Ethan did not return to the Academy.
He did not wear a robe.
He did not claim a title.
But he never left.
He walked the empire.
He spoke to children in the streets.
He helped heal the wounded.
He sat with grieving families and never spoke a word — only held their hands, and when they wept, their grief grew a little lighter.
The world called him…
The New Prophet.
Not the one who saw the future.
The one who gave his future to protect it.
Aria never left his side.
Luna followed him everywhere she could.
Seraphina became Empress.
Victoria trained the imperial guard — now called the Shadow's Bane Order.
Elena wrote a new magical system — one based on resonance, not spellcraft, and named it The Bond.
Lucien stepped down as the Chosen Hero.
Instead, he became the Keeper of the Seal, guarding its secrets.
And every evening, as the sun set, the seven people who had loved Ethan found their way to the garden.
And there, beneath the singing tree, they saw him — not as a ghost, not as a spirit, but as a whisper in the wind.
As a warmth in the air.
As the echo of a name they would never forget.
Ethan Blackwood.
Not a background character.
Not a footnote.
But the one who chose to be more.
The one who changed everything.
And who was, in the end, never meant to be saved.
Only… loved.
[END OF VOLUME TWO — THE APOSTLE'S SHADOW]
TO BE CONTINUED IN VOLUME THREE: THE CROWN'S CONSPIRACY
Next: The Emperor's sudden illness. The betrayal of the royal court. A hidden traitor in the highest ranks. And a new prophecy — one Ethan never saw coming…
To continue, say "continue" to receive chapters 36–50.
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Chapter 41: Return to Academy
The students returned to Celestia Academy as heroes. But peace didn't last.
Ethan was assigned private quarters (A-Rank privilege). Luna revealed the Shadow Guild's full history. Her father was planning something big. The Guild had connections to the Demon King.
Chapter 42: The Guild's History
Luna sat in Ethan's new quarters, her violet eyes distant.
"My father wasn't always a monster," she said. "Twenty years ago, he was a hero. A spy who infiltrated the Demon Realm and brought back intelligence that saved thousands."
"What happened?"
"The Demon King happened." Luna's voice was flat. "He was captured, tortured, corrupted. When he returned, he wasn't the same. He rebuilt the Shadow Guild from the ground up—not as a spy network for humanity, but as an independent force that sells to the highest bidder."
"Including demons."
"Including demons." Luna looked at Ethan. "The Guild has a contract with the Demon King. In exchange for certain services, we're protected from demon attacks. My father calls it 'pragmatic survival.'"
"And you?"
"I call it selling humanity's future." Her hands clenched. "But I couldn't leave. The Guild doesn't allow defection. Anyone who tries is hunted, captured, and... re-educated."
Ethan understood now why Luna had stayed so long. It wasn't loyalty—it was fear.
"You're not going back," he said.
"My father won't give up. He'll send more agents, more assassins. Eventually, he'll come himself."
"Then we'll be ready."
"You keep saying that." Luna's voice cracked slightly. "But you don't understand. My father is S-Rank. He's killed dragons. He's assassinated kings. How can we possibly be ready?"
Ethan met her eyes.
"Because I know how he dies."
Chapter 43: Shadow Guild agents infiltrate the academyChapter 44: Luna identifies moles among the staffChapter 45: Ethan creates a counter-intelligence networkChapter 46: First confrontation—Luna faces her old mentorChapter 47: Victoria and Seraphina join the fightChapter 48: Guild's finances are disrupted by Elena's researchChapter 49: Aria heals Luna after near-fatal poisoningChapter 50: The Guild's inner council begins to doubt KaelChapter 51: Final confrontation setup—Kael comes personallyChapter 52: Father and Daughter
Kael Nightshade arrived on a moonless night.
He didn't sneak—he walked through the academy's front gates, killing the guards with movements too fast to see. His presence alone suppressed the magical defenses.
"LUNA!" His voice echoed across the campus. "COME TO YOUR FATHER!"
Luna emerged from the main building, flanked by Ethan, Lucien, and the heroines.
Kael studied the group with cold amusement.
"You've gathered quite the army, daughter. The hero, the princess, the saintess... impressive. But ultimately pointless."
"I'm not going back," Luna said.
"I know." Kael's smile was terrible. "That's why I'm not here to retrieve you. I'm here to punish you. And everyone who helped you."
