What is Shadow Power?
It was the ability to retrieve the dead souls floating in the sea after death from the bottom of the sea.
Although the 'corpse of the shadow' that the souls used in their lifetime was necessary as a medium, since they had jumped directly into the sea of the afterlife as they were now, that intermediate step could have been omitted.
Just grab the ghosts by the collar and drag them up like this!
"Arise!"
The sea after death was turbulent beneath the shadow power that Suho emitted.
――――――――!
Ripples, big and small, began to form on the black water surface that was flowing stickily like a single organic substance.
The cause is the countless ghosts that were lying there, like corpses, in the deep abyss below.
... ... Flash!
Light returned to their unfocused eyes.
At the same time, their consciousness, which had been submerged, came back to life.
Their distant memories returned to them.
And finally.
Ghhhhhhhh-!
Wow wow wow-
They rose up in indignation.
Choaaaak-
But the sea of the afterlife had no intention of letting them go.
Black, sticky seawater, like mucus, clung tenaciously to the bodies of the ghosts.
The will to drag the dead souls down again.
This force is right here.
Because it was gravity and natural law that ruled the 'Sea of the Afterlife'.
But the power of shadows inevitably went against that natural order.
Choaaaaaaah-
The ripples that started on the calmly flowing water soon became waves.
It rose up and became a tidal wave.
The black sea swirled.
Kuwaaaaa-
And above that.
Eventually, the ghosts who succeeded in raising their bodies appeared proudly before Suho.
Even at this very moment, they are still covered in seawater that is pulling them towards death.
Gooooooo.
The pitch-black, sticky sea water after death was rippling like pitch-black vapor due to the fighting spirit they radiated from their entire bodies.
[Shadow extraction succeeded.]
[Shadow extraction succeeded.]
[Shadow extraction succeeded.]
... ... .
With countless system messages.
Suho saw new soldiers made up of numerous races.
The inhabitants of the underworld who live in various dimensions.
On Earth, they were called demons or monsters, but their true nature was the souls of warriors who had died namelessly in wars and throughout history over countless years.
[Keeeeeek-! You're amazing! You're really amazing!]
Beru screamed in excitement.
[These are the souls that were not yet incorporated into the Shadow Legion! How could they have been extracted as soldiers when we had never even encountered them in the first place!]
Yes.
From the previous Shadow monarch Asborn to the current monarch Sung Jin-woo.
Even for them, it was impossible to turn all the souls that had died in every dimension across the universe into a shadow army.
The souls of those who died without any connection to the war or encounter with the Shadow monarch are gathered here, in the Sea of the Afterlife.
The corners of Suho's lips curved in satisfaction as he checked each of them.
There were races he was familiar with because he had encountered them before in the dungeons, and there were races he was seeing for the first time.
Although there were races that were too weak to fight at the forefront of war, there were also those that showed signs of talent unrelated to combat.
In the meantime.
"...hmm?"
Suho frowned with a displeased expression.
Looking back, it turns out that not all souls were successfully extracted.
[Attempting to extract shadows.]
[Attempting to extract... ... .]
[Shadow extraction failed.]
[Attempting to extract... ... .]
[Shadow extraction failed.]
[Shadow extraction failed.]
... ... .
"this."
Suho tried to extract the ghosts he couldn't extract several times.
But it was a huge failure.
[Shadow extraction failed.]
There were two reasons.
[The probability of extraction failure increases in proportion to the target's ability and the time elapsed since the target's death.]
First, the time of death.
The ghosts that came to the sea of the afterlife a long time ago have been left tattered, their nutrients sucked out by the weeds.
Even if it weren't for the weeds, they would have melted into the sea of the afterlife to the point where they couldn't rise again even with the power of shadows.
Even if they were forcibly extracted, they would not be able to function properly as soldiers.
However, the reason Suho's expression was frowning was not because of those guys.
"The target's abilities... ... do you mean you don't recognize me as your master?"
... ... .
There were ghosts who remained silent in response to Suho's words.
Each and every one of these shadows looked extraordinary.
At that moment, Beru noticed the reason and patted Suho on the shoulder.
Smiling warmly with an expression like looking at a growing child.
[What can you do? It's because the Little monarch is not a true Shadow monarch. Of course, they would have jumped up at the slightest wave of the King's hand, but it seems that the Little monarch's shadow power is not enough to persuade them.]
Pat pat.
[You should think positively. Isn't that more motivating? Look at those insolent phantoms! Next time, just level up and come back, and those insolent punks will all be waving their hands and welcoming you to join your army.]
... ... I wonder if this is cheering or teasing.
Even Suho, who would normally have gotten angry at Beru's words, glared at them with serious eyes today.
Okay.
The sea of the afterlife is wide and deep.
Among the countless souls sleeping here, there are many great ones that cannot yet be subdued by one's own strength.
If you are not yet qualified to be their master, then all you have to do is become qualified and come.
"Okay. Let's wait and see."
It was a promise to do so.
And I vowed once again to myself that I would level up as quickly as possible and extract those arrogant guys before these precious souls were meaninglessly eaten by the weeds here.
