The forest became completely silent.
Every creature in the village stood frozen.
The Abyssal King slowly walked out from between the ancient trees.
His enormous body towered above the village walls.
Dark energy surrounded him like smoke.
Ryu stood beside the Shadow Wolf.
His small blue body was glowing.
[Memory Seal Integrity: 72%]
[Warning.]
[Power awakening detected.]
Ryu stared at the message.
—So this is my old power…
The Abyssal King smiled.
—Not even close.
Ryu’s eyes narrowed.
—Then what are you waiting for?
The Abyssal King suddenly disappeared.
SWOOSH!
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—Shadow Step!
He vanished into the shadow beneath him.
BOOM!
A gigantic fist smashed into the ground where he had been standing.
The earth cracked.
Ryu appeared behind the Abyssal King.
—Shadow Claw!
SLASH!
His shadow claw struck the monster’s back.
But—
Nothing happened.
The Abyssal King slowly turned his head.
—You’re still too weak.
He swung his arm.
Ryu barely managed to use Shadow Step.
BOOM!
He appeared several meters away.
The Shadow Wolf immediately attacked.
SWOOSH!
Its claws struck the Abyssal King’s chest.
The monster was pushed backward.
For the first time, its expression changed.
—You…
The Shadow Wolf growled.
The Abyssal King looked at it.
—You’re still protecting him.
The wolf stood firmly between Ryu and the monster.
Ryu looked at his companion.
—Thank you.
The Abyssal King laughed.
—You really don’t remember anything.
Ryu became serious.
—Then tell me.
The Abyssal King stopped laughing.
—Three hundred years ago, you and I stood together.
Ryu froze.
—We were friends.
A strange pain appeared in Ryu’s head.
FLASH!
A memory appeared.
A young blue slime bounced through a field.
Beside him walked the Shadow Wolf.
And beside them was a silver-haired boy.
The boy laughed.
—Ryu!
Wait for me!
The blue slime bounced happily.
The three of them traveled together.
They fought monsters.
They explored forests.
They protected villages.
They laughed.
They were happy.
Then the memory changed.
The sky turned black.
The silver-haired boy stood alone in front of a massive army.
His eyes were glowing red.
The blue slime stood opposite him.
The Shadow Wolf stood between them.
Ryu grabbed his head.
—Stop…
The vision disappeared.
The Abyssal King spoke softly.
—His name was Kael.
Ryu looked up.
—Kael…
The name felt strangely familiar.
The silver-haired girl suddenly shouted—
—Don’t listen to him!
Ryu turned toward her.
—You know him too.
She remained silent.
Ryu’s voice became firmer.
—Tell me the truth.
The girl looked at the ground.
—Yes.
—Who was Kael?
She closed her eyes.
—He was your best friend.
Ryu froze.
The Abyssal King laughed.
—And you were mine.
Ryu stared at him.
—Then why did we fight?
The Abyssal King didn’t answer.
Instead, he raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered around his palm.
—Because you betrayed me.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—That’s impossible.
The Abyssal King suddenly attacked.
A massive wave of darkness rushed toward the village.
The silver-haired girl immediately created a barrier.
BOOOOOOM!
The barrier cracked.
The villagers screamed.
Ryu looked around.
Children were crying.
The old goblin was struggling to stand.
Ryu’s expression changed.
He remembered the old goblin’s words.
You saved this village.
Ryu clenched his fists.
—I won’t let you hurt them.
Blue energy exploded from his body.
[Power Awakening: 15%]
[New Skill Unlocked.]
[Skill: Guardian Aura]
[Description: Creates an aura that strengthens allies and weakens hostile creatures within range.]
A blue wave spread across the village.
The villagers suddenly felt stronger.
The Shadow Wolf’s dark aura became more powerful.
The silver-haired girl’s magic intensified.
The Abyssal King looked around.
—Guardian Aura…
His expression became serious.
—So you’ve finally remembered how to use it.
Ryu smiled.
—Maybe I don’t remember everything.
He moved forward.
—But I know what I want to protect.
The Shadow Wolf stepped beside him.
The villagers gathered behind them.
Even the old goblin picked up his staff.
The Abyssal King stared at them.
Then he smiled.
—Just like three hundred years ago.
Dark energy exploded from his body.
The ground cracked.
Several trees were torn from the earth.
—Then let’s repeat history.
The Abyssal King charged.
Ryu and the Shadow Wolf charged at the same time.
BOOM!
Their attacks collided.
The entire forest shook.
Ryu used Shadow Step.
He appeared beside the Abyssal King’s head.
—Shadow Claw!
SLASH!
The attack connected.
This time, a small wound appeared.
The Abyssal King roared.
The Shadow Wolf attacked from behind.
