The Coming Storm

As I arrived we went to an alley where I got out of her shadow, and walked with her towards the portal, at first the guards stopped us but after seeing Seris they bowed down, and let us pass. As I entered the first portal it brought us to a place where Seris said was the second zone, and this is the real entrance to the Relictombs, as I inspected the portal, I saw people giving their identifications to the guards and asked her how were we going to go through.

"Just follow me," She said as she gave me a badge

"When did you prepare this?" I asked

"Don't ask questions and follow me" She said

As we approached the guards Seris gave them her badge, while I gave them mine. They nodded, and let us through. As we were going to go through the portal I felt familiar mana of the Absolute Being radiating from the portal, as I tried to touch it with my hand Seris snapped my hand, and gave me something she called an amulet. As I took it she then grabbed my wrist, and dragged me inside to the portal, after I went in I felt a surge of pain from my body as I nearly collapsed and spat black blood. I turned to see Seris's expression shocked in horror as she grabbed hold of me so I didn't fall on the ground.

"Find a place to stay for a while" I managed to whisper before losing consciousness

I woke up to see myself in an unfamiliar place as I slowly stood up, and scanned the area. When I saw no one I tried to stand up, but my legs didn't allow me. As I tried to get some potions from my Inventory Seris came and gave me a vial

"It should help heal you," She said as she opened the vial and put it in my mouth

As I took the vial with my own hands I started to drink it, at first nothing happened, but then the pain started to slowly settle as my legs began to gather the strength to stand up.

"What happened," She asked her voice concerned

"I don't know" I replied as I check the condition of my body and soon realized what had happened the RelicTombs was rejecting me why? I don't know

"Let's just start exploring the place," I said to her as I walked outside

We encountered a lot of monsters which were very weak disappointed I just kept on walking until I saw a portal.

"Do you perhaps have more of those vials?" I asked her

"Yes I do" She replied

Readying myself again if the same thing were to happen I walked into the portal with Seris, but instead of another zone we were brought into a space where everything was white, and it seemed like there was no end to it. As I turned to look at Seris she was also having the same confused expression.

"Hello high being," A voice said

Seris also heard him because she was already in a fighting stance.

"Who are you," I asked

"I am but a fragment of a soul," He said as a pedestal slowly came up from the floor revealing a crystal ball

"I was once a Djinn" He introduced

"What is a Djinn?" Seris asked

"It seems that if you don't know who we were means that the Asura's not only killed our people but also buried our names." He said as he sighed

"We were the mages that created the teleportation gates, and the floating land" He answered

"You an ancient mage" Seris replied

"Oh it seems like your people gave us a new name, yes it seems that I am an ancient mage," The ball said

"But you, you have a connection with one of our people," The crystal ball said

"Me?" I asked

"Yes a young boy who has a cruel fate" He replied

I knew who he was talking about, but when he said cruel fate Ashborn's words rang again "But because of that I'm afraid of his fate, and what part he would be playing in this world"

"Arthur Leywin," I said as the ball glowed, and showed me the outcome of his fate

"Even gods cannot change this outcome of his fate, although you can still help him protect those around him, his fate is sealed of what he will become in the end no matter what you do," The orb said to me

I pity the boy, but what could I do to help him, nothing I was still the same powerless man I was when I failed to protect my world. As I walked towards the orb I asked him

"What if there is a way to bend fate," I said as I showed him the cup

"What is that," The orb said in fascination

"It's a cup that allows me to turn back time to find different outcomes" I answered

"As you see the state of the cup is unusable, but after seeing one of the abilities Arthur will have later I want to ask. Is it possible to fix the cup with it" I asked

"I'm afraid to even I don't know the answer to your question," The crystal ball said

I nodded and put the cup away for now, as I looked back to see Seris confused over our conversation

"Do not worry I have set up a barrier when we started to talk about the boy she can't see nor hear our conversation" The crystal ball said

I left the barrier, while Seris eyed me with curiosity

"Let's leave I've already got what I've come to get" I answered

"And that is?" She asked

"Answers" I answered simply

As we walked towards the portal the crystal had we were greeted by a place where there were a lot of people guiding other people who had returned from the portal, I let Seris take over and explained everything that happen in the RelicTombs minus the white room, when she finished explaining we were let out, and I walked aimlessly as I thought about what the orb just said.

"You seem like a walking corpse" Seris commented beside me

"I'm just confused," I said

"Well it looks like I won't be needing the identity after all," I said

"I'm going to return for now if you need anything from me just say it my soldier will relay the message to me," I said as I went to an alley, and my shadow swallowing me I reappeared in the elven castle, as I went towards my room I heard Arthur talking to Tess, but what I also heard was Tess crying.

