Chapter 4 — Awakening of the Shadow
The hall was silent.
Kaien's body lay still on the cold floor, a pool of blood beneath him.
The blue blade of Jin Ryuzen, the A+ rank hero, still glowed faintly.
For a moment, it seemed like everything had ended.
Then, something dark and alive crawled out from Kaien's chest — a moving shadow, twisting like smoke.
Jin tightened his grip on his sword.
"So this is the real monster…"
The dark liquid spread across the floor, avoiding the hero's every move.
It wasn't just energy — it was alive.
> Shadow: "You think you can capture me… boy?"
Jin's eyes widened. "You can talk?"
> Shadow: "I can do more than that."
The liquid suddenly rushed back into Kaien's body.
A wave of dark light filled the room as the wound on Kaien's chest began to heal.
The sound of a heartbeat echoed — slow at first, then stronger.
> Shadow: "Dark skill — Abyssal Rebirth."
Kaien's eyes opened — but they weren't his own anymore.
Purple fire burned inside them. His voice had changed too — deeper, colder.
> Shadow (in Kaien's body): "He's alive… but sleeping. I'll take care of things for now."
Jin stepped back. "Get out of his body!"
> Shadow: "You're the son of Ryusei, aren't you? The great hero leader. I wonder if he told you the truth about the first demon war."
Jin's jaw tightened. "Enough! You're going back to hell!"
He charged forward, his sword glowing bright blue.
Shadow raised his arm, and a blade made of black flame formed from his hand.
Their blades clashed — blue and purple sparks lighting up the entire hall.
The ground cracked, and walls exploded from the pressure of their attacks.
> Jin: "You fight like a demon!"
> Shadow: "That's because I am one."
Jin swung again and again, but Shadow blocked each strike with ease.
He was faster, stronger — like he already knew every move Jin would make.
> Shadow (calmly): "You fight with pride… but no purpose."
He pushed Jin back with one heavy strike, sending him sliding across the floor.
Jin's hand trembled, his sword covered in cracks.
> Jin (breathing hard): "I'll stop you… even if it costs my life!"
> Shadow (smiling slightly): "You already lost it."
Dark fire gathered around Shadow's hand again — forming a sword even darker than before.
> Shadow: "Dark Flame Style — Bitter Blade."
He dashed forward faster than lightning.
Jin tried to block, but Shadow's power broke through his guard.
The impact sent a massive shockwave through the room. The lights shattered, the walls burned black.
When the smoke cleared, Jin was lying still on the ground, his sword broken beside him.
> Shadow (quietly): "Rest, child of Ryusei… Your pain ends here."
He turned away and walked out of the ruined base, his dark flames fading as he stepped into the night.
---
A few kilometers away, Shadow stopped when he saw a small group of D-class heroes fighting a bunch of low-level demons.
The heroes were losing — until a blur of purple light rushed past them.
In one second, all the demons were gone.
Only ashes remained.
The D-class heroes froze, their weapons shaking.
> Hero 1: "What… what just happened?"
Hero 2: "Was that a hero… or a monster?"
Shadow smiled faintly under the moonlight and disappeared into the darkness.
---
Meanwhile, inside the Hero Association Headquarters, alarms rang through the building.
Inside the meeting room, Dr. Ryusei — the leader — sat with his five S+ Rank Elite Squad members and the Co-Leader, Akihiko Tanaka.
The air was tense.
> Akihiko: "Jin is gone… Shadow killed him."
Ryusei's fists trembled, but his voice stayed calm.
"Then we prepare for war."
He looked at the five elite heroes sitting around the table:
1. Kaito Ren — Fire power, Captain of the Elite Squad
2. Tatsuo Hayama — Air power
3. Riku Sazama — Ice power
4. Aya Kuroba — Earth power
5. Mizuki Reina — Water power
> Ryusei: "You five will lead the hunt for Shadow. He's inside a human body — Kaien Arashi. But he's no normal human anymore."
> Kaito (serious): "If he really carries the power of the first Dragon Emperor… this will not be a normal mission."
> Akihiko: "We don't have a choice. If Shadow keeps growing, not even an S+ rank will be enough."
Ryusei stood up. His eyes glowed with determination — and pain.
> Ryusei: "Shadow… you took my son. Now, I'll take everything from you."
Outside the building, thunder rumbled.
Far away, in the darkness of the night, Shadow stopped walking.
He smiled — as if he had heard those words.
> Shadow (quietly): "Then come, Ryusei. Let's see whose darkness burns brighter."
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To Be Continued…