The System Reincarnator: From Zero to Shadow King

The fall of Virehold caused earthquakes throughout the System World.

For the first time in millennia, the Council's stronghold was seized, not by a country or rebellion...

But by one man and his growing alliance.

Kaelen, the Shadow King.

The Council's High Conclave

The thirteen High Councillors met in the sanctum of the Aurelion Citadel.

Sephira stood in the centre, her gaze as frigid as a frozen abyss.

She gazed at the assemblage of gods-chosen kings, her words reverberating in the marble hall.

"Kaelen's arrogance must cease now. No more whispering. "No more waiting."

She unwrapped the Divine Decree Scroll, its golden aura throwing light around the chamber.

"I hereby invoke the Edict of Holy War."

The chamber became silent.

The last time such an injunction was issued, entire continents burnt.

The Holy Army

Within a few days, the Council's might was put into action.

— 300,000 Holy Soldiers representing the United Kingdoms under the Council's flag.

— 12,000 Templar Paladins carry celestial benefits.

5,000 Magi of the Sunlight Order employ anti-shadow magic.

- Hundreds of combat saints, archknights, and blessed champions.

They marched under one banner: the Sigil of Divine Judgement.

High Inquisitor Maltheon led them, accompanied by a man who claimed to have killed a demon god.

Kaelen's War Council

Kaelen sat in Virehold's war hall, studying reports.

Valen slammed his gaunteleted hand on the table.

"They're coming with everything."

Nyssa folded her arms, her voice quiet yet harsh.

"They outnumber us ten to one."

Raze grinned, unconcerned. "I like those odds."

Eira's frosty blue eyes matched Kaelen's.

"It's not a struggle. It is a war of annihilation.

Kaelen talked quietly.

"Good."

The Shadow King's Plan

"We can't fight them in open battle," Valen cautioned.

Kaelen nodded.

"We won't."

He traced his finger on the map.

"We bleed them dry before they reach us."

He indicated important areas including supply lines, mountain passes, and river crossings.

"Guerrilla tactics." Ambushes. Night raids. They believe they are battling a rebellion. We show them that they are fighting a shadow empire.

The First Clashes

— In the Silverpine Pass, Valen led a group of shadow warriors in a nocturnal ambush. 5,000 Holy Soldiers marched in, but just 500 crawled out.

— Nyssa's agents poisoned the water sources at Graveth Crossing, halting an entire battalion.

— Eira created a blizzard at Frostgarde Cliffs, freezing a whole legion in their slumber.

— Raze's navy ambushed a Council supply convoy, drowning its war galleys and seizing its valuables.

The Holy Army started to falter.

The Holy Army Strikes Back

However, the Council was not elected solely on the basis of power.

Maltheon launched the Sunfire Cataclysm on Black Hollow Ridge, engulfing an entire shadow outpost in holy fire.

The Holy Magi responded to Eira's blizzards with divine heat storms.

Paladins launched retaliatory strikes, moving deeper into Shadow-controlled territory.

The fight became a vicious back-and-forth, with neither side willing to give up.

The Duel of Shadows and Light

On the Ashen Plains, Kaelen had his first firsthand confrontation with the Holy Army.

He faced Maltheon's 10,000-strong vanguard with only 1,000 Shadow Legionnaires under his command.

Kaelen remained silent as the enemy surrounded them.

Maltheon scoffed. "Surrender. And I may give you a gentle death."

Kaelen responded by striding forward, with shadows swirling about him.

"You should have brought more men."

[System Skill: Shadow Dominion Field]

Darkness erupted outward.

Holy troops wailed as shadows ripped through armor, draining strength and destroying formations.

Kaelen stormed into the midst of the army, his blade breaking celestial wards with each blow.

Maltheon engaged him in single combat, light vs shadow.

Their clash shook the battlefield.

Sword vs halberd.

Holy flames against shadow storms.

But Kaelen's power, fueled by the Shadow Domain and his System, matched every strike.

They fought to a standstill before both forces withdrew — a rare, uneasy draw.

The World Watches

[System Announcement]The Shadow King and High Inquisitor Maltheon have engaged in Legendary Combat — Outcome: Stalemate.

Kingdoms trembled.

The Council's champions were no longer untouchable.

The Shadow King's Message

Kaelen issued his announcement from Virehold's battlements, his voice reverberating across realms thanks to shadow-linked networks.

"To the free peoples of the world...

The Council refers to this as a holy war.

However, it is a struggle of control—of chains and false gods.

I offer a new world.

Not driven by fear.

Not limited by a flawed system.

Join me.

Or stand in my path...

"And be forgotten."

The Shadow Alliance Grows

With each battle, more people came to Kaelen's side.

Rebel kingdoms declared their loyalty. Mercenary armies defected.— Reincarnators desiring freedom joined his cause.

The Alliance expanded beyond a rebellion.

It became a shadowy empire.

Sephira's Vow

Sephira addressed a congregation in the Council's Grand Cathedral.

Her voice was a caustic whisper.

"He'll die. His shadow will be banished. "I swear on the gods."

She summoned a weapon that had not been seen in generations.

The Celestial Bane Spear was forged to kill Shadow Lords.

The Storm Ahead

Kaelen knew this was just the beginning.

The Council would escalate.

The world would bleed.

For the first time since his reincarnation.

He was not battling alone.

He ruled an empire.

And soon.

The entire globe would kneel.