shadow Ascendants

Ren stood amidst the shattered remains of the undead guardians, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The lingering black mist from his Shadow Absorption clung to his skin before vanishing into his body, leaving behind a strange sensation—a rush of strength, a hunger for more.

"This power... It's incredible."

His fingers curled into a fist, still tingling from the sensation of breaking bones with his bare hands. He had never fought before—never truly fought. He had trained, practiced stances, listened to instructors, but real combat was different. It was instinctive, raw, and filled with danger.

And he liked it.

But before he could fully process what had happened, a deep rumbling echoed through the chamber. The ancient stone doors at the end of the hall creaked open, revealing a massive darkened space beyond.

A gust of cold air rushed past him, carrying with it whispers—distant voices, murmuring words in an ancient tongue.

"This ruin… It's alive."

Ren swallowed hard. He had come here as a broken exile, abandoned by his clan, but now he felt as though he was being led somewhere, chosen for something greater.

He stepped forward, his boots crunching against the remains of the fallen undead. As he crossed the threshold into the next chamber, torches along the walls burst to life, casting eerie blue flames that illuminated the vast hall.

Then he saw it.

At the center of the room stood a massive obsidian statue, towering at least twenty feet tall. Its form was humanoid but monstrous, with a crown of jagged horns and four glowing blue eyes. It clutched a colossal black blade, its tip embedded in the floor.

And at its feet lay a single black pedestal with ancient text carved into it.

Ren approached cautiously, his heartbeat pounding against his ribs. As he neared the pedestal, the words shifted—rewriting themselves before his eyes.

[Trial of the Shadow Monarch]

Only those who overcome death itself may claim the Monarch's power.

Step forward, forsaken one, and be judged.

A sense of foreboding settled in his gut. He had no idea what this "trial" entailed, but something told him it wasn't going to be easy.

The moment his foot crossed an invisible threshold, the statue's four glowing eyes flickered to life.

BOOM.

The entire ruin shook violently as the massive figure moved. Its stone body cracked, revealing pulsing veins of black mist beneath its surface. The giant blade screeched as it was pulled free from the ground.

And then, the deep, ancient voice from before echoed once more.

[Trial Commencing.]

[Opponent: Shadow Guardian - Abyss Knight.]

Ren barely had time to react before the Abyss Knight charged.

The ground shattered beneath its weight, and in an instant, the towering warrior was in front of him, sword raised high.

Ren's instincts screamed—move!

He barely threw himself to the side before the blade came crashing down. BOOM! The impact sent out a shockwave, hurling dust and debris into the air.

"Too fast!"

Ren rolled to his feet, eyes wide. He had fought the undead guardians before, but this thing was on a completely different level. Every movement felt deliberate, refined, impossibly precise—this was a warrior forged by countless battles.

And he was supposed to fight it?

"No, I can't think like that."

His grip tightened. He wasn't the same weak noble who had been cast out. He had power now. And there was only one way to prove it

Fight.

Ren dashed forward, shadows flickering around his hands. The Abyss Knight turned toward him, raising its massive sword again.

Ren leapt-Shadow Claw igniting in his grip—

And the battle began.