The night was far from over, but sleep had escaped me. My mind was too consumed by the events that had just transpired. My mother’s sudden collapse, her words about the curse, and the strange voice I had heard—they all pointed to something much darker than I could have imagined. Something beyond our reach.

  I could feel a heavy weight in my chest, but I pushed it aside. There was no time for weakness. My mother’s life was slipping away, and I needed answers—answers that could only be found in the vast collection of knowledge buried in the library beneath our house. My father had always kept it a secret, an untouched treasure trove of information. But tonight, it would become my only hope.

  I walked swiftly through the corridors of our mansion, my footsteps echoing in the silence of the night. The library’s door loomed ahead, and as I stepped inside, the faint scent of old parchment and ink filled my senses. Rows upon rows of books stretched before me, their leather-bound covers glistening faintly in the dim light. It was a sanctuary of knowledge, and tonight, it would be my battlefield.

  I pulled a torch from the wall, lighting it and casting shadows across the bookshelves. My heart raced as I scanned the titles, searching for anything related to curses, dark magic, or gods. Hours passed as I scoured the library, flipping through ancient tomes and dusty scrolls. But then, just as I was about to give in to frustration, I found them—five books that seemed to glow faintly under my touch.

  The first was titled The Curse of the Undead God. The second, Gods Who Walk the Shadows. The third, The Binding of the Eternal, followed by The Dark Mark: A History of Curses, and finally, The End of All Gods. Each one whispered of forbidden knowledge, secrets that had been buried for centuries.

  I started with the first book, The Curse of the Undead God. As I read, my blood ran cold. The curse my mother had been afflicted with—it was no ordinary magic. It was a curse placed by an ancient and powerful god, the Undead God, whose very existence defied the natural order. This god had the power to bind the souls of mortals, creating eternal suffering that could only be broken by one thing: slaying the god who had cast it.

  The more I read, the clearer it became. The curse was not simply a spell or a hex—it was a mark, a bond that tied my mother’s very soul to the Undead God. And the only way to break it was to slay the god itself. The book described the Undead God as an entity that could not be killed by conventional means. It was said that only one who wielded the power of both life and death could strike it down.

  As I read on, I understood the true depth of the task before me. This was no simple fight. It was a battle against an ancient, unknowable force that had the power to bring about the end of everything. And yet, there was no choice. I had to do this. For my mother. For the future of everything I held dear.

  I stood up from the table, my mind swirling with the knowledge I had just acquired. The curse could be broken, but only by facing an enemy unlike any other. I didn’t know how, or when, but I would find a way to destroy the Undead God.

  I made my way back to my mother’s room, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I entered, I saw her lying there, pale and weak, her breath shallow. The curse was working its magic, draining the life from her as the voice had said it would.

  I knelt beside her, taking her frail hand in mine. My heart tightened as I looked at her, seeing the fear and pain in her eyes.

  “Mom,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “What had happened to you?”

  Her eyes fluttered, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak. “Amahiko… it was the curse. The Undead God’s curse. I never thought it would come for me… not like this.”

  My breath caught in my throat as I heard her words. The curse was more than I had feared. It was already too late to save her from its effects, but there was still hope. The Undead God could be slain, and the curse could be lifted. But to do so, I would have to step into a world of darkness and face a god beyond comprehension.

  But that was a problem for another time. For now, my only focus was her—my mother. And with that single thought, I made my vow. I would save her, no matter what it took.

  The soft glow of the candle flickered in the room as I sat next to my mother’s bed, my heart pounding in my chest. Her pale hand clutched mine, her breath labored and shallow. I had asked her what had happened, but now, I could feel her strength fading. The curse was taking its toll, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

  Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me with a weary smile. Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. “Amahiko… you need to know… the truth. The truth about the curse.”

  I leaned closer, hanging on every word. She had always been a pillar of strength, a woman of action, and I had never seen her so vulnerable. The weight of her past was now beginning to unravel, and I feared the story she was about to tell.

  “I fought in the Leonard War, Amahiko. It was a time of great bloodshed, when the kingdoms clashed and alliances were forged and broken. But it was not just a war of armies. It was a battle of wills… and of power,” she said, her voice faltering slightly. “There was one warrior who stood above all the others. Heron Orekeus.”

  The name rang a bell. Heron Orekeus—Prime Minister of the kingdom now, the one with the most influence after Gizelotte Orekeus, the ruler of the kingdom. I had heard of him often, but I never imagined his connection to my mother’s curse.

  “He was… a formidable warrior,” my mother continued, her gaze distant as if lost in a memory. “He was the strongest man I had ever encountered—his strength, his power, his will were unparalleled. But even his power couldn’t compare to what awaited him.”

  She paused, her chest rising and falling with each slow breath. I remained silent, watching her closely, knowing there was more to this story.

  “He… he wanted me, Amahiko,” she whispered. “He wanted to use me as a pawn, as a bargaining chip in the war. He offered me as a bet to the other kingdoms, a means to gain leverage, to win favor. But I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t allow myself to be used like that.”

  I felt a cold shiver run through me. My mother, the woman who had always been strong and resolute, had been caught in the web of someone else’s ambitions. She had been forced into a corner.

