Scarlet Shadows: Rise Of The abyssal demon emperor

The sun barely pierced through the thick canopy of the forest as Zhen Yang trudged onward. His crimson eyes scanned the dense foliage, his steps purposeful. The events of the abyssal pact had left him more resolute than ever, but a shadow of unease lingered in his mind. He was no longer the boy the Zhen family thought they could manipulate, but something far darker, more potent. The world would soon feel his wrath.

At the edge of the forest, he paused, sensing the faintest shift in the air. The familiar scent of metal and blood reached his nose. A trap, he thought. They were waiting for him.

"How predictable," he muttered, a sinister smirk curling his lips.

As if on cue, figures emerged from the underbrush, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Zhen Yang counted five—elite guards of the Zhen family. Their leader, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running across his face, stepped forward, his blade drawn.

"Young master Zhen Yang," the man began, his tone feigning respect. "Elder Zhen Xuan has requested your presence at the estate."

Zhen Yang chuckled, the sound cold and devoid of humor. "Requested? Is that what you call sending assassins?"

The leader's face darkened. "You misunderstand. We're here to ensure your safe return."

"Safe?" Zhen Yang's eyes glowed faintly, a crimson aura beginning to seep from his body. "I've seen enough lies to last several lifetimes. You're here to kill me."

The leader didn't deny it. With a nod, the guards closed in, their movements precise and deadly. Zhen Yang didn't move at first, letting them believe they had the upper hand. But as the first blade swung toward him, he struck.

A burst of crimson energy exploded from him, throwing the attackers off balance. Before they could recover, Zhen Yang was upon them. His movements were a blur, each strike calculated, each step a dance of death. The guards, trained and disciplined as they were, stood no chance. One by one, they fell, their screams echoing through the forest.

The leader, now the last man standing, gritted his teeth and charged, his blade aimed at Zhen Yang's heart. But Zhen Yang caught the blade with his bare hand, the crimson aura around him solidifying into an impenetrable shield.

"Pathetic," Zhen Yang said, his voice dripping with disdain. With a flick of his wrist, he shattered the blade, sending shards flying. The leader stumbled back, fear finally overtaking his bravado.

"Please… spare me…" the man begged, dropping to his knees.

Zhen Yang tilted his head, as if considering the plea. Then, with a swift motion, he ended the man's life, his expression unchanging.

"Weakness has no place in my world," he said, stepping over the body.

Back at the Zhen family estate, Elder Zhen Xuan paced his chambers. The reports from the guards were overdue, and his patience was wearing thin. He'd underestimated the boy, and that was a mistake he wouldn't make again.

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Enter," he barked.

The informant from before stepped in, his face pale. "Elder, the retrieval team has failed. Zhen Yang… he… slaughtered them all."

Zhen Xuan's eyes narrowed. "So, the boy has grown teeth. Interesting."

"What are your orders, Elder?" the informant asked nervously.

"Double the surveillance. Mobilize our internal forces. If the boy wants to play the monster, we'll show him what it means to face the true power of the Zhen family."

"And if he… targets the patriarch?"

Zhen Xuan's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Let him try. The boy may have tasted power, but he's still young. His arrogance will be his undoing."

Far from the estate, Zhen Yang stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing out at the vast expanse before him. The forest stretched endlessly, the horizon painted in hues of red and gold by the setting sun. But his eyes were focused, his mind calculating.

"The Zhen family," he murmured, his voice low but filled with venom. "They think they can control me. Use me. They've forgotten who I am."

The memories of his past lives stirred within him, fragmented but persistent. He was more than a mere boy, more than a pawn in a family feud. He was the Abyssal Sovereign, a force beyond comprehension. And soon, the world would remember.

Turning away from the cliff, he began his descent into the valley below. There was much to do, and he wouldn't rest until his plans were set in motion. The Zhen family's power would crumble, their schemes unraveling under the weight of his vengeance. And when the dust settled, only one figure would remain—

The Abyssal Demon Emperor.