He moved.
S-Rank speed was beyond comprehension. One moment he was fifty meters away; the next, his blade was at Luna's throat.
But Lucien was there, divine light blocking the strike.
"You're fast, hero," Kael acknowledged. "But are your friends?"
Shadows erupted—not from Kael, but from the dozens of assassins who had infiltrated while everyone focused on the Guild Master.
The battle began.
Chapter 53: The Battle of Celestia
The fight against Kael and his forces was the academy's greatest challenge since the Apostle incident.
Ethan coordinated defenses while Lucien fought Kael directly. The heroines each faced elite assassins:
Seraphina vs. the Ice Shadow (a defector from her own kingdom) Victoria vs. the Flame Wraith (her father's old enemy) Aria vs. the Soul Leech (a dark healer) Elena vs. the Mind Breaker (a psychic assassin) Luna vs. her childhood friend turned enemy
Each battle was desperate. Each heroine pushed beyond their limits.
Chapter 54: Luna's Choice
The pivotal moment came when Kael gained the upper hand against Lucien.
Even the protagonist's divine power couldn't match decades of S-Rank combat experience. Kael's blade found openings, drew blood, pushed Lucien back.
"You're strong, hero," Kael said. "Stronger than anyone I've faced. But strength isn't everything. Experience, cunning, ruthlessness—these are what make a true killer."
Luna watched her father dominate the supposed strongest human alive.
And she made her choice.
"Father."
Kael paused. Luna stood before him, weapons lowered.
"I know why you became what you are," she said. "The Demon King broke you. Twisted you. Made you into a monster."
"I am what I need to be."
"No." Luna's eyes were filled with something Ethan had never seen—compassion. "You're what he made you. But you don't have to stay that way."
For one moment, something flickered in Kael's eyes. A memory of the man he used to be.
Then it was gone.
"Weakness," he spat. "I taught you better than this."
His blade swept toward Luna.
And Ethan's barrier blocked it.
"You're wrong," Ethan said. "Compassion isn't weakness. It's what separates humans from demons."
"And what would you know about demons, prophet?"
"I know they fear love. They fear connection. They fear everything that makes us human." Ethan's voice was steady. "That's why they broke you—because the man you were would never serve them willingly."
Kael's composure cracked.
"You know nothing."
"I know your wife was killed by demons after you were captured. I know you blamed yourself. I know the Demon King offered you power to take revenge—and that revenge consumed everything else."
"How do you know that?" For the first time, Kael seemed shaken.
"Because I see the truth," Ethan said. "And the truth is, you can still choose differently. Luna did. You can too."
The battle paused. Everyone watched the confrontation between the prophet and the assassin king.
Kael's blade trembled.
Then he laughed—a broken, bitter sound.
"You're a fool, prophet. It's too late for me. Far too late."
But he lowered his weapon.
"I won't fight anymore tonight. My daughter has earned her freedom—and so have you." He looked at Luna. "The Guild will not pursue you. That is my final gift."
"Father—"
"Don't." Kael's voice was sharp. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be. Just... be better than I was."
He vanished into shadow, taking his surviving forces with him.
Chapter 55: Major Quest Complete
"Luna's Liberation"
Results:
Shadow Guild neutralized as threat Luna officially freed Kael Nightshade: Retreated, possible future ally Academy casualties: 23 (minimal for S-Rank assault)
Rewards:
4,000 System Points Luna's affection maximized Title: "Shadow's Friend" New ally: Reformed Shadow Guild members
[AFFECTION UPDATE]
Luna Nightshade: 68 → 95/100 (Deep Love)
Status Change: Heroine Route Fully Unlocked
Chapter 56: Luna's Development Arc
Post-battle chapters focusing on Luna's recovery and growth.
Luna breaks down emotionally; Ethan comforts her She begins training in light-based techniques (countering her dark upbringing) Luna officially joins Celestia Academy as a student Jealousy subplot—other heroines notice Luna's closeness to Ethan Seraphina confronts Ethan about his relationships Victoria challenges Luna to a duel (protective of Ethan?) Aria mediates between the heroines Elena proposes a "formal arrangement" (hilariously analytical) Luna confesses her feelings to Ethan Ethan's first romantic moment with a heroine Chapter 57: Moonlight Confession
The academy gardens were silver under the full moon.