"Arthur" I called him out mentally

"uh yeah" He replied with a hint of panic

"We're guests here so making the princess of the kingdom cry maybe isn't the best idea," I said to him

"They moved the schedule of my return it's next month" Arthur replied

"Arthur.." I wanted to tell him about my encounter with the Djinn, about his fate but I stopped myself as I knew what kind of person Arthur was

"Never mind just do your best to calm her down," I said

I walked into my room, as I started to divide my soldiers into organized groups that I would be needing for the future. I first divided them into ten groups which consist

1. Me + Beru

2. Ahborn + Bellion

3. Antares + Khamish

4. Baran + Igris

5. Beast Monarch + Tank

6. Frost Monarch + Tusk

7. Iron Body Monarch + Iron

8. Legia + Jima

9. Querehsha + Ant queen

10. Yogumunt + Greed

As I assign all of the groups with my army of one hundred million (Normal soldiers)

I began sending

Baran's group, and Legia's into Darv's territory.

Frost and Querehsha were here at elnoir.

Beast at Sapin.

Iron Body at the beast glades.

While I wanted to send Antares to Epheotus.

I sent Yogumunt to Alacrya.

What concerns me now is that most of them would be weak against mages above the high yellow core, although they could outnumber them, Lances could still destroy them. With the near-infinite mana, I generate they could still regenerate, but that would only make me as good as a battery if all my soldiers were to attack. For now, I'll just send them in their location while I put Antares's group inside Arthur, just for now until I can find a way to Epheotus. As I opened my eyes again I was greeted by the old man who had woken me up.

"What is it?" I asked

"You came back and didn't bother to greet anyone huh," He said with a sigh

I snapped my fingers covering the room with mana so nobody could hear

"What is it?" He asked me

"We need to prepare," I said

"For what?" He asked

"WAR" My answer surprised him, but then

"With?" He asked

"Another continent," I said

"So they do exist," He said

I turned towards him and asked, "You knew?"

"There was evidence but no solid once, so we haven't confirmed it" He replied

"Don't bother I already paid them a visit" I said

"You what?!" He asked shocked

"I didn't stir up trouble I just came and scout a little the same thing they're doing right now," I said

"What do you mean by the same thing they're doing right now," He asked

"We've been breached, they have sent spies all over Dicathen" I replied

As I turned towards the old elve to see his reaction his face turned pale as an expression of fear could be seen from his face.

"Do we have a chance against them?" He asked

"If I didn't interfere no, you would've been squashed like bugs" I replied

"It's that bad?" He asked

"Lances can't compete with some of their retainers, and there are the scythes who are above Retainers" I answered

"I've managed to eliminate one Scythe, but I'm afraid even he is easy to replace in this war" I continued

The old man just went towards a chair and slumped down.

"Have you told anyone else about this?" He asked

"No your the first one" I replied

"If you want proof I can call out my spy in Alacrya" I continued

"No I trust you" He replied

"I just need time to process this information it's not every day you get news that there is a continent capable of killing our strongest mages, and they outnumber us by a lot." He sighed

"I can deal with the retainers and Scythes. I just need you to deal with their main armies" I said

"So you're saying you're willing to become a lance?" He asked

"No, I shall stay in the shadows, and I only need you to know about me" I replied

"But when there comes a time where you publicly announce the lances," I said as I stood up, and placed my hands on the old elve's shoulder

"You can announce my presence, and say these following words Unfortunately he can't attend but He has let me show you something as proof of his existence He calls himself Shadow Monarch " I whispered into his ear while I inserted three of the dragons I got from the gate Bellion came from into Virion's shadow

"Three enities will come out of your shadow, but try to not get a heart attack once you see them" I continued

"I understand," Virion told me his hand removing mine and went to the door

"It seems like it's going to be hard to prepare if you keep the rest of the kings in the dark," He said before leaving

"What more could we possibly do if a king had struck a deal with the enemy, right now I only trust you Virion," I said

"Oh and whatever happens don't let any of the lances enter the beast glades," I said

"Why?" He asked

"Because that is where their portals are located" I answered

"All right I'll see what I can do" He answered

"Oh before you leave every of this information can be shared after you guys decided to team up all three races," I said

"I understand," He said as he left the room

I then told Sylvia, and Ashborn about my time in Alacrya, including telling them His fate

"What shall you do," Sylvia asked me

"First of all I'm going to need Seris to write me some names about all the influential spies in Dicathen from merchants, to nobles I'll need all of their names," I said grimly

"Jin-Woo hear me out for a bit," Ashborn said

"Your old fate was you dying as a nobody until I decided to inherit my powers to you. There surely has to be a way for us to at least bend Arthur's fate" He continued

"I don't know for now the safest option would be to see if Arthur can repair the cup or not," I said

Seris Vritra POV

As I watched Caera train her sword skills, a certain movement in my shadows got me on guard as I heard HIS voice in my head

"Seris can you hear me," He said

"Yes" I replied

"What do you need," I asked

"I need a list of influential Alacryan spies," He said

"I understand, but do not kill blindly for there are spies that may be of help, the problem is the curse placed on them," I said

"Are you able to remove them?" He asked

"I am" I replied

"Good, just write it down and put the note in your shadow," He said

I did as he told, me and wrote the names I knew, and as I looked around to see if anyone was watching I dropped the paper on the floor, and I saw it sink under my shadow.

