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

"I can't believe I had to fight that ogre all day,"

Xender muttered to himself as he cautiously made his way back to the city. The pain in his ribs throbbed with every step, reminding him of how far from his peak he still felt.

His broken arm hung at an awkward angle, and he winced when he adjusted his grip.

"If I run into something stronger on my way back, it'll be a real problem. I need to be careful."

As night fell, shadows crept through the forest, and the chill in the air made him shiver. Xender's thoughts drifted to his dead comrades, but he quickly pushed them aside. Their fate didn't concern him; all that mattered was getting stronger.

"Next time I face a monster like that, I won't waste time fighting," he promised himself, clenching his jaw. "I've grown stronger, but it's still not enough."

Meanwhile, worry hung heavy in the air for the other heroes at their mansion. They had waited long enough for Xender to return safe, but the darkened sky and his absence had them on edge. In the warm glow of the mansion, they exchanged anxious glances, their voices hushed.

"He should have been back by now," whispered one of the heroes Max, a tall figure with a confident stance.

The others nodded, their brows furrowing with concern.

To them, Xender was just the weak link, a pretender who never showcased his true strength. While they boasted about their extraordinary powers and the triumphs they'd achieved, he remained silent, playing the part of the underdog.

They assumed he was someone who simply didn't belong among them, never realizing that he was hiding his potential beneath that facade.

Unbeknownst to the others, Xender had his own plan. The harder he fought, the stronger he would become, and one day, he would reveal his true power and intent. A smirk curled on his lips as he envisioned a time when he wouldn't just keep up with the heroes but overshadow them.

For now, however, he had to survive the night and make it back to the mansion. But with each painful step, he knew the darkness held more dangers than just monsters lurking in the shadows.

To their surprise, Xender limped through the door, barely holding himself up.

"Thank God," he gasped before crumpling to the ground.

The shock in the room was palpable. What they didn't know, however, was that his injuries were mostly for show. Beneath his tattered clothes and the dust from the forest, he was mostly unharmed.

"What the hell! The weakling is back. Seems we were worried for nothing," Leo scoffed, crossing his arms with a smirk.

"Leo, you jerk! Act like a hero!" Mia exclaimed, rushing to Xender's side.

Kneeling beside him, she summoned her light magic, Dazzling Halo Level 5. A shimmering circle of golden light formed around Xender, and, with a wave of her hand, his wounds began to fade as if they had never existed.

As Xender stirred, Mei approached with a look of concern.

"Are you okay? Where are your party members?" she asked softly.

Xender's heart raced for a moment, but he quickly played his part.

"No... they are all dead," he said, his voice trembling.

"That giant ogre massacred them. I tried to save them, but... I'm too weak. They bought me some time to escape."

Gasps filled the room.

"What?! You left them to die? Dude, you really are weak, aren't you?" Max exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face.

"Ha! Poor adventurers. I feel sorry for them," Leo chuckled, his mockery stinging.

Mia's expression shifted from concern to determination.

"What will you do now? The King plans to launch a full-scale war in the Dark Forest. He'll send an army of knights and adventurers to exterminate the demons for good. As heroes, we're expected to lead that army."

"War?"

The word echoed in Xender's mind, and a thrill of excitement coursed through him.

"A perfect time to test what I can really do," he thought, suppressing a smile and keeping his expression serious.

"I... I'll find a way. I need some time to think," he replied, forcing a note of uncertainty into his voice.

"Hey, dude, how about joining my party? I'm sure your magic would be helpful," Max suggested, his eagerness evident.

"No... I'd just hold you back," Xender responded, feigning humility.

The others nodded, convinced of Xender's weakness. He was just a nobody, an insignificant hero in their eyes.

But Mei, who had always felt a deeper connection to the world around her, sensed something different about him. Her instincts whispered that there was more to Xender than met the eye, warning her that he harbored secrets.

None of the heroes knew the true extent of Xender's power; they only recognized him by his title: Shadowmancer.

As the weight of the coming conflict loomed over them, Xender's mind buzzed with possibilities. He had the chance to rise above their expectations, to show them that beneath his facade lay a power they couldn't begin to comprehend.

Xender excused himself from the group, the tension in his chest growing heavier as he walked down the dimly lit passageway to his room. Each step fueled his thoughts, a turbulent storm brewing in his mind.

"Damn that brat Leo," he fumed silently.

"He'll be the first one I kill. After him, it'll be Mia. Her light magic is a real threat to my shadow abilities. Beyond that, there's Max, the titan. He shouldn't be too hard to handle; I've taken down an ogre before."

He paused for a moment, a puzzled look crossing his face.

"And Mei? What's her deal? She's stronger than the rest of them."

Xender felt a stir of unease.

"The spirit summoner... Is her magic genuinely that powerful? Or is it the spirits she calls upon that give her strength?"

His mind raced back to the whispers he'd heard about her potential to summon the spirits of fallen heroes.

But their powers would only be as strong as she is. If she gains more strength, she could become unstoppable.

With each thought, a wicked smile crept across his face. He reached his room and closed the door, the quiet wrapping around him like a cloak.

"I need to reevaluate my plans. I have to grow stronger—stronger than all the heroes, even the legendary ones of the past"

Then no one will stop me...no one, I will become the true embodiment of villainy.

Meanwhile, Mei stood with her fellow heroes, concern etched on her face.

"Does anyone here know Xender's powers? His current level?" she asked, but her question was met with chuckles and dismissive shrugs.

They all presumed it didn't matter; he was simply a weakling in their eyes.

Unbeknownst to them, Mei was the second strongest among them.

In terms of power levels, Xender led at level 30, followed by Mei at level 25, Mia at level 20, Max at 19, and Leo at 18.

Their levels were still low, as they had yet to face really strong monsters.

Mei, however, was the exception. Her ability to summon spirits allowed her to level up quickly; while she gave the commands, the spirits handled the fighting, healing, and support for her.

Max, renowned for his close combat skills, may have had a lower power level, but his physical strength was beyond that of a typical human, and his stamina was impressive.

Mia had potential with her light manipulation but wasted much of her time on healing magic instead of honing her skills for battle.

Leo lagged behind simply because he spent too much time chasing girls instead of focusing on his training.

Xender pondered his next move. To grow stronger, he knew he had to venture deep into the Dark Forest and confront more powerful monsters.

The demons were beginning to stir as well, rallying their forces in the shadows, plotting to unite and launch an attack on human territories.

As he plotted in the confines of his mind, a sense of determination washed over him. He might be seen as a weakling now, but soon, everything would change. He would become the strongest, feared by all, including the so-called heroes who underestimated him.

The battle to prove himself had only just begun.