Transported in another world

King?

Dawn came without warmth.

A pale light crept over the camp, barely piercing the fog that clung to the ground like a living thing. The forest to the north loomed darker than it should have, trees twisted unnaturally, their branches bent inward as if guarding something they didn’t want disturbed.

We stood at the edge of the camp—four figures, ready.

Amber adjusted her armor, her presence alone enough to straighten the spines of nearby soldiers. Mona rested her axe across her shoulders, relaxed but alert, eyes sharp and hungry for a fight. Mia was silent, shadows and spiders moving subtly around her feet, already scouting ahead.

And me?

The shadows were calm.

Too calm.

“Scouts go no further than this point,” Amber said quietly. “From here on, it’s unknown territory.”

“Good,” Mona replied. “Less whining.”

I stepped forward, the ground beneath my boots darkening slightly as Shadow Dominion responded instinctively.

“Stay close,” I said. “If something feels wrong—trust that feeling.”

We crossed into the forest.

Immediately, the air changed.

Sound dulled. Even our footsteps felt muted, like the world itself was holding its breath. Strange markings appeared on the trees—jagged symbols carved deep into the bark, faintly glowing with sickly violet light.

Mia stopped suddenly.

“These are control runes,” she said. “Crude, but effective. Whoever did this wasn’t subtle… just powerful.”

Before I could respond—

[SYSTEM WARNING]
You have entered a Corrupted Zone
All enemies receive enhanced regeneration
Shadow-affinity skills receive a 15% boost

I clenched my fist.

“So it favors me,” I muttered. “That’s never a good sign.”

Amber glanced at me sharply. “Meaning?”

“Meaning whatever’s ahead thinks it can handle shadows.”

The ground trembled.

From between the trees, shapes began to move—wolves again, but wrong. Their bodies were stitched with dark veins, eyes glowing purple instead of yellow. Totems rose behind them, skulls mounted on twisted stakes, pulsing with magic.

Mona cracked her neck. “Yeah. Definitely not normal.”

The wolves didn’t charge.

They bowed.

Every single one lowered its head toward the center of the clearing.

Then a voice echoed—calm, amused, and far too close.

“So… this is the Shadow Bearer.”

The air tore open.

A figure stepped out of a swirling rift of violet-black energy—tall, robed, his face hidden behind a cracked mask carved with runes similar to the ones on the trees.

“My pets failed me,” the figure continued, tilting his head. “But that’s acceptable. They served their purpose.”

Amber moved half a step in front of me, blade raised. “Identify yourself.”

The figure chuckled.

“I am known by many names,” he said. “But you may call me the Shepherd.”

My shadows reacted violently.

Pain flared through my chest as Shadow Dominion surged—angry, territorial.

[SYSTEM ALERT]
Shadow Dominion reacting to hostile authority
Dominion Synchronization: 41%

The Shepherd paused, clearly intrigued.

“Oh?” he murmured. “You already possess a throne… unfinished, but real.”

I met his gaze through the mask, my voice steady despite the pressure crushing the clearing.

“You’re controlling the wolves. That ends now.”

The Shepherd spread his arms.

“Try.”

The totems ignited.

The ground split open, corrupted mana flooding the clearing as dozens—no, hundreds—of shadows clawed their way up, forming into warped beasts made of bone and darkness.

Mona grinned wildly. “Finally.”

Mia’s eyes glowed. “Careful, Ryu. He’s anchoring himself to the land.”

Amber tightened her grip on her blade. “Then we cut the anchor.”

I stepped forward, shadows exploding outward as Shadow Dominion fully unfurled around me, no longer whispering—but roaring.

“Everyone,” I said calmly, “don’t let him distract you.”

The Shepherd laughed.

“Excellent,” he said. “Show me how a king fights.”

The corrupted army surged.

And somewhere deep inside me—

Something ancient smiled back.

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