"I still can't get used to how he has those with me every time" I sighed

"Done" I mentally sent

"Thank you" He replied

Sung Jin-Woo POV

"It seems like I need to clean a few things before moving on to the next stage of my plan." I thought

That day was a day where blood was spilled as I hunt down every single people on the list, not including the ones Seris told could be useful, it's a shame she only wrote one name Cynthia Goodsky. As I went on a killing spree that day I also started to spread my shadows overseeing important areas in the continent. I was cleaning up my last kill and just needed to come and have a talk with Cynthia Goodsky, as I stood up from a boulder in the mountains it was already nighttime. I decided to visit her later, as I gazed up to the night sky where the stars were visible, unlike my last world this world hasn't been polluted. I took my time to enjoy the feeling of peace, and calmness for a while. A few minutes passed by, I stood up and began to look for Cynthia Goodsky through my shadows, and that's when I found her.

"Director and Founder of one of the most prestigious school in Xyrus" I was surprised

I wasted no time as I teleported outside her room. No one was there, the hallway was empty, as I knocked on the door I heard footsteps coming towards the door. When the door opened I saw a tall, elderly woman, having a height of 1.7 meters. She has gray hair and brown eyes. Her soft, facial feature gives her the image of a gentle grandmother.

"Cynthia Goodsky?" I asked

"Please come in," She said

"It seems like you knew I would come here," I said

"Word travels fast boy. It was when I examined your kills I realized what you were doing." She said

"Don't worry I didn't come here to kill you" I said

My words made the director surprised, and confused. As I asked Seris if she was ready to be transported.

"Give me a few minutes, and we can converse with ease without that curse of yours," I said as I snapped my fingers, and disappeared

Seris Vritra POV

As I waited in my room sitting on my bed for him to appear

"He sure takes his sweet time making me wait for half an hour without further notice," I thought

But as I stood up my shadow moved, and suddenly he appeared a few inches in front of me, I jumped back at his sudden appearance.

"You ready," He asked as he offered his hand

"Yea," I said as I took his hand but I didn't expect him to pull me into his embrace, as he held my body with one hand my face in his chest, I yelped at his actions, but then the shadow around us started to envelop us. When I opened my eyes again we were in a room and I saw Cynthia in the room she was surprised at first but her expression changed into a mischievous smirk, and that was when I realize what position I was still on as I freed myself from his embrace as I felt my face warm

"Seris Vritra," Cynthia said with a bow

"No need for formalities I came here to remove the curse," I said

I turned to Jin-Woo and motioned Him to stay outside the room, He then went outside and I started to uncover Cynthia's robe in the back as I try to locate the curse.

"It seems like if news that you are already taken is heard by the alacryan army I'm afraid it would demoralize the army," She said chuckling

"It's not like that," I said slapping her shoulder as I felt my face getting warmer

"Oh they all say that the first time" She chuckled

I then found her curse and laid my palm there as I slowly inject mana to disperse the curse.

Moments later Cynthia covered her back again, and called for Jin-Woo to come in

"Would they be able to sense if the curse has been lifted?" He asked

"No they won't" I answered

He nodded

"Cynthia I want to ask a few questions," He said

"Please ask away," She said

We then had a conversation that lasted for a few hours.

"I think it's time for me to return," He said

As He was about to leave I pulled his collar. As He looked back

"Aren't you forgetting something?" I said Irritated

"My bad," He said as he offered his hand

I turned towards Cynthia to receive yet another mischievous smirk, I felt my face get warm as I took his hand, and he pulled me into the same position he did last time, and I could feel the shadow envelop us, as I opened my eyes again we were in my room.

"All right I'm going to go," He said but before he left I grabbed his hand stopping him from leaving

"What are you," I asked

He just stood there and smiled at me. But suddenly he came close to me his head beside my ear

"It's best that you don't know about it for now, but when the time is right I promise that I'll tell you" He whispered those words to my ear as my face got warm because of how close he was, my eyes were staring at his muscular neck, his intoxicating scent entering my nose, and then he stepped back and his figure was swallowed by his shadow, and he disappeared without a trace.