Office note
This is to make up for the terribleness and messiness of the last chapter
It's better I promise
Far from the demon realm, distant from the ordinary world of 2015, beyond anything within planet Earth's boundaries—
Six figures stood on a vast rocky planet. Crimson sand stretched beneath their feet, while the sky blazed yellowish-red above them. They formed a circle, each man's gaze locked on the others. The air hung heavy with tension, thick enough to taste.
"Do you truly believe this is necessary?" Lion demanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade through silk. His jaw clenched as he surveyed his companions. "Do you think this must be done?"
"Of course I do," another shot back, stepping forward with barely restrained urgency. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from the weight of what they faced. "The Church of the Black Serpent has spiraled out of control. They seek to destroy everything—including the realms of the Ancients. While the Ancients are powerful, far more powerful than we gods, the Church represents something else entirely. Something darker, more insidious." He paused, letting his words sink in. "If they resurrect their God before ending the world, we're all dead."
"Then what do you suggest?" Lion's eyes narrowed dangerously, golden flecks dancing in his irises.
"We should aid those destined to stop the Church," one of them proposed, his voice carrying the weight of conviction. "Those who will confront the old man and his followers. That madman has been causing catastrophic problems for far too long."
"Indeed," Lion spat, bitterness coating every syllable, "but how do we help them? We cannot alert the Ancients that we're interfering with mortal affairs. They've made their position clear on divine intervention."
"You could assume your mortal form," one suggested, his tone almost mocking, a slight smirk playing at the corner of his mouth, "and assist them yourself."
"Absolutely not!" Lion's voice thundered across the barren landscape, sending ripples through the crimson sand. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white with fury. "You think that's wise? My mortal form is strong, but my divine form is exponentially stronger. If I descend to Earth, the demon realm, the dragon realm—any realm—in mortal form, I'm vulnerable. Exposed." He drew a sharp breath, composing himself slightly. "The only realms I dare not enter are the Shadow and Beast realms. That would be suicide. If any of you wish to go, I won't stop you. But I refuse to risk myself or my precious weapons for mortals to wield."
"Lion, please—" one began, reaching out a placating hand.
"I don't want to go either," Lion interrupted sharply, turning his back on the gesture. His shoulders remained rigid with defiance. "So how about we simply observe? If things deteriorate beyond control, then we interfere. Not before."
"Lion."
He spun around at the sound of his name, the single word carrying an otherworldly quality that made his spine stiffen. The other five remained silent, their expressions confused, eyes darting between one another in search of the speaker.
"Did any of you speak?" Lion's suspicion flared, his hand instinctively moving toward where his weapon would materialize.
"No," they replied in unison, genuine bewilderment etched across their faces. "We're merely contemplating your words."
Lion turned slowly to find a woman with raven-black hair and obsidian eyes staring at him with unsettling intensity. Her presence seemed to absorb the light around her, creating a subtle darkness that clung to her form like a living shadow.
"You must go, Lion," she said, her voice carrying an edge of command that brooked no argument. Each word fell like a stone into still water. "Or everything will spiral beyond redemption."
"Cecilia?" Disbelief colored his tone, followed quickly by wariness. His eyes widened slightly before narrowing again. "How did you travel here from the Ancient realm? You were conversing with them moments ago. How could you arrive so swiftly?"
Cecilia's smile held no warmth, merely the cold calculation of someone who had already considered every possible outcome. "I teleported. But that's irrelevant." She moved closer, her footsteps silent on the crimson sand. "Lion, you know we cannot allow chaos to escalate unchecked. Who knows what catastrophe awaits us if we fail? What horrors might be unleashed?" Her obsidian eyes bore into his. "I'm asking you—go down in your mortal form and do what must be done. Guide them on their journey. I'm not demanding you destroy the Church immediately, but—"
"You realize they've dispatched agents throughout the realms?" Lion's voice rose with barely contained fury, his composure finally cracking. Heat radiated from him, distorting the air. "The only realms untouched are Shadow and Beast. Gary infiltrates the dragon continent. Dale was infiltrating the demon realm—though we'll address that disaster later." His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Marcus and Claire ravage the mortal world simultaneously. What do you expect us to do with this information? Fight on every front at once?"
One of the men stared at both Cecilia and Lion, tension crackling between them all like lightning before a storm. The others shifted uncomfortably, caught between divine powers locked in a battle of wills.
