THE RISE OF AN OMEGA-Chapter 78: The undead king’s bargain

Kira’s POV

After blasting off so many of the Shadow Armies, they still seemed to be multiplying. I had reached my limit. The fireball I had created—one of my strongest attacks—had drained a good chunk of my strength.

Rika, Clara, Isabella, Emilia, and Marcelle surrounded me. I stood in the middle while they tried fighting off as many shadows as they could. But it was as if their efforts didn’t matter. The numbers wouldn’t go down. No matter how many we cut down, more appeared in their place. They just kept multiplying.

Still, none of them panicked.

As I looked at each one of them, I didn’t see fear or hesitation—only strengthened resolve. They were ready to give their lives for me. Just so I could be saved.

"I see you’ve got yourself a crew that will not give up," the Shadow Lord said, his voice echoing through the Mildling.

"There’s one thing you don’t know about werewolves," I said.

"And what’s that, little Moonkeeper?" the creature asked, mocking.

"We never abandon our own. We share a bond—stronger than blood. As a pack, we are connected. Do you know what that connection gives us?" I asked, pausing, watching his expression.

"Little Moonkeeper," he replied, almost bored, "there’s nothing for me to be worried about. Your people don’t have the strength to hold my armies down."

I bit my lip, clenched my fists, and gritted my teeth.

He was right.

We didn’t have the strength. We were greatly outnumbered.

Think, Keeper. Think.

"I’m sure you realize it already," he continued with a grin. "Take a look around. I’m the one in charge here. No matter how hard you try, I can always make more. And you know what else I have?"

He laughed—hysterical and cruel.

"I have time, little Moonkeeper. So choose wisely. Surrender yourself to me now. Become one of my Shadow Armies, and I will let your friends go. They’ll walk free. They’ll return to your kind and tell them how you fought well, how you sacrificed your precious Moonkeeper life for them."

His laughter echoed across the battlefield, cold and jagged like broken glass.

"You know another good thing?" he added, tilting his head, as if recalling something. "The Apost... trying to remember now... ah, yes—the dark entity, or whatever you people call it in your world..."

His smile twisted cruelly.

"It won’t be able to reach you. Not yet."

The creature chuckled.

How did he even know about the dark entity?

His offer echoed in my mind like a cruel melody. Surrender to me. Become a shadow army.

It wouldn’t stop ringing in my head. And worse—I was actually considering it.

My gaze drifted to the people surrounding me—Rika, Clara, Isabella, Emilia, Marcelle. They were exhausted, slowing down. The energy was draining out of them, blow by blow, step by step. At this rate, we were all going to die.

And trust me, I wouldn’t even mind dying anymore—if it were just me.

But seeing them... watching them collapse one by one before my eyes, it was too much.

It was breaking something inside me. Something fragile. Something that I couldn’t afford to lose.

What would I do?

What could I do?

The scariest part wasn’t even the decision.

It was the truth: I had nothing left.

Not even enough strength to lift something as light as a leaf. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

I knew because I tried.

Again and again, I tried.

But nothing moved.

The thought of teleporting crossed my mind. It was desperate, but maybe it could work.

Except... how could I possibly attempt something as difficult as teleportation magic when I couldn’t even lift a damn leaf?

I had never tried it before, not once. But something in me believed I could.

Because, just like the Moon Goddess had once said—

The mind has no limits. Only the body does.

And she was right.

My mind was willing.

But my body... it wasn’t.

Then, the creature’s voice cut through my thoughts—eerie and baritone, like a growl stitched into the wind.

"Look at your friends. Look at them," he roared. "They’re all going to die because of you."

No.

No, no, no.

I must hide them. I must protect them.

They can’t die.

I won’t let them die like this.

"You don’t have a choice, Kira," the creature said, almost smug. "The only way they get out alive is if you agree to become one of my shadow armies."

"Kira! Are you alright?" Rika called, her voice distant, like she was speaking underwater.

"What’s wrong with her?" Emilia’s panicked voice followed.

"She looks like she’s dying," Clara said, and it broke me.

