Samuel clenched his fists, feeling the
lingering heat of the red dragon fire coursing through his hands. The battlefield was
covered in a thick black smoke, unnatural and suffocating. The Shadow Tamer stood at a distance, his blue eyes glowing.
The enemy's shadows twisted and moved like living creatures, forming monstrous shapes. Samuel could hear faint whispers—voices of the kidnapped people trapped inside the shadows.
"This isn't just an enemy... he's enslaving the souls of the innocent." Samuel thought grimly.
Beside him, Jason, Elaine, Marianne, Sylvia, and Lyra were all in formation, weapons drawn. The air was thick with tension, but no one was backing down.
The First Clash,
Without warning, the Shadow Tamer raised his hand, and the dark smoke surged forward. Dozens of shadow creatures lunged at the group, their hollow eyes glowing faintly.
"Here they come!" Jason shouted, slashing with his massive sword.
Samuel unleashed a blast of dragon fire, but the shadows twisted unnaturally, dodging most of the flames. A few creatures screeched as they burned, their smoky bodies dissolving into the air.
Elaine and Marianne worked together, casting light-based magic, forcing back the shadows. Lyra's joined the fight, engaging the enemy with disciplined strikes.
But the Shadow Tamer barely moved. He simply stood there, watching.
The Shadows Are People
As Samuel fought, he noticed something terrifying—some of the shadows were fighting back, resisting his attacks.
Then he saw it.
A shadow lunged at him, and for a brief second, its face became clear—the face of a frightened young boy.
Samuel's breath caught in his throat.
"They're still alive!" he shouted. "The shadows… they're not just monsters. They're real people!"
The team hesitated. Killing them meant destroying innocent lives.
The Shadow Tamer finally spoke, his voice cold.
"You understand now, don't you? Every person I capture becomes mine. If you kill them, you'll be killing innocents. If you hold back, you'll die."
Samuel gritted his teeth. This was no ordinary fight.
Samuel's New Power Awakens,
Samuel closed his eyes for a brief moment.
The power of a Soul Tamer wasn't just about summoning or controlling beasts—it was about connecting with souls.
Samuel reached out with his mind, feeling the struggling souls within the shadows.
"Fight back!" he called out. "Resist him!"
For a brief moment,
Samuel closed his eyes for a brief moment.
The power of a Soul Tamer wasn't just about summoning or controlling beasts—it was about connecting with souls.
He reached out with his mind, trying to sense the trapped people inside the shadows. A wave of emotions hit him all at once—fear, pain, confusion, and despair. But there was also a flicker of hope, a silent plea for freedom.
"Fight back!" Samuel called out. "Resist him!"
For a brief moment, the shadows hesitated. Some even staggered back, as if their control was weakening.
The Shadow Tamer's blue eyes narrowed. He lifted his hand, and dark energy pulsed from his palm. The shadows that had hesitated suddenly screamed in agony, their forms twisting unnaturally before becoming fiercer than before.
"You fool," the Shadow Tamer said. "You think they want to be saved? They belong to me now."
Samuel's heart pounded. He had to act fast.
The Fight Intensifies,
Jason blocked an incoming shadow with his greatsword, the impact shaking the ground.
"These things are getting stronger!" he shouted.
Marianne and Elaine were trying their best to purify the shadows, but it was draining them fast. Sylvia protected them, keeping them away from the chaos.
Lyra gritted her teeth. "Samuel, we can't keep fighting like this forever!"
Samuel knew she was right. This wasn't a normal battle. If they kept killing the shadows, they were killing real people. But if they didn't fight, they would be overwhelmed.
He had only one choice.
Samuel clenched his fists and focused his energy. The power of a Soul Tamer wasn't just about commanding creatures—it was about controlling what was once lost.
"If I can tame a Leviathan's soul, then why not a human's?"
He reached out again, this time deeper, stronger. His mind connected directly with the souls trapped inside the shadows.
Taming the Souls of the Shadow Army
Samuel's consciousness dived into darkness.
He could see them—hundreds of souls, bound by chains of shadow. Their eyes were hollow, their bodies fading.
"You don't belong to him," Samuel said firmly.
A few of them looked up, their expressions confused.
"You are not his puppets. You are still alive! You have families waiting for you!"
The chains around them shook. A few souls took a step forward, their forms flickering.
The Shadow Tamer suddenly flinched. His blue eyes glowed brighter, and he let out a low growl.
"How dare you…"
He raised his hands and tightened his grip on the souls. The chains pulled violently, causing the trapped people to scream.
