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Jiro stood atop the Empire State Building in New York, his black cape fluttering in the wind.
His gaze pierced the clouds, and his super vision scanned the entire world like radar.
He was hunting for the next mask. They weren't particularly powerful, but damn useful when it came to getting things done.
Suddenly—he caught a surge of energy!
His super vision locked onto the source instantly: a hidden chamber beneath the Giza Pyramids in Egypt.
No hesitation—a golden portal opened in front of him.
Egypt — Beneath the Great Pyramid
Dr. Jones, the archaeologist, held a flashlight with trembling hands, staring at the mask on the stone platform.
It looked like a demon's face, with blood-red gemstones set in its eyes.
"The legendary Shadow Mask…" he whispered, reaching out.
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you."
Jones almost fell over in shock. His flashlight beam jerked around until it landed on a black-clad man who had appeared at the chamber's entrance.
"Wh-Who are you?!"
Jiro didn't answer. He just walked straight toward the mask.
Jones tried to move, but realized he couldn't. His shadow had turned into black chains, pinning him in place.
Jiro picked up the mask. A flicker of dragonflame ignited at his fingertip. "Come out yourself, or I'll burn you out."
The mask vibrated violently, and a shrill voice screamed:
"You arrogant mortal! You have no idea who you're messing w—AARGH!"
Jiro didn't wait. He activated soul-extraction on the spot. The black smoke was ripped from the mask, and the entity's consciousness was shredded and devoured.
He casually tossed the now-lifeless mask to the stunned Dr. Jones. "Souvenir."
And as he stepped back into the portal, a whole legion of shadows surged out behind him.
Paris, France – Catacombs
The bat-mask of General Bart was ripped apart mid-screech.
Ding! You've gained control of the Nightbat Legion!
Japan – Aokigahara Forest
General Manny's ogre mask and the ancient vengeful spirit inside it were crushed in Jiro's palm.
Ding! You've gained control of the Gigashadow Legion!
Himalayas – Hidden Realm of Shambhala
When Jiro tore off General Ikar's flight-shadow mask, the entire realm began to collapse.
From the void, countless shadow-dragons swarmed out and bowed before him.
Ding! You've gained control of the Winged Shadow Legion!
Jiro kept popping up all over the globe, hunting down every single one of these masks.
Pacific Ocean – Ruins of R'lyeh
The final mask, Tara's, let out a furious roar.
The Shadow King tried to resist, but Jiro forcibly ripped his soul and crown apart with pure magic!
"You think collecting the masks gives you control of the Shadow Dimension?" Tara's soul sneered as it disintegrated.
"You have no idea what real terror is—"
Jiro crushed his head before he could finish.
Ding! You now hold full authority over the Shadow Dimension!Current Summonable Legions: 9/9Summon Limit: ∞
Standing on the boiling sea of shadows, Jiro looked up.
His eyes turned blood-red, and his voice trembled with power.
"I've got everything I need now," he grinned, as shadows all around began to surge and rise.
Jiro stood on the rooftop of a building somewhere in New York, night cloaking the entire city.
Below him, his ninja army knelt on one knee, glowing red eyes gleaming in the dark—awaiting orders.
But Tara's last words kept echoing in his head.
"You think collecting the masks means you control the Shadow Dimension?"
Jiro looked down at his shadow—it was deeper than ever, like it connected to another world.
"The Shadow Kingdom, huh?"
His eyes lit up with crimson light. He took a step forward.
"Buzz."
Ripples spread through the darkness above the void. His body began to slowly sink, like he was stepping into a pool of pure black ink.
The city lights, the neon glow, the real world—they all faded from his eyes.
He wasn't falling. He was descending, like taking an elevator into a deeper dimension.
The darkness wrapped around him—not suffocating, but comforting, like returning home.
Seconds later—
He opened his eyes.
The Shadow Kingdom.
He stood in a vast void, surrounded by endless darkness.
No sky. No land. Just infinite black and drifting shadows.
In the distance, twisted shadow creatures roamed—some shaped like dragons, others indescribable abominations.
They noticed Jiro.
But none attacked.
They just stared at him in silence.
"So that's how it is," Jiro muttered.
"The mask was just a key. This… this is where the real power lies."
His super vision pierced through the darkness and locked onto something in the distance.
A black palace floated in the void. Atop its throne sat a massive shadowy figure slowly lifting its head—its gaze meeting his across the distance.
The Shadow King, Tara.
Tara smiled, his voice like a whisper from thousands of dead souls.
"Welcome… to my world."
Jiro didn't respond. He simply raised his hand, and a wisp of hellfire ignited at his fingertip.
The flames reflected in his cold, unblinking eyes.
"Your world?" He let out a soft laugh.
"It's about to become mine."
In the blink of an eye, he vanished—and reappeared right in front of the palace!
The figure on the throne stood up. A giant in black armor with bat-like wings spread behind him, his crimson eyes glaring down.
