"That's not true!" screamed Ash as he successfully pulled the sword from the ground, clutching it with both hands. His vision blurred momentarily, the exhaustion and the pain impacting his consciousness.
"You know as well as I do," said the Shadow, the grin on his face now uncontrollable, "you were the one who killed them, Ash Moon!"
"Shut up!!"
Ash shot towards the giant figure. The Shadow flicked his hand, slamming the boy into the nearby wall with raw energy invisible to the eye.
"Though I must say," continued the monster, "both Noah and Olivia Moon were truly disappointing specimens. To think they'd be consumed by only a small fraction of our power…"
Ash was unable to speak. Blood flowed out of his mouth like a river, his internal organs requiring immediate aid if he were to survive.
"I guess they were weak."
Ash's eyes shot open as he brought himself to his feet one final time.
"My parents…" he muttered, gathering his strength as he raised his voice, "were not weak!"
He rushed once more towards the Shadow sitting on the throne. He knew he didn't stand a chance, and yet something inside of him pushed him onward. There was no hesitation in his mind, but rather acceptance.
If he was going to die now, he'd die protecting the honor of his beloved parents.
"Stay still now. I think it's about time we start the ritual," echoed the Shadow. He moved his hand slightly, creating a cage of living shadows that latched around the boy and prevented any movement.
Ash no longer had the strength to resist. He let his body go limp, the cage keeping him upright. He resembled a hanging corpse, an image that was so uncanny it was almost revolting.
"Good boy," boomed the voice of the Shadow, "now let us hope you will prove to be a more effective host for our leader."
Dark shadows approached Ash from all sides, creeping around him.
Just before the adventurer was completely sealed inside the orb of darkness, the low sound of wings flapping engulfed the throne room. Ash returned to his senses, looking up and seeing a while eagle soaring through the crevice he had fallen into.
"Re…mo?" He muttered before falling unconscious. The amount of blood he had lost was beginning to take a toll on his life.
The Shadow looked at the bird with irritation, scowling softly.
"You reek of the Gods. You're a divine beast."
Remo said nothing as he landed on one of the columns that supported the room, his eyes fixated on Ash's unconscious body.
The Shadow suddenly shifted his attention to the hole at the top of the room, adjusting himself in his chair. A massive aura was approaching, one that only an individual who rivaled his power could produce.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" asked a voice, the words resonating across the area.
The feet of a man appeared first, calmly descending into the area. The rest of the man finally submerged into the cold dark room, revealing an adventurer with platinum-blond hair and violet eyes.
His hands were placed in his pockets as he entered the unforgivable depths of the Dungeon. The man simply didn't care about the potential dangers that lay ahead of him.
"Interesting…" muttered the Shadow. "If it isn't the Storm himself."
"A Great King of the Shadows knows me? Please, you'll make me blush," teased Zane as the wind current around him delicately placed him onto the floor.
"You know of our ranks?" asked the Shadow, clearly surprised.
"Well, I consider myself quite an intellectual. I've always wanted to meet one of the Three Great Kings, and it seems I was fortunate enough to meet his Highness Draegan!"
The idle conversation had allowed Zane to position himself beside Ash. He reached out, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder and transferring essence into his cold body. Ash's breathing steadied.
"Now then, I say we settle this, no?" suggested Zane, cracking his knuckles.
"Very well. I see you are an opponent who will be worth my time," answered Draegan, standing up and summoning a giant greatsword from the surrounding shadows.
"You misunderstand, your Highness," said Zane, bringing his hand to the height of his heart and raising his index and middle finger. "Please try and be worth my time."
A small ball of lightning formed atop Zane's index before he brought his middle finger down, forming a tilted 'V' with his fingers. The ball crackled as a bolt of lightning followed Zane's other finger, the spark electrifying the air around him as a blast of lightning shot towards his target.
The cave shook from the sheer power of the attack. Draegan infused his sword with dark essence, swinging horizontally and slashing through the attack. He grunted from the drawback of meeting such a powerful attack head-on, but before he could regain his composure, he felt the same overwhelming presence beside him.
Zane became a flash of light. He zapped across the battlefield, hitting his tumbling opponent from all angles, never giving him a second to breathe. No matter what Draegan attempted, the adventurer's onslaught never ceased. He avoided oncoming attacks with ease, using the newly-created openings to send powerful blasts of lightning into his distraught opponent.
The Shadow was beginning to understand why this individual had been recognized by the king of the gods himself. There was no need for him to use a weapon. Using the power of lightning, Zane Naso had become a living weapon.
"Come on, your Highness! We're just getting started!" He exclaimed as his eyes lit up with violet light. The blue bolts of lightning suddenly flashed a bright yellow as his speed increased.
Zane crashed into Draegan's chest one final time, knocking him over before backing away.
Energy swirled around the adventurer, condensing into his open palm as he glared at the figure before him.
"Your biggest mistake was meddling with that family," muttered Zane before he pointed his palm towards the Great King. "Golden Annihilation…"
Thunder boomed hundreds of meters below the continent's surface as the entire dungeon shuddered in fear.
"Curse you…" was all the Great King Draegan was able to mutter before the blast consumed him. His physical body disintegrated immediately, leaving only his spirit in the form of a cloud of Shadows.
The spirit began dispersing, vanishing into nothingness. In a desperate attempt to cling to the concept we call life, the ball of Shadows latched onto the only possible vessel in the vicinity.
"Ash!" yelled Zane, attempting to shield the boy in vain. The giant cloud infused itself with the unconscious adventurer.
The vile substance that had led to the insanity of Olivia and Noah Moon had infiltrated Ash's body, and Zane knew the only thing that could save the boy now was sheer luck.
Luck that his body could accept the new power he had received: the power of the Shadows.
[New Host Acquired]