Chapter 80 | The Shadow Monarch Returns to the World of Eternal Nothingness #2

I'm posting some chapters ahead of time on my discord server: https://discord.gg/r2VSvS5kaH

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"So, you're here?" The first shadow monarch asked the air. In his sight, there was no one, yet the feeling of being watched never left Ashborn.

*Step*

Ash turned his attention towards the voice. The capillary wave spread on the black floor as if someone was touching the fluid. This felt extremely nostalgic, and if he could, he would've been smiling, now that he knew how to smile.

He was actually surprised to see this person again. The joy in him finally made itself known, and he realized that he could also feel something missing in his new life. He didn't know this person would appear in front of him ever again.

"I apologize. Apparently, all my assumptions were invalid... Our paths did cross again."

Said the first Shadow Monarch to the approaching figure.

He was a handsome man with a lean physique. His defined jaw and height made his appearance unique. Those grey eyes of his would mesmerize any woman he'd look into. This time they glowed bright purple. While the jet hair on his head was technically invisible due to the surrounding darkness. It was blending.

"I thought the same, but I'm glad it came out to be not true." The young man commented on Ashborn's words.

As he focused on the ethereal form of Ashborn, a huge expression of gratitude appeared on his face. He walked up to Ash and pulled his hands out of his pocket for a handshake. With some hesitation, Ash accepted the handshake.

"It must be weird to see me in this appearance... I can't seem to control it."

The young man raised an eyebrow, "You can't? That seems weird. Last time you morphed into all of my family and close friends." In the end, he chuckled, remembering their last meeting.

"Since then, I remember passing down my power to you."

Of course, who could access this realm other than Ashborn himself? Only Sung Jin-Woo, his sole successor. This human lad, who turned the god-like being's life upside down with his fate, allowed him to feel happiness and rest.

"I'm glad that I could see you again." The words couldn't describe how grateful he felt toward this man, but he never had a chance to repay him. He disappeared. Just like that, the only thing he could tell him was "Thank you."

Despite the fact that it didn't seem like Ashborn needed anything more, his human morals were constantly troubled by it. He wanted to answer the man's goodwill for him in the same manner. And now he's got the chance.

Despite the current circumstances, Ash could still experience what it was like to meet someone you've known for a long time.

"I feel the disturbance in you. Has Eternal Rest not satisfied you?" Sung asked as he separated the hug from a shadowy figure.

"It's... a long story." Said the first shadow monarch in a frustrating tone.

"We have a lot of time here on us. There's nothing holding us back from using it."

Ashborn looked around and thought about it. This place was the Shadow Monarch's domain, which can be controlled. The time wouldn't pose a problem... Relent fully, he nodded.

Sung returned his nod, and with a swish of his hand, the environment around them changed once again. The tall brick buildings rose from the ground, and the roads began to cover the vast land. The sun appeared and the sky turned its usual blue color.

All this was possible because of a wish of the Shadow Monarch in this realm.

"We can take a walk while talking."

Jin-woo's proposal was accepted, and with that, the former and the current shadow monarch took a walk in the freshly built infrastructure. With the sun rising, the people also began to appear on the streets. Some were opening markets, while some of them just walked.

On the other hand, Ashborn began to retell his story to his successor.

"Actually, I never returned to my eternal rest. It so happened that I found myself in a world... where I had no control over things."

Jin-woo attentively listened to every word that came out of Ash's mouth.

It came as a surprise to Jin-woo to hear what happened to his predecessor. At first, it was just part of the dream of him being reincarnated as a human child and living a happy life, but...

"Yes, it was very short-lived... until I learned about the existence of fragments. You should know at least about this."

"If you are talking about the cup of reincarnation, I'm aware of their recent fate."

"Recent, huh? I see now."

"I presume, it was much longer."

Ashborn nodded at Jin-woo. So the fragments messed with time and space in general. Now the first shadow monarch understands why the Rulers' haven't retrieved the fragments.

"The flow of time is different in that world, and the fragments granted enormous power to beings who don't know much about it." From the beginning, I knew something wasn't right."

"Have you clashed with those beings?"

"I have clashed with a few of them, but they aren't the main point anymore..."

"The Monarchs. I felt their presence across the galaxies, especially that one... I won't ever forget that bloody-red aura. Considering what he did to me."

Jin-woo raised one of his hands and removed the glove he was wearing. The terrible scar was left on it after the second clash with Antares in between the dimensions.

"You could've healed it." Remarked the first Shadow Monarch.

Jin-woo shook his head, "I decided to leave it as a battle trophy."

