Shadow slave: Sovereign of the Unknown

A Silent Prelude

The city never truly slept.

Even in the dead of night, the streets of this ruined world pulsed with life—a restless, volatile kind of life. From the rooftop of an abandoned building, Ash watched the shifting shadows below, his sharp eyes tracing the movements of those who thrived in the underbelly of society.

Criminals, survivors, desperate men and women clinging to power. They all felt it.

The storm was coming.

The Nightmare Spell was close—he could feel it. The tension in the air was undeniable, like a string pulled taut, waiting to snap. Soon, the world would shift. Soon, everything would change.

For most, the coming event would be a terrifying mystery.

For Ash, it was the beginning of his true path.

He exhaled slowly, gripping the hilt of his sword. He had work to do.

---

The Final Test

Back at the hideout, Vera was waiting.

"You've been busy," she remarked, her gaze sharp as she leaned against a wooden crate. "People are starting to talk about you, Ash."

Ash remained silent. He had kept his head down, but his actions had drawn attention regardless. It was unavoidable.

Vera studied him for a moment before pushing off the crate. "I need to see something," she said. "A final test before I decide what to do with you."

She gestured toward the underground pit where he had first proven himself.

Another fight.

Ash didn't argue. He simply nodded and followed her down.

The crowd gathered quickly, whispers spreading like wildfire. Ash was fighting again.

The opponent this time wasn't a Reject. It was one of Vera's top men—a seasoned fighter named Darius.

A brute. Tall, scarred, and dangerous.

Darius cracked his knuckles, stepping into the pit with a confident smirk. "You're fast, I'll give you that," he said. "But let's see if you can handle real power."

Ash didn't respond. He simply drew his sword.

The fight began.

Darius rushed forward, his fist swinging like a hammer. A heavy striker. Powerful, but slow.

Ash sidestepped effortlessly, his blade flashing. A shallow cut opened along Darius' side, but the man barely flinched.

Instead, he grinned.

"Not bad," he growled. Then he lunged.

Faster.

Ash ducked under the strike, pivoting on his heel as his sword lashed out again. Another cut. Precise. Brutal.

Darius stumbled, but he wasn't done. He adjusted, shifting into a defensive stance. He was learning.

Ash's eyes gleamed.

Good. So was he.

The fight continued, steel clashing against flesh, movements sharpening with every exchange. Ash felt his instincts heighten, his technique adapting on the spot. Predator's Conquest was already working.

Then, in a flash, he saw the opening.

Darius overextended—just for a second.

It was all Ash needed.

Phantom Rend.

A blur of movement. A sudden gust of wind.

And then—a clean, decisive strike.

Darius staggered, eyes wide as a deep slash appeared across his chest. He collapsed to one knee, panting heavily.

The fight was over.

Silence.

Then, the crowd roared.

Vera watched with interest before stepping forward. "That's enough."

She studied Ash for a long moment before nodding. "You're ready," she said.

"For what?" Ash asked, sheathing his blade.

Her smirk widened. "For the real game."

---

The Nightmare Approaches

That night, Ash sat alone, sharpening his sword.

The fight had confirmed something.

He was growing.

His techniques were improving. His instincts were sharper. He could feel it—his evolution.

But it still wasn't enough.

He needed more.

The Nightmare Spell was coming, and with it, an opportunity to step beyond his current limits. To rise.

He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the future pressing down on him.

Tomorrow, everything would change.

And he would be ready. The Calm Before the Nightmare

The underground arena still buzzed with energy even after the fight had ended. Ash could feel their gazes—some filled with admiration, others with wariness. He ignored them.

Vera's approval was secured. That was all that mattered for now.

As the crowd began to disperse, Darius finally got to his feet, pressing a hand against the wound on his chest. Despite his loss, he let out a rough chuckle.

"You're a monster in the making," he muttered. "No wonder Vera's interested in you."

Ash met his gaze but said nothing.

Darius shook his head, still grinning as he walked away. The respect in his tone was clear, but so was the underlying warning.

The others wouldn't be so friendly.

Ash already knew that.

---

A Warning from the Shadows

Later that night, Vera called him into a private room in the hideout. A dimly lit space with a single wooden desk, a map of the city pinned to the wall.

She stood by the map, tracing a finger over various marked locations. "The Nightmare Spell is coming," she said, her voice measured. "You know what that means?"

Ash nodded.

"It means chaos," she continued. "New Awakened will appear across the city, most of them lost, confused, and easy prey."

She turned to face him, arms crossed. "I don't need to tell you what the gangs and other factions will do, do I?"

Ash remained silent.

Vera smirked. "Good. Then you understand why I'm telling you this."

She tapped the map once more. "The moment the Spell activates, the rules of this world will shift. Those who hesitate will die."

A subtle warning.

Ash wasn't planning to hesitate.

Still, Vera's words made it clear—the city would soon become a battlefield.

And he had to be ready.

---

Preparation for the Unknown

The next morning, Ash isolated himself in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. A temporary refuge, away from prying eyes.

Here, he trained.

Sword drills. His blade carved through the air, refining his speed and precision.

Unarmed combat. Every punch and kick carried increasing efficiency, his body adapting with each movement.

Energy control. Abyss Fang and Phantom Rend—his two trump cards—were still limited. But the more he used them, the more he understood their depth.

Hours passed, sweat dripping from his skin.

Yet, even as exhaustion set in, he felt it—progress.

Every battle, every fight, his techniques sharpened. Predator's Conquest was at work.

He was becoming something more.

But was it enough?

Ash glanced at his hands. He was growing. But the true test hadn't come yet.

The Nightmare Spell would be that test.

And it was approaching fast.

---

The Moment of Awakening

Night fell once more.

The city streets were restless. More patrols, more rumors. Everyone was waiting for something.

Then—

A deep, unnatural tremor shook the air.

Ash felt it instantly. A pulse. A call.

The Nightmare Spell had activated.

And across the city, those chosen for their First Nightmare began to vanish—dragged into the unknown.

Ash exhaled slowly, stepping out into the night.

The storm had arrived.

And he was walking straight into it.