CHAPTER TWO
A massive obsidian-black spaceship tore through the endless stretch of space, its hull etched with the glowing emblem of a purple sun—faintly pulsing against the darkness of the void. It moved like a silent predator, smooth and swift, a shadow among stars.
Inside the ship, near the forward observation deck, Conner stood alone, staring out into the starlit abyss. His reflection shimmered faintly against the transparent viewpane, but his mind was elsewhere—echoing with the words of Vitraz.
A chance to become a Shadow Walker.
The opportunity still felt surreal.
It was a title just below the elite Shadow Saints—those like Charlotte, whose power and presence could freeze entire battlefields. Shadow Walkers, though not as revered, were a rare breed. They didn't just command advanced shadow abilities—they wielded a unique technique, one that could activate in the most desperate of moments. A technique that could save their lives.
And for Conner, survival was everything.
Years of fighting across countless worlds as part of the Legion had dulled his fear but sharpened his instinct to live. He didn't enjoy the endless skirmishes, the assassinations, or the high-risk missions handed down as punishment by Charlotte. But he endured them. Because in the end, he wanted to stay alive—and maybe, just maybe, find peace.
This new mission wasn't as suicidal as her usual death orders. In fact, it was almost reasonable.
A reward of promotion.
A ticket home.
Earth.
Conner's lips twitched at the thought. Home... It felt like a fading dream. Truthfully, he barely remembered it. Taken by the Legion as a child, chosen because of his rare aptitude for shadow manipulation, Earth was more a concept than a memory. And when he'd asked Vitraz why he—of all people—was given such a prestigious opportunity to become a Shadow Walker at only eighteen years old, the Shade Ruler had simply replied:
"You have the aptitude for Shadow."
What the hell did that even mean?
He hadn't figured it out.
"You seem a little too happy about that promotion," a voice said suddenly, smooth and sharp.
Conner turned toward the sound.
From the corner of the room, stepping cleanly out of the surrounding shadows, emerged a tall figure in the same black Legion uniform. Long black hair framed his angular face, and his scarlet eyes held a complicated swirl of emotions—pride, envy, sorrow, and something close to joy.
"Pine," Conner greeted with a nod.
Pine was a strange one—maybe the strangest person Conner had ever met.
There were days when Pine seemed like a sworn enemy, someone who would plunge a blade into Conner's back without hesitation if it gave him an edge. And yet, on other days, it felt like he'd throw himself in front of a plasma cannon just to save Conner's life.
A paradox wrapped in a shadow.
Conner couldn't even tell if Pine was good or evil. The guy wasn't even human—despite looking like one. He resembled an Earthling in every visible way: same build, same facial structure, even the same dark humor. But over the decades, Conner had encountered plenty of species that wore human-like appearances. The universe had a habit of echoing patterns, and Pine was no exception—something almost familiar, but entirely alien.
Still, Pine was more than just a mystery. He was a rival.
Ever since joining the Legion, Pine had pushed himself to surpass Conner. But just as he celebrated reaching Rank Two, he learned that Conner was already being promoted to Rank Three.
That news had shattered something in Pine. And yet, it also lit a fire.
"Just you wait, Conner," Pine said with a grin, stepping beside him. "I'll catch up. You won't stay ahead for long."
Conner only chuckled, shaking his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Pine was so focused on strength, so obsessed with ranking up. But Conner? He couldn't care less. If anything, all he wanted was a few years—just a few—of peace. No more bloodshed. No more orders. Just Earth. Just home.
"I'm coming, everyone," he whispered. "I'm coming back… back to Earth."
"Destination reached," the ship's AI announced in a calm, mechanical voice.
Conner sighed.
Pine, in contrast, lit up. "Let's go, man!"
Conner looked over at him, then gave a slow, tired smile. "Let's get this hell over with."
The ship's landing ramp extended with a hiss of air, and both Conner and Pine stepped out onto the ashen-gray soil of a barren moon. Far ahead in the distance loomed a massive fortified structure.
Conner's face immediately darkened.
Vitraz had said this mission was simple—just a minor clash with a handful of JK Stars gang members. But what lay ahead wasn't just any outpost.
It was a full-blown stronghold.
He could already sense it—hundreds of energy signatures within. Easily two hundred or more. Maybe closer to three. All of them battle-hardened, armed with illegal core weapons, and loyal to one of the most notorious space gangs in the known verse.
