Chapter 19

Within the Shadow realm…

"These are the books that he has been reading… History, potions, journals and logs of past kings and councilmen."

It was a small meeting of the minds. Jima has suspected something was going on ever since he formed the council. After he introduced Zombieman to the table, things have picked up rather quickly by his standards. Sonic has been research, looking for something of value within the library and potions room. He has wondered the realm and found places were the former kings resided and formed during their reign, question is, why?

Jima had requested a lizardman to keep track of Sonic. They are quite skilled in doing so, staying out of sight and appearing rather harmless in a sense. The one he hired was named Coldblood.

He had gathered all the materials asked of him by Jima and he explained what each one was. "I have only heard rumors of the journals of the former Kings, but I never thought anyone could obtain them…" Coldblood explained.

Jima nodded. "No one could until the current King allowed us to access them. Such rare treasures indeed, however, they wouldn't just be left out in the open in such a state. They must have been hidden, how Sonic found them is now the question. Also, why? What was the purpose of this?"

Jima began to read over some of the past King's journals. There were two that fascinated him; one the former king before Bad, and the king before the pervious one. The King from before last wrote rather fondly of his minions and those who served him. He felt there was something brewing among his council who didn't take kindly to his peace approach. They wanted more power, more minions and demanded that the King do his job and fill his army. But he refused. There wasn't anyone in the known world a threat to the Shadows, after all they are part of Death itself. Yet the council refused the notion.

"What is this…" Jima said as he found a hidden page. It was folded up like a note and yet tucked into the leather covering of the journal. He read it to himself, yet froze at the words.

"Jima?" Coldblood asked. "Are you okay?"

"I need to speak with the council of this… Coldblood you have served your king well. I will be certain to tell him so!"

With that Jima slinked off at the same time, he let his thoughts travel. "All councilmen, to me!" Within moments the room shifted and changed until the council room formed around him, the members appeared quickly and looked panicked.

"Is King Bad okay? Is something wrong!?" asked Bloodbore.

"No, but I believe this was all deliberate" Jima stated. He revealed the note to the council, each member took a turn reading it and were just as surprised as he was to discover the contents.

"What is this?!" demanded Ravager. "Is this…"

Jima nodded his head. "I believe so, and I believe it has gone into play as we speak."

The table froze to the news. "We… we need to do something, do we not?" asked Bloodbore.

"But, is this truly a bad thing?" question the ogre, Tusk.

That when the table fell silent to it all, even Jima couldn't bring himself to declare this was something terrible, and yet he knew it wasn't right either. "I feel we have an obligation," he said. "We have a great obligation to our King, to those who serve him and the family he protects. I fear if something is said now, we will endanger them."

The table nodded in agreement. "We allow this then?"

"There is no other choice but to, but we also much keep a close eye on our King from this moment on, and that of Sonic!"

"Where did he find all of this? How could he?" asked Ravager.

"I doubt he did this alone, he must have had held from the shadows before him. I have been here since the reign of three Kings, not once have I seen or heard of such a thing in this note, but I do recall, the pervious one, he was search for something like this. I have little doubt about it." Bloodbore stated.

"Be that as it may, from this moment on, we watch our King with the utmost care!" Jima announced.

The table nodded in agreement. "We will ensure he is safe at all times." The table vowed.

"But one important factor… he must not enter the shadow realm in his current state!" Jima announced.

With a nod, they were dismissed, Jima however still felt more needs to be done, yet he also understood the reasoning behind this brash move by the one named Sonic…

#

Bad woke the next day, he stretched and yawned aloud as he tried to sit up, but quickly remembered why he couldn't do so very easily. "Shit…" he muttered to himself. Yet, compared to the day before, he wasn't that bad looking. Still a big pot belly to say the least, hell he even grew a little taller over night! He looked to his arms and found they were thicker than before, stronger to say the least. "Did I get burly overnight!?" he demanded of himself.

But one thing did trouble him, he was still in his Shadow King state. It couldn't be helped considering what his stomach is full of at the moment. Yet a low rumble came from it. "Human food, yeah, I still need to eat that…" he muttered. He rolled himself up and then out of bed, by the time he reached the kitchen, breakfast was at the ready. Yet it wasn't the usual big fluffy pancakes or things like that. It was bacon, eggs, fruit and juice. "Let me guess, I'm on a diet now huh?" Bad said aloud to himself.

