THE SHADOW KING'S RETURN

The Hunt for the Shadow Heir

The alarm inside the Royal Academy continued to ring.

Deep within the capital, dozens of mages gathered around an ancient black crystal.

The crystal had been silent for centuries.

Now it was glowing.

A thin stream of dark energy moved across its surface.

An old mage stared at it with trembling hands.

"The First Shadow Seal has awakened."

A young mage stepped forward.

"Are you certain?"

The old man nodded.

"There's no mistake."

"Where is the heir?"

The old mage closed his eyes.

The crystal suddenly displayed a single location.

"Graystone Village."

The room fell silent.

One of the academy's commanders immediately turned around.

"Send a team."

The old mage stopped him.

"Don't underestimate the boy."

The commander frowned.

"He's sixteen."

The old mage looked at him.

"So was the last Shadow Heir when the Seven Kingdoms began to fear him."

The commander became silent.

"How many should we send?"

The old mage stared at the dark crystal.

"Five."

"Only five?"

"Five is enough to capture him."

The old man paused.

"If the stories are true, killing him may not be possible."

---

Kael woke before sunrise.

The small dragon was sleeping beside him.

Kael looked at the creature for a moment.

Since reaching Level 10, everything had changed.

His body felt stronger.

His senses were sharper.

And the First Shadow Seal had unlocked an ability he had never possessed in his previous life.

Shadow Domain.

Kael activated it.

For ten meters around him, the shadows became completely still.

He could sense everything inside the area.

Every movement.

Every sound.

Every change in magical energy.

Kael smiled.

"This will be useful."

The dragon opened its silver eyes.

Kael looked at it.

"Good morning."

The dragon climbed onto his shoulder.

Kael stood.

"We need to get back to the village."

He packed his belongings.

Before leaving the cave, he looked at the place where the Blood Horn Beast had fallen.

Something strange remained there.

A small black stone.

Kael picked it up.

The system appeared.

[Unknown Shadow Fragment.]

[Origin: First Shadow Seal.]

[Function: Unknown.]

Kael placed it inside his Ring of the First Shadow.

Then he left the cave.

---

The journey back to Graystone Village was quiet.

Too quiet.

Kael noticed immediately.

There were no birds.

No small magical creatures.

Even the wind seemed weaker.

He stopped.

"Something's wrong."

The dragon growled.

Kael activated Shadow Sense.

Several magical signatures appeared ahead.

Humans.

At least six.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Someone is waiting."

He moved through the trees without making a sound.

Soon, he saw them.

Five armored warriors stood on the road.

Their armor carried the symbol of the Royal Academy.

A sixth person stood behind them.

Kael recognized him.

The spear-wielding adventurer from the Forbidden Forest.

The man was injured but still standing.

He pointed toward Kael.

"That's him."

The five warriors turned.

One stepped forward.

"Kael Ashford."

Kael remained calm.

"Who are you?"

"Royal Academy Special Guard."

The warrior raised his weapon.

"You are ordered to come with us."

Kael laughed.

"Why?"

"You have been identified as a potential Shadow Heir."

The words confirmed his suspicion.

Someone in the capital knew.

Kael looked at the guards.

"Suppose I refuse."

The warrior's expression hardened.

"Then we will take you by force."

Kael glanced at the dragon.

"Stay hidden."

The dragon disappeared beneath his cloak.

The guards attacked.

Kael activated Shadow Domain.

Darkness spread across the road.

The guards suddenly slowed.

"What happened?"

"I can't move properly!"

Kael appeared behind the nearest warrior.

Shadow Strike.

BOOM!

The warrior flew backward.

Another attacked from the side.

Kael blocked the weapon.

CLANG!

He stepped forward and struck the warrior's chest.

The man fell.

The remaining guards surrounded Kael.

Kael smiled.

"You should have brought more."

The spear-wielding adventurer charged.

His spear moved faster than before.

Kael dodged the first strike.

The second nearly hit his shoulder.

Kael activated Shadow Step.

He appeared behind the man.

"You're improving."

The man turned.

"What?"

Kael struck his weapon.

The spear flew from his hand.

Kael placed his sword against the man's neck.

"Why are you hunting me?"

The man's expression changed.

"I don't know everything."

"Then tell me what you know."

"The academy believes you're connected to an ancient bloodline."

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"What else?"

The man hesitated.

"They believe the Shadow Sovereign will return."

Kael froze.

"Return?"

The man nodded.

"Not you."

He looked frightened.

"They believe you're the vessel."

Before Kael could respond, an enormous explosion came from the direction of Graystone Village.

BOOM!

Kael immediately turned.

Smoke rose into the sky.

His eyes widened.

"Grandma."

He released the adventurer.

Then he disappeared into the forest.

---

Kael reached the village in minutes.

The scene made his blood run cold.

Buildings were burning.

Villagers were running through the streets.

Several magical beasts had entered the village.

And standing in the center of the square was a man wearing a black cloak.

Kael recognized him immediately.

The ancient symbol of the Seven Thrones was embroidered on his chest.

