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Turning toward the sound, Selion spotted a hooded figure stepping slowly out from between the trees. His face was veiled in shadow, yet his very presence radiated fear and authority.
"I am," the stranger declared in a deep, echoing voice, "the one who dwells in darkness, the ruler of shadows… the Lord of Shadows."
Selion had read about that name in books his grandmother used to buy. But now… he was standing right in front of him, alive and real. Unsure what to do, Selion dropped to his knees.
"I... I greet you, my lord," he stammered.
The Lord of Shadows stepped closer, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Stand, child. You may be at ease in my presence."
Selion rose quickly, heart pounding with excitement.
"W-why are you here?" he asked.
The Lord let out a short, haunting laugh. There was a strange warmth behind his otherwise ominous voice.
"Your courage, your loyalty to your friends, and most of all… your unyielding resolve caught my attention. I couldn't possibly let a child with your potential die here, could I?"
Selion lowered his head in gratitude. The Lord extended a hand, and shadows infused with dark mana surrounded Selion's wounds, healing him.
"I have a proposal," he said. "Would you consider becoming my successor? I offer you great power. However, your body is not yet ready to contain the full extent of it. So for now... I offer you only a fraction."
Selion looked into his eyes.
"I've read that this power operates through dark mana. In some books, they even call it 'Cursed Mana'. Why is that?" he asked.
The Lord's gaze turned sharp, his voice thick with bitterness from ages past.
"Long ago, I was equal to the gods in status. But those bastards spread their mana across the world, and humanity began worshiping them. That belief fed their arrogance. Eventually, they turned on beings like me. I lost most of my strength and became trapped in this wretched form. And now... I cannot leave this forest."
Selion listened in stunned silence. The weight of his words pressed on him like a mountain.
"Then… why are you searching for an heir?" he asked.
The Lord of Shadows averted his eyes, falling silent for a moment.
"That's not something you need to know. Not yet," he finally replied. Then he repeated his offer.
Selion, never one to pass up an opportunity for power, made his choice.
"I accept your offer."
The Lord nodded, clearly pleased.
"Whenever you need me, just return here. After all… I cannot leave. Hahaha…"
With that, he vanished into the shadows.
The oppressive air lifted, replaced by an eerie stillness. The professor was the first to recover, rising with a scowl.
"What happened here?!"
Selion grinned.
"Your time's up," he said mockingly.
Just then, the others began to stir. Selion's voice rang out with resolve:
"Come on, everyone! Let's finish this guy!"
But his friends were too exhausted. All they could do was watch.
Selion charged toward the professor. With each step, a voice echoed in his mind:
"Kill… Kill… Kill…"
He assumed it was linked to the Lord of Shadows' power. In response, he whispered:
"Shadow…"
A long, thin, rectangular black rod materialized in his hand. It wasn't an ordinary object—its weight and presence resembled that of a sword. It pulsed with the power of darkness.
Selion attacked. After a short yet intense clash, he plunged the blade into the professor's abdomen. The sword drained the professor's life force—his mana—causing his body to wither and age rapidly until it collapsed.
Everyone witnessed the moment.
Selion retrieved the antidote from the professor's body and gave it to the teacher. Moments later, the teacher regained consciousness.
"What… happened here? Are we safe? Did you defeat him?"
The children told him everything. One by one, they hugged Selion. All except Gohean.
Gohean approached, extended a hand, and shook Selion's with a firm grip.
"Thank you," he said. "Looks like I've found myself a new rival."
The teacher had countless questions for Selion, but now was not the time.
"We're moving out," he said simply.
And so, the group continued their journey—this time with a changed, more powerful Selion among them…