"Come here," Alistair commanded, her tone firm. First Shadow immediately obeyed and stepped closer, his massive, shadowy frame towering above her.
She crossed her arms, staring up at him.
"Although I’ve regained some mana, I still can’t use 《Shadowmeld》 to travel to the dungeon. Even after leveling up, my stamina is only D grade. I need to conserve it for emergencies. It seems I’ll have to rely on you."
First Shadow watched her back, his expression unreadable.
"Bow down," she commanded, and First Shadow immediately complied, lowering himself slightly. Even while crouched, he still towered over her.
“How can someone still appear tall even when they bow?” she murmured as she tried to climb onto his back.
Unfortunately, her attempt was unsuccessful—her foot slipped, and she landed with an ungraceful thud on the ground. Frustrated, she clenched her fists and growled.
"Bow more!”
Before she tried to climb up again, she glanced at the mage’s backpack lying near the mansion entrance. With a wave of her hand, she activated 《Abyssal Chamber》 and stored the backpack inside.
⊶☽☬☾⊷
Once outside, the cool night air brushed against her face. Seated atop First Shadow’s shoulder, Alistair unfurled the map she’d taken from the mage’s belongings. She directed her gaze downward, giving orders.
"Turn left. Now straight, through the forest.”
The mansion she had been residing in was eerily quiet, surrounded by a dense forest. There were no signs of monsters in the woods. Alistair leaned back slightly, her seat on First Shadow’s broad shoulders oddly comfortable.
Must be because it’s made of shadow.
she thought a small smirk forming as she absentmindedly played with his shadowy hair. Curiosity sparked in her mind.
How does this even work? I gave First my mana, and my own mana is depleted, yet he’s still standing. That means the mana I gave him acts as fuel. Is it inside his body?
Her curiosity sparked, and she reached down to touch the shadow’s neck. Her hand phased through his form effortlessly, as though touching smoke, and to her surprise, she saw it—a glowing orb of her mana, pulsing inside his chest like a heart.
So that’s where my mana is stored.
Her thoughts led her to another theory.
If I have a system, does First have one too? Then how can I see the status? Shadow servant system?
Immediately a translucent screen appeared before her:
---
Shadow Servants.
1. First Shadow
—
Alistair selected First Shadow's profile, and a new system screen appeared before her:
—
《Status》
Name: Greg ➜ First Shadow
Race: Human ➜ Abyssal Human
Level 50
Rank: C
Mana: 600/1000 ➜ 2000
Strength : B
Agility : D
Stamina : C
Endurance: D
Intelligence : D ➜ G
Luck : D ➜ B
Charm : F ➜ C
→ Aspect :
《{C} Killer's Sphere》
The user creates a deadly sphere of sharp, pointy projectiles around their feet. Any enemy that steps into or crosses this threshold triggers a swift, automatic strike from the user’s weapon, launching it towards them at lightning speed.
→ Inherent Skills:
《 {C} Umbramancy》
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Umbramancy is the arcane art of manipulating darkness and shadows. This skill allows the user to bend shadows to their will, create pockets of darkness, and harness the power found within the absence of light.
→ Acquired skills: None
—
Alistair studied the screen, clearly impressed.
“Level 50 and rank C? Not bad, And that mana pool… I suppose that’s my mana stored inside him. His stats aren’t bad either. It appears that being my servant has enhanced his luck and charm.“
Truly, what a magnanimous master I am! I’ve made him more handsome and fortunate—what a blessing it is for him to serve me, the sovereign of the night
Her gaze lingered on the aspect's description.
His Killer’s Circle is actually called Killer's Sphere, and it’s C-ranked. Indeed it was a trap, and the description is far more detailed than his vague explanation.
Then her eyes caught the listed inherent skill.
Umbramancy? You gained an inherent skill just by becoming an Abyssal Human. Humans don’t have inherent skills, do they? Meanwhile, I was born with both Umbramancy and Hemomancy as a vampire.
Her eyes glinted with realization. His Mana Veil is gone, so he can't use it now that he's a shadow creature. That’s fine. Let’s test something else.
Her curiosity piqued. What if I command him into the shadows? Can he acquire 《Shadowmeld》 like I have?
Without hesitation, she issued the command. First Shadow obeyed, his form melting seamlessly into the darkness before reemerging a second later.
When no notification popped up, Alistair rechecked First Shadow’s system. A new skill had appeared:
—
→ Acquired Skills:
《{D} Shadowmeld》
This skill allows the user to merge with darkness, rendering the user intangible while inside. Within the shadows, movement speed is significantly enhanced, and the user gains an extended field of vision.
—
Alistair nodded, satisfied. She glanced at First Shadow’s system again and saw his mana decrease slightly.
So using Shadowmeld drains his mana too. I wonder... what happens to the mana I gave him if he’s destroyed? Do I recover the mana I stored in him? If so, Shadow servants could be far more valuable than I anticipated. I could store excess mana in them and reclaim it later.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a distant, frantic shout.
"Someone please help me!!"
