Chapter 3: the demon king walks again

The Howling Forest

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the sky a sea of darkened clouds threatening rain. Towering trees stretched toward the heavens, their ancient branches whispering in the wind. This was The Howling Forest, a place feared by the common folk—where myths spoke of creatures lurking in the shadows, of ghosts that preyed on the living.

To the boy, it was nothing more than a place to regain his strength.

He stepped forward, his bare feet sinking into the wet soil. His once-white royal robes were torn and stained, his body aching from exhaustion. Yet, despite his weakness, his golden eyes gleamed with something far beyond human.

He had left the empire behind, its ruins crumbling under betrayal. But his journey was far from over.

His past life’s power was still sealed. His body was still too fragile.

But time…

Time would change everything.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, his senses sharpened. The air was unnaturally still. No birds, no insects—only silence.

Something was watching him.

A low growl rumbled through the trees.

His gaze flicked to the shadows.

Then, from the underbrush, a massive beast emerged.

It was unlike anything from his modern memories—a wolf the size of a warhorse, its fur black as night, eyes burning like molten fire. A Shadowfang.

A beast of legends. A creature that thrived on human flesh.

The boy exhaled, flexing his fingers. “Tch. Weak body or not, I don’t have time for distractions.”

The beast lunged.

A blur of fangs and claws.

And yet, before it could reach him—

BOOM!

The ground trembled as an unseen force crushed the air itself.

The wolf froze mid-leap, its body seized by an invisible grip. Its fiery eyes widened in shock—then fear.

The boy’s golden gaze darkened.

Even in this body, even at his weakest—he was still a king.

He raised a single hand.

The wolf whimpered, struggling, but the force holding it tightened. Its massive form trembled as a surge of pure darkness coiled around it like shackles.

Then, silence.

A moment later, the beast collapsed, its body limp, breathing ragged.

The boy approached, crouching beside it. His fingers hovered over its forehead, feeling the last remnants of resistance before it submitted completely.

A smirk tugged at his lips. “I see… You recognize a master when you see one.”

Then, with a flick of his wrist, the darkness sank into the beast’s core—binding it.

The wolf’s eyes widened, its fire dimming as its will was overridden.

A moment passed.

Then, it bowed its head.

The boy chuckled, running his fingers through the beast’s thick fur. “Good. You’ll be useful.”

The first of many to serve him.

The Watchers in the Shadows

Unbeknownst to the boy, he was not alone.

Deep within the treetops, hidden in the darkness, two figures watched in silence.

“He tamed a Shadowfang…” one whispered, voice laced with disbelief.

The other, a taller figure clad in a hooded cloak, remained still. His sharp violet eyes glowed faintly beneath the shadow of his hood. “No… He did more than that.”

The first figure swallowed. “Then… is it truly him?”

The taller one exhaled. “There is no doubt.”

For centuries, they had waited.

For centuries, they had searched.

And now, the one they had sworn to follow—the one who had been erased from history—had returned.

The taller figure stepped forward, the wind shifting around him like a whisper of fate. “We must report this at once.”

His companion hesitated. “And if he is not ready?”

A smirk played on the taller man’s lips. “Then we will prepare him.”

Then, like phantoms, they vanished into the night.

The City of Rogues

Days passed.

The boy—now cloaked in a tattered black robe, with the Shadowfang by his side—arrived at a place where laws held no power.

Ironclad City.

A lawless domain where criminals, mercenaries, and fallen nobles sought refuge. A place where secrets were traded like currency.

The streets were alive with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and deceit. Danger lurked in every corner.

The boy smirked. Perfect.

He walked through the bustling streets, ignoring the wary glances thrown his way. Even as a child, even without his full strength, his presence demanded attention.

The Shadowfang padded beside him, its burning eyes sending a clear message—he was not to be touched.

His goal was simple: Information. Power. Connections.

And Ironclad City had all three.

But before he could take his first step into the underworld—

A voice stopped him.

“Well, well… What do we have here?”

He turned.

A man stood before him, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

Tall, broad-shouldered, clad in dark armor, with silver hair and piercing crimson eyes that gleamed like blood in the moonlight.

A warrior. A killer.

And judging by the presence radiating off him—not an ordinary one.

The man smirked. “A kid… with a Shadowfang? Now, that’s not something you see every day.”

The boy tilted his head, unbothered. “And you are?”

The man chuckled. “Veyrin. The one who runs this city.”

Ah.

So this was Veyrin the Red, the infamous Lord of Ironclad—a former warlord who had carved his way to power through blood and steel.

A useful pawn.

Veyrin pushed off the wall, stepping closer, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “You’ve got a dangerous look for a kid. Where’d you crawl out from?”

The boy’s smirk deepened. “Where do you think?”

Veyrin froze.

Then, realization flickered in his crimson eyes. His smirk faded.

For a long moment, he simply stared—as if seeing a ghost from a forgotten era.

Then, finally, he let out a low, amused chuckle.

“…Hah. So the rumors were true.”

The boy said nothing. He didn’t need to.

Veyrin shook his head, stepping back. His gaze held something between wariness and intrigue.

“Well then, kid…” His lips curled into a smirk. “Welcome to Ironclad.”

The boy simply smiled.

Let the game begin.

The Beginning of a New Era

Beyond the city walls, forces stirred.

The world had long since moved on, believing the Demon King to be a relic of the past.

But fate had other plans.

He had returned.

And soon, the entire world would kneel before him once more.

End of Chapter3.

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