75. Against the Emperor’s Dark Elements

Anger surged within the young man as he stood up, turning sharply to face the Emperor of Darkconian, who sat arrogantly atop the palace roof with a cruel smile. Beside him, the spirit of the dragon serpent coiled ominously.

Though the emperor appeared to be in his fifties, he was, in fact, several centuries old. In his grasp, a massive black sword etched with golden dragon serpent patterns glowed ominously, drenched in blood.

The emperor's regal cloak was torn, and his body bore large, vicious wounds, a testament to the brutal battle he had just fought against the Phoenix spirit's host, whom he had recently slain.

The black sword in Kiran's hand flared to life in a cloak of flames as he spoke with fury in his voice, "Ardika... you've been deceiving me all this time…"