Dark Smoke: The Merciful Paladin Who Becomes the Lord of Death
4 Chapters
Author:Mr Mali
Status:ongoing
Synopsis
Shinya Kage is a seemingly ordinary 15-year-old boy leading a quiet life. But everything changes the night he dreams of a mysterious robed figure whose face is obscured by shadow. The enigmatic man hands Shinya a tarot card—the Hanged Man, a symbol of sacrifice—and vanishes before Shinya can understand its meaning. Brushing it off as a strange dream, Shinya continues with his daily routine.
On his mother’s birthday, however, the tarot card flashes vividly in his mind, as if trying to warn him. That evening, a masked intruder storms into their family café, shouting threats and lunging at Shinya's mother with a knife. Acting on instinct, Shinya throws himself between them, shielding her from the attack. The blade pierces him instead. As he lies on the floor, bleeding out, he catches a glimpse of the robed figure once again. This time, the man’s voice echoes in his mind: “This is not the end.”
Shinya dies, but death is not his final destination. In the endless void, he is saved by Luminara, the radiant Goddess of Light and Creation. She offers him a second chance at life—but in a different world, Luminarca. Reborn in this mystical realm, Shinya is tasked with becoming the Commander of the Knights of Light, protectors of the innocent and warriors against Tenebris Dominus, the Lord of the Void.
After three grueling years of relentless training, Shinya rises to the challenge, donning the mantle of the Commander. With unwavering resolve, he leads his comrades on daring missions, fighting to restore hope and balance to Luminarca. But as the battles grow fiercer and the stakes higher, Shinya’s ideals are put to the ultimate test. Betrayals, devastating truths, and the weight of his own choices begin to unravel the mercy and compassion that once defined him.
As light and darkness collide, Shinya’s journey takes a dark turn, transforming him from a merciful paladin into something far more dangerous—the Lord of Death.