Chapter Thirty: The Gleam of the Oath – Birth of a New Shadow

The ancient mountain still held the cold of the shadows.

Among its silent rocks, the dragon Ignos lay weak, faint flames escaping his mouth like the breath of a dying autumn.

Sajibro, the undying king, approached him and placed his hand steadily upon his chest, whispering words only spoken at rare moments in history:

In the name of the Supreme Shadow… I return you to yourself."

From his palm flowed a pure black light, laced with golden sparks, seeping into Ignos's chest.

In the next instant, the ground trembled beneath them, and a deep roar rose — as if the flames themselves were weeping.

Ignos rose after that, his eyes clear of the spike's remnants.

He spoke calmly:

I won't fail you again."

Then he closed his eyes… and transformed.

A massive aura exploded from around him, followed by a heavy silence — then human footsteps emerged from the smoke.

His new form was that of a man in his late twenties, tall, with black hair streaked with crimson flame.

His eyes were amber like burning ember, and his skin smooth, as if forged from fire's ash.

He wore a dark leather cloak adorned with shifting fiery engravings, and a light chestplate gleamed like a volcanic heart.

His aura was calm… yet carried the terror of silence before the explosion.

He spoke in a deep voice:

I'll keep this form… the dragon form takes more than it gives."

The two of them mounted a flying shadow shaped like a black vehicle, slicing through the sky toward their next destination…

The Kingdom of the Wise.

This kingdom was like a library suspended among the clouds, its towers made of ethereal crystals, books fluttering around them like birds, and the air soaked with wisdom and gentle light.

At the heart of the palace sat King Izaron, a man with golden eyes and long white hair flowing like pages of time, dressed in a robe glowing with knowledge.

As soon as Sajibro entered, the king rose and spoke with yearning in his voice:

You're late… but you returned, as you promised."

They sat around a floating table of light and spoke of all that time had ruined:

Raizen's betrayal, kingdoms losing their identity, and the ancient pact that bound them to the Oath Shadow.

At the moment of parting, Izaron said:

I still honor our oath, Sajibro. An oath is not a document… it is part of our souls."

Upon their return to the Kingdom of Shadows, the winds were charged, and the buildings still under construction… yet pulsing with life.

They entered the command hall, where Hana was waiting.

She placed her hands on Ignos's chest and whispered a healing seal — the pain subsided, and his breathing began to return to rhythm.

Suddenly… the message arrived:

Melis… Daimon… have been killed."

Musayuki and Kain stood in heavy silence.

As for Sajibro, he cast a single glance at the sacred flame, then murmured:

The shadow does not weep… it reshapes itself."

He approached Hana and placed his hand on her forehead:

From this day on… you shall be the leader of Pure Deception.

No shadows shall toy with you — only the light you choose to wield."

Hana's aura ignited and transformed before their eyes:

Her left eye became like a mirror that reflected intentions, and her right could see the souls of the dead.

She gained the power to manipulate light reality — an illusion the enemy perceives as truth.

Then Sajibro raised his other hand to the air, and from shadow a human form slowly took shape…

The new commander: Leon Azur.

A man in his mid-thirties, short-haired, with skin shaded between ash and gold, and cold silver eyes.

He wore a dark coat with a metallic sheen, and a dark red tattoo ran from his neck to his shoulder.

He wielded two twin daggers:

The first triggered precise explosions, the second froze energy flow for seconds.

His combat style relied on speed and tactics, and his voice was always calm… and arrogant.

Sajibro said to him:

You are a balanced shadow… your pride and composure, your weapons and loyalty — all are one."

He then turned to the commanders and said:

Arthur… remains the strongest among you.

If he continues at this level, I shall bless him with a new ability,

One that only a Shadow King can weave from imagination…

Something that has never existed before."

The chapter ends in silence:

Arthur stands atop the palace, gazing at the sky… then closes his eyes, as if something within him… is about to awaken.