From behind the veil of swirling snow, Ultear emerged cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest. The sheer scale of the devastation left her in awe. Her boots that she found when in the research institute before tracking Shadow crunched softly against the frozen ground as she approached the edge of the crater, her gaze fixed on the sight before her.
Shadow stood at the edge of the enormous pit, his figure shrouded in the faint purple glow of dissipating magic. The snow beneath his feet had melted away, leaving only the charred remains of the earth. He stood motionless, his back to her, his cloak fluttering slightly in the cold wind.
Looking at the destruction, Shadow was disappointed "Not enough, that's not total destruction at all, this body and its magic power are not developped enough... I - need - more -power"
Ultear's breath caught in her throat. She'd witnessed power before, but nothing like this. The force he unleashed wasn't just destructive—it felt otherworldly, as though the laws of reality had bent to his will.
She hesitated at the edge, the wind pulling at her cloak, before finally calling out softly.
"Who… are you really?"
Shadow turned his head slightly, the faint glow of his eyes meeting hers. There was no arrogance or cruelty in his expression—only calm. Yet that calm held an intensity that left her rooted in place.
"Shadow. This name is the essence of who I am. Everything else is but jest and fraud" 'That's right, now that I have enough money for my shadow collection, the stylish bandit slayer is ready to retire. For now, let's just continue to train and create Shadow Garden'
Ultear stepped closer to him. Her movements were tentative, her eyes scanning the destruction. The sheer depth of the pit, its perfect edges as if carved by precision, left her speechless.
"You… You reduced him to nothing," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the wind.
Shadow turned fully toward her now, his posture relaxed, though his presence felt overwhelming. His voice, calm yet resolute, broke the silence.
"Have you decided on your path ?"
Ultear hesitated for a moment, her heart racing. The weight of his words was palpable, yet she couldn't help but want to know what the one who has saved her was fighting for. Finally, she asked, "Before deciding… can you tell me? What are you fighting for?"
Shadow's lips twitched slightly into a faint smile, a hint of humor glimmering in his eyes. 'I just want to be the Eminence in the Shadows, but I can't really say that,' he joked inwardly. Outwardly, his voice remained steady and enigmatic.
"Knowing the truth could endanger your life. Are you sure you want to hear it? It's a path of no return."
Ultear trembled slightly at the gravity in his tone, but she steadied herself, clenching her fists. "Yes," she said firmly, her voice resolute. "I want to know. I have nothing to lose anymore!"
Shadow's gaze softened, though his expression remained inscrutable. He spoke slowly, each word heavy with meaning.
"Acnologia. Zeref. And Zeref's strongest creation, the demon END. In the years to come, during the Festival of the Dragon King, these three beings will clash for dominance over this world. The winner…" He paused, his voice growing colder. "…will destroy everything. Every living thing on this planet will be annihilated."
Ultear froze, her breath catching in her throat. "Zeref?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her brow furrowed in confusion, and her eyes searched Shadow's face for any sign that he might be joking. "You're talking about Zeref? The Black Wizard… from 400 years ago? That Zeref?"
Shadow nodded, his expression unyielding.
"That's impossible!" Ultear exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. "How could he still be alive? He's just… He's a legend! A story to scare children!"
"Legends are often rooted in truth," Shadow replied, his voice calm. "Zeref isn't just alive; he's far more dangerous than any tale could describe. And he's not alone. His creations, his demons, his subordinates… they surpass even your worst nightmares."
Ultear swallowed hard, her thoughts racing. She had grown up hearing tales of Zeref's cursed magic and the havoc it had wreaked, and even seen the destructive power of one of his demons, but to think he still walked the earth… Her head spun at the revelation.
Shadow continued, his tone measured. "You saw Deliora's power. It pales in comparison to Zeref's greatest creation, END. If Deliora was a storm, END is a cataclysm. A demon one hundred times more powerful, more destructive."
Ultear's legs felt weak, and she stumbled back a step, her knees threatening to give out. "One hundred times… stronger than the great demon Deliora, who wrecked havoc unimpeded across the northern lands, and who just destroyed a mountain with his breath?" she whispered, the words trembling on her lips.
She looked up at Shadow, her gaze filled with awe and disbelief. He was standing there, calm and composed, a boy around her age—yet he bore the weight of this unimaginable burden. Alone, he was preparing to fight against forces she could hardly comprehend, forces that could destroy the entire world.
And what had she been doing?
The realization hit her like a blow to the chest. She had spent so much of her time cowering in the research institute, then she was consumed by grief and bitterness when she realized that her mother abandoned her and replaced her. Yet here he was, someone her age, facing down the end of all things without hesitation.
Her hands trembled as she clenched them into fists. A surge of admiration and shame coursed through her veins. "You…" she began, her voice faltering. She took a step closer, her gaze locking onto his. "You're fighting for the entire world. And you're doing it alone…"
Shadow didn't respond immediately. His expression didn't change, but his calm demeanor seemed to carry the weight of his resolve. Finally, he said softly, "Someone has to."
Ultear's heart ached at the simplicity of his words. There was no arrogance, no bravado—just an unshakable sense of duty. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, "I thought I was strong to survive the experiments… but compared to you, I'm nothing."
Shadow shook his head, his voice taking on a gentler tone. "Strength isn't measured by what you've done before—it's by what you choose to do now. The path ahead is dangerous, but you're free to walk it if you truly desire to make a difference."
Ultear wiped her eyes, determination sparking within her. For the first time in years, she felt a flicker of purpose. "Then I'll follow you," she said, her voice steady. "If you're fighting for the world, I'll fight too. I'll stand by your side, no matter what."
Shadow gave her a long look, his gaze piercing but not unkind. After a moment, he nodded before walking away. "Then let's move forward together. The world won't save itself. From now on, you are Shadow Garden Alpha"
"'Alpha,'" Ultear murmured, letting the name settle on her lips as her fingers brushed over the token he had given her when he rescued her from the institute. A faint smile touched her face as she whispered, 'Yes, from this moment on, I am Alpha. Ultear, the weak little girl, is gone.' Determined, she broke into a run, catching up to Shadow.
"By the way Alpha, in which way is the Kingdom of Fiore ? "
"It's the other way Shadow-sama… Don't tell me you stumbled upon Deliora because you were lost ? "
"Hm ? No way, I just sensed a great evil, that's why I came here. Haha…Hahaha…"
"Hahaha…"