Chapter 20

The sky filled with dragons as they left in a panic. "WHOA, HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE FLYING!" Bad scolded as they rushed pass him and into the sky. But as he peered down, he saw the great dragon king stumbling. "Ah shit!" he cursed and was quick to rush back down again.

By the time his feet hit the ground, Bad felt something was off in an instant. "Oh good, he's here!" came a voice.

He turned and saw a man covered in the same robe, as the druid who came to the gift ceremony, yet in his hand was a silver orb. Bad felt nauseous around it as the orb floated out of the man's hands and suspended itself in mid air. "Who the hell are you? What the fuck are you doing!" Bad demanded.

He froze as the druid suddenly peered behind himself. Shadows began to form just like when Bad summons them, however, Bad felt sick at the sight. His own shadows have a light to them, showing their features and personality. These… these appeared to be wrapped and gagged. None bore a light, they were faceless, dark soldiers. "You are no longer that special… for I can do this as well…" the druid said and grinned. Suddenly black fire came over the dragon King. "To prevent its soul from leaving when the body dies… Now…" He turned his sights to the ball that floated in mid air.

"What the hell is that!?" Bad demanded.

The druid said nothing at first, but merely smiled. "Orb of Osiris, hear my call, take the power of all!"

Bad felt something leave him, his whole body drained of power as he was rendered to his knees, not just him though, the druid as well and four others that came out of nowhere. The orb itself launched into the sky as storm cloud began to form. The clouds twisted and turned in a tornado like fashion but refused to hit the ground. "What the hell did you do?" Bad demanded once more.

The druid and the other underlings recovered. The one who held the orb merely smirked. "Our master was right, you are nothing more than a foolish boy!"

Bad regained himself and stood once more. "You wanna say that again asshole!"

He smirked. "You have no idea what is about to happen. I just took away your power over death and shadows… so I will be crowned the new Shadow King!"

"Huh?" Bad muttered.

"The orb of Osiris, I kept that hidden from my own master. The old fool wanted to wait for the Shadow King to live up to his promise. I knew better though, the Shadows cannot be trusted… they can only be controlled! In order to do so, a firm hand is needed. Which is why, I will be crowned the new King! The orb decides who obtains this power, it takes into account the abilities of the users and those it took its strength from…"

"Yeah… well, that orb didn't take everything from me asshole!" Bad already began cracking his knuckles in anticipation. "I may not have my bat in hand, but I will still kick your sorry asses!"

The druid smiled, as did the others. "Such a child. He has no idea does he elder brother?" One stated.

"None, you fail to realize Metal Bat. The moment the orb returns and grants the power to those worthy, we are going to turn you into a shadow warrior. You are going to help us cleanse this land, take every viable warrior into our legions… then, we will take the supercontinent as our own! We will rule as gods!"

"Like hell that's happening," Bad said through clenched teeth. "You think being King of the Shadows means you do whatever the hell you want? You think those under your command are mindless soldiers, waiting for you to give them an order? They were all living beings!" he protested. "Proud soldiers who died in unfortunate circumstances, brave men and women who sacrificed themselves to pacify a greedy King… No… they aren't your pawns…" he said bitterly.

"You see brothers, he is far too weak to be crowned King! He has no idea what power he possessed nor how to use it to obtain everything he desires!"

"Fuck you!" Bad snapped back. "I don't want to rule to the world! I don't want to be king of the dead! You think it's all fun and games to have the world fear you, you assholes wouldn't even know how to be a proper king, let alone fathom what responsibility this is!"

"You bore me so…" the lead druid sight, just as the storm intensified. "Ah, the orb has nearly decided… it won't be long… Taking your soul will be most gratifying. Then, I will take that of your sisters… and your son!"

"Like Hell you will!" Bad charged, his fists clenched as he was ready to go toe to toe with the druid, but then, the sky roared. Rumbles of thunder filled the air as a massive bolt of lightning came down upon the six men…

#

Everything was hazy.

Slowly, the head druid apprentice woke, he look in the world around him and found the legion of shadows had gathered around him. They were all bowing respectfully, even the one what remained in a physical form. He picked himself up off the ground as his brothers soon followed. However, still passed out was Metal Bat.

The smile grew on his lips.

"I am, at last… chosen!" he said and turned to the legions. "Rise before you Master, stand tall and watch on as I make Metal Bat part of your legions!" he announced and began to make his way towards the fallen hero.

As he did though, he noticed something off.

None of the shadows moved.

"I said rise! RISE DAMN YOU!" he ordered.

No one moved, none answered his order. He sneered as he approached the one with a physical body. "YOU! STAND!" he demanded.

He peered up from his kneeling position. "I only rise on the King's command," he said coldly. "You… are no king of mine."

The Druid froze as he turned to his brothers. None bore the look of the Shadow King. Suddenly, he began to panic. Turning towards the fallen hero. Metal Bat began to come too. Slowly he picked himself up off the ground as the black mist soon began to flow off his body.

He turned. The druids froze as they found Metal Bat now had a crown of black diamonds floating over his brow…