The journey across the White Death Desert for two days and two nights was a trial born in hell, even for the seasoned warriors of The Hollowed. Without the protective dome generated by Lyra bounding the solar radiation away, their bones would likely have melted into dust.As dawn broke on the third day, the monotonous sea of white sand was finally interrupted by a massive geographical anomaly.Spread out before them was a colossal crater, spanning over five kilometers in diameter. The sand at the crater's edge cascaded downward constantly, as if being swallowed by the very mouth of the earth. In the exact center of this basin protruded the tips of massive obsidian pillars, partially buried, arranged in the distinct pattern of a shadow crown.This was Kaelen'Dhor. The ancient capital of the Umbra Clan, sunken a thousand years ago.Aroan stood at the edge of the crater, his black duster billowing violently against the scorching desert wind. By his side, Nyx in his four-meter-tall Primal

"Move!" Aroan commanded, his freezing voice slicing through the chaotic din of battle.Silas ducked just in time. Aroan shot past him like a streak of black lightning. The Eclipse Blade in his right hand blazed with Void fire so dense it actively devoured the light from the surrounding magical torches.Aroan didn't just swing. He spun his body mid-air, unleashing a rapid, continuous barrage of Umbral Severance strikes.SRAASH! SRAASH! SRAASH!Three obsidian gargoyles that had been lunging at Silas were cleanly bisected. The Void fire instantly incinerated the magical cores hidden within the statues' chests, completely neutralizing their ability to reassemble and resurrect as they had done previously. The stone monsters crumbled into lifeless, black gravel.However, hundreds of other gargoyles continued to detach themselves from the cavernous ceiling and the ruined pillars of Kaelen'Dhor. They swooped down on stone wings, specifically targeting Lyra—the epicenter of pure Void energy—an

The transition of power in Silver Peak was absolute. The rebellion of the minor vassal clans had been violently suppressed, and the surviving nobles had barricaded themselves inside their opulent manors, praying the Emperor of Shadows would simply ignore their existence. Aroan did not intend to ignore them, but he had more pressing matters to attend to than slaughtering cowardly aristocrats. He stood alone in the center of the Alpha Palace's grand balcony, looking out over the city that now belonged to him. The night air was freezing, carrying the faint scent of ash from the destroyed sections of the Coliseum. Nyx, maintaining the size of a large hound, sat silently by his boots. The Primal Lord had spent the last few hours establishing a vast surveillance network using thousands of summoned Shadow Ravens, ensuring that nothing moved within the city borders without Aroan’s knowledge.The heavy doors to the balcony opened. Silas stepped outside, his massive boots thudding against th

The dawn over Silver Peak did not bring the warmth of a new day. Instead, it brought a freezing, howling blizzard that swept down from the northern mountain passes, carrying with it the ominous cadence of marching boots and the clanking of heavy armor.Standing atop the towering white marble walls of the capital, Aroan looked out over the vast, snow-covered plains stretching beyond the city gates. The wind whipped his black duster violently, yet he remained perfectly still, a dark statue set against the pristine, falling snow.Beside him stood Gael, his phantom arm resting on the stone parapet, and Lyra, whose raven wings were folded tightly against her back to shield herself from the cold. Silas towered behind them, his massive battleaxe planted firmly on the stone floor."They are here," Silas muttered, his golden eye peering through the blinding snowstorm.The horizon began to darken. It was not a shadow, but an ocean of men and steel. Fifty thousand elite soldiers from the five m

The expanse of snow outside the gates of Silver Peak was no longer pristine white. It was heavily stained with black ash—the lingering remnants of Void Fire—and the fresh blood of the five rebel generals, whose severed heads were now spiked atop the city gates as a grisly warning.Fifty thousand Silver Knights, archers, and elite mages from the five border fortresses remained kneeling upon the snow. Their weapons lay abandoned at their sides. The blizzard winds howled mercilessly, yet not a single one of them dared to shiver, let alone stand up.Aroan walked slowly in front of the frontlines of the surrendered army. The sound of his boots crunching against the snow seemed to resonate perfectly with the terrified beating of their hearts. Nyx stalked faithfully at his side, the Primal Lord’s four purple eyes glaring sharply at the crowd, ensuring not a single shred of rebellious intent remained in their souls."You have sworn allegiance to the shadows," Aroan spoke, breaking the heavy