Arifureta: Dark Lord

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"Hey, Reiji," Yue called out, her hands grasping his neck as she perched on his back. "You haven't explained what those shadow creatures are. I've never encountered anything like them before. They possess regenerative abilities and seem to be growing stronger with each battle, albeit slowly."

The sight unfolding before them showcased Reiji's Shadow Army engaged in a fierce battle against a multitude of monstrous creatures resembling T-Rexes, creating a scene reminiscent of Jurassic Park. 

Despite being outnumbered, Reiji's army displayed a clear advantage in terms of strength, particularly with the presence of powerful Scorpions and Cyclops on the battlefield. Keeping his gaze fixed on the scene before him, Reiji answered her question after some thought. 

‘Within the time I've spent with her, she's watched my back more times than I can count, and she always strives to be helpful. Perhaps it's because I saved her from her prison, but regardless, she's someone I can trust my life with.’

Snapping out of his reverie, Reiji addressed Yue's inquiry. "It's a skill of mine," he began explaining. "As you witnessed during your captivity, when I slay a monster, I have the ability to resurrect them as my 'Shadows.'"

“It's akin to Necromancy, but there's a fundamental difference in the nature of their bodies. My Shadows are composed of mana, while conventional Necromancy involves reanimating physical bodies that can still be killed. As long as I possess mana, my Shadows will remain immortal and inexhaustible."

“That’s cheating,” Yue muttered in disbelief. "That's quite hypocritical coming from an immortal vampire who possesses affinity with every element and is skilled in wielding most of them," Reiji scoffed in response to Yue's disbelief.

"Besides, this skill is not without its limits or drawbacks," Reiji explained. "The weaker I am, the fewer Shadow Soldiers I can reanimate and maintain. Additionally, constantly consuming Ambrosia to replenish my mana and regenerate my soldiers comes with a debilitating headache."

Nodding in understanding, Yue raised her hand in the air, conjuring spears of swirling flames out of thin air. With precise aim, she launched them towards the horde of monsters. 

Reacting swiftly, Reiji recalled his Shadows back into his own shadow, anticipating the impact of the incoming attack. The ground shook as the spears struck, causing explosions to resonate through the area. 

The intense heat melted the heads of the T-Rex monsters, leaving them lifeless within seconds. The flower that had been perched on the remnants of the T-Rex's head fell off with a soft plop.

As the smoke gradually cleared and the ground ceased its trembling, Reiji let out a sigh of exasperation. Turning to Yue, he inquired, "Mind telling me why you decided to unleash that explosive display?"

With a furrowed brow, Yue gazed at Reiji, her expression still blank, but her eyes betraying a hint of worry and confusion. "Are you annoyed, Reiji?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"No, I'm not annoyed. I was just wondering," Reiji clarified, his tone calm and understanding. He continued, explaining the observation he had made.

"Lately, I've noticed that you've been displaying more strength and becoming more aggressive in dealing with any threats that come our way. While I don't have a problem with it, it does leave me with fewer opportunities to try out the new magic I've been developing."

With that, he started walking away from the scene, in search of the next floor. "...I want to be useful because I'm your partner," Yue explained.  

Nodding in understanding, Reiji responded, “You're already more than useful, Yue. There's no need to push yourself. Even though you excel at magic, close combat is my job as the vanguard. I excel in both, but you're better than me at magic."

"Reiji... Fine," Yue replied, her expression downcast. Sensing her mood, Reiji gently stroked her hair and said, "Stop moping. We have company." 

As Reiji sensed their surroundings, he noticed that about ten creatures had encircled them, leaving no escape route. It became evident to him that these creatures, similar to the Twin-Tailed Wolves, had the ability to coordinate and hunt in packs. 

However, a question lingered in his mind: Did they possess the same innate abilities as the wolves, or was there another factor at play?

