The Shadow That Hunts Kings

Chapter 7: The Shadow That Hunts Kings

The street trembled again.

But this time the vibration felt different.

Heavier.

Darker.

Like something ancient had just awakened beneath the city.

Ethan felt the strange power inside his chest react instantly. His heart began pounding harder, and the silver glow in his eyes flickered slightly.

The Alpha Hunter stepped backward.

A low growl rumbled in its throat.

Fear.

The massive creature was afraid.

Ethan had never seen anything like it.

“What is happening?” he asked.

Lucian’s golden eyes remained fixed on the dark skyline.

His usual calm expression had disappeared.

Now he looked serious.

Very serious.

“That,” Lucian said quietly, “is something we should not be here to meet.”

Raven stepped closer to Ethan.

“Lucian,” she said sharply, “what did you feel?”

Lucian slowly exhaled.

“Death.”

Ethan blinked.

“Death?”

Lucian looked at him.

“Specifically…”

His voice lowered.

“The kind that hunts Alpha Kings.”

Ethan’s stomach twisted.

“Okay, I officially hate this night.”

The Alpha Hunter suddenly turned toward the far end of the street.

Its massive body lowered slightly.

Defensive.

The two smaller Hunters moved closer to Ethan as well, forming a protective circle around him.

Lucian noticed this and raised an eyebrow.

“Well,” he said softly, “that’s not a good sign.”

Raven’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ve seen this before.”

Lucian nodded once.

“Only once.”

“And?”

His golden gaze darkened.

“And the Alpha King died.”

The words hung in the air like ice.

Ethan swallowed hard.

“Great.”

Then it happened.

The streetlights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then every light along the road exploded.

Glass rained down as darkness swallowed the street.

The only light left came from Raven’s faint blue energy and Ethan’s glowing silver eyes.

Something moved at the far end of the road.

Slowly.

A shape emerging from the shadows.

At first Ethan couldn’t see it clearly.

Then lightning flashed across the sky.

And for a brief moment…

He saw it.

The creature was tall.

Taller than any human.

Its body was thin and unnatural, covered in black armor-like skin that seemed to absorb the light around it.

Long claws dragged slowly across the pavement as it walked forward.

But its face…

Its face looked almost human.

Except for the eyes.

They were completely black.

No glow.

No light.

Just endless darkness.

The Alpha Hunter let out a deep warning growl.

The creature stopped walking.

Its head tilted slightly.

Like it was studying Ethan.

Lucian sighed softly.

“Well.”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

“That’s unfortunate.”

Ethan stared at the thing approaching them.

“What… is that?”

Lucian answered calmly.

“That is called a Reaper.”

Raven’s voice became sharp immediately.

“There shouldn’t be one here.”

Lucian nodded.

“Agreed.”

Ethan frowned.

“And what exactly does a Reaper do?”

Lucian glanced at him.

“It kills Alpha Kings.”

The creature suddenly disappeared.

Ethan blinked.

“What—”

Before he could finish—

BOOM.

The Reaper appeared directly in front of the Alpha Hunter.

Its claw moved faster than Ethan’s eyes could follow.

The Alpha Hunter roared in pain as the creature’s blade-like claws slashed across its armored chest.

The massive beast crashed into the street, sliding across the pavement.

Raven gasped.

“That armor can stop tank shells…”

Lucian’s voice remained calm.

“Not against a Reaper.”

The creature slowly turned its head.

Its empty black eyes locked onto Ethan.

Ethan felt the strange power inside him react violently.

The ancient voice whispered again.

Enemy.

The Reaper stepped forward.

Raven immediately jumped between it and Ethan, her blue blade igniting again.

“Stay back!” she shouted.

The Reaper didn’t slow down.

Raven attacked.

Her glowing blade sliced through the air with incredible speed.

But the Reaper simply raised its arm.

CLANG.

The blade struck its dark armor.

No damage.

The creature grabbed Raven’s wrist.

Her eyes widened.

The Reaper lifted her off the ground like she weighed nothing.

Ethan shouted.

“RAVEN!”

Lucian moved instantly.

For the first time since meeting him, the playful expression on his face disappeared completely.

His golden eyes burned like fire.

He vanished.

Then reappeared behind the Reaper.

His fist slammed into the creature’s side with explosive force.

BOOM.

The Reaper was thrown across the street, crashing through a parked car.

Lucian caught Raven as she fell.

“You really need to work on your timing,” he muttered.

Raven glared at him.

“Shut up.”

Across the street, the wrecked car slowly shifted.

Metal bent outward.

The Reaper stepped out.

Completely unharmed.

Lucian sighed.

“Of course.”

The creature looked back at Ethan again.

Ignoring everyone else.

It began walking toward him once more.

Lucian’s expression darkened.

“That thing won’t stop until you’re dead.”

Ethan’s chest tightened.

“Then how do we stop it?”

Lucian glanced at him.

“You don’t.”

Ethan blinked.

“What?”

Lucian’s golden eyes locked onto his silver ones.

“You’re the Alpha King.”

Ethan frowned.

“So?”

Lucian smirked slightly.

“So start acting like one.”

The Reaper suddenly rushed forward again.

Faster than before.

Straight for Ethan.

Raven shouted.

“ETHAN!”

But Ethan didn’t run this time.

The strange power inside him surged violently.

The ancient voice roared in his mind.

COMMAND.

His silver eyes exploded with light.

“STOP!”

The word echoed across the street like thunder.

Every monster froze instantly.

The two Hunters.

The wounded Alpha Hunter.

Even the Reaper.

The creature stopped only a few feet from Ethan.

Its claw hovered inches from his chest.

The entire world felt still.

Ethan stared directly into the creature’s empty black eyes.

His voice was shaking.

But firm.

“You don’t touch me.”

The Reaper trembled.

Lucian’s golden eyes widened slightly.

“Well…”

He chuckled softly.

“That’s new.”

The creature slowly lowered its arm.

But its black eyes never left Ethan.

Like it was fighting against an invisible chain.

Ethan’s breathing was heavy.

The power inside him felt wild.

Unstable.

Lucian studied him carefully.

“You’re stronger than I expected.”

Ethan didn’t look away from the Reaper.

“Yeah?”

Lucian smiled slightly.

“But you’re still not strong enough.”

Ethan frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Lucian pointed behind him.

Ethan slowly turned.

His heart nearly stopped.

Because at the far end of the street…

Another Reaper had appeared.

Then another.

Then a third.

Three more dark figures stepped out of the shadows.

Their black eyes fixed on Ethan.

Lucian sighed again.

“Oh.”

He folded his arms.

“Now that…”

His golden eyes glowed.

“…is a problem.”