  “That’s when he did it,” she said softly, her voice trembling with the pain of reliving it. “Heron… He cursed me. He used the power of the Undead God to bind my soul. He wanted to make me his undead servant, to use me to command an army of the dead.”

  My heart stopped. The Undead God—the curse I had only recently learned about in the library.

  Heron Orekeus had used the very power I had feared to turn my mother into a weapon. The curse would have made her an undead, unable to die, bound to Heron’s will.

  “But there was something that happened,” she continued, her eyes distant, almost lost in the past. “I fought back. I attacked him. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to disrupt the curse. I managed to escape… but I only took 15% of the curse with me. It wasn’t completed. The magic didn’t fully bind me. But that also meant the curse would eventually kill me.”

  I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Heron had tried to use my mother, and when she fought back, he had not only failed to break her will but had also left her with a time limit—a curse that would take her soul in the end.

  “Tomorrow…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Tomorrow, the Undead God will come for me. He will claim my soul, and the curse will finish what it started.”

  My blood ran cold. The thought of my mother’s soul being taken by the Undead God was unbearable. But now, I understood the full extent of the curse. It was not just a simple spell—it was a binding. And Heron Orekeus had cast it, sealing her fate.

  “Heron did this,” my mother said, her eyes filled with regret. “I don’t know if I can stop it now, Amahiko. I don’t know if there’s time.”

  I could feel the weight of her words pressing down on me. Heron Orekeus, the man who had once been a warrior on the battlefield, was now a prime minister, wielding the power to control armies—and, it seemed, even life and death itself. And it was his curse that had trapped my mother, leaving her with no way out except for death.

  But I couldn’t let this stand. I had to find a way to break the curse, to destroy the Undead God. And if Heron Orekeus was involved, then I would deal with him as well. No one would escape the consequences of their actions.

  I looked down at my mother, my heart heavy with the knowledge that time was running out.

  “Mom,” I said, my voice firm but filled with emotion. “I will save you. I will find a way to stop this curse, no matter what it takes.”

  She looked at me, her eyes filled with both sorrow and pride. She had always been the one to protect me, to guide me, and now it was my turn to protect her. And I would do whatever it took to save her—no matter the cost.

  “What happened, mom?” I asked again, my voice breaking.

  Her response was faint, but her determination was still there, burning bright. “Heron… he’s the one who cursed me. But you… you can stop it. You can end this. You must.”

  With that final plea, I swore to myself that I would find a way to destroy the Undead God—and Heron Orekeus would not be spared.

  The night was thick with silence, and the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on my shoulders. I had barely slept, my mind racing as I pondered the curse, the Undead God, and how I could possibly defeat something so immense, so powerful.

  The knowledge I had gained from the books in the library had left me with more questions than answers. There was nothing definitive—nothing to explain how the Undead God could be slain or how I could break my mother’s curse.

  I sat alone in the dimly lit study room, the stack of books scattered around me. I had searched through every piece of lore, every text on ancient curses and gods, but none provided the answers I needed. The Undead God was a being of death, an entity that existed beyond the realm of mortal comprehension. All I knew for sure was that this curse could only be undone by slaying the god who had placed it upon my mother.

  The realization hit me like a cold wave: I had no time to waste. Tomorrow, the Undead God would come to collect my mother’s soul, and I had to be prepared. I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor, and made my way to the forge.

  I had to act. I had to create something that would give me the strength to face whatever came. The thought of the Undead God’s power—its dark, unknowable magic—made me shudder. But I couldn’t just stand by and wait. I would forge a weapon, a sword, something symbolic of my resolve to stop this fate.

  As I hammered the metal, I let my thoughts wander, allowing the process to calm me, even as my mind remained focused on the task. The sword needed to be something more than just a weapon; it had to be a symbol of my commitment to saving my mother. I could feel the power building as I channeled my energy into the metal, shaping it, refining it.

  I forged the blade until it was perfectly balanced, smooth and sharp. But there was one thing that troubled me: I felt an eerie presence, something that tugged at my very soul. I reached for the magical core I had acquired earlier, an eye-shaped gemstone, and embedded it into the sword’s hilt. The moment I did, I felt an odd sensation—like something was watching me.

  I looked down at the sword, now complete, the eye in the hilt glowing faintly. But no matter how much I tried, the eye remained closed. It was as though it was waiting for something, a catalyst, a moment when it would open.

  I stared at the blade for a moment longer, a sense of foreboding rising in my chest. “You’ll open when the time is right,” I whispered, the sword now feeling almost alive in my hands. I named it the Sword of Death Eye, a weapon forged in defiance of death itself, a weapon that would strike down the Undead God when the time came.

  With the sword in hand, I turned my attention to preparing for the battle ahead. I needed to strengthen my resolve, gather my strength, and ensure that my allies were ready for whatever would come.

  I walked down to the common area of the house where Alice, Beta, Gamma, Ririsa, and Claire were gathered. They had been waiting, quietly observing, knowing that something was coming—but they didn’t know the full extent of it yet.

