Chapter 6 Fallen King

The Shadow Beast moved faster than anything I had ever seen. It was not running. It was gliding across the smooth black glass floor like a living nightmare. Its massive claws scraped against the glass, making a terrible screeching sound that made my ears ring.

I had no glowing green fire to throw at it. I had no magical shield to protect my body. I only had the raw physical strength of the fallen king.

I dove to the right just as the beast swung its massive arm. The razor sharp claws missed my face by a single inch. The wind from the attack hit me so hard it knocked me completely off balance. I hit the glass floor and rolled backward. My heart was hammering wildly inside my chest.

I glanced up at the giant red System screen floating above the dark arena.

[Four minutes and thirty seconds remaining.]

This was going to be the longest five minutes of my entire life.

The beast let out a horrible roar that sounded like a hundred people screaming in pure agony. It leaped high into the air, its body twisting like a dark tornado. It crashed down exactly where I was standing just a moment ago. I threw myself forward, sliding across the slick glass on my stomach to avoid being crushed flat.

I needed a weapon immediately. I could not just dodge forever without getting tired. I looked frantically around the massive circular room. There was nothing to use at all. There were no loose stones, no broken swords, and no shields. There was only the black glass floor and the high, impossible stone walls. I was completely trapped in an empty cage with a monster.

The Shadow Beast turned its head and locked its glowing purple eyes directly on me. It opened its dark mouth, revealing rows of teeth made from solid shadow. It lunged forward again. This time, I did not run away. I planted my feet firmly on the glass. As the beast snapped its terrible jaws at my neck, I twisted my body to the left and threw a heavy punch right into its side.

My fist connected with something solid hidden deep beneath the thick black smoke. It felt exactly like punching a solid brick wall. Searing pain shot all the way up my arm, but the beast actually stumbled sideways. It was hurt. The physical strength of the Dragon King body was absolutely incredible. My knuckles were covered in those tough green scales, and they had protected my human bones from snapping in half.

[Three minutes remaining.]

The monster was absolutely now, It whipped its long smoky tail around like a heavy whip and slammed it directly into my chest. The impact was brutal. It lifted me completely off the ground. I flew backward through the air and crashed hard into the solid stone wall of the arena.

I coughed violently, My vision blurred for a terrible second. The beast was not giving me any time to recover or catch my breath. It charged right at me while I was still pinned against the cold wall.

I dropped flat to the floor just as the beast smashed face first into the stone where my head had been. The impact was loud and violent. The whole arena shook. The beast shook its huge head, clearly dazed and confused by the heavy crash.

I saw my one and only chance. I jumped onto the back of the creature. I wrapped my arms tight around its thick, smoky neck. The shadow material burned my skin like dry ice, but I completely ignored the pain. I squeezed with every single ounce of physical strength I possessed in this new body. I squeezed like my very soul depended on it, because it absolutely did.

The beast thrashed wildly in a blind panic. It threw its heavy body against the stone walls and rolled across the smooth glass floor, trying desperately to crush me beneath its massive weight. But I stubbornly refused to let go. I buried my fingers deep into the shadowy flesh. I could feel a hard, pulsing object hidden inside the smoke right beneath my bleeding hands. It was the core of the monster.

[One minute remaining.]

My arms were shaking uncontrollably. My muscles were screaming in pure exhaustion and absolute agony. The beast reached back with its razor sharp claws and slashed deeply into my shoulders. Warm blood soaked my torn shirt and dripped onto the glass floor. The pain was blinding, but I just tightened my grip on its hidden core.

"I am not dying in this dark hole!" I roared at the top of my lungs. "I am going to live and take back my kingdom!"

I pulled hard on the hidden core with everything I had left. The beast let out a final, deafening shriek that nearly shattered my eardrums. The black smoke suddenly exploded outward in a massive, violent shockwave. I was thrown across the arena, sliding backward across the smooth glass until I finally came to a complete and painful stop.

The dark arena fell totally silent. The monster was completely gone.

I laid on my back, panting heavily. Every inch of my body felt like it had been beaten with heavy iron hammers.

The red System screen vanished. A warm, glowing golden light filled the dark arena.

[Trial passed. Five minutes survived.]

[Reward granted: Shard of the Golden Dragon Core.]

A small glowing orb of pure gold floated down from the ceiling and gently sank into my chest. A rush of incredible warmth flooded my veins. The terrible, twisting pain of the Royal Shadow Poison instantly disappeared. I felt strong and completely energized.

The blue screen chimed with wonderful news.

[Poison suppressed for thirty days.]

[Hourly lifespan drain has been paused.]

I let out a massive sigh of relief. I had done it. I had bought myself a whole month to plan my revenge and find the true cure.

"You have proven your strength, little king," the ancient voice of the Ancestor echoed around me. "Now, go claim your throne."

The glass floor beneath me suddenly glowed with bright white light. I felt a strange pulling sensation in my stomach. The arena faded away, and I was instantly teleported out of the underground cave.

I landed hard on soft dirt and wet leaves. I was back in the freezing, dark forest. The thick grey fog surrounded me completely. I stood up slowly, brushing the mud off my pants. I was finally ready to start hunting.

Suddenly, the sharp sound of metal being drawn echoed right behind me. A cold, heavy steel blade was pressed tightly against the back of my neck.

"Do not move a single muscle," a deep, gruff voice whispered in my ear. "Give me one good reason why I should not cut off your head right now, royal spy."

I slowly raised my hands. The System screen flashed a bright warning blue.

[Warning. Surrounded by fifty heavily armed Loyalist Rebels.]

[Rebel Commander General Kaelen has you at sword point.]

I had finally found my loyal army, but the leader of the rebellion was about to execute me.