Chapter 63: Soul Resonance Increased
Edward froze as the Shadow Reaper’s short blade hovered inches from his chest, crimson visor flaring.
The battlefield came to a halt. Roars of the flames, the screams of the undead soldiers, everything became still, dimmed to nothing but a muted hum.
The Lord of Undead spoke, his deep voice carrying echoing across the town.
"You think your shadows obey because you command them," he said, taking a small step forward with a loud clank of his armour.
"But they obey because they are simply a part of you. Every soul you have claimed, every shadow you have summoned, they all carry a fragment of your own essence."
Edward’s heartbeat raced.
"My... my essence?" he repeated out loud in a questioning tone.
Edward staggered back slightly, mind racing. Every shadow he had raised, every soul he had claimed—it was all part of him? A chill ran down his spine as the concept sank in.
"Is he trying to throw me off guard?" he wondered, but the reply came just as fast.
"Yes," the Lord of Undead continued, visor glinting under the blood-red sky. "You have bound yourself to each shadow you raise. And now, they are extensions of you—alive with your soul. Every strike, every instinct they possess, flows from you... and yet, they are separate. You have fragmented yourself without even knowing it."
Edward’s gaze flicked to the Shadow Reaper, towering Shadow Commander, and the ranks of Shadow Knights and Warriors cutting through the undead. His summons... were not only his summons but also fragments of him? That didn’t make any sense to Edward.
Suddenly, a sharp, glowing notification appeared in his vision:
[Soul Resonance Increased]
[New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Link]
[Ability Description: Connect with summoned shadows. You may directly access their abilities.]
Edward’s chest tightened. A pulse of energy surged outward, rippling toward the Shadow Reaper. He focused, but the Reaper hesitated, moving with a faint resistance. He felt it—a tug against his will.
[Shadow Reaper Host Authority Conflict Detected]
Edward’s pulse hit his throat. The Reaper was not responding normally. Its crimson visor flared as it moved, cutting off alignment with his motions.
He clenched his fists, tracing the rhythm of the Reaper’s essence through the Soul Resonance link, pushing his own soul into it, aligning their movements like tuning two musical instruments. Shadows pulsed violently, wrapping around him in living ribbons.
A sudden flicker of light ran through his vision:
[Shadow Reaper Control Restored]
[Shadow Step Ability Available]
Edward exhaled sharply.
The Shadow Reaper swayed slightly as shadows surged around it, consuming all crimson until nothing but darkness remained. Its movements were now perfectly in sync with his own. He was not just commanding it—he could see with its eyes, he could reach its ability he felt as if he could almost possess its body if he wanted to.
A thrill of power surged through him. He turned toward the Shadow Commander. The towering figure radiated oppressive energy, making nearby enemies falter and their strikes weaken.
Another notification appeared:
[Shadow Commander Ability Linked: Aura Presence]
[Ability Description: Reduces damage dealt by weaker enemies within 10 meter radius by 20%.]
Edward focused. The aura spread outward from him, diminishing attacks from the undead around him.
Next, the Shadow Knights. Armoured and towering, their black cleavers cut through the horde with precise rhythm. Their aura was a lot weaker than the Commander’s, but still tangible.
A new notification appeared:
[Shadow Knights Ability Linked: Shadow Armour]
[Ability Description: 10% Damage Reduction from all sources.]
Edward gritted his teeth, a grin forming across his face. All their abilities were now linked to him. The battlefield erupted with synchronised shadows. Every strike, every step, every pulse of aura flowed through him.
The Shadow Reaper turned toward him, visor glinting. Edward could anticipate its movements, mirror its strikes. The Commander radiated dread while the Knights cut through enemies with devastating precision. Every summon was an extension of him, yet still distinct, still able to fight and make decisions on their own.
Edward dashed forward, moving in perfect synchrony with the Reaper and the Commander. Shadows swirled around him, ribbons of black mist slicing through smoke and fire. The undead fell like wheat before a scythe.
Lord of Undead stood, watching as if looking at a kid trying a new toy.
Edward felt a pulse of raw power surge in his chest. He could teleport with the Reaper, radiate the Commander’s aura, and channel the Knight’s shadow armour—all at will.
He was no longer just a necromancer commanding shadows. He was the shadows themselves.
Yet beneath the thrill, a subtle unease lingered. The Lord of Undead stepped forward, deliberately, visor flaring brighter than ever. The shadows around Edward pulsed violently, thrumming in response to the synchronised power.
Its voice cut through the battlefield, calm and omnipresent:
"You feel their power, and yet you do not understand it. Every skill you borrow, every instinct you take—it is not free. They are linked to you... but the link is two-way. When the time comes, they will not merely obey. They will demand. And you..." The crimson visor caught the light. "...you may not survive what comes after..."
Edward’s grin faltered. The power thrumming through him was intoxicating, yet fragile. Every ability, every movement, every pulse of strength came with the invisible tether of his soul. He was linked to his shadows—extensions of his own essence—but the Lord’s words were a warning he could not ignore.
"Enough talking," Edward said, turning to face the Lord of Undead fully.
"Very well, Necromancer... Show me the extent of your soul!" The Lord’s voice echoed across the town, and with it, his undead soldiers surged forward with newfound fury.
Prince Arthur, half-fighting the undead soldiers and half-listening to the whole thing, glanced at Edward with a perplexed expression.
"I don’t think time works in our favour" Arthur said, his gaze turning from Edward to the royal soldiers and shadow summons who were getting pushed back.
Edward, already aware of the state of the battlefield, kept his gaze ahead, locked onto the Lord of Undead.
"Let’s end it now"