The horizon was a sea of darkness.
Thousands—no, tens of thousands—of shadows poured from the mountains, moving like a living wave. The air vibrated with the power of the Forgotten, ancient beings whose presence bent reality itself.
Kanji stood at the temple's center, black sword in hand. His aura flared, molten gold and red light radiating outward in a protective storm. Chains of shadow wrapped around him, whipping outward like serpents of fire, cutting down the first waves of attackers.
Rin and Seiji bolstered the wards, glowing talismans erupting in bursts of light. Yet even with all their power combined, the temple walls groaned under the pressure of the relentless assault.
"They're… endless!" Rin shouted, shielding herself from a swarm of shadows that had slipped through the wards.
Kanji's golden eyes narrowed, veins of molten red glowing across his face.
"They're testing me. They want to see how far I can go," he murmured.
"Then I'll show them… I am ready for everything."
With a roar, he stepped forward, and the black sword pulsed violently. Chains shot outward, lashing through hundreds of shadows at once. Molten light collided with dark energy, the battlefield erupting into fire and shadow storms.
But the Forgotten were not simple mindless attackers. They moved with strategy, surrounding the temple from all sides, striking at weak points, probing Kanji's defenses, and retreating when met with overwhelming force.
Ryou approached, his staff glowing fiercely.
"Kanji… their numbers are overwhelming. Even your forbidden magic has limits. You must dig deeper, awaken the true potential of your heritage… the full fusion of demon and wizard blood."
Kanji clenched the hilt of the black sword, feeling its pulse echo in his chest. The whispers of the sword, the heartbeat of his demon blood, and the magic inherited from his father all surged in unison.
"This is it," he whispered.
"The next level… I have to awaken it."
He focused, centering himself amidst the chaos. Shadows lashed at him, but he ignored them, channeling the fusion of powers within. Golden light, molten fire, and deep crimson shadow swirled violently around him. Chains of energy ripped across the battlefield, lashing out automatically, striking with perfect precision.
A surge of new power erupted—an ancient, hidden ability unlocked within him. The black sword glowed brighter than ever, expanding into a massive aura of molten energy that warped reality around it. The temple itself seemed to hum in resonance with Kanji's power.
The Forgotten faltered. Their attacks slowed. The storm of shadows that had seemed endless now thinned at the edges, unable to withstand the raw intensity of the heir's awakened power.
Rin and Seiji stared in awe.
"He… he's controlling it… fully," Rin whispered.
"But… it's different now. Stronger… unstoppable."
Kanji's golden eyes blazed with determination.
"This is not just forbidden magic… it's the full legacy of my bloodline," he roared.
"Demon and wizard… fused. The heir of destruction… is here!"
With a massive swing of the black sword, chains erupting like molten whips, he struck at the central mass of the Forgotten army. Waves of light and shadow collided with devastating force, scattering the attackers in every direction. Mountains cracked, rivers boiled, and the ground trembled as the sheer scale of his power reshaped the battlefield.
But even as the dust settled, Kanji knew the siege was not over. The Forgotten were patient, and their full force had yet to be unleashed.
He looked toward the horizon, molten and shadow energy swirling around him, aura blazing like a crown of fire.
"They came to test me," he whispered.
"Now they will see… I am ready for them. All of them."
And somewhere in the shadows beyond the mountains, the eyes of the Forgotten glowed brighter, watching, waiting… calculating.
The Siege of Shadows had begun—and the heir of destruction was more powerful than they could have imagined.
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