"I'm not asking anything of you," Cecilia said coldly, her expression hardening to match her tone. Disappointment flickered briefly in her eyes before vanishing behind an impassive mask. "Since I have no choice in this matter, I will descend, clone myself, and dispatch my duplicates to every realm except Shadow and Beast. That way I can address each crisis while aiding those destined to defeat the Church of the Black Serpent." She paused, letting the magnitude of her sacrifice settle over them. "Someone must act while you debate."
"I take my leave now," Lion declared, his voice final. A portal materialized beside him, its edges crackling with raw energy. He reached through and withdrew a massive black sword, its edge drinking in the dim light, seeming to devour the very atmosphere around it. The weapon hummed with barely restrained power. Another portal opened before him, revealing nothing but infinite darkness. He stepped through without another word, vanishing into the abyss, leaving only the fading echo of his presence.
---
Fay woke after losing consciousness on the rooftop. She found herself in a suffocating darkness, lying on cold stone that leeched the warmth from her body. Slowly, fighting against the throbbing pain in her skull, she pushed herself up. Her white armor remained intact, though now it felt foreign against her skin. Her blades still rested at her side, their familiar weight offering small comfort in this unknown place.
"She's awake," a man said, stepping forward from the shadows. His voice dripped with cruel satisfaction, each word deliberately chosen to unsettle. "How delightful. We lied—your family isn't here." He moved closer, and she could see the twisted pleasure in his expression. "What's worse is that you're about to become a Shadow Guard. Unfortunately, you have no choice in the matter." A dark chuckle escaped his lips. "I'd love to see you fight back, struggle. But our leader has no intention of allowing resistance."
Fay's blood ran cold as recognition struck her like a physical blow. Ten Harper's brother. The realization sent ice through her veins. Behind him emerged their uncle, leader of the Shadow Clan. His green eyes surveyed the darkness with predatory satisfaction, like a spider admiring its web. Power radiated from him in waves that made the shadows themselves seem to bow in deference.
"How gratifying that another Shadow Guard joins us," he purred, his voice smooth as silk and twice as dangerous. "I hope you take pride in becoming my third." His gaze swept over her with calculating interest, assessing her worth like livestock at market. "Jaden, step aside."
Jaden retreated, though rage flickered in his eyes like dying embers. The conflict within him was visible—a war between his own will and the chains that bound him. He was a Shadow Guard—able to think and move freely, yet enslaved to his uncle's will. The contradiction tortured him with every breath.
Shadows began seeping from the leader's hands, writhing like living serpents. "Now that Jaden is clear and Grace is on her mission, I can do as I please." His smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed too sharp. "Jaden, watch carefully. Learn what becomes of those who resist."
Fay raised both blades, desperation fueling her movements. White light blazed from them, brilliant and pure. But the glow died instantly, snuffed out like a candle in a hurricane. Something pierced through her armor—a blade forged from pure darkness, cold beyond anything she'd ever experienced. Shadows invaded her bloodstream, corrupting her blood with their icy poison. She collapsed, her body convulsing violently as the darkness fought against everything she was. Pain unlike anything she'd known tore through her, shredding her consciousness. Darkness bled into her until the agony finally ceased, leaving only emptiness in its wake.
Her armor turned pitch black, as did her blades. She stood, movements mechanical and precise. Her eyes had become void-like pools, reflecting nothing, revealing nothing.
"That wasn't so bad," she said, her voice utterly monotone, devoid of the warmth and fire that had once defined her.
The leader's green eyes gleamed with triumph, satisfaction radiating from every pore. "Now I have my third Shadow Guard." He began to pace, hands clasped behind his back, already planning his next moves. "I can claim more of the Harper family until I finally defeat my brother. Then I'll expand across the entire world. Everything will become Shadow. Everything will bend to my control." His voice rose with fervor, drunk on visions of conquest. "The plan is flawless—no cracks, no weaknesses. The only problem is if I lose against my brother, then I'm finished. But the odds of that are minuscule." He paused, considering. "He might be extraordinarily strong, but he cannot withstand this. One more Shadow Guard could mean the difference between life and death. Between victory and oblivion."
---
**Mini Arc: Shadow Conversion**
**Arc Description:**
This arc follows the Shadow realm and the events unfolding within it. While other storylines continue, the primary focus remains on the Shadow realm and the Shadow Guards. After this arc concludes, we will resume where we left off and continue the Church of the Black Serpent arc.