Chapter 208

[Third Person's PoV] 

As Cid and Akane walked away from the Nurse's office, a subtle vibration in Cid's mind indicated an incoming message. It was from Lambda, sent through the connection they shared when he had bestowed upon her Conqueror's Haki.

*"My Lord, we have a situation…"* Lambda's voice came through, her tone tinged with weariness.

Cid's brow furrowed slightly in confusion. *"What's the matter?"* he asked, genuinely puzzled. They shouldn't be encountering much resistance in this world, not with the strength they wielded.

*"It's… the people of this world,"* Lambda said with a slight pause, her voice carrying a trace of awkwardness. *"They don't understand what we're saying."*

For a moment, Cid blinked in surprise before nearly bursting into laughter. Of all things, a language barrier? It was almost comical. *"I'll be there in just a moment, Lambda,"* he replied, a smirk tugging at his lips. *"Let me just finish up things on my end."*

Turning towards Akane, he put on a calm, reassuring smile. "Do you mind if I leave for a few seconds? Zeta seems to be fighting some monsters and needs my help."

Akane blinked, slightly caught off guard, but quickly shook her head. "Oh, no, I don't mind at all! I'm sorry for bothering you so early in the morning."

Cid reached out, giving her a gentle pat on the head, ruffling her hair slightly. "Don't worry about it," he said warmly.

Before he could step away, however, Akane suddenly reached out, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. She then went up on her tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Cid… for trying to make me feel better, and for believing in my innocence."

Cid paused, feeling the warmth of the gesture. He flashed a wink at her, his usual confident demeanor intact. "Anytime."

With that, he turned, beginning to jog down the hallway. As he rounded a corner, Akane peeked after him, her curiosity getting the better of her. But when she reached the corner, Cid had vanished, as though he had disappeared into thin air.

---

Meanwhile, Lambda stood on the edge of a tense situation, waiting for her lord's arrival. The air around her was heavy, as both Shadow Garden and a group of nervous survivors from this world's civilization faced each other. Suddenly, the shadows before her seemed to ripple, and from within the inky darkness, a figure materialized—a presence of absolute command.

It was Shadow.

The darkness around him swirled and danced in celebration, as though the very void itself rejoiced in his appearance. His presence was an overwhelming force, a being of unmatched power. Instantly, every member of Shadow Garden dropped to one knee, bowing deeply with a hand over their hearts in solemn reverence.

*"You may rise,"* Shadow commanded, his voice deep and resonant.

They obeyed, rising slowly, their eyes filled with both awe and loyalty. Lambda stepped forward, her head slightly bowed in shame. "Forgive me for calling you so soon, my Lord," she said, her voice soft but filled with regret.

Shadow smiled kindly, a rare display of warmth. He reached out and patted her head gently, his hand brushing over the brim of her hat. "Worry not. This was an oversight on my part. Let's rectify the situation."

With a simple snap of his fingers, the air above them began to shift. A multitude of glowing magic circles formed, radiating a powerful energy that filled the sky. The Koreans, the survivors of this world, gasped in fear, instinctively reaching for their weapons as they watched hundreds of magical symbols appear in the air. Their apprehension grew as they witnessed the sheer scale of Shadow's power.

But the magic circles began to shrink, compacting into smaller forms. With a graceful motion of his hand, Shadow directed them forward, sending the circles towards each member of Shadow Garden, where they settled at their throats. The survivors, realizing that this wasn't an attack, exhaled in relief, though their wariness remained.

Noticing the slight confusion among his followers, Shadow spoke calmly. "What I've just given you is a translation spell. It will allow you to communicate seamlessly with the people of this world. They'll understand your words, and you'll understand theirs."

Lambda nodded in understanding but took a step closer, lowering her voice to whisper, "My Lord, wouldn't it be better for you to stay? If they see the true face of their conqueror, they might be more inclined to submit. Perhaps a demonstration of your prowess would make them more willing to pledge their loyalty."

Shadow looked at her, a gleam of amusement in his eyes. "I understand your point, Lambda, but if I strong-arm everyone myself, what's the point of sending you all on missions? However," he mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "there's merit to what you're saying. How about this—I'll leave behind a shadow clone, a figurehead for them to recognize. You can parade it around as a symbol of my authority."

Lambda's eyes lit up with understanding, her expression turning serious. "Leave the rest to me, my Lord. The next time you hear from me, it will be to inform you that this world is in your grasp."

Shadow chuckled, finding her determination endearing. *She's so adorable,* he thought to himself.

"Very well. I shall await your call." With that, Shadow's form flickered and glitched for a moment.

"My Lord?" Lambda asked, tilting her head in confusion.

The figure of Shadow glanced at her, a smirk playing on its lips. "Nope, just the clone. The real me is already in the Shadow Realm, spending time with my daughter."

As the clone turned, it raised its hands, and from the ground, an obsidian throne began to rise. Once the throne had ascended high enough, the clone sat upon it, the dark seat levitating a few feet above the ground, hovering like a silent sentinel above the members of Shadow Garden.

Lambda, reassured by the presence of the clone, cleared her throat and stepped forward. Her Conqueror's Haki surged outward in a wave of immense pressure, giving her an intimidating aura. The scar over her closed eye only added to her fearsome appearance, marking her as a seasoned warrior.

"I present to you, people of this world," Lambda declared, her voice booming. "The Shadow Monarch! The one who will liberate you from the endless cycle of battles and allow you to live in peace, free from the terror of monsters!"