Shadow Mage – Tier Zero
• Cultivation Technique – Shadow Meditation Technique
• Ability – Shadow Sense
• Spells – Shadow Ball, Shadow Hide, Shadow Blade, Shadow Shield
Shadow Mage – Tier One
• Cultivation Technique – Shadow Meditation Technique
• Ability – Shadow Sense
• Spells – Shadow Ball, Shadow Arrow, Shadow Hide, Shadow Blade, Shadow Shield, Shadow Fire, Shadow Water Ray, Shadow Earth Shield, Shadow Light Arrow, Shadow Bullet, Shadow Maw, Shadow Bolt, Shadow Leaf Knife, Shadow Wind Escape
Shadow Fire Mage – Tier Two
• Cultivation Technique – Shadow Meditation Technique
• Ability – Shadow Sense
• Spells – Shadow Fire, Shadow Fire Arrows, Shadow Fire Ball, Shadow Fire Wall, Shadow Fire Bite
Shadow Fire Mage – Tier Three
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Shadow Fire Mage – Tier Four
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Shadow Fire Mage – Tier Five
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Shadow Water Mage – Tier Two
• Cultivation Technique – Shadow Meditation Technique
• Ability – Shadow Sense
• Spells – Shadow Water Ray, Shadow Water Whip, Shadow Ice Arrow, Shadow Ice Shield, Shadow Ice Ray
Shadow Water Mage – Tier Three
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Shadow Water Mage – Tier Four
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Shadow Water Mage – Tier Five
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Shadow Earth Mage – Tier Two
• Cultivation Technique – Shadow Meditation Technique
• Ability – Shadow Sense
• Spells – Shadow Earth Shield, Shadow Stone Bullet, Shadow Rock Grip, Shadow Stone Hand, Shadow Petrification Ray
Shadow Earth Mage – Tier Three
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Shadow Earth Mage – Tier Four
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Shadow Earth Mage – Tier Five
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Shadow Wind Mage – Tier Two
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Shadow Wind Mage – Tier Three
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Shadow Wind Mage – Tier Four
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Shadow Wind Mage – Tier Five
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Other Variants
• Shadow Metal
• Shadow Wood
• Shadow Thunder
• Shadow Light
• Shadow Dark
Nora's eyes widen in shock—Lin Yu has fused all the common elements into shadow, creating branches that anyone can pursue.
With this, countless extraordinary will flock to the Shadow Mage path, merging their existing ways into its variants.
Her gaze lingers on the Shadow Wood branch—if she secures the full inheritance, she won't need another path until Tier Five.
She steps onto the platform and receives the Shadow Mage Tier Zero inheritance.
She and Adam hurry back to the inn and tell the others, who scatter into the streets at once.
Hours later, the whole team gathers again in their room, tension heavy.
Lily looks at Adam. "Captain, I want to join the war."
James and Jamie exchange a glance and say together, "We do too."
Adam frowns. "Are you certain?"
Jamie leans forward. "Where else would we ever get the chance at a Tier Five inheritance?"
Adam nods slowly, knowing he is right.
His family's Radiant Spellblade path may reach Tier Five, yet even he cannot resist the pull of the Shadow Light Mage inheritance.
If he obtains it and merges it with his clan's inheritance, they might forge a path to Tier Six.
And if not with one, then by fusing other Shadow Mage variants together, a Tier Six extraordinary path will inevitably be born.
Adam's eyes sharpen. "Yes. For that, we must join the war and seize these inheritances."
The others nod firmly, and they return to their rooms, each preparing for battle with tomorrow's dawn.
Elsewhere in Shadow Town, the bishops of the thirteen churches gather in secret council, the weight of war heavy in their voices.
The bishops sit in a circle, the room thick with incense and the pressure of gathered divinity.
They speak of the Shadow Mage paths first, the inheritance that has shaken the town.
"Lin Yu has at least reached Tier Eight," says the Bishop of Fire, his eyes grim. "No one but a genius of that level could forge so many complete extraordinary paths."
Another bishop shakes his head. "We will only know his true strength when the war breaks."
A third interjects. "And if the barrier never falls, we will never see it at all. Yet to allow a Tier Eight cultist to linger outside is far too great a risk."
Murmurs ripple through the chamber.
"We don't wish to kill Lin Yu," one finally says, "but we must measure his strength."