As the creatures tightened their encirclement, Reiji's shadow expanded, stretching across a vast expanse of dozens of square meters. The moment they set foot on the shadowy surface, sharp tendrils emerged and pierced their torsos, impaling them mercilessly.

Blood oozed from their wounds, staining the ground in dark crimson. The vacant gaze in their eyes betrayed the fading spark of life, their futile struggles turning feeble as their bodies slowly came to a halt. 

With a chilling silence, the lifeless forms collapsed to the ground as the shadowy tendrils retreated back into the darkness, leaving behind a scene of gruesome carnage. 

Fixing his gaze on the lone surviving monster, Reiji swiftly swiped his hands through the air, summoning a powerful gust of wind that raced toward the creature. 

With precise precision, the wind sliced through the air, expertly severing the tulip-like appendage sprouting from the creature's head. The raptor-like creature convulsed momentarily, its body spasming before it clumsily tripped over itself and crashed to the ground, now motionless. 

A heavy silence descended upon Reiji and Yue as they stood there, their eyes locked on the fallen monster. “Is it dead?” Yue asked confusedly.

Shaking his head in denial, Reiji swiftly responded, "No, I specifically aimed to sever the tulip-like appendage from its head without causing any harm to its body. We need to observe it closely now. If my assumption is correct, this creature may hold the key to our escape from this floor."

Casting an illusion to conceal themselves, Reiji and Yue observed with anticipation as the raptor's behavior unfolded. After a brief moment of twitching, it gradually rose to its feet, cautiously surveying its surroundings. 

Its attention was immediately drawn to the crushed tulip petals, and with deliberate steps, it approached and began to trample them, as if seeking revenge for some perceived harm caused by the flower.

Yue's brows furrowed in confusion as she tried to understand the raptor's peculiar behavior. However, before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Reiji stepped in to provide an explanation. "He was being controlled," he stated with certainty, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and intrigue.

Yue's curiosity deepened as Reiji mentioned the peculiar strength of the monsters on this floor. Clinging onto Reij’s back, she eagerly sought further clarification. "Controlled?" she inquired, her voice laced with anticipation. 

Reiji, creating some distance between them and the raptor, lifted the illusion and proceeded to share his observations. "Isn't it strange, Yue? The monsters here, their strength... It's too weak," he mused, his tone filled with intrigue and a touch of suspicion.

Yue was caught off guard by Reiji's unexpected remark. Reflecting on their recent encounters, she couldn't help but acknowledge the truth in his words. The raptors and T. rex had displayed rudimentary movements, easily predictable and dispatched with relative ease. 

There was something disconcertingly mechanical about their actions, lacking the organic nature she would expect from such creatures. The contrast became more apparent when she recalled the raptor's response to having its flower severed. 

Its reaction had felt far more natural, as it crushed the petals to dust, exhibiting an emotional response rather than mere programmed behavior. Just as Reiji was about to address Yue, his heightened Sense Presence alerted him to a new threat. 

A surge of monsters was approaching from all directions, forming an overwhelming army that seemed to be closing in rapidly. Reiji's skill in sensing their presence had a range of thirty meters, which could be expanded to fifty by infusing it with additional mana and mental focus. 

However, the sheer number of monsters outnumbered his capacity to track them all, with more pouring into his range with each passing second. 

Deploying his shadows to engage the approaching horde, Reiji employed his abilities of Aerodynamic and Sonic Step, swiftly maneuvering through the treacherous terrain of the floor. Yue, concerned by his sudden increase in speed, inquired about the situation.

Maintaining his composed and calm demeanor, Reiji responded, "There was a group of forty monsters making their way towards us. I dispatched my shadows to intercept them. However, it appears that their efforts will be in vain. We now have twice as many monsters converging upon us."

Perched atop a cliff, Reiji cast his gaze across the expansive landscape, his eyes fixating on the distant horizon where the raptors could be seen. Maintaining a mental connection with his shadows, he directed them to carry out their assigned tasks while he focused on the imminent challenge ahead.

