CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: KING OF DARKNESS

Richard had said nothing for a while. The cave was dark and thick with the scent of ancient ash; the blue flames on the stone throne whispered like restless souls. Akumo waited without word, his aged body unmoving, but his eyes cut like razors. Richard stood next to the broken pillar, arms across his chest, his mind churning like a storm.

He thought about everything: the reanimation ritual, the power Akumo showed, the flames that took shape like dragons, the stone shattered by a mere breath, the strength of a warrior inside of a magician’s body. Impossible. Unbelievable. Terrifying. And yet... Richard knew the truth.

He couldn’t do anything alone.

He had tried once. He had died once.

He did not make the same mistake again.

Richard breathed slowly, willing the heat in his chest to settle. He stepped forward.

"Fine," he said. "I agree. I am not able to reach what I want without you. Allies like you do not appear twice during a lifetime... or after death.

Akumo’s old lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "Good. I thought you’d take longer. But even in death, Richard, your instinct for strength never left."

Richard couldn’t deny it. He felt it now more than ever: the hunger, the fire, the unfinished vengeance. Akumo leaned forward.

"Now listen closely. I already taught you reanimation. But what I am going to tell you now. is far beyond that. Another forbidden ritual. Far more dangerous.

Richard’s eyebrows lowered. "More dangerous than bringing the dead back?

Akumo nodded. "This one summons a monster. But not just any monster. A ruler. A king. A beast born in the darkness world.

Richard’s heart skipped. "A king?"

"Yes," Akumo whispered. "A creature older than empires, binding itself through a contract of blood and terror. If you summon him, he is your servant. If you fail... you die."

The cave grew colder. The blue flames, too, apparently leaned in to listen.

Akumo continued, voice low and steady. "The ritual works only if the summoner has courage strong enough to look into the abyss and not look away. Enough potential to withstand the pressure. Enough strength to face a monster alone and survive his first strike."

Richard swallowed. "Why would any magician attempt that?"

"Because if you succeed," Akumo said, "you gain a partner that can crush armies, tear apart warriors, silence magicians, and swallow vampires whole. A guardian born from pure darkness. The strongest creature of all realms—except one."

Richard arched a brow. "Except who?"

Akumo put his hand on his chest. "Me."

Richard stared at him in silence. Akumo didn’t smile. He meant every word.

"Now," Akumo said, rising slowly from his stone seat. "I will demonstrate.

Richard felt the air tighten, thick as smoke, while Akumo muttered strange syllables. They were sharp and ancient, cutting through the cave with a rhythm from a forgotten language. His fingers twisted into shapes impossible for a normal human. The ground shook. Dust fell from the ceiling.

"Akumo—" Richard took a slight step backward.

"Stay still," said the old lord, "and watch."

The air behind him split open like a wound in reality. A black vortex spiraled, howling with a cold wind not of this world. The shadows themselves bent, stretching towards the vortex as if being devoured. Richard felt pressure slam onto his chest, pushing him backward.

Then Akumo whispered these last words.

"Summoning... the Monster of Darkness... RAVIEL."

A roar exploded through the cave. The vortex spread open into a whirling gate of shadows and, out of its center, an enormous claw emerged—black as night, as thick as a tree trunk. The stone ground cracked under its weight. Richard stumbled back, trembling despite himself.

Then the monster stepped forward.

A towering beast, its body made from swirling darkness and solid muscle, the curled horns rose from its skull like a crown, eyes glowing a deep crimson that pierced through the gloom. Shadows dripped from its wings like liquid night. The cave shook beneath its weight.

Richard had never seen anything that was as terrifying in his whole life.

His knees almost buckled.

Raviel’s voice thundered, echoing like ten voices speaking at once.

"WHO SUMMONS ME?"

Akumo stepped forward without fear: "I do, Raviel."

The red eyes of the monster narrowed, then softened if such a creature could soften. Raviel lowered his large head.

"Why have you called me, Lord Akumo?"

Richard froze.

Lord?

Akumo lord is the king of darkness monsters.

Akumo looked back at Richard with a calm expression. "You asked who he is. Now you have your answer."

Richard’s whole body felt numb. "He... he’s loyal to you?"

Raviel’s eyes blazed like hot coals as they turned to Richard. "Lord Akumo and I have fought together for centuries. No magician, no warrior, no vampire, no beast has ever stood against us and survived."

