Somewhere in the modern world called Earth, nestled in the heart of a bustling city drowned in neon lights and sirens, there stood a hospital. It was tall and gray, a monument to fragile hope and failing flesh. Inside, fluorescent lights buzzed endlessly, and polished floors reflected a blur of white coats, scrubs, and rolling stretchers.
Doctors made their rounds, voices low, brisk, filled with clinical detachment.
"Post-op recovery in Room 302 is looking stable."
"Keep an eye on Mr. Delgado's oxygen levels."
"We need another blood panel on the transplant patient."
Nurses passed charts back and forth, scribbling notes, pushing medication carts, answering buzzers.
"Room 208 needs their IV replaced."
"The psych consult is on their way."
"Vitals for 417 still steady?"
Somewhere, a mother argued with a surgeon. In another hallway, a child whimpered while holding a stuffed bear. In the waiting area, families prayed silently to gods they barely believed in.
In this world of routine chaos, one room had grown too quiet.
Room 417.
There, a boy lay in bed. A constellation of wires fed into his frail form. Kade Blackwell. Seventeen. Raven-black hair matted against a too-pale face. Silver-gray eyes, sharp despite the hollowness around them. He barely blinked. Barely breathed. But his mind raced.
They talk. They whisper. Think I can't hear. Maybe I can't. Maybe I don't want to.
Three years. Three years alone in this box. Left behind. Abandoned. Family couldn't take it anymore. I get it. Who wants to watch someone drown in slow motion?
Memory Sequence
The hospital room was dim that night, the soft blue glow of machines the only light.
His mother stood by the window, back turned. Shoulders trembling.
His father sat beside him, elbows on knees, hands clasped. Silent.
"I can't watch him like this anymore," his mother whispered, voice brittle.
"We've tried everything," his father said, not looking up. "He doesn't even respond. He's barely in there."
"But what if he wakes up? What if he hears us?"
"And what if he doesn't? Another year? Two? Of this? Watching him waste away? I can't do it, Erin. I just can't."
A heavy silence.
"He deserves more than this. But we can't give it to him. We're falling apart."
His mother began to cry. Not loud, but deep. The kind of cry that takes something from you.
"I love him," she said. "But I can't keep dying with him."
Kade wanted to scream. Wanted to reach out. Wanted to make them stay. But his body was a prison, and his voice was gone.
They left without saying goodbye. Just the fading scent of his mother's perfume and the sound of the door closing.
They left. Like ghosts.
I don't even blame them. That's the worst part. I would've left me too.
I can't talk. Can't eat. Can't sleep. I'm just... floating. Like I'm at the bottom of a sea made of silence. Drowning. Forever drowning. Reaching for the surface. But it's always just a little farther. Always just out of reach.
Do you know what it feels like to scream and make no sound? To ache for someone to hold your hand and know they won't? To see the same ceiling for 1,096 days?
I'm tired. So tired.
His silver eyes, dimmed of all light, stared blankly at the ceiling. Then, without warning, they grew heavy.
A tremor went through the machines beside him. The monitor hiccupped.
A sudden shrill beep broke the stillness.
Another. Then flatness.
Machines blared.
A siren of failing life.
Red lights flashed.
Footsteps thundered outside the room. Then the door burst open.
"Code Blue!"
"Room 417! We're losing him!"
"Call the attending now!"
"He was stable this morning!"
"Get the crash cart!"
"What the hell happened?!"
"No time, he's flatlining!"
Blurs of white coats and frantic faces swarmed around him. Their mouths moved. Hands grabbed at wires. Defibrillator paddles were charged.
A nurse leaned in close, speaking louder than needed, hoping he could hear.
"Kade? Kade, stay with us! Come on, sweetheart! Don't give up now!"
Another nurse, panic in her voice: "He was just blinking at me an hour ago. He looked... aware. Like he was there."
"Vitals are crashing again. His blood pressure's bottoming out!"
"Push one of epi! Charge to 200!"
"Clear!"
Kade heard none of it.
The world dimmed.
His hearing faded, like someone slowly turning down the volume.
Why is it so quiet?
His vision clouded.
Everything became a smear of light and color.
I can't feel anything.
His body felt weightless. Cold.
I wanted to live... I wanted...
Darkness pressed in from all sides.
His last breath left his lips with a whisper.
