"Master. Are you awake?"
A deep voice in the darkness of the void. It was a familiar one, that of Saku's. Stirring a slumbering soul with a poke of a ghostly hand.
"Mmmhh..." A low grunt escaped Eren's lips. Sleep was a consistent issue for the reaper, four hours if he was lucky. No wonder he was always a grumpy man; tired and moody.
"I have complied the necessary information on the unification and strengthening of the shadow force. With your permission, I would like to initiate the first stage of my project."
Digging deeper into his pillow, Eren turned away from the administrator.
"Who taught you business buzzwords?"
"I learned it off from some of the management of the Silvermane guild. It was my attempt at this modernity approach. Was it too your liking?" The administrator said proudly at the use of such words.
"No. Go back to sounding all archaic; It suits you much more."
Eren was very against the idea of having a manager tell him that 'The quarterly reports indicate a stagnation in revenue generation due to inefficiencies in operations. Optimizations of our strategic objectives...'
"Very well master." A tone of dissatisfaction in Saku's voice, but obliged with the orders of his master.
"What did you want to show then?" Eren rolled out of bed and stood up in the darkness.
"I have taken it upon myself to reorganize the data and information about how to best utilize our forces. This includes new classifications for the army and how to use them. However, I recommend that we pick a gate to test them on and see the exact extent of our strength."
The reaper reached for his phone. Opening the gates app.
'5:04 AM.' The phone read, still far too early for the reaper to wake. Searching through all the gates that were nearby. Something leisurely; something that would be isolated and none would interfere with him.
'This one...' His eyes resting on a red gate. It was obscure enough that likely no one would bother them.
Chucking on his biker gear; and a warm jacket, skulking out the apartment and into the frigid morning air.
---
Gate info:
Name: Shores of the golden coast
Opening time: Three days once a week
Danger level: A++
Owners: Silvermane
Last clear: 2 years, 2 months
Rewards for clear: Hides of golden chitin, Chitinous weapons
Gate closing time: 01: 22: 36: 48
---
A long stretch of sand lay in front of the reaper, from right to left was just golden sands. The surf was low; white capped waves and an empty beach with not a single person in sight. Large rock's broke up some of the scenery; a perfect place to have shadows rise. The sun warm but neither too hot nor too cold. No howls of wind to kick up stinging sand, it would be a perfect paradise…
If not for the slight shimmering of sand particles as creatures began to emerge from the ground.
The golden chitinous ants. The colour of gold, but not the worth. They were massive and aggressive, quickly charging towards the newly arrived reaper.
*Schlik* *Schlik* *Schlik*
Effortlessly Eren cut through the waves of enemies, bone whip tore through them with ease. Golden ichor spraying all over the sandy shores.
A paradise with a hidden danger; a colony of ants below the surface. Their carapaces were tough and hardy, but the whip descended from the original god eater had enough strength to tear through it all.
"Why here?" Saku emerged from the shadows, watching Eren's effortless fighting. A question on its mind as to why Eren chose this gate.
"No one has been here for years; and I like the beach. Besides, the monsters will make for a good training exercise." He answered, retracting that bone whip back into his left arm.
There was a heavy correlation between high ranked gates and times between last clear. The longer it went without a clear, and higher the danger. Less likely it would be challenged. This had an A+ danger level, with next to nothing for loot or resources people could use.
Some gates really held less worth than others; a lot of effort for a little gain.
"What did you want to show me then?" Eren said, killing the last of the waves. They were simple to kill, a slash or two and they fall dead. Although, the numbers were immense.
Saku raised his hand. Shadows began to rise from the ground. Their forms began to take shapes and sizes.
An army of more than 100.
Knights, orcs, wolves, and his trusty named shadows.
"Form ranks!" Saku commanded the newly formed army, and they quickly did so.
Knights took the front; a legion of 60. Archers of 40. 10 brutes, 20 shadow wolves that flanked the main core.
Finally, 4 shadow orcs and the elemental mages that numbered in 16, a total of 150 in the force, plus the 5 named shadows that stood at the head of the formation.
"With your permission I would like to begin." Saku bowed at the Reaper, waiting for the command to start.
Although, Eren had his head buried in the sand. Trying to reclaim any sleep from the lost hours. He nodded in approval; not even bothering to raise his head from his sandy pillow.
"Very well; return to the shadows."
*Vwip* *Vwip* *Vwip*
They all disappeared in a cloud of shadowy smoke. Different from their usual disappearance into the ground. They were gone from this existence. Only Guren, Virtue & Vice, and the newest addition, Megi remained.
"This will take some time. Please remain patient as I conduct the upgrades."
---
It was only an hour of silent listening to the waves wash up and down the shore. A calm and serene environment. A worthwhile place to retire to if not for the aggressive ants.
Megi the fox walked up and down on Eren's back. A massage of paws and feet on the reaper's shoulders and back. Although it did little to help the sleep issues.
Virtue & Vice doodled in the sands.
And Guren just watched the horizon for something... or nothing. Not a lot went on in under that muscle-bound head of his.
"Master... The process is complete." Saku emerged from the sandy beaches once more.
"Mmm..." Eren grunted, rolling over and pushing Megi off his back. He was laying on his side now, facing the administrator.
"Please raise the shadow army." Eren ordered from the ground, still unwilling to move.
*Vwip* *Vwip* *Schlik* *Shin* *Fwom*
"I present to you; your meliorated army. Firstly, these are combination of your archers and swordsmen; 'The Vanguards of harrow.' They will be your frontline, your backline, your close quarters, and ranged fighters. They will do it all."
