The System Reincarnator: From Zero to Shadow King

Kaelen crossed the boundary, and the air became cooler.

The ground beneath his feet softened, changing from hard obsidian glass to something else, perhaps ash? Sand? It gave underfoot like the bones of a thousand forgotten souls. The oppressive darkness twisted and reshaped itself into a labyrinth of shadows, with the walls pulsing like living veins.

[System Notification].

The Shadow King's Pact initiates the second trial.

Face the Keeper and create your Pact.

Failure: Eternal Servitude within the Shadow Domain.

Kaelen exhaled gently, the air condensing in front of his lips despite the absence of heat. His heart rate decreased, not due to fear, but due to increasing conviction.

He could feel it.

A presence that is monitoring.

Waiting.

A gigantic gate stood in the centre of the corridor, tall as a mountain and made from intertwined strands of darkness. Symbols pulsed across its surface in rhythms with Kaelen's heartbeat.

The guy from earlier stood in front of it, hands clasped behind his back.

The Keeper of the Veil.

The thing had no face, only a featureless void where the eyes should be. His crown of twisting shadows writhed softly, almost as if alive. He emanated unfathomable, smothering authority rather than murderous purpose.

[???—Keeper of the Veil]

Emissary for the Shadow King.

Immortal Entity — System Binding is active.

"You have survived," the Keeper's voice echoed in Kaelen's head, a loud yet peaceful whisper. "Many do not."

Kaelen returned the Keeper's gaze—or where his eyes should have been.

"I'm not like the others," Kaelen explained evenly. "I am here to claim the Shadow King's power..." "Not to be another nameless corpse."

The Keeper tilted his head slightly. So you believe. However, belief alone is not sufficient. The Shadow King does not confer power. He takes. "And if you are worthy, leave something more behind."

Kaelen clutched his fists. His shadow flickered at his feet and pulsed softly.

"What's the price?"

A pause.

The Keeper's voice lowered, dark and resonant.

"Everything."

The entire globe shivered.

The Keeper raised his hand unexpectedly, causing Kaelen's eyesight to blur.

The corridor disappeared.

He now stood in a massive chamber of black stone, surrounded by mirrored images of himself, each warped by shadow.

One wore a bone crown and had a vicious grimace on his face.

Another dripped blood, a blade embedded in his own heart.

A third knelt, eyes empty and bound by black chains.

[System Notification].

Second Trial: Inner Pact Challenge Begin.

Face your shadows. Accept or reject their fate.

The Keeper's voice echoed.

"Your fear. You are greedy. You failed. They are you. Reject them and you will never have actual power. Accept them. You may possibly become the Shadow King."

The first mirror Kaelen approached was the crowned figure.

"You seek power for retribution. "You will slaughter them all."

His own voice, but poisonous.

The shadow Kaelen's eyes were filled with madness.

Kaelen gave him a hard gaze. "Maybe. But I'm not going to lose myself in it."

He reached out and laid his hand on the shadow's shoulder.

The figure shuddered. Then it melted into vapour and merged into Kaelen's breast.

[Aspect of Dominance Accepted].

Shadow Authority: +10%

The second person, the bleeding one, caught his gaze next.

"You will die alone." Betrayed. "You are more afraid of it than anything else."

It smiled in terrible anguish.

Kaelen moved closer. "I have already died once. "Fear of dying again will not deter me."

The bleeding figure nodded once. and disappeared inside him.

[Aspect of Sacrifice Accepted].

Shadow Endurance: +5%.

The last—the prostrate one—raises hollow eyes.

"You will become a slave. To the system. To your strength. "To the shadows."

Kaelen crouched near him. His voice sounded gentle. "Nobody owns me. Not the system. Not even the Shadow King."

The shackled form shattered apart like glass, sending shards of darkness into Kaelen's hands.

[Aspect of Defiance Accepted].

Shadow Willpower: +15%

When Kaelen stood up again, the chamber became darker.

The Keeper materialized alongside him, his voice tinted with something like... approval?

"You have accepted who you are. Most break. "You... bend."

Kaelen turned to face him completely. "Now… the Pact."

The Keeper extended his hand.

"You'll serve. You will issue commands. You will reign beneath the Shadow King until your soul is reduced to ash. Rise and take up the mantle when He falls. "This is the Pact."

Kaelen looked at the offered hand.

[System Notification].

Do you accept the Shadow King's Pact?

[YES] | [NO]

He raised his hand, gripping the Keeper's forearm.

[Pact accepted]

The Shadow King has 1% authority and has acquired a unique skill: the Pact of the Shadow King.

The Keeper's figure rippled, disappearing into the shadows.

"Walk your way, Kaelen of the Mark. "We'll meet again when you're ready to take the throne."

The chamber cracked like glass.

Kaelen opened his eyes and found himself back in the Shadow Domain's abyssal plain.

But now... the shadows leaned towards him in mute adoration.

He raised his hand.

The darkness moved on his command.

[Shadow King's Pact is Complete]

The next trial has been unlocked: The Conquest of the Living World.

Kaelen smiled, shadows moving over his eyes.

From Zero to Shadow King. The world will be unaware of what is to come.