It didn't matter, he sat down and filled his plate and began to eat. He thought for certain he would have trouble keeping human food down, but it was relatively easy. The only terrible part of it was the bacon getting lodged in his fanged teeth!

He took his fill but found the house oddly empty. "Where the hell is everyone?" he wondered. Turning to the clock in the kitchen, Bad went for a drink of juice when he suddenly sprayed it everywhere.

"WHAT ITS 12:45 IN THE AFTERNOON!" he demanded.

Wasting little time, he changed his clothing… yet sighed as he had to use his power to have something to wear, currently his wardrobe was of no use to him. Next he used the darkness and managed to get to the Heroes association in mere seconds. He stumbled out of a darkened hallway, which surprised a lot of people passing through, but many froze in terror at the sight of him!

"Oh… right…" he muttered and was quick to run as a woman screamed aloud!

He rushed down the halls, trying to avoid being seen when suddenly he was grabbed and pulled into a room. He froze as Zombieman pinned him to the wall. "What the hell are you thinking? This is the civilian area! We haven't told anyone about you looking like this!" he then paused. "Since when the hell did you get burly!?"

"You think I would know!" Bad snapped back. "I woke up like this!"

Zombieman sighed. "I guess we should be grateful, you've been asleep for the past week!"

"What…"

"One week, you've been out like a light… guess this explains why…"

"Whoa, wait, you serious?" Bad demanded.

Zombieman nodded. "We had a hard enough time trying to get Garou to come out of the house. Come on, I got a place where we can go." With that, Zombieman gabbed Bad by the scruff of his shirt and pulled him into the dark corner of the room.

They ended up in another, yet as the lights came on, it was revealed to be a training room! "Nice, you're better at that than me!"

"Been practicing."

"Good, he's up and about…"

Bad paused as Pig God appeared. "Damn, and Garou says I need to wear a bell!"

A smile came over the massive S Class hero, he took a look at Bad and appeared rather curious. "Is this what happens when you overeat there Bad? You become this?"

Bad turned away. "I don't even know anymore… I just want things to go back to the way they were! On the bright side my stomach ain't acting up. So I guess that's a win…"

"Indeed, now we teach you about your other abilities." Pig God stated. "Perhaps in doing so you will slim down a little more and return to your former state."

It caught Bad's attention so he eagerly agreed to the idea. Zombieman kept near the back wall as Pig God sat Bad down and explained one of his many abilities. "Being King of the Shadows entitles you to a few tricks of the trade sort of speak. One is adaptability, for example. For every shadow you have, whatever they maybe, you can turn into that."

He sat there confused and tried to process the words a little more. "I can… you mean… I can shape shift?!" Bad demanded.

"Have you tried to yet?"

"No…." Bad was getting a little leery on the notion. He slowly picked himself up off the floor and looked to his hands. "Uh… wait, if I do that… will it hurt anyone under my power? I mean if I turn into say Jima… will it harm him?" he asked.

There was a very proud look over Pig God, one that appeared that someone touched his heart. "No," he said gently. "It will not affect ANYONE under your command. Your power simply borrows these elements and makes them your own. Go on and try it for yourself!"

Bad sighed as he tried to think of how he was going to do this. He couldn't imagine himself turning into a Naga, yet it appears he has the opportunity to! With his eyes closed he envisioned Snek, how he looked in his true form and imagined himself like that. He felt his strength surge for but a moment, a chill went down his spin and them, a comfortable numbness followed.

"Holy… shit…" came the voice of Zombieman.

Bad opened his eyes, his body encased in black smoke yet it was quickly absorbed back into his skin… that have become crimson red scales. "Whoa… WHOA!" he said in amazement. He tried to move but fell face first into the floor!

SPLAT!

Despite the setback, Bad regained himself as he rose again, turning around he found himself to be a massive red and black serpent! "Hey hey! This is cool!" he began to move about as soon as he figured it out, soon he was gliding across the floor with ease and moved rather gracefully to say the least!

"Pig God, I got to speak with you about…" came the voice of Snek.

Bad smirked as he approached. "HEY SNEK! Lookie here! I'm just like you! Do I look like a good Naga or something?!" Bad said as be flaunted his form.

