CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 86: SHADOWS OF DEATH

Richard stood still in the center of the chamber, but it wasn’t really him that was standing. His spine was straight like a spear, his hands were loose but controlled, and his eyes glowed with an unnatural stormy blue. Every inch of his body radiated strength he had never felt-not even on the day he first awakened aura.

Akumo was behind the wheel again.

Richard was fully awake in the shared consciousness, but he could not move a single finger. His body was not his own. His breathing was not his own. His heartbeat was not his own.

It was altogether the property of the old fighting spirit within him.

Akumo’s voice rolled through their shared mindspace like thunder:

"Richard... your waiting ends now. Today, I will show you the army I once commanded."

Richard swallowed.

"Army?"

Raviel, standing to the side with his huge umbra sword resting on his shoulder, slowly turned. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly, as if he already sensed the pressure that was about to erupt.

"Careful, boy," Raviel warned. "When Akumo says army he does not mean a dozen... or even a hundred."

Akumo laughed inside Richard’s body, a confident, sharp laugh.

"You know me too well, Raviel."

Richard tried to move his hand, but nothing responded. Instead, his limbs moved under Akumo’s command. His fingers flexed, then snapped into a precise position, like locking invisible switches.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Ancient hand signs.

Symbols from a forgotten age.

His arms flowed through them at such speed, Richard barely understood what was happening.

Then his right hand shot forward and slammed down on the cave floor.

BOOOOOOM!

The whole chamber shook.

Fragments of stone rained from the ceiling. The ground beneath Richard glowed with spiraling dark patterns; the swirling script of the underworld curled around his wrist like serpents.

Richard gasped in his own mind.

" Th–these aren’t normal signs! I can feel the energy draining fast!"

Akumo ignored him, muttering words that were not human, not mortal. The voice that rose from Richard’s throat was deep enough to shake bones, layered with ancient echo:

"Summoning Technique...

Arise—

BLACK DEATH ARMY!

The darkness replied.

The ground shook with much greater violence than it had when Raviel had been summoned. The summoning circle didn’t just glow... it expanded, stretching across the entire cavern like the opening of some monstrous gate.

Raviel’s crimson eyes expanded.

"That’s. no ordinary formation."

His blade came up automatically, aura flaring.

"I once fought alongside these beings. During the War of Dawn." His voice fell low. "And if Akumo is summoning that army, you better get ready.

Richard wanted to brace himself—but his body didn’t move. Akumo was in full control.

One by one, 200 swirling black holes tore open across the cave floor.

200.

A number which Richard could hardly envision.

Each of these vortices pulsed with destructive energy, swirling like miniature storms made entirely from shadow.

Richard’s pulse jumped.

"T-two hundred!? With only half your spirit awakened? How is that even possible?!"

Akumo laughed loudly, his hands still pressed to the ground, while darkness poured through the summoning channels.

"Look carefully, boy!"

A rumbling growl shook the cave.

From the first portal... something crawled out.

Tall. Armored. Humanoid—but made entirely from swirling shadow smoke. Its eyes glowed toxic white, and it held a sword nearly as long as Richard’s height.

Then from the second portal... another shape emerged, this time a monstrous beast. A wolf-like creature with six eyes and shadow flames dripping from its jaws.

Portal three—another humanoid. Four—a huge shadow serpent. Five—an armored knight with wings like a demon. Six—a beast with too many limbs.

Well, one after another they emerged-

Humanoid shadows.

Beast shadows.

Flying shadows.

Crawling shadows.

An army made of nightmares.

And then, two hundred of them stood in rows and rows, filling the cavern with darkness so thick it would smother a lesser being.

Richard’s breath caught entirely.

"This many... I... I can barely summon five or six!

Akumo finally rose to his feet, raising Richard’s head high, as confident as a resurrected king.

His voice rolled proudly:

"Behold, Raviel! Even w/ HALF of my spirit, this is my strength!"

Raviel grinned.

"Hmph, show-off."

Akumo laughed again. This time louder.

"Imagine what I could bring forth if I awakened my full spirit! Armies upon armies. Legions that could drown kingdoms. A wave of shadows the world has forgotten!"

The shadows were reacting on instinct, slamming their weapons to the ground in unison.

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

A thunderous echo filled the cave.

The whole chamber shook until the dust fell like rain.

Raviel folded his arms, his cape of darkness swirling behind him.

"They are strong. Strong enough to massacre an entire human army in minutes. Even I wouldn’t dare underestimate them."

A cold sweat ran down Richard’s spine, even though Akumo was in control of his body.

