's terror.
"He… he—Takeru Yamato, my lord—he faced Xandros and… and killed him! The army… the soldiers… they were… incinerated… burned to ashes…" The goblin's words tumbled out, each one trembling more than the last.
The Dark King's glowing red eyes narrowed. "Tremble not with fear, goblin. Speak clearly. How did this boy survive the battlefield?"
"He… he—he shouldn't have! My lord, he—" the goblin faltered, swallowing hard. "He is… more powerful than we imagined. I… I did what I could, but he…"
The Dark King rose from his throne, a dark aura radiating outward, causing the goblin to stumble backward. "You dare lie to me? You exaggerate failure. I sense deceit!"
"I… I—I'm telling the truth, my lord!" The goblin's knees shook. "He—he is gone now. He is… powerless. I swear—"
The Dark King's hand shot out in a blur, a shadowy blade materializing in an instant. The goblin's scream echoed through the core before it was abruptly cut off, his body disintegrating into darkness. "Liars do not survive in my presence." The king's voice lingered like a curse.
He sank back onto his throne, his eyes narrowing into a sinister glow. "Very well… if this boy lives, I will find him. Send forth the army. I will have him… and I will enjoy watching his death."
---
Meanwhile, on the surface, Takeru walked to school with the familiar weight pressing against his chest. The shattered Power Gem in his pocket, useless and cold, reminded him of everything he had lost. Without his powers, he was just a boy. Just another student in Class 1-A.
Emiko approached him, her footsteps soft but steady. "Takeru… are you really okay?" she asked, her violet eyes full of concern.
"I'm fine," he muttered, forcing a smile. "Nothing's changed… really."
Her gaze lingered, sensing the unease he could not hide. "You don't have to pretend with me. I can tell."
He looked away, the tension coiling in his chest. I can't tell her… not yet.
Across the courtyard, Kaoru Shinji leaned against a railing, smirking as he spotted Takeru. "So… powerless, huh? The great Takeru Yamato, reduced to nothing."
Takeru's jaw tightened, but Emiko brushed against his arm, a quiet reminder that he wasn't alone.
"You're not useless," she muttered softly under her breath, though Kaoru glanced at her with raised eyebrows.
Takeru felt a warmth at her words, a fleeting sense of comfort amidst his lingering despair.
---
Back in the core, the Dark King convened with his generals, planning the next step. The goblin army was summoned, led by a scarred, overconfident goblin commander. "We will find this boy. Nothing escapes the shadow of our eyes!" he proclaimed, though a flicker of doubt passed through him.
Tactics were discussed in hushed, tense voices. The generals debated the boy's potential, his unknown strength. One elder suggested caution. Another demanded overwhelming force. The Dark King's presence remained silent but suffocating, ensuring obedience.
Finally, the command was given: "Hunt him. Bring him to me. Kill anyone who interferes."
The army moved under the cover of night, shadows merging with the darkness of Tenria's forests. The soldiers whispered of the boy's powers, of Xandros' defeat, each rumor heightening fear. The goblin leader tried to keep morale high, but tension rippled through the ranks.
---
The first confrontation came swiftly. Takeru, walking home from school, noticed shadows moving in the treeline. The army emerged, a wave of goblins, dark soldiers, and minor dark mages. Takeru's heart raced. He was powerless. Every instinct screamed to run, but escape alone wouldn't protect Emiko, who had followed him out of concern.
"Stay behind me!" he whispered, positioning himself between her and the enemy.
The goblin commander stepped forward, sneering. "Boy, we have orders. You will die."
Takeru's mind raced. No fire, no wind, no magic—just strategy and courage. He kicked up dust, distracting a small squad. He led the army into the narrow paths of the forest, using trees, rocks, and terrain to separate and isolate groups of soldiers.
Still, the numbers were overwhelming. He could hear Emiko's terrified cries behind him. He swung branches, kicked rocks, and even used simple traps: pits, tripwires, and loose stones. Every move bought seconds, but he knew it wasn't enough.
The goblin leader, frustrated by his army's losses, barked orders. "Stop him! He's only a boy—don't underestimate him!"
Hours passed in a blur of tactical maneuvers. Takeru's stamina waned. His mind burned with every decision, every step calculated to protect Emiko. But the army adapted. They flanked him, forcing him into a clearing.
Emiko shouted, "Takeru! Watch out!"
The goblin commander struck with dark magic, a shadowy spear aimed at Takeru's chest. He dove, but the attack grazed him, sending him sprawling. The army closed in, relentless.
---
Finally, the goblin commander realized the boy's cleverness, yet misjudged his own army's capability. Reporting back to the Dark King, he exaggerated the outcome, claiming they had subdued the boy.
The Dark King's voice cut through the darkness like a blade: "Lies."
A shadow swept across the core, ripping the goblin to pieces for his deception. "No failure escapes my sight. No liar survives."
Back on the battlefield, Takeru fought until the very end, but his powerlessness was absolute. Exhausted, injured, and outnumbered, he finally collapsed. He turned to Emiko one last time, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of sorrow, determination, and apology.
"I… I'm sorry…" he whispered, just before the army's magic engulfed him.
The clearing fell silent. Emiko's scream echoed through the forest as Takeru's body was consumed, leaving nothing but scorched earth and shattered hope.
---
In the core, the Dark King leaned forward, a cruel smile touching his lips. "So… the boy is gone. But others will come. And when they do… I will be ready."
Shadows twisted, stretching outward, as the remnants of the army returned in silence. Malakar's seal pulsed, faintly sensing the absence of the boy, and yet a shadow of unease lingered even in his triumphant cruelty. Somewhere far above the earth, in a powerless boy's final breaths, a spark of the future—unseen and unclaimed—flickered quietly, waiting.