Chapter 203: Shadow Monarch

Chapter 203: Shadow Monarch

The Tower of Shadows, known by many names throughout its incarnations, housed a unique ability exclusive to the Kuro Clan Head. This inherited power grew stronger with each generation, ensuring the Kuro Clan's status as one of the greatest for many ages.

As I drew closer to the Tower of Shadows, its appearance became clearer. It resembled a rubbery shadow, with hands, faces, and even whole bodies protruding from its surface, as if attempting to escape. However, they could only elongate the shadows and were unable to break free.

An overwhelming sense of despair emanated from the tower, causing one's knees to buckle.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

The existence of the soul was a complex question, yet every Kuro Clan Head who inherited this ability entered into a Life Contract, not unlike mine. Their souls would be trapped and tormented within the tower for eternity after their passing.

However, before I could ponder this further, darkness began to seep out from the tower. Ordinarily, using a flashbang talisman would be a weakness for any Kuro Clan member. But the Kuro Clan Head represented the epitome of the clan's ability, nullifying this weakness. The darkness created within the tower was pure Ord, unaffected by light.

Creating shadows from Ord or any other element required an immense amount of power. Yet, the Kuro Clan Head possessed almost an endless supply of Ord, effortlessly producing more and more shadows.

In an attempt to evade the encroaching shadows, I leaped onto a nearby tree. But my efforts were in vain, as darkness blanketed the vast fields. The tree beneath me, as well as those surrounding it, groaned and gradually succumbed to the consuming darkness.

I found myself in a perilous situation with no solid ground beneath me, and the castle itself shrouded in darkness. Only the Kuro Clan Head could stand safely amidst this chaotic shadow. His intense gaze directed at me instilled a sense of intimidation, despite all that I had endured.

Crouching down, I propelled myself upward, yet the tree gave way. The darkness from the ground transformed into sharp projectiles, aimed directly at me.

{Perfect Me}

With a display of mid-air acrobatics, I managed to evade all the projectiles, sustaining only a minor scratch on my shoulder. However, as I descended towards the darkened ground, a platform of water rose up and caught me, allowing me to regain my footing. Simultaneously, Perfect Me deactivated.

The Clan Head interlocked his fingers, intensifying the surrounding Ord. Suddenly, a shadow bulged and transformed into an egg the size of a castle. The egg 'popped,' revealing a colossal golem made of shadows. The creature swung its hand down towards me, making me feel as insignificant as a bug.

I sensed the wind long before the attack would land, and the aftershock of the impending hit was powerful enough to push me back.

It was absurd how little effort the Kuro Clan Head had put forth during the war. Even compared to his Manga standard, he hadn't displayed his true strength. Despite humanity being on the verge of defeat, did he have a secret plan in mind? Maybe the Kuro Clan had connections outside the barrier, just like the Raion Clan.

If that attack landed, my fate was sealed!

My singnal spread through my Ord, sending a signal to Carpy. The barrier above me shattered. A colossal water blade, capable of severing the shadow giant's arm, rained down. However, the shadow entity promptly regenerated its limb and punched towards Carpy, who had barged in through the barrier.

Carpy attempted to block the attack with its tail, but it proved futile as it was effortlessly pushed back and slammed into the barrier. I leaped from the water platform, intending to reach Carpy, but before I could, shadow spikes shot up from the ground.

But when the Shadow Tower came into play, it would supercharge every one of their special abilities, taking them to a whole other level.

As I pondered the tower's durability, another idea formed in my mind. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the senses around me. The Kuro Clan Head shot shadow spikes and attempted to have his shadow giant attack me, I couldn't fully focus to execute my plan. However, that didn't matter.

{Perfect Me}

In an instant, my senses expanded, and it felt as if my mind had transformed into a supercomputer. Water blades swiftly sliced the shadow giant in half, tearing it apart, while a condensed water shield defended me from the shadow projectile.

Simultaneously, I located the whereabouts of all the wine in the castle. Detecting the largest concentration of people, I directed the wine toward the individual with the lowest Ord.

On the corner of their room was a glass with wine, and the prince met his demise by a wine arrow to his throat. The Kuro Clan Head spun around, his eyes widening as they fixated on the castle. As a Blaster, he no doubt sensed what had happened.

"It appears I do have some degree of subtlety," I remarked, as Perfect Me deactivated after fulfilling its tasks.

The Kuro Clan Head glanced at me, his dark eyes filled with malevolent coldness. However, I knew that beneath his demeanor, he was capable of drawing logical conclusions. After all, that was the kind of person he was. With his target eliminated, there was no reason for him to continue fighting me. He wouldnt gain anything from it.

"Now that we are no longer on opposing sides, how about we work together?" I proposed.

Unexpectedly, the Kuro Clan Head remained unmoved, his Ord intensifying even further. "You seem arrogantly convinced that you have unraveled all the plans of my clan. But you are far less intelligent than you think you are, boy."

"Hmmm, is that so?" I hummed, maintaining a smile. Revealing weakness at this point would be unwise, so I pressed on. "I see now, you aim to eliminate both my clan and the Raion Clan simultaneously. Or perhaps your scheme involves supporting another member of the royal family while keeping your options open."

Though his expression remained inscrutable, his flickering Ord provided enough indication that my guess was likely correct. That was the drawback of having so much Ord due to the tower, a human couldnt control all that energy. Unless they had Perfect Me, of course.

Ord was an energy of emotion, and that was both good and bad in some cases. Because with emotional flunctuations, Ord would flicker too.

These people, always scheming something. I had only thrown the accusation haphazardly to try and test his reaction, but it seemed to be true. "What a pity. I thought we could join hands and be good friends."

My attempt at humor appeared unappreciated as his Ord skyrocketed, and he unleashed his full power. Without the need to protect the prince, he unleashed his true might.

He had no need to have the shadows around and gathered them around him. Concentrating his Ord, he conjured a towering shadow giant, its head reaching the sky, while he stood atop the creature's shoulder.

Ah, feck...