  I took a deep breath and looked them all in the eye. My heart tightened at the thought of what was about to happen. These were my closest allies, my shadows—people I trusted with my life. And now, I had to ask them to stand by me in the face of something none of us could understand.

  “I need you all to be prepared,” I said, my voice firm yet tinged with an underlying sense of urgency. “Tomorrow, something will come for my mother. We don’t know exactly what, but it’s something beyond any of our expectations. It’s the curse of the Undead God. I’m going to end this, but I can’t do it alone. If I need you, you’ll need to act immediately.”

  Alice, Beta, and the others looked at each other, the gravity of the situation settling in. They had been through countless battles by my side, but this was different. We were not just fighting an enemy; we were fighting fate itself.

  Alice, ever the calm and composed one, stepped forward. “We will be ready, Amahiko. You have our full support. Whatever happens, we will fight by your side.”

  Beta, usually the quiet one, gave me a firm nod. “We’ll follow your lead, Master. We’ll make sure nothing happens to your mother.”

  Gamma, her eyes fierce as always, cracked her knuckles. “I’ve been waiting for a real fight. Let’s show this Undead God what it means to cross us.”

  Ririsa smiled softly, her usual gentle demeanor replaced with determination. “You’re not alone in this, Amahiko. We’ll face it together.”

  Claire, ever loyal, crossed her arms and gave me a confident grin. “If anyone can take on a god, it’s you. We’ll make sure you don’t have to fight alone.”

  Their words filled me with strength, but I couldn’t let my guard down. This was the Undead God—an entity far beyond any mortal enemy we had ever faced. And if I wanted to ensure my mother’s survival, I had to be ready for anything.

  “I’ll be counting on all of you,” I said, my voice steady. “Get some rest, but don’t let your guard down. We’ll need everything we have for tomorrow.”

  With that, we all prepared for the inevitable. I knew deep down that tomorrow would be a battle unlike any we had ever fought. But I was no longer afraid. I had forged the Sword of Death Eye, and I would stand firm in the face of whatever the Undead God had in store.

  The sword would open when the time was right, and when it did, I would strike down the curse and save my mother. No matter the cost.

  The morning came with an unsettling stillness, the kind of quiet that filled the air with a heavy, oppressive weight. As the sun began to rise, the sky suddenly darkened, as if a storm was brewing in the heavens. But this was no ordinary storm. The clouds turned an unnatural shade of black, swirling and churning as though they were alive. A cold wind swept through the land, carrying with it the scent of death. My heart pounded in my chest as I stood in the courtyard, staring up at the ominous sky.

  Then, from the depths of the swirling black clouds, I saw it.

  The Undead God descended, its form a dark silhouette against the twisted sky. Its presence was suffocating, like a black hole that sucked in all the light and life around it. A deep, eerie voice echoed across the land, sending chills down my spine.

  “Mary, your time has come. Give me your soul, as promised.”

  My mother, Mary, stood before me, her face pale and weary, as if every moment she held on to life was a struggle. She was drawn toward the Undead God, her steps slow and reluctant, her body unwilling to move forward but unable to resist the pull of the curse that had claimed her soul.

  I clenched my fists, my heart burning with a mix of rage and desperation. I couldn’t let this happen. Not now, not like this. I wouldn’t let the Undead God take her soul.

  “No,” I said firmly, stepping forward and blocking my mother’s path. “You won’t have her soul.”

  The Undead God’s gaze turned toward me, its eyes glowing with an eerie, unnatural light. A dark chuckle echoed from its form as it addressed me.

  “So, you are the one who dares to defy me, mortal. You think you can stop me?”

  I straightened my back, my resolve firm. “I will not let you take her. Not without a fight.”

  The Undead God’s form loomed over us, its power radiating like an inescapable shadow. But I had made my decision. There was no turning back now.

  “I bet you, Undead God,” I said, my voice clear and unwavering. “If I win, you will release my mother from this curse. You will leave her soul untouched. If I lose, you may do whatever you wish with me, but not with her.”

  The Undead God’s laughter grew louder, as though it found my challenge amusing. “Very well, mortal. A wager it is. But know this: I am not so easily defeated.”

  I turned to face my five shadows—Alice, Beta, Gamma, Ririsa, and Claire—standing in a line behind me, each of them ready to fight. “Protect my mother. Keep her safe no matter what happens.”

  Alice stepped forward, her eyes determined. “We will protect her, Amahiko. You focus on defeating this god.”

  Beta nodded silently, while Gamma’s usual calm demeanor was replaced with fierce resolve. “Leave it to us.”

  Ririsa smiled softly but with an intensity that spoke volumes. “We won’t let anything happen to her.”

  Claire, ever loyal, gave me a confident grin. “We’ll guard her with our lives, Master.”

  With a final glance at my mother, I turned back to face the Undead God. It was time to begin.

  The moment I made my move, the sky seemed to crack open, and the air was filled with the stench of decay. The Undead God raised one massive, skeletal hand and unleashed a blast of dark energy toward me. I quickly dodged, the shockwave shaking the earth beneath my feet, but I couldn’t let that distract me.

  I focused on the task at hand. I drew the Sword of Death Eye, the blade humming with an eerie energy, its eye still closed but pulsing with anticipation. I rushed toward the Undead God, moving faster than the eye could track, and swung the blade.