Snek's eyes nearly came out of his head, he dropped everything in his hands and reached into his back, out of nowhere he pulled a notebook and pen and began to write feverishly. "A simple yes would have been find ya know." Bad pouted. He turned to Pig God. "What's next?"

"Well, what other shadows do you have under your command?"

He thought it over. "Ooo werekin! Like a hellcat!" he said. This time he kept his eyes open, his body enveloped in the black smoke once more. He never felt the physical change to say the least, instead, the transformation merely felt like another layer of clothing came over his body. He was quick to turn that time and found himself standing on two feet, red and black fur covered his body as he twitched the catlike ears on his head. "Not bad… not bad at all!" he said with great amusement.

It went on for hours, Bad effortlessly turned from one thing into another. Ogre, troll, werewolf, lizardman, and even wanted to try being a dragon! Yet was quickly stopped by Pig God insisting there wasn't enough room. But he did managed to learn one other thing. He could integrate parts into his body. Just because he couldn't turn into a dragon, didn't mean he couldn't obtain the wings of one to fly!

#

He was at the association for the first time in a week, he wanted to keep watch over Bad, yet he was called upon. Garou went to see what was going on, when Pig God appeared to have suddenly realized he had something else to do. Since then, Garou was left no other choice but to pass the time, waiting for him by training with Flash.

It was an eye opening experience.

Garou found his speed had increased, his strength and agility as well. Flash was taken aback by Garou's feat, yet when they stopped, the both appeared concerned. "Since when?" Flash demanded.

Garou shook his head. "Dunno." He replied. Then his phone went off. "Hello?"

"You got to see this." Came the voice of Zombieman.

Garou's head crooked to the side oddly. "Huh?"

"You got to come to training room beta. Bad's here and he's testing out his abilities, rather impressive if you ask me."

"What do you mean he's here!?" Garou demanded, but was quick to run out of the training room he was in and head down to room Beta.

By the time he walked in, he found Bad flying around the place like a child with a new toy! "YEAH! WWWWHHHHOOOOOO!" He shouted as he spun around and around on dragon wings!

Garou dropped his phone in shock.

He turned to Snek who appeared had yet to blink, yet writing everything in his book without even peering down at the page. When Bad landed, Garou paused and took in the sight. Bad was bigger than before, and yet he still had that belly on him, not as big but still rather noticeable considering he was rather fit and trim like himself. "HEY! GAROU!" Bad cheered. "Did you see me man? I CAN FLY!"

"Yeah… I saw…" Garou said with amazement and utter confusion. "Just… how?" he asked.

Bad shrugged. "I got dragons in my army, apparently those who are in my legions… I can turn into them too! Ain't that somethin'?"

Garou nodded yet turned to Pig God who was smiling at the whole thing. "He learned remarkably fast, he just started a few hours ago."

"What else can I try? What can I do now?!" Bad asked with excitement. "I want to learn it, please!"

Pig God smiled. "Very well, we have shape shifting done, now we need to work on using your own force. Consider this Bad, the smoke you have that drifts around you, that is your power. That isn't a mere decoration or some sort of side effect, this is something you can use to battle with!"

Bad looked around himself and noticed the smoke had gotten thicker than before. "So… this ain't smoke?" he asked.

"No, consider this an extension of your power. Think of something for it to do, like a shield for exam…" before Pig God could finish. Bad summoned a massive black shield before him!

"Nice! Wait, wait, I think I got this now!" the mist somehow drifted down and waited at Bad's feet, then, with an extension of his arms, it suddenly stretched out and spiked! Not near anyone of course, he was careful with that. "OOOooo, wait, one more!" the mist recalled back to his side, Bad began to manifest things out of the blue, swords, shields, armor… a baseball bat…

"I think he got the hang of it." Pig God said rather proudly. "He took to that rather quickly."

Garou however was concerned. "Shouldn't it have taken him longer?" he asked.

However he only got a chuckle out of the S Class hero. "Your forget who he is bonded to, your abilities become his, do they not?"

Garou forgot about that, but he wasn't sure if that was still possible considering Bad has become remarkably stronger than himself now.

With training done for the day, Bad looked over himself yet sighed. "I didn't lose any weight!" he protested. "How long do vampires take to digest!?... sorry man." He said after realizing Garou and Flash were still in the room.

