allen_manhwa

In a world where science and mysticism intertwine, and where supernatural powers stem from ancient secrets and unknown entities, a young man named Elias Corvin wakes up in the body of another person within a city teeming with conspiracies and hidden truths. With no clear memories of his past life, he soon discovers that he has inherited a mysterious legacy tied to the Grand Talisman Codex—a legendary artifact said to hold the forbidden knowledge of ascension.

But there's a problem... Every previous owner of this book has either vanished under mysterious circumstances or transformed into something inhuman. Yet, Elias finds himself unable to rid himself of it, as he begins to see beings that do not belong to this world and hear whispers revealing secrets of the cosmos.

As time passes, he learns that the world is governed by hidden Orders, each seeking to control absolute knowledge. While uncovering the enigma surrounding his fate, he begins to trace the path of the Lost Sequence, a power system believed to be cursed—where all who tread it either become the Lord of Shadows or succumb to existential erosion.

Lord of Shadows: Rise of the Grand Talisman

The chamber pulsed with an eerie stillness. The floating staircases twisted in impossible directions, lanterns flickered as if alive, and the shadows… they moved.

Elias barely had time to react before the darkness lunged. Shapes formed from the void—humanoid figures with hollow, watching eyes. Their limbs stretched unnaturally as they advanced.

"You have taken the first step. Now, prove you are worthy."

The voice resonated through the chamber, neither male nor female, yet carrying an authority that demanded obedience.

Leira cursed, drawing a silver dagger from her coat. "Elias, what the hell is this?"

Elias didn't answer. His instincts screamed—this was not just a test of courage. It was a test of understanding, of control.

Elias moved on instinct, dodging the first attack. A tendril of darkness lashed toward him, barely missing as he twisted away. Another shadow lunged for Leira, its fingers stretching like claws.

She struck fast, the silver blade cutting through its form. The creature recoiled, its shape distorting before reforming.

Elias gritted his teeth. They can be harmed, but not destroyed.

The voice returned, whispering at the edges of his mind.

"The veil is thin. To walk beyond it, you must understand its rules."

Elias's fingers tightened around the vial in his pocket. The safeguard.

Realization struck. The test wasn't about fighting. It was about perception.

He yanked the vial free, uncorking it with a swift motion. The dark liquid shimmered unnaturally as he poured a drop onto his palm.

As soon as it touched his skin, his vision shifted.

The chamber changed. The shadows were no longer just shifting figures—they were reflections of something greater, echoes of something unseen. The patterns on the walls pulsed with hidden meaning, and the lanterns cast more than just light.

They cast pathways.

Elias exhaled. "Leira, don't fight—follow me!"

She hesitated but saw the determination in his eyes. "You better be right about this."

Elias moved, stepping carefully onto one of the glowing pathways cast by the lanterns. The moment his foot touched it, the shadows hesitated.

He took another step. The figures recoiled.

"You begin to understand."

Leira followed, her breath unsteady. "What… what is this place?"

Elias didn't answer immediately. His mind was racing. The test wasn't just about proving his resolve—it was about proving he could see what others could not.

As they moved deeper, the shadows melted away. The staircases realigned, forming a clear path forward. The chamber pulsed once more, and then—

A doorway appeared ahead, etched with the same sigils as before.

"Step through, Initiate. The first threshold has been crossed."

Elias and Leira exchanged a glance.

Then, without hesitation, they stepped through.

To Be Continued…

The Trial of Shadows