Reincarnated By The Weakest Primordial Being(but with OP growth twist)-Chapter 34: Monarch Of Shadows

The guild headquarters lay wrapped in silence that night, a fortress of stone under the faint glow of lanterns. The long halls breathed an air of discipline and order, every shadow stretched sharp by the moonlight seeping through tall windows. The guards patrolled with the rhythm of clockwork—measured, steady, predictable.

But within that order, mischief was brewing.

Hazzy pressed his back against the wall, a tray of pilfered food balanced precariously in his hands. Bits of bread, dried meat, some sweets, and a jug of juice he had "borrowed" from the kitchens. He tiptoed down the hallway, grinning from ear to ear.

"First stop," he whispered to himself, and rapped his knuckles gently on Ash’s door.

Inside, Ash groaned at the sound, half-asleep. "What the hell, Hazzy? It’s the middle of the night."

The door creaked open anyway, and Hazzy’s head popped in. "Food. Get up, you big lump. You’re coming with me."

Ash rubbed his eyes. "Is this about training?"

Hazzy smirked. "Even better. Midnight feast."

Ash blinked. He stared at the tray, then at Hazzy, then sighed. "If Maya finds out, we’re all dead."

"Then don’t tell her," Hazzy replied with a wink.

Minutes later, Ash trudged out, still muttering, but his stomach growled loud enough to betray him.

Second stop. Ayan’s room.

Hazzy kicked softly at the door until Ayan’s muffled voice came from within: "Hazzy, I swear, if you wake me—"

The door opened and Hazzy the tray under his nose. "Still angry?"

Ayan’s irritation melted at the sight of food. "...Damn you." He grabbed a piece of bread, chewing as he followed the others.

The three boys padded through the corridor like thieves. Hazzy grinned at the thought—how ironic, sneaking food under the nose of one of the continent’s strictest guild leaders.

NEXT STOP: AK.

Hazzy didn’t bother knocking softly this time. He burst in, tray raised like a trophy. "And now, the party begins!"

AK looked up from his desk. His notebook lay open, filled with scrawled questions he refused to share with anyone. He frowned. "Hazzy. Why are you here? And why are Ash and Ayan here too?"

"Because," Hazzy said, dropping the tray onto the bed, "you’ve been sulking alone in this room, and that’s boring. Time for fun."

Ash flopped onto the chair. "I tried to stop him. Didn’t work."

Ayan crossed his arms, though the bread in his hand ruined his stern expression. "He’s insane. But... well, here we are."

AK sighed, but couldn’t help smiling faintly. "You’ll get us all killed if Maya finds out."

Hazzy plopped onto the floor, already munching on dried meat. "Relax. She’s probably sleeping."

As if summoned by fate, the door clicked again—this time without Hazzy’s help.

Everyone froze.

The door swung open, and standing there, hair loose, eyes sharp even in the dim light, was Sara.

The boys’ jaws nearly hit the floor.

Sara leaned casually against the doorframe, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "You’re terrible at sneaking around. I heard you from the hall."

Hazzy almost choked. "W-wait, what? You—you joined us?"

Sara stepped inside without asking, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You think I’m going to miss out on free food? Please."

Ash’s face turned bright red. He scooted awkwardly, pretending to study the wall. Hazzy noticed immediately and grinned.

"Well, well. Look who’s suddenly shy."

Ash shot him a glare. "Shut up."

Sara, unfazed, plopped down beside Ayan and stole a sweet from the tray. "So, is this what you boys do instead of sleeping? No wonder you look half-dead in training."

The room filled with laughter. Jokes flew like arrows—Hazzy teased Ash mercilessly about blushing, Ayan complained about the noise but secretly enjoyed the company, and even AK, usually quiet, found himself laughing at their antics.

For once, they weren’t adventurers or guild trainees. They were just young people, stuffed into one small room, sharing food and laughter like old friends.

But then—

The door opened again.

And this time, it wasn’t Sara.

Maya stood there, arms folded, expression carved from stone.

The room died instantly. Hazzy froze mid-bite. Ash nearly toppled off his chair. Ayan tried to hide the bread in his hand. Sara raised an eyebrow, amused at their panic.

Maya’s gaze swept the room like a blade. "You forget where you are?" Her voice was low, sharp. "This is not a playground. You begged for safety within these walls. That means you follow the rules that keep you safe."

Hazzy tried to chuckle. "Come on, Maya, we were just—"

Her glare silenced him.

The air thickened with tension. Even Sara shifted uncomfortably under her sister’s gaze.

Then, after a long pause, Maya exhaled softly. "Rest. Tomorrow will not be easy."

She turned and left, the door shutting behind her like the final word of a judge.

The silence lingered.

Hazzy whispered, "Well... that was terrifying."

Everyone laughed nervously. They cleaned up quickly, and Sara slipped away with a sly smile, leaving the boys stunned by her unexpected playfulness.

---

LATER THAT NIGHT

AK lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The laughter from earlier still echoed faintly in his mind, warm and strange. But beneath it, unease churned. He reached for his notebook, scribbling down fragments of questions: spies, shadows, whispers.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled him under.

But his dreams were no ordinary dreams.

