Kurogami The God of living Shadows
LIVING REALM247th Demon Village
The sun crept over the jagged peaks, casting long crimson rays that cut through the haze of ash drifting lazily in the air. The stench of blood still lingered from last night's carnage. Beneath that dim, almost poisonous morning light, the scattered corpses of demons lay twisted on the ground—claws frozen mid-grip, fangs bared in their final, futile rage.
Kaiser sat alone atop a massive black stone, its surface rough and cold beneath him. His elbows rested on his knees, hands loosely clasped, eyes shadowed. He wasn't just sitting—he was brooding, words slipping from his mouth in a low, venomous murmur.
"Lucifer…" he exhaled, his voice raw, almost trembling with hatred. "I will kill you with my own hands before you rot away from that damned contract."
The morning wind shifted, carrying the faint clink of metal and the dull rhythm of boots striking dirt. Kaiser's head tilted slightly, his gaze sharpening.
From far across the village's dead plains, a procession was making its way toward him. It wasn't a wandering band of merchants or traveling pilgrims—this was something far more deliberate.
At the front, banners fluttered, gilded with noble crests that caught the light. The nobles themselves rode tall, sleek horses, their robes woven from expensive silks that seemed almost out of place in this desolate land. Around them moved their escort—guards clad in reinforced plate and polished mail, weapons gleaming with oil and discipline. These weren't the ragged mercenaries or self-proclaimed warriors Kaiser had seen countless times before. No—these were trained killers, their every step measured, their formation unbroken, their eyes scanning like predators on the hunt.
✦ RANKS OF WARRIORS ✦
One of the female nobles stepped forward, her presence elegant yet commanding. Her long robe shimmered with threads of silver, and her voice carried the authority of royalty.
"Good morning, adventurer," she began, her eyes scanning Kaiser sharply. "We heard the sounds of battle nearby, so we hurried to investigate. I regret to inform you… this land, this very village, belongs to my kingdom. And by the laws of Velmorith, you are to be arrested for the chaos you've unleashed."
She paused, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"But before you act rashly, you should know who you stand against. This land is under the banner of the kingdom renowned across the continents—The Kingdom of Black Mages."
Her voice echoed, and the name carried an almost chilling weight.
VELMORITH KINGDOM
Roads were spotless, the markets bustling with colors and fragrance, children running freely with laughter echoing in the air. Amidst this perfect picture of peace, Kaiser walked silently beside Zara—the noble girl, cousin of the Prince of Velmorith. Her guards kept a wary eye on him as they escorted him to the palace.
Inside the grand hall, the king sat proudly on his golden throne. His presence carried authority, but his arrogance was heavier than his crown. With his thick beard and cloak bearing the royal insignia, he looked down on Kaiser as if he were a mere insect.
"So, a mere child destroyed my precious village and now dares to spread nonsense about it being a demon settlement?" the king's voice roared, laced with disbelief and contempt. "This pathetic excuse will not work on me, boy. Guards, send him to the Dark Prison. Let him rot there for four weeks at the least."
No one dared to oppose the decree. The guards seized Kaiser and dragged him away. But deep inside, Kaiser's lips curved into the faintest smile. This was not a punishment. It was the next step of his plan.
The Dark Prison.Days turned into nights, yet Kaiser endured his confinement in silence. Three days passed without disturbance. But on the fourth day, the air shifted.
Around noon, chaos stirred in the cafeteria. A large crowd of prisoners gathered, their jeers echoing against the cold stone walls. At the center of attention stood a hulking man—one who had been sent to Danger Level: 3 prison not long ago but had somehow clawed his way back.
His eyes locked onto Kaiser. The reason was simple—Kaiser had chosen to sit at his usual spot.
The man marched forward, towering over Kaiser. "Hey kiddo, are you a newbie or something? Get up from my place."
Kaiser remained calm, his gaze unmoving as he continued eating. "I'm eating. Sit somewhere else."
The man's smirk widened. "Tch, arrogant brat. You don't know who you're messing with." He straightened his posture, his voice booming across the hall. "I am the one and only Captain Zabuza of the Dark Skull Clan. Now ditch yourself before I decide to crush you."
But Kaiser only leaned closer, his voice low, almost like a whisper brushing against Zabuza's ear.
"I don't care, captain."
The cafeteria went silent.
Zabuza roared and lunged forward, grabbing Kaiser by the collar and smashing him down onto the table. The wood splintered under the force—but in the blink of an eye, the body in his grasp dissolved into smoke.
A shadow.
Kaiser's voice echoed from behind him, calm and cutting like a blade."Captain… you started this fight. So don't blame me when you can't walk away."
Before Zabuza could react, a sharp kick crashed into his jaw. He tried to block, but Kaiser's movements were too fast, too sharp—his legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the ground.
The prisoners gasped as Kaiser raised his hand, crossing his fingers into a strange seal. His voice was low, but each word carried a weight that sank into the marrow.
"Immortal Void."
Zabuza's eyes widened in horror as his body stiffened. His vision twisted—the prison around him vanishing into a bottomless abyss. He screamed, but no sound escaped as his soul plummeted endlessly. Within seconds, his body hit the ground, unconscious, defeated without mercy.
The silence that followed was deafening.The captain of the Dark Skull Clan… had been crushed.
The crowd of prisoners parted as Kaiser calmly turned back toward his cell. But his steps halted.
An old man stood in the middle of the path, cloaked in rags yet radiating a suffocating presence. His cloudy eyes gleamed with something far darker than age.
"You've been searching for me from the start, haven't you?" the old man rasped, his smile unhinged. "I see it in your aura… yes, you must be his disciple."
Kaiser narrowed his eyes, but before he could speak, the old man turned, his voice rising in a manic chant.
"Good, good! Then let me teach you… the lesson he failed to finish. I will tell you the truth—your truth! And then I shall carve you into something greater… something divine!"
He spread his arms wide, the prison lights flickering around him.
"The world once trembled beneath the shadow of the Kurogami—the Shadow Lord himself. A being only undone by Apollo, the cursed god of light!"
His laughter rang out, sharp and mad, echoing through the prison halls.
✦☩ Immortal Void ☩✦A close-range dark magic that drags specified enemies into an eternal void. Victims fall endlessly until they lose consciousness—or until the caster's energy burns out.
✦☩ Kurogami ☩✦A god who possesses demon-like abilities but resides in the Divine Realm. Despite his demonic nature, he is recognized and feared as a true god.
25 days passed, and only one remained before Kaiser's release. Sitting in the dim corner of the cell, he finally asked, "Master, can I really fight against a god now? Do I stand even the slightest chance against them?"
His master's face darkened, a flicker of fear passing through his aged eyes. "Don't even try to compare yourself with a god. Their very presence alone is enough to erase the living realm. What I've given you is not the power to fight gods, but the strength to face their vessels—the humans they choose to descend into. Those vessels carry a fragment of divine power, enough to twist the balance of this world."
✦☩ Vessels ☩✦Chosen humans through whom gods interfere with the Living Realm. These vessels are granted divine powers, making them far stronger than ordinary beings.