Shadow Slave: Eternal Madness

Raphael looked down at the battlefield.

The Underworld was waiting for his signal to attack.

"Even when they are killing each other, they are observing other parts of the battlefield."

Raphael tilted his head and chuckled.

"Are they waiting for me? I'm honoured."

In one part of the battlefield, he saw Sunny and Nephis fighting against Dire Fang.

"Tsk, shadow bond is such a cheat."

Raphael watched as Sunny dashed toward Dire Fang.

Sunny gritted his teeth and let out a bestial growl, using all his prodigious strength to push himself off the ground and leap into the air.

Dire Fang was too fast and skilled to allow the unexpected attack to reach its mark, though.

A split second before Sunny could bring his sword down on the Saint's neck…

A massive clawed hand shot forward, catching him in the chest.

The power of that blow was overwhelming.

The onyx of the Mantle cracked and exploded, as if struck by five Transcendent swords. The manifested shadows comprising the shadow fiend shell were instantly sliced and torn apart.

In an instant, the shadowspawn was mutilated beyond recognition. The upper portion of his torso was entirely destroyed, exploding into a fountain of darkness. His horned head was severed and flew into the air. Two of his four arms were ripped off.

The entire mangled carcass was thrown back.

The Sin of Solace slipped from his fingers.

That was the thing, though…

Raphael looked at Sunny and smiled.

'Smart.'

Sunny had used his shadowspawn as bait, forcing Dire Fang to target its upper body.

Almost at the same time as Dire Fang's claws tore through the upper chest and neck of the shadow fiend, the entire shell suddenly lost its coherence, dissolving back into ethereal shadows.

And, just below the harrowing cut, the top of Sunny's head was revealed.

The dissipating shell was thrown back by the strike, but his own body, freed from its embrace, continued flying forward like a bullet.

Time stood still.

Catching the hilt of the Sin of Solace with his own human hand, Sunny used the tremendous augmentation of shadow and flame to fill his muscles with dreadful strength…

And drove the tip of his sword into the Saint's bestial eye.

"Not bad, Sunny, not bad."

Raphael looked away toward another part of the battlefield.

He saw the two siblings fighting each other, but in the end, the Prince of Nothing rose above Morgan.

Raphael looked inside his soul—Nether was still devouring the divinity.

He looked down and flicked his finger.

Sunny, who was staring at the dead body of Dire Fang, felt his shadow weakening.

He looked up and saw a veil of darkness covering the battlefield.

Mordret, who was aiming his sword at Morgan's head, stopped and looked at the sky.

Madoc, who was fighting against Beastmaster, glanced at her and nodded.

Beastmaster did the same.

Both stopped, ordering their armies to halt.

Raphael, descending from the sky with his cape floating behind him, wasn't surprised by their actions.

He descended slowly, stairs made of darkness forming beneath his feet.

When he reached the ground, he looked around.

Everyone on the battlefield turned their gaze toward him.

Madoc raised his sword and asked:

"Who are you?"

Raphael glanced at him and spoke, his voice full of authority.

"Your death."

Madoc frowned and dashed at Raphael, but before he could reach him, a sword made of darkness flew toward him.

Madoc raised his sword to parry the attack, but his weapon shattered.

The sword his brother had forged for him was utterly destroyed.

The dark blade continued its path, penetrating his abdomen.

Madoc was thrown back. He grimaced and looked at the sky… ten swords followed, each striking their mark.

His arms and legs were severed.

"Aghhhhhhhhhhhh—!"

Raphael glanced at him and said coldly:

"Pathetic."

Turning his gaze to the others before him, he spoke:

"I don't understand. When there's a common enemy, the two sides should join forces to fight against it. Yet, you've broken even this simple logic."

Raphael chuckled and added:

"Is it because you were born in this world? The world of the Goddess of War?"

"You've truly impressed me with your stupidity."

Beastmaster gritted her teeth and commanded:

"Soldiers, kill him!"

Raphael sighed and finally unleashed the presence inside him.

Everyone felt it—the killing intent was so heavy it felt as though they were being devoured.

Raphael raised his voice and ordered:

"Kneel!"

Without realizing it, their heads struck the ground.

Beastmaster, paralyzed with fear, instinctively tried to flee into the Dream Realm, but something was blocking her.

A gate opened behind Raphael. He turned to it and spoke.