Then, nothing.
Then—a spark.
A flicker of sensation.
His eyes opened.
What is going on...?
He blinked, slowly, and sat upright.
No wires. No pain.
The world around him was impossibly vast.
A dark, starlit sky stretched endlessly above. Planets—dozens of them—drifted across a velvet-black canvas, glowing in shades of sapphire, emerald, and crimson. Nebulas spun like frozen whirlpools of fire and smoke. Stars shimmered with a haunting, ancient light, some pulsing as if breathing with invisible life. The air smelled of something impossibly sweet—like distant rain and old dreams.
Below him, water stretched to every horizon. But it wasn't ordinary water. It glowed with an otherworldly luminescence, rippling with constellations. Every step sent soft waves of starlight radiating outward.
And he was standing on it.
His reflection rippled beneath him—not the sick, fading boy from the hospital, but someone stronger. Eyes bright. Posture straight. Chest rising and falling with purpose.
"This... this isn't Earth. This place... it's unreal."
He turned slowly, eyes wide.
"Is this the afterlife? Or a dream? Or something... else?"
No wind. No sound. Just the slow swirl of stars and water and the constant, aching silence.
"Is anybody out there?!" he shouted. "Hello?! Anyone?!"
His voice echoed across the endless night, rolling like thunder through the cosmos. The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken questions.
Then—
"Hello."
Kade spun.
A shadow.
Humanoid. Tall. It bled into the world around it. Like the idea of a person, not the real thing. Darkness swirled at its edges, pulsing like a second heartbeat.
He stepped back, instinct sharp.
What is that? A soul? A monster? Another lost wanderer? No... This thing... it's watching me. Waiting.
Then—
"Kade Blackwell."
His name. Echoed. Layered. Multiplied.
His blood froze.
"H-how do you know my name?! Who... who are you!?"
The shadow didn't move. Instead, it unraveled. Ink in water. Darkness collapsing inward.
And from its core, she emerged.
She floated above the ground—no, above reality. Tall, ethereal. Light bent around her, as though struggling to remember its job. Her hair, waist-length, danced like smoke and starlight, streaked with amethyst and silver. Her skin, pale with a violet glow, shimmered with liquid-like runes that pulsed softly.
Her eyes held galaxies. Deep amethyst irises over black voids.
Her gown flowed like the night itself, trailing into mist, adorned with soul-thread that glittered faintly. Her circlet pulsed with a living gem, and her raven-feather mantle melted into shadow.
No shoes. No weight. She walked on silence.
"I am Nyxaria," she said, voice layered like a chorus of ghosts. "Goddess of Shadows... and the Forgotten."
Kade stared. Words failed. Her presence pressed on his chest—not with weight, but eternity.
He finally shouted, half in awe, half in panic:
"The Goddess of Shadows?! What the hell!!!"
Kade stood frozen in the endless darkness. The strange mist curled around his feet like silent smoke, and in front of him stood a radiant, inhuman figure — her.
Tall, elegant, and impossibly calm, she radiated power without lifting a finger. Her presence made the void itself feel like it bowed to her will. Her eyes — deep violet and endless — were locked on him, their weight impossible to ignore.
Kade blinked slowly, his mind reeling.
What… what is this? A dream? A fever illusion? Am I hallucinating in my sleep again? Why is there a goddess — the Goddess of Shadows, of all things — standing right in front of me?
He took a slow step back. His breath caught in his throat.
No... this can't be real. I'm supposed to be dead, right? I remember… the machines… the silence… everything fading. So then—
"No, Kade," the goddess said, smiling softly. Her voice was layered like a dream, an echo within an echo. "This is real. Not a dream."
Kade's eyes widened. His heart thumped.
"You—how did you… hear that?"
She giggled — not mocking, but distant, like wind brushing through ancient halls.
"Why am I here? Wasn't I… supposed to be dead?" he muttered. "And are you… really the Goddess of Shadows?"
Her smile deepened as she took a step forward, her hands clasped gracefully before her.
"I've heard the last thoughts of many… but yours stood out. Your wish was quiet… but not forgotten."
Kade narrowed his eyes, confusion tensing his jaw.
Wish? I—I did… wish I could live. But I never said it out loud. I couldn't. I couldn't even breathe—
"How could you possibly know that—?"