The silver-haired girl launched several magical spears.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The Abyssal King was forced backward.
Ryu stared at him.
—We can do this!
But suddenly—
The Abyssal King smiled.
—You still fight exactly the same way.
Ryu froze.
—What?
The Abyssal King raised one hand.
A black magic circle appeared beneath the Shadow Wolf.
The wolf suddenly became trapped.
—GRRRR!
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—Shadow Wolf!
The Abyssal King closed his fist.
Dark chains wrapped around the wolf’s body.
Ryu immediately rushed toward it.
But the Abyssal King appeared in front of him.
BOOM!
Ryu was struck and sent flying.
He crashed into a tree.
—UGH!
The Shadow Wolf struggled against the chains.
The Abyssal King walked toward Ryu.
—Three hundred years ago, you made the same mistake.
Ryu slowly stood.
—What mistake?
—You always tried to protect everyone.
The Abyssal King raised his hand.
—And that weakness destroyed you.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
Another memory flashed through his mind.
A battlefield.
Hundreds of dead monsters.
The Shadow Wolf badly injured.
The silver-haired girl crying.
And Ryu standing before Kael.
The memory was incomplete.
But one thing was clear.
Ryu was crying.
—Kael…
please stop.
The silver-haired boy stood before him.
His eyes were filled with anger.
—You chose them over me.
Ryu shook his head.
—That’s not true.
Kael raised his hand.
Darkness surrounded him.
—Then why did you seal me?
The memory shattered.
Ryu returned to reality.
He stared at the Abyssal King.
—You weren’t sealed because I betrayed you…
The Abyssal King stopped.
Ryu slowly smiled.
—You were sealed because you became something dangerous.
The Abyssal King’s eyes narrowed.
—You don’t remember enough to understand.
Ryu looked at the Shadow Wolf.
The wolf was still trapped.
Ryu clenched his fists.
—Maybe not.
Blue energy began gathering around him.
—But I don’t need all my memories to know one thing.
The Abyssal King stared at him.
Ryu’s aura became stronger.
—I won’t let you hurt my friends.
[Power Awakening: 23%]
[Guardian Aura upgraded.]
[Skill unlocked.]
[Skill: King’s Command]
[Description: Temporarily amplifies the power of all allied creatures who recognize the user as their leader.]
Ryu’s eyes widened.
—King’s Command…
He looked at the villagers.
Then at the Shadow Wolf.
—Everyone…
His voice echoed through the forest.
—Fight with me!
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
The Shadow Wolf roared.
AWOOOOOO!
The villagers raised their weapons.
The goblins shouted.
The beastmen charged forward.
Even the small dragons on the rooftops opened their wings.
A powerful blue aura spread throughout the village.
The Abyssal King stared at Ryu.
For the first time—
He looked genuinely shocked.
—The King’s Command…
His expression darkened.
—You shouldn’t have been able to use that.
Ryu smiled.
—Looks like I’m remembering faster than you expected.
The Shadow Wolf broke free from the dark chains.
BOOM!
It charged forward.
The Abyssal King blocked its claws.
At the same moment, Ryu appeared behind him.
—Shadow Step!
The Abyssal King turned.
Too late.
Ryu’s Shadow Claw struck his back.
SLASH!
A deep wound appeared.
The Abyssal King roared.
The entire forest shook.
But instead of becoming angry—
He laughed.
—Excellent.
Dark energy began pouring from his body.
The sky above Everdark Forest suddenly turned black.
Clouds gathered.
Lightning flashed.
The Abyssal King’s body began transforming.
His horns grew larger.
His wings expanded.
His aura became so powerful that several villagers fell to their knees.
The silver-haired girl stared upward.
—No…
Ryu looked at her.
—What?
She whispered—
—He’s using his true form.
The Abyssal King opened his enormous wings.
—Ryu…
His voice echoed across the entire forest.
—If you want to know the truth about three hundred years ago…
His red eyes burned brighter.
—Then survive this battle.
Ryu stared at him.
The Shadow Wolf stood beside him.
Ryu smiled.
—Then I’ll survive.
The Abyssal King raised his hand.
A gigantic sphere of darkness appeared above the village.
The girl shouted—
—Everyone, run!
The sphere began descending.
Ryu looked at the enormous attack.
His body trembled.
He knew—
If that attack reached the village…
Everyone would die.
His blue aura suddenly exploded.
[Power Awakening: 31%]
[Critical condition detected.]
[Memory seal breaking.]
[Warning.]
[The King’s true power is beginning to awaken.]
Ryu looked at the falling sphere.
Then he whispered—
—I won’t lose anyone again.
His body began changing.
And for the first time in three hundred years—
The true power of the King of Slimes began to awaken.