  The sword collided with the god’s form, and for a moment, I thought I had struck. But the Undead God was no mere mortal. It absorbed the blow, its dark essence swirling around the strike, dissipating the power with an unsettling ease.

  “You are strong, mortal,” the Undead God’s voice echoed, “but you are not strong enough.”

  I gritted my teeth, tightening my grip on the sword. “I’ll make sure you regret underestimating me.”

  The battle began in earnest. The Undead God unleashed wave after wave of dark magic, but I matched each attack with precision and skill, the sword glowing with every strike. The ground cracked beneath us, the very air growing heavy with the god’s cursed power. I could feel it—the weight of an ancient curse, a force that sought to snuff out every ounce of light in the world.

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  But I wasn’t alone.

  Behind me, my five shadows kept their eyes trained on my mother, making sure she stayed out of harm’s way. I trusted them with my life, and now, they were protecting my mother with the same intensity that I was fighting with.

  Suddenly, I sensed something. Two more figures had entered the fray, running toward us, caught in the chaos of the battle. It was Sayo and Lucaus. They had come to meet me, unaware of the unfolding mess. I couldn’t let them get caught up in this.

  “Sayo! Lucaus!” I shouted over the chaos, trying to be heard over the sound of colliding magic. “Get back! Stay out of the fight!”

  But it was too late. They had already come too close, and they were about to be caught in the storm.

  I turned to my five shadows, my voice urgent. “Protect them, too. Make sure Sayo and Lucaus don’t get involved.”

  Alice immediately sprang into action, followed by the others. “Understood,” she said, and they moved to intercept Sayo and Lucaus, guiding them away from the battlefield.

  I turned back to face the Undead God, my sword raised. “This is far from over,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos. “I won’t let you take my mother’s soul.”

  The Undead God’s laughter echoed once again, dark and cold. “We shall see, mortal. We shall see.”

  And with that, the battle between me and the Undead God intensified, as the skies grew darker and the world itself seemed to tremble beneath the weight of our struggle.

  The battle raged on, the air thick with the clashing forces of magic. The Undead God towered before me, its skeletal form exuding an oppressive aura of darkness and death. Despite every strike I landed, every spell I cast, it seemed invincible—absorbing each attack with an unsettling ease. My blood dripped from countless wounds, staining the earth beneath my feet. I could feel my strength waning with every passing second.

  But there was no turning back. I would not let the Undead God take my mother’s soul.

  The god’s massive skeletal arm swung down with blinding speed. I barely managed to dodge, the air crackling as the fist collided with the ground, creating a shockwave that sent me flying. I hit the earth with a brutal thud, pain shooting through my body. My breath came in shallow gasps, but my resolve burned brighter than ever. I would fight until my last breath.

  Summoning all of my strength, I rose to my feet, my sword still gripped tightly in my hand. I could feel the energy within me—ancient and powerful magic coursing through my veins, waiting to be unleashed. It was time to bring everything I had to bear against this cursed being.

  I raised my sword to the sky and chanted the incantations for fire.

  “Inferno of the Primordials!”

  The ground beneath me trembled as a massive, swirling column of fire erupted from the tip of my sword, engulfing the Undead God in a searing storm of flames. The fire raged with such intensity that it seemed to scorch the very air itself. I could feel the heat on my skin, but I pushed through, my focus solely on my opponent. The Undead God roared, its bones cracking under the heat, but it didn’t relent. It absorbed the flames, its dark essence only growing stronger.

  I wasn’t done.

  “Hell of flame- Flamehell!”

  The sky above darkened as a torrent of fire descended upon the battlefield, an endless inferno that threatened to consume everything. The heat was unbearable, but I could feel my magic gaining strength with every moment. Still, the Undead God withstood it, its form seemingly unshaken by the flames. It retaliated with a burst of dark energy that sent me crashing to the ground once more.

  Blood poured from my wounds, and my body screamed in protest, but I wouldn’t stop. Not now.

  I forced myself to stand once more, ignoring the searing pain in my chest. I summoned another spell, this one born from the power of life itself.

  “Phoenix Blaze!”

  A brilliant, golden flame erupted from my sword, wrapping around my body in a cocoon of heat and light. The flames pulsed with a power beyond comprehension, capable of bringing life and destruction in equal measure. The Phoenix Blaze could heal me, revive me, but it could also reduce the Undead God to nothingness. I felt my wounds begin to close as the flame bathed me in its rejuvenating light, but I could see the Undead God laughing, mocking my efforts as it withstood the fiery onslaught.

  “Dragon’s Breath!”

  I didn’t hesitate. Another roar of fire erupted from my sword, this time in the shape of a massive dragon. The flames, more powerful than any force I had ever conjured, slammed into the Undead God, tearing at its skeletal form. The dragon’s fire consumed everything in its path, but the Undead God continued to stand, its power absorbing the flames with terrifying ease. I was running out of options.

  I summoned my final fire magic, my last desperate hope.

  “Eternal Inferno!”

