Storm of Shadows

Chapter 6

Alan had no idea who this Lord Sorrowshade was, but if the fear surrounding his name was anything to go by, the man was certainly no ordinary opponent.

He clenched his fists, trying to steady his thoughts.

He had barely survived as an E-rank Hunter in his own world. Now, after being killed by the so-called Liberator Alliance, he had somehow ended up in a strange place where even death was considered a luxury.

And he was expected to defeat its ruler.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

Still, if this was a trial, there had to be a reward for completing it. There also had to be something he could use to fight whatever awaited him.

After all, what if Lord Sorrowshade was a monster usually found in Level Four or Level Five domains? Those were the kinds of threats that typically required A-rank or S-rank Hunters to handle.

And Alan?

He was an E-rank Hunter who struggled against even the most basic monsters.

‘Is there something I can use?’ he asked silently, hoping for an answer from whatever had brought him here.

Another message appeared before his eyes.

This time, it resembled the character status screens he had seen in video games.

【Name: Alan Frost】

【Age: 24】

【Race: Human】

【Soul Core: Empty】

【Aspects: None】

【Unique Ability: None】

【Strength: Normal】

【Instruction: Use your wits to pass through the trial.】

Alan stared at the words, speechless. He tried to convince himself that he was imagining things, but the more he looked at the panel, the harder it became to deny what it showed.

Surely, he couldn’t be this unlucky.

He had been unlucky in his previous life, and now, in what seemed to be some kind of game, his luck was just as terrible.

He hardly played video games, but even he knew that players were usually given something to help them defeat a boss. They might receive weapons, special abilities, or useful items to improve their chances of survival.

Yet he had nothing.

His soul core was empty. He possessed no special aspect or unique ability, and his strength was merely normal.

Was life playing some cruel joke on him?

He had spent his entire life struggling to survive, and even after death, he had somehow found himself in another situation where he was expected to fight something far beyond his capabilities.

Perhaps he was simply destined to die.

But before giving up, Alan decided to ask one more question.

‘What happens if I pass the trials?’

A response appeared almost immediately.

【You will be greatly rewarded and returned to your home.】

Alan’s eyes widened. ‘Really? I’ll be returned home?’

Relief washed over him so suddenly that he almost forgot where he was. If completing the trials meant he could return to his world, then he had a reason to keep going.

His mother and little sister were waiting for him so he couldn’t afford to die here.

“Why dost thou look so blank?”

The unfamiliar voice pulled Alan out of his thoughts. He turned toward the man who had brought him to the river, then quickly dismissed the shimmering panels that only he could see.

“Nothing,” he replied, shaking his head.

He glanced around to ensure that nobody was paying attention to them before lowering his voice.

“So, Lord Sorrowshade is always at his castle, right?”

At this point, Alan had no choice but to go through with the trial. If he wanted to return home, he had to defeat the island’s ruler, no matter how impossible the task seemed.

The man nodded slowly.

“Thou mayst say so, yet he doth visit the mountain from time to time. I have always wondered why those sent thither never return. The poor old man…”

His voice trailed off as they continued tending to the fish.

Alan blinked and looked away, his mind already working through the information.

His first trial was to defeat Lord Sorrowshade so if the man frequently visits the mountain, then that is where he should find him.

‘But how am I gonna get there?’

But how was he supposed to get there?

More importantly, how could he defeat someone like Lord Sorrowshade when he possessed nothing special about himself?

‘If I'm to do this, I need to become stronger. I have to feel stronger.’

He sneered and thought to himself, ‘I am not going to die here. I must leave and return to my mother and sister so whether this place like it or not, I will defeat them!’

With that thought, Alan abruptly rose to his feet, but the ground beneath him suddenly shook.

“Whoa!”

He lost his balance and fell backward, landing hard on his backside.

“Ow! Damn it! Did you feel that?”

The man beside him stared at him in confusion.

“Feel what?”

Alan looked at him in disbelief.

“Ho! Arise at once!”

One of the armored enforcers approached Alan and whipped him hard on the back.

“Ah!”

Alan was in a world of pain as he struggled to stand, his face twisting as the sting spread across his back.

The enforcer showed no concern for his suffering.

The unknown man hurried closer and whispered urgently, “Look not upon him.”

‘What would happen if I looked at him? Will he take me to the mountain too?’ he wondered

Then he slowly turned his head and glared at the enforcer.

“How darest thou look at me in that manner?!”

CRACK!

Another lash struck his back.

Alan collapsed with a strangled gasp, his hands hitting the ground as pain tore through him. His expression contorted, and for a moment, he could barely catch his breath.

“Since thou darest show me such disrespect, take him to the mountain!” the enforcer shouted to his subordinates.

Two other armored men immediately stepped forward and seized Alan by the arms, dragging him away.

The unknown man rushed after them.

“By no means! Take not my friend! He is mine own friend!”

The enforcers stopped.

Alan turned his head to stare at the man, wondering whether he had lost his mind.

They had only just met. They weren’t even friends in any meaningful sense, yet the man was risking his life to defend him.

Was he an idiot?

“Art thou willing to die for thy friend?!” The enforcer yelled.

The unknown guy shifted back and answered, “I merely wish for my friend to live!”

“Then perish alongside him!” the enforcer whipped him directly to the neck.