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Conqueror of the Verse
By ColdLink Writer
CHAPTER XXIX
The Silence Before the Storm
Arc 2 – The Shadow Conspiracy
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The forest did not return to normal immediately.
Even after Nytheris disappeared…
Even after the pressure vanished…
Something lingered.
A residue.
A distortion in the air that refused to fade.
Lucas stood still for a long moment, staring at the empty space where the Shadow Sovereign had been.
"…Yeah."
"…I don't like that guy."
The wind moved again.
Soft.
Careful.
As if the forest itself was afraid to make noise.
Kashihero remained silent.
His katana had already been sheathed.
The thin blood connection between his finger and the blade had disappeared.
But the effects of the battle were still visible.
The ground was broken.
Deep cracks spread across the clearing.
Trees had been cut, shattered, or completely uprooted.
And in the center—
Kashihero stood unmoving.
Lucas turned toward him.
"You're thinking again."
Kashihero didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Lucas sighed.
"You've been doing that a lot lately."
Kashihero finally looked up.
His gaze moved slowly across the forest.
"He wasn't lying."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
Kashihero spoke calmly.
"The Abyss is watching."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"…Yeah, I figured that part out."
But his expression wasn't relaxed anymore.
Because this wasn't just another enemy.
This wasn't a single organization like Hollow Sigil.
This was something much larger.
Something ancient.
Lucas scratched his chin.
"That guy called himself a Shadow Sovereign."
Kashihero nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas frowned slightly.
"I've heard of demon generals… abyss beasts… even underworld kings…"
He paused.
"But not that."
Kashihero didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he walked forward slowly.
His footsteps were quiet against the cracked earth.
Lucas followed him.
"So what do you think?"
Kashihero stopped near the edge of the clearing.
"The hierarchy of the Abyss is deeper than we assumed."
Lucas let out a low whistle.
"That's not reassuring."
Kashihero continued.
"If Demon Generals serve under Demon Kings…"
Lucas nodded.
"Yeah."
"Like Xarge."
Kashihero's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then beings like Nytheris…"
"…exist outside that structure."
Lucas blinked.
"…Wait."
"You're saying he's not even working under the Demon King?"
Kashihero shook his head.
"No."
Lucas stared at him.
"…That's worse."
Silence returned again.
The realization settled slowly.
There were factions within the Abyss.
Different powers.
Different rulers.
Different intentions.
And somehow—
Kashihero had already attracted the attention of more than one of them.
Lucas sighed heavily.
"You really don't do things halfway, do you?"
Kashihero didn't respond.
Because his focus had shifted inward.
---
The System
A faint blue light appeared in front of his eyes.
The familiar system interface.
---
[System Notification]
Energy absorption complete.
Shadow energy successfully integrated.
Carnivorous evolution stability: maintained.
---
Kashihero watched the screen calmly.
The system continued.
---
[Warning]
High-level Abyssal entities have recognized the vessel.
Threat level: Increasing.
---
Lucas leaned slightly closer.
"System again?"
Kashihero nodded.
"It's updating."
Lucas rubbed his face.
"Let me guess."
"More problems?"
Kashihero's eyes moved slightly.
"Yes."
The screen flickered once more.
---
[Authority Progress]
King of the God's Authority synchronization: 25%
New threshold unlocked.
---
Kashihero paused.
Lucas noticed immediately.
"…What?"
Kashihero didn't answer at first.
Because something deeper appeared.
---
[New Condition Detected]
External Abyssal Pressure accelerating authority growth.
---
Lucas frowned.
"That doesn't sound good."
Kashihero finally spoke.
"It means…"
He paused briefly.
"…the stronger the Abyss becomes…"
"…the faster my power evolves."
Lucas blinked.
"…That's not normal."
Kashihero closed the system window.
"No."
"It isn't."
But his expression remained calm.
Because he understood something now.
This wasn't coincidence.
This wasn't random growth.
Something—
Or someone—
Had designed it this way.
---
The Weight of Power
Lucas walked ahead slightly, kicking a small stone across the broken ground.
"So let me get this straight."
He counted on his fingers.
"Demon King Xarge is waking up."
"Shadow Sovereigns are wandering around."
"And your system is basically saying…"
"…'Hey, things are about to get worse.'"
Kashihero didn't disagree.
"Yes."
Lucas laughed quietly.
"…Fantastic."
But then his expression changed slightly.
Because something else was bothering him.
He looked back at Kashihero.
"You felt it too, right?"
Kashihero nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"That guy…"
"…Nytheris."
His voice became more serious.
"He wasn't fighting seriously."
Kashihero's gaze sharpened.
"I know."
Lucas continued.
"He was testing you."
"And he stopped…"
"…before things got dangerous."
Kashihero remained silent.
