Ch 10: There can be peace

Prologue  Chapter 1-1 Chapter 1-2 Chapter 2-1 Chapter 2-2 Chapter 3-1 Chapter 3-2 Chapter 4-1 Chapter 4-2 Chapter 5-1 Chapter 5-2 Chapter 6-1 Chapter 6-2 Chapter 7-1 Chapter 7-2 Chapter 8-1 Chapter 9-1 Chapter 9-2

I didn't realize I cut the last chapter this short but ayyyeee!!! I'm done with my book and I can go back to writing at random OwO

Chapter 10

Both leaders made their way to the shadow king’s palace. It was a bit of a run, compared to what it looked like from the map. The original plan was that the two leaders would be the ones going to the palace alone, but when flashes of lightning and a few stone pillars came crashing down from the sky, the others had to make sure the leaders were protected. Just getting them into the palace wasn't going to suffice when it seemed like every step of the way was guarded with a purist that was ready to attack/

Those that managed to escape the battle that raged over the town plaza and at the palace gate rushed to the leaders’ side. It didn’t matter who was with them at that point. They all knew that each and every one of them was fully capable of handling the purists now. Humans countered each attack with explosives and a few guns fired while the witches made do with the incantations and the number of spells they had left before their strength ran out.

It was no easy feat getting to the palace, but once more and more of their men came to their aid, both leaders managed to find a chance to escape from the chaos. In the small explosion the humans pulled off, it provided enough smoke to mask them completely. 

“How far is the palace,” Elder asked their men who were running with her. 

“Just a few more meters ahead!” the men shouted out as they pointed to the ominous-looking castle. 

“Can you still get us there safely?” Leader Edric asked as he readied his weapons and the magic neutralizing restraints. 

“We will try to even if it kills us” The men said bravely while firing off more smoke bombs along the way. 

In a matter of minutes, they finally reached the palace gates. Contrary to what they thought, the castle wasn’t as heavily guarded compared to the path they took to get there. They walked the halls and those that managed to escape the battlefield outside soon joined them. They scanned every room they came across while walking. The entire scenario was all too nerve-wracking when they didn’t even know where the king of shadows could be found. 

There was one latest room left on the lower floor they were yet to open, and it was the last door they honestly wanted to enter. The door was heavily ornate and it looked like the door would be impossible to open with just their bare hands. That was when the elder stepped forward and pressed her palms on either door handle. She then turned the knobs then the wind came rushing from the palace entrance. With the winds she made use of, the doors slowly creaked open. 

“I must applaud you weakling for making it to my throne room” An elderly man stood from the throne, clapping his hands slowly and gently. “I suppose I underestimated you all” 

“You’re the king of shadows?” One of the men spoke out, looking quite shocked at the condition the man was in. He was basically skin and bones. Someone that looked as fragile as paper. Or maybe the scrolls they were all based the story on were over-exaggerated. They were all speechless except for the elder who looked cautious of every step the king took.

“I am. My apologies. Perhaps you wanted someone who looked like this?” The king closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his pupils radiated nothing but darkness. Thick black smoke enveloped him, and when the smoke disappeared, they came face to face with the demon that gave the king his immortality and abilities. “Is this the opponent you all hoped to face?” The demon laughed maniacally. 

“All light manipulators present! Stand by me!” The elder called out as she clasped her hands together “Everyone else, please buy me as much time as you can” 

“You heard her! Somebody! Gather all the able light manipulators in battle. Those that are itching for a good fight, come here” The leader stepped up, ready to fight against the Shadow king. 

A few humans ran off to call out to every able person they could find. They told them about what was happening at the palace. It wasn’t the time to be celebrating just yet when both leaders were requesting everybody’s assistance. It was their final battle indeed. They just needed to fight the demon then it was all over. 

Unfortunately, only a few managed to get to the castle while the rest of their men still struggled to subdue some of the purists. 

Any help that came was highly appreciated though. As soon as their men reached the palace, they took their stances and prepared themselves for battle. The support group aided in the incantation the elder was performing yet none of them was quite sure what incantation she was reciting.

“Please, just hold out for a few more minutes, I’m almost done with the incantation! Support group, I'll need all the strength you can give me” The elder then resumed her incantation. 

The witches from the offense group did every coordinated attack they could come up with. A range of attacks rained down on the shadow king, yet he somehow still emerged unscathed after each attack. When it was his turn to attack though… The entire room became shrouded in darkness. The humans suddenly started to attack each other. They all fell into the illusion that the one standing before them was the shadow king. 

It was fortunate that before the king ever attacked, someone from the defense group managed to make a barrier to protect the Elder. 

“Just a few more words” The elder pleaded before she shut her eyes tightly. A few more words slipped out of her lips, and by the time she opened her eyes again, blinding white light came pouring from her. She became shrouded in such bright light. 

The demon king looked panicked when he saw the elder walking towards him “No- Impossible! That magic was wiped out from history!” The King kept taking steps backward until he was backed into a corner of the room. 

“You have caused so much grief for the past 300 years” The elder raised her hand and directed it towards him “Now your reign will come to an end.” With one final word, The white light enveloped the room, blinding almost everyone in the room. 

When the light started fading, the elder dropped to the floor, as well as the elderly man who embodied the shadow king. 

“Is he… dead?” The men asked as they neared the body of the shadow king. They tried to feel for a pulse, but when they felt none, they declared him dead and covered his body with the curtains. 

“What do we do now?” They all faced the leader who was barely conscious

“Take the king… to the plaza. His people need to see him one last time” Was all the leader managed to say before he too, collapsed from exhaustion. 

As commanded, the men carried the king’s corpse down to the plaza. Out of the palace grounds, they gathered as many healers as they could pass. They needed both leaders to make an announcement over their victory. 

Their leaders took a while to follow their men to the plaza. But when they finally arrived, they greeted their men in high spirits. 

“Men! Thanks to all your efforts, we have defeated the demon king!” Leader Edric smiled triumphantly and the crowd followed suit “But we’re not yet done here. We still need to present his followers with a choice” 

“Will you join our side? Or will you remain loyal to your fallen king who trapped you all in darkness?” The elder now spoke as she made her way next to Edric

“You will be given time to make your choice. Until you’ve come to a decision, we will be holding you captive in our magic restraining chambers. We’ve had enough of wars for the past 300 years” The leader said somberly as he gestured for their men to take the captives away. 

Days passed, more and more of their captives started joining their unified nation. Not all agreed to the mixing of the races, but when they saw the development that they were unaware of under the shadow king’s ruling, it enticed them. Aside from the technology, the purists didn’t have to live in fear when they came to the choice of merging with the other races. It was a change they all needed. It was a more peaceful life than they all ever had. Since the fall of the shadow king, none of them ever had to witness battles anymore. No family was ever separated from each other. The only battles they would ever support were the ones held at the riots. The kind that served to entertain people.