Ultraman: The Dark Shadow Mage, Creating a Magic Empire

Chapter 19 External Signals

[Ding! The bloodline of the Child of Night has undergone a transformation, gaining the magic of darkness and shadow, triggering a fantastical event...]

[Ding! Fantasy event complete! Reward: Shadow Greatsword!]

[Ding! Bloodline has changed, upgraded to a new bloodline—Shadow of the Night!]

"Is this what bloodline upgrade is? It feels pretty good."

Norman looked at his palm, which had now become a phantom gray shadow, as if it did not exist!

Originally the Child of the Night, he could transform himself into blood and bats through the power of blood magic.

After incorporating dark magic and shadow magic, his power is no longer limited to blood; he can also use the power of darkness and shadow!

Norman looked at the system.

[Shadow of the Night: A bloodline formed from the bloodline of the Children of the Night, fused with the magic of darkness and shadow, granting the ability to wield darkness and shadow magic!]

[Because this is a completely new bloodline, please explore the details yourself!]

This explanation is very general. Just like with the original Nightborne, the specific development and operation are unrestricted and depend entirely on the owner.

Just like when Caitlyn led the Black Knights to kill the dinosaur monster, under Caitlyn's leadership, the Black Knights also turned into a blood mist, penetrating and taking away the monster's blood.

This was a capability that didn't exist before, but in a moment of desperation, Caitlin and the Black Knights developed it.

There is also a point of change in the system.

In terms of civilization abilities, a brand new bloodline called Shadow of the Night has been added, but the label after it is "Royal Blood," which means that this bloodline currently belongs only to Norman.

After learning first-tier magic, Norman began learning second-tier magic.

While he was in seclusion studying, the Black Kingdom was also developing rapidly...

……

"Good grief, why are we still farming after coming here?"

"We don't need you to breed them, just keep an eye on those slaves."

"It's been a long time since I've seen slaves. Even those from defeated nations were only used as temporary laborers before being registered as citizens. How could Your Majesty turn back the clock of history?"

"It's obvious you haven't been to the academy to watch the news. These swamp tree people are ungrateful! His Majesty wants to unify the country, and it's one thing if they disagree—His Majesty won't do anything to those who disagree, or even start a war. But these guys still want benefits! Do you think we can avoid a war?"

"Want benefits without joining? Just slaughter them all!"

"Who can argue with that!"

A group of citizens of the Black Kingdom sat in chairs talking, while in front of them stood a group of swamp tree people, their bodies covered in dark brown.

These tree people are working in the field.

They were divided into two groups: one group of tree people was responsible for picking mature mushrooms, and the other group was responsible for sorting the small mushrooms and then replanting them.

Not far from the agricultural area, there is also a true forest.

Buried in that forest are the swamp tree people who either wanted to rebel or died from exhaustion.

While the two were chatting, in a corner unnoticed by them, a swamp treant was performing a secret ritual.

……

"Great God of the Swamp, your people are suffering, and I offer myself as a sacrifice to you... I summon your remains... I beg you, answer me!"

After reciting the incantation, the swamp treant forcefully broke off the mushroom on its head and crushed it.

The juice flowing from the mushroom was the blood of the tree people.

As the blood soaked all the runes on the ground, strange magical power surged out, turning into ripples that spread outward along with the magical power in the air.

These ripples spread to the northern swamps, and the moment they touched the swamps, they surged towards them like water finding an entrance.

Then the entire swamp began to shake, and a huge tree stump rose from the swamp.

After the tree stump rose, it pulled out its roots to serve as feet and hands, and the stump part as its head and body, resembling a giant tortoise crawling on the ground.

"Buzz—"

It roared and then slowly walked toward the Shadow Highlands.

This is the "Swamp God" that the Swamp Treants call upon. It is a creation of the Shadowmoon Clan, a powerful alchemical creature that can be awakened by bloodline!

"What is this?"

"It's a monster!"

"Withdraw, go find the Black Riders and Iron Guards! Inform the General!"

The soldiers guarding the civilians nearby reacted immediately upon seeing the alchemical creature, covering the civilians' retreat while simultaneously notifying those who could deal with the monster.

"No, which general should we notify?"

"...Whatever! Whichever general is informing whomever they want!"

"Oh, please explain clearly."

The scout ran away as soon as he finished speaking, not daring to tease his squad leader any further.

Because of the enhanced strength of the entire population, they are not very afraid when they see monsters, so they can make a little joke, but if they make too many jokes, they will get beaten up.

"A monster?"

"Yes, General Caesar, a monster resembling a tortoise has appeared over in the swamp. It looks like an alchemical creation."

"Okay, notify the Black Knights to prepare. I'll go check it out first."

Caesar leaped out in a flash, transforming into a three-meter-tall blood-red giant wolf, and charged wildly toward the monster's location.

As one of only five great generals in the Black Kingdom, Caesar's talent is in no way inferior to Caitlin's.

He was a beggar in his youth and was taken in and raised by Norman. He was the youngest of the five generals, but he was the strongest in terms of personal combat. Even Caitlin could not beat him!

At the same time, he was also one of the most steady and reliable soldiers.

It was precisely because of his steadiness that Caesar always followed behind the Normans when they went on campaigns, serving as the rear guard or guarding the country.

Now that Azure Star has no external enemies, Norman transferred Caesar to Shadow Star as the garrison commander of its central continent.

After awakening, Caesar developed many uses of blood magic.

For example, one could directly liberate oneself, mimic Norman's ability to become a bat, restructure oneself into blood, and then reassemble into a blood-red giant wolf.

This is equivalent to inventing a blood magic version of polymorph!

Caesar, now a giant wolf, rushed to the vicinity of the alchemical monster and then attempted to attack it.

His claws scratched the monster's leg, severing the root.

"It can cause damage, so it seems to be still within the scope of this. Is it an alchemical life form, or an alchemical life form of shadow magic? Its weakness should be its head."

Caesar quickly leaped up and, following the monster's leg, rushed onto its head.

"It turns out to be a defective product that lost the protection of the control room."

After Caesar arrived, he saw the weakness of the alchemical creature. He then transformed back into human form, conjured a blood spike in his hand, and plunged it into the magic circle on the monster's head.

"Buzz!"

A tremendous tremor resounded, and the alchemical monster, which had just started to move, stopped in place due to the loss of its energy supply.

As the monster stopped, its protective measures were triggered.

"Um?"

Caesar performed a backflip and landed steadily on the ground.

A powerful surge of magical energy erupted from the monster's body.

This shockwave spread outwards, reaching half of the central continent, even reaching the Shadow Highlands, and then, through a portal, reaching the Azure Star…

……

"Buzz—"

"Oh? A special signal? This is... a planet that has lost its starlight?"

(End of this chapter)