⫷ Hellforged Shadow Set (Legendary Set - 12/12) ⫸
[Type] Medium Armor / Weapon Set (Includes Twin Daggers: 'Night & Ember')
[Grade] Legendary
[Requirements] Level 75+, Agility 280+, Focus 200+
⬥ Stats (Full Set Equipped):
• +420 Agility
• +300 Focus
• +30% Critical Hit Chance
• +40% Fire/Shadow Damage
• +50% Resistance to Fire/Shadow
• Enhanced Movement Speed & Stealth.
⬥ Set Bonus (12/12) — Embrace of the Fel-Lynx:
➤ [Shadowflame Infusion]: Attacks are imbued with both shadow and fire energy, causing lingering burns and weakening enemy magic resistance.
➤ [Flickering Steps]: Grants short-range teleportation ('blink') ability with low cooldown. Evasion significantly increased.
➤ [Predator's Mark]: Can mark one target. Attacks against the marked target deal bonus critical damage and bypass a portion of armor.
➤ [Nine Lives Resilience]: Grants a single automatic resurrection upon death with 25% HP (Cooldown: 1 day). Lesser version of Kyra's innate ability.
➤ [Ultimate: Dance of Cinders and Night]: Become a whirlwind of shadow and flame for 20 seconds. Attack speed triples, movement becomes phasing, all attacks create shadowflame explosions. (Cooldown: 12 hours).
Lucian looked at the sleek, deadly set. It hummed with dangerous energy. He then considered the 72 Knight-rank Kyra shadows he had collected. He thought about his original Kyra, the Mythic-potential entity currently dormant as a tattoo. Merging these 72 into her... the thought made him uneasy.
She was already difficult to handle. Amplifying her further seemed unwise. If she was stronger, she might actually be able to break through the blood bind and do as she wishes.
Even now, she could summon herself as she wished at this time.
Lucian thought for a while before he made a decision.
He focused on the 72 Knight-rank Kyra copies in his shadow space. "Blood Shadow Meld!"
[-30,000 Mana]
[Targeting Auxiliary Shadows: Kyra (Knight) x72...]
[Initiating Major Rank Evolution Fusion]
[Creating New Fused Entity...]
A vortex of swirling black, red, and gold energy formed before him, denser and more complex than the Baltzer or Levi fusions.
[Rank Evolution Successful!
Blood Shadow Created!]
[Blood Shadow Rank Determined: King!]
The vortex condensed, forming a figure almost identical to the original Kyra's humanoid form, but subtly different. Her eyes glowed a deeper, more controlled crimson-gold. Her aura felt powerful, easily King rank, but lacked the unpredictable, overwhelming depth of the original Mythic Kyra. She knelt instantly, awaiting command, her expression focused and loyal, devoid of the original's teasing nature.
[Name]: [Kyra]
[Rank]: [King]
[Loyalty]: [Absolute] ☩ [Bound by Blood]
[Abilities]:
▸ [Inheritance of the Guardian] – Inherited composite combat skills, agility, and fire/shadow affinity from fused essences. Possesses high combat intelligence but lacks original's unique personality/soul spark.
▸ [Bloodbound Assassin] – Optimized for stealth, speed, and critical strikes. Excels at single-target elimination.
▸ [Undying Servitude] – Will fight relentlessly until utterly destroyed. Possesses strong regeneration.
▸ [Shadowflame Arts] (New) – Innate ability to weave shadow and fire magic for attacks and defense.
▸ [Flicker Step] (New) – Innate short-range teleportation ability.
"Kyra," Lucian murmured. He was even happier. While it didn't possess the intelligence of the original Kyra, the Blood Shadow was still incredibly strong.
He handed the full Hellforged Shadow Set to the second Kyra. She equipped it silently, the dark armor merging with her form, the twin daggers 'Night & Ember' appearing in her hands. Her King-rank aura surged, amplified by the legendary gear, making her a truly terrifying assassin.
Just as Kyra finished equipping her gear, a ripple emanated from Lucian's arm tattoo. The original Kyra materialized beside him again!
She looked the second Kyra up and down, then glanced at the Hellforged set, then back at Lucian, raising a perfect eyebrow.
"Oh, Master," she drawled, her voice dripping with amusement. "Creating copies now? And giving her the pretty clothes? Feeling a little intimidated, are we?" She giggled. "How utterly... petty."
Lucian felt his face heat up again. "It's... tactical."
"Tactical?" Kyra floated closer, her golden eyes sparkling mischievously. "Or perhaps you just can't handle the real thing?" She winked, then leaned in as if to whisper, her presence causing his heart to race uncontrollably. "Don't worry, Master. Even if you fused all those dull copies into me, I doubt I'd feel much difference. My potential is far beyond theirs." She paused, her lips almost brushing his ear. "But I appreciate the gesture. It shows you're thinking about me."
Lucian couldn't take it anymore. "Recall!"
Kyra pouted dramatically. "So soon? We were just getting reacquainted..." But she dissolved back into his tattoo, leaving Lucian flustered and slightly breathless. Second Kyra simply stood impassively, awaiting orders.
Lucian shook his head, recalling second Kyra as well. He checked the time again. Four days of relentless grinding had passed in the Tower. His stats were monstrous, his main shadows were King rank and equipped with full Legendary sets. He had completed the first three floors more times than he could count.
But the university entrance exam registration deadline was now only two days away. It was time to return to Earth.
He located the main exit portal in the Great Expanse Lobby, the one that led back to the real world. Taking a deep breath, Lucian stepped through the shimmering gateway.
The strange energies of the Tower faded, replaced by the familiar sounds and sensations of Earth.
————
Lucian climbed out of the passage, and the sharp, burning pain stung his skin once again as the toxic liquid made contact with his body.
But it did not bother him as it was way more reduced. He continued swimming towards the shore, even killing a bunch of Ratmen on his way back until he reached shallower waters.
The toxic scum from the place did not reach this part of the river, so it was supposedly clear and safe from pollution.
When the spatial rifts started appearing, and the humans ungraciously forced down the food chain, factories had no choice but to shut down. Within centuries, the earth was covered in lush green foliage, and pollution decreased drastically—probably a good thing for mother earth!
Lucian washed his hands, face, and neck in the clean water. Fortunately, his body was unaffected.
Lucian checked the time and saw that it was already eight at night. No cars traversed the wilderness at this hour, and the base was by now securely locked down!
He would have to spend the night here.
He walked around, soon finding a place sheltered from the wind. He was careful to sprinkle some beast repellent powder around the area to keep particular low-tier creatures away with its caustic smell.