  The flames that erupted from my sword were no longer just fire. They were the essence of destruction itself, a fire that would burn until everything was reduced to ash. The ground cracked beneath the onslaught, the flames threatening to consume everything—myself, the Undead God, and the entire battlefield. But as the inferno raged on, I could see it in the Undead God’s eyes—it was feeding on the flames, growing stronger and more formidable by the second.

  I staggered back, exhaustion overwhelming me. My body was covered in burns, blood pouring from countless wounds. I had given it all—everything I had—but it still wasn’t enough.

  I needed something more.

  In my weakened state, I forced myself to cast another spell, this time one that came from the depths of the ocean—the exact opposite of fire.

  “Tsunami’s Wrath!”

  The sky darkened further as the sea itself seemed to rise up against the Undead God. A colossal tidal wave formed, crashing toward the battlefield with unimaginable force. The wave surged forward, its power relentless and unstoppable. But as the water collided with the Undead God, the creature absorbed it, drawing the energy from the ocean with an eerie calm.

  “Ocean’s Embrace!”

  I wasn’t done yet. Another spell came to my mind, combining the deep-sea forces with a violent storm. The ocean’s power swirled around me, rising once more, ready to pull the Undead God into the depths. But again, the god absorbed the spell, growing more powerful with each strike I threw at it. My magic was being drained, and I felt myself slipping further into the abyss.

  Still, I wouldn’t give up.

  With every ounce of strength I had left, I forced out one final spell—a spell of wind, the force of a tempest that could tear apart mountains.

  “Cyclone of Destruction!”

  A massive whirlwind formed, spinning violently in the air, its force so great that it began tearing the ground itself apart. The Undead God was thrown into the air, but it wasn’t enough. No matter how much magic I unleashed, the creature kept standing, its power unyielding.

  I staggered, my body almost completely spent. My blood had pooled around me, the once vibrant magic that coursed through my veins now a mere trickle. I could barely keep my eyes open, but I still refused to fall.

  The Undead God raised its arm, preparing to deliver the final blow.

  But then, I heard a voice—my mother’s voice.

  “Amahiko, don’t give up…”

  I looked toward her. She was still standing, her face pale but resolute. It was enough to reignite my will. I wouldn’t give up. Not now.

  I stood tall, my sword raised high, my body battered but not broken.

  “This fight… is not over.”

  The Undead God paused, as if sensing the change in my resolve. But I had no more time. I could only fight, and I would keep fighting until the end.

  The final showdown was upon us.

  The air was thick with the scent of ash and blood as I stood, battered and broken, facing the Undead God. The creature loomed before me, its skeletal frame towering over everything, and its empty eye sockets seemed to burn with an insatiable hunger. My body screamed in protest with every movement, my legs barely holding me up. But despite the unbearable pain, despite the overwhelming odds stacked against me, I refused to surrender. Not while my mother’s life hung in the balance.

  I couldn’t give in to this cursed being.

  The Undead God raised its arm, preparing for the final strike. The air around it seemed to warp, the very atmosphere growing heavy with the weight of its power. Dark magic crackled through the god’s skeletal fingers, ready to unleash destruction that would obliterate everything in its path.

  I could feel the overwhelming darkness press down on me, but deep within me, something else stirred. My connection to my sword—the Sword of Death Eye—flared with an unexpected surge of power. The eye that had been closed for so long seemed to stir, twitching ever so slightly. A wave of power coursed through me, and I knew that the time had come. I had one last chance.

  With every ounce of my remaining strength, I gripped the hilt of the sword, lifting it high. The eye on the blade snapped open.

  “Sword of Death Eye, awaken!”

  A wave of energy surged from the blade, radiating out in a dark, menacing aura. The world seemed to slow as the power within the sword began to take hold. The Undead God’s magic faltered for just a moment, a crack forming in its previously impenetrable defenses.

  I didn’t hesitate. I charged forward, my movements fueled by sheer determination. The Sword of Death Eye, now alive with its deadly magic, cleaved through the air with terrifying speed. The blade was no longer just a weapon—it was a conduit for death itself.

  The Undead God retaliated, summoning waves of dark energy that collided with my attacks. But with each strike, I could feel the balance shifting in my favor. The god’s once unshakable confidence began to waver. Its attacks grew slower, more desperate, as I closed in. My heart pounded in my chest, my breath ragged, but I pushed on, never once looking away from my target.

  “Infernal Gale!” I roared, channeling the power of wind and fire into one devastating strike.

  A whirlwind of fire and destruction tore through the battlefield, engulfing the Undead God in an infernal storm. The god screeched, its bones rattling and cracking as the firestorm consumed it. I felt the sword pulse with power, each strike sending shockwaves of energy that tore at the god’s form.

  But even as the flames began to fade, the Undead God regenerated, its skeletal body slowly piecing itself back together. It was relentless, an unstoppable force of nature. And yet, I wasn’t giving up. I would keep striking. I would keep fighting. As long as the Undead God’s soul was still tethered to this world, there was still hope.

  “Gaia’s Wrath!”

  I slammed my sword into the ground, the earth beneath me shaking violently as massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, slamming into the Undead God. The impact created a shockwave, knocking the god off balance for just a moment. The sword’s eye glowed brighter, its power growing ever stronger as I channeled more of my remaining magic into the strike.

