Chapter 10: Shadow Over the Northern Lands
The northern provinces of the continent had long been ruled by the Ironclad Coalition, a league of powerful sects and noble houses. Their warriors were disciplined, their techniques honed through generations but none had ever faced Kael Veyra.
Word of his previous victories spread like wildfire, striking fear into every cultivator and ruler. Entire towns evacuated at the mere rumor of the shadow moving nearby. Kael, however, did not rely on rumor; he relied on observation, patience, and his ever-growing shadow.
Kael descended upon the northern lands under the cover of a stormy night. His shadow stretched ahead, splitting into dozens of autonomous tendrils. Each tendril could sense threats, parry attacks, and even steal minor techniques from those it struck. The shadow had become semi-independent, acting as both scout and strike force while Kael focused on cultivation and strategy.
He struck first at the Stonefang Sect, a mid-tier sect known for earth-based techniques. Disciples vanished overnight, defensive formations shattered by the shadow moving like a living storm. Kael's followers spread into nearby towns, turning them into extensions of his influence. By dawn, the sect had collapsed, and the survivors fled in terror.
Next came the Silver Crescent Clan, masters of wind and speed. Kael faced their top disciples directly, his shadow fighting alongside him with precision and coordination that rivaled even the most disciplined teams. Tendrils immobilized attackers, deflected deadly strikes, and absorbed minor cultivation energy, growing stronger with each clash.
The battlefield was a blur: shadows moving with a mind of their own, Kael striking like lightning, his followers expanding his influence silently yet effectively. By the time the sun rose, the northern lands were in chaos. No army could track him, no formation could hold him.
As Kael stood atop a cliff overlooking the shattered clans, the shadow pulsed, almost sentient, swirling around him like a living cloak. The power he had gained was unimaginable; his body, mind, and shadow were perfectly synchronized. He no longer feared elders, masters, or coordinated forces the shadow anticipated, countered, and attacked with independent intelligence.
The world thought they could contain me. They thought they could stop me with armies, alliances, and strength. Kael's eyes glimmered. They were wrong. I am the shadow. I am unstoppable.
The northern lands were his first conquest, but Kael's ambition reached far beyond. Kingdoms, powerful sects, and legendary masters awaited each a challenge, each a step toward absolute dominance.
From the ashes of his village to the peak of the northern provinces, Kael Veyra had become more than human. He had become a legend. He had become the darkness incarnate.
And the world would soon kneel before the shadow.