Because that was the most concerning part.
Nytheris had controlled the entire battle.
From beginning to end.
Even when Kashihero evolved mid-fight…
Even when he devoured the shadow constructs…
The Shadow Sovereign never lost control.
Lucas clenched his fist slightly.
"…I don't like enemies like that."
Kashihero turned away.
"Then we eliminate them."
Lucas smirked slightly.
"There you go."
---
Inside the Capital
Far away—
Inside the capital city—
The situation was far from calm.
The Holy Guard headquarters remained active through the night.
Torches burned along the stone walls.
Guards moved in and out of rooms, carrying reports and messages.
Inside one of the larger chambers—
Captain Darius Valen stood before a table covered in documents.
His expression was serious.
Several officers stood around him.
"The boy has already confirmed everything."
One officer spoke.
"The two individuals…"
"…they were his teachers."
Darius didn't react immediately.
Instead, he looked down at the report.
"Describe them again."
The officer nodded.
"One uses a katana."
"Black cloak."
"Extremely calm."
"High-level combat ability."
Darius's eyes shifted slightly.
"And the second?"
"White hair."
"Red eyes."
"Uses unknown demonic abilities."
The room fell silent.
Darius exhaled slowly.
"…Demonic abilities."
Another officer stepped forward.
"Captain."
"If this information is true…"
"…then those two are extremely dangerous."
Darius finally looked up.
"Yes."
He paused.
"But they also eliminated Hollow Sigil elders."
The officers exchanged glances.
"That means they are not aligned with the organization."
Darius nodded.
"Correct."
He turned toward the window.
Outside, the city lights flickered in the night.
"For now…"
"…we observe."
---
Arin
Inside a small room in the headquarters—
Arin sat quietly.
His hands rested on his knees.
His gaze was lowered.
The guards had left him alone for the night.
But he knew—
He was being watched.
They didn't trust him.
Not completely.
Arin clenched his fists slightly.
"…Teacher."
His voice was barely a whisper.
He didn't know where Kashihero and Lucas were.
He didn't know what they were doing.
But he knew one thing.
They would come.
They had to.
Arin stood up slowly.
His eyes hardened.
"I won't stay weak."
He picked up the training sword again.
And began practicing.
Again.
And again.
Even if it was clumsy.
Even if it was slow.
He kept moving.
Because for the first time in his life—
He had something worth fighting for.
---
Back in the Forest
The night grew deeper.
Lucas sat on a broken tree trunk, staring up at the sky.
The clouds had started to move.
Revealing faint stars above.
"…You think we should go back for the kid?"
Kashihero stood nearby.
"Yes."
Lucas nodded.
"Figured."
But then he smirked slightly.
"The Holy Guards won't make it easy."
Kashihero's voice remained calm.
"They won't be able to stop us."
Lucas chuckled.
"True."
But something about his tone suggested he wasn't taking it lightly.
Because this wasn't a battlefield.
This was a city.
And cities had rules.
Power alone wasn't always enough.
Lucas stood up.
"So what's the plan?"
Kashihero looked toward the distant horizon.
Where the capital stood beyond the forest.
"We wait."
Lucas blinked.
"…Wait?"
Kashihero nodded.
"For one week."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"And then?"
Kashihero's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…we take him back."
Lucas smiled.
"Simple."
But deep inside—
Both of them understood.
Nothing about this situation would be simple.
---
Somewhere in the Abyss
Far beyond the human world—
Deep within a realm of endless darkness—
A massive presence stirred.
A throne made of black stone stood in the center of a vast chamber.
Dark energy flowed around it like a storm.
And sitting upon that throne—
A shadow moved.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"…So."
"…the Devourer has appeared."
The voice was deep.
Cold.
Ancient.
It carried authority beyond comprehension.
The shadows around the throne trembled.
Because this was not a normal being.
This was something far greater.
Something sealed.
Something waiting.
The voice spoke again.
"…Interesting."
And for the first time—
Something in the Abyss had begun to pay attention.
---
Back to the Forest
The wind moved gently through the trees again.
Lucas looked toward Kashihero.
"You know…"
"This whole situation feels like the calm before something big."
Kashihero didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Lucas stretched his arms.
"Well…"
"I hope it's entertaining."
Kashihero turned slightly.
His eyes moved toward the distant capital once more.
Because everything was beginning to connect.
The Abyss.
The system.
The organization.
The city.
And at the center of it all—
Him.
The Devourer.
The vessel.
The unknown variable.
The night remained quiet.
But the tension in the air had not disappeared.
Because deep down—
They both understood something.
This silence…
Was not peace.
It was preparation.
And the terrifying question now lingered in the darkness—
When the storm finally arrives…
who will survive to witness the end ?
---End of chapter XXIX---