Chapter 28 – The Three Seraphs

As the Seraphim-class Inquisitors descended, the sky above Vel'darun shone brightly. Rings of burning halos shimmered like falling stars, and the heavens seemed to cry out against Kaelen's transformation.

Kaelen stood undisturbed on the broken Shadow City's battlements.

His new armor, built of Eclipse Monarch material, pulsed with both light and darkness - a physical manifestation of a paradox. Shadows coiled at his feet, and golden threads weaved through his cloak like strands of dying sunlight.

He gazed up, and three people emerged from the glorious light.

"System, identify them."

[Scan complete.]

Seraph Athelios: The Wingless Sword, Seraph Selene: The Flame of Judgement, and Seraph Kyra: The Veiled Prophet.

Class: Divine Executor (Tier 5+).

Status: hostile. The mission is to eliminate the Reincarnator.

Kaelen narrowed his eyes.

This wasn't a skirmish.

This was an execution.

The Seraphs Descend

The three Seraphs landed before the Shadow Throne ruins with miraculous precision and silence. Holy sigils whirled under their feet. Behind them, roughly 800 elite paladins and magi formed a shining phalanx, their shields adorned with glowing text.

Athelios, the tallest, strode forward, his silver armor reflecting the stars and his blade resonating with old oaths.

"You have claimed what should not exist," Athelios said, his voice booming. "You walk the line between god and heretic."

Kaelen smirked, and shadows curled around his hands like smoke.

"I was never destined to follow their route. "So I carved my own."

Selene's blade sparked with celestial fire.

"Then die with the rest of your shadows."

The Battle Begins

Kaelen raised his hand.

[Skill Activated: Shadow Domain, Eclipse State]

All allied units gain +30% resistance to holy damage. Enemies within the domain experience Light Fatigue.

Darkness spread like a sea from his position, winding through the wreckage. The moment it struck the Church's front lines, their mages recoiled, their spells stuttering.

Then came the order.

"FOR THE DIVINE KING!"

The siege started.

Paladins stormed the broken gates of Vel'darun, casting spells that lit up the night like fireworks. But Kaelen's army, the Shadow Court, met them with rage.

Eira led the charge, her glaive synchronized with Void fire. Lyra, now using the shattered seal dagger as a channeling focus, muttered spells into the wind, each stealing breath and light from her foes.

Meanwhile, Kaelen disappeared into the darkness.

Duel Among Gods

He reappeared in midair, face to face with Seraph Athelios, whose sword cut toward him in a wide arc.

CLANG!

Kaelen's Solar Void Blade collided with the Seraph's radiant weapon. Light cracked around them as the power of their collision shook the sky.

[Parry Successful.]

[Counterattack Opportunity Unlocked.]

[New Skill: Eclipse Reversal – Level 1]

- Reflect 30 percent of the blocked holy energy as corrupted backlash.

Kaelen spun and slammed his sword into Athelios' chest. The Seraph flew backward and crashed into the spire ruins below.

Selene and Kyra Strike

While Kaelen was fighting Athelios, the other two Seraphs made their move.

Selene fired a wave of holy fire, destroying two Shadow born lieutenants. She moved like a comet—fast, untouchable, and divine.

But Lyra was faster.

Lyra summoned the ancient chant she had read about in the forbidden writings from the shadows of the shattered cathedral.

"...I call the Blade of the Silent God."

A black spear of null energy emerged from the earth and aimed toward Selene, forcing her to blink out just in time.

[Skill: Divine Bane - Artifact Grade Spell]

Kaelen's Ascension Continues

Kaelen fought Athelios with raw elegance, using his Eclipse Monarch skills to block, teleport, and bend light.

But Athelios was more than just strong. He was experienced.

"You control both shadow and light..." But you don't comprehend either!" He roared.

Athelios cast the Vow Circle, a legendary sealing spell, trapping Kaelen within a ring of blinding scripture.

"This is the seal that once bound the Demon King himself!"

Kaelen smiled coldly.

"I am not the Demon King."

"I'm something worse."

Then he reached deep into the Shadow System's hidden layer, which had just recently awakened with his evolution.

[Unique Skill Unlocked: King's Eclipse, Forbidden Tier]

Effect: Collapses any active Light-based enchantments within a 500m radius.

Cost: 60% System Sync | Soul Fatigue applied.

Kaelen raised his hand.

The Vow Circle shattered like glass.

The Seraphs froze.

The Battlefield Shifts

With the divine enchantments destroyed, Kaelen's army advanced.

Shadow Constructs emerged from the ruins, forming dark war beasts that smashed into the Church's defenses. Abyssal arcanists spewed void-like tentacles across the battlefield. The tide turned.

Kaelen was now hovering over the city, surrounded by a spiral of shadow feathers.

He gazed down at the Seraphs.

"You came to kill a king," he explained.

"But you forgot — kings don't fall alone."

"They rise with their domains."

And then—

[System announcement: Vel'darun has become a Sovereign Shadow Zone.]

Bonuses activated include passive restoration of Shadow Affinity and suppression of Divine Entities.

- Loyalty among Shadow born units locked at 100%.