The Resurrection Of The Demon Lord

The silence returned, thicker than before.

Kairo moved up front, taking the lead. His eyes, still sharp from the earlier clash with Nizara, now glowed faintly in the gloom. He didn't look back at the others — just motioned with two fingers and whispered, "Follow close. This way."

The squad obeyed, though not without friction.

Lucien stayed near Nizara, muttering, "Can't believe we almost fought each other. Idiots."

Zyra cracked her knuckles. "He swings first, asks never."

"I'm not apologizing," Kairo said coldly. "I saw something. I reacted."

Zalthor sighed. "Save it. Focus."

The deeper they went, the more the forest changed.

What began as mist and moss soon twisted into something darker. Bark blackened by scorch marks. Branches bent unnaturally. The air smelled faintly of ash and metal — and something worse. Something rotten.

Nizara slowed. "This isn't just Dark Magic…"

"No," Kairo confirmed, stopping before a crumbling stone altar overgrown with roots. "It's something older."

Elowyn's voice was barely audible. "Where are we?"

Kairo turned. His face, usually unreadable, showed something rare: hesitation.

"This is where they were," he said. "The Obsidian Reign."

Zalthor's eyes narrowed. "You're sure?"

Kairo knelt, brushing aside broken twigs and dirt from the stone surface. Etched into it were symbols — jagged, almost claw-like in design. They pulsed faintly under his fingers.

"I tracked one of their scouts during a recon weeks ago," he explained. "They were dragging injured competitors toward this point. But when I returned with backup… the place was gone. Buried under illusion and shadow."

Lucien drew his blade halfway. "So they're using the tournament as cover?"

"No," Nizara said, voice sharp. "They're using it as bait."

Zyra frowned. "What do you mean?"

Nizara pointed to the altar. "These symbols… I've seen them before. In the ruins south of Delkarin. They weren't summoning spells. They were binding seals. Something's trapped here."

Kairo rose slowly. "And now… they're trying to wake it up."

Suddenly—

The forest screamed.

Not sound — feeling. A pulse of Aether so sharp and wrong that it carved through their bones. Trees twisted. Roots tore themselves free. Birds burst from branches, fleeing like the air itself was dying.

Then — figures.

From the fog, cloaked shapes emerged. Eyes glowing violet. Robes torn, covered in runes. The Obsidian Reign Cult.

Their leader stepped forward — not a man, not a beast. His body was covered in cracked stone, veins glowing with corrupted Aether.

He looked at Nizara first.

"You weren't supposed to find this," the creature rasped. "But no matter. You can be the first sacrifice."

Kairo's sword was out in a blink. "Stay behind me."

Nizara stepped forward. "No."

His blade lit with Storm Aether, crackling brighter than before. "This time, I'm going through you."

Zalthor flanked him. "Squad Z — formation."

Elowyn activated her barrier. Lucien vanished into the trees. Zyra's hands ignited.

Kairo exhaled. "Then we fight."