Necromancers Genius

A black void tore open, and from its depths, Valor stepped out. As soon as he emerged, a figure cloaked in darkness—Shadow—spoke in surprise.

"What? It's you! Then... this kid is the new commander?"

Valor nodded, his expression calm. "Yes. This is the new commander. Return to the Legion, Shadow."

Shadow scoffed, his voice laced with amusement and defiance. "You think I'll just come back because you asked nicely? The only way I'll return is if the new commander can defeat me!"

Ken said nothing. He didn't waste time with words—he lunged.

Shadow barely dodged the attack, his speed making it look effortless. "You think you can defeat me? Don't get ahead of yoursel—"

Before he could finish, Ken shifted mid-air, twisting his body to change direction. His blade struck with precision. The previous attack had only been a feint.

Shadow's eyes widened. It's like he predicted my movements.

No, it was something more.

He can see the future!

Valor watched from the sidelines but did not interfere.

"You have to win this on your own, Ken," he thought. "Only then will Shadow acknowledge you as the commander."

As Ken's sword connected, a faint glow pulsed from within Shadow's form—his core had become visible.

Ken immediately tried to channel his dark energy into it, but Shadow reacted swiftly, covering the core before Ken could complete the process.

The battle raged on, Ken's attacks relentless. Then, an opportunity appeared.

This time, instead of trying to form a contract , Ken aimed to destroy it outright. He swung his sword with lethal precision.

Shadow's eyes widened in shock. "Are you insane?!"

At the last second, Shadow managed to shield his core again, but the hastily formed barrier was thin—too fragile. Ken's strike made a small cracke the core, disrupting the dark energy flow.

For a brief moment, Shadow couldn't form another protective layer.

Ken didn't hesitate. He channeled his dark energy directly into the exposed core.

A pulse of black light erupted from it, flooding the area in an eerie glow. Moments later, the contract was formed.

Shadow stared at Ken in disbelief, his expression unreadable.

"Wh-what are you?"

Ken merely smiled. "I don't know either."

Silence settled over the battlefield.

Then, Valor spoke, his tone firm. "What were you planning to do here, Shadow?"

Shadow exhaled, as if releasing a burden. "Since my contract with the previous commander was broken, I wandered, looking for a place to settle. Eventually, I found this town. It was small, quiet—perfect. I decided to take control so no one would bother me."

Ken narrowed his eyes. "Then why did the mayor send a request for help?"

Shadow smirked. "He caught on. Realized something was wrong. But it was too late. I turned him into one of my shadows the moment the request was sent. Then, you showed up."

Valor sighed. "So that's what happened, huh?"

Shadow ignored him and turned back to Ken. "Forget that. Tell me something—what's your story?"

Valor stepped in, explaining everything.

Ken added, "If you're wondering whether I can see the future, the answer is yes. But it's random. I can't control it yet."

Shadow studied him, then murmured, "Maybe... just maybe, you've inherited her abilities."

At those words, Valor shot Shadow a sharp glare, as if warning him.

Ken caught the tension and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Shadow shook his head. "Telling you now won't do you any good. Let's leave it for another time."

Ken clenched his fists. Am I too weak to know the truth?

After a long silence, he exhaled. "Fine. Then at least tell me about your abilities."

Shadow's smirk returned. "My army can merge with any shadow and control it. As for me, I can blend into the commander's shadow—and even into your body, acting as armor. It won't just enhance your defense; it'll boost your attack power as well."

Ken raised an eyebrow. "That's... impressive."

Shadow chuckled. "That's not all. I can also create barriers from shadows."

Ken's curiosity sparked. "Really? Show me."

Shadow raised a hand. At his signal, his minions gathered, merging into a single mass.

In an instant, a massive wall of darkness formed in front of them.

Ken's eyes widened. "That's insane!"

Shadow smirked. "Go ahead—try to break it."

Ken gripped his sword tightly and slashed at the barrier with full force.

Clang!

The impact sent vibrations up his arms, forcing him to take a step back. The barrier didn't have so much as a scratch.

Ken frowned. "That's... sturdy."

Shadow crossed his arms. "And that was just a basic formation."

Ken rolled his shoulders and sighed. "If it's this strong, why didn't you use it during our fight?"

Shadow hesitated before answering.

"I underestimated you," he admitted. "I thought I wouldn't need it against a kid. But I was wrong."

Ken smirked. "Damn right you were."

Shadow let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "You're an interesting one, Commander."

The tension in the air had changed. Shadow no longer radiated hostility.

Shadow had acknowledged ken as his new commander .