"This... this is the Black Death Army?"

Akumo smiled.

"My personal legion."

Richard felt small. Powerless. Yet strangely thrilled.

Akumo held out Richard’s arms and shouted:

"Shadow Army-AWAKEN YOUR POWER!"

Immediately, each of the two hundred soldiers raised their weapons.

Sword edges burst with flame.

Gauntlets crackled with lightning.

Beasts roared black fire.

The whole cave filled with violent energy, so strong that Richard’s bones vibrated.

His heart hammered.

"Stop! STOP! Akumo—this much energy will collapse the cave!"

Akumo didn’t say a word.

The 200 soldiers powered up all at once—

VOOOOOOOM!

A shockwave erupted through the chamber.

The stone underfoot cracked.

The walls pulsed like they were about to explode.

The air was so hot it burned to breathe.

Even Raviel took a step back.

"That’s enough, Akumo," he said slowly. "This cavern isn’t built to withstand the full awakening of your army."

Akumo lifted Richard’s chin arrogantly.

"Then it should learn to endure."

Richard shouted in his mind:

"AKUMO, WE’RE GONNA DIE!"

But Akumo only smirked.

"Watch carefully, boy. This is only a fraction of my former might."

The power of the army was growing, Richard felt,

Growing—

Growing—

Growing—

Too much.

Far too much.

The air warped around them, like reality was bending.

Raviel opened his mouth to say something—

perhaps a warning, perhaps a command—

But before a single word left his lips—

the cave violently shook,

an enormous crack tore across the floor,

and a deafening unnatural sound roared from underground— A sound Richard had NEVER heard before. Not a beast. Not a shadow. Not a summon, Something else. Older. Something impossible. Raviel widened his eyes. Akumo stopped. And Richard-trapped inside his own body-felt the temperature drop so sharply it cut like ice. From the darkness beneath the cracked floor... Something whispered his name. "Ri—chard..."

Other side of story:

John and his group finally reached the border of Princess Elsa’s territory.The massive stone pillars rose like sleeping giants, etched with old runes that shimmered faintly in the dawn light. Beyond them lay the first stretch of the Moonstone Village—quiet, dim, and trembling with the echoes of the previous night’s disaster.

Kael and Fenrick followed behind him, silent and watchful. Their steps were light, almost too light—wolves hiding among humans.

John stopped abruptly.

Both father and son paused, exchanging confused glances. "John?" Kael asked. "Why did you stop?"

John inhaled slowly. The morning breeze cut sharply against his face, reminding him of the danger that awaited deeper within the palace grounds.

He turned to them, voice low. "This is where you two leave."

Kael blinked. "What? Why?"

"You’ve already helped me enough," John said, forcing firmness into his tone. "This palace... this situation... it’s not something ordinary families should be dragged into."

Fenrick stepped forward, his presence calm and steady. "We don’t fear danger."

"That’s exactly why I’m telling you to stop." John’s voice cracked slightly. "You both are good people. You have a home. A life. I won’t let my problems destroy yours."

The jungle wind rustled through the leaves, carrying his words away like fragile truths.

Kael clenched his fists. "John, I’m not weak."

"I know," John replied softly. "But you’re not soldiers. Not trained warriors. And what’s waiting beyond that gate... is worse than anything a normal man should face."

Fenrick placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. "The prince is right, Kael. Some battles are not ours."

Kael looked down, jaw tight, frustration trembling in his hands—but he did not argue.

John exhaled with gratitude, though his heart burned. "Thank you. For everything. Please... return home safely."

Fenrick bowed slightly. "May the moon guide you, young prince."

Kael hesitated, eyes dark with unspoken fear for John. "Come back alive."

"I will," John whispered.

And with that, father and son faded into the waking village, swallowed by shadows and orange dawn.

John turned, pain sharpening into determination. "Let’s go."

The remaining guards followed him toward the towering palace gate carved with silver and obsidian. Two armored palace sentinels stood there, straightening instantly as they recognized him.

"Young Lord John!" one guard exclaimed, saluting respectfully. "You returned safely!"

The other guard bowed deeply. "Welcome home, my prince."

John stepped closer, urgency in his eyes. "Where is Princess Elsa? And King Merlin? Tell me everything—now."

The guards exchanged stiff glances. A thick silence stretched between them.

Finally, one spoke carefully. "Forgive us, young lord... but King Merlin gave strict orders."

The second guard bowed his head. "We are forbidden to share even a single detail outside the palace walls."

John’s heart dropped.

"Please," the first guard continued, stepping aside, "enter inside first. Only then... you will know what happened."

Then..