Page 101 of Son of Shadows

The boy didn’t slow down at all.

Great. We’re all going to be slaughtered.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Ryuichi ran up to his father, who was locked in battle with Orochi, struggling to fight back. The left side of his armor was covered in blood. At the rate he was going, Ryukage wouldn’t last much longer.

“Get out of here,” his father shouted as soon as he saw his son.

“Sorry. Can’t do that.”

He wasn’t about to allow his father to die. They might not have the closest relationship, but they’d lose their second chance if Ryukage didn’t make it.

Ryuichi sneaked up behind him. “Do you trust me?”

His father hesitated, and that gutted him. “I trust you.”

He shoved his disappointment down. “When I tell you to, I need you and Masaru to hit Orochi as hard as you can.”

“I’ve been doing that!”

True. “But wait until I tell you to.”

Ignoring their doubtful looks, Ryuichi used his inherited powers to open a large portal behind the snake.

To summon a gate, especially one of this scale from nothing. It was one of the hardest things to do, and Ryuichi hadn’t trained enough for this to be easy.

The negative voices inside his mind started harassing him.

This won’t work. You’re too weak.

He was done listening to that part of him that didn’t believe he could be anything but an outsider and a failure.

“I am enough!” he roared.

Mahōtsukai Ryuichi. Son of a goddess. Son of a king. He could do this.

He’d been born for it.

His blood rushed through his veins, making his ears ring.

The moment he began to speak, Orochi abandoned his battle with Ryukage and moved toward Ryuichi. He understood what Ryuichi intended to do.

Still, Ryuichi chanted.

A fierce wind began to blow across the field, as strong as a typhoon, causing the soldiers on both sides to panic.

I am Mahōtsukai Ryuichi!

It wasn’t just enough to say it, he believed it. For the first time, he really did believe in his destiny.

Dying on this field was not the end of his story.

“Stop or I will kill you!” Orochi bellowed.

Ryuichi ignored him.

As the sky darkened, a swirl of light formed in the air behind Orochi. It was working! He could feel it deep inside his body and soul.