The problem was that, in the meantime, Suho's stamina was depleting at an increasingly rapid rate.
[HP -514]
[HP -763]
[HP -989]
[HP -1,314]
... ... .
[Your Majesty, it is dangerous.]
"... ... Okay. Let's go up."
Puhwaak-
As I surfaced again, my HP, which had been rapidly dropping, began to slow down again.
But when I actually went outside, I saw that the speed did not drop to -100 all at once.
[HP -931]
[HP -819]
... ... .
[HP -434]
... ... .
[HP -100]
[HP -100]
... ... .
Only after the black water that had been sticking to Suho's body had completely drained did his HP start decreasing at the normal rate of 100 per second.
Suho took out a potion and put it in his mouth.
"If I hadn't come out just in time, it could have been a disaster."
[Your Majesty, for now, please go outside for a while and then come back after recovering. Even if you find the World Tree in this state, it could be dangerous.]
"Okay, let's do that. But before that."
Suho looked back at the newly recruited soldiers and asked.
"Do any of you know the location of the World Tree?"
[... ... ]
Of course, there was no answer.
They must have been unconscious from the moment they arrived here.
Suho regretfully sorted out the winged soldiers and gave orders.
"I'll be out for a bit, so you winged ones stay here and look for the World Tree. And when you see any weeds... ... ."
[I will completely destroy them.]
At the center of the shadow dragon tribe, Sita's eyes flashed.
[We can't let these precious souls be sucked up by the weeds.]
"Okay. If you understand, then disperse."
As soon as Suho finished speaking, the winged soldiers immediately spread their wings and soared.
Suho looked up at the sight for a moment.
[Use 'Skill: Shadow Exchange'.]
Fit!
Disappeared from that spot.
* * *
That moment.
Euaaa ...
A tremendous cheer was erupting from Esil's territory.
"It's finished!"
"I survived the ordeal!"
"We finally overcame the ordeal!"
The sight of the demons barely holding off the invasion of the residents of the gap was truly miserable.
Some had lost limbs, while others were on the verge of death with black blood flowing all over their bodies.
It was literally a total mess.
But still, at this moment, I think it would be okay to be purely happy.
You have proven yourself worthy of being a demon.
"You demons!"
... ... !
All the demons' heads turned towards the suddenly loud voice.
Esil, the eldest daughter of the Radir family.
no.
Our king, Esil Radir!
Esil stood firm, her body seemingly ready to collapse at any moment, while receiving the hot gaze of the demons all at once.
And she faced the gazes of all the demons who looked up to her.
She chuckled, raising the corners of her mouth, revealing her sharp fangs.
"...Yeah. We won."
Euaaa ...
The demons shouted in unison as if the demon world would explode at those words.
The moment the invasion began.
The moment they witnessed the inhabitants of the gap suddenly invading the demon realm.
The demons who had been living without knowing anything instinctively realized it.
If they fail to overcome this ordeal, their situation and that of the residents of that gap will change.
The absolute fear that you will never be able to exist as a demon again.
But now I can say it confidently.
"We are the real demons."
The demons were once again excited by Esil's proclamation.
I have come to truly acknowledge it.
The fact that the pure-blooded demon noble 'Esil Radir' was their king.'
But then it happened.
Tsk tsk tsk-!
The sky was falling down.
"... ... ?!"
Woorung- Kwakwakwang!
Thunder and lightning.
Suddenly, the terror of the White Flame descended from the calm sky of the Demon World.
"What, what is it!"
"Could this be a second offensive!"
"I can't stand it anymore... ... ."
The demons despaired.
And instinctively they turned their pleading gaze towards their king, Esil Radir.
Esil looked up at the sky with a stiff expression.
"Don't worry. The ordeal is over."
... ... !
The demons were greatly relieved by those words.
But despite that, Esil's stern expression as she looked out over the dark sky still did not soften.
The demons trembled in fear at the sight and murmured.
"If the flames weren't for the trials..."
"What the hell is going on up there?"
But after a while.
Esil's eyes, which had been staring at the sky in silence for a long time, suddenly widened.
"Come!"
Kkwarreung!
That moment.
Black lightning bolts struck the ground in a line from the sky.
All the demons were shocked at the truly terrifying sight, but only Esil showed an extremely happy expression and ran forward, kicking the ground.
"Sung Suho!"
It wasn't a black bolt!
Black shadows that transcend dimensions, centered around Suho!
Sung Suho returned to the demon world using the shadow soldiers he left behind in the demon world!
"Esil."
Suho discovered Esil in the center of the shadow soldiers who were rippling with black energy.
Then he open his inventory, took out a bottle of potion with one hand and put it in his mouth.
With his other hand, he took out another item he had acquired this time.
[Item: Baran's Horn]
After defeating Baran's soul, this is the only item left.
But Suho knew how to use this.
Suho said as he handed Baran's horn to Esil.
"From now on, you are the Demon King."
"... ... !"
Esil's body, which had accepted the horn, was enveloped in black energy.