The forest was silent.
The massive explosion had disappeared.
Only smoke remained in the air.
Ryu slowly opened his eyes.
His body felt heavy.
The blue aura surrounding him had almost disappeared.
Across the battlefield, Kael stood motionless.
His enormous black wings were slowly fading.
The Shadow Wolf stood beside Ryu.
It was injured, but still standing.
Ryu looked at Kael.
—Why didn’t you attack?
Kael didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked toward the village.
The villagers were still alive.
The magical barrier was damaged, but the King’s Protection had saved them.
Kael lowered his head.
—Because…
His voice was quiet.
—I couldn’t.
Ryu stared at him.
—Why?
Kael closed his eyes.
—Because for a moment…
He looked at Ryu.
—I remembered who I used to be.
Ryu remained silent.
The silver-haired girl slowly walked toward them.
—Then it’s time.
Kael looked at her.
—Time for what?
She looked at Ryu.
—For him to know everything.
Ryu nodded.
—No more secrets.
The three of them walked toward the center of the village.
The old goblin gathered everyone together.
The villagers sat silently around an old stone platform.
Ryu stood in the center.
Kael stood several meters away.
The Shadow Wolf sat beside Ryu.
The silver-haired girl stepped forward.
—Three hundred years ago, Everdark Forest was completely different.
Ryu listened carefully.
—There were hundreds of monster tribes.
—Dragons ruled the mountains.
—Beastmen controlled the plains.
—Goblins lived in the deepest forests.
—And slimes…
She looked at Ryu.
—Were considered the weakest creatures of all.
Ryu sighed.
—Some things never change.
The girl smiled slightly.
Then she continued.
—You were born in a small slime colony.
—You had no special abilities.
—No powerful bloodline.
—No legendary weapon.
Ryu looked surprised.
—Then how did I become the King?
The old goblin answered.
—Because you were kind.
Ryu looked at him.
The old goblin smiled.
—You helped everyone.
—You protected weaker creatures.
—You shared food.
—You never judged anyone by their strength.
Ryu smiled faintly.
The girl continued.
—And that’s how you met Kael.
Ryu looked at him.
Kael remained silent.
—Kael was a young human mage.
—He came to Everdark Forest searching for magical herbs.
—He was attacked by monsters.
—And you saved him.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
Another memory appeared.
A young Kael lying injured beneath a tree.
A tiny blue slime bouncing toward him.
The slime touched Kael’s wound.
A small blue light appeared.
Kael opened his eyes.
—You saved me?
The little slime bounced happily.
Kael laughed.
—Thank you.
The memory disappeared.
Ryu smiled.
—I remember that.
Kael looked at him.
—You were annoying.
Ryu blinked.
—What?
Kael smiled slightly.
—You followed me everywhere.
Ryu laughed.
—You liked it.
Kael shook his head.
—Maybe.
The atmosphere became peaceful for a moment.
Then the girl’s expression became serious.
—But everything changed when the Kingdom of Eldoria discovered the forest.
Ryu’s smile disappeared.
—Eldoria?
She nodded.
—Humans wanted the magical crystals beneath Everdark Forest.
—They invaded the forest.
—They killed countless monsters.
—They burned villages.
Kael’s fists tightened.
—They killed my family.
Ryu looked at him.
Kael continued.
—I begged the humans to stop.
—They laughed.
—They called monsters worthless.
His eyes began glowing red.
—So I fought back.
Dark energy surrounded his body.
Ryu stepped closer.
—But you started attacking everyone.
Kael nodded.
—I did.
His voice became filled with regret.
—I couldn’t control my anger.
—The more I fought…
—The stronger the Abyss became.
The silver-haired girl continued.
—The Abyss wasn’t simply a power.
—It fed on negative emotions.
—Hatred.
—Anger.
—Despair.
—The more Kael suffered, the stronger it became.
Ryu looked at Kael.
—And eventually…
Kael finished the sentence.
—I became the Abyssal King.
Silence.
The old goblin lowered his head.
—You tried to stop him.
Ryu nodded slowly.
—But I couldn’t.
The girl looked at him.
—You could have killed him.
Ryu froze.
—What?
—You had the power.
—Then why didn’t I?
The girl looked toward Kael.
—Because you remembered your promise.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
Kael looked away.
The girl continued.
—You promised you would never abandon him.
Ryu slowly walked toward Kael.
—So I sealed him instead.
Kael nodded.
—You used your own soul to create the seal.
Ryu froze.
—My soul?
—Yes.
The girl pointed toward his chest.
—Your power, memories, and identity were used as the key.
Ryu stared at his body.
—That’s why I became a weak slime.
She nodded.
—You sacrificed your power so Kael could be sealed.
Ryu looked at Kael.
—And you stayed trapped for three hundred years.
Kael answered quietly.
—Yes.
Ryu clenched his fists.
—Then why did you attack us today?
Kael remained silent.
Finally—
—Because someone woke me up.
Everyone froze.
The silver-haired girl’s eyes widened.
—What?
Kael looked toward the deepest part of the forest.
—I didn’t escape by myself.
Ryu’s expression became serious.
—Who released you?
Kael shook his head.
—I don’t know.
The Shadow Wolf suddenly stood.
Its ears pointed toward the forest.
A low growl escaped its throat.
Ryu looked around.
—What is it?
The wolf stared into the darkness.
Then—
A voice echoed from the forest.
—You don’t need to know who released him.
Everyone froze.
A figure slowly emerged from the trees.
It was a tall man wearing a black cloak.
His face was hidden behind a silver mask.
Ryu stared at him.
—Who are you?
The masked man smiled.
—Someone who has been watching you since you entered Everdark Forest.
The silver-haired girl immediately raised her magic.
—You!
The man laughed.
—Still alive?
The girl looked terrified.
—You’re supposed to be dead.
The masked man removed his hood.
His silver hair fell across his face.
Ryu stared at him.
He looked strangely familiar.
The man looked directly at Ryu.
—Hello, little slime.
Ryu felt a chill.
—How do you know me?
The man smiled.
—Because I knew you before your memories were erased.
The Shadow Wolf growled violently.
The masked man looked at it.
—And you remember me too, don’t you?
The wolf’s eyes widened.
Ryu looked between them.
—Who is he?
Kael suddenly became tense.
For the first time since returning—
The Abyssal King looked afraid.
—Ryu…
Ryu turned toward him.
Kael whispered—
—Run.
Ryu froze.
—What?
Kael stared at the masked man.
—That man isn’t our enemy.
He paused.
—He’s something much worse.
The masked man smiled.
—Good.
A dark aura spread across the forest.
—At least you still remember me.
The masked man raised his hand.
Behind him, dozens of black portals opened.
Monsters began crawling out.
The villagers screamed.
The old goblin shouted—
—Everyone, prepare yourselves!
Ryu looked at Kael.
—Who is he?
Kael slowly answered.
—His name is Zerach.
Ryu waited.
Kael’s voice trembled.
—He was the one who taught me how to use the Abyss.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
Zerach laughed.
—And now…
His eyes began glowing purple.
—I’m here to finish what we started three hundred years ago.
The forest darkened.
The Shadow Wolf stood beside Ryu.
Kael stepped forward.
For the first time—
Ryu and Kael stood on the same side.
Zerach looked at them.
—Let’s see if the old King and the fallen King can stop me.
Ryu smiled.
—Then come.
Kael’s eyes glowed red.
The Shadow Wolf lowered its body.
The final battle of the night was about to begin.