Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Chapter 94

The entire environment was plunged into absolute gloom.

The power of Dale’s “Shadow Cloak” overflowed completely, flooding the majestic tribunal chamber with a tide of darkness. The blackness absorbed everything, leaving only the saint and Dale visible.

An isolation of pure darkness was formed.

Inside that shadowy confinement, a female figure adorned with goat horns emerged. She did not have the appearance of a girl, but rather that of a woman possessing unparalleled distinction and magnetism: the Mother of Ancient Darkness.

“Shub.“

Dale pronounced her name with great caution. From within his own silhouette, Aurelia made her appearance, exhibiting the corruption caused by the dark influence of the “Book of the Black Goat.“

“Oh, venerated Progenitor of Primordial Darkness and Black Abundance.“

The Shadow Saint contemplated Shub with an expression charged with mystical fervor and, at that moment, proceeded to remove the dark bandages that covered her gaze.

“…!“

Astonishment made Dale hold his breath as he witnessed the scene.

In the sockets where her eyeballs should have been, there was absolutely nothing.

“To contemplate the hidden, it is sometimes imperative to make sacrifices.“

In the place of her eyes, only an absolute and dark void could be perceived, similar to contemplating the abyss itself.

“And at this moment, I possess the vision.“

“……“

“I have patiently awaited this moment.“

The Shadow Saint flashed a smile, showing total serenity.

“Just as it was prophesied in the scriptures of the Apocalypse, the dark envoy will manifest alongside the goat of the black forest, she who spawns thousands of descendants.“

She was referring to the dark envoy, the custodian of the “Book of the Black Goat.“

“He will concentrate the last vestige of fire of this reality and, at the moment the final flame is extinguished, the dominion of the shadows will be established.“

The transcendence of such statements was evident in itself.

“These are the legacies written by the initiator of Saxon, the First Apostle, known as ‘Frederick the Immortal’.“

The primordial apostle.

“It is logical that there existed a historical link between the Shadow Church and the dark hosts in the remote times of the White and Black Tower.“

However, those were tales of the past, which surpassed even the knowledge that Dale possessed about this world.

In a reality where the authenticity of divinities is simultaneously affirmed and questioned, the fervor with which the Shadow Church adhered to such dogmas constituted a very different matter.

“An unforeseen alliance.“

Dale did not necessarily share the dogmas of the Shadow Church. However, if by confusion they categorized him as the dark envoy, there was no point in correcting their error.

It was simply a matter of taking advantage of the available circumstances. Nothing more.

“In your role as the dark envoy, you will banish the dominion of fire and illusory clarity from these lands.“

That dominion governed by flames and radiance.

“And you will foster the emergence of the true empire of shadows, oh Lord of the Shadows.“

Upon pronouncing these words, the Shadow Saint knelt before Dale, offering him her total submission.

“I have dedicated my prayers to witnessing the arrival of this day.“

Prostrate on the ground, she brought her lips to Dale’s feet as a sign of respect.

“I beg you to use us as the foundations to build the empire of shadows.“

From beneath Shub’s robes, filamentous extensions began to emerge that intertwined around the Shadow Saint.

• Ah, my devout follower.

With each filament that imprisoned her, the saint showed a grimace of absolute spiritual delight.

• Your devotion will receive its reward.

“Oh, Mother of Black Abundance.“

• The moment approaches when the final flame of this plane will be consumed and the last clarity will fade away definitively.

Once again, total blackness took hold of the surroundings.

Both the Shadow Saint and Aurelia vanished, with only Dale remaining beside the Mother of Ancient Darkness.

“… What kind of influence have you exerted over her?“

Dale inquired of Shub, who responded with a gesture full of mystery, while her garments hid an infinity of extensions.

• Do you perhaps distrust her statements?

She had again adopted the appearance of the girl Dale identified, maintaining her indecipherable jovial expression.

• The deity of shadows has designated the dark envoy for the purpose of erecting the “Empire of Shadows.”

