The grand hall of Umbra's kingdom buzzed with excitement and curiosity as the new recruits gathered. Umbra stood at the head of the room, his presence commanding and reassuring. Akari stood beside him, her calm demeanor a counterbalance to his intensity. Ember and Crystal, their faces alight with determination, flanked their parents. The room was filled with a sense of purpose and unity.
"Welcome to our kingdom," Umbra began, his voice echoing through the hall. "This place is a sanctuary, a stronghold I created two months ago after Akari and I defeated the gods of strength and death. Here, you will find safety and the opportunity to grow stronger."
One of the recruits, a young man with wide eyes, stepped forward. "What is this place exactly?"
Umbra smiled. "This is a place beyond the reach of the chaos that plagues the multiverse. It has endless rooms and resources for all of you. After our victory, we freed the shadows and rescued my best friend, Arthur. The shadows are followers of the one true king, and now, you are part of this legacy."
As Umbra spoke, Arthur emerged from the shadows, his presence adding weight to Umbra's words. The recruits watched in awe as the shadows, skilled warriors clad in dark, ethereal armor, moved with fluid grace around the room.
"Each of you will choose a weapon and follow a shadow," Umbra continued. "They will teach you the basics while I explain the stakes. There is a war raging across all universes, multiverses, and dimensions. Gods, demons, dragons, and higher-dimensional beings are all fighting for power and knowledge. No world is safe, except for this dimension I've created."
The room fell silent as the gravity of the situation settled in. The recruits exchanged nervous glances but stood resolute.
"Tomorrow," Umbra said, "you will all drink some of my blood. This will make you part of my family. You will become 50% Kurayami, gaining immortality. When you die, you will return to this kingdom. While you won't have the same perks as the main branch of the clan, you will gain enough power to fight in this war."
A murmur of disbelief ran through the crowd. "What if we were 100% like you?" someone asked.
Umbra's eyes flashed with intensity. "If you were 100% Kurayami, you would possess infinite strength, speed, durability, and energy. Every zeptosecond, your power would grow infinitely. You would be able to overpower and one-shot your past self from a moment ago. That is the true power of my lineage."
The room erupted in astonished whispers. One skeptical voice cut through the noise. "He's lying. How can we trust him?"
Umbra's expression hardened. He called his daughters, Ember and Crystal, to his side. "Prove it," he commanded. In a blur of motion, the twins disappeared and reappeared, having traveled to a separate universe and back in a fraction of a second. Using light magic, they projected their journey for all to see.
The doubter's face paled. "Impressive. Your family truly is amazing."
Umbra nodded. "Welcome to the clan."
Another recruit raised a hand. "When will the war start?"
"The war has already begun," Umbra replied. "Our shadows are already on the battlefield, gathering intelligence. The gods and dragons are teaming up against us. It's us versus everyone. But remember, we cannot die. We will teach you everything you need to know."
At that moment, Arthur stepped forward with a grave expression. "Umbra, we have new information. There are beings known as the Six Creators. Each one has the power to destroy and recreate everything that exists. They created the Father and the Mother, who empowered the two Valkyries we fought."
Umbra's eyes narrowed. "Then we must be prepared for whatever comes next. This war is far from over."
As the recruits dispersed to begin their training, Umbra and Akari watched with pride and determination. Their kingdom was a beacon of hope in the chaos, a fortress of strength against the coming storm. The war for power and knowledge raged on, but with their newfound family, they would stand strong.
The end of one battle marked the beginning of another, and Umbra was ready to lead his people through it all.