MMORPG: Rebirth of the Shadow Mage

An old tome encased with golden borders appeared in my hand. I could even see some dust on the surface of its cover.

' Seems more like a relic rather than a Unique Spell book... '

I murmured while the dusty tome turned into light particles.

< New Spell Learned! >

Quickly navigating through my system I opened the description of the newly gained spell.

1️⃣ ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? < ????????. ???? >

-- ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????

-- ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????

~ ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????

~ ???????? ????????????????????????????????

~~~~

Looking at the skill I blinked my eyes a few times.

" What! '

Forgetting my sprained ankle I started jumping in joy. Quickly running up to a nearby shadow I used my newly gained spell.

As soon as my hand came in contact with the shadow a dark silhouette appeared before me. It had no eyes, mouth or nose, it was completely faceless.

( New Status Screen! )

[ ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ]

-- ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????

-- ???????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????, ???????????????? ????????????????????????????, ????????????????????, ????????????????????????, ????????????????????????...

-- ???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ????????????????????, ????????????????, ????????????, ????????????????????????????????????

[ ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ]

-- ???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????. ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? 100% ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????????. ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????. ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ????????????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????

< ???????????????????????????????????????? >

[ ????????. 5 ]

????????: 1,000 || ????????????: 100

????????: 10 || ????????????????: 250

????????????: 500 || ????????????????: 250

????????????: 300 || ????????: 75

< ???????????????????????? >

[ ???????????????? ]

~~~~

< ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? >

[ ???????????????? ]

~~~~

< ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? >

1️⃣ ????????????????????????'???? ???????????????????????????? < ????????????. ???????? >

-- ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????'???? ????????????????????????

~~~~

2️⃣ ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? < ????????????. ???????? >

-- ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????????

~~~~

3️⃣ ????????????????????????'???? ???????????????????????????????? < ????????????. ???????? >

-- ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????

~ + ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????

~ + ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????

~ + ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????

~ + ???????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????

~~~~

Looking through the Soldier's Status Screen I couldn't help, but be amazed by how powerful it was, even though its level was low its Strength might even be directly tied to mine.

' I wonder... '

Seeing that only summoning the soldier consumes my SE an idea came to my mind.

I ordered the soldier to merge with my shadow!

Whoosh...

The silhouette suddenly dived into my shadow completely disappearing from my sight. Even though I couldn't see it I still felt him lingering in my shadow.

' Come out '

Instructing him to come out, the silhouette once again emerged from my shadow. I couldn't help, but smile thinking about all the possibilities this spell gave me.

It wouldn't be an understatement if I called myself a walking army from now on.

Unfortunately the spell was very costly, even now it consumed somewhere around 10% of my overall Shadow Energy.

After Inspecting my new spell I stretched my back.

' I need to kill some monsters in order for my Orange Nametag to turn to normal again '

Looking at my Shadow Soldier I suddenly had an urge to test his limits. Summoning another 9 of them I felt Shadow Energy in my veins becoming scarce.

' Go kill every monster in the vicinity! '

Letting my soldiers loose I also let Fenrir out of my beast Tattoo to follow the group and help them if needed.

Walking a distance behind them I was looking over the Shadow Soldier's Status attributes and noticed that they didn't even have Mana.

While I was lost in my thoughts my group found the first monster, a huge earth buffalo.

The beast's body was covered in huge dirt and stone plates looking like armor.

Me and Fenrir took a seat a bit further from the Soldiers while they dashed to engage with the creature.

Moooh...

Noticing the group of shadows approaching it the buffalo turned its huge head decorated with horns that were also reinforced by some kind of dark material and started running towards the group.

Whoosh...

As both opponents got closer the group of soldiers suddenly all threw themselves to the side evading the giant beast's horns. One of the shadow soldiers even managed to jump on its back trying to tear apart the Earthen plates.

Of course it wasn't that easy, since the Buffalo felt something on its back and suddenly an earth spike emerged from the ground, almost grazing the soldier.

...

I, who was eating cooked pork with Fenrir, looked at my new skill with eyes full of stars.

' How broken is this? '

While thinking about the skill I felt one of the bonds I had with Shadows suddenly get cut. Lifting my eyes I saw a dark silhouette being trampled on by the Buffalo.

Looking towards the other soldiers I noticed no kind of fear or anger in their emotions. They were completely emotionless.

Suddenly I noticed the dead shadow soldier turn into some kind of almost transparent matter and flow black into my body.

[ +2 ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ]

Looking at the system screened I smiled. Even if the soldier dies, a fraction of the SE used for his summoning will come back to me.