"As we have said before, we have no idea what to expect of you Bad, you are the first Shadow King we are able to observe." Snek called. "Fascinating to say the least!"

Bad sighed. "Yeah… I guess so…" his stomach rumbled. "Damn, even like this I still get hungry."

"Oh? I didn't know that…" Snek said as he went back to his notebook. He sighed aloud as he found he ran out of paper and the pen he was using was about to dry out.

"I got to eat something, excuse me…" Bad walked out and headed right for the cafeteria.

Garou on the other hand froze and shook his head to it all. "Why does this feel so… wrong?!" he demanded.

"You are matched now to someone who has greater power than your own… it's never happened to you before." Stated Zombieman.

Garou turned to Pig God who merely nodded in agreement with him. "I am confident though that we can trust Bad as a dependable ally from here on. When he first offered the notion of his shape shifting abilities, he was concerned since he could turn into anyone of those under his legions. He feared he would be harming one of them if he were to take their form. His heart is pure Garou, we need to ensure it stays that way."

Garou sighed and nodded in agreement. "Very well then, we will keep a close eye on Bad…" as he turned to leave, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"We will keep an eye on you as well. Considering that Amai has been rendered mortal from drinking from Bad, and yet you have not been. It's a mystery we need to solve sooner than later."

With that, Garou left and checked up on Bad. When he reached the cafeteria the heroes all froze as Bad sat at a table to himself devouring vast amounts of food. "He hasn't done this in a while…" muttered one.

"What's with his look?" said another.

"Lay off!" growled Garou. "He's been through some shit as of late, don't be judging him for it"

The heroes eventually disburse, Garou approached the table and took a seat as Bad continued to eat. "Oh man… I'm so hungry! I wasn't like this, this morning… damn!" he said between mouthfuls.

"Uh… huh…" He was concerned, Bad hasn't eaten like this since he was turned into a half vampire. Then again, he had also been asleep for a week. To his knowledge, Bad hasn't eaten anything nor left his room. Still he could only wonder what was going on with him. He cleared the table and finished his meal, content. Bad patted his belly. "Mmm, that was damn good!"

"Bad… you sure you're okay?" Garou asked. "I mean… you slept for a week after the incident… you're bigger and still bulky to say the least… granted it's a look you could pull off…"

"What the hell are you saying man?" Bad demanded.

"What if something is happening to you?" Garou stated. "We don't even know the extent of all of this, what if… what if something is happening that could change you permanently!? I don't… I don't want to see you get hurt." He confessed and shied away shortly after.

"Dude…"

"Never mind, forget it…" He couldn't look at him after that. Garou let too much slip. He suppose to be the Human monster, nothing scares him or anything, yet, now… he worries for Bad and what might become of him. He took his leave shortly after, Bad however was quick to stand and follow him out.

"Garou wait!" he called. But he tried to ignore him and move on, yet Garou couldn't move, he found his body froze in place, staring down he saw the black shadow latched on to his. Bad… Bad was using his power to prevent him from leaving? "Don't ignore me, please!" he begged. Bad was able to catch up as he released his hold. "Look, I am utterly terrified about this. You know I am. Granted what I just did in the training room was epic, but still… it scares me… it ALL scares me. I mean, what the hell am I suppose to do with this kind of strength!?" he asked.

The two fell into an odd silence. "Bad… you can do anything now. Your power can make you unstoppable to say the least…"

"Yeah, but how many are out there what would want it for themselves? I've become you haven't I? Except with vampires coming at me, I got everyone who is desperate and dirty enough to do it! I probably got a bigger target on my back than you now… what the hell am I gonna do about it?"

"I… never thought of it like that. If someone does harm you, that power goes to them, and then…" with the last shadow King he planned on taking over the world with the legions he possessed. Bad doesn't want to do anything of the sort, he never asked for this power either, but he knows he can't just give it away.

Garou then nodded. "Okay then… let's work harder than before, let's figure this shit out and make sure no one messes with you!"

Bad's smile grew, he pulled Garou into his arms and embraced him tightly. "Thanks man…" yet the unsettling thing was Bad began to take in his scent oddly. "Mmm, you're blood smells really good right now…"