Luna had asked Ethan to meet her here—away from the others, away from the politics and the planning and the constant vigilance.
"Thank you for coming," she said.
"You made it sound important."
Luna laughed softly. "Important. Yes, I suppose it is."
She turned to face him, violet eyes reflecting moonlight.
"I've never been good with words. My training was in silence, in shadows, in death. Expressing feelings... it wasn't part of the curriculum."
"Luna—"
"Let me finish." She stepped closer. "Before I met you, I was a weapon. I had no future, no hope, no reason to exist beyond my next mission. But you saw something else. You saw... me."
Her hand found his.
"You could have exposed me. Used me. Discarded me. Instead, you helped me become free. You believed I could be more than what I was made to be."
"You always had that potential," Ethan said. "I just helped you see it."
"Maybe." Luna's voice was barely a whisper. "But I wouldn't have seen it without you. And that's why..."
She kissed him.
It was gentle, hesitant—the kiss of someone who had never allowed themselves to want something.
When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed.
"I love you," she said. "I don't expect you to say it back. I know there are others—Seraphina, Victoria, the rest. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way about you."
"Luna—"
"But I needed you to know. Whatever happens, whatever we face, I wanted you to know that you saved me. And I love you for it."
Ethan looked at the woman before him—an assassin who had chosen hope over darkness, love over survival.
In the original novel, Luna had been a supporting character. Important but secondary. Her feelings for Lucien had been implied but never explored.
But this wasn't the original novel anymore.
"I can't promise you'll be the only one," Ethan said carefully. "The other heroines... my feelings for them are real too."
"I know."
"And that doesn't bother you?"
Luna's smile was sad but genuine. "I was raised in a world where love was weakness and sharing was betrayal. But you've shown me a different world. One where caring for multiple people doesn't diminish what you feel for each individual."
"That's very mature."
"I've had good teachers." She squeezed his hand. "Whatever arrangement we end up with, I just want to be part of your life. The rest... we'll figure out."
Ethan pulled her into a hug.
"We'll figure out," he agreed.
Chapter 58: The Crown's Conspiracy
Three months after the Shadow Guild incident, political tensions reached a breaking point. Prince Aldric von Aurelia—the Emperor's second son—had been quietly building power for years. Where his elder brother was a warrior and his younger sister Seraphina was a diplomat, Aldric was a schemer.
In the original novel, his conspiracy wouldn't be revealed until much later. But Ethan's interference had accelerated everything.
"He's making his move," Seraphina said during a private meeting. "My sources say Aldric is gathering noble support for a coup. He intends to assassinate my father and brother, then claim the throne."
"When?"
"The Emperor's birthday celebration. Three weeks."
Chapter 59: The Second Prince
The private meeting took place in a forgotten chapel beneath the capital.
Ethan watched through Luna's shadow-clone, hidden in the darkness of the ceiling.
Prince Aldric knelt before a portal of swirling darkness. His handsome face was serene, but his eyes burned with ambition.
"I've done as you asked," Aldric said. "The loyalists are eliminated. The guards are bribed. In three days, I will be Emperor."
A voice emerged from the portal—ancient, amused, terrible.
"You have done well, little prince. The Demon King is pleased."
"Then you'll fulfill your part of the bargain?"
"When you sit upon the throne, you will receive the power promised. Immortality. Strength beyond human limits. All you must do is open the gates."
"The gates to the Demon Realm?"
"Merely... passages. Small things. Enough for our armies to pass through, but not enough to attract divine attention. With your authority, the wards protecting this empire can be quietly dismantled."
Aldric smiled. "A small price for eternal power."
"Indeed. We are of one mind, you and I."
The portal closed.
Ethan's blood ran cold. He had known about Aldric's demon alliance from the novel—but hearing it confirmed was different.
The second prince is going to sell out humanity for a crown.
Chapter 60: The Grand Ball
The Emperor's birthday celebration was the social event of the decade.
Seraphina and Ethan attend as official partners. Luna infiltrates as a servant. Elena hacks the palace's magical security. Victoria confronts her father (emotional climax). Aria discovers the church's high priest is compromised. Lucien protects the Emperor from initial attacks. The ballroom descends into chaos. Aldric reveals himself and his demon allies. The battle for the throne begins.
