The Demon king's Last oath

The chamber was eerily quiet, the faint hum of magic the only sound as Caius approached the shard once more. The pedestal glowed faintly, the air around it shimmering with an otherworldly light.

The stranger leaned against a nearby wall, their silver eyes fixed on Caius. "So, what's the plan, boy? Stare at it until it gives up its secrets?"

Caius didn't respond immediately. The shard's pull was stronger than ever, an invisible force wrapping around his chest like a vice. He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing its cold surface.

A surge of energy shot through him, and his vision blurred. The world around him dissolved into darkness, the faint echo of a voice ringing in his ears.

When Caius opened his eyes, he stood in a vast, empty void. Shadows swirled around him, their movements slow and deliberate, like a predator circling its prey.

At the center of the void, a figure began to take shape. It was humanoid but twisted, its form flickering like smoke. Two glowing crimson eyes stared at Caius, burning with an intensity that made his chest tighten.

"You've come far, little heir," the figure said, its voice deep and resonant, echoing in the emptiness.

Caius's fists clenched. "Who are you?"

The figure chuckled, its voice laced with malice. "You already know the answer to that."

The shadows shifted, and the figure stepped closer, its form solidifying. It was tall, draped in a tattered black cloak that billowed in an unseen wind. Its face remained obscured, but the eyes… those eyes burned with a terrifying familiarity.

"The Demon King," Caius whispered.

The figure tilted its head. "A fragment of him, at least. The part that remains… here."

The void pulsed, and Caius stumbled slightly, the force of the energy making his heart race.

"This shard," the figure continued, gesturing to its chest, "is a piece of what I once was. Power, stripped away, scattered like ash to the winds."

"Why?" Caius asked, his voice trembling slightly.

The figure's eyes narrowed. "To stop the destruction. To seal away what could not be destroyed."

The shadows surged closer, coiling around Caius's legs and arms. He struggled, but the figure raised a hand, and the darkness held him still.

"You bear the weight of an oath, child," the figure said, its voice growing harsher. "But an oath means nothing without strength. And your strength is incomplete."

Caius's chest burned, the weight of the shadows pressing down on him. "I don't need your power," he said through gritted teeth.

The figure's laughter echoed through the void. "Foolish boy. You think you can stop what's coming without it? The void left by my death has not remained empty. The power I sought to destroy has risen again, and it will devour everything if you do not act."

The shadows surged closer, and the figure's voice grew louder, almost deafening. "But beware, little heir. This shard is only the beginning. With each fragment you find, the shadows will grow stronger. And so will the one who hunts them."

Before Caius could respond, the void shattered, and the world dissolved into blinding light.

Caius gasped, his senses snapping back to the chamber. He stumbled back from the pedestal, his body trembling as the shard's glow dimmed.

The stranger caught his arm, their silver eyes filled with concern. "You okay, boy? You looked like you were about to keel over."

"I'm fine," Caius said, his voice steadier than he felt.

The stranger studied him for a moment, then glanced at the shard. "What did you see?"

Caius hesitated, his mind racing. The figure's words echoed in his head, the weight of their meaning pressing down on him.

"A fragment of the Demon King," he said finally.

The stranger raised an eyebrow. "The Demon King? You're saying that thing is part of him?"

Caius nodded. "When he fell, his power didn't vanish. It was… divided. Sealed away in pieces like this shard."

The stranger frowned, their gaze shifting to the pedestal. "And now it's waking up."

"It's more than that," Caius said, his voice growing quieter. "The power he tried to destroy… it's coming back. And if I don't stop it, everything will fall apart."

The stranger leaned back, their arms crossed. "No pressure, huh?"

Caius didn't respond. His eyes remained fixed on the shard, the weight of the figure's warning settling in his chest.

"This is only the beginning."

The shard pulsed faintly, its glow weak but persistent. Caius reached for his satchel, pulling out a small cloth. He wrapped the shard carefully, tying the cloth tightly before placing it inside.

"What are you doing?" the stranger asked.

"Taking it," Caius said simply.

The stranger's eyes widened. "Are you insane? That thing's a beacon for trouble. You saw what happened when we got near it. If you carry that around, you're practically begging for more of those shadow monsters to show up."

Caius stood, slinging the satchel over his shoulder. "If I leave it here, someone else will find it. Someone who doesn't care what it unleashes."

The stranger sighed, rubbing their temples. "You're going to get us both killed, you know that?"

"Then leave," Caius said, his voice calm.

The stranger paused, their silver eyes narrowing. Then, with a faint smirk, they shrugged. "Not a chance. Someone's got to keep you alive."

Caius gave a faint nod, turning toward the exit. "Then let's move. This place isn't safe anymore."

As they left the chamber, the faint hum of magic lingered in the air. The runes along the walls flickered weakly, their light fading as the shard was carried away.

In the distance, the shadows beyond the ruin began to shift. Figures emerged from the darkness, their glowing eyes fixed on the tower.

The hunt had begun.