Chapter 3

Meanwhile days ago…

Adus was frustrated.

He has dedicated years upon years to the King of the Shadows, giving him everything he has asked of him, all the minions he could desire, and yet, he wasn't given the knowledge to use as to how to harness the power of souls. He has lived for centuries thanks to the Shadow King, he is able to take a small portion of a soul to sustain his life force, however, he has yet to achieve the great power he was promised.

It was a little over a year ago when the King told him in a vision. He will be going to war, and when the war ends, he will show him the true power of taking a soul. "Your loyalty is about to be rewarded." Since then, he had waited for the King's return. However, he never came back. Adus wasn't the only one frustrated by this change of events, he has five students under him, all just as capable in taking what they needed to maintain their power, yet wished to learn the true art of soul possession.

"Master, he isn't returning!"

"Silence, he vowed to me this! He has to return!" Adus was desperately grasping on to the notion of the return of the Shadow King, after all, part of his immortality is bounded to him. It's how he has stayed young all these years, but, as of late, he found his strength fading. His arms have begun to turn frail as he himself began to age. "What trickery is this!" he muttered.

In the dead of night, away from his students, he made a summoning seal. With the proper chant, he tried to call upon the King of the Shadows or even a councilman. However, none appeared. He has done this over a hundred times without fail, but got no response. "He has broken his word to me!" muttered a furious Adus.

It was time to take matters into his own hands.

Out of respect for the Shadow King, he was asked to not go to the other side of the Super Continent, however in the years he has been alive, Adus has disobeyed the King, curious as to what was on the other side.

There was a whole other world that awaited those who dared to travel.

It was there Adus learned of the creatures known as Others. Nagas, dragons, beastmens and hybrids of myths and legends, they were all living in this world! However, it appeared man has been oblivious to it all, believing the supercontinent they live on is the only one. But he knew better.

In his years of studying and strengthen his power, Adus learned something remarkable. The souls of Others are far richer than that of humans. It was two hundred years ago when he learned that, he killed a werewolf and managed to harvest its soul, although he could only take portions, he found the power it gave him was equal to that of ten humans! He enchanted his cowl and would take the rest of the essence into it, holding on to it until he learns the true power of taking it into himself for the sake of power.

He couldn't remember how many he possessed, but he does monthly migrations to the Other's world to gain what power he can. It was his last visit where he heard about the Shadow King. He was in search of his next prey when he overheard two Naga warriors speaking among themselves. "What do we offer?"

"This is not our problem, it is that of the King's. One must make a proper gift to the King of the Shadows and the Prince!"

"Prince?" muttered Adus.

He then learned that there was a new King of the Shadows, the last king fell in battle against Garou and his so called Match.

Garou…

A sickening grin came over Adus. He knows that name well. However, he was stunned to learn that Garou knew the trick to keeping his thirst at bay, as well as someone had the means to tell him how. But, his match was what concerned him. Who or what did he find that would calm his consistent thirst?

"I still can't believe that a halfling vampire managed to overthrow the King of the Shadows. I mean, how rare is that?!" the Naga said to the other.

"I hear he is called a S Class hero among humans. Able to defeat monsters on his own strength…"

"Yeah, Metal something or whatever, apparently to mortals he is what is known as a teenager…"

Adus know all the heroes of the Association, only one came to mind on who became the match to Garou.

Metal Bat!

"That boy is King of the Shadows?!" he muttered, but then smiled. "A foolish boy should be easy to sway and convince to say the least…" he thought.

Before he could return home, he needed to maintain his strength first. It just so happened the two naga warriors were in search of a lost child.

It was a pity for them that Adus found the child first.

Her death was quick yet the extraction was starting to get harder to accomplish. However it didn't matter, he could endure a few days longer until he goes and sees the new King with his own eyes.

He was quick to return home and inform his underlings of the news. "There is a new King of the Shadows, and in a matter of days, he is going to accept offerings for his newborn son…"

"A son? Such a thing has never happened before to the Shadow King! The last one tried remember master?"

"I am all too familiar with the attempts of the last King to forge an heir, even if he merely wished to use it as a new body for himself down the line. Still, what matters is this. We can see this new King without fear of being attacked, it has to remain peaceful for the sake of the Prince. Therefore we go to merely offer our congratulations and perhaps see what this new King is like…"