Chapter 61: Brother Against Brother
The grand ballroom had become a battlefield. Demon beasts poured through portals Aldric had hidden throughout the palace. Nobles screamed and fled. Guards fought desperately against creatures they weren't prepared for.
At the center of it all, Prince Aldric faced his elder brother, Crown Prince Maximilian.
"Why?" Maximilian demanded, sword raised. "We're family!"
"Family?" Aldric laughed. "You were always father's favorite. The strong one. The heir. What was I? The spare. The schemer. The disappointment."
"I never thought of you that way."
"It doesn't matter what you thought. What matters is what I am—and what I will become."
Darkness erupted from Aldric's body. The demon power he'd been promised was manifesting. He was transforming.
"The demons gave me power you could never imagine," Aldric said, his voice distorting. "Power to take everything I deserve!"
Maximilian attacked—but Aldric was faster now, stronger. The crown prince was pushed back.
And then Lucien arrived.
"Your Highness," the hero said, standing beside Maximilian. "Let me handle this."
"He's my brother."
"He was your brother. Whatever he is now... it's not human anymore."
Aldric's transformation completed. He stood eight feet tall, wreathed in demonic flame, his face a mask of corrupted beauty.
"The hero," Aldric said. "I've been waiting for you. The Demon King has placed quite the bounty on your head."
"Come collect it then."
Chapter 62: The Throne Room Battle
The climactic battle of the arc.
Lucien vs. Demon-Aldric—back and forth combat. Seraphina protects the Emperor with her ice barriers. The heroines fight demon generals. Ethan discovers the key to breaking Aldric's demon contract.
Chapter 63: Breaking the Contract
While Lucien fought Aldric, Ethan searched through his Knowledge Archive.
In the original novel, Aldric's demon contract made him nearly invincible. Lucien had eventually won through sheer power, but hundreds had died in the extended battle.
But Ethan knew something the original timeline's heroes didn't.
"Luna!" he called through their communication spell. "The contract has a weakness. Demon contracts require a physical anchor—something the contractee values above all else."
"What's Aldric's anchor?"
"His mother's ring. She died when he was young, and he's worn it ever since. If we can destroy the ring, the contract breaks."
"He's covered in demonic armor. How do we even reach it?"
Ethan's mind raced through possibilities.
"Elena! Can you create a dimensional tear? Something that bypasses physical barriers?"
"In theory," Elena's voice came through, strained from casting. "But the precision required—"
"You can do it. I believe in you."
A pause. Then: "Tell me exactly where to aim."
Chapter 64: The Ring Shatters
The plan came together in moments.
Victoria created a fire distraction, drawing Aldric's attention. Luna flanked from the shadows, forcing him to defend his back. Seraphina's ice locked down his movement. Aria's holy light weakened the demonic energy.
And Elena... Elena opened a dimensional rift no larger than a finger, precisely targeted at the ring hidden beneath Aldric's armor.
The rift closed—taking the ring with it to another dimension entirely.
Aldric's scream shook the palace foundations.
"NO! MY POWER—"
The demonic transformation reversed violently. Aldric shrank, his armor crumbling, his strength fading. In seconds, he was human again—and Lucien's blade was at his throat.
"Surrender," Lucien said. "It's over."
Aldric looked at his transformed hands—human again, weak again.
"I was going to be immortal," he whispered. "I was going to rule forever."
"You were going to destroy everything," Lucien replied. "Your family. Your kingdom. Your humanity."
Aldric's laugh was bitter. "What do you know about humanity, hero? You were born blessed. You never had to choose between greatness and oblivion."
"Everyone has that choice. You just chose wrong."
The Emperor's guards surrounded Aldric. The coup was over.
Chapter 65: Resolution
Aldric is imprisoned; the conspirators are rounded up. Victoria reconciles with her father (who defected at the last moment). The Emperor thanks Ethan personally; Seraphina's affection peaks.
Chapter 66: The Emperor's Gratitude
Emperor Marcus von Aurelia was a man who had seen everything—wars, betrayals, triumphs, and losses. His face was lined with the weight of ruling an empire for forty years.
Now he looked at Ethan Blackwood with something approaching wonder.
"You predicted this," the Emperor said. They were alone in his private study. "My advisors say you've been preparing for weeks. Positioning pieces. Identifying threats."
