A weird looking lizard crawls up the side of a dark dead tree, around it many others which are also of incredible size, the many branches at the top block the red sun from shining light from down below.
Adrian sits crossed leg in the shallow swamp, he starts to twitch his forehead and concentrate.
He opens his eyes and releases what little aura he has. A small shadow protrudes in front of him about a meter in front, it quickly pulls back into Adrian who stumbles back exhausted.
''Wow! New record your certainly getting better I'd say''. Zelzick says while placing a rock to where the shadow extended.
Behind that rock is many others from all his previous attempts.
''This is stupid, I can't even do the most basic thing. And even then it's useless.''. Adrian says tired.
''Basics are pivotal in ensuring your and your allies safety. You might think they are weak now, but once you master the foundations, there are lots of techniques and skills you can create with this talent... Here watch.''. Zelzick instructs.
Zelzick steps out into an open space and spots a fallen hollow tree, he lifts one arm towards it with his hand shut. A shadow creeps along the floor towards it and sits right underneath the large log, he quickly twists his wrist and opens the palm of his hand. Without warning, the large dead tree sinks into the shadows; eaten whole. Zelzick turns back around to Adrian, he continues.
''That is the 'Shadow Abyss' technique. There is a lot of utility and potential with this talent, and to use it to the best of its ability you need to train hard and be creative, find out what opportunities are possible.''.
Adrian stands, feeling a bit more rested than he was.
''I just can't understand how you're supposed to control this properly, it feels like every time I extend my shadow I lose control of it as soon as it leaves me.''. Adrian says.
Zelzick sits down on a boulder, he says.
''Picture it leaving yourself and where it's going, the more you think ahead of where you are moving it to next, the less likely you are to space out, and for it to retreat back.''.
Adrian closes his eyes once again. In his mind he pictures the tree ahead of him, he wonders how similar this is to how he plans ahead to draw his paintings. With confidence, he releases his aura yet again.
The shadow is much quicker this time shooting towards the tree, not only does it reach it, it climbs the tree upwards till it's stopped by the light protruding through the branches. Zelzick looks up, impressed.
''Now that's impressive!''. Zelzick says while slow clapping.
Adrian smiles and catches his breath, he replies.
''I think I got it! I pictured the top of the tree and was so close.''.
''You would have probably reached the top if it weren't for one thing.''. Zelzick says.
Adrian looks at him perplexed, Zelzick points his finger straight up and goes on.
''Light... The only thing that stops shadows, light, you will find that during the day or places on earth with artificial light using the shadows becomes a lot harder. That's why I'm training you first here.''.
''But literally everywhere on earth has light, this is probably going to take years till I can even do it outside during the day!''. Adrian yells.
''I don't think you realize how quick you are learning this talent, it's been nearly a week and not only has your physical strength and stamina increased exponentially, you are also able to control a shadow long distance. Something that took myself 50 years to master.''. Zelzick Responds.
Adrian shuts up, just how old is this guy? He hears a small voice running into the forest. Ophus runs clumsily towards them both carrying a basket, she joins them and hands it to Zelzick.
''I hope I'm not interrupting! Father said you two must be hungry, so I brought snacks.''. She says.
''Not at all, Adrian how about we take a break back at the village.''. Zelzick asks.
Adrian reaches into the basket and pulls out some bread and a ceramic flask filled with water.
''No, thanks, I think I will stay here a bit longer, I want to make sure that I have this down before I head back to college, it should be early morning on earth right now, once I'm finished training I'm going back.''. Adrian says.
Zelzick is impressed with his response, Ophus frowns dramatically.
''If you say so, let's leave him Ophus to concentrate, Adrian if you need me go to Hekmur, sure he will help.''. Zelzick replies.
Both Zelzick and Ophus leave Adrian, Adrian finishes the bread and takes a swig from his drink. He walks out and spots a further tree to the last one. He shuts his eyes for a moment, then once again opens them, releasing his aura.
---
Back in the human world, Rose is boiling pasta in the kitchen while watching the TV, on it, they are still talking about what occurred on new year. A news reporter reads.
''Although many questions remain unanswered about the creatures that joined us a few days ago, a mysterious group that call themselves 'Saints' has also appeared across the world, with most if not all of its members from an unknown origin. They claim that they are sent by God himself and have swore to kill the demons which come to our planet.
Rose watches the TV focused on it, she drops her hand from resting on her chest and catches the handle of the boiling pasta, It flies upwards with the water coming towards her.
She braces for the worst and tries her best to cover her face.
Before the blistering liquid can touch her, her skin hardens just enough to stop any serious damage, she drops to the floor and screams. Her parents run in from the other room, horrified by what they see. Her mother quickly grabs the plastic tub sitting in the sink and throws the cool water over Rose, her father rushes back and forth and runs to the bathroom.