His body was made entirely of pure shadow energy.
"Welcome, outsider," Tara's voice echoed through the void."You gathered my masks and gained command over the Shadow Legion. But did you really think that was enough to challenge my rule?"
Jiro didn't say a word. He just stared at him—like watching a bad joke unfold.
Tara spread his arms as the shadow energy roared around him."Here, I am immortal! My power can withstand nuclear blasts! I defy the laws of physics! And you—"
"Nuclear blasts?" Jiro actually chuckled."That's the best you've got?"
Then—he vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared above Tara's head, swinging down a brutal whip-kick!
BOOM!!!
Tara didn't even have time to react. His entire body was sent flying, smashing through the throne and tearing straight through the palace.
He finally crashed into the depths of the Shadow Realm, unleashing a storm of black tides!
"How… how is this possible?!" Tara struggled to get up, his armor shattered, disbelief written all over his face.
"Your power… it shouldn't be like this!"
Jiro didn't give him time to think. In a flash, he appeared right in front of him again.
BAM! BAM! BAM!!
Fists, elbows, knees—every strike landed with surgical precision, hammering into Tara's weak points. His shadow energy broke apart under the relentless assault.
The defense Tara was so proud of? Paper-thin against Jiro.
"Physical attacks don't work on you?" Jiro sneered."Looks like your intel's way out of date."
With a final punch, his right arm, now engulfed in hellfire, drove straight through Tara's chest!
"Arghhh!!"
Tara exploded into a cloud of black fragments, vanishing into the void.
But just moments later, the darkness gathered again. Tara's body reformed as he roared with laughter.
"Fool! In the Shadow Realm, I am eternal! You can't kill me!"
Jiro tilted his head. "Is that so?"
His eyes suddenly flared with blazing golden light—this time, wrapped in ancient magical runes.
Solar Magic: Eternal Burn!
BOOOOM!!!
Tara's grin froze.
His body began to melt away in the blazing sunfire, faster than he could react.
The shadow energy was completely purified—not even a scream made it out. He was reduced to nothing but a thin wisp of smoke and then… gone for good.
All that remained floating in the void was a black sphere—pure essence of the Shadow Realm.
Jiro reached out and grabbed it without hesitation. He began absorbing it immediately.
Buzz!
Dark energy surged into his body, resonating with the power of the nine shadow masks he'd already absorbed.
The entire Shadow Realm trembled. Countless shadow beasts, dragons, monsters—they all bowed down before him.
[Ding! Shadow Kingship fusion complete!]
[Host has gained ultimate authority: "Shadow Sovereign."]
[Unlimited Shadow Legion summons unlocked—including special units like Shadow Dragons and Shadow Beasts.]
[Shadow Dimension traversal unlocked—instant teleportation to any place touched by shadow.]
[Full control over Shadow Laws—modify the physical rules of the shadow realm itself.]
Jiro slowly opened his eyes. At this moment, he was the new king of the Shadow Realm.
"…Time to head back."
With a single thought, his body began to fade, returning to the real world.
New York City Black Hand Gang HQ
Under the dim lights, Valon paced back and forth restlessly. The wine glass in his hand shook, the red liquid casting a dark reflection on his brooding face.
"Useless. All of you are f***ing useless!" he snarled, suddenly smashing the glass against the wall. Shards flew everywhere.
"We didn't get a single talisman back, and now we've lost contact with the Shadow Legion too!"
In the corner of the room, Ah-Fen, Rasu, and Zhou all shrank back, not daring to speak.
Suddenly—
CRACK!
A sharp noise came from the altar.
Everyone whipped around.
The stone statue of the Shendu perched on the platform—its surface had started to crack!
"Wh-what the hell?!" Valon's eyes went wide as he instinctively took a step back.
BOOM!
The statue exploded. Amid the flying rubble, a massive figure slowly stretched its body.
Scarlet scales covered its body, claws sharp as blades, and blazing eyes glowed in the darkness.
Shendu… had returned!
But not in the form of the Talisman Dragon. No—this form was more primal, more savage.
He was larger than ever, muscles bulging, his tail smashing through concrete like it was nothing.
"Th-this…" Valon's voice trembled."Shendu?! How did you—"
Shendu looked down at his claws, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
"…Strange," he muttered.
"The talismans' power hasn't returned, but somehow, I've regained my true form."
He lifted one claw, and a ball of hellfire flickered into life in his palm.
"The power's still here… even stronger than before."
Valon swallowed hard. "So… the talismans… should we keep looking for them?"
Shendu paused, then slowly grinned, revealing a row of sharp, bone-white teeth.
"No need."
He looked straight up through the ceiling—as if peering into the void itself.
"If someone's stolen the talismans… then I'll just take their world instead."
And elsewhere, across the Earth…
Several Hell Gates were starting to open.
"....."