Shadow slave: Sovereign of the Unknown

The underground pit held its breath.

Blood dripped onto the cracked stone floor, pooling beneath the fallen Dreamer. The silence was heavy, filled with disbelief and something far sharper—fear.

He stood over his defeated opponent, his chest rising and falling steadily. The pain in his ribs throbbed with each breath, but he had already pushed it to the back of his mind.

He had won.

Not just through brute strength, but by learning, adapting, and perfecting his opponent's style in real-time. Predator's Conquest had allowed him to mirror the Dreamer's footwork and counters, but it was more than just mimicry—it was evolution.

The techniques he had taken were no longer his opponent's.

They were his now.

And they were only going to get sharper.

The Crowd's Reaction

The silence was finally broken by murmurs and whispers.

"Did he just… copy Galen's fighting style?"

"No… it's more than that. He used Galen's own moves against him, but cleaner."

"He beat a veteran in his first match… who the hell is this guy?"

The woman who had been leading the Black Sun's meeting earlier stepped forward, slow applause echoing through the chamber.

"Well, well…" she mused, her green eyes gleaming with intrigue. "That was unexpected."

Her gaze wasn't just impressed—it was calculating.

Galen, the defeated Dreamer, groaned as he clutched his side, blood dripping from the deep cut Phantom Rend had left. He looked up at him, then shook his head with a wry smile.

"Damn. I thought I had you there," he muttered before sighing. "You're the real deal, kid."

He didn't reply. Words weren't necessary.

Instead, he simply sheathed his sword in a slow, deliberate motion.

Black Sun's Decision

The woman studied him for a moment longer before nodding.

"Welcome to the Black Sun."

A wave of tension rippled through the spectators.

There was something final about her words, as if they weren't just accepting him—they were acknowledging him.

And that meant something in a place like this.

"Name?" she asked.

He paused for a brief moment.

Giving out his real name in this world felt wrong.

It was a name that belonged to another life—a past life.

But he wasn't the person he used to be.

"…Call me Ash."

She smirked. "Ash, huh? Fitting. You fight like someone who's crawled out of hell and burned everything behind him."

The name didn't mean anything yet.

But that was fine.

Names didn't hold power—strength did.

And he would carve that strength into the world soon enough.

The Aftermath

As the crowd began to disperse, a few members of the Black Sun gave him wary glances. Some nodded in acknowledgment. Others scowled, clearly displeased by his sudden rise in status.

Enemies were already forming.

That was expected. Strength attracted challenge.

Galen walked over, still holding his injured side, but his eyes were sharp. "You learn fast."

He didn't deny it.

"…Yeah."

Galen chuckled. "Not just fast. I've seen people copy moves before, but you made them yours. That's rare." He tilted his head. "I don't know what your deal is, but you better watch your back. You embarrassed a veteran today. Some people won't like that."

He understood the unspoken message.

His victory had painted a target on his back.

That was fine. He would let them come.

Reflections in the Dark

Later that night, he sat in a dimly lit room, bandaging his wounds. The fight had taken more out of him than he let on. His muscles ached, and his body was still adapting to the stats he had absorbed.

Sovereign of the Abyss worked over time, slowly integrating his opponent's physical strength into his own. It wasn't an instant power-up—it was gradual, steady, permanent.

Every battle would make him stronger.

Every fight would refine his technique.

Every enemy would become a stepping stone.

He flexed his fingers, testing his grip. His movements already felt slightly sharper. The foundation was solidifying.

But he wasn't just fighting to get stronger.

He was preparing.

The Nightmare Spell would soon spread across the world. The real threats hadn't even begun.

And when the time came… he would not be prey.

He would be the hunter.

A Moment of Stillness

The underground chamber had returned to its usual gloom, the torches lining the stone walls flickering dimly. The scent of blood and sweat still hung in the air, a reminder of the battle that had just taken place.

Ash sat in the small room he had been given, carefully wrapping fresh bandages around his torso. The fight with Galen had taken a toll, but it had also proven something important.

He could survive.

More than that—he could thrive.

But the battle had also raised questions. Had he drawn too much attention? He wanted strength, but he didn't need to be a target so soon.

His hands clenched slightly.

He had no choice. The world was about to change.

The Nightmare Spell would soon spread across humanity, dragging millions into the horrors of the Dream Realm.

If he didn't get stronger now, he wouldn't have a chance later.

Whispers in the Dark

A knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts.

He reached for the dagger he had kept beside him, just in case.

"Relax, I'm not here to stab you in your sleep," came Galen's voice.

Ash exhaled and opened the door.

Galen looked better—his wounds mostly patched up. He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.

"You're gonna have problems," Galen said bluntly, crossing his arms.

Ash sat back down. He already knew that.

"Let me guess—some of the others are pissed?"

Galen smirked. "More like confused. They don't know what to make of you."

"That's good," Ash replied.

Galen raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

Ash nodded.

Fear is predictable.

Hatred is manageable.

But confusion? That was power.

People feared what they didn't understand. If they couldn't pin him down—if they didn't know whether he was a rising monster or just lucky—they would hesitate.

Hesitation meant opportunity.

A Dangerous Offer

Galen leaned against the wall. "Vera—the woman running this little operation—she's got her eyes on you now."

Ash remained silent.

"You're a wildcard, and she hates wildcards," Galen continued. "So expect a test soon."

Ash narrowed his eyes.

"A test?"

Galen nodded. "Something more dangerous than just a fight. She'll want to see how useful—or disposable—you really are."

Ash considered this.

He hadn't planned to stay with the Black Sun forever, but for now, they were a resource. A stepping stone. He would play along—for now.

"What kind of test?" Ash asked.

Galen smirked. "We'll see. Just… be ready."

Silent Preparation

After Galen left, Ash exhaled slowly.

He had won today, but his true battles hadn't even begun.

He needed to prepare.

The Black Sun was valuable for now, but soon the world would shift, and these underground fighters would be nothing compared to the real monsters waiting beyond the Nightmare Gate.

He had only scratched the surface of his abilities.

Sovereign of the Abyss was still growing. The stats he had taken from Galen were being absorbed, making his movements sharper, his reflexes faster.

Predator's Conquest had granted him Galen's fighting style, but he had already begun refining it, making it his own.

Then there were his two core techniques—Phantom Rend and Abyss Fang.

Right now, they drained too much energy, limiting him to a single use per fight. That needed to change.

Abyssal Refinement

Ash closed his eyes, focusing inward.

If he wanted to fight against the true threats in the future, his techniques couldn't just be strong.

They had to be perfect.

He stood up, drawing his sword, and began practicing in silence.

Each swing was precise, fast, but not rushed.

Each movement was calculated.

He focused on Phantom Rend first—the high-speed draw-cut. He repeated it over and over, reducing wasted movement, refining the energy flow.

Then Abyss Fang—the delayed strike. He focused on controlling the timing, making the execution smoother.

Time blurred as he practiced.

His body ached. His wounds throbbed.

But he did not stop.

Because out there, the world was about to shift.

And when it did—he would be ready.

A New Day Approaches

By the time he finally stopped, the first hints of dawn were seeping through the cracks in the underground hideout.

A new day had begun.

Ash sheathed his sword, exhaling slowly.

The test was coming.

The Nightmare Spell was coming.

And soon, the real game would begin.

To Be Continued…