Chapter XVII
After the Storm
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
Silence smothered the battlefield.
The awakened underworld monstrosity lay motionless at the heart of the colossal crater.
Its titanic body had been charred coal-black by infernal flames.
Cracks spiderwebbed across its armored hide like fractured obsidian.
The crimson glow in its hollow eyes dimmed… then extinguished.
The monster was dead.
A faint wind stirred.
Ash fell like gray snow.
Lucas stood near the crater's edge, quiet.
The demonic markings that had covered his skin gradually faded.
The black flames wreathing him snuffed out.
The apocalyptic pressure he had emanated settled.
Even so, the devastation was apocalyptic.
The earth had been split into gaping chasms.
Whole sections of ground had simply collapsed.
The field resembled the aftermath of a god's tantrum.
A few meters away, Kashihero stood motionless.
His spirit energy slowly stabilized.
Behind him lay the broken corpse of Seraphel Vayden, Wind Spirit Elder.
The storm domain he once commanded had vanished entirely.
Violent gales reduced to nothing.
Seraphel's body rested half-buried under shattered rock—very dead.
But the second elder…
Varkul Nocthra, Dark Spirit Elder…
was still clinging to life.
Dark blood pooled beneath him.
The shadow aura around his form flickered like a dying candle.
Lucas noticed first.
"…He's still breathing."
Kashihero turned his head slowly.
His calm, almost bored gaze settled on the dark elder.
Varkul tried to crawl.
His limbs refused.
His trembling eyes lifted to meet Kashihero's.
"…Monster…"
No reply.
Kashihero simply stepped forward.
Each footfall rang across the desolate silence.
Varkul's breathing turned ragged.
He understood.
Kashihero raised one hand.
Black energy coalesced in his palm—slow, deliberate.
Then, in a voice flat and cold:
"Carnivorous."
Living shadows erupted from the ground like black serpents.
They surged toward Varkul.
The elder's eyes blew wide with animal terror.
"No—!"
The tendrils punched through his chest, his arms, his throat.
A choked scream tore from him—then became a wet gurgle.
Dark spirit energy, memories, techniques, everything that made Varkul Nocthra Varkul Nocthra began pouring into Kashihero like ink into water.
His shadow aura shredded like torn silk.
His body rapidly disintegrated into writhing dark particles.
Within seconds, nothing remained.
Not even dust.
Only cracked, empty ground.
Lucas watched in silence.
No matter how many times he saw it, the devouring never looked less horrifying.
Kashihero closed his eyes for a brief moment.
A familiar blue window materialized.
[System Notification]
Target Devoured
Dark Spirit Elder – Varkul Nocthra
Abilities Acquired:
• Abyss Domain
• Shadow Chains
• Dark Spirit Manipulation
Spirit Energy Absorbed
(Minor increase – negligible relative to current total)
The dark power rippled through Kashihero's body—then settled.
The window vanished.
Lucas spoke quietly.
"You left the wind one intact."
Kashihero glanced at Seraphel's corpse.
"Wind abilities hold no value for me."
Lucas gave a small nod.
Obvious, really.
At that moment both of them turned their heads in the same direction.
"…Someone's coming," Lucas said.
Kashihero felt it too.
Multiple powerful presences—approaching fast from the capital.
Spirit users.
Likely the Capital Holy Guards.
Lucas asked, calm as ever,
"Erase the evidence?"
Kashihero shook his head once.
"No."
He looked toward the distant spires of the capital.
"This battlefield is the message."
Lucas understood instantly.
One elder's corpse left behind.
The other erased from existence.
Hollow Sigil would be forced to react—and every reaction would expose them.
Kashihero's eyes narrowed faintly.
"The next moves happen in the shadows."
Lucas's lips curved in the barest smile.
"…The Shadow Conspiracy."
A teleportation circle shimmered into existence beneath their feet.
"Let's go."
Light flared.
They vanished.
The Arrival of the Holy Guards
Armored riders thundered across the open plain.
Silver plate gleaming with the crest of the Capital Holy Guard.
At their head rode Captain Darius Valen, tall and stern.
Behind him—Arin, gripping the saddle so tightly his knuckles whitened.
Please be safe…
The company crested the final rise.
And froze.
The devastation stole every breath.
Cratered earth.
Burned-black scars stretching hundreds of meters.
The air still reeked of sulfur and ozone.
Darius dismounted slowly.
"…Impossible."
He advanced.
His gaze locked on the enormous corpse in the crater.
Even dead, the underworld beast radiated malice.
One soldier whispered hoarsely,
"What is that thing…?"
Darius didn't answer.
His eyes swept farther.
Then he saw it.
A body—half-crushed beneath rubble.
He approached.
And stopped dead.
"…Seraphel Vayden."
Gasps rippled through the ranks.
Everyone knew that name.
One of the most wanted Elders of Hollow Sigil.
Darius's expression turned thunderous.
If Seraphel died here…
Then the rumors were more than rumors.
Hollow Sigil had moved right under the capital's nose.
He turned sharply.
"Seal this entire field. No one touches anything until investigators arrive."
"Yes, Captain!"
Arin stepped forward alone.
His eyes searched the ruined landscape.
No sign of Kashihero.
No sign of Lucas.
They were already gone.
Arin lowered his head slightly.
"…Teacher."
He didn't know where they had gone.
But one thing was certain.
This battle had ended.
Something far larger—and far darker—was only just beginning.
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
Begins.