The man turned.

"So you've returned."

Kael stepped forward.

"Where is my grandmother?"

The man smiled.

"Safe."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"If you've hurt her..."

"You misunderstand."

The man pointed toward a house.

"She is inside."

Kael looked.

His grandmother was standing near the doorway.

Alive.

Kael released a breath.

Then the man spoke again.

"We didn't come for her."

"We came for you."

Kael stepped forward.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Varik."

The man removed his hood.

His eyes were completely black.

"I am a servant of the Seven Thrones."

Kael's expression became cold.

"Then you came to the wrong village."

Varik smiled.

"Perhaps."

He raised one hand.

The ground beneath Kael cracked.

A massive magical circle appeared.

Kael jumped away.

Black chains erupted from the ground.

He activated Shadow Step.

The chains missed.

Varik frowned.

"So the First Seal is truly awakened."

Kael looked at him.

"Tell me about the Seven Thrones."

Varik laughed.

"You aren't ready."

Kael's eyes hardened.

"Try me."

Varik raised his hand.

A wave of darkness exploded through the square.

Kael activated Shadow Domain.

The two powers collided.

BOOM!

Kael was pushed backward.

His feet carved lines into the ground.

He had never felt pressure like this from a human.

The system appeared.

[Warning.]

[Enemy level exceeds host.]

[Estimated level: 22.]

Kael clenched his fist.

Level twenty-two.

He was only level ten.

But he had defeated stronger enemies before.

He just needed to find the weakness.

Varik attacked again.

Kael dodged.

The ground exploded behind him.

Kael moved through the smoke.

Shadow Step.

He appeared beside Varik.

Shadow Strike.

Varik blocked the attack with one hand.

Kael's eyes widened.

Varik grabbed his wrist.

"You have talent."

He threw Kael across the square.

Kael crashed through a wooden wall.

Pain spread across his back.

His grandmother screamed.

"Kael!"

Kael slowly stood.

He looked at her.

"I'm fine."

Varik approached.

"You could become powerful."

Kael wiped the blood from his mouth.

"I intend to."

"Then come with us."

"No."

Varik sighed.

"Then you leave me no choice."

He raised his hand.

A black blade formed in the air.

It flew toward Kael.

Kael activated Shadow Step.

The blade followed him.

He dodged left.

It turned.

He dodged right.

It followed again.

Kael realized it was controlled by magic.

He stopped running.

The blade came closer.

At the final moment, Kael activated Shadow Domain.

The blade slowed.

Kael grabbed it.

The black weapon dissolved inside his hand.

Varik's eyes widened.

"You can absorb shadow magic?"

Kael looked at his hand.

"I didn't know I could."

The system appeared.

[Shadow Domain has evolved.]

[New property unlocked.]

[Shadow Absorption.]

Kael smiled.

"Looks like I'm learning too."

Varik's expression became serious.

"You truly are the heir."

Kael stepped forward.

"Then answer me."

"Why was my bloodline sealed?"

Varik didn't answer.

"Who sealed it?"

Still nothing.

"Why was I killed in my first life?"

Varik's eyes widened.

For the first time, fear appeared on his face.

"You remember?"

Kael froze.

Varik realized his mistake.

"You know."

Kael's voice became cold.

"You know about my first life."

Varik stepped backward.

"The Seven Thrones were right."

Kael raised his sword.

"They're afraid of me."

Varik suddenly disappeared.

A black portal opened behind him.

Before entering it, he looked at Kael.

"Come to the capital."

Kael stared at him.

"There, you will learn the truth."

The portal closed.

Silence returned to the village.

Kael stood motionless.

His grandmother approached him.

"Kael."

He turned.

"I'm sorry."

She shook her head.

"Don't apologize."

She touched his face.

"Just promise me you'll come back."

Kael looked at her.

"I promise."

The dragon climbed onto his shoulder.

Its silver eyes glowed.

Kael looked toward the capital.

For twenty years, he had believed his death was the end.

Now he knew it had been part of a much larger plan.

Someone had known about his first life.

Someone had sealed his power.

And someone was terrified that he had returned.

Kael clenched his fist.

"Then I'll go to the capital."

The system appeared.

[Main Quest Updated.]

[Objective: Discover the truth of the Seven Thrones.]

[Next Destination: Royal Academy.]

[Warning.]

[The second Shadow Temple has awakened.]

Kael stared at the message.

Two temples were now active.

The road ahead was becoming more dangerous.

But he smiled.

"Good."

He looked at the burning village.

"This time, I'll find the truth before they find a way to kill me."

Far away, inside the Royal Academy, Varik entered a dark chamber.

Seven figures waited for him.

One of them asked:

"Did you capture the heir?"

Varik lowered his head.

"No."

"Then why are you alive?"

Varik looked up.

"Because he remembers."

The room became silent.

"His first life."

One of the seven figures stood.

"Impossible."

Varik smiled.

"He remembers everything."

The figure slowly clenched its fist.

"Then the final battle has already begun."

And beneath the world, something ancient laughed.