Before he could finish, she interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper, yet cutting through him like thunder.
"Because I've been watching you… for a very long time."
Kade froze.
His breath caught again, but this time for a different reason — something in her voice wasn't just divine, it was intimate. Like she knew him.
"I've seen your pain. The wires. The tubes. The silence. You smiled for others… even when your world was fading. You were forgotten by the world… but never by me."
Kade's eyes trembled. He didn't know whether to be scared… or relieved.
"So… I'm not in trouble?"
"No, Kade," she said gently. "You're not in trouble. You're being… given a choice."
Kade looked down at the black, still water below. There was no wind, no horizon—just the quiet, endless reflection of his face.
Is this really it? Death? A quiet, empty void? I didn't want this... I wanted to live. To breathe without pain. To run. To fight. To laugh. I don't want to be dead… I just wanted to be free.
A soft ripple danced across the surface.
Behind him, the voice returned — serene, layered, hauntingly gentle.
"It's going to be alright, Kade. Everything will be fine now."
Kade clenched his fists and turned, pain and disbelief in his eyes.
"How!? I'm dead! My body's gone! My parents left me behind! There's nothing left! I'm… alone!"
Nyxaria stepped closer, her long dark gown trailing shadowy mist.
"You are not alone. Not anymore. I have watched you suffer in silence for years. And now… I offer you something no one else could."
Her words echoed through him.
"A second life. Not as a broken boy on borrowed time… but as something more. The power of a Shadow Mage. No—I give you the full power of the Shadow King."
Kade's breath caught.
A second life...? Power...? Me? She's saying I'll live again… with strength? Magic? A new world? Is this real?
"It looks like I have your full attention now, Kade," she teased, smiling faintly.
She stepped toward him again, tall and graceful. Taller than him by just enough to make her feel like she belonged to the stars.
She's getting closer... why is my heart racing? She's a goddess... not human. So why—
She raised a hand, elegant and slow. Kade flinched slightly as she touched his chin, lifting it gently. Her eyes met his — glowing softly like galaxies.
"I will send you to another world… with the gift of the forbidden art: Shadow Magic. You will become its master. Its king."
Shadow King…? Me? She's not just giving me power… she's giving me a title feared across worlds.
"What is this new world? What does it mean to become… a Shadow Mage?"
"A world of sword and sorcery… chaos and order… where light is worshipped, and shadow is feared. The magic I give you — the Forbidden Art of Shadow — was outlawed long ago. Too powerful. Too free. But with it… you will shape your own fate."
This… this is really happening. I'm going to live again. Not as a sick kid hooked to machines… but as something more.
"I get to… live again…? Start over…?"
"Yes. And you won't be forgotten this time."
Kade looked into her eyes, ancient sorrow and endless promise swirling within.
Then I'll do it. I'll take this gift. This power. And I'll become more than a survivor. I'll become a legend… even if I have to walk through shadows alone.
Silence fell between them, heavy with eternity.
"So… what do you think?" Nyxaria said. "Will you accept the power of the Shadow Mage? Of the Shadow King? Will you enjoy being alive in another world, where you live… but live with purpose?"
Kade stared down. His reflection shimmered — pale, sickly, broken.
My life ended before it started… I wasn't a hero. I wasn't anyone. Just a lonely boy trapped in a dying body. But she… this goddess… she's offering me not a miracle, but a choice.
He looked up, his gaze now sharp.
"...Yes. I want to do it."
Nyxaria's smile turned eternal.
"Good," she said, voice laced with quiet pride. "Then rise… my Shadow King."
She slowly lifted her hand — fingers elegant, glowing with swirling ink-black mist and threads of silver starlight. The space around her palm warped, as though reality itself was afraid to be near what was coming.
And then—it began.
A whisper echoed from beyond time.
A tremor rolled through the void.
Reality rippled like fabric caught in a slow-motion wave. Starlight bent. Space shuddered.
From that trembling point, the shadows thickened and began to pulse. The temperature dropped. The silence grew louder. And then—the Crown of Eternal Dusk began to take shape.
A whisper became a hum. A hum became a tone. The tone became a hymn of lost voices singing in languages long dead. Then—with a thunderous hush—it materialized.
Woven not of gold, but of coalescing shadow. Its form bled elegance and menace. It floated above her palm, spinning slowly.
