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Conqueror of the Verse
By ColdLink Writer
CHAPTER XXVI
The Hunter in the Dark
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
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The branch snapped.
It was a small sound.
So small that under normal circumstances it would have been ignored.
But the forest was too quiet.
Too still.
In that unnatural silence, the sound echoed like a signal.
Lucas stopped chewing his roasted meat and slowly lifted his head.
His crimson eyes sharpened as he looked toward the darkness between the trees.
The pale moonlight barely reached that part of the forest.
Tall trunks formed thick shadows that twisted across the ground like dark claws.
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"…Well."
"That doesn't sound friendly."
Kashihero had already drawn his katana.
The blade gleamed faintly under the moonlight.
His expression remained calm, but his gaze was locked on the darkness.
Lucas stood up and stretched his shoulders.
"You think it's another demon?"
Kashihero didn't answer.
But he was listening carefully.
The air carried a strange scent.
Faint.
But unmistakable.
Blood.
Lucas noticed it too.
"…Something definitely died nearby."
A low wind moved through the trees.
The branches rustled quietly.
Then—
Movement.
Something large shifted within the shadows.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"Oh?"
The next moment—
A massive figure dropped from the trees.
The impact shook the ground.
Dust and leaves scattered across the clearing.
Lucas blinked once.
"…Okay."
"That's new."
The creature slowly rose to its full height.
It was enormous.
At least three meters tall.
Its body was covered in thick black fur that looked almost like smoke drifting across its muscles.
Long claws extended from its hands.
Each one curved like a blade.
Its jaw opened slightly, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
And its eyes…
Burned with deep crimson light.
The creature growled.
The sound rolled through the forest like distant thunder.
Lucas rubbed his chin.
"That thing looks angry."
But something about the monster looked wrong.
Its body was covered in wounds.
Deep cuts.
Fresh blood.
One of its shoulders had been torn open.
Lucas's expression changed slightly.
"…Hold on."
He stepped closer, observing the wounds carefully.
"These cuts aren't random."
Kashihero nodded.
"Yes."
The injuries were clean.
Precise.
Sharp enough to cut through thick monster hide.
Lucas frowned.
"Someone attacked this thing."
The monster roared suddenly.
Its body lunged forward.
The ground cracked beneath its weight.
Lucas jumped backward.
"Well, there goes the conversation."
The creature swung its claws downward.
But Kashihero moved first.
His katana flashed.
A precise slash cut across the monster's arm.
Blood sprayed across the forest floor.
The monster howled.
Lucas whistled.
"Nice."
But the creature was relentless.
It attacked again immediately.
Claws tore through the air with brutal force.
Kashihero blocked the strike.
The collision sent a shockwave through the clearing.
Leaves exploded into the air.
Lucas stepped back further.
"…This thing is stronger than normal forest monsters."
Kashihero pushed the creature away with a powerful motion.
The monster stumbled several meters backward.
It roared again.
But this time something else appeared in its glowing eyes.
Fear.
Lucas noticed it immediately.
"…Wait."
"Why does it look scared?"
The creature stared at Kashihero.
Then it looked past him.
Toward the deeper forest behind them.
Its entire body trembled.
Lucas slowly turned his head in the same direction.
"…Oh."
"That's not good."
The forest had gone silent again.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Something was walking toward them.
Lucas crossed his arms.
"Well…"
"Looks like the real problem is arriving."
The monster heard the footsteps too.
Its entire body froze.
Then suddenly—
The massive creature turned around.
And ran.
It fled into the forest without hesitation.
Lucas stared after it.
"…Did the monster just run away?"
The footsteps continued.
Closer.
Closer.
The darkness between the trees shifted.
Then a figure stepped into the moonlight.
Lucas's expression changed immediately.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The being looked almost human.
But something about it felt deeply wrong.
Its body was tall and slender.
Black armor covered it completely.
The armor itself seemed alive.
Dark mist leaked slowly from its surface.
And behind it…
Two enormous wings unfolded.
They were not made of flesh.
They were formed from shadow itself.
Long streams of darkness flowed from them like smoke.
The creature's face was hidden behind a dark mask.
Only its eyes were visible.
Two faint violet lights burned behind the mask.
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"…That's worse."
Kashihero felt it too.
This presence was different.
It was heavier than the monster.
Even heavier than the Demon General they met the night before.
The air around the being seemed to distort.
As if the forest itself rejected its existence.
Lucas muttered quietly.
"Kashihero…"
"That thing feels worse than the demon."
The winged figure stopped several meters away.
It observed the clearing silently.
Then it spoke.
Its voice was calm.
But carried a strange echo.
"So…"
"…the Devourer truly exists."
Lucas groaned.
"Great."
"Another one."
The being tilted its head slightly.
Its violet eyes remained fixed on Kashihero.
"I have been searching this forest all night."
Its voice echoed softly.
"And it seems…"
"…my hunt was not in vain."
Lucas sighed loudly.
"I really hate that word."
The creature stepped forward slowly.
Its shadow wings spread wider behind its back.
Dark energy drifted from them like fog.
"My name is Nytheris."
The name sounded ancient.
Cold.
Lucas frowned.
"That sounds like trouble."
Nytheris continued calmly.
"I am a Shadow Sovereign of the Abyss."
Lucas blinked.
"…Okay."
"That sounds like a lot of responsibility."
The being ignored him.
Its violet gaze studied Kashihero carefully.
"The Demon Generals have already noticed your existence."
Its voice remained calm.
"But they are not the only ones watching."
Lucas scratched his head.
"Fantastic."
Kashihero stepped forward slowly.
His katana rested calmly in his hand.
Nytheris's gaze followed the movement.
"The Devourer."
The name echoed softly again.
"An existence that consumes power itself."
Lucas whispered quietly.
"…Yeah he does that."
The shadow wings behind Nytheris slowly moved.
"The Abyss is curious about you."
Lucas rolled his eyes.
"That's comforting."
Nytheris raised one hand.
Dark energy gathered around his fingers.
"Therefore…"
"…I have come to measure your worth."
Lucas sighed.
"Why does everyone want to measure him?"
Kashihero suddenly smiled.
It was small.
But unmistakable.
Lucas noticed it instantly.
"…Oh."
"That smile means something stupid is about to happen."
Kashihero lifted his katana slowly.
A thin line of blood appeared across his finger.
The blood touched the blade.
Instantly a faint crimson line connected the weapon and his hand.
Lucas groaned.
"You're doing the thing again."
Kashihero's voice was calm.
But there was excitement hidden within it.
"Perfect."
Nytheris's violet eyes narrowed slightly.
"Perfect?"
Kashihero looked directly at the shadow sovereign.
Then he spoke quietly.
"…It is the perfect time."
Lucas sighed.
"I knew it."
Kashihero's smile widened slightly.
"…to test those old geezer elders' powers I devoured."
The forest wind rose suddenly.
Darkness and steel collided in the silent clearing.
And the terrifying question now lingered in the air—
Had the hunter just challenged the one creature the Abyss should never have provoked?
---End of chapter XXVI---