Chapter 16: Ep 4 — The Shadows III

A haunting silence enveloped the place as Nazari's unwavering gaze holds, a searing intensity matching the blistering heat of the sun directly above them. The young lad felt the weight of scrutiny from the formidable entity before him, sending shivers down his spine. Excitement surged through his veins, only to be dashed as Nazari remained motionless.

Suddenly, a gust of wind spiraled nearby, conjuring a massive Black Fenrir. In a surprising display of deference, the creature bowed low.

"I greet the omniscient master and the power he wields—Harun."

Without warning, a shadowy hand materialized, seizing the Fenrir by the neck. It was hurled upward, crashing down forcefully onto the ground. The soil fractured under the relentless assault. Nazari, unsatisfied, replicated the brutal act, each slam deepening the hole. Each strike emitted an undercurrent of resentment, as if Nazari aimed to obliterate the creature. Yet, the Fenrir made no attempt to resist, showing no hint of pain.

The young lad erupted into laughter, clutching his stomach and rolling on the ground. "Oh, thank goodness, Master Nazari despised you."

"This is what you were planning, isn't it, Claude?" Despite being tossed around like a toy, the black Fenrir managed to maintain a conversation.

The young lad ceased his laughter and stood up straight, feigning ignorance. "What did you mean, Gaku?"

"Don't joke with me!"

"Oh, but it wasn't my decision to hurt his companions, though," Claude shrugged.

"This sly fox—"

Gaku experienced the sting of Claude's manipulation, a familiar dance that had unfolded over time. The passage of time became a blurry haze in Gaku's memory; he couldn't recall the duration of his slumber, and it seemed like a century might have slipped away without him being aware. Claude was the one who ventured into his hibernation cave, disrupting the tranquility of his rest while proffering a bunch of kobolds to replenish his energy. These hapless monsters found themselves unable to escape, ensnared in Claude's control over their consciousness.

"So why now?" Gaku asked after finishing his meal, licking the remaining blood on his front paw.

"It's about time," Claude replied, a statement that left Gaku silent with surprise. He knew what those words meant—he had always been waiting for his master to come and serve his purpose.

"Where's my master?" Gaku asked, startled upon seeing a small, dying child lying on a cold, rough ground. "What is it?"

"Oh, this?" Claude sneered. "This thing is the key to luring our master."

Gaku sensed that Claude was already scheming something. He thought that if this kid was intended to lure their master, she must be somehow related to him. Despite how many centuries passed, Gaku still found Claude challenging to deal with, unable to predict what was on this lad's mind and how he treated everyone as just a tool.

''What a crude way."

Claude chuckled again. "Well, a naive spirit is on her way here to save her contractor together with our master—" He continued to laugh, covering his face while his body trembled and seemed out of breath. "Hah, I can't wait to see Master in the flesh. How do you think he will react seeing this kid here? Do you think he will be angry? Oh, is he going to use Harun to punish us? Or is he going to praise us?…"

As Gaku listened to Claude's incoherent mumbles, he recognized that if allowed to continue in this phase, it might consume an entire day before Claude concluded. Claude was not inclined to casually divulge information about their master; it wasn't in his nature. He exhibited a characteristic indifference, not bothering about whether Gaku remained in eternal slumber without awakening, nor did he care if Gaku ever caught a fleeting glimpse of their elusive master.

"State what you want," he demanded.

Claude smirked, "I want you to test if the two companions our master has are strong enough to be his vassals."

"Vassals?—"

Gaku was full of questions, yet Claude had already left after saying, "Times up, they're here."

Gaku couldn't shake the feeling of being used. Now he knew the true goal Claude had was to awaken the master's power and to be hated by him.

When Gaku and Claude were poised to unleash devastating attacks, each aiming for the other's neck in a lethal strike, one released a powerful 'wind slash' while the other struck with his sharp, pointed hand. An abrupt and tense pause seized them as their attention pivoted, witnessing the sudden vanishing act of the shadowy hand that had tightly ensnared Gaku.

The Nazari of the moment, formerly enveloped in dark particles and resembling a black flame, had vanished, succumbing to the pull of gravity. The Fenrir responded promptly, exhaling a subtle breeze to slow down their master's descent, and Claude skillfully caught him, cradling Nazari as though he were the most treasured princess in existence.

"Now, now... isn't it amazing, Gaku? Master didn't awaken his true power yet, but he already managed to use Harun unconsciously."

"It was you who forced him to."

"Haha, that's true!" The young lad suddenly embraced Nazari delicately.

"Gaku, master, must be able to control his power consciously before the enemy finds him."

"So, it begins," Gaku whispered, his eyes fixed on the unconscious Nazari. Claude urged him to assume a new role for their master, yet, as Gaku gazed at the petite form before him, he couldn't shake the thought, "Claude, Master is still just a kid."

The young lad smirked and replied, "He isn't just a kid. He's our master."

The young lad gazed at Nazari so affectionately, then noticed the fading light of the runes on his hand. "Poor spirit," he mumbled as he kissed Nazari's forehead softly. A soft chuckle escaped him, feeling a tinged sensation of being electrified. Nazari's forehead emanates a silver light adorned with the delicate symbol of a lotus flower.

"Heh, he won't allow others to mark what's his," he uttered with a wry smile as he embraced Nazari once more before releasing him. "Gaku, I entrust our master to you."

Gaku was puzzled by his words; it was uncommon for him to simply let go. He had always considered this person to be a leech, someone who would never stray far from their master's side if they found him. That was the kind of person Claude was, but who knows what he's thinking? "Where are you off to?"

"To retrieve something precious to us that was stolen by some persistent insects."

"You mean that thing?—"

Claude nodded decisively, executing a graceful leap to delicately place Nazari on Gaku's massive back. The inky hair and the comforting warmth of Gaku's body felt like a luxuriously soft cushion. Claude fixated his gaze on Nazari for an extended moment, a wistful thought echoing in his mind: 'Haah… How I yearn to be with you a bit longer, Master.' He then draped Nazari with his cloak, murmuring, "I will see you soon."

"Claude, even if you die, make sure you retrieve it," Gaku said to him after jumping down. He waved his hand without looking back and vanished completely.

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When Nazari's heart flickered back to life, the whole world trembled, shadows waltzing to the seismic beat.

A surge echoed in those with 'connections,' a deep pulse in their hearts and souls—their master's unmistakable call.

"I'm here."

A chill surged down their back, a potent mix of excitement, fear, and pure exhilaration, like lightning dancing on their nerves. Beads of sweat surfaced, anticipation reaching its peak. The moment they'd yearned for had finally arrived.

'He's finally here.'

But it wasn't just them; even their foes sensed the awakening of the True Shadow.

While in L'yuziria's imposing palace, guarded by layers of barriers, the very ground quivered.

"Arwin, where are you going?" The king's voice cut through the air as Arwin left the two guardians writhing in pain. Unfazed by the royal inquiry, Arwin moved with a single-minded purpose. The moment they mentioned their master, Arwin propelled himself to teleport instantly to Leonard's side.

His thoughts echoed like a desperate prayer: "Please call my name, Naz!"

"Brother!" Leonard's anxious call blended with the trembling ground. "Something must've happened to Nazari!"

"Leo, we must go back immediately!"