The Rise of The Heavenly Demon God

The night was still dark when the hissing sound of magic filled the air. The massive magic circle that once shone brightly now lay shattered into fragments after Alaric's final clash with the mysterious cloaked figure. Yet, the tension only grew heavier. A new shadow emerged from the darkness, standing proudly, its glowing red eyes fixated on Alaric.

Alaric could feel the aura—heavy, cold, and filled with undeniable power. The system chimed in with a warning.

> [Warning: High-Level Threat Detected!]

[Enemy Identified: Reinhart, Trusted Guardian of the Dark Archmage.]

[Chance of Victory: 18%]

Alaric smirked faintly. "System, you really like underestimating me, huh?"

Reinhart, the cloaked figure, stepped forward slowly. His voice was deep and vibrated with immense power. "The last prince of a fallen kingdom—how does it feel to be a fugitive, cast away from your throne? You should've died with your family back then."

Alaric ignored the taunt. Instead, he glanced toward Eldrin and Seraphina, who were still hiding behind the ruins of a cottage. With a slight tilt of his head, he silently commanded them to retreat further.

"Protect my sister," Alaric whispered to Eldrin without breaking eye contact with Reinhart.

Eldrin nodded hesitantly. He knew that staying any longer would only be a burden for Alaric.

Unleashing the Dark Seal

"You're far too calm for someone who knows they're about to die," Reinhart said, twirling his magic staff. Small magic circles began forming around him, pouring thick, dark energy into the air.

Alaric scoffed. "Die? I'm far from done with this world."

The system suddenly issued a new notification.

> [Choice Presented!]

1. Use the Basic Heavenly Demon Technique to attack.

2. Partially unlock the Dark Emperor's sealed power, but the risk is high.

Time seemed to slow. Alaric knew that the basic Heavenly Demon technique he had learned wasn't nearly enough to handle someone like Reinhart. The only real option was to unlock the seal. Though the system warned of the risks, he had no other choice.

"I choose... the second," Alaric murmured, raising his hand into the air.

The dark aura that had been dormant within him began to seep out. A fierce wind blew around him, making his tattered cloak billow wildly. Alaric's eyes glowed with crimson light, and ancient symbols appeared on his forehead and arms, radiating a faint glow.

Reinhart froze momentarily, his expression shifting from arrogance to wariness. "What is this...? You're not just a prince!"

Alaric smirked coldly. "It's too late for regrets."

A Clash of Two Darknesses

Reinhart attacked first. With a single motion of his staff, hundreds of shadow spears shot toward Alaric. Yet, before they could touch him, the spears vanished—absorbed into the dark aura surrounding Alaric.

"Is that what you call an attack?" Alaric taunted. In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Reinhart, delivering a powerful punch. Reinhart managed to raise a magic barrier in time, but the sheer force of the blow cracked it.

Reinhart staggered back in haste, his eyes wide with disbelief. "This power... it's impossible! The Dark Emperor was supposed to have died years ago!"

Alaric remained silent. He took slow, deliberate steps forward, exerting psychological pressure on his opponent. Each step caused the ground beneath him to crack, unable to withstand the weight of his aura.

Reinhart realized he could no longer hold back. With a loud shout, he conjured the largest magic circle he had ever created, summoning a creature from another dimension. A colossal figure emerged from the circle, horned and cloaked in black flames. Its voice rumbled like a storm.

"Feel the power of this blood sacrifice, little prince!"

Alaric looked up at the giant creature, his expression unchanging. "This thing?" He slowly raised his hand. "Shatter."

The dark aura around him formed into a long sword seemingly crafted from pure shadow. With one swift slash, the creature disintegrated into ashes. Reinhart barely had time to react before a wave of energy from the strike slammed into him.

A Costly Victory

Reinhart collapsed to the ground, his body bloodied and broken. He tried to stand but was too weak. He looked up at Alaric with fear in his eyes. "You... you're a monster... worse than the Dark Archmage."

Alaric stared at him coldly. "I am the legacy of something far greater than your Archmage."

Before Reinhart could say anything else, Alaric swung his sword once more, erasing Reinhart's body without a trace. The dark aura around Alaric gradually faded, leaving his body weak and on the verge of collapse. Eldrin and Seraphina rushed to his side.

"Brother! Are you okay?" Seraphina asked, helping him stand.

Alaric nodded weakly. "I'm fine. But this is only the beginning." He looked up at the now-quiet night sky. "The real enemy is still out there."

The system chimed again:

> [Mission Completed: Defend the village and defeat the mercenary forces.]

[Reward Received: Heavenly Demon Technique – Shadow Step (Advanced Upgrade).]

Alaric gave a faint smile, but deep down, he knew that every step forward would only grow more challenging.