Its frame shimmered like molten midnight, touched by ancient starlight. Three curved spires reached up like the claws of a dying god, and in the center pulsed a shard of shadow magic — a living crystal, glowing with the heartbeat of the void.
Faint sigils danced around the rim — names, echoes, forgotten souls begging to be remembered.
The crown exuded no heat. Only pressure. The weight of silence, memory, forgotten grief, and unspoken power.
Nyxaria's voice returned, soft and commanding.
"Kneel."
Kade slowly sank to one knee.
And at the moment the crown touched his brow — it did not simply rest.
It merged.
A shockwave of obsidian magic erupted outward, racing like a tsunami of darkness and memory. The ocean of shadows cracked with radiant pulses. Winds of pure shadowforce roared from beneath, spiraling into the sky.
His body arched — lifted an inch from the ground. Tendrils of shadowfire licked across his skin, not burning but rewriting.
Veins of black light carved along his arms. His eyes flared open, now deep violet laced with silver starlight.
His cloak exploded into existence, born of abyssal mist. It wrapped around his shoulders like a king risen from exile.
His shadow twisted, rose, and formed behind him the outline of a throne — ancient, jagged, waiting.
The Throne of Dusk.
Nyxaria watched, hair streaming like comet trails. She smiled.
"From this moment on," she said with reverent pride, "You are more than a survivor. You are Kade Blackwell — Shadow Mage of the Forbidden Path, bearer of the Crown of Eternal Dusk. My chosen. My balance. My King of Shadows."
Kade stood tall. He breathed like thunder.
His voice, when he spoke, carried echoes — faint, ancient.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
He looked at his hands, the magic swirling around him.
"Powerful," he said. "Like I was meant for this. Like I am real for the first time."
"Good," Nyxaria said, glowing.
"What's the world like? What kind of magic system does it follow?"
"The world is called Elarion. Magic flows from elemental ley lines and ancient soul threads. Light magic dominates, worshipped by kingdoms. But Shadow? Shadow is forbidden. Feared. Few remember its true strength. With your power, you will walk among enemies… and shape your own legacy."
Kade nodded slowly.
"Elarion... I'll carve my place into that world."
Nyxaria smiled.
"Are you ready for the new world?"
He grinned. "Yes. I'm ready to show them what Shadow Magic truly means."
"Good. Then I'll see you around, my Shadow King."
"See you around, Goddess."
She lifted her hand. Aura coiled around her fingers. A brilliant magic circle ignited beneath Kade's feet. Light consumed him—
And he vanished.
Nyxaria stared at the empty space.
"Make the world yours, my Shadow King."
Moments later…
The magic circle shimmered again.
And Kade appeared within it.
It vanished as quickly as it came.
He opened his eyes.
A vast forest stretched around him, bathed in emerald light. Sunlight spilled through the high canopy, birds sang from distant branches. The air smelled of moss, pine, and new beginnings.
He looked down at his hands. Shadow energy swirled with purpose.
Kade smiled faintly.
"Let's begin my new adventure."
He stepped forward into the forest, trees whispering like old friends welcoming him home.
The leaves rustled.
The shadows stirred.
The forest around Kade breathed with quiet life. Soft wind rustled through the canopy above, dappling the earth with light and shadow. Each step he took stirred fallen leaves and gentle magic in the air. Birds chirped distantly, unaware that a being of mythic power now walked among them.
As he moved deeper between the trees, Kade glanced at his hands again. Power lingered there, coiling in his veins, silent and vast. He exhaled slowly, letting the moment settle.
I need to figure out what I can do, he thought.
He paused under a massive, moss-covered oak tree and crossed his arms.
In those old manga I read as a kid... the isekai protagonists would say 'Open Status' and some kind of screen would pop up. I wonder...
He looked around cautiously. No one.
He mumbled, almost embarrassed, "Open status."
A soundless pulse rippled around him.
Suddenly, a luminous violet shadow screen materialized in front of him, floating gently in midair. Lines of elegant script flowed across it, infused with shadows and starlight.
Kade blinked.
"Whoa. It... actually worked."
He began reading.