Now, his voice echoed across the entire Dream Realm.

"I warned you, Sovereigns, but you refused to listen. Now, you shall bear my wrath!"

Raphael grinned, then addressed those before him.

"Bear witness! To the wrath of I, Raphael, the Black Emperor!"

Sunny stared at Raphael in fear, feeling the overwhelming presence.

From the gate, the Dream Realm went silent for a moment… but then everything changed.

The Dream Realm shook and trembled, and what Sunny saw made him feel true horror.

——————————————————

The Dream Realm quaked and trembled.

From the Hollow Mountains, giants emerged, crushing everything beneath them.

Thousands of warriors poured forth from every side of the Dream Realm.

Mohg stood atop the mountains, raising his trident high, and declared:

"People of humanity, your Sovereigns have refused to heed His Grace's words, and now His wrath has reached the heavens! Drop your weapons and save your lives… or fight and die a meaningless death."

To the left of the Hollow Mountains, Kratos stood, waiting for his adversary.

And then he arrived.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his lean yet mighty physique exuding power. Muscles rippled beneath his glistening skin, and the unbearable heat of a crucible caused his sweat to evaporate as it appeared. His bare torso was painted in hues of vermilion by the angry glow.

He had dark hair and a thick, dignified beard. His noble face bore a harsh and austere expression, and his cold grey eyes shone like tempered steel.

Kratos looked at the man and grinned.

Would a sword capable of cutting through anything prevail against an indestructible body?

The answer would soon be revealed in their battle.

To the right of the Hollow Mountains, Lilith stood facing her opponent.

Lilith was a demoness who could charm anything and everything, bringing catastrophe in her wake.

Her adversary was the corpse of a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in a regal red gown—the Raven Queen.

The battle between the Demoness and the Raven Queen had begun.

Meanwhile, atop the Hollow Mountains, Mohg gazed at the sky, waiting for something.

As expected, a man descended from above.

He was gaunt, wearing a tattered spacesuit. The visor of his helmet was cracked, and the oxygen tank strapped to his back had long since run empty.

Asterion landed gracefully and looked at Mohg with a smirk.

"Your true body is sealed in the Underworld. Why do you think you can fight the Sovereigns in their own domain?"

Mohg's crimson eyes gleamed as he replied:

"The Emperor has simply ordered it."

Asterion chuckled at Mohg's words.

"Your Emperor is nothing more than a mere Ascended!"

Mohg's voice sharpened with fervor.

"It is only a matter of time before His Majesty fully awakens Nether. When that moment comes, your head will be presented to him as a gift!"

Asterion let out a low laugh and replied:

"We'll see when that time comes."

And thus, the battle between the Lord of Blood and the Original Dreamspawn began.

——————————————————

Raphael walked toward the Nightmare Gates. Despite the fact that the two abominations behind the gate should have already emerged, they still hadn't.

He glanced behind him as a pool of blood manifested on the battlefield. Some of the Saints barely clung to life, but all the Ascended and Awakened were dead.

That day was forever etched in humanity's history as "The Wrath of the Black Emperor."

Raphael turned his gaze to the surviving Saints and spoke coldly:

"I recommend retreating to the Dream Realm. Face these two Great Abominations, and you will die. Either way, it doesn't matter—you will perish in the Nightmare Desert."

With a single gesture, he dispelled the veil of darkness, making it possible for them to escape to the Dream Realm.

Raphael himself was pulled back into the Dream Realm. Through the draw of the Nightmare Gate, he found himself standing where it had all begun...

...The Nightmare Desert.

———————————————————

In the book "The Rise and Downfall of Humanity", it is written that while the Sovereigns emerged victorious against their enemies, humanity ultimately lost the war, forfeiting 30% of its territories.

———————————————————

[Volume 3: Emperor] - End.

[Volume 4: The Hanged Man] Opening Quote:

"I Shall bear their Sins for eternity, and wait for my Salvation."

———————————————————

Finally we have finished the 3rd Volume! I know most of the people didn't like it since I copied a lot, but I hope you liked the ending!

Also believe me the next volume might be the best one I'll be writing, it's full of plot twists, drama, character developments, and finally some LORE!

I might take a break, or not it depends if I've the enthusiasm to write.

Also please leave a review on this fanfic and some power stones, so more people can read it.

See you again next time👋