"No. No, that can’t be," Isabella snapped. "Everyone concentrate! We can’t let the shadow armies get to her!"

"Remain strong," she added, her voice like iron. "They expect us to panic now that she’s fading."

"She’s dying," Marcelle muttered, breathless. "And we’re supposed to stay calm?"

"She would’ve wanted us to stay focused," Rika said firmly, cutting through the storm of emotion.

Even while they argued, they fought. Blade against shadow. Light against darkness. They didn’t stop.

I was grateful—grateful Isabella was on my team.

She was our anchor.

She kept everyone grounded, even when everything was falling apart.

Even when I was about to give up... I looked at her. And I thought, If we make it out of this alive, I want to be closer to her.

Then Isabella’s voice broke through again—sharper this time.

"Judging from how he hasn’t made a direct move on her since she got weak... I think the Shadow Lord wants her alive."

"She’s right," I managed to whisper. My voice was a ghost of itself. "I’m so sorry, guys. I’m weak."

"Don’t say another word, Kira," Isabella snapped. "Focus all your energy on regaining your strength."

They kept talking. Kept fighting. Shadow after shadow fell before their blades.

I forced myself to my feet. My knees wobbled, screaming in protest, but I ignored them.

"He wants to make me one of them. A shadow army. And now he says if I do what he wants—he’ll let you all go.

"Come on, Kira. You don’t believe the words of that evil creature, do you?" Clara asked, her voice trembling with frustration.

"It’s not about believing," I said quietly. "It’s about doing what he said."

"Kira, you can’t become a shadow army," Isabella snapped, stepping forward.

"I know that. I know, Isabella. But... it’s our only way out."

"No," she said, her tone firm. "That can’t be. That’s not like you."

I lowered my gaze, trying again—trying to summon fire, water, even the faintest breeze of air. But nothing answered me. Nothing responded.

"Look at me. I’m useless now," I said bitterly. "I can’t seem to use any of my powers."

"That’s because the last two attacks drained you," Emilia said. "You’ve pushed too hard. All you need now is rest, Kira."

"No," I whispered. "I don’t want to rest. You all will be dead before I get my strength back."

"So you think becoming a shadow army would be better?" Isabella shot back, anger flaring in her eyes.

"No. It’s not better. But it’s the only chance we have left."

"Not for your survival, Kira," she said, her voice breaking. "If you become one of them, you’ll be gone. Dead. He’ll use you however he wants. That’s not life—it’s eternal torture."

"I know, Rika," I said, turning to her. "Do you think I haven’t thought about all of it? Do you think I don’t know what I’m stepping into?"

I took a step closer to the creature, drawn like a moth to its death.

Suddenly, one of the shadow armies lunged at me from the side.

Before I could react, a flash of steel and movement cut through the darkness. Isabella. Her speed was unmatched. She took it down before it even reached me.

"There has to be another way out," she said breathlessly. "We can’t let you sacrifice yourself like this."

"We still need you, Kira," Marcel called from behind her. "You’re the one who can destroy the dark entity."

"I know," I whispered. "But as soon as this is over... you’ll have to go. Retrieve the Moonstone. Get back to the park. I’m sure there’s a way to use it—to trap the entity, seal it away."

I looked at all of them.

"But right now... I have to do my job as the Moonkeeper."

"No," Rika said. "Your job is to protect us—not to die for us."

"This is me protecting you," I said, voice low, final. "This is the only way I know how."

A chill crawled up my spine.

"It’s time," the Shadow Lord whispered in my ear.

And I knew.

Yes, I had agreed. That was why I had been given just enough strength—to say my final goodbyes.

"I’m sorry, everyone," I said softly. "But it’s time."

Suddenly, my feet lifted off the ground.

I was levitating.

My body began to tremble violently as if something unseen had its claws in me. The Shadow Lord was sucking the light out of me—drawing my essence away.

Darkness began to blur my vision.

But just then—

A bright light shone from behind me.

Blinding. Radiant. Pure.

The shadows hissed.

The Shadow Lord paused.

Something—someone—was coming.