Conqueror of the Verse
By ColdLink Writer
CHAPTER XXVII
The Devourer's First Hunt
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
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The forest wind howled through the clearing.
Dark mist drifted from the shadow wings of Nytheris, spreading across the ground like living fog.
Lucas stepped back slowly, giving space between himself and the battlefield.
His crimson eyes moved between the two figures standing in the clearing.
On one side—
The Shadow Sovereign of the Abyss.
On the other—
Kashihero.
Lucas sighed quietly.
"Well…"
"…this is definitely not a normal night."
Kashihero stood calmly with his katana in his hand.
A thin crimson line connected his finger to the blade.
The blood link shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
Nytheris observed the phenomenon silently.
Its violet eyes glowed with quiet curiosity.
"A blood-bound weapon."
Its voice echoed like a whisper across the trees.
Lucas scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah."
"He does that."
Nytheris raised one hand slowly.
Dark energy gathered around its fingers.
The shadows on the forest floor began twisting unnaturally.
"You intend to fight me."
The statement was calm.
Not a question.
Kashihero lifted the katana slightly.
"Yes."
Lucas rubbed his temples.
"Straight to the point as always."
The shadow sovereign tilted its head.
"You are confident."
Kashihero's expression didn't change.
"No."
Lucas blinked.
"…That's new."
Kashihero continued calmly.
"But I am curious."
Nytheris seemed intrigued.
"Curious?"
Kashihero's gaze sharpened.
"To see how strong the Abyss truly is."
For a brief moment…
Silence returned to the forest.
Then Nytheris laughed.
The sound was soft.
Cold.
Amused.
"You speak boldly for a mortal."
Lucas coughed lightly.
"Technically… he's not exactly normal."
The shadow wings behind Nytheris expanded slowly.
Dark energy rolled outward like a wave.
The forest trembled.
Animals hidden deep in the trees fled in terror.
"You devour power."
Nytheris spoke calmly.
"But devouring power is meaningless if you cannot survive long enough to use it."
Kashihero didn't reply.
Instead—
He moved.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as his body shot forward.
His katana flashed.
A sharp arc of steel cut through the air.
Nytheris reacted instantly.
The shadow sovereign raised its arm.
A blade formed from pure darkness.
CLANG.
Steel collided with shadow.
The impact sent a shockwave across the clearing.
Leaves exploded into the air.
Lucas whistled.
"That was fast."
Nytheris slid back slightly.
Its violet eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
Kashihero attacked again.
Three rapid strikes followed.
Each one faster than the last.
But Nytheris blocked them effortlessly.
Shadow blades formed and dissolved in its hands like liquid darkness.
Lucas folded his arms.
"…Okay."
"That thing is strong."
Nytheris suddenly counterattacked.
Its wings moved once.
Instantly the creature vanished.
Kashihero barely raised his blade in time.
BOOM.
A powerful strike slammed into him.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
Dust exploded across the clearing.
Lucas stepped back further.
"Yeah…"
"…that's definitely worse than the demon general."
Kashihero slid across the ground several meters before stopping.
Nytheris landed softly nearby.
"You are slower than expected."
Lucas laughed loudly.
"He just started!"
But something had changed.
Kashihero slowly lifted his head.
His eyes had grown colder.
Because the Carnivorous skill had awakened.
The faint hunger spread through his body again.
Nytheris noticed it immediately.
"…Ah."
The shadow sovereign spoke quietly.
"There it is."
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
Nytheris pointed slightly toward Kashihero.
"The instinct of the Devourer."
The air around Kashihero began shifting.
The blood line connecting his finger and the katana glowed brighter.
Lucas smirked slightly.
"Oh."
"Now it's getting fun."
Kashihero lifted his katana again.
This time—
Energy flowed through the blade.
Not his own power.
But something older.
Something he had taken from another.
Nytheris felt it immediately.
Its violet eyes narrowed further.
"That power…"
Kashihero spoke quietly.
"The elders from Hollow Sigil."
Lucas grinned.
"Remember those old guys?"
"Yeah."
"He ate them."
Nytheris studied the energy flowing around the blade.
"…Devoured abilities."
Kashihero moved again.
This time his speed doubled.
The katana cut downward.
A wave of sharp energy followed the strike.
Nytheris blocked the attack.
But the impact pushed the shadow sovereign several steps backward.
Lucas clapped slowly.
"Nice."
Nytheris looked at its arm.
A thin crack had appeared across the dark armor.
For the first time—
The being seemed surprised.
"You have grown stronger than expected."
Kashihero didn't respond.
He attacked again.
This time the blade carried a different force.
A sharp burst of compressed energy exploded forward.
Nytheris reacted instantly.
Its wings spread wide.
A wall of shadows appeared in front of it.
BOOM.
The impact shattered several nearby trees.
Lucas stepped back again.
"…Alright."
"That was impressive."
But Nytheris was still standing.
The shadow sovereign lowered its wings slowly.
Its armor had cracked slightly in several places.
But its aura remained powerful.
"You are worthy of attention."
Lucas muttered.
"That's probably not a compliment."
Nytheris raised one hand again.
Dark energy gathered rapidly.
The shadows of the forest responded instantly.
The ground beneath Kashihero suddenly erupted.
Dozens of shadow spears shot upward.
Kashihero moved quickly.
His blade cut through the attacks with precise movements.
But the assault continued.
Nytheris stepped forward calmly.
"You grow stronger through battle."
The shadow sovereign's voice echoed softly.
"Then let us see how far you can evolve."
The forest darkened.
Shadow energy spread across the clearing.
Lucas's expression changed.
"…That's not good."
Nytheris lifted both arms.
The darkness behind it condensed into massive wings of shadow.
"You wished to test your devoured powers."
Its violet eyes burned brighter.
"Then test them against the Abyss."
The forest trembled violently.
Kashihero stood in the center of the clearing.
His katana glowing faintly.
The hunger inside him growing stronger.
Lucas whispered quietly.
"Careful, Kashihero…"
"Something tells me that thing still isn't serious."
Nytheris spread its wings completely.
Darkness swallowed the moonlight above the clearing.
The shadow sovereign's voice echoed through the forest.
"Show me, Devourer."
"…how much power you can truly consume."
Kashihero slowly smiled again.
And the terrifying thought crossed Lucas's mind—
Because every time Kashihero smiled like that…
someone always ended up being devoured.
---End of chapter XXVII---