Turning my gaze back to the field I noticed one of the Buffalo's legs profusely bleeding while it was trying to get rid off three Shadow Soldiers running rampant on its back.

Only now had I noticed that all my soldiers could slightly change the shape of their body and now most of them had nails like razor sharp blades that were even able to somewhat pierce through the buffalo's sturdy defenses.

[ +2 ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ]

Another Shadow was killed, because the buffalo slammed its back to a nearby rock and crushed the Soldier who was late to react.

Moooh...

The Buffalo started roaring and I could feel slight trembles pass through the ground as Earth spikes started to emerge everywhere in the area.

Even Fenrir and I had to avoid getting hit by some of them.

[ +2 ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ]

[ +2 ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ]

[ +2 ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ]

5 of my soldiers were dead, but the buffalo itself wasn't in a very good condition. The beast's breathing was rough while the blood was profusely gushing out from his outer wounds.

Crash...

Suddenly a Shadow Soldier managed to completely shatter the earth plate that was covering the Buffalo's side and reach its soft skin.

Moooh...

Feeling its body being critically injured the beast tried to use its hinge legs to kick the attacker, but was unsuccessful due to another Shadow coming to his ally's help and slashing the slightly raised leg.

What followed afterwards was a one-sided massacre and the Buffalo fell without any chance to counterattack, because shadows stopped its every move.

< ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ????1 ????????????????????????! >

< ???????????????? >

1️⃣ 2,000 ????????????

2️⃣ ???????????????????? ????????????????????????????'???? ???????????????? ????2

3️⃣ ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????? ????3

~~~~

Looking at the Loot I noticed that it wasn't shared between the Shadow Soldiers like with Fenrir and all the EXP went to me.

While I was lost in my thoughts I suddenly heard the trees' behind me being broken. Instinctively jumping to the side I noticed a similar Buffalo running right past me rushing to its dead comrade.

Unfortunately for the buffalo the other beast was already dead.

Moooh....

The monster let out a roar full of rage and his bloodshot eyes met with mine.

I was a bit amazed that the creature immediately noticed that I was the reason for its kin's death. Lowering its horns forward the beast started speeding up towards me, but I wasn't planning on waiting.

Whoosh... Whoosh...

Two Lightning Bolts flew and hit the beast's sturdy armor making some noticeable cracks appear on its surface.

As the beast was nearing my location I just stood still while a small smile was playing on my lips.

' Shadow Protection '

Dark, almost transparent barrier appeared before the Buffalo's face, not leaving him any time to dodge.

Boooom....

Even though the beast managed to lower its momentum the hit was still a pretty powerful one.

- 357 Physical Damage!

~ ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? < ???????????????????????????????????????? >

~ ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????

~ ???????????????????????????????? → 1 ????????????????????????

The Buffalo tried to immediately stand up, but I noticed that its legs were wobbly.

' Eliminate him! '

Like an army's general I ordered the soldiers to finish off the confused beast. While the shadows were circling the Buffalo I suddenly heard something in the bushes.

Giving Fenrir a look I instructed him to check out our stalkers.

Whoosh...

The black wolf dashed past me and ran into the bushes. For the next few seconds I could hear some shouts and see damage graphs that appeared from time to time.

Soon 2 people with their arms raised in the air left the greenery's cover and started walking towards my direction while Fenrir was following them from behind.

Watching their condition I noticed some claw and bite marks on their bodies, but since Fenrir wasn't out to kill they were surface level wounds.

Both stalkers were guys around my age with light brown hair. They both were similar height and had similar facial features making me think that they are twins or at least brothers.

" So... Gentlemen, what were we doing in those bushes? "

With an ironic voice I spoke while keeping an eye on both of their faces. If I've learnt something from Ava in my previous life was that a human's face could give a lot more information if looked closely at.

Unfortunately I only knew information and hadn't used it practically, so it looked as if I was staring at them with a huge amount of aggression.

' Please don't kill us... '

One of the guys even stuttered out, snapping me out of my daze.

' I should've analyzed Ava's tactics more closely '

Thinking about my past life I shook my head.

" Why were you in the bushes? "

Slightly turning my head to see the shadows close to killing the Buffalo I smiled.

" We both are journalists and since the game exploded in popularity we are trying to get an interview with popular players... "

I didn't hear his words afterwards, because my mind trailed off thinking about ways to exploit this chance.

' I might be able to get some money and expand my popularity '

Scratching my chin I smiled with the most beautiful smile I've ever performed.

~~~~

While Leo was smiling and thinking about his plans both twins felt as if a devil was standing before them, even the air around them got heavier.

Unknowingly to all of them Leo's ' beautiful ' smile was even driving fear into Shadows who had immunity to fear...