READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 13: Power
A rumble shattered the stillness of the hall, followed by terrifying screams that pierced the air. The sound was unmistakable: a horde of monsters was advancing toward them, and the incessant pounding of their footsteps filled the space with a sense of impending doom. The roars, distant at first, quickly drew closer, merging with the cries of terror that echoed within the walls of Lookout Landing.
Link and the Sages exchanged swift glances, knowing there was no time for hesitation. Every passing second was a step closer to ruin.
Robbie ran to the window and flung it open with trembling hands. When he turned back to the group, his face pale and contorted with fear, time seemed to freeze.
"Link, look!" Robbie's voice sliced through the air like a knife, quivering with urgency and dread. He stepped closer quickly, his expression marked by terror. "From Hyrule Castle… they've deployed an advance force of monsters. They're heading here, to Lookout Landing. There are too many… far more than we anticipated."
Link leapt forward, ran to the window, and peered out. A knot of horror tightened in his stomach as he saw an endless legion of monsters marching from Hyrule Castle. Colossal Hinoxes raised their limbs like living battering rams, while Lynels roared with a fury that shook the ground. Moblins, wreathed in flames, ice, and lightning, glowed like harbingers of destruction. Outside, the scene of devastation unfolded before them, so terrifying that even the air seemed saturated with gloom.
Purah stood next to him, her breath quick and her face pale. She stared unblinking, as though the weight of what was coming was slowly crushing her.
"There's no time!" barked Purah, her voice cracking , struggling to maintain her composure as she dropped the scrolls she had been carrying. "We have to hold the line here! Lookout Landing is our only defense; if it falls, it all falls. Josha, Robbie, gather all the information you can! We need to know their numbers, their formations, everything! Get every soldier we've got ready! Link, Sages, head for the abyss now. We'll do what we must to defend ourselves."
The Sages exchanged determined glances. Link gripped the Master Sword tightly, the weight of responsibility burning within him.
"Sages, you heard her," Link said, his voice firm and filled with purpose. "The time to act is now."
The Sages nodded resolutely and, without hesitation, left Purah's laboratory. Together, they would march toward the final battle against the Demon King, with the fire of hope and the steel of resolve shining in their eyes.
The soldiers of Lookout Landing, weary and wounded, struggled to stand firm despite the overwhelming scene before them. Link, his jaw clenched, turned away from the dark tide and back to his companions. He saw fear etched in their faces, but he also saw the spark of determination.
Though their strength was fragile, their expressions revealed the bravery and resolve to lay down their lives in a battle that seemed destined for failure. 'This is not enough,' Link thought, jaw tight. 'I cannot let them perish here. I cannot let their sacrifice be in vain.'
Suddenly, their hearts froze with dread as the sky began to change. A sickly red mist started to spread across the heavens. Link looked up and felt a growing sense of horror as the Blood Moon began to rise, burning above them, a silent, malevolent witness to the impending ruin. Something was happening; they hadn't expected a Blood Moon for another three days. Yet there it was, leering down at them, as if to warn that, at any moment, it could smash them.
In that moment, the realization struck him like a bucket of cold water, bringing with it a paralyzing terror. The major villages of Hyrule—Hateno, Tarrey Town, Lurelin, and all the civilian settlements whose patrols had left their posts to head to Lookout Landing—were now in grave danger. Across all of Hyrule, the monster hordes that had been defeated time and again were surging forth with renewed strength. The image of defenseless villages filled his mind, and anguish gripped his chest.
Because of Robbie's interruption, he hadn't learned whether all the civilians had managed to seek refuge underground, but even if they had… How long could they hold out before the Demon King's hordes reached them?
The fate of all Hyrule was at stake. Despair tried to worm its way into his mind, but Link took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "I cannot let fear paralyze me," he told himself. "This isn't just about Lookout Landing; it's for all of Hyrule."
He closed his eyes for a moment, offering a silent prayer to the goddess Hylia in an attempt to steady himself—"Protect them, please. Grant them your blessing." He exhaled deeply, shaking off the fear and worry coursing through him, and turned back to action. He couldn't let fear hold him back.
A fierce determination burned in his eyes. He raised his sword, and his battle cry rang out with such force that it echoed in the hearts of his allies.