“Deities have no place in this reality.”

replied Dale with severity.

Faced with the notion of a cosmos devoid of gods, Shub tilted her face, showing bewilderment.

• Do you maintain that even when standing before me?

“At the very least, there are no beings who watch our every action from the celestial heights.”

continued Dale, responding to Shub’s questioning.

“Let us imagine for a moment that a deity is an obsessive entity that professes affection for us, possessing a list of permitted and forbidden behaviors.”

He spoke with absolute composure.

“Under that premise, there are no deities on this plane.”

• In that case, what consideration do you grant us?

“Individuals who observe the behavior of insects from an elevated position.”

declared Dale.

“When insects suddenly begin to call out the names of those observers, it is a striking and surprising event.”

At the instant Dale glimpsed the concept of decision through the dark orb, he understood it intuitively. In a way, these entities manifested a capacity comparable to the divine.

That plane of demonic deities that magic practitioners longed to reach, a reality hidden even from the knowledge of the Blood Red Council.

At the same time, they represented the ruthless conquerors who had devastated Dale’s home world.

The great cosmic entities.

To those beings, human beings possessed the same relevance as insects.

And when the group mind of the human species became aware of their existence and invoked fragments of their being into this environment, the phenomenon did not differ from insects calling humans by their proper name.

Exactly the same as what happened in Dale’s homeland.

To humanity, it constituted an astonishing and attractive event, which awakened immense curiosity, without them being able to understand the consequences of their actions.

“That is the true condition of the entities that people call deities in this world.”

The Mother of Ancient Darkness who remained beside Dale was no exception to this rule.

“One confuses the curiosity they occasionally show us with a different feeling…”

Dale added.

“And they categorize that phenomenon as a sacred mandate, rendering it worship.”

• Hahaha!

Shub let out a loud laugh, completely delighted by the reasoning set forth by Dale.

• You truly please me, brother.

Shub passed her upper limb over Dale’s shoulders, smiling with the same affection one uses to pamper a cherished pet.

• And these represent my unexpected gifts to you.

“… A present that virtually any individual in the correct situation could have claimed.”

He was not wrong. That being to whom the Shadow Saint swore submission and paid honors could well have been another subject.

Anyone who carried the “Book of the Black Goat” and continued the purposes of the Immortal, provided they possessed the Saxon lineage to tolerate the dark influence of the mystical tome. However, locating an individual with such characteristics was equivalent to looking for a tiny element in the vastness.

There was no absolute reason why Dale had to be the chosen one. Despite this, it was a gift that only he was in a position to take advantage of.

“I thank you, Shub.”

In this way, Dale showed a smile.

“At least, the mandate in which they place their faith will become a reality.”

declared Dale.

Concentrate the last vestige of fire of this reality, extinguishing the final clarity. Overthrow the dominion governed by flames and radiance.

Not acting as a puppet controlled from the heights, but by Dale’s own determination. In a cosmos orphaned of deities, taking the resolution to become the god of those who cry out for one.

What structures will rise on the rubble of the destroyed domain?

Finding the answer to that question was not as complex as it seemed.

“The Empire of Shadows.”

The domain belonging to Dale.

“The Lord of the Shadows.”

• I genuinely wish for you to enjoy my gift.

With these last words, Shub’s silhouette began to dissipate. The darkness withdrew, returning to the interior of Dale’s “Shadow Cloak.”

Dale found himself once again in the spacious judicial chamber.

Dale, Aurelia, the Shadow Saint, the individuals wearing bird-beak-shaped masks, and the holder of the First Seat of the Seven Swords of the Continent… Master Baro, remained gathered in that place.

“Wow, what a tiresome situation.”

Master Baro intervened in the conversation.

“Observe this poor lonely man, who is not even taken into account in the chat and only dedicates himself to consuming his drink.”

He ingested the liquid in a single gulp, showing an apparent detachment.

“Master Baro, the sacred mandate has materialized.”

Faced with Baro’s expressions, the Shadow Saint manifested her position.

