Into the Heart of the Light

The world shook beneath their feet.

Hero Kemp and the Demon King stood facing each other—two unstable storms of power ready to explode at any moment.

Golden light flickered wildly around Kemp.

Black flames cracked and twisted around the Demon King.

One more clash…

Just one…

would destroy everything.

But the heroes did not stop.

They ran straight toward Kemp—even though the aura around him felt like a burning tornado.

Ajmal, at the front, lifted his staff and shouted:

Ajmal:
“Everyone, stay close! But do NOT touch the black energy around him!”

Ayon wiped blood from his face and kept running.

Ayon:
“Hang on, Kemp! We’re coming!”

Sumit panted heavily, sparks of flame gathering on his fists.

Sumit:
“We won’t let you fight alone anymore!”

The closer they got, the harder it became to move.

The air around Kemp was shaking violently. Mixed power—light and darkness—hit them like strong waves. Their skin burned, their bones hurt, and their eyes watered.

Alir held her arm against her face.

Alir:
“This pressure… it feels like standing in a storm!”

Even Jirsong, tough and stubborn, struggled.

Jirsong:
“Damn… Kemp, what kind of monster are you right now…?”

Ajmal stopped just a few feet from Kemp.

The air was vibrating like a thousand buzzing swords.

Ajmal:
“This is it. If we step inside… we might lose our bodies.”

Ayon took another breath.

Ayon:
“But if we don’t… Buddhist will die inside that armor.”

He looked at the swirling gold and black that covered Kemp like a hurricane.

Ayon:
“Kemp trusted us. Now… we trust him.”

And he stepped forward.

Into the storm.

It felt like stepping into fire.

Sumit screamed in pain as he followed Ayon.

Sumit:
“Ahh—! It burns!”

But he didn’t stop.

Jirsong forced himself through with lightning flashing around him.

Jirsong:
“If Kemp can stand in this…
We can stand in it too…!”

Alir bit her lip and stepped inside, her clothes burning at the edges.

Alir:
“Kemp… Buddhist… please hold on.”

Even the Serdihun sisters stepped inside, gripping each other’s hands tightly.

Serdihun 1:
“Sister, don’t let go!”

Serdihun 2:
“I won’t!”

Ajmal took the last step in.

He gritted his teeth.

Ajmal:
“This power… is not human. Even the Demon King would fear this.”

Slowly, the golden storm turned softer inside.

And they saw him.

Hero Kemp.

On one knee.

Spear in hand.

Breathing heavily.

His armor cracked, glowing with both light and darkness.

Half of his face was gold.

Half of it was covered with dark cracking marks.

Ayon rushed to him.

Ayon:
“KEMP! BUDDHIST! CAN YOU HEAR US?!”

Kemp did not move.

His head hung low. His breath was weak.

Sumit put a hand on Kemp’s shoulder.

Sumit:
“Hey! You idiot! Wake up! We came for you!”

A small spark of gold flickered on Kemp’s chest.

Then they heard a very soft voice.

Buddhist:
“…Sumit…?”

Ayon’s eyes filled with relief.

Ayon:
“Yes! We’re here! Stay awake!”

Inside the armor, Buddhist struggled to lift his head.

Buddhist:
“The… darkness… is trying to control me…”

His voice trembled.

Buddhist:
“If I lose… I won’t be Kemp anymore.”

Alir stepped closer.

Alir:
“We won’t let that happen. You’re not alone.”

Ajmal knelt beside Kemp and placed his staff on the ground.

Ajmal:
“We will help you. But you must also fight from inside.”

Buddhist closed his eyes tightly.

He wanted to speak…

But suddenly—

Kemp’s body jerked violently.

Black lightning exploded out of him.

Ayon was thrown back.

Ayon:
“AGH!!”

Sumit grabbed him before he hit the ground.

Ajmal quickly created a shield.

Ajmal:
“He’s losing control! The darkness is rising!”

Everything went black.

Buddhist opened his eyes and found himself standing alone in an empty dark space.

Nothing but shadows.

Nothing but silence.

He looked down and saw gold light leaking weakly from cracks in his body.

Then he heard footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Echoing across the darkness.

A voice spoke.

Demon King (inside Buddhist’s mind):
“You took my darkness…
Now it belongs to you.”

A tall shadow figure appeared.

The Demon King’s form—made entirely of dark smoke—stood in front of him.

Buddhist stepped back, trembling.

Buddhist:
“No… stay away!”

The shadow laughed deeply.

Shadow Demon King:
“If you fall…
Your body will become mine.
Your friends will die.
The world will bow to us.”

Buddhist clenched his fists.

Light flickered weakly around him.

Buddhist:
“I… won’t let you.”

The shadow grew larger.

Shadow Demon King:
“You are too weak!
You cannot control this power!”

The darkness wrapped around Buddhist’s legs.

He struggled, but the darkness pulled harder.

Shadow Demon King:
“Let go…
Fall…
Give me your body…”

Buddhist screamed as darkness climbed up his body.

Outside, Kemp’s armor cracked even more.

Ayon saw the black energy rising around Kemp.

Ayon:
“He’s losing! Buddhist is losing!”

Ajmal shouted:

Ajmal:
“We must push light into him!
Everyone—use your strongest energy!”

Sumit let flames burst from his hands.

Sumit:
“Kemp! Don’t give up!!”

Jirsong released lightning into the aura.

Jirsong:
“We’ll pull you back ourselves!”

Serdihun sisters created soft healing light and pushed it toward Kemp.

Alir put her hands together and prayed softly.

Alir:
“Please… let the light win…”

All of their powers merged and flowed into Kemp.

A giant burst of gold rushed toward Buddhist.

The darkness almost swallowed him.

Almost covered his face.

Almost broke his soul.

But suddenly—

He saw golden light.

A familiar voice echoed.

Ayon’s voice.

Ayon (distant):
“Buddhist! Fight! We’re with you!”

Another voice.

Sumit:
“Get up, brother! Stand up!”

And another.

Alir:
“We’re not leaving you!”

And another.

Ajmal:
“Your light is stronger. Believe in it.”

Buddhist’s eyes widened.

The darkness froze.

Buddhist whispered:

Buddhist:
“I… am not alone.”

Golden flames burst from inside him.

The darkness around him cracked.

The Demon King’s shadow screamed angrily.

Shadow Demon King:
“No! Stop!!”

But Buddhist stood tall.

Buddhist:
“This body…
This light…
This power…
IS MINE!”

He smashed the shadow with a blast of pure gold.

The shadow shattered like glass.

The darkness cracked open.

Light filled the entire space.

Kemp’s body suddenly stopped shaking.

The black energy stopped growing.

Instead—

A massive pulse of golden light burst outward.

Everyone shielded their eyes.

Sumit:
“He did it!!”

Ayon smiled through tears.

Ayon:
“Buddhist… you won!”

Kemp slowly opened his eyes.

But this time, both eyes glowed gold.

No darkness.

No corruption.

Just pure, powerful light.

He stood up slowly.

Straight.

Tall.

Strong.

His broken armor repaired itself with golden flames.

His spear became bright like the sun.

Ayon stared in awe.

Ayon:
“Kemp… you’re back.”

Kemp—now fully conscious as Buddhist inside—nodded slowly.

Kemp:
“Thank you… all of you.”

Behind them, they heard a furious roar.

The Demon King, shaking and bleeding, forced himself to stand again.

Demon King:
“HERO KEMP!!
THIS IS NOT OVER!!!”

Kemp stepped forward, spear glowing brighter than ever.

Kemp:
“No…
This time… it is.”

The next stage of the war was about to begin.