"To the chasm!" Link shouted to the Sages, his voice ringing out across Lookout Landing, shaking the very walls of the fortress. "We will face the Demon King! We will not let this Blood Moon intimidate us!"
The Sages, inspired by Link's courage, regrouped, ready to advance alongside him.
Yet, just as they prepared to rush toward the chasm, a dark figure materialized in the air before them. The mummified form of the Demon King, identical to the one they had encountered in Hyrule Castle, loomed over them, his burning eyes fixed on Link.
The advance of the monsters halted instantly. As if by an unseen command, each one fell to its knees, paying homage to the imposing figure now dominating the scene. An ominous silence blanketed the battlefield, heavy and oppressive, until suddenly, a cold, sinister laugh shattered the stillness.
The Demon King's laughter, cruel and suffocating, filled the air, as if the very fabric of reality was about to collapse beneath the weight of his presence. Darkness seemed to creep into every corner, and in that moment, despair clawed at their resolve.
The Demon King leaned forward, his eyes blazing with a red light of contempt.
"Hello, Link," the Demon King said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and disdain, savoring the moment. "Forgive me for dropping by unannounced. But I have come because I wish to offer you a deal."
The Demon King's form began to descend slowly. As he approached, his mummified appearance started to change. The Sages stepped back warily as they watched the transformation: rotting flesh regenerated, deep wrinkles faded, and the Demon King's visage became that of a young Gerudo warrior—tall, powerful, and possessing an unsettling beauty. His aura radiated an inhuman energy, absolute power emanating from every movement. Link swallowed hard, feeling his strength waver under the sheer pressure of his foe.
The air around them grew dense and frigid, as though even the space between them had become stifling. The dark figure of the Demon King kept his fiery gaze locked on Link. The wind itself seemed to hold its breath, and the ominous creak of darkness filled the void, as if time itself had paused.
"I've been watching you for months," the Demon King continued, his voice soft, a venomous whisper that sought to worm its way into Link's mind. "With your power, your skill… why do you keep fighting for these miserable wretches? Join me. I will show you what true power is. The real pleasure of imposing pain and terror, of bending those who dare to oppose you."
The Demon King's words hung heavy in the air, seductive and menacing, seeking the smallest crack in Link's resolve.
Each word pierced Link's soul like a dagger. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to shut out the poison that was seeping into his mind, but the Demon King gave him no respite. His voice kept pressing, winding its way through Link's fears and doubts. Each promise of power resonated in his chest, a temptation that threatened to overwhelm him.
"So, hero…" the Demon King continued, his tone almost mocking, "are you truly prepared to face me? Wouldn't you rather join the winning side? Together, we could rule Hyrule. With your power and mine, we would be unstoppable. No need to protect, no need to suffer for these weaklings. We would have them all under our control."
Link took a step forward, but his body trembled. It wasn't just the weight of the offer but the undeniable truth that, for a fleeting moment, he felt a pull toward the words of his enemy. The Demon King drew closer, every word he spoke a slow torture, a venomous blade seeking cracks in his armor.
"Imagine what you could achieve if you channeled your strength into darkness," the Demon King pressed, his words sliding insidiously into Link's mind. "With your sword, you could cut down your enemies like blades of grass. You wouldn't have to worry about protecting anyone; you could make them all fear you, all respect you."
"Do you see what I offer?" The Demon King, with a slow, arrogant gesture, pointed at the monsters around them as if they were mere pawns at his command. Each one, kneeling and motionless, obeyed without question, shadowy minions awaiting his signal. "All of this can be yours, Link. Power, obedience, respect. All you have to do is kneel before me."
Link felt a chill down to his bones. The lure of power was intoxicating, and for an instant, he imagined what it would be like to give in, to embrace that promise of greatness. But the image of fallen friends, of the suffering of innocents, struck him like lightning. He staggered, his breath ragged, as the Demon King stepped closer, eyes glistening with malice.
The Demon King's tone softened, becoming almost persuasive.
Link gritted his teeth, feeling despair clawing at every fiber of his being. But even so, something deep inside refused to break. The Demon King was tearing him apart, but Link knew that as long as a single spark of light remained, there was still hope.