Shade was watching the battlefield, recalling the plan he had created hours before Jerom's first attack.
—Several hours earlier—
In the meeting hall, Shade used the main body. He looked at Scarlet and his seven transcendents. He had called a meeting to discuss the attack.
The hall was spacious, with a large stone table at the center. Maps and diagrams covered the walls. The light of torches danced, creating shadows that moved like living creatures.
Shade stood up. His expression was serious.
"Listen carefully. What I'm about to tell you will determine the future of Doom."
Sebastian raised a hand.
"Leader, how did you take so much damage? We've never seen you in that state."
Shade exhaled slowly.
"I underestimated my adversary. That was a mistake. He is stronger than me, and I barely managed to escape with my life."
The transcendents exchanged worried glances.
One of them, a black-haired man named Kael, spoke:
"Sir, for something to leave you like that, it would have to possess truly terrible power. What kind of being is it?"
Shade looked at them directly.
"It is a creature of darkness."
Silence. No one understood.
"Creatures of darkness?" asked Scarlet, frowning. "Aren't they the same as nightmare creatures?"
"No," Shade replied firmly. "Creatures of darkness are born from true darkness. They are different. Much more dangerous. They never tire, they feel no pain, and they possess overwhelming power."
Frost tilted his head.
"And how do you defeat them?"
"There are two ways," Shade explained. "Using nothingness itself, or attacks imbued with light. But it's not simple. They control nightmare creatures and humans like puppets. Fighting them is like fighting an entire army."
Scarlet crossed her arms.
"But you fought one and survived."
Shade nodded.
"Yes. But the one that attacked me is too powerful. I don't know how strong he truly is. Even I, who have experience dealing with these things, know he's in a league above."
Another transcendent, a silver-haired woman named Lyra, asked:
"So how will we fight against that? If he's so powerful..."
Shade raised a hand to calm them.
"I have a plan."
He rose from his seat and walked toward a stone board. He took a piece of chalk and began to draw. The strokes were quick, vague, but understandable.
"The thing that attacked me, Jerom, is currently creating an army to besiege Doom," he said, tracing circles and lines. "For now, he doesn't seem to have intentions of fighting directly."
Sebastian nodded.
"So we'll use that to our advantage?"
"Exactly." Shade pointed at the drawings. "Our enemy can create other creatures of darkness. But every time he does, he weakens himself."
Scarlet understood immediately.
"So the objective will be to kill all the creatures he creates to weaken him. And then attack."
"Correct," Shade confirmed. "It will be a war of attrition."
Frost smiled widely.
"I like it. Wear down the enemy until he can't go on."
"It's not that simple," Shade warned. "Every creature his army kills will weaken him, but it will also enrage him. Eventually, he'll be forced to intervene personally."
Jake, who had been silent, spoke up.
"And what do we do then? How do we face something like that?"
Shade looked at him.
"When that happens, I'll handle it."
Silence fell over the hall. Everyone knew what that meant.
Lyra asked with a trembling voice:
"And if you can't?"
Shade was silent for a moment.
"We'll have to use the emergency protocol. We'll relocate the entire population to Twilight, as established."
Scarlet stepped forward.
"If you do that, I'll stay behind."
Shade nodded.
"So will I. Something like that needs to be stopped. If it reached the citadels, they would be completely destroyed. No one could do anything—not even the Supremes."
"And if everything goes wrong?" asked Kael.
Shade closed his eyes.
"Then I'll have to use my last card."
No one asked what it was. Something in his tone told them they didn't want to know.
Shade opened his eyes and swept his gaze across the hall.
"Prepare everything. Deploy the forces, establish the evacuation zone. I want you ready for when the battle begins."
"Understood," they responded in unison.
Shade looked at each of his transcendents.
"I trust you. Don't fail me."
The meeting ended. Each one left the hall with determination.
---
—Back to the present—
Shade observed the battlefield from atop the wall.
An enormous army of nightmare creatures advanced. Among them, there were Fallen, Corrupted, and some large creatures that acted as commanders.
It was imposing. Terrifying.
Shade raised his hand and gave the signal.
"Let the attack begin."
From his shadow, his Dark Knight emerged. His Supreme Devil. A figure in black armor that radiated power.
"Go," Shade ordered. "Deal with the largest creatures."
The Dark Knight nodded and launched into the battlefield.
The battle had begun.
---
Shade watched from above. His soldiers moved with precision. The artillery lines fired blessed light projectiles. The rows of Awakened advanced with their forged memories.
"First line, fire," he ordered.
The cannons roared. Flashes of light streaked across the sky.
"Second line, prepare for close combat."
The soldiers drew their weapons.
"Offensive line, attack."
Hundreds of warriors charged against the enemy.
Shade saw everything. Every movement, every casualty, every success and failure.
Scarlet transformed into her transcendent form. Her bird-of-prey body wreathed in flames rose into the sky. She launched herself at the enemy commanders with ferocity.