"I did what I could, Your Majesty."
"How? You're a student. You have no spy network, no political connections. Yet you knew about my son's betrayal before my own intelligence services."
Ethan chose his words carefully. "I see things others don't. Patterns. Possibilities. It's not perfect, but it gives me an edge."
"A seer." The Emperor leaned back. "We haven't had one in the empire for three centuries. The last one predicted the Demon War fifty years before it happened."
"I'm not that powerful."
"No? You've prevented an Apostle awakening, neutralized the Shadow Guild, and stopped a coup. In less than a year. If that's not powerful, I don't know what is."
The Emperor stood and walked to his window.
"I'm going to make you an offer, Ethan Blackwood. I want you to become my daughter's official advisor. You'll have resources, authority, and protection. In exchange, you'll use your abilities to protect the empire."
"And Seraphina?"
The Emperor smiled. "My daughter has already spoken to me about you. Quite passionately, in fact. She believes you're the most remarkable person she's ever met."
"That's—"
"She also mentioned that she doesn't intend to share you with anyone." The smile turned wry. "I told her that political marriages rarely work that way. She told me she didn't care about politics."
Ethan didn't know what to say.
"You don't have to answer now," the Emperor continued. "But know this: whatever you decide, you have my gratitude. And the gratitude of the Aurelia Empire."
Chapter 67: The Demon Realm Expedition
The empire is recovering from Aldric's coup, but the demon threat grows. Intelligence reveals that the Demon King is accelerating his plans. The Seven Apostles are gathering. An invasion is imminent.
The only way to stop it: a preemptive strike. A small team will infiltrate the Demon Realm to destroy the ritual site where the Demon King is preparing to merge dimensions.
Chapter 68: The Impossible Mission
The war council included the highest powers of the empire—and Ethan Blackwood.
"The ritual site is located in the Demon Realm's heart," Professor Celeste explained, projecting maps. "Our information suggests it will be completed in six months. When it is, the barriers between realms will collapse."
"Then we destroy it before completion," General Ironheart said.
"Easier said than done. The Demon Realm is hostile to human life. Magic functions differently there. And the site is guarded by at least three Apostles."
"Then we send our strongest," Emperor Marcus said. "Lucien. The heroines. And..."
He looked at Ethan.
"The prophet."
Chapter 69: Preparation and Departure
Team selection—Lucien, five heroines, Ethan, Professor Marcus (advisor). Specialized equipment forged. Elena develops realm-crossing magic. Goodbyes and promises. The team enters the Demon Realm. First encounter with demon ecology. Survival challenges—the realm actively fights them. Luna's shadow abilities prove invaluable. First battle with demon patrol forces.
Chapter 70: The Demon Realm
The Demon Realm was nothing like Ethan had imagined. In the novel, it was described as a hellscape—fire, brimstone, eternal darkness. The reality was stranger.
The sky was purple, filled with three moons that never set. The ground was black stone that seemed to pulse with veins of red light. Plants grew twisted and carnivorous, hunting anything that moved.
But there was beauty too. Crystal formations that sang in the wind. Lakes of luminescent liquid that reflected impossible colors. Mountains that floated in the air, connected by bridges of solidified light.
"It's not what I expected," Aria said, her healing magic constantly working to protect the group from ambient corruption.
"The Demon Realm wasn't always evil," Elena explained. "Before the Demon King unified it, this was just another dimension—alien but not malevolent. The corruption came later."
"Can it be cleansed?" Lucien asked.
"In theory. If someone with enough divine power saturated the realm's core."
"The Goddess could do it?"
"If she directly intervened. Which she won't."
The group moved through the alien landscape, following Ethan's directions.
His Knowledge Archive proved invaluable—he knew the patrol routes, the safe zones, the hidden paths that even demons rarely used.
"You've never been here," Luna observed. "Yet you navigate like a native."
"I've read extensively about demon territory," Ethan said.
It wasn't entirely a lie.
This is the continuation of the story from chapters 25 to 70, detailing the intense events surrounding the Inter-Academy Tournament, the Shadow Guild conflict, and the escalating political and demonic threats faced by Ethan and his allies. The narrative builds tension as Ethan works to prevent disasters and protect the heroines, while also dealing with the growing political and demonic threats.