Rise of Shadow

[Alastair Voss, The God of the Shadow Realm and Supreme Leader of the Abyssal Council. He rules over all the darkness that exists in this realm and has conquered countless planets making his opponents weary. He battled the Goddess of the Stars and God of Chaos for over 100 hundred years. His final opponent was the leader of the Astral Guardians, and went missing since then.]

Meanwhile in Cyranth City, Durnholde State, Nevan... The city that houses the headquarters of the Astral Magus. A member of the Department of Defense and Surveillance comes walking into the leader's office and sees her working on her computer.

"Zenith Sovereign, I bring a report to you," the man said.

"What is it?" the Zenith Sovereign questioned.

"Our team has detected an abnormality in Lunaris City of the State of Ravenshade.

An entire district has disappeared along with the monsters we set there. Like it has been absorbed by darkness," the man said.

The Zenith Sovereign jolted and immediately stood up. "What?! You're sure of what you're saying?" the Zenith Sovereign questioned.

"Y-yes... It was confirmed a veil was created but it wasn't done using Astral magic," the man replied.

"It's those bastards. Contact the Shadow Blades and tell them to send their best unit to Lunaris," the Zenith Sovereign commanded.

"Yes ma'am!"

As the man runs out of the office, the Zenith Sovereign thinks to herself, 'Why would they take that area hostage? Don't tell me... they're after the Nethermoth!'

Back at the shopping district, a white moon illuminates the entire district and Alastair is standing in the middle of the district with his hands placed in his pockets.

<Welcome back: Lord Alastair>

"I really am back. What's wrong with my body? There's not much strength. And also, what's this on my face?"

Alastair takes off the skull mask and crushes it to bits.

"And what are the creatures? They're similar to Voidwalker's creatures."

{Alastair Voss: God of the Shadow Realm and Supreme Leader of the Abyssal Council}

The Ashenfiends slowly walk towards Alastair with the Nethermoth behind them, all their eyes glowing red.

"But I'll have my questions later. Let's first see how powerful the creatures of this new timeline are," Alastair said with a grin on his face while ripping off his t-shirt.

Alastair takes one step forward and appears before one of the Ashenfiends in a flash. He places his hand on the Ashenfiend's face and blasts off the head.

<You have defeated a Galeclaw. Rank: D Tier. You have accumulated 40 EXP points>

*Galeclaw is a wolf-like creature.

"What's this thing that keeps popping up before me," Alastair added while trying to touch it. "It's holographic."

Two of the Galeclaws leap in for Alastair. Alastair constructs a scythe from shadow energy and decapitates the two Galeclaws with a grin on his face.

<Shadow Creation Skill Activated>

- Forge tangible objects, weapons, or constructs using shadow energy.

Skill Rank: Third Tier

=====

<You have defeated two Galeclaws. Rank: D Tier each. You've accumulated 80 EXP points>

All the Ashenfiends slowly step back.

"Don't tell me because you saw one of your own fall, you got cold feet?" He added, "How pathetic. A warrior should always till his opponent cannot breathe. You mindless beasts!"

All the Ashenfiends come charging in for Alastair. One of them shoots a web arrow at him but Alastair disappears and reappears stepping on the Ashenfiend's face.

<Purple flames Activated>

- Purple flames, are often associated with spiritual and energetic purification, transformation, and healing. It is the highest tier of all Seven flames and is known as a Divine flame.

Skill Rank: Fourth Tier

======

Alastair imbues the scythe with purple flames and splits the Ashenfiend in half burning away its corpse.

<You have defeated a Chillbane. Rank: D Tier. You have accumulated 40 EXP points>

<Current EXP points: 160>

<You have acquired your first title: The Rise of a Slayer>

-A title only given to those who hunt monsters solo.

'That's strange, all the bullshit this thing has been talking isn't pointed to me but the body. What could this mean?'

Another Ashenfiend comes leaping in for him but he splits it in half.

"But my worries don't matter. Keep it coming!"

Alastair resumes slaughtering the Ashenfiends in the vicinity. Alastair then hops side to side, then leaps through the buildings, killing all the Chillbane. He appears before the Nethermoth and the Nethermoth glares at him. Alastair lets off a grin and balances on air.