Rose is still covering her face, her mother wets a dish cloth and brings her into the bathroom, they both turn the shower on and place her under it, Rose's mother tries to pull her arms away to see her face. After a minute, Rose releases her arms and shows her face, to both the parent's shock she is completely fine and has no burns whatsoever.
Her father slaps his knees and springs up.
''Rose! Don't ever do that again, you scared the life out of us!''. He screams.
The mother begins to calm down and hugs Rose in the shower. Rose looks into the bathroom mirror and to her face.
How? I felt it on my face? How am I fine?
So many questions go through her mind, she hugs her mother back.
---
The sleepy demon in the watchtower is once again fast asleep, Zelzick walks down the street, crossing many others and taking some turns; waving to all the villagers who greet him.
He gets to a small empty house which looks abandoned, he pushes the unlocked door open and walks inside. The place is moldy and has webs everywhere inside, although it's not a pleasant sight, Zelzick looks around reminiscing to himself.
Zelzick opens a small backdoor which leads to a patch of garden hidden at the back, he walks to a grave in the middle and sits in front of it.
He pulls out his pendant from his pocket and holds it, he lets it rest in his hand.
''Father... I have finally passed on the crest to someone, like you did to me. Unlike us, he is an ancestor of the demons, a human. The power they possess to learn and adapt. It's incredible, I understand now why God feared his own creation... Unfortunately, even with you and granny's training, and all the hard work I put climbing the ranks at the palace, I was banished from the kingdom. Upon my return I learnt that Soaranji and his squad from the village have yet to return from the human world, I fear they are dead. And that only the Shadow crest remains here.
Zelzick squeezes the pendant in his hand, his voice gets more emotional, he goes on.
''Oksun is getting worse, more people are dying by the day and turning to savages. I promised you and mother that I would save the village and its people, they look at me for guidance and believe that I will really save them. But... I just don't know if I can do it.''.
A single teardrop falls from his eye.
''Brother, are you here?''. Fee-Fee asks.
Zelzick quickly wipes his eyes and places the pendant into his pocket, he turns and sees Fee-Fee inside the house, she runs out into the garden and jumps on his back. He lifts her.
''I was just telling Dad all the good news which has happened!''. Zelzick says smirking.
Ophus also comes and joins them.
''This place gives me the creeps! You should really think about maybe cleaning this place up a bit sometime, ya know!''. Ophus says nervously looking at the webs.
As she walks out, a large spider lowers down in front of her, She screams and falls to the floor!
Zelzick and Fee-Fee laugh.
The trio make their way out of the old house and walk back to the square, as they do, they see in the distance a young man running towards them calling out to them, it's Adrian.
''I finally did it! You gotta see this, guys!''. Adrian yells, running towards them.
Ophus and Fee-Fee both start getting excited, Zelzick can't wait to see how he has improved in so little time.
---
Back in the swampy forest, Adrian stands ready, preparing to show what he can do. Fee-Fee climbs onto a boulder nearby and watches from above. Ophus stands near Zelzick who has his arms crossed, she cheers him on.
Adrian takes a large deep breath, he holds it.
With great power he releases his aura, this time a black aura can be seen physically pulsating out of his hand. Instead of standing idol like last time, he lifts one hand towards the massive tree, a shadow bursts towards the tree, he uses 'Shadow Abyss'.
The shadow beneath the tree grows wider and wider, the tree slowly sinks into the floor, although not smoothly, its many roots make it difficult for it to sink. Adrian groans trying to control it but is adamant to keep doing.
Fee-Fee and Ophus start clapping and cheering, but Zelzick starts to get stressed.
Adrian tries harder to make the tree sink, suddenly one side of the tree tips deeper than the other side causing it to become unbalanced, the length and weight push it to one side, and it starts to timber sideways.
The tree falls and in its way is Fee-Fee watching it plunge closer towards her.
Zelzick panics, he lifts his arm towards Fee-Fee and quickly does his own 'Shadow Abyss'.
The tree cracks on the boulder and snaps in two on it.
Adrian drops to his knees trembling, his eyes fill with tears seeing what he has just done. Ophus covers her mouth and watches with a ghostly expression on her face.
Adrian slowly mutters to himself.
''I... Only... Wanted to show you... How strong. I am...''.
Zelzick quickly pulls in his shadow in front of him, he too is also shaken. He leans down in front of him and puts his arm into his shadow, he slowly pulls it out.
He drags Fee-Fee out by the back of her shirt and puts her on the ground next to him.
Ophus hugs Fee-Fee sobbing, she is in shock from what just happened.
Adrian turns and sees she is safe, he exhales.