Alistair snapped her head toward the woods. She motioned for First Shadow to stop, her keen eyes scanning the scene. Ahead, a group of bandits surrounded a carriage. The guards lay lifeless on the ground, their blood staining the earth. Inside the carriage, an old man clutched his chest, blood seeping through a stab wound, while a teenage girl clung to him in fear.
One of the bandits laughed.
"Haha, no one can hear you, young lady!"
The rest of the bandits joined in, their mocking laughter echoing through the forest.
A cliché scene. Third-rate villains and no hero in sight to save the day. Convenient for me, though—I need to recover my mana.
The girl’s voice rang out again, full of defiance.
"You bastards will regret messing with the Guthrie family!"
"Guthrie? What’s that supposed to mean?" One of the bandits asked, scratched his head.
Another shrugged.
"Dunno, man. I can’t even read."
"You idiots! The Guthrie family is a noble house known for their alchemy! Do you know what that means?!” An older bandit with an eyepatch growled.
Alistair tilted her head, intrigued. Alchemy, you say?
The eyepatch-wearing man continued, "We can’t let her live. If she escapes, we’re dead men.”
I can't let her die. It seems I have no choice but to step in. And if I'm going to intervene, I might as well make it entertaining. A little theatrics never hurt anyone. After all, what's the point of being a vampire if I don't embrace the role?
She commanded First Shadow to use 《Shadowmeld》and emerged from the darkness, her movements deliberate, graceful, and predatory. Her presence instantly commanded attention. The bandits looked up, caught off guard by her sudden appearance.
"Foolish humans, forever battling one another. With lives so fleeting, I cannot fathom your simple-mindedness.”
Her tone was smooth, each word dripping with disdain.
“But alas, the sovereign of the night has arrived. Leave now, while I am still giving you a chance.”
The bandits froze at the sound of her voice. One of them gaped.
“A-an angel!?”
Another smacked him on the back of the head.
“Idiot! She’s a vampire! Can't you tell by her bewitching appearance!?”
The eyepatch-wearing leader stepped forward, gripping his weapon tightly as his one good eye studied her warily.
“We’ve got no quarrel with you, vampire. What do you want with these two?”
Alistair tilted her head, her fangs glinting as she smiled faintly.
“Do I have an obligation to tell you? Hmm, I don’t think so. But if you insist that much…"
I'm not sure why, but I can sense they are weak. It seems this an instinct that comes with being a predator.
"It’s for a purpose that doesn’t concern you.”
The eyepatch man’s expression darkened, and he raised his hand, pointing his sword at her.
"You bastards—attack her!”
The bandits charged, but before they could get close, First Shadow emerged from behind them. His blade swept horizontally, cutting through several of the men in one brutal motion. Blood sprayed into the air, staining the ground as the Severed bodies crumpled with grotesque screams.
The remaining bandits turned in horror, their faces pale, but Alistair didn’t waste the opportunity. She dashed forward, her claws glinting in the moonlight. Her movements were predatory and precise as she tore through the stragglers.
One man tried to raise his weapon, but she was faster, her claws slicing across his throat. Blood spurted, painting her hands and face, and she licked her lips, savoring the taste.
Another swung his axe, but she caught his arm mid-strike, twisting it with a sickening crack. As he grimaced in pain, he attempted to punch her with his free hand, but her claws flashed out again, cutting deep into his skin. Then her fangs extended, sinking deep into his neck.
"Get away from me! You fucking monster!"
Blood poured from the wound, quickly draining from his body. He struggled in her grip, but she felt no resistance; her strength was far greater than his fading will.
"Help me! Someone! Please stop! It hurts! It hurts! I'm sorry! Please make it stop!"
His desperate screams echoed in the night, but they were abruptly silenced as his body went limp and pale, life extinguished from his eyes.
"What a rude man, interrupting someone when they're just enjoying their meal," Alistair said, a smirk on her face.
Her gaze shifted to her last prey on his knees, trembling, his sword slipping from his grasp. “P-Please… mercy…”
Alistair tilted her head, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.
“Mercy? Ah, such a fragile thing to beg for. Tell me human… Did you show mercy to them?” She gestured toward the dead guards.
The bandit’s breath hitched, but before he could respond, her claws plunged into his chest, silencing him for good.
She stood amidst the carnage, her head held high, blood dripping from her hands, a wide smile spreading across her face, her breath coming in ragged gasps, a flush of exhilaration coloring her cheeks.
‘Ah, the smell of fresh blood in the air! It’s intoxicating—I might just become addicted to this.’
As the forest grew silent once more, Alistair straightened, her gaze shifting to First Shadow. Her playful tone turned sharp with irritation.
“First, you’re doing too much! How am I supposed to enjoy my meals if you cleave them into pieces? At least leave the bodies intact next time.”
The eyepatch bandit froze in place, his sword trembling in his hands as he turned to face First Shadow. Recognition flickered in his eye, and his voice wavered.
“Wait… is that you, Greg!? What is this about? If it’s about the last card game—I’m sorry, alright!? I cheated! I admit it!”
"First, end it quickly."
First Shadow didn’t hesitate. He swung his blade down with lethal precision, shattering the man’s sword and tearing through his neck in a single motion. The eyepatch bandit crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
𓆩✧𓆪