  But even as the god reeled from the blow, I could see it wasn’t enough. It was healing, regenerating faster than I could keep up. The longer this battle went on, the more my energy drained. Each spell, each strike, was taking its toll on my body. I could feel myself slipping, the darkness creeping at the edges of my vision.

  “Phoenix Blaze!” I called out, summoning a final, desperate wave of fire that washed over the Undead God. The blaze flared, its heat scalding the air around me. The flames roared as they collided with the god, turning the battlefield into a furnace.

  But once again, the Undead God withstood the attack, its form reforming from the ashes with terrifying speed.

  I staggered back, my knees buckling beneath me as exhaustion overtook me. Blood poured from my wounds, my vision flickering in and out of focus. I was running out of time, running out of strength.

  I turned to glance at my mother. She was still standing, but her face was pale, her body trembling as the curse continued to eat away at her life force. I could see the anguish in her eyes. She wanted me to win, to defeat this monster, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep up.

  The Undead God’s voice echoed through the air, a hollow, mocking laugh. “You think you can defeat me? You are nothing but a child—weak and fragile. Your magic is nothing against me.”

  I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to rise to my feet. “I will not lose to you. I will not allow you to take her soul.”

  The Undead God raised both arms, dark energy swirling around it as it prepared for its final attack. “Then you will die. Your mother will die. And nothing will remain of you.”

  I didn’t flinch. My sword’s eye pulsed again, brighter this time. I felt the surge of energy once more, a familiar feeling that I had once feared. The Sword of Death Eye was connected to death, to destruction. But it also held the power to undo curses. To break them.

  In that moment, I realized that I still had one more chance—one final move.

  With all the strength I had left, I swung the Sword of Death Eye toward the Undead God. “This ends now!”

  The sword surged with unimaginable power as it collided with the Undead God’s dark magic, an explosion of light and darkness that reverberated across the battlefield. The sword’s eye widened, unleashing a torrent of energy that was more than just a strike—it was the very essence of death and life, of destruction and rebirth.

  The Undead God screeched in agony, its form disintegrating under the onslaught. But I knew it wasn’t over yet. There was still more to be done. I couldn’t stop now.

  Not until the Undead God was nothing but ashes.

  The air was thick with tension as the Undead God and I continued to clash, a brutal symphony of destruction unfolding around us. The very ground beneath us trembled, cracked, and splintered with each strike, each spell. My body screamed in pain, my vision wavering as exhaustion and blood loss began to take their toll. But I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when I was so close.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw the five shadows—Alice, Beta, Gamma, Ririsa, and Claire—working together, their magic crackling in the air as they surrounded my mother, shielding her from the Undead God’s dark presence. They moved with practiced precision, their spells interlocking in a seamless display of power. Sayo stood close by, her hands glowing with healing energy as she focused on me, her expression strained but determined. And even Lucaus, despite the chaos, was shouting words of encouragement from the sidelines.

  “Come on, Amahiko! You can do this! Don’t let up now!” His voice rang out across the battlefield, his words a lifeline that anchored me in the storm.

  I could feel the magic of the five shadows and Sayo intertwining, weaving together in a powerful display of healing. The energy flowed through me, and I felt the wounds on my body slowly begin to mend, the pain subsiding just enough to give me the strength to keep fighting.

  Healing Magic: Sanctified Restoration.

  The sacred magic washed over me, purging the curses and ailments that had accumulated over the course of the battle. I could feel the darkness within me receding, the poison of the Undead God’s magic being lifted from my body. It wasn’t a complete cure, but it was enough to buy me more time.

  Heaven’s Grace followed shortly after, restoring not only my physical state but also my mental clarity. The fog of exhaustion cleared from my mind, and for a brief moment, I could focus purely on the fight. Every strike, every movement felt sharper, more precise. The battlefield came into sharper focus, and I felt an undeniable surge of strength.

  The Undead God seemed to notice this sudden change. It snarled, a bone-chilling sound that reverberated through the air, its eyes glowing with malicious intent. It raised one skeletal arm, dark energy swirling around it in a sickening spiral.

  But I was no longer the same. The magic of my shadows had reinvigorated me, and I could feel my power rising with each passing second. A pulse of dark energy surged through me as I gripped the Sword of Death Eye, its eye burning brighter than ever. I felt the cold, unsettling power of Dark Magic coursing through me—magic so vile, so dangerous, but necessary for what was to come.

  “Dark Magic: Void of Oblivion!”

  I raised my sword and swung it with all the strength I could muster, creating a rift in the very fabric of space. The rift widened into a gaping maw, threatening to consume everything in its vicinity. The Undead God was caught in the pull of the void, its skeletal form twisting and straining as it fought against the rift’s gravitational force. But it was too late. The void swallowed it whole, and for a moment, it seemed as if the battle had come to an end.

  But the Undead God was not so easily defeated. It reemerged from the rift, its body regenerating at a frightening speed. The air around it crackled with dark energy, and I knew that it wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  “Soul Devourer!”