The JK Stars weren't just a nuisance. They were a nightmare.
And Vitraz had called this a warm-up?
"Damn him," Conner muttered under his breath. "This is their main base."
He glanced back at his team—twenty Shadow Agents standing silently behind him. Each was geared for war, their faces steeled with resolve. They had trained together, bled together, survived together. Conner hadn't intended to form a squad, but somehow they'd gravitated to him. He wasn't sure if it was luck… or fate.
Still, seeing them ready gave him a sense of calm.
A sense of home.
"Everyone," Conner called out. "Let's move."
At once, shadows coiled around him, cloaking his body in swirling black tendrils. When the veil dissipated, he stood clad in light tactical armor, a glowing red gauntlet on his right hand radiating heat before fading to a dull ember.
All around him, his squad did the same—activating their shadow armories. Weapons, accessories, and armor appeared in flashes of dark energy.
Pine summoned a thick red chain, wrapping it around one arm like a serpent.
A massive, bald brute with a round head conjured a black energy shield as tall as himself.
And a hulking yellow skinned man—easily three meters tall—gripped two colossal clubs, the weapons humming with destructive energy.
The squad moved in formation, stepping across the ashen ground toward the towering gates of the enemy stronghold. The moment they got close, a defensive barrage activated—an attack aimed to catch them off guard.
But it never landed.
With a simple wave of his hand, Conner summoned the shadows. The entire gate groaned and then dissolved into smoke, swallowed by darkness. Not a sound followed—just silence and the hollow echo of their footsteps.
They stepped inside cautiously.
No resistance. No alarms. No JK Stars in sight.
It was too quiet.
Almost... wrong.
"Where the hell are they?" Pine muttered, his red chain rattling in his grip.
"Gone," Conner replied, eyes narrowing. "Or hiding."
The squad pressed deeper into the compound until they reached a massive set of double doors, veined with glowing lines of unstable energy. The one-eyed giant among them stepped forward without hesitation. He raised his club and brought it crashing down.
Boom.
The doors splintered apart, fragments flying in all directions—and a thick wall of smoke flooded out.
Then silence.
Then light.
And when the haze cleared, what greeted them sent a chill down even the bravest soldier's spine.
Hundred—no, couple hundreds—of JK Stars members stood shoulder to shoulder in a cavernous hall, all grinning with feral anticipation. Their eyes gleamed with madness, their weapons already drawn, a sea of chaos ready to descend.
And at the center stood their leader: a grotesque, green-skinned, two-headed brute in cracked armor, each face sneering.
"This is what they send?" he laughed. "A low-tier Shadow squad to take me down?"
He raised a massive hand and clenched his fist. A deep rumble echoed through the walls as massive slabs of reinforced metal rose behind the Steele Squad—blocking off every possible escape route.
"You're not going anywhere," the creature snarled. "You'll all be torn apart."
With a sharp gesture, he signaled the first strike.
A monstrous figure leapt forward—a lean, muscled mutant with three arms, each wielding a jagged dagger. He moved like a blur, aiming straight for an agent's throat.
But he never made it.
A dark flash erupted in front of him.
And then—
A single, red-hot fist collided with his face. His entire head exploded into ash and sparks, his body dropping like a puppet with its strings cut.
The room froze.
Conner stood over the smoldering corpse, his gauntlet steaming, his expression cold and unreadable.
The two-headed boss took a cautious step back, stunned.
"I think you are the one underestimating us," Conner said softly, smiling without warmth. "We may be low-tier, but the Steele Squad is the strongest low-tier unit you'll ever meet."
He clenched his gauntlet tighter, flames licking at his knuckles.
"Let's show you why we're feared."
"Maxel," he said, addressing the legion AI. "Activate Shadow Synergy."
A faint chime echoed in each squad member's helmet.
> Activating Shadow Synergy...
Target: Steele Squad...
Link complete.
Shadow Energy synchronized.
Control levels optimized...
Each member of the squad felt the power surge through their veins. Their minds linked. Their shadows fused. Their movements were no longer individual—they were unified.
But Conner wasn't done yet.
A notification flickered onto his system HUD.
> [Usurper Skill Available]
Permission to activate Usurper on hostile units to strengthen squad? [Yes / No]
Conner didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
> Usurper Skill activated.
> [System Update]
Enemy energy partially absorbed. Steele Squad's stats have increased.
—
TO BE CONTINUED…
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