"To master darkness... one must first survive it."
The void pulsed. Ryu's breathing grew heavier. In the center of that abyss, he stared at a throne made of bones, shadows, and forgotten memories.
Seated upon it... was Tyrus. His grandfather. The former enemy of mankind.
— "You're Tyrus, aren't you…?" Ryu asked, taking a defensive stance.
Tyrus flashed a mocking smile, sharp as a blade.
— "Oho… looks like I'm famous.— Your dad probably doesn't talk much about me, huh? But you little heroes remember well. After all… I almost wiped you all out."
Ryu didn't blink.
— "Why are you here?"
Tyrus sighed like he'd heard the dumbest question in existence.
— "Why do you think, kid?— You haven't unlocked the true power of shadow. Of chaos. Of ruin.— If you want that power… you'll have to defeat me."— "Unlike your father, you were born with an affinity for darkness. A sleeping monster. But tell me... is that a blessing… or a curse?"
Ryu smirked.
— "So I just gotta beat you, huh? Easy."
Tyrus laughed.
— "Don't get cocky, boy…If I win, you'll be consumed by shadow. You'll die — and your soul becomes mine."
Suddenly, voices screamed in Ryu's head. Accusations. Failures. Visions of loss.Tyrus stretched his arms wide — and the shadows twisted into a devastating illusion:
The world in ruins.His friends — dead.His father, Kelvin, impaled by Tyrus's own blade.
— "NOOOO!" Ryu cried, lunging forward — but struck only empty air.
Tyrus smiled, victorious.
— "Weak. Impulsive. Undisciplined. You'll never be a real hero."
Outside, Kelvin felt the pressure rise. His son's aura was in chaos.
— "Resist, Ryu…" he whispered, eyes closed.— "Don't forget what I told you."
And deep inside Ryu's mind… his father's voice echoed:
"You're the one in control."
Ryu's eyes snapped open — clear. Determined.
— "Heh… my dad's right.— I'm in control here.— The shadows are a part of me… and I'm part of them.— This isn't your realm, Tyrus. It's mine.— And I make the rules."
The illusion shattered.Tyrus's eyes widened.
— "What…?!"
Ryu struck — now fighting evenly.Tyrus tried to cast more illusions — and failed.His attacks? Blocked and countered with precision.
Ryu was everywhere — moving with the darkness like it was his own blood.
Above him, floating among the shadows, Ryu appeared.
— "It's over, old man.— Here… I'm omnipresent. Omnipotent.— What can you do against that?"
He smirked.
— "I am Ruin, Tyrus. The one who embraced the shadow."
Ryu's body shimmered—And vanished into the darkness.
🌑 [Transformation Unlocked – Shadow Instinct]
Ryu Nox dissolved into his own shadow.
He was no longer man —He was absence.Living destruction.The silence between heartbeats.
Each step rippled through time and space. The world moved in slow motion.
Tyrus cried out:
— "W-What— You're not even in this reality anymore?!"
Ryu raised his blade — now wreathed in absolute darkness.
— "Yami no Shinpan: Shūen."
A dome of shadow fell from the heavens, swallowing light, silencing sound.Spectral spears surged from the ground, the air… even from Tyrus's own memories.
— "What is this, you bastard?!"
— "Soul Spears.— They don't pierce flesh…— They destroy spirit."
And then came the end.
— "Shadow Ruin… FINAL JUDGMENT!"
The explosion hurled Kelvin backwards.
When the dust settled…
Ryu stood — glowing with a violet aura, shadows dancing over his body.
— "Ouch… that actually hurt, Dad," he muttered, scratching his head.
Kelvin rushed to him, relief in his eyes.
— "You did it…! I knew you would, son."He embraced him tightly.
🍔 After the Storm
As they left the training field, Kelvin asked:
— "Wanna stop at HeroBurger Monarch?"
Ryu grinned.
— "Thought you'd never ask."
They hit the city's favorite hero-themed burger joint — a heroic version of Burger King, a modern HeroCity icon.Between bites and laughter, the moment was pure: father and son, side by side.
They grabbed extra burgers for Aida, Ryu's mother and Kelvin's wife.
When they got home, Aida rushed to them, eyes sparkling:
— "You two are the best!" she said, smothering them in an exaggerated hug.
Laughter filled the house.For the first time in days… there was peace.
Later, in his room, Ryu checked his phone.
📩 [New Message from Ryan Valeborn]"Meeting tomorrow at the Phoenix Guild. It's important."
Ryu smiled.
— "Looks like things are getting serious…"
End of Chapter 72 – Shadow Instinct