Return of the Demonic Emperor!

Hanging amidst the countless shining stars in the sky was the red moon, dyeing the whole world with the color of blood. Innumerable severed bodies of monstrous creatures, unlike anything the climbers had ever seen, were scattered around, creating a sea of blood that covered the hard ground.

Demons, Elves, Angels, Dwarves, Fairies, Humans, dragons, and the many other last survivors of the countless races residing in the tower stood astonished at the sight before them. 

The bodies of unrecognizable monsters filled their sight for as far as they could see. The blood, running like a stream between the dead bodies, washed their feet. And amidst that sea of blood and corpses stood a man.

Darkness covered him like a mother embracing her child, and shadows surrounded him like a cloak, slaughtering anything and everything that came near him.

His red eye, shining in the dark, sent chills down their spines, and the bow in his hand, showered in blood, reminded them of the crazed man and his terrors.

But at this moment, they didn't feel intimidated by him. Rather, they couldn't feel fear from him, as it was overwhelmed by awe. Awe at the man standing alone in the middle of the death field, carrying the whole Tower on his shoulders.

Like a candle of fire in the midst of darkness. Like a sturdy rock in the storm. Like a knight shielding the weak.

He firmly stood rooted to the ground. 

His eyes were on the horizon, watching the rising sun. The rays of sunlight touched his feet as if paying respect to the one who desperately fought against the invading forces.

As the light spread, an even more astonishing sight was revealed.

Around him, for as far as the eyes could reach, laid the army of undead, crushed to pieces. Bones and rotting bodies filled the land. Skeletons, ghouls, zombies, vampires, spirits, Death knights, liches, wraiths, shadow beings, golems, and countless undead — all crumbled and crushed to death.

The image of a man standing amidst the defeated army of undead was a sight to behold, even for the gods.

Although it wasn't his intention, he had defended the tower for as long as he could against the relentless siege of 'Them'.

But the candle was not enough to light up the tower! 

His army of undead, which once ruled over the tower, was brought down. With his nine apostles dead and his army massacred, he stood all alone on the battlefield.

The man's back was bent as if he was holding the universe on his shoulders.

Even the ground seemed too weak to bear his weight as he, who stood like a mountain, suddenly fell to his knees.

There was no one to support him. His once-mighty army now lay crumbled, and the absolute aura around him was no more.

"I have been reduced to.... such a state!"

The man, covered in darkness, stuttered with a mocking smirk on his face. Blood oozed out of his nose, making it difficult for him to talk.

"Cough!...cough...!"

He coughed up blood as he tried to speak, but the mocking smirk, a derision of himself, remained intact.

"I, the Demonic Emperor who instilled fear in the tower. I, who was hailed as the invincible being! To think I have been reduced to such a state! What a joke!"

He roared, looking at the heavens.

"The ruler of Death couldn't even escape death himself? What an irony! It seems the heavens wish for my death!"

He let go of the bow in his hand and a magical staff suddenly appeared in his hand out of nowhere.

"But do you think I will go down that easily?"

He smirked at the heavens.

"If the heavens want to crush me, I will become a sword to pierce through it!"

Planting his staff in the ground for support, the tower's mightiest being activated a forbidden spell that should never have been cast.

"<Temporal Veil: Epochal Reversal>"

As if responding to his spell, the atmosphere around him started to change. Cracks appeared around him, and the flow of time and space was shaken up.

All the lifeless bodies surrounding him ascended into the air, vanishing in an instant, leaving nothing but ashes behind.

"I shall return again!"

The demonic emperor roared as he looked at the horizon one last time, where monsters of unknown origins were slaughtering the beings of the tower.

"And when the time comes, I shall slaughter you all, bastards!"

Swearing vengeance, the demonic emperor let himself be sucked into the crack that appeared out of nowhere. And not long after his disappearance, the Tower began to crumble!

***

The air hung damp and cool, bearing the unmistakable signature of recent rainfall. Moisture clung to surfaces, creating a refreshing ambiance as if nature itself had just taken a cleansing breath. The streets, previously hushed by the falling rain, were now slowly stirring to life. The wet pavements reflected the soft glow of streetlights, and the air carried the scent of wet earth and freshly washed foliage. The city, awakening from its temporary slumber, seemed to exhale the smell of the earth.

In such weather, a young man who seemed to be in his 20s, sat on the wet benches of the park, drenched in rainwater, staring straight ahead at something unseen.

<You have been chosen to partake in the "Ruined Tower's" test. Will you accept test of Tower"?>

<Y N>

A blue projection hovered in front of him, visible only to his eyes. He stared at the projection blankly before a wide grin spread across his face.

"I am back!" the young man exclaimed, looking up at the skies with a wide chilling smile.

---***---

Volume 01 - The Dark Star Returns!