Throne Of The Forbidden God

The Return of the Shadow

Surface winds blew hard, bringing the scent of pine and wet earth that felt foreign to Ravian's lungs. He remained seated on the edge of the cliff, letting the stinging sunlight sweep across his face, which was now paler and thinner. His eyes narrowed, staring at the silhouettes of Azure City's towers rising on the western horizon, shimmering like jewels under the blue sky.

"One year," Ravian whispered. His voice cracked, carried away by the wind. "This world keeps moving as if nothing happened."

"You expected the world to stop spinning just because a cripple was thrown into a filthy hole?" The System's voice echoed coldly in his head. "Wake up, Host. Do not be a poet when you should be a butcher."

Ravian gripped the grass beneath his palms. He felt it life under his fingertips yet his heart still felt like frozen stone. "I was just remembering, System. Remembering the pain when my ribs were crushed in this very place."

"Memories are a burden if you do not turn them into a sword," the System replied. "Now, stand. And listen to my warning carefully."

Ravian rose slowly. His body was now steady, without a single tremor in the legs that were once paralyzed. However, as he stood, the air around him seemed to contract. A thin black mist began to seep from his pores, creating a terrifying visual distortion.

"What is it?" Ravian asked, noticing the pressure around him.

"Your hellish aura is too conspicuous," the System said. "At the bottom of the abyss, you were a ruler. Here, you are a beacon for every orthodox cultivator within a five-mile radius. If you take one more step, the Blue Cloud Sect will send their entire army to purify you before you even see the city gates."

Ravian stared at his hands, surrounded by black vapor. "I can't hide it? I feel this energy flowing as strongly as blood."

"Of course you can. But you must learn to suppress the hunger. Suppress your Hell Core. Imagine you are imprisoning a wild beast in the deepest iron chest of your soul."

Ravian closed his eyes. He focused on the center of his chest, where the dense energy swirled. He imagined the black fire shrinking, dimming, and finally trapped in a dark cage. Slowly, the black mist enveloping him was sucked back into his body. The air around him returned to normal.

"Good," the System praised, though its tone remained emotionless. "Use the 'Soul Camouflage' function. Now, in the eyes of the world, you are just a youth without cultivation. Just like your old self. Worthless trash."

Ravian laughed bitterly. "Trash, huh? How ironic. I have to become trash again to be able to destroy them."

"Strategy is everything, Ravian. Your explosive anger just now would only get you killed. Do you want to storm the Arkana clan immediately?"

"Yes. I want to see Kaelan's face when I rip out his tongue," Ravian hissed. His fingers clawed at the air, imagining his half-brother's neck.

"And then what? You will be surrounded by the Elders. You will die as a mad demon, not as a winner. Is that what you want?"

Ravian fell silent. His chest rose and fell rapidly, holding back a wave of rage that almost broke his disguise. "Then what is your suggestion? Wait again? I've already waited for a year in hell!"

"One year out here was six months of your training in the anomaly. The world has changed, Ravian. Lin Xuelan might have ascended to a higher realm. Kaelan might have consolidated his power as the sole heir. You need a plan. You need a new identity."

Ravian looked toward the city again. "A new identity?"

"Ravian Arkana is dead. He was destroyed at the bottom of the Soul Annihilation Abyss. If you appear with that name, they will be on guard. They will kill you before you can destroy their reputation. You must become a shadow they do not recognize."

"Who am I then?"

"Give me a name. A name that will make them tremble when they realize it later."

Ravian paused for a moment. He remembered a word from an old book he had read back when he was still a servant. An ancient word for 'the void that swallows light.'

"Yanis," Ravian said firmly. "Call me Yanis."

"Yanis. Simple and sharp. I like it," the System replied. "Now, Yanis, we need one more thing to cover your tracks. Your face. Though you look more mature now, the Arkana facial features are still too clear there."

Ravian felt his face. True, though he looked sharper and colder, Kaelan or his father would surely recognize him if they looked closely.

"Use this," the System said. A small black light appeared in Ravian's palm, then transformed into a simple, pitch-black mask made of a leather-like material but as hard as metal. The mask only covered the upper part of his face, leaving his mouth and chin exposed.

Ravian put on the mask. As soon as it touched his skin, he felt a soothing cold sensation. The mask seemed to merge with his face, keeping his vision clear while hiding his true identity behind the shadows.

"Perfect," Ravian murmured. "Yanis, the bringer of darkness."

"Don't be too arrogant. You are still in the early stages. Now, start walking. Enter Azure City as an ordinary adventurer. Gather information. Find out what has happened during this year. Especially... about that delayed grand party."

Ravian began walking down the hills toward the path leading to the city gates. His steps were light yet certain. Every inch of his body now functioned with perfect synchronization. He no longer felt tired, no longer felt weak.

"System, is Xuelan really going to marry Kaelan?" Ravian asked suddenly as he saw the city gates drawing closer.

"According to the data I can absorb from the spiritual energy around this area, their soul-binding ceremony is scheduled for the next three days. A massive celebration to celebrate the union of the Arkana clan and the Blue Cloud Sect."

Ravian stopped for a moment. A cold smile played on his lips. A smile that contained not a shred of human warmth.

"Three days," he murmured. "The perfect time to give them a wedding gift they will never forget."

"You're starting to think like a true predator, Yanis," the System praised. "Hold your anger. Save it for that peak night."

"I will save it, System. I will save it until the moment I stand in the middle of that hall, and they will all realize that death has come to collect them."

Ravian continued his journey. He passed several traveling merchants who looked at him with curiosity, but they quickly looked away when they felt the cold aura accidentally radiating from his body. In front of the grand city gates, two guards in silver armor stood arrogantly, checking everyone who entered.

"Identity?" one of the guards asked in a lazy tone as Ravian reached them.

Ravian stared at the guard from behind his mask. His red eyes, which he had now disguised as pitch black, stared flatly. "Yanis. A traveler."

The guard frowned, trying to see the face behind the mask. However, he felt his head suddenly throb when he tried to look into Ravian's eyes for too long. "Ah, yes... traveler. Go on in. Don't cause trouble in the city, or you'll have to deal with the Arkana clan's law enforcers."

Ravian only gave a small nod. Your law enforcers? They will be the first ones I destroy, he thought.

He stepped through the gate. The smell of the market, the shouts of merchants, and the clinking of blacksmith hammers greeted him. Azure City was as busy as ever, but to Ravian, all of this felt like a fragile stage play. He walked down the main street, seeing large blue and gold banners hung at every corner.

The banners read congratulations on the marriage of Lin Xuelan and Kaelan Arkana.

"Look at that, System," Ravian pointed toward a banner hanging from the central tower. "They are truly celebrating it grandly."

"Let them celebrate, Yanis. The grander the party, the bloodier the climax will be," the System replied.

Ravian stopped in front of a crowded tavern. He needed more details. He needed to hear the conversations of ordinary people to find out where his opponent's weak positions were. He tightened his black cloak, covering his athletic body filled with hellish energy.

"Let the party begin," Ravian whispered softly, almost drowned out by the city's noise.

He stepped into the tavern, his eyes scanning the room for the darkest corner. His path of revenge had just begun, and this time, no god or man could stop him.