Volume 2, Chapter 3: The Siege of Shadows
The moon hung low over the Renard Kingdom, pale and cold.
Hidden armies stirred in the forests, and magical wards flickered as if sensing something unnatural.
The rogue factions nobles, mages, and remnants of the Devil's Cult had united for their first full assault. Their target: the Vampire Queen, whose power they sought to enslave, and through her, to challenge Cael himself.
> "Tonight," their leader whispered, "we strike at the heart of the Shadow Sovereign's sanctuary. Nothing can stop us."
They underestimated everything.
The Battle Begins
Cael, disguised as the "average noble," stood atop his tower. The Seven Shadows and the Vampire Queen flanked him.
> "They come," Liora whispered, shadows stretching like tendrils along the ground.
"They'll regret it," Cael replied calmly.
From the forest, glowing runes appeared summoning lightning, fire, and twisted spirits. The air warped, crackling with forbidden energy.
The Vampire Queen's crimson aura flared.
> "Let them come. I am free."
Cael's aura shimmered faintly around him, a calm storm.
> "Shadows, prepare. Let's remind them why balance cannot be broken."
Absolute Atomic in Action
The rogue faction's front line surged. Hundreds of soldiers, dozens of elite mages, and ancient summoned beasts.
One wave reached the castle gates and vanished.
Atomic shadows rippled across the ground, instantly neutralizing every attack. Fire became harmless sparks; spells dissolved into particles. The rogue mages screamed in disbelief.
> "Impossible!" one shouted.
"It's him…" another gasped.
Cael moved like a ghost. Shadows merged with atomic energy, forming blades, shields, and tendrils that moved faster than sight. He disarmed, disintegrated, and immobilized the enemy all without stepping more than a few meters.
The Vampire Queen joined the fray, her crimson aura slicing through enemy ranks. Her fangs flashed, absorbing corrupted energy and redirecting it as deadly crimson waves.
> "Together," Cael murmured.
The Seven Shadows exploded into action:
Liora struck with blades that could cleave mountains.
Riven absorbed elemental strikes and amplified them into destructive beams.
Selene moved like lightning, her radiant shadow sword cutting through entire battalions.
Kael warped dimensions, trapping enemy squads in overlapping void zones.
Tarya struck unseen, assassinating leaders before they could act.
Orin multiplied his atomic constructs, swarming dozens of enemies at once.
Lyric controlled the air, redirecting magical attacks into the enemy itself.
Even the rogue factions' elite mages and summoners fell within moments.
The Final Showdown
The faction leader revealed his trump card: an ancient demon infused with vampiric energy, towering over the battlefield, exuding darkness capable of warping matter itself.
Cael stepped forward. Shadows coiled around him, atomic energy spiraling outward like a star forming in midair.
> "I am… Absolute Atomic."
With a single gesture, the demon froze, torn between existence and annihilation. Atomic energy merged with shadows, shredding the creature into nothingness.
The Vampire Queen stood beside Cael, crimson aura blazing. Together, their synchronized energy created a deadly resonance light and shadow, creation and destruction, perfectly balanced.
The rogue faction leader screamed in despair as their forces collapsed.
> "You… how…?"
Cael's voice was calm, unwavering.
> "Balance cannot be broken. You overreached. And tonight, it ends."
Aftermath
The battlefield was silent. Not a single innocent harmed, every corner of the castle untouched. The Seven Shadows knelt beside Cael, their aura flickering faintly, exhausted but unbroken.
The Vampire Queen regarded Cael with a faint smile.
> "Your balance… it is extraordinary. Perhaps the world is worth following, after all."
Cael's eyes softened.
> "Then stay. Learn. Grow. One day, you may face threats even I cannot."
From the horizon, faint shadows stirred. Other factions watched silently, plotting the next attempt. They did not yet realize:
Cael and the Seven Shadows were now stronger than ever.
The Vampire Queen's allegiance made them nearly unstoppable.
Any who tried to challenge Absolute Atomic power would meet the same fate as tonight.
> "The world will test us," Cael said softly, "but no force, mortal or divine, will unbalance what I protect."
And somewhere far away, the wind carried whispers of even older powers stirring…