“The dark envoy destined to tear down the empire of fire and clarity to grant us freedom… is finally before us.”

Her eyes remained guarded by the dark bandages.

Not the slightest trace of skepticism could be perceived in the Shadow Saint’s statements. Only submission and devout fervor. Faced with the gaze of those present, she knelt once again before Dale to kiss his feet.

A testimony of unwavering loyalty.

Faced with such a demonstration, none of those present dared to manifest any opposition.

“If I decide to fight for the purpose of banishing the empire of clarity to favor your cause.”

In this way, while receiving the honors of the saint, Dale presented his conditions.

“What benefits can the Shadow Court, or more precisely, the Shadow Church, offer in my favor?”

Despite the unexpectedness of the scenario, he calculated with great coldness what elements would be useful to him.

“The entirety of the Shadow Court will prostrate itself before the orders of the ‘Lord of the Shadows’.”

Dictated the saint. The convergence between darkness and gloom. A panorama that Dale had projected in his thoughts on some occasion, materialized now in a totally unexpected way. A true providential resolution.

“One moment, stop right there.”

It happened at that instant.

Having finished his drink, the executioner known by the alias “Killing Sword” took the floor.

He who held the First Seat of the Seven Swords of the Continent, Master Baro.

“I do not doubt the privileges that the successor of Saxon possesses, however…”

He rose from his seat and brought his limb toward the hilt of his weapon.

“Even so, determining if you truly possess the merits for me to bow my head is a matter that will be resolved after a confrontation.”

“……”

Obtaining the submission of the Shadow Court in its entirety implied claiming command over the most powerful brotherhood of executioners in the entire territory.

“According to my experiences, even when showing submission, it is imperative to do so with extreme caution.”

Within that group were the formidable members of the “Seven Swords of the Continent,” and the subject positioned in front of Dale, called the Killing Sword, was no exception to that rule.

“Even if said action entails confronting the Duke of Saxon himself directly.”

They would not give up their respect easily.

From the beginning, Dale never contemplated the idea of taking the reins of the group based solely on the backing of the Shadow Saint. Winning the individual respect of each member represented a completely independent task.

“Allow me to take charge of this situation.”

“There is no need.”

Aurelia stepped forward with the intention of drawing her weapon, but Dale placed his arm to contain her actions.

“It is not correct to grant the leadership of a fraternity as illustrious as the Shadow Court to an individual who does not demonstrate being up to the task.”

“Is that so?”

“It constitutes a true privilege that one of the members of the Seven Swords of the Continent puts my capabilities to the test directly.”

“Wow, you possess great eloquence, your words flow with excessive ease.”

Master Baro emitted a cold laugh as he drew his weapon from its sheath.

“Keep your guard up, boy.”

An emanation of crimson tone began to surround the edge of the weapon.

“Do not expect any kind of help of divine origin.”

Living up to his reputation as the Killing Sword.

“Unless you wish to obtain a direct ticket to the other world.”

“I am prepared.”

In that fraction of a second, Master Baro vanished from sight.

The holder of the highest position among the Seven Swords, considered the most lethal executioner in the entire continent.

Clang!

An attack provided with a crimson emanation was projected from Dale’s rear, being intercepted with a resounding metallic impact.

“But what does this mean…?”

Master Baro exclaimed extremely bewildered.

“Have you been able to stop my blow?”

Dale remained static, without bothering to turn his face, maintaining a rigorous silence.

It was not Dale who executed the defensive movement. It was the Death Knight, the fighter that Dale had obtained in the combat chamber, who, carrying the Black Sword of Saxon, diverted the offensive launched by the Killing Sword. The blade imbued with an emanation as dark as jet manifested the qualities of the Peacemaker.

It represented the first occasion on this plane in which a paladin’s weapon was brandished using an energy emanation.

“Will I perhaps lose my life if I continue at this pace?”

muttered Master Baro between his teeth, as the substitute executioner of the paladin attacked the Killing Sword with fierceness.

Chapter 94