Chapter 16: The Shadow King's Truth

The entire battlefield fell silent.

Even the wind seemed to stop as the hooded figure stepped out of the black mist surrounding the Moon Gate.

Every warrior instinctively lowered their weapon.

Not because they had been ordered to.

Because every instinct screamed the same warning.

Run.

Only Aero remained standing between the mysterious figure and Serena.

His sword stayed raised.

His golden eyes never left the stranger.

'So you're the Shadow King,' Aero said calmly.

The man beneath the hood chuckled.

'Interesting.'

'Most kings tremble before speaking my name.'

'I'm not most kings.'

'I noticed.'

A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.

Darius walked forward before kneeling on one knee.

'My King.'

The sight stunned everyone.

Magnus whispered under his breath.

'Alpha Darius... serving someone else?'

Rowan's face had turned completely pale.

'This can't be happening...'

Serena quietly stepped closer to Aero.

'Who is he?' she whispered.

'Someone I hoped existed only in legends,' Aero answered.

The Shadow King slowly removed his hood.

He appeared no older than Aero.

Sharp features.

Long silver-black hair.

Crimson eyes that seemed to glow with unnatural power.

But what shocked Serena most...

Was the mark on his wrist.

It was identical to hers.

'Impossible...' Rowan whispered.

'Another Soul Mark...'

The Shadow King smiled.

'You finally noticed.'

Serena stared at the glowing crescent symbol.

'How do you have that mark?'

'Because,' he answered softly.

'I was chosen by the Moon Goddess long before either of you were born.'

A heavy silence settled over the ruins.

Aero's expression hardened.

'Explain yourself.'

'Gladly.'

The Shadow King slowly walked toward the ancient gate.

'Eight hundred years ago...'

'I was the Alpha King of this kingdom.'

Magnus's eyes widened.

'That's impossible.'

'Every history book says the first Alpha King died protecting the Moon Gate.'

'History is written by survivors,' the Shadow King replied.

'Not by the dead.'

Rowan lowered his head.

'He's telling the truth...'

'The forbidden scrolls mention a king whose name was erased from history.'

Serena frowned.

'Why erase him?'

The Shadow King's smile slowly disappeared.

'Because I failed.'

'Failed how?'

His crimson eyes shifted toward the Moon Gate.

'The woman carrying my Soul Mark chose Earth instead of me.'

Serena felt her heart tighten.

'She went home?'

'Yes.'

'The gate opened.'

'She crossed it.'

'And I stayed behind.'

No one spoke.

His voice remained calm.

Yet the pain inside it had survived centuries.

'The Moon Gate was never meant to separate worlds forever.'

'It was meant to connect them.'

'But after she left...'

'The gate shattered.'

'Since that day, the balance between worlds has slowly broken apart.'

Rowan closed his eyes.

'So the prophecy...'

'Was created to repair your mistake,' the Shadow King finished.

'Exactly.'

Aero stepped forward.

'If that's true... why attack the kingdom?'

'Because time is running out.'

'The gate is dying.'

'Once it collapses completely...'

'Both worlds will begin destroying each other.'

Serena looked confused.

'Earth too?'

'Especially Earth.'

'The worlds were never meant to exist apart forever.'

A loud rumble suddenly echoed beneath everyone's feet.

The ancient pillars surrounding the ruins began trembling.

Silver cracks spread across the Moon Gate.

'No...' Rowan whispered.

'It's starting already.'

Dark energy poured from the cracks like smoke.

The temperature dropped instantly.

Several guards staggered backward.

'What's happening?' Magnus shouted.

The Shadow King's expression became serious.

'He's waking up.'

'Who?' Aero demanded.

'The one imprisoned inside the gate.'

Before anyone could ask another question...

A monstrous roar exploded from inside the ancient doorway.

The ground shook violently.

The silver light protecting the ruins flickered.

Then one enormous claw burst through the cracked stone.

The royal guards froze.

Even Darius instinctively stepped back.

'Impossible...' he whispered.

'The seal shouldn't have broken this early.'

Serena instinctively grabbed Aero's arm.

'What is that thing?'

The Shadow King looked directly at her.

For the first time...

Real fear appeared in his crimson eyes.

'That...'

'Is the reason your prophecy exists.'