Summoned to Save, Chosen to Rebel: The Rise of the Dark Sovereign

Zephyra strode through the chaos of her dwindling demon army, her every step deliberate and unhurried.

Her black coat dragged along the bloodied ground, its edges soaking in the crimson aftermath of battle.

Despite her petite frame and youthful appearance, there was something deeply unsettling about her calm demeanor.

Max, towering like a colossus, marched to meet her. His massive frame dwarfed hers, his twin blades glinting in the pale light.

He glared down at her, confusion flashing across his face.

"What could this tiny, frail-looking demon possibly do to someone like me?" he thought.

His confidence swelled as he planted his feet and readied himself, waiting for her to make the first move.

But waiting was his mistake.

In an instant, Zephyra vanished.

Max's eyes widened, his instincts kicking in too late. Before he could react, she reappeared inches from his face.

She hadn't teleported—it was pure speed, a blur that even his enhanced reflexes couldn't track.

'CRACK!'

Her spinning kick struck Max's face with devastating force, sending the giant warrior hurtling backward like a ragdoll.

He crashed into the ground, the earth trembling beneath him as he skidded across the battlefield.

The human soldiers froze mid-combat, their weapons faltering in their hands. The sight of their strongest warrior being flung aside like a child's toy was terrifying.

Zephyra straightened herself, brushing off imaginary dust from her coat as if nothing had happened. She turned her cold, mocking gaze to the stunned soldiers.

"Such fragile creatures," she said, her voice calm yet dripping with disdain.

"I wonder how your kind managed to push us into the shadows all those centuries ago."

Without hesitation, she leapt into action. Zephyra didn't need magic. Her raw physical strength was more than enough.

She moved like a whirlwind through the ranks of knights, tearing them apart with ruthless efficiency.

A soldier lunged at her, sword raised high. She sidestepped with ease, grabbing his arm and twisting until the sickening snap of bone echoed in the air.

Before he could scream, she wrenched his head clean from his shoulders, tossing it aside like trash.

Another knight tried to strike her from behind. She caught his blade with her bare hand, her grip shattering the steel, and slammed her fist into his chest, caving in his armor and ribs.

Blood sprayed the air as she laughed, the sound chilling and inhuman.

"Is this all humanity has to offer?" she mocked.

Turning to her remaining demons, she barked an order.

"What are you garbage waiting for? Slaughter them!"

Her demons surged forward with renewed fervor, their bloodlust ignited by their leader's carnage.

Nearby, Leo had been directing the mages when he noticed the chaos unfolding. His heart sank as he saw Max lying motionless in the dirt. Abandoning his post, he sprinted toward his fallen comrade.

"Max!" he shouted, kneeling beside the giant.

"What the hell just happened?"

Groaning, Max pushed himself up, his head still spinning from the kick. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog clouding his thoughts.

"She's... stronger than I thought," he muttered, the words bitter on his tongue.

"She sent you flying? With one hit?" Leo asked, disbelief etched across his face.

Max nodded, steadying himself with a deep breath.

"Yeah. And she's coming back."

Both men turned to see Zephyra stalking toward them, her blood-red eyes gleaming with amusement. Her expression was calm, almost playful, as if she were toying with them.

"She's tough. Way too tough," Max admitted, gripping his massive blades. He glanced at Leo, his voice firm.

"I'm gonna need your help with this one."

Leo tightened his grip on his staff, frost gathering at its tip. He nodded, determination hardening his features.

"Let's take her down together."

Zephyra stopped a few steps away, tilting her head as she studied the pair. Her lips curled into a sly smile.

"Oh, this should be entertaining," she said softly.

"Come, heroes. Show me what you've got."

The air between them grew heavy with tension as the three prepared to clash. The battlefield around them faded into chaos, but here, in this moment, all eyes were on the fight that could decide the fate of the battle—and the future of humanity.

"Don't hold back, Leo," Max growled, his eyes locked on Zephyra.

Leo smirked, glancing at his battered comrade.

"You, of all people, getting sent flying by a girl? I never thought I'd see the day."

Max shot him a glare.

"You idiot! Stop joking around. That's not a girl—it's a demon. A very strong one." He gripped his twin blades tighter, his voice sharp with urgency.

"Cover me. I'll go in first."

Without waiting for a response, Max charged forward, his massive frame moving with surprising speed.

The ground trembled beneath his heavy footsteps. His twin blades gleamed, descending on Zephyra with the force of a collapsing mountain.

Zephyra didn't flinch.

She didn't move.

As Max's blades came crashing down, dust exploded from the impact, and the earth beneath them fractured, sending tremors across the battlefield.

The human soldiers froze, eyes wide with anticipation. For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, someone whispered,

"We got her."

But as the dust settled, their hopes shattered.

Zephyra stood unscathed in the crater, her arms raised casually. She had stopped both of Max's massive blades with her fingertips.

Her black nails pressed into the steel like it was nothing more than paper.

The human forces gasped in disbelief. Zephyra's lips curled into a taunting smile as she locked eyes with Max.

"Is that all?" she said softly, her tone dripping with mockery.

Before Max could react, she yanked the blades toward her, dragging him with them. His colossal strength was meaningless against her.

In one fluid motion, she slipped between his swords, her petite form weaving effortlessly around the massive weapons.

Her leg snapped up with inhuman speed, slamming into Max's stomach like a battering ram. The impact echoed like a thunderclap, and Max dropped to his knees, gasping for air.

Zephyra didn't waste a second. With a sinister gleam in her eyes, she lunged for him, aiming to deliver the final blow.

"Not so fast!" Leo shouted, slamming his hand into the ground.

A towering wall of ice erupted between Zephyra and Max, the sharp, crystalline structure gleaming in the light.

The wall held for mere seconds before Zephyra shattered it with a single punch, shards of ice scattering like deadly rain. She turned her gaze to Leo, her black-and-red eyes narrowing.

"You're next," she said, her voice cold and menacing.

Leo's breath caught in his throat as her piercing gaze locked onto him. He raised his hand, frost crackling at its tip, and called out,

"Mei! Mia! We need backup!"

From the sidelines, Xender watched the chaos unfold. His arms were crossed, his smirk widening as he overheard Leo's desperate call.

"Forgetting someone, aren't you?" Xender thought, his inner voice dripping with contempt.

As the others scrambled to stop Zephyra, Xender leaned against his blade, his thoughts dark and calculating.

"This is perfect. They see me as useless. They won't even think to ask for my help. That's fine. Let them struggle. Let them die.

When they're gone, I'll take my place at the top—'the greatest villain this world has ever seen.'"

He smiled to himself, a twisted grin, as the battlefield around him descended into further chaos.