STATUS SCREEN
Name: Kade Blackwell
Age: 17 (Reincarnated)
Race: Human (Reincarnated) / Shadowborne Sovereign
Level: 1000
Class: Shadow King (Mythic / Unique)
Titles:
Reincarnated One
King of Shadows
Nyxaria's Chosen
Lord of Forgotten Souls
Walker of Dusk
Health Points: 999,999 / 999,999
Magic Points: ∞ (Infinite Shadow Core)
Strength: 2,100
Agility: 2,750
Endurance: 2,300
Mana: ∞
Luck: ???
Charm: 999
Normal Skills:
Enhanced Reflexes — Reacts instinctively to most non-magical attacks
Parkour Movement — Swift, smooth travel over rough terrain
Night Vision (Tier IV) — Sees clearly in absolute darkness
Appraisal — Can evaluate objects and weak enemies
Mana Sense — Feels magic presence, flow, and corruption in the environment
Breath Control — Hold breath unnaturally long; mask presence
Mental Fortitude — Resists illusions, curses, and psychic interference
Shadow Camouflage (Passive) — Blends into natural darkness instinctively
Ability Skills:
Darkvision (EX) — Can see clearly in complete magical darkness
Dark Step (EX) — Teleport between shadows, across long distances
Shadow Clone Army — Summon up to 99 autonomous shadow clones
Flicker Counter — Evade and instantly counter with a cursed strike
Soul Lock — Freeze a target's magic output for 10 seconds
Umbral Veil — Creates total sensory blackout in a 50-meter radius
Abyss Grasp — Pull enemy into shadow pit dimension temporarily
Shadow Meld — Vanish into surrounding darkness
Shade Barrier — Blocks physical/magic projectiles
Life Sense Suppression — Conceals presence from divine senses
Shadow Manipulation — Control, shape, harden, or animate any natural or magical shadow. Form weapons, shields, wings, clones, or bindings from shadow. Can cloak areas or teleport through connected shadows.
Magic Shadow Skills:
Oblivion Lance — Long-range piercing void spell that bypasses defense
Cage of the Forgotten — Traps enemies in a haunted shadow realm
Black Lotus Bloom — Area-effect curse blossom that devours mana
Moonless Howl — Shadow soundwave that silences divine beings
Shadow Resurrect — Revive fallen allies as shadow spirits (limited time)
Unique Skills:
Crown of Eternal Dusk (Soulbound Artifact & Title Skill)
Grants Shadow King authority
Full command over shadow creatures, undead, and forgotten souls
Cannot be removed or stolen
Passively shields user from divine interference
King of the Forgotten
Souls erased from history follow and serve him
Protects against memory and fate-based magic
Shadow Ascension
When near death, evolves Kade's form into a higher shadow being temporarily (one use per moon cycle)
True Name Erasure
Kade's true name cannot be spoken, written, or sealed by enemies unless he permits it
Throne of Dusk
Summons a battlefield-wide domain where only Kade can control visibility, space, and time perception
Boosts allies' power by 200% within radius
Weapons:
Shadowfang (EX+) — Soul-forged blade that grows stronger with each soul absorbed
Chains of the Abyss (S+) — Bound to his will, stretch across dimensions
Items:
Black Feather Earring (Nyxaria's gift) — Immunity to isolation, boosts charm with goddesses
Shadow Contracts (x3) — Allows one-time pact with unique beasts or beings
Kade took a step back, eyes wide.
"This... this is insane," he whispered. "I'm a level 1000 Shadow King with infinite mana? My stats are maxed, and I have abilities I can barely pronounce."
His eyes swept over the glowing screen again, lingering on the words Crown of Eternal Dusk and Shadow Ascension.
"So this is what she meant by 'King of Shadows'. I'm basically an endgame boss from a fantasy novel. No… I'm beyond that."
He grinned slightly, closing the screen with a thought. The violet light shimmered out of existence.
As he resumed his path through the forest, birds scattered from the branches above. The wind stirred again. Somewhere in the distance, a shadow moved just out of sight.
Kade's eyes narrowed.
"Let's see what this world has to offer."
Kade continued walking through the forest, the emerald canopy above shifting gently in the breeze. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the leaves in slow golden waves, dappling the mossy floor. Every step he took stirred fallen leaves and gentle magic in the air. Birds chirped distantly, unaware that a being of mythic power now walked among them.
A few hours had passed since he first arrived in this new world.
