While Kael was effortlessly expanding his shadow army in the Ash Wastes, a much darker plot was brewing back in Genesis City.
Inside a grand marble building that had been commandeered by the Iron Claws, Marcus Thorne paced furiously. His wrists were bruised purple where Kael had pinned him with the warhammer.
"He humiliated me," Marcus growled, kicking a marble table and shattering it. "In front of twelve thousand people! I won't be a vassal to some 'Anomaly'."
"Boss," his lieutenant whispered nervously. "He soloed a World Boss. And he has that... that shadow magic. If we cross him, he'll turn us into those things."
Marcus stopped pacing. He pulled a glowing red stone from his inventory. It was a Constellation Token he had received for clearing his tutorial zone flawlessly.
"He's a Necromancer," Marcus sneered. "What's the one thing undead are weak to?"
Marcus crushed the red stone in his massive hand.
Instantly, the room was bathed in an oppressive, sweltering heat. A holographic screen, glowing with violently burning flames, appeared before him.
[Constellation 'The Judge of Fire' answers your call.]
"Speak, mortal," a voice made of crackling flames echoed in the room. "Why do you summon the Judge?"
"I seek a Sponsorship," Marcus said, dropping to one knee. "But I need power. The 'Anomaly' Kael has claimed this floor. He uses dark, shadowy undead. I need the power to burn him to ash."
The Constellation laughed, a sound like a roaring forest fire. The Judge of Fire was still furious that Kael had rejected his Sponsorship offer hours earlier.
"The Glitch. He is an affront to the System. Very well, mortal. I grant you the 'Stigma of the Purging Flame'. It will allow your weapons to inflict True Holy Damage, capable of permanently incinerating his shadows. Burn the Anomaly, and you shall sit at my right hand."
A beam of searing fire shot from the screen, striking Marcus in the chest. He screamed in agony as a glowing brand of a burning scale was seared into his flesh. When he stood up, his eyes burned with actual fire, and his massive warhammer ignited with white-hot flames.
"Gather the men," Marcus ordered his terrified lieutenant, his voice distorted by smoke. "When Kael returns from the boss fight exhausted, we ambush him at the gates. We burn him alive."
As Marcus and his men left the room to prepare the ambush, they didn't notice the tiny, pitch-black spider sitting in the corner of the ceiling.
It was a Shadow Weaver—a miniature version of the boss Kael had slain in the high school basement.
Miles away in the Ash Wastes, Kael suddenly stopped walking. He tilted his head, listening to the psychic link from his tiny shadow spy.
A cold, ruthless smile spread across his face.
"Elara," Kael said, not looking back. "It seems Marcus decided to cancel his free trial of living. When we get back to the city, remind me to execute him."
A/N: Marcus is literally digging his own grave! He got a Constellation's backing, but will it be enough to stop Kael? Drop your theories below!