He found himself submerged in an endless ocean, black waters stretching beyond sight. The horizon was swallowed in mist.

Then a voice boomed, shaking the very sea.

"Incarnation of ReD... awaken."

From the depths rose a towering figure, human-shaped, yet featureless, its form glowing white against the darkness.

AK staggered back. "Wh–who are you?"

The voice rumbled like thunder. "I am Kraken. The Monarch of Shadows. Do not fear—I am no enemy. I am a friend of ReD."

The words struck him like fire. Monarch of Shadows. That name—he had read it before, in a manhwa from his world. But this wasn’t fiction. This presence was real, its weight undeniable.

"You... you’ve mistaken me," AK whispered. "I’m just—me. A daggerist. Nothing more." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The faceless figure tilted its head. "No. You are his incarnation. The weakest primordial being... once the strongest. Shadows answer to you, though you do not yet know how to command them."

The ocean surged. Waves slammed around AK, though he stood firm, trembling.

"What do you want from me?" he asked.

Kraken’s voice deepened. "Not want. Warning. Shadows stir. Enemies circle. And when the veil tears, you will stand at the center. Whether you accept it or not."

Before AK could reply, the figure began to fade, swallowed by the ocean mist.

MORNING

AK jolted awake, drenched in sweat, his heartbeat thundering in his chest. The room was quiet, the guild’s wards humming faintly against the morning breeze.

The dream burned fresh in his mind — no, not a dream, something more. He could still hear Kraken’s voice, deep and resonant, carrying through the ocean of shadows.

"ReD has not abandoned you. He entrusted me to guard you... to guide you. Until you awaken fully."

The words echoed like chains on his soul.

AK sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his damp hair. His dagger glimmered faintly on the bedside table, as though it too had heard the call of shadows.

ReD had sent Kraken. ReD was watching over him even in absence.

And now, AK was no longer just himself. He carried something greater—something terrifying.

"...The Monarch of Shadows," he whispered to himself. The title tasted foreign, heavy.

The memory of the fun night before flickered across his mind—Hazzy’s jokes, Ash’s blushing, Sara’s unexpected playfulness. For a moment, he smiled faintly. But then his expression hardened.

Because beyond the laughter, he now knew the truth. The spies, the vanishing shadows, the unseen eyes—they weren’t random. They were circling him.

And ReD had already prepared for it.

AK sat silently for a while, staring at the faint shimmer of dawn filtering through his window. Kraken’s words still echoed inside him, steady and unwavering:

"ReD sent me to guard you."

A rare smile touched his lips. He clasped his hands together, almost like a prayer, and whispered,

"...Thank you, ReD. One month... I’ll endure it. No matter what."

His resolve hardened, his fear tempered into determination. With a deep breath, he rose, washed his face, and slipped out of his room.

The hallways of the guild were alive with the usual morning clatter — footsteps, laughter, clinking of armor, and the aroma of freshly baked bread drifting down the corridor. For a moment, it felt... normal.

---

THE CAFETERIA

The guild cafeteria was buzzing with energy. Long wooden tables stretched across the hall, packed with adventurers bragging about hunts, arguing about loot, or already making trouble before missions.

AK spotted his friends quickly: Hazzy, already halfway through a plate piled with food; Ayan and Ash arguing over who should pay for yesterday’s snacks; and Sara calmly sipping on juice, a little apart from the chaos but with a tiny smirk on her lips.

"Oi, sleepyhead!" Hazzy waved dramatically with a fork. "Finally decided to show your royal face?"

AK rolled his eyes but sat down beside them. "Good morning to you too, Hazzy."

"Morning? Bro, it’s basically noon for you." Hazzy grinned, passing him a bread roll.

Ash chimed in, smirking. "At this rate, AK’s gonna miss all the quests. Maybe we should hire him a personal maid to wake him up."

Sara tilted her head. "I volunteer... but only if I get paid triple." Her calm voice silenced the table for a moment, and then Hazzy burst into laughter, nearly choking on his food.

Ayan shook his head. "You guys are hopeless."

---

JOKES AND LAUGHTER

As they ate, the mood grew lighter. Hazzy teased Ash for his "heroic snoring" last night. Ash countered by telling the story of Hazzy falling asleep mid-battle during a dungeon crawl, earning groans and laughter from the entire table.

AK mostly listened, smiling faintly. He hadn’t realized how much he needed this — the warmth of their voices, the careless banter, the way shadows of worry disappeared under shared laughter.

Even Sara, who usually kept her composure, laughed quietly when Hazzy spilled juice all over himself trying to mimic a "dramatic sword swing."

"Seriously, Hazzy..." Ayan sighed, handing him a napkin.

"What? That was totally a critical hit!" Hazzy defended, holding the soggy bread roll like a legendary blade.

Their laughter echoed through the hall, drawing curious looks from nearby adventurers.

---

QUIET RESOLVE

In the middle of all the joy, AK’s gaze lowered to his untouched cup of tea. Deep inside, he knew the truth: shadows were watching, and his fate was shifting. But for now—just for this morning—he let himself enjoy the meal, the noise, the smiles.

Because soon enough, the month would pass. And when it did, he had to be ready.

For ReD. For himself.