Samuel felt intense pressure on his mind, like his brain was being crushed. But he held on.
"You are free," he said. "No one owns you."
The chains began to snap, one by one.
The Shadow Tamer staggered back, his control over the army weakening. The shadows around them screamed, their dark forms breaking apart.
The tide of battle had shifted.
The Shadow Tamer let out a furious roar.
His body expanded, and his shadow cloak wrapped around him, forming monstrous wings. The ground beneath him shattered as he hovered above them, his blue eyes glowing like fire.
"You think you've won?" his voice echoed.
Darkness exploded from his body, forming a massive wave of destruction.
Samuel's instincts screamed.
"GET BACK!" Jason shouted.
Everyone jumped away just as the dark energy tore through the battlefield, destroying everything in its path.
The fight wasn't over.
It had only just begun.
The battlefield was in chaos.
Samuel barely had time to dodge as the Shadow Tamer lunged at him, a blur of darkness and speed. The air cracked as their fists met—Samuel's burning red dragon fire against the Shadow Tamer's corrupt energy.
The force shattered the ground beneath them.
Samuel gritted his teeth. His muscles screamed in pain as he blocked a follow-up kick to his ribs. The impact sent him sliding backward, his boots digging trenches into the dirt.
Jason rushed in from the side, swinging his greatsword in a deadly arc.
The Shadow Tamer didn't even flinch.
He caught the blade with his bare hand.
Jason's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
With one hand, the Shadow Tamer lifted Jason and threw him across the battlefield. Jason crashed into a broken pillar, coughing up blood.
"You're too slow," the Shadow Tamer said coldly.
Samuel didn't give him time to breathe. He rushed forward, flames igniting around his fists.
Samuel's first punch was dodged.
His second punch grazed the Shadow Tamer's face, leaving a burn on his cheek.
The Shadow Tamer countered with a palm strike to Samuel's chest, but Samuel twisted his body mid-air and landed a kick to his jaw. The impact sent the Shadow Tamer stumbling back.
For the first time, he looked surprised.
Samuel pressed the attack.
A flurry of fists and kicks filled the air.
The two warriors traded blows at inhuman speed, dodging and countering with lethal precision. Every hit shattered the ground beneath them, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
The others could only watch in awe.
"Samuel's keeping up with him?!" Elaine gasped.
"He's not just keeping up," Lyra muttered. "He's winning."
The Shadow Tamer Gets Serious
The Shadow Tamer wiped blood from his lip. His blue eyes flashed dangerously.
"You're different," he muttered. "That power… It's unnatural."
Samuel didn't respond. He was already on the move.
But this time, the Shadow Tamer was ready.
He vanished.
Before Samuel could react, a black fist smashed into his stomach. The pain was immediate—like a blade piercing his insides.
Samuel doubled over.
Another punch—this time to his face.
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he was launched backward, slamming into the ground.
The Shadow Tamer appeared above him, raising a foot to stomp him into the earth.
Samuel rolled away just in time.
The impact cratered the battlefield, sending debris flying.
Samuel pushed off the ground, twisting mid-air, and landed a kick to the Shadow Tamer's ribs.
The Shadow Tamer barely reacted. He grabbed Samuel's leg mid-kick and slammed him into the ground.
Samuel coughed violently, his vision spinning.
Jason and the Others Join the Fight,
Before the Shadow Tamer could finish him, Jason returned—swinging his greatsword with everything he had.
The blade clashed against the Shadow Tamer's arm, cutting deep.
Jason smirked. "Didn't see that coming, huh?"
The Shadow Tamer's expression darkened. He grabbed Jason's sword with his bare hand and snapped it in half.
Jason's smirk vanished.
The Shadow Tamer punched Jason in the chest. The force sent him flying through two walls.
Marianne and Elaine unleashed powerful light magic from behind. Golden chains shot forward, trying to bind the Shadow Tamer.
He barely looked at them before shadow tendrils exploded from his back, tearing through the chains like paper.
Lyra fired a magical arrow coated in red energy—it pierced his shoulder, but the Shadow Tamer pulled it out effortlessly.
"You're all insects," he muttered.
Samuel Awakens More Power,
Samuel forced himself up. Blood dripped from his lip, but his eyes burned with determination.
He clenched his fist—and the red dragon fire ignited again, stronger than before.
His breathing steadied. He could feel the souls of his past tamed beasts within him.
The Leviathan. The Red Dragon. The Shadowed Wolf.
Their power flowed into his body.
Samuel looked up at the Shadow Tamer, his eyes blazing.
"I'm not done yet."