In the royal palace, the silence preceded the explosion.
The king sat on his throne, his eyes blazing with anger, while the commander in chief knelt before him, and the soldiers behind him whispered about the girl who had single-handedly brought down half a battalion.
"Can I believe that a single girl dared to attack the king of this country?"
The king slammed his scepter down on the floor, causing the entire hall to shake. "Send the Shadow Knights. I don't want to see her alive."
The commander bowed and said in a trembling voice, "As you wish, my lord, but with a witch with her, how can we even deter her?"
The king looked toward his scepter. "I have what I can use to deter her."
"So you are the king?"
Everyone in the hall was surprised to find two girls directly behind them.
The king stood up from his chair, furious. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Everyone in the hall cocked their weapons toward the two girls.
Rita opened the book right in front of her, pulled out all the weapons, and flung them out the window.
Rita smiled broadly. "You are powerless now."
Laria turned to the king. "You are destroying this city, imprisoning its women and men, depriving them of the least they deserve: their freedom, and destroying their homes. Don't you have a heart, you fat man? Or have your feelings of exploitation and narcissism clouded your heart? A feeling of sadness? "Towards them."
Laria pointed the sword at the king. "You'd better surrender and leave that city, you and your entourage, or there will be many consequences."
The king. "How confident you speak to me, girl. A young woman of your age comes to me personally and speaks to me in that strong tone. You don't know me, little one."
Laria lifted the king's chin with the tip of her sword. "I don't really care whether I know you or not. You'll leave."
The king didn't move at first, but merely smiled coldly as he stared at the blade of the sword pointed at his chin. "I guess you two still don't realize who you're addressing."
He slowly raised his scepter. It was engraved with symbols glowing in red lines. The light gradually increased until it engulfed the hall in a stifling crimson hue.
Rita shouted. "Laria, back away quickly."
The scepter split in half, and black threads rose from it like mist, wrapping themselves around the king's body, merging into his skin and sinking into his veins. It swelled. His muscles bulged, and his eyes burned crimson.
A sinister smile spread across his face as he whispered,
"You are the ones who asked to meet me... Now see him."
His features gradually transformed. His skin turned a rough, stone-grey hue, and dark horns protruded from either side of his head, while the mace transformed into a shield and a massive sword glowing with a hellish light.
Rita screamed, "It merges with him completely."
But Laria didn't back down. She grasped her sword and pointed at him. "Even if you become a monster... I won't allow you to harm innocents anymore."
The king laughed loudly. "Innocents? They are here to serve me. Now, savior of the city, experience my wrath."
In an instant, a wave of black energy erupted from his body, shattering the pillars and throwing Rita and Larya far into the storm.
Rita screamed, reaching out toward Laria. "The book!"
She quickly opened the book, its pages forming a transparent, magical barrier that enveloped them for a moment before the force of the explosion hurled them out.
They hit the ground in the courtyard in front of the palace, dust covering everything, and flames billowing from the high windows.
The king emerged from the palace, no longer resembling a human. His body pulsated with a dark energy. Shrieks of panic rose from the city's inhabitants, who began to flee in all directions when they saw the creature.
Rita . "We can't fight here, Larya. Many people will die and houses will be destroyed."
But Laria gripped her sword resolutely, sparks flying around her. "We will try to get him out of this city, no matter what."
No one understood how, but they saw him with their own eyes a giant body emitting black light, the scepter embedded in his chest like a cursed, pulsing heart.
His eyes glowed red, and every step he took seared the ground beneath him.
A woman screams at her child. "Come on, run quickly. Come on, don't look back!"
A young boy falls to the ground after hitting small stones, while his man quickly tried to help him and they escaped.
The sound of bells rings throughout the city, but no one understands what's happening.
Even the guards retreat. Some drop their weapons and flee, while others freeze in place as they watch the thick smoke.
Rita quickly opens the book and recites a defensive spell:
"We have to get him out of the city before he wipes everyone out!"
Laria lunged forward with lightning speed, leaping onto a rooftop.
She screamed loud enough for the shapeshifter to hear. "Come on, you fat man!"
The king roared, his voice piercing the sky and charged at her, demolishing houses in his path.
Laria raced through the narrow alleys, leaping over walls, while Rita cast wind spells that scattered dust and cleared a path for them through the wreckage.
Rita shouted from behind her. "Laria, the eastern wall is the closest!"
Together, they leaped across a half-ruined bridge. Behind them, the enormous beast stalked a nightmare, its voice shaking the city.
As they approached the wall, Rita opened the book and shouted.
"Open the Great Wind Gate!"
A massive vortex of energy swept through the wall, carving out a wide passageway.
Laria leaped out first, followed by Rita. A moment later, the king burst through the opening, revealing an open courtyard outside the walls. The sky was overcast and the air thick with dust.
Laria paused, raising her sword toward the king. "Now he won't harm anyone anymore."