No longer did the knights wear thick plated armour and swords or bows; a lithe figure with a waist cloak on a tight-fitting cloth that flew the flag of the reaper. On the right was a shortsword. On the back, a half-bow and arrows.
*Wave*
Some waved at their master with a playful and willing vigour.
"Next, the orcs have been repurposed in accordance with the brutes. 'Marauder's.' Your new heavy assault units. Able to withstand incredible amounts of damage and dish out just as much castigation."
The hulking figures clad very little shadowed armour on their muscular physic, with a collection of long-haired hair styles pulled straight from the 80's. Some with dual axes, some two-handed hammers and a few with great maces.
*Backflip*
*Double thumbs up*
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
The orcs and vanguard clapped at the one that showed off for the Reaper.
They were more than a few heads taller than Eren, but still they were pumped up for service under the Reapers banner.
"The elemental mages will now be merged into a central unit; access to all the previous elements." Saku motioned to the robed shadows, no longer were they split into separate colours of each element. A uniform black cloak draped down from head to toe.
They looked the same as the reaper's own cloak. The only difference being the blue glow from under the hood.
"The last of your previous army. The shadow wolves... Stayed as they were. Perfect in every way."
*Pant* *Pant* *Wrrr*
The wolves happily wagged their tale along the light sand; tongues out and airheaded looks on their faces. They were just happy to be here.
Although, Eren appreciated the effort Saku had gone to. He has nearly lost half his forces; for more firepower. It seemed like a good decision in the reaper's eyes. But a decrease in numbers was always hard to sell no matter how you looked at it.
Although the administrator still wasn't done with its display just yet.
"Next; I would like to show you the new additions to your forces. First, your 'crows.' Scouts, messengers, and spies. For the information game." Saku motioned to five new shadows.
A human shape, but the head was a crow. Beady blue dots for eyes and a sharp muted black beak. They wore a hooded robe, showing no other features besides the crow-like face. Only a curved dagger shaped like a talon.
Their role was for recon, intelligence, and stealth operations. Like virtue and vice, they could transform into a crow, fly, and spy on enemies.
"Very nice Saku... Let's head back-"
"Master, there is more to see."
"More?" It was fast becoming a fashion show; with shadows walking up the runway. Strutting their stuff to earn the praise of their master.
"Last of all, I am quite proud to introduce this one. The siege beast 'The Bronto.'"
From the shadows emerged a bulky four-legged beast that roared out from the darkness. A large pointed horn on its snout, with two smaller horns coming from its jaw; thick metallic padding on its top. With a long tail, spiked on the end. It was a cross between a rhino and an armoured tank. Large enough for at least three of Eren to sit on its back.
*Skitter* *Skitter* *Skitter*
Once more the sand began to move, but instead of an army of ants. There were only one... The queen.
A 10-meter ant with wings that doubled that broke through the yellow ground; a large bulbous body and six spined legs. Massive jaws and claws. A truly dangerous creature to face. The gold shone in the morning sun; making it look like a statue made from solid gold.
*Roarrrrrrr*
The Bronto roared and charged at the ant; slow at first, like a truck that lumbered up a steep hill. However, with each step its speed grew, sparks began to fly as the hooves hit the ground, metal on sand.
Before a turning into a golden blur. It was too fast for Eren to see. A golden bullet.
*FTOOM* *SHRIEK*
In an instant the queen was split apart from the middle. Sides falling apart as the body revealed the Bronto, snorting and stomping its feet.
Slowly turning around once more, frolicking with thunderous steps back to the shadows to line up.
"Impressive, I can see why you are so proud." Eren commented at the administrator.
"Whilst its power is not to be scoffed at. That isn't where my pride comes from." Saku walked over to the beast. A bone hand came to rest on the monster.
"The Bronto's went extinct many moons ago. In my past, they were a common sight to see on a battlefield or the fields of peace. Though not many could control them, they were a destructive force." He spoke with a sense of melancholy, remembering better days. The hand slowly moved down the side of the beasts hide, stroking the creature.
"Our purpose is to take many souls, yes. It only serves to level the scales; to bring back those lost to cruelty and give a chance for another life."
'Extinct?' Eren questioned to himself. The ring had many powers, some unknown to Eren.
He didn't know what the limits were, how far and how much the ring could create. But Eren began to share Saku's sense of pride.
"Thank you. For the improvements, Saku." Eren began absorbing the ant carcasses in front of them.
"Of course, master. Despite the increase of individual power, we will require more souls to produce more shadows. Our numbers are low. The quality of each unit has increased tenfold; the quantity of which they can be produced have not."
The power to tear a fortress apart; these new forces could complete such a feat with ease. But their remained gapping holes in his growing army.
The most glaring was as Saku said; the lack of pure numbers. The marauders were big, but not massive. The vanguard was quick, but Eren needed quicker. And gods forbid that if any injury were to happen to Eren or someone close; there were no healers to aid.
A problem he had to address lest he be surprised by a new foe that could clean through his new army.
"The price of power. I guess." A little flat, but Eren couldn't think of anything to say.
Absorbing the queen that was split in half, it was enough to summon another Bronto; it skipped over to its brethren. Both seemed happy to be together once more.
'A good deed to start they day...' Eren thought to himself, before turning and walking away.
Despite the initial flattening feeling; he knew that these shadows would help immensely in the fight against the unjust, and perhaps even the world beyond.
For now he was just thankful to have that strength behind him.