Richard staggered. Raviel’s aura, and his alone, pressed onto him like a mountain. He had faced off powerful magicians, bloodthirsty vampires, packs of werewolves, and armies of warriors in times past-but nothing like this.

Akumo walked to the monster’s side, placing a hand on its leg as casually as touching a stone wall.

"I will tell you a story," Akumo said. "Long before you were born, battles raged across the continents. Magicians with eyes sharper than hawks, warriors with strength of giants, werewolves who tore men apart in packs, vampires who moved faster than light. All claimed to be the strongest.

"But in the end... all of them bowed before one truth.

Akumo looked at Raviel.

"Darkness devours all."

Raviel let out a low growl of agreement.

"There was a time," Akumo continued, "when a group of elite magicians came to destroy me. They were stronger than any enemy you’ve ever faced. Their blades cut the sky. Their spells shattered mountains. Their leader believed he was untouchable.

Richard listened, breath held.

"I was cornered," Akumo said. "Wounded. Outnumbered. And they believed they had won."

Richard frowned. "But you didn’t die."

Akumo smirked. "No. Because on that day, I summoned Raviel for the first time.

The monster lifted its wings, sending a wave of icy wind across the cave.

"In one minute," Akumo said softly, "the elite magicians vanished; their spells swallowed, their bodies crushed, their leader begging for mercy.

Raviel growled, "We showed him none."

Richard couldn’t blink. Couldn’t think.

Akumo wasn’t lying.

He had fought with Raviel.

Won with him.

Conquered with him.

Richard was seized by a sudden surge of longing, an ache deep in his soul. If I had a monster like this beside me... I would never lose again. I would win the battle I died in. I would break the warriors who pierced me. I would burn the magicians who trapped me. I would erase every enemy who ever underestimated me.

Akumo saw the fire in Richard’s eyes.

"You see it now," Akumo said softly. "The path ahead. The power. The revenge. Everything you want... is possible."

Raviel lowered his giant head toward Richard, sniffing around him as if testing his strength.

"You have potential," the monster rumbled. "But you lack discipline. You lack experience. And you lack control."

Richard’s fists were clenched. "Then I’ll gain it.

Akumo nodded in approval. "Good. You’ll need to. Because summoning Raviel is not something you can attempt yet. If you make a mistake-if even a drop of blood falls at the wrong second-his claws will tear through your chest before you can breathe."

Raviel smiled—a terrifying, tooth-filled smile. "Many died trying to summon me. Weak ones. Cowards. Fools."

Richard swallowed. "I’m not weak."

"We’ll see," Raviel said.

Akumo raised a hand, and the darkness gate behind Raviel began to flicker. "Return for now, King of Darkness."

Raviel bowed his great head. "As you wish, Lord Akumo."

The monster stepped back into the vortex. The shadows closed. Silence returned.

Richard stared at the empty air where the beast had stood. He couldn’t shake the feeling. Not fear. Not shock.

Desire.

He wanted that power.

He needed that power.

Akumo walked past him and sat again on the stone throne. "Richard. If you want to rule, if you want revenge, if you want the world to tremble before your name... then you must first master these rituals. And then you must earn Raviel’s loyalty yourself."

Richard didn’t hesitate. "I will."

Akumo smirked. "Good. Then our true work begins."

Richard turned his gaze to the dancing shadows on the cave wall—the last traces of Raviel’s presence—and muttered to himself:

"I will never be powerless again." But as the flames danced across Akumo’s razor-sharp smile, Richard had a strange doubt. There was one question forming in his mind. Who... or what... is Akumo, really? The old man seemed too calm, too powerful, too knowing in dark things, and too connected with Raviel. He called himself a failed dreamer, but Richard sensed something far greater was hiding beneath that frail body. Richard stepped closer, eyes narrowing. He would ask him. He would know the truth.

After this, Richard, in his mind, can’t pull off the fire, which is already started flaming, that he will start the war again. Suddenly Raviel said,

"Don’t do things in a hurry;

starting a wartoo fast is just foolish,

Nothing else."

But Richard can’t understand how Raviel understands what he thinks in his mind. Akumo laughed and said, "Raviel can read anyone’s mind easily. He has had this unique ability for a long time."

Richard thinks that if all the thoughts was licked infront Akumo or not.

This makes him tensed now suddenly...