As they continued to walk through the streets of what now appeared to be the city of Seoul, Jin-woo invited Ashborn to an ice-cream parlor. He had wanted ice cream for a long time now, so he gladly followed his successor inside.

The duo took a seat near the windows, where they had a better view of the outside world. That's where they ordered the ice cream. Yes, it was a sort of roleplay, but Ashborn did not question it. Instead, he felt weird.

The waitress just gave him the menu and asked what type of ice cream serving he desired. Ash looked at his appearance, then back at the waitress, and then at Jin-woo. His shadowy appearance wasn't normal... was it?

He finally made an order and the waitress left them alone.

"Isn't it weird that they act so casually? Even though I know that they aren't real."

His question was mirrored by Jin-woo, "Maybe you aren't weird for them, but you are for yourself?"

Ashborn hummed at his response and didn't answer. Rather, he looked at his side to look through the glass window. The first shadow monarch saw his reflection there, and it wasn't a smoky mess.

There he could see his face, the one that he had grown attached to. The face of the Leywin family's son. Ashborn Leywin, with his auburn hair and sky-blue eyes, which resembled his father's and brother's.

"Maybe because you haven't accepted yourself as something normal."

What Jin-woo was seeing now in Ashborn was just the handsome auburn-haired boy. He understood what was going on with his predecessor, and he wanted to help him out in the situation he was in.

There was a conflict in Ashborn, and as the shadow monarch, Jin-woo could feel it. This was happening unbeknownst to the first. At the moment, his mind was battling over whether his actions were right from the beginning.

Does he have to tell others about his power to feel like himself? Or was it right to hide it from them? Maybe then he'd be a lot more prepared for situations like this.

The person opposite was contemplating what to tell him. In the end, he decided to retell how he dealt with a situation similar to his.

"You haven't found yourself in the world where you thought you belonged. It's not about others that haven't accepted you, but yourself. You haven't accepted your being in that world completely, even though you like it."

Nobody knew of him being the shadow monarch in his world. Aside from Jin-woo's wife and the police officer, Jin-Chul.

"I have some people who know my true self. They can support me, ready to console me anytime. I can use all my powers as usual around them, and they don't have issues with it. They know that I'm not a human like them... rather I'm unique, but they accepted the fact easily.

Maybe you should've done the same." suggested Jin-woo.

Ashborn leaned with his back on the chair, " What if they don't accept me as I am?"

"In that case, you could've made them forget it. Honestly, if you are close to that person, there's just no way they would turn against you. Especially when you've helped them so far."

Ashborn agreed with his successors' words; they were true. But what can he do now? In this realm...

"It still feels like I don't belong in that place."

"So you belong to this one? Yeah, living your dreams must be beautiful. However, you don't seem to be in a hurry."

"Because there is still something that I must do first. I'm not ready for Eternal Rest."

Jin-woo smiled. It was clear as day that he wanted to leave this place, but he was pressured by his own ideas, which were stupid — but at the same time, relatable for someone like him. For him to become the Monarch of Shadows, he had to pass through various trials that almost took his life. This man assisted him in the process.

He couldn't imagine what it felt like to become human, adapt to that life, and then suddenly get back on his dark side to raise his power.

"Well, I am here to help you out at any time. You once trusted me. I believe you can do that again."

Jin-woo finished his serving of ice cream and stood up. Ashborn looked up at him with a questionable look in his eyes.

"Ashborn... I value you and I will always. You gifted me with the life I have, and I'm very happy. You were that one person, unknown to me, who acted as my protector. So no matter what, I'm here to stand with you."

*Puff*

The first shadow monarch's eyes widened, the smoke around him began to disappear, and his hands became visible to him. He was experiencing a different set of emotions at the same time. His blue eyes were staring at the smiling figure of his successor.

The time he spent overlooking Jin-woo's progress, constantly helping him out in need by giving him some quests, and all the pain he delivered to him, yet this person is still grateful. The nostalgic memories resurfaced in his mind...

How he nurtured the child in front of him, and how he technically raised him into the person he is right now. He felt proud and happy.

It was nice to see that his doings...have their fruits.

A single tear rolled down from his eyes onto his cheek. It was a tear of joy.

"You were aiming for this from the beginning, weren't you? You brought me here. I knew I couldn't enter this realm a second time." With his human hand, Ashborn swept away the tear.

To his question, Jin-woo nodded truthfully. He wanted to crack down on this character in order to help him out.

"So what are you going to do now?"

"I have unfinished business. But I need help...

Will you lend me a hand?"