The Nethermoth sends out spears created from dark energy at Alastair and Alastair blocks them all and heads for the Nethermoth. The Nethermoth creates a sword of dark energy and swings at Alastair but Alastair blocks it. The two of them start swinging, sending out shockwaves that destroy the surroundings.

"Out of the foolish pack, you're the strongest."

Alastair slashes the Nethermoth all over and ends it with a decapitation.
<You have defeated a Nethermoth. Rank: A. You have accumulated 120 EXP points>

<Current EXP points: 1,440>

Alastair slowly lands and the remaining Ashenfiend tremble in fear.

"This explains the odd feeling. This was it but it felt like something was missing. I had more fun then than now because you're all weak," Alastair said.

<Attempt to use Wraith Guard fail. You don't have any soldiers in your Shadow Castle>

"I lost all the soldiers I've accumulated. Then..."

<Shadow Manipulation: Shadow Spawn activated>

- Stealing the shadows of Ashenfiends or humans and reshaping them into miniature servants for a limited time. You can also use the shadows to turn your opponent into your soldier.

Skill Rank: First Tier, Level 5

======

Alastair raises his energy and creates miniature servants out of all the shadows in the area.

"Thanks to the white moon, this was easy," Alastair added. "I gave you all a handicap and you still failed to produce. Witness 5% of my power, these are my weakest soldiers. If you can defeat them, I'll gladly play with you again."

The remaining Ashenfiends growl and then charge in for the Shadow Servants. The Shadow servants and the Ashenfiends begin to clash.

"Now I'll find something to keep myself entertained while they go at it."

Alastair gives his back and walks away, leaving his servants to battle against the Ashenfiends. He goes deep into the district and finds a used-to-be newspaper store. He enters the store and finds it in an abandoned state.

"I never explored the human realm during my active days but to think it would progress this much. Lyrhal."

A woman with white hair and glowing eyes, dressed in flowing white robes, and without shoes, appears before Alastair.

"Did you call for me, Shadow Sovereign?"

{Lyrhal, the Warden of Eternal Night: One of the Abyssal Council and the Goddess of the Moon}

"The plan was for me to resurrect after a thousand years. Are you sure you got the dates right?" Alastair questioned.

"I made no mistake. I waited a thousand years to find you a suitable vessel," Lyrhal replied.

"Really? Because something doesn't feel right. It is like the previous owner has never engaged in exercise. And also what's this holographic thing?"

"That's what the humans call a system. It was created by the Goddess of Stars and Knowledge, to allow the humans to tap into holy magic," Lyrhal replied.

"What!? I thought I said I don't want to awaken in the body of an Astral magic user!?"

"And I did as you requested so I don't what's the meaning of this, because I don't sense any holy magic coming from it," Lyrhal said.

"Dig deep into the situation. You're dismissed," Alastair said.

"Right," Lyrhal exclaimed.

"As she disappears, Alastair turns his attention to the papers lying on the floor. As he goes through the torn-up newspapers, he finds an old worn-out book and picks it up.

He reads, "Sylvester Armstrong, Leader of the Astral Guardians and Founder of the Kingdom of Nevan. How the greatest Astral Guardian, called the Astral Hero defeated the greatest threat to humanity." He added. " Hey! The man in this drawing almost looks like the guy I fought. The date this book was written is 1940. I'm the one who fought this shiny dude gu but they're not saying anything about me. Those damn humans!"

Alastair shouted as he burned the book away. He turns around and says, "Should I implant seeds of terror once more to show them who the great threat is?"

Alastair burns away the whole store and walks out with his hands placed in his pockets. Alastair returns to the battle scene and sees his servants surrounding one Galeclaw Ashenfiend.

"How pitiful, not even one of my servants was taken down," Alastair said as he walked towards the Galeclaw.

The Galeclaw starts trembling in fear.

"Game over," Alastair said as he lifted his hand and positioned his finger like a gun. He cloaks his finger in purple flames and says, "Die, weakling."

Alastair blasts a hole through the Galeclaw's head.

<You have defeated a Galeclaw Ashenfiend. Rank: D Tier. You have accumulated 40 EXP points>

<Current EXP points: 4,120>

Alastair lets out a sigh and says, "And here I thought the first thing that would happen after waking up a thousand years later would be a good fight. You're all dismissed."

Alastair releases his servants and lifts the veil he placed around the district.

