The silence after Vasiliev's death was deafening.
Alexander stood motionless, his glowing violet eyes scanning the darkened remnants of the battlefield. The shadows had swallowed Vasiliev whole, leaving behind nothing but an eerie void where the assassin once stood. The night air was still, the wind no longer howling through the skeletal framework of the construction site. The battle was over, yet the weight of something far greater had settled upon Alexander's shoulders. And then—
[System Notification]
A new power stirs within you.
A great enemy has fallen. The Abyss acknowledges your strength.
The time has come to claim what belongs to you.
[New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Extraction]
Description: "The fallen shall rise. Speak the command: 'Arise.' Those worthy shall serve in death as they did in life."Restrictions: Can only extract shadows from beings with strong willpower or significant battle history.
Alexander's breath hitched slightly. It had been a long time since the system had spoken. For so long, it had remained silent, offering no guidance, no interference. And now, at this precise moment, it had awakened once more—offering him something more than just power. It was giving him dominion over the fallen.
His gaze flickered toward the darkened void where Vasiliev had perished. The Butcher of the Underworld, a legend in his own right, had been reduced to nothing but a whisper in the abyss. But now, the system was offering Alexander a choice—a test of his newfound authority.
He could feel it, the pull of an instinct he had never known before, urging him to complete the process. The shadows trembled beneath his feet, eager, waiting.
A single word escaped his lips, laced with an unspoken command.
"Arise."
The effect was immediate.
The abyss convulsed, the inky blackness writhing like a living entity. The air turned heavy, thick with power as tendrils of shadow slithered toward the void, sinking into the ground where Vasiliev had fallen. A guttural sound, something between a whisper and a growl, echoed through the site as the darkness began to mold itself into a shape—
A human shape.
Slowly, a figure emerged from the swirling shadows, kneeling before Alexander. The black mist coalesced into solid form, armor-like plating covering his limbs, his once-human features darkened but unmistakable. His eyes burned with a deep violet glow, mirroring Alexander's own. His presence was still, yet oppressive, exuding a silent menace that hadn't existed before.
Vasiliev lifted his head, his gaze meeting Alexander's.
Then, he spoke.
"My king… I serve."
A strange sensation washed over Alexander—not just power, but something deeper. Control. Ownership. The knowledge that Vasiliev was no longer his enemy, no longer a rogue force in the world. He was his. The first of many.
Before Alexander could fully process what had just happened, another system notification appeared.
[System Notification]
"A newly extracted shadow requires a designation. The Monarch may bestow a name, solidifying its existence under his rule."
Alexander studied his new creation for a moment. Naming the shadow would signify true dominion, making it clear that this was no longer Vasiliev—it was something more.
His voice was firm as he spoke. "From now on, you are… Vasili."
A surge of power washed over the summon, and his form stabilized further—his presence becoming sharper, more defined. The shadows around Vasili pulsed, his very existence reinforced by the weight of his new identity.
Vasili bowed deeper. "I accept this name, my king."
Alexander could feel the bond solidifying between them, an invisible thread that tied Vasili's very existence to his will. Then, the system gave him more information.
[System Notification]
"Shadow Extraction binds the fallen to the Monarch's will.
- Loyalty: 100% (Cannot be defied or broken).
- Shadows retain combat proficiency and intelligence.
- A shadow will exist as long as the Monarch allows."
Alexander's eyes flickered with understanding. Absolute loyalty. There was no room for rebellion, no betrayal. Vasili was his, bound by an unbreakable connection. He was not just a puppet—he was an extension of Alexander's will.
A thought crossed his mind. If the system had remained silent until now, what else had changed?
He spoke firmly. "System, show my status."
A translucent screen materialized before him, glowing faintly in the darkness.
[System Status Window]
Name: Alexander
Title: Shadow Monarch (Unlocked)
Level:10 → 30 (Significant Growth Achieved!)
Abilities:
Shadow Extraction (New!) – The power to raise the fallen.Enhanced Physique – Strength, speed, and endurance far exceed human limits.Dark Manifestation – Allows shaping shadows into solid constructs.Abyssal Authority (New!) – Passive effect that increases the strength of all extracted shadows.Shadow Storage (Unlocked!) – Store and summon shadows at will. (Slots: 1/20)
Shadows Extracted:
Vasili – [Elite Assassin] (Rank: High)
Alexander studied the screen intently.
Level 10 to 30 in one battle… The jump was staggering. The system hadn't just acknowledged his victory; it had rewarded him immensely for proving his dominance.
His Shadow Storage now had a limit of 20 slots, confirming that he could build an army, but not endlessly—at least, not yet. His new passive ability, Abyssal Authority, meant that every shadow he summoned would grow stronger the longer they served him.
And then there was Vasili. His Rank: High designation made Alexander wonder—were there higher levels of shadow extraction? Could future shadows be even more powerful?
A smirk tugged at his lips. The possibilities were endless.
A former assassin, now an eternal shadow in his service. A legendary killer who once took lives in the name of chaos, now sworn to the will of the Shadow Monarch.
Alexander exhaled slowly, his mind already racing toward the future. If this was what Shadow Extraction could do, then this was only the beginning.
The first of many had risen.
And soon, the world would tremble before the Shadow Monarch's army.
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