The sky didn't heal.
It worsened.
After Rahim extracted the shadow—
The crack above didn't close.
Instead—
It spread.
Like a wound that refused to stop bleeding.
Dark energy poured down like rain.
Not water.
Not light.
Something heavier.
Something alive.
Rahim stood still.
"…So it's not over."
Behind him—
His army expanded again.
Noir.
Titan.
Sky Tyrant.
And the newly acquired shadow—
Still forming.
Still adapting.
Stronger than the last.
"…Good."
Rahim exhaled slowly.
His body still hurt.
The earlier resonance hadn't disappeared.
It lingered.
Like something inside him—
Was waking up.
The system flickered again.
[Warning: Core Instability Rising]
[Shadow Integration Incomplete]
"…Incomplete…"
Rahim clenched his fist.
"…Then I'll complete it myself."
BOOM.
The sky exploded.
Not cracked.
Exploded.
And from it—
Something descended.
Not like the others.
Not a beast.
Not a monster.
A figure.
Humanoid.
Floating.
Wrapped in darkness.
Its presence alone—
Silenced the battlefield.
Even the shadows—
Paused.
Even Titan—
Didn't move.
Rahim's eyes narrowed.
"…You're different."
The figure slowly lowered.
Feet touching nothing.
Floating just above the ground.
Its eyes—
Glowed deep violet.
"…So you are the one."
Its voice—
Calm.
Cold.
Ancient.
Rahim didn't answer immediately.
He observed.
Measured.
"…And you are?"
The figure smiled faintly.
"…Above you."
Silence.
Rahim chuckled softly.
"…I doubt that."
The air shifted.
Pressure increased.
Crushing.
Even the ground cracked.
The figure tilted its head.
"…Confidence."
"…Interesting."
Rahim stepped forward.
"…Talk less."
"Fight."
The figure's smile widened.
"…As you wish."
And in the next instant—
It vanished.
Rahim's instincts screamed.
"—!"
Too late.
A hand grabbed his throat.
SLAM.
He was smashed into the ground.
The impact—
Created a crater.
Dust exploded.
Shockwaves spread.
People miles away felt it.
"…Too slow."
The figure stood above him.
Unmoved.
Untouched.
Rahim coughed.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
"…Fast…"
For the first time—
He felt it.
Not danger.
Not excitement.
Real pressure.
"…Good."
He smiled.
"…Now it's fun."
Darkness exploded.
Noir appeared instantly.
SLASH.
The figure blocked it with one hand.
CLANG.
No damage.
Titan followed.
A massive punch.
BOOM.
The figure didn't move.
"…Weak."
It flicked its finger.
Titan—
Was sent flying.
Crashed through multiple buildings.
Silence.
Rahim stood up slowly.
"…You're stronger than the others."
The figure looked at him.
"…Of course."
"…I am not like them."
A pause.
Then—
"…I am a ruler."
The word echoed.
Ruler.
Rahim's eyes sharpened.
"…Like me?"
The figure shook its head.
"…No."
"…Above you."
BOOM.
Rahim moved again.
Faster.
Stronger.
He appeared behind it.
Shadow Claw—
SLASH.
This time—
It connected.
A small cut appeared.
Silence.
The figure looked at its arm.
Then—
Smiled.
"…You can hurt me."
"…Interesting."
Rahim didn't stop.
"Shadow Domain."
Darkness expanded.
Everything slowed.
Controlled.
Owned.
Rahim attacked again.
Relentless.
Precise.
Every strike—
Perfect.
The figure stepped back.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
It stopped.
"…Enough."
The world—
Shattered.
Not physically.
But the domain.
Rahim's Shadow Domain—
Collapsed.
"…What?"
The figure stepped forward.
"…Your control is incomplete."
"…Your power is unstable."
"…You are not a king yet."
Silence.
Rahim's eyes darkened further.
"…Say that again."
The figure smiled.
"…You are a candidate."
"…Nothing more."
BOOM.
Rahim's power surged violently.
Stronger than ever.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
The system screamed.
[Danger: Overload Critical]
But he ignored it.
"…I'll prove you wrong."
He attacked again.
Full power.
Everything he had.
The battle—
Turned insane.
Speed beyond sight.
Power beyond limits.
The sky—
Broke further.
Reality itself—
Distorted.
But the figure—
Still stood.
Still smiling.
"…Good."
"…Very good."
It raised its hand.
Dark energy gathered.
Denser.
Heavier.
Deadlier.
"…Let me show you."
"…True power."
Rahim felt it instantly.
This—
Was different.
Far beyond anything before.
"…Noir. Titan. All of you—"
Too late.
The attack came down.
Like judgment.
BOOM.
The world—
Went white.
Then black.
Silence.
Dust covered everything.
Nothing moved.
Nothing breathed.
Then—
A voice.
"…Still alive?"
The figure stepped forward.
Through the destruction.
Looking down.
Rahim lay there.
Broken.
Bleeding.
But—
Smiling.
"…Yeah…"
"…Still alive."
Darkness moved again.
Slowly.
But surely.
His shadows—
Were rising.
Again.
Stronger.
Different.
Evolving.
The figure stopped.
For the first time—
It frowned.
"…What is this…"
Rahim stood.
Slowly.
Painfully.
But firmly.
His eyes—
No longer just black.
Something deeper.
Something ancient.
"…Now…"
He stepped forward.
"…Let's try again."
High above—
That ancient presence watched.
Silent.
Then—
It spoke.
"…Now it begins."
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