"This whole area shows it is the after-effect of a big war. It doesn't look like it was done by humans so was it Voidwalker's creatures? ... That doesn't matter."

Alastair burns away the whole city with purple flames and flies to the sky with his hands in his pockets.

"All that matters is that one of the years after a thousand will be the resurrection of the Serpent of the abyss."

Alastair lands near the station of Lunaris but his body goes numb for a second.

"What's this?"

===========

The following day after the restricted city incident. Eve is seated at home going through her phone while her mother watches the news on television.

"Breaking news, just yesterday the Astral Magus Association reported the disappearance of the City of Lunaris, but after reappearing, the entire city was engulfed in purple flames. The Silent Blades of the Association arrived at the scene but it was reported there was no sign of anyone. This cannot only be done by a Hazard. The Zenith Sovereign is trying to resolve the issue as she's pressed by the press."

"How terrible. It's the exact same time you left yesterday. Did anything happen to you?" Eve's mother asked.

"Nothing happened, mother. I'm perfectly fine as you see," Eve replied with a gentle smile.

"The streets are no longer safe because of these hazards so you must be careful. Especially since you're a supermodel," Eve's mother said.

'So not only was he killed by the Ashenfiends but his corpse was burnt away too. This is perfect, now 'they're' plans will be delayed for another thousand years. He served no purpose to me so I disposed of him. If only he had something that piqued my interest, this wouldn't have been his fate,' Eve thought to herself with a sinister emerging on her face.

On that same morning, Kael regains consciousness and finds himself lying on a bed. He quickly gets up and looks around while breathing heavily.

"I'm still alive? How? I fought a horde of Ashenfiends..."

Kael touches his right arm and sees that it's still intact.

"My arm is still there... and there's no wound on my abdomen. Was all that a dream?"

<Notice:>

- You have met the conditions and have awakened the celestial ability Shadow Benediction, an ability that defies the very fabric of Astral Benediction

<Notice:>

- You have unlocked the 1/6 Tiers of the Shadow Benediction. Current Level: Beginner

- Shadow Manipulation (First Tier) Notable skills: Dispel, [Locked] [Locked] [Locked] [Locked]

<Notice:>

- You have attained the title The Lone Reaper: A title that invokes fear, suggesting they face and defeat the darkness alone.

- It boosts stats by 10% when you fight opponents stronger than yourself.- Damage Output is increased to 50%

- You gain razor-sharp instinct

- Reduces incoming damage by 40%

- Each kill restores 20% of the Reaper's Stamina and 10% of his health

=====

"Huh? What's all these things popping up before me?" Kael tries to touch it but his hand passes through. "It's holographic... wait..."

Kael remembers Eve using her system.

"Does that mean I've finally awakened? But I remember Eve saying something about Astral Benediction, this is Shadow Benediction..."

<Character Status:>

Basic Information (Top Section):

Name: Kael Voss Fischer

Title: The Lone Reaper

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Class: None

Rank: D Tier (Common)
Core Attributes (Left Section):

STR: 5

END: 4

AGI: 4

INT: 7

WIL: 7

CHA: 0

LUK: 5

Combat Stats (Left Section):

HP: 50/50

MP: 50/50

STM: 15

ATK: 5

DEF: 3

SPD: 3

Critical Rate: 2%

Dodge Rate: 10%

Skills & Abilities (Center):

Passive Skills: Shadow Empowerment - Grows stronger in darkness or during the night, while light weakens him only marginally

Active Skills: Dispel, [Locked] [Locked] [Locked] [Locked]

Ultimate Skill: [Locked]

Weapon Arts: None

Experience & Level Progression (Bottom Section):

Current Level: Level I (Beginner)

EXP: 4,120

Skill Progression: 1%

<Close>

"W-woah... this is... amazing..." Kael added. "I do feel myself brimming with power."

"Hey, human lad..."

"Wah!" Kael lets out a loud scream, and as he looks, he sees a small shadow figure that looks like a tiny, floating blob of mist, with flickering shapes in its core, it has a miniature, almost child-like face floating beside him. He asks, "Um, who are you?"

"My name is Alastair Voss, God of the Shadow Realm and the Shadow Sovereign of the Abyssal Council. I'm the one who battled against the Hero Sylvester."