Descending from Reiji's back, Yue stood by his side, her gaze focused on the unfolding predicament. Concerned, she asked, "Do you need help?" Shaking his head, Reiji cleared his mind, his eyes growing sharp. 

Mana began to seep out of his body, gathering and coalescing in his hands. "I'll be fine. It's time to test the spell I've been working on. However, since it's still in development, a chant will be necessary."

With the horde rapidly closing in, the ground trembled under their thunderous footsteps. The menacing growls and palpable bloodlust of the monsters filled the air, intensifying as they drew nearer to Reiji and Yue. Sensing their imminent arrival, Reiji took a deep breath and began his chant.

With closed eyes, Reiji delved deep into his concentration, channeling the essence of his spell. He recited the incantation with precision, his voice resonating with a mystical aura. 

"In the depths of shadows, where secrets lie, I summon the sigh of the grand night." As he spoke, his amethyst and black mana intertwined, swirling around him, while the surrounding shadows stirred in response.

"The darkness converges, growing within, unleash its power, let chaos begin," Reiji continued his chant, his eyes snapping open to reveal a captivating glow of amethyst, intertwined with an eerie darkness. 

"Dark Explosion!" With those final words, he thrust his hand forward, releasing the accumulated energy in a blinding burst that surged towards the approaching herd.

As Reiji's spell took effect, the ground beneath them trembled and quaked, resonating with the surge of dark power. The air crackled with anticipation, and the surrounding shadows twisted and writhed, as if sensing the impending chaos. 

Then, with a thunderous roar, the unleashed energy erupted in a cataclysmic display. The explosion itself was a sight to behold. A swirling vortex of amethyst and black, it consumed everything in its path. 

The destructive energy tore through the air, disintegrating the monsters with savage fury. Their bodies were rent apart, limbs torn asunder, and their agonized screams echoed into the void.

The agonized cries of the monsters filled the air, an anguished chorus of pain and despair. Their bodies were thrown asunder, propelled by the explosive force, their forms twisting and contorting in a macabre dance of destruction. 

The ground was scarred and rent asunder, scattered debris and shattered remnants littering the aftermath. Amidst the chaos, wisps of dark smoke curled and danced, lingering remnants of the explosive spell. 

The air hung heavy with the scent of singed flesh and the acrid tang of magic unleashed. Reiji's amethyst gaze slowly returned to its usual state, the glow receding into his eyes. 

Reaching for his vial of Ambrosia, Reiji swiftly uncorked it and drank the potent liquid, his mind preoccupied with the immense depletion of his mana. 

Reflecting on the situation, he realized that his spell, being in its underdeveloped state, had consumed an excessive amount of mana, leaving him feeling drained and exhausted. 

Even his Shadow Army had retracted during the process, following the safety measure he had previously instructed: return to his shadow when telepathic communication was lost.

As Reiji gradually regained his strength, Yue's gaze was fixed upon the aftermath with a glimmer of fascination. With an excited tone, she turned to Reiji and inquired, "Reiji, what kind of spell was that? I've never seen anything like it before."

With a satisfied sigh as his mana began to replenish, Reiji withdrew the vial from his lips and proceeded to address Yue's question. "It's a form of Explosion Magic," Reiji explained, noticing the perplexed expression on Yue's face. 

"This type of magic allows me to create explosive forces that can devastate a wide area or inflict lethal damage on an adversary. You should be capable of wielding similar powers, but I advise against it for now, as your reliance on my blood for magic recovery outweighs the effectiveness of Ambrosia."

"It's not my fault that your blood tastes good," Yue muttered defiantly. "Besides, consuming your blood is more efficient for replenishing my mana and obtaining essential nutrients."

Exhaling in resignation, Reiji's senses heightened as the sound of another group of monsters approached. Acting swiftly, he lifted Yue onto his back, ensuring her safety, and wasted no time in making their escape from the area, leaving the imminent threat behind them.