The Vampire Summoner: Lord of Shadows

Chapter 15: Shadows Stirring

As Draven and Selene emerged from the Abyssal Depths, the chill of the dungeon's trials gave way to the open air of the surface world. But the weight of what they had experienced lingered. Above them stretched an endless sky, a stark contrast to the suffocating darkness they had endured. The silence was broken only by the rustling of the wind, yet even that carried an uneasy whisper.

Draven stopped at the crest of a hill, his crimson eyes scanning the landscape. In the distance, the jagged peaks of the Sable Mountains loomed, their snow-capped peaks glinting like blades under the sunlight. Beyond them lay the kingdoms—lands of power, corruption, and intrigue, teeming with those who would either seek his destruction or his allegiance.

Selene joined him, her cloak billowing in the wind. "It feels strange, doesn't it?" she murmured. "To be free of the Depths after everything we faced."

Draven's gaze didn't waver. "Freedom is an illusion, Selene. The Keeper's warning wasn't empty. There are forces out there already moving against us."

Selene sighed, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. "That's true, but you've proven yourself stronger than any of them could imagine. You're not the same as when we entered that dungeon. You're something… more."

Draven remained silent, the memories of the trials replaying in his mind. The darkness he had faced, the reflection of his soul—it had all led to this moment. But what troubled him most wasn't the enemies he knew awaited him—it was the uncertainty of his own nature.

Before he could speak, a faint rumble shook the ground beneath them. Selene's hand instinctively moved to her blade, her eyes narrowing as the earth trembled again.

"What was that?" she whispered, her voice tense.

Draven tilted his head, focusing on the faint vibrations. His connection to the shadow magic had grown stronger since the trials, and he could feel something—no, someone—approaching. A pulse of dark energy rippled through the air, faint but undeniable.

"They're here," he said grimly.

Selene turned to him. "Who?"

As if in answer, the skies above darkened, clouds swirling unnaturally. A sharp wind tore through the hillside, carrying with it a low, sinister laughter that seemed to echo from all directions.

From the shadows of the nearby forest, a figure emerged. Clad in black armor adorned with crimson runes, the man exuded an aura of menace. His eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and a twisted grin spread across his face. Behind him, more figures materialized—shadowy forms armed with jagged blades and glowing sigils.

"Draven," the man said, his voice a deep rumble. "You've finally emerged. We've been waiting for you."

Selene stepped in front of Draven, her blade drawn. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The man chuckled, ignoring her entirely. His gaze remained fixed on Draven. "I am Malakar, envoy of the Abyssal Sovereigns. You carry a power that belongs to them. You are an anomaly, Draven—a mistake that must be corrected."

Draven stepped forward, his shadow magic coiling around him like a living entity. "If they want me, they can come for me themselves," he said coldly. "I don't answer to anyone."

Malakar's grin widened. "Oh, they will come, in time. But first, they sent me to test you. To see if you're truly worthy of the power you've stolen."

Draven's fists clenched, the darkness within him surging. "I didn't steal anything. I earned this power."

Malakar raised a hand, and his soldiers fanned out, their weapons gleaming with dark energy. "Then prove it," he said. "Show me that you're more than a fleeting shadow."

Selene glanced at Draven, her grip tightening on her sword. "What's the plan?" she asked.

Draven's eyes burned with crimson light as he summoned his shadow army, the figures materializing around him in an instant. "We show them why they should fear us."

With a roar, the battlefield erupted into chaos. Malakar's soldiers surged forward, clashing with Draven's summoned army in a flurry of steel and shadow. Selene darted through the fray, her blade flashing as she struck down enemy after enemy, her movements precise and deadly.

Draven faced Malakar directly, the two locking eyes as the battle raged around them. The envoy's dark magic flared, lashing out in powerful arcs, but Draven countered with his own, the shadows twisting and coiling like living entities.

"You think you can stand against the Sovereigns?" Malakar sneered, his attacks relentless. "You're nothing but a pawn, Draven. A tool to be discarded when your use is over."

Draven's voice was a low growl, filled with defiance. "I'm no one's pawn."

With a surge of power, Draven unleashed a wave of shadow magic that tore through the battlefield, scattering Malakar's forces and leaving the envoy momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, Draven closed the distance, his blade of shadow slicing through the air.

Malakar barely managed to block the attack, his grin faltering as he was forced back. "Impressive," he admitted. "But this is far from over."

Before Draven could strike again, Malakar raised his hand, and a blinding flash of light erupted from his armor. When the light faded, the envoy and his remaining forces were gone, leaving only the echoes of his laughter behind.

Selene approached Draven, her expression wary. "They'll be back," she said. "And next time, they won't just send an envoy."

Draven nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Let them come," he said. "We'll be ready."

As the winds carried away the last echoes of the battle, Draven and Selene stood together, the weight of their journey ahead clear in their minds. The Sovereigns would not stop until they claimed what they believed was theirs. But Draven was determined to prove that his power, his destiny, belonged to no one but himself.