He makes eye contact with Zelzick who is not happy at all.
''I knew you would be powerful, but I didn't expect you to have so much power so soon.''. Zelzick says, he goes on.
''This is what happens when you don't listen and try and skip the basics, people can get killed!''.
Adrian says nothing, he sits ashamed of what he has done.
''Tommorow you won't be training with me... I can't teach you what you lack right now.''. Zelzick says scolding Adrian.
Zelzick holds Fee-Fee's hand and leaves with her, Ophus look over to the distraught Adrian and goes over to him.
''I know you didn't mean it, Adrian''. She says to him.
Adrian does not look up.
''I thought if I surprised him by showing him something amazing that he would be impressed...''. Adrian replies.
''The main thing is no one got hurt, and that's the main thing! Zelzicks not mad at you, and im sure Fee-Fee knows it was an accident. They were just scared that's all, it's not your fault.''. Ophus reassures.
''He said that it took him 50 years to master just the basics... It's no wonder that I messed up as big as did, compared to him, I still have no idea what power I have and how to use it.''. He replies.
Ophus grabs a rock and tries to pull it closer to Adrian, she strains pulling it towards her then figures out it would be easier to push it. Happy with herself she sits.
''Ya know, I've known Zelzick for well over 500 years. And when he was a little brat, he never listened or used restraint once. Because of that reason his father was not going to pick him as the next crest holder. But he kept training, everyday he would come out here, and physically train his body and mind so that he was worthy enough to carry the crest. Day's turned to weeks, weeks turned to months and months turned to years. And eventually Zelzick became strong and dependable!''.
Ophus lifts Adrians head up to look at him face to face, she ends her story with.
''And soon you will too!'.
Ophus's speech yet again pulls Adrian out from his self-loathing, he can't help but smile back to her when she does to him, he asks her a genuine question.
''Wait, 500 years?! How old exactly are you?''.
Ophus's cute and adorable demeanor changes instantly, she punches down on Adrian head.
''Don't ever ask how old a lady is!''. She shouts into his face comically.
---
Adrian walks to the portal, Zelzick is waiting there, he says.
''I wanted to see you off.''.
''Thanks... I want to apologize for what I did, I should have never put Fee-Fee in danger like that.''. Adrian says sincerely.
''That's ok, I wanted to apologize too. As your teacher I lost my temper and should have controlled the situation much better.''.
DING DING DING DING
The watch tower bell rings loudly, village guards run down the streets alerting the villagers.
''Enemies Approaching!''. A guard shouts.
Zelzick sprints off towards the gate, Adrian chases behind him.
After running through several streets they both make it to the main gate, a lot of other demons are waiting armed. Adrian turns to Zelzick and asks him.
''What's going on?''.
''It's Captain Fon, he blames me for the loss of his 'Crest' and son.''. He replies.
''Loss of his crest? How did you lose it!''. Adrian questions.
''There was three of us who came to your hometown that day, Garguen gave his crest to that girl, the one you saw in the alley, He died shortly after to an Angel.''. Says Zelzick expanding his shadow forward, he reaches into the shadows pulling out swords and axes for the villagers.
Adrian freezes, Zelzick waits for the enemy to show themselves.
''Rose... I have to go.''. Adrian mentions running off towards the portal.
''No Adrian! Wait.... Dammit.''.
---
All the students at college are lined up in a long line towards the main hall. They all take turns walking through a machine which can only be compared to as a metal detector, but this one detects demons.
''Make a list of any student which have not been screened!'' Mark screams to the other white coats.
A white coat surveys the line in front of him, a creek noise comes from the roof behind, he turns but sees nothing.
Adrian who quickly dropped and hid, tries to pursue Rose, he can't find her.
He makes his way on top of the main hall building and looks through the glass. It's Rose!
She is about to make her way through the machine, Adrian does not know what to do. He can only watch from above. She walks through the machine, as she passes the machine alarm trips and red lights flash from it.
Rose's arm is grabbed by Mark, he yanks her to the side and injects her with a syringe, taking blood from her arm, Rose falls to the floor terrified. The other students also watch, some try and get away but are swiftly stopped by white coats.
He drops the blood into a vile and mixes it with the substance inside, it begins to bubble.
Mark eyes open wide, he yells.
''She is a demon, eliminate her!''.
Mark draws his sword to her and a few guards ready their guns. She can only lower her head and pray.
Suddenly, the glass ceiling above smashes. Everyone as if its slow motion, watches as each shard showers down, Adrian who has just crashed through, uncrosses his arms to show his determined face.
He lands in front of her and spreads his arms shielding her. His shadow grows out from beneath him.
Mark's eyes open even wider, the guards get ready to open fire.
Adrian is surrounded, he needs to think of a way out of here. Quick!