Fallen Heaven Rise of Faizi Tian
**Episode 40 – The Warlord of Shadows**
The laughter reverberated through the cavern like rolling thunder, carrying with it an ancient malice that seemed to seep into the bones. Faizi Tian's instincts screamed danger, yet he stood still, scanning the shadows for its source. The Demon Seal on his palm throbbed in rhythm with the sound, as if recognizing an old, hated enemy… or an old master.
Elder Ren's expression darkened. "We're not alone."
The air warped in front of them. A veil of black mist poured from the cracks in the cavern floor, twisting and rising until it formed the towering silhouette of a man. No—not a man. His eyes glowed like molten silver, and the jagged black armor that encased him shimmered with runes older than the mountains themselves. A pair of demonic horns curved upward from his temples, and from his back trailed a cloak that writhed like living smoke.
"You've saved me the trouble of hunting you, boy," the figure said, his voice deep and layered, as though several beings were speaking at once. "That seal in your hand belongs to me."
Faizi's grip tightened on his blade. "If it's yours, why did the beast die by *my* hand?"
The warlord's lips curved into something between a smirk and a snarl. "Because it is weak in your hands. You haven't unlocked even a fraction of its true nature. But give it to me, and I might spare your life."
Elder Ren stepped forward sharply. "You can't take it, Varok! That seal has already chosen its bearer."
Varok's eyes narrowed. "Chosen? That seal doesn't choose—it *consumes*. And once it's done with him, he'll be begging me to take it away."
The pressure in the cavern intensified, the sheer weight of Varok's aura pressing down on them like a mountain. Faizi could barely breathe. The seal burned hotter, as if in defiance. *"He seeks to claim me. Will you let him?"* the voice whispered in Faizi's mind.
Faizi's heart pounded. He had no idea how strong this demon was, but his instincts told him the gap between them was vast. Even so, the thought of surrendering the seal churned his stomach. "You want it?" Faizi said, his voice low and steady. "Come and take it."
Varok chuckled, the sound like grinding stone. "So be it."
He vanished.
Faizi's senses screamed, and he spun just in time to block a strike that would have shattered his ribs. The force still sent him crashing into the cavern wall, leaving a deep crater. Pain flared in his chest, but adrenaline burned it away. He lunged forward, unleashing a slash infused with the black-gold flames of the Demon Seal. The blade tore through the mist surrounding Varok, but when it met his armor, sparks flew and the warlord didn't even flinch.
"You hit like a mortal," Varok mocked.
The seal's voice roared inside Faizi's head. *"Unleash me fully, or you will die."*
For a heartbeat, Faizi hesitated. He didn't know if releasing the seal would kill him faster than Varok would. But the warlord was already raising a hand, a swirling sphere of black energy forming between his claws, warping the air with its sheer density.
"Faizi!" Elder Ren's shout was sharp with urgency. "If you don't act now, you'll never act again!"
Time seemed to slow. Faizi tightened his grip, his eyes locking on Varok. "Fine," he breathed. "But if you betray me, I'll drag you into the abyss with me."
The Demon Seal exploded with light, flooding the cavern with black-gold radiance. The runes returned to his arm, racing across his skin like rivers of fire. Power unlike anything he'd felt before surged through him, his blade transforming into a weapon of pure destruction.
Varok's eyes widened—not in fear, but in interest. "Ah… so the seal awakens. Now the game begins."
The warlord's sphere of darkness hurtled toward Faizi, but this time, Faizi didn't dodge. He stepped forward, slashing with all his might. The impact shook the world, tearing the cavern apart. Stone shattered, flames and shadows collided, and in that chaos, the battle between the Demon Seal's chosen and the Warlord of Shadows began.