Malphas looked down from his massive height, his laughter echoing across the plains. "So, you defeated Zenon? Lucky brat. I am Malphas, the General of Ruin, and you are standing in the shadow of a God!"
Behind Silus, Kael stepped forward, his daggers trembling but his eyes firm. "Silus, we won't be a burden. Let us fight!"
Silus glanced back, a small, cold smile on his face. "Fine. Show me if you still have fire in your souls."
Kael and the disciples soared into the sky, clashing with the God of War statue. But with a single, lazy wave of its hand, the statue swatted them out of the air like insects. Malphas descended to the earth, his dark mana cracking the ground beneath his boots. "I'll play with you little ants first," he sneered.
The disciples gave everything they had. Kael and his strongest warrior performed a Shadow Fusion, binding Malphas in place with chains of darkness. But Malphas only smirked. With a burst of raw energy, he shattered the chains and blurred toward Kael. Just as his hand was about to pierce Kael's heart, a golden flash intervened.
CRACK.
Silus stood there, holding Malphas's wrist. With a slight squeeze, the General's bones turned to powder. Malphas screamed, flying backward as his hand began to regenerate with dark light.
"You've done enough," Silus told his men, his voice a low hum of power. He waved his hand, and a wave of golden light instantly sealed their wounds. He turned to Malphas and drew his blade.
"Who... what is that thing?" Malphas stammered, staring at the humming sword.
"My father gave me a name, but the Void gave me a purpose," Silus said, his eyes glowing. "I renamed this blade Death. Not because it kills, but because it is the only thing waiting for you at the end of this conversation."
Enraged, Malphas roared, and the God of War statue fully awakened. The mountain-sized titan lunged at Silus. Instead of using his sword, Silus met the giant with his bare fists. Each clash sent shockwaves that leveled the nearby forests. Kael watched in horror as Silus caught the God's punch, snapped its arm like a dry twig, and prepared a move called Dissolve.
The statue barely escaped, teleporting away but losing an entire limb to the Void's touch. Silus turned his gaze to Malphas. "Now, you die."
Silus vanished. He reappeared instantly, his hand locked around Malphas's throat. But before he could crush it, a blur of violet smoke intervened. Vespera, the Shadow Mistress, swooped in, grabbing Malphas.
"We will be back, Prince!" she hissed, trying to retreat into the shadows.
"No," Silus whispered. "You won't."
He didn't let them run. He teleported high into the clouds, appearing above both Generals. He grabbed both of their heads in his palms. In a flash of absolute darkness, he crushed them into nothingness. Not even ash remained.
Silus landed softly, his aura so dark it began to swallow the sunlight. "Enough games," he said to the silent battlefield. "Anyone who stands in my way will be wiped out in an instant."
Even the sword, Death, felt the darkness within Silus growing. He wasn't just a King anymore; he was becoming the very thing the world feared most.