The battlefield stretched vast and unrelenting, its grim chaos painting a tapestry of agony and struggle. Groans of the wounded mingled with the guttural cries of demons, but all of it faded to static as my focus narrowed on a single figure: the demon commander.

  He stood like a monolith of malice, his towering frame clad in jagged black armor that seemed alive, pulsating with veins of glowing crimson. His horns spiraled wickedly upward, casting twisted shadows across his grotesque visage. His eyes—crimson pools of predatory glee—locked onto me with a hunger that chilled my blood. The air around him vibrated with a suffocating aura, an oppressive darkness that seemed to devour the light.

  This was no ordinary enemy. No pawn or second-rate opponent. This was the pinnacle of the battlefield’s terror.

  This was it. The real battle. Everything else had just been a prelude to this moment.

  A tremor ran through my body as adrenaline clashed with fatigue, each heartbeat a war drum in my ears. My fingers tightened around Shadow’s Sword, the familiar weight and hum of the weapon grounding me. The obsidian blade pulsed faintly in my grip, responding to my resolve.

  "New Skills Available!"

  The system's voice chimed in my mind—a dispassionate monotone that felt oddly out of place amidst the chaos. It was almost...mocking. My eyes darted to the corner of my vision where a translucent window materialized.

  Seriously? Now of all times?

  "Skill Unlocked: Shadow Chain – Conjures a chain made of shadows to bind enemies. Mana Consumption: 35."

  "Skill Unlocked: Shadow Manipulation – Allows the user to alter and shape surrounding shadows. Mana Consumption: 10 per second."

  "Skill Unlocked: Dark Vision – Grants the ability to see clearly in complete darkness."

  Dark Vision? I grimaced. How useful for a fight in broad daylight. I dismissed it without hesitation.

  But the other two...those had potential.

  The demon commander took a heavy step forward, his boots crushing the rubble beneath him. Each step reverberated like a death knell. He grinned, his jagged teeth gleaming. "What’s the matter, little hero?" His deep voice carried a cruel amusement. "Frozen in fear? Or are you just now realizing your own insignificance?"

  I clenched my jaw, forcing my mind to focus. The shadows around me stirred, responding to the simmering anger in my chest. “You talk a lot for someone who’s about to lose.”

  The demon threw his head back and roared with laughter, the sound booming like an earthquake. “Lose? To you? Don’t make me laugh, boy. I’ve squashed gnats with more bite than you!”

  The ground beneath me cracked as he charged, his massive axe carving through the air with a deafening whoosh. I barely managed to evade, diving to the side as the weapon slammed into the earth, shattering it into fragments. The shockwave nearly knocked me off my feet.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "Skill Unlocked: Shadow Burst – An explosion of concentrated shadows. Mana Consumption: 50."

  Finally, something worthwhile. I grinned despite myself. “All right,” I muttered under my breath. “Let’s see how you like this.”

  The moment he raised his axe again, I activated Shadow Manipulation, willing the tendrils of darkness to rise. They slithered across the ground like living creatures, coiling around his legs before surging upward to bind his arms.

  “Tricks won’t save you,” he growled, straining against the bonds. But even as he fought, the chains tightened, forcing him to his knees.

  “Who said I was trying to save myself?” I shot back. With a flick of my wrist, I summoned Shadow Burst. The sphere of concentrated darkness crackled ominously before hurtling toward him. It exploded on impact, engulfing him in a violent surge of shadow energy.

  The ground trembled beneath the force, a cloud of dust and debris obscuring him from view. For a fleeting moment, I dared to hope.

  But then, a guttural roar cut through the haze. The dust cleared to reveal the commander, his armor cracked but his malevolent aura undiminished. He tore through the shadow chains like paper, his crimson eyes blazing with fury.

  “You’ll pay for that!” His voice thundered as he surged toward me with unnatural speed.

  The clash of his axe against my blade sent shockwaves through my body. My arms trembled, barely holding against the force. Each strike was like a battering ram, relentless and unyielding. Sweat poured down my face, and my breath came in ragged gasps.

  “System,” I whispered, desperation creeping into my voice. “What else do I have?”

  "Displaying all available skills..."

  My eyes scanned the list frantically. I needed something—anything—to turn the tide. But most of the options were useless in my current state. Mana reserves were dwindling, and my body was on the verge of collapse.

  The commander’s next strike shattered my guard, sending me sprawling. Before I could recover, his massive hand clamped around my throat, lifting me off the ground. His grip was iron, crushing the air from my lungs.

  “You fought well enough to amuse me,” he sneered. “But playtime is over.”

  Spots danced in my vision as I struggled, clawing at his gauntlet. My strength was fading fast.

  "New Skill Unlocked: Void Step – Allows instantaneous teleportation through shadows. Mana Consumption: 30."

  A spark of hope flared within me. Gathering the last remnants of my strength, I activated Void Step, slipping into the shadows just as his grip tightened. I reappeared a few feet away, collapsing to one knee as I gasped for air.

  His eyes narrowed. “Annoying little worm.”

  I rose shakily to my feet, gripping Shadow’s Sword with both hands. “I’m not done yet,” I rasped, though every fiber of my being screamed otherwise.

  He laughed, advancing with deliberate menace. “And what do you plan to do now, boy? Flail around until you collapse? Face it—you’ve already lost.”

  I tightened my grip, focusing the last of my mana into the blade. The shadows around me coalesced, drawn to the weapon like moths to a flame. The blade pulsed, darker and sharper than ever before.

  “I’m going to finish this,” I said, forcing a grin despite the blood dripping from my lips. “One way or another.”

  With a roar, I charged, pouring everything I had into one final strike. Our weapons collided, the impact shattering the ground beneath us.

  For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze. Then came the explosion of energy, a blinding flash of light and shadow that consumed us both.

  When the dust settled, I stood over his fallen form, the shattered remnants of Shadow’s Sword in my hand. My legs buckled, and I collapsed, the battlefield fading into silence as darkness claimed me.