The forest seemed endless, an ocean of green and gold stretching in all directions. He crossed through shallow streams, climbed root-choked hills, and wove between gnarled trees that looked centuries old. Despite the peaceful scenery, his senses remained alert.
"It's beautiful," he murmured. "But I can't let my guard down. This world might be just as dangerous as it is pretty."
He paused to drink from a clear stream, washing his face with cold water. His reflection in the rippling surface showed someone... different. Stronger. Alive.
I still can't believe I'm here, he thought. But I need a plan. Wandering around forever won't help me. I should find a village or city. Somewhere with people. Information.
The thought barely left him before the peace shattered.
A rustling broke through the nearby bushes.
Kade stopped.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
More rustling. He turned sharply toward the sound. His heartbeat quickened, and his stance shifted instinctively.
Something's watching me. Following me.
The air felt heavier now. The forest no longer whispered — it held its breath.
Suddenly, dark shapes moved between the trees.
Out of the brush emerged monstrous forms. Humanoid, but wrong. Slitted eyes glared from under jagged reptilian brows. Kobolds.
They hissed as they emerged from the shadows, scaly skin reflecting the dappled light. Their claws twitched. Teeth bared.
"What the hell... are these things?"
Kade stepped back as more slithered out of the woods. Fourteen in total.
"Appraisal."
A glowing status window flickered open.
Target: Kobold Scout
Race: Lesser Reptilian Humanoid
Level: 22
Class: Scavenger
HP: 2,050 / 2,050
Skills: Keen Smell, Ambush Strike, Pack Tactics, Burrow (Basic)
Traits: Low intelligence, high agility, loyal to pack alpha, hostile to trespassers
Danger Level: Low to Moderate (in large numbers can overwhelm beginners)
"Kobolds... So it's like fighting wolves. One is fine. Fourteen? That's a trap."
Before he could think further, four of the kobolds roared and charged forward, claws glinting in the light.
Kade's expression didn't change.
"Let's see what you can do..."
He raised his right hand, fingers splayed.
"Shadow Manipulation: Shadow Bind."
The air dimmed.
Shadows on the forest floor darkened and writhed like living serpents.
From beneath the trees and stones, fourteen tendrils surged upward, twisting with precision. They slithered through the underbrush, weaving between roots and brambles. The forest seemed to breathe with them.
The kobolds screeched as the shadow hands lashed out with speed and accuracy.
Each one was struck.
Ankles. Wrists. Throats. Chests.
The four charging kobolds were yanked backward mid-leap, their bodies crashing to the ground with stunned snarls. The rest of the pack thrashed violently as blackened hands pinned them in place, wrapping around their limbs like living ropes.
Kade watched, unmoving, as the creatures screamed and struggled against the invisible grip.
The shadows held firm.
That worked better than I expected, he thought. They can't even move. The shadows reacted like they knew exactly where to strike. Like they were part of me.
The kobolds snarled, bit, clawed, but it was no use.
Kade lowered his hand slightly.
"Cool move. But now... let's try something that finishes it."
He took a deep breath. Focused.
His eyes flared with violet light.
"Shadow Manipulation: Shadow Spikes x14."
The shadows holding each kobold began to tremble.
Then churn.
Then boil.
Each kobold's shadow twisted and rippled at their feet, growing thicker, darker.
Then—
CRACK!SHLUNK!THUD!
Fourteen massive shadow spikes erupted from the ground.
Each spike impaled a kobold clean through the torso, lifting some inches into the air before they fell limp. The sound of bodies collapsing was muffled by the mossy earth.
Silence fell over the forest once more.
Kade exhaled and surveyed the aftermath.
Brutal. Precise. Effective. I didn't even have to break a sweat. If that's what Shadow Manipulation can do with basic commands... then what happens when I get creative?
He glanced down at his hands, still trailing faint wisps of darkness.
They never stood a chance. I didn't even draw my sword.
Kade gave a half-smile.
"Fourteen kobolds, gone. That would've taken an entire adventuring party back in those isekai stories. Guess I'm built different."
He turned from the scene without another word.
The wind carried the scent of pine and victory. Light broke through the clouds again, dancing on the blood-slicked leaves as if the forest were already forgetting the fight.
He began walking once more, the crunch of his boots steady and sure.
The path ahead was unknown, but no longer threatening.
Whatever this world throws at me next, he thought, I'm ready.
To be continued...