Silence falls, then the Bishop of Earth leans forward. "What of the turtle?"
All eyes turn to the Bishop of the Water Church.
She exhales softly, as if the weight of the abyss rests on her shoulders. "I will invite her. But do not think I will bear the cost alone."
They nod, agreement echoing through the circle. "We will all pay."
Then the Bishop of Life and Nature speaks, her French voice gentle but firm. "Lin Yu is likely to break through to the Demigod realm in time. Perhaps even Tier Ten. Tell the turtle not to wound him beyond recovery."
"Yes," another adds quickly, "Lin Yu may one day be needed against the minions of the void monster."
The words settle like a prophecy.
Their discussion drifts, from Lin Yu to what lies beyond him, to the gods themselves—silent, sleeping since the last war with the void.
The room grows heavy as they whisper of faith fraying, of prayers unanswered, of whether their gods dream still, or simply fade.
The next morning the gorge is no longer silent.
Armies crash together outside the energy barrier, steel and sorcery tearing the air.
Every mountain ridge trembles as teams of extraordinaries slaughter each other, spell and blade igniting the peaks in fire, blood, and shadow.
Above the gorge, three Tier Six extraordinaries hover in the sky, their powers flaring like suns as they hurl strike after strike against the shimmering barrier.
The barrier ripples but holds, each impact echoing like thunder through the valley.
At the heart of Shadow Town, on the roof of the central tower, Isolde stands with her hair whipped by the storm.
She raises her staff, her magic erupting in a column of shadow light that tears across the sky toward the attackers.
The three Tier Six extraordinaries turn at once, their combined strength clashing against hers, darkness and radiance splitting the heavens.
Each strike shakes the gorge, rattling the mountains, scattering the troops below like ants.
Still Isolde does not retreat, her figure unmoving against the storm, shadow weaving into the barrier itself to reinforce it as she fights.
The battlefield becomes a cauldron, the world holding its breath to see whether Shadow Town will hold or fall.
The war rages through the night.
In the forests that crown the mountains, extraordinary teams stalk each other like wolves, ambushes flashing with sorcery and steel, blood soaking the roots as both sides refuse to yield.
No ordinary war—darkness brings no pause. Blades gleam in moonlight, firestorms roll over ridges, and shadow-born beasts prowl through the trees.
By the time the next day's sun rises to noon, exhaustion hangs heavy, yet the slaughter does not cease.
Then suddenly, the battlefield falls silent.
Every soldier, every extraordinary, freezes as a crushing pressure sweeps the gorge.
Heads turn north.
From the horizon, a colossal foot pierces through the clouds, each step pressing storms into the earth as it walks toward the gorge.
Fear spreads like wildfire.
Above, the three Tier Six extraordinaries stiffen, recognizing the monstrous aura.
"The Deep Sea Turtle," Charles mutters, his voice hoarse.
Jake narrows his eyes. "Our collaborators must have called her."
The turtle's massive head emerges from the clouds, eyes like twin oceans. Its mouth opens, and a torrent of water surges forth, colliding with the glowing barrier that shields Shadow Town.
The barrier quakes, its runes flaring desperately, but the tide is unstoppable.
Shadow Town's defenders cry out in dread, prayers spilling from trembling lips.
The seven towers hum and wail in pain, their seals straining—until the barrier finally shatters.
The sound echoes like the breaking of the world.
Despair floods the streets. Some townsfolk scream and scatter, fleeing in chaos. Others sink to their knees in hopelessness. A few grip their weapons tighter, eyes filled with grim resolve to die defending their home.
The turtle descends slowly, its massive bulk blotting out the sun, drifting closer to the town like an inevitable doom.
"Where is the Town Lord?" voices cry in panic.
Isolde steps forward, standing at the broken heart of the defenses.
Her gaze fixes on the behemoth, but her hands tremble.
The seals within her body remain unopened; her power cannot reach its peak. And even if it did, against a Tier Eight magic beast, what chance would she have?
The turtle opens its mouth again, and another spout of water surges forward, aimed straight at her.
Isolde snarls, blood surging as she conjures a scarlet barrier.
The air thickens with metallic tang as veins crawl across her face, her teeth gritted against the pressure.
She knows she cannot hold.
And as the torrent descends, her lips curl into a curse.