  I didn’t hesitate. I focused on the fallen soldiers that lay around us, their souls still lingering in the air, trapped in the limbo between life and death. I reached out with my magic, pulling their souls into myself, feeding on their power. Each soul I consumed gave me more strength, more control over my own dark magic. It was a dangerous game, but one I had no choice but to play.

  With every soul I devoured, my power grew exponentially. I could feel the magic of the Undead God beginning to falter as I wielded my newfound strength. But the cost was steep. Each soul I consumed left a lingering stain on my own soul, threatening to consume me from the inside out. But I couldn’t stop now. Not when I was so close.

  “Nightmare’s Embrace!”

  I cast the spell, sending out tendrils of dark magic that latched onto the Undead God. It screamed in agony as it was trapped in an unending nightmare, its mind wracked with terror and pain. But I couldn’t let up. I had to finish this once and for all.

  My sword, glowing with dark energy, rose once again, and I swung it down with all the power I had left.

  Shadow of Death.

  An unrelenting shadow surged forth from the blade, devouring everything in its path. The shadow spiraled toward the Undead God, enveloping it in a cocoon of darkness that seemed to drain the very life from it. The creature’s bones began to crack and shatter, its body slowly crumbling under the weight of my attack.

  And then, as if in response to the growing power within me, I felt a surge of energy—my level was upgrading.

  “Level up!”

  “Level up!”

  “Level up!”

  “Level up!”

  “Level up!”

  “Level up!”

  “Level up!”

  “Level up!”

  I didn’t have time to fully register the notification, but I felt the change. My power surged, my strength increasing as my level hit 10,000. It was a small boost, but enough to tip the scales in my favor. The Undead God seemed to sense the change, its eyes flashing with a mixture of rage and fear. But it was already too late.

  The Black Hole I created in the midst of the chaos began to expand, pulling everything into its gravitational pull, erasing light, sound, and life. The Undead God, already weakened from the relentless assault, struggled to escape, but the void was relentless.

  With one final, devastating swing of my sword, I sealed its fate. The blade plunged deep into the Undead God’s chest, the eye of the sword glowing brighter than ever. The energy that coursed through me in that moment was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

  And then, the Undead God’s form began to collapse, crumbling into nothingness as the void consumed it.

  But I didn’t relax. Not yet.

  I glanced toward my mother. The curse was still on her, and I needed to finish this.

  “I won’t stop until you’re safe, Mom.”

  The moment dawned upon me as I floated mid-air, cloaked in the radiant power of my Triune Battle Manifestation. The dark and silver energies swirled around me like twin serpents of power, but something was missing—a force capable of truly banishing the undead god who thrived in this world of shadow.

  And then it hit me: light. There was no light when the undead god appeared, no purity to counteract the abyss. I gritted my teeth and channeled every ounce of my remaining strength into a new form of magic. My aura pulsed violently, transforming into a blinding radiance.

  “Eternal Paradise!” I shouted, the words reverberating across the battlefield.

  From my outstretched hand, a sphere of pure light burst forth, engulfing the sky in an endless cascade of brilliance. The undead god howled in agony as the light began to pierce through his impenetrable form. His skeletal body cracked and smoldered, writhing under the holy intensity of the spell.

  Wielding the Sword of Death Eye, now fully awakened with its eye glowing crimson, I plunged toward the burning god. Each swing of the blade devoured chunks of his cursed existence, the shadows fading under the combined might of my light magic and swordsmanship.

  The god let out a final roar, his figure disintegrating into ash. The blinding light consumed him entirely, leaving only the faint echo of his defeated cries. And with that, the battle was over.

  But victory came at a cost. My strength faltered, and I plummeted from the heavens. My suit dissolved as I hit the ground with a thud, the Sword of Death Eye clattering beside me. Blood seeped from my wounds, exhaustion pressing heavily on me.

  As I struggled to stand, Beta and Ririsa rushed to my side, their healing spells already at work. Their hands glowed with warmth as they mended my battered body. Sayo and Lucaus appeared shortly after, with Lucaus cheering loudly, “You did it, boss! That was insane!”

  But I had no time for celebration. My mother. I needed to save her.

  Alice approached, handing me a vial of radiant gold liquid—the Elixir, the ultimate potion I’d earned from the undead god’s defeat. I crawled toward my mother, who was lying unconscious but breathing faintly. With trembling hands, I uncorked the potion and brought it to her lips.

  “Please, mom,” I whispered. “Drink this and come back to me.”

  The potion shimmered as she drank it. Suddenly, her body was enveloped in a divine light. Her pale skin glowed with vitality, and her frail frame lifted into the air as though carried by an unseen force. Her hair, once dull and lifeless, transformed into a cascade of golden waves. Her eyes fluttered open, now a brilliant blue that seemed to hold the very essence of life itself.

  When the light subsided, she stood before me—a vision of grace and beauty.

  “I’m back, my lovely boy!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and love.

  “Welcome back,” I replied, my voice cracking as tears welled in my eyes.

  Before I could say anything else, she pulled me into a tight embrace, pressing my face into her chest. I struggled to speak, muffled by her overwhelming affection. “Mom, I can’t breathe!”

  She laughed, tears streaming down her face as she released me. “Oh, Amahiko. You’ve grown so strong. I knew you would save me, but to see it with my own eyes... I can’t even begin to thank you.”

  I smiled, wiping the tears from my own cheeks. “I promised I wouldn’t let you go. And I never break my promises, mom.”

  The five shadows gathered around us, their faces reflecting a mix of relief and admiration. Beta bowed slightly. “Master, your strength and resolve never cease to amaze us.”

  “That was epic!” Lucaus shouted, grinning ear to ear. “The way you took down that undead god? Legendary!”

  I checked my status.

  Basic Information:

  Name: Amahiko

  Title: The Monarch of Shadow – Shadow king

  Level: 16,000

  Race: High-Human (mixed demon heart) (Blessed by the Triune Aura)

  Aura Types: Dark, Silver, Light

  Current Equipment:

  ? Sword of Death Eye (Awakened)

  ? Triune Battle Manifestation Suit

  ? Obsidian Radiance Sovereign

  Attributes:

  Strength: 98,000

  Agility: 95,000

  Stamina: 92,500

  Intelligence: 90,000

  Mana: 1000000000+

  Luck: 88,000

  Skills Learned from the Undead God:

  1. Necrotic Grasp (Lv. 10)

  [A dark ability that steals life force and converts it into mana.]

  2. Undying Command (Lv. 8)

  [Grants control over lesser undead creatures, bending them to your will.]

  3. Cursed Resurrection (Lv. 5)

  [Revives fallen allies temporarily as undead warriors with enhanced strength.]

  4. Void Shackles (Lv. 7)

  [Creates unbreakable chains forged from void energy to bind opponents.]

  Fire Magic:

  1. Inferno of the Primordials (Lv. 10)

  2. Hell of flame- Flamehell (Lv. 9)

  3. Phoenix Blaze (Lv. 8)

  4. Dragon’s Breath (Lv. 10)

  5. Eternal Inferno (Lv. 7)

  6. Blazing Cataclysm (Lv. 6) (New)

  [Summons a fiery explosion that burns continuously over a large radius.]

  Water Magic:

  1. Tsunami’s Wrath (Lv. 9)

  2. Ocean’s Embrace (Lv. 8)

  3. Tempest of the Abyss (Lv. 7)

  4. Aqua Wrath (Lv. 9)

  5. Eternal Tides (Lv. 6)

  6. Frozen Abyssal Surge (Lv. 5) (New)

  [Combines water and ice to trap enemies in a frigid vortex.]

  Wind Magic:

  1. Cyclone of Destruction (Lv. 8)

  2. Tempest Fury (Lv. 7)

  3. Zephyr’s Judgment (Lv. 9)

  4. Gale’s Roar (Lv. 8)

  5. Stormbringer (Lv. 6)

  6. Wings of the Eternal Zephyr (Lv. 6) (New)

  [Grants the ability to move at godlike speed while creating destructive shockwaves.]

  Earth Magic:

  1. Gaia’s Wrath (Lv. 9)

  2. Titan’s Grasp (Lv. 7)

  3. Worldquake (Lv. 8)

  4. Seismic Calamity (Lv. 6)

  5. Stone Dragon’s Roar (Lv. 5)

  6. Mountain Fortress (Lv. 5) (New)

  [Erects an indestructible wall of stone and earth for protection.]

  Dark Magic:

  1. Void of Oblivion (Lv. 10)

  2. Soul Devourer (Lv. 9)

  3. Nightmare’s Embrace (Lv. 8)

  4. Shadow of Death (Lv. 10)

  5. Black Hole (Lv. 7)

  6. Eternal Void (Lv. 5) (New)

  [Summons an endless abyss that swallows all nearby enemies.]

  Healing Magic:

  1. Sanctified Restoration (Lv. 9)

  2. Heaven’s Grace (Lv. 8)

  3. Eternal Vitality (Lv. 7)

  4. Blessing of Renewal (Lv. 6) (New)

  [Gradually restores the health and mana of all allies over time.]

  Special Abilities:

  1. Triune Battle Manifestation (Lv. MAX)

  [Combines dark, silver, and light aura to create a godly armor that enhances all abilities.]

  2. Sword of Death Eye: Awakened (Lv. MAX)

  [The sword devours cursed entities and absorbs their power to amplify its user’s strength.]

  My mother turned to them, her expression soft and motherly. “Thank you all for standing by my son. I can see he’s surrounded by wonderful companions.”

  Alice nodded respectfully. “We serve Amahiko with unwavering loyalty. It was an honour to assist him in saving you.”

  After a few moments of shared relief, I turned back to my mother. “Mom, there’s so much I need to know. About the curse, the war, everything. But for now... I’m just glad you’re safe.”

  She placed a gentle hand on my cheek, her smile radiant. “We have all the time in the world now, my boy. For now, rest. You’ve done more than anyone could have asked.”

  As the night deepened, we returned to the manor. The warmth of family and friends filled the air, a stark contrast to the chaos and despair of the battle. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt at peace.

  But even as I rested, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this victory was only the beginning. Darker forces were stirring, and I would need to be ready. But for tonight, I let myself revel in the joy of my mother’s return, surrounded by those I cared for most.