69novels Page 231
Page 231
When Avisbro and Vlad III refused, Roland, with his permission, severed the contract, turned into golden dust, and departed.
Watching the two of them leave, Roland then led eight new members of the divine group back to Miao in the direction of Einzbernburg.
These new members of the God Group received information about the God Group the moment they joined. They need some time to digest it, and Roland also needs to take the newcomers back to introduce them to Rin Tohsaka and the others.
And judging by the time, Bazett and Yuzu should be done soon.
In addition, I have obtained eight enhancement points, and the Shadow Puppet is now at (+3). This means that after I go back this time, I can directly enhance the Shadow Puppet to the maximum level and then see what the Shadow Puppet will bring me after the second qualitative change.
Roland had a premonition that the information provided by this core shadow skill would be the key to understanding this simulated star chart.
....
192. The King of Shadows
Upon returning to Einzbern, Roland first confirmed that Bazett and Yuuka had not yet emerged. He then made some arrangements regarding the issues concerning the Heroic Spirits of both the Red and Black factions, having Rin Tohsaka and Illya explain the points they did not understand. Afterward, he returned to his room.
Semiramis watched Roland's departing figure until he completely disappeared around the corner of the castle corridor before she finally looked away.
At that moment, Rin Tohsaka, who had noticed this, walked over to her side.
"You're very interested in Roland?"
Upon hearing Rin Tohsaka's question, Semiramis didn't display the typical girlish naiveté; instead, she nodded directly in acknowledgment.
"Yes... From the first day I met him until now, I've always felt that his gaze has never fallen on me, so I'm a little curious about it."
Rin Tohsaka laughed at Semiramis's statement.
"If that's the case, then that's indeed the case."
"I've been a member of the God Group for a long time, and I've known Roland for a long time as well. Among the members of the God Group, there are many beautiful girls who are outstanding in appearance and can often attract the attention of others when they walk down the street."
"Everyone was invited by Roland to join the divine group, but in reality, I rarely saw Roland using this relationship to chat with those beautiful girls."
"He is a person who lives very clearly in this regard."
"His attention is mostly focused on things that he cares about more. You'll understand once you get to know him better. Roland isn't aloof; he'll always notice things you might not even realize you're paying attention to, just to show that he's not indifferent to everyone."
"So in this respect, all I can say is that you'll get used to it."
Semiramis pondered Rin Tohsaka's words.
"You'll get used to it... I see."
She pretended to understand, and then quickly changed the subject.
Since Roland wasn't there, Semiramis didn't continue her previous behavior. Instead, she took the opportunity to ask Rin Tohsaka about some things that puzzled her regarding the gods. (870 As for Roland's matter...)
For her, it wasn't a matter of habit or not.
All I can say is that after hearing Rin Tohsaka say that, she became even more interested in Roland!
Einzbernburg is a very classic European castle.
Because of their large size and high number of floors, the rooms used by the owners in such castles are generally designed to be large and tall, yet appropriately spacious and clearly divided into zones.
Roland lived in such a room in Einzbernburg.
So when he returned to his room, he went straight to the reception area, sat down in a chair by the fireplace, and summoned his Shadow Puppet while listening to the sound of the fire burning and in the firelight.
"System, add more points."
With Roland's arrangement, his eight enhancement points were instantly reduced to only one. With the investment of seven enhancement points, the already level three Shadow Puppet was directly enhanced to the maximum level, completing a second qualitative change!
Roland silently sensed this change during the enhancement process.
The enhancements to the Shadow Puppet skill all fall on the user himself, strengthening his deterrent power.
After the first qualitative change, Roland could clearly feel that his deterrent power seemed to have become something tangible. If he had to describe it, it was like the might of a dragon, causing other creatures to subconsciously tense up when they felt this pressure, their hearts would race, and they would fall into a state of tension. Excessive pressure could even cause them to die suddenly due to excessive stress.
However, just as the Dragon's Might is only effective against creatures of a lower level than dragons, Roland could also sense that his deterrent power was effective against certain targets.
It's definitely effective on humans, but it doesn't seem to work on other animals. At least when I released this pressure, the flying insects in the air didn't immediately quiet down.
It seems to be effective only for humans, similar to something like Wang Wei.
However, Roland always felt that the characteristic of being effective on humans was just a side effect... In reality, it might be that it was effective on something very close to humans, and thus had an effect on humans as a result.
Roland's suspicions about this were not unfounded; he had some guesses.
When the second qualitative change occurred, Roland discovered that the deterrent had become stronger, and this time it was also effective against flying insects. As the level of deterrence was increased, the flying insects were directly crushed to the ground and died on the spot.
And just as he had guessed, Roland confirmed what this pressure was aimed at.
"This oppressive aura is directed at the shadows..."
The pressure after the second qualitative change allowed Roland to clearly feel that the shadow, which would inevitably exist wherever there was light, was expressing its submission under his pressure!
Whether it works on humans or insects—it's all because they possess shadows!
But that's not all.
If it were the shadows of living beings that would behave this way, Roland wouldn't be particularly surprised. However, when Roland released this pressure, he clearly felt that all shadows would submit to him!
Whether it's the shadow of a cabinet, the shadow of a cup, or even the shadow of a castle.
All the shadows in the world submit to him, like worshipping subjects, or fanatical believers who have met the true God!
These shadows made Roland feel incredibly close to them, and Roland was certain that he had absolute control over them!
This pressure itself is just pressure, but just like the identity that the Dragon's Shadow brought him after its second awakening—the identity of the final trial of humanity, the second trial of the Shadow Puppet also brought Roland such an identity.
The King of Shadows!
Or perhaps he is the god of shadows!
After this identity was awakened, Roland felt that all the shadows in the world were under his control. As a result, he also learned why the skills Shadow Bind and Shadow Movement existed.
Because these two skills are components designed to complement this identity!
Once touched by a shadow, one cannot move. After Roland awakened this identity, the other party's own shadow was also under Roland's control!
Where there is light, the other party will be controlled by the shadow according to Roland's will!
And because the shadow is his own, his struggles will be reflected back onto himself!
Shadow Bind only considers physical attributes, and the target bound by Roland's own shadow must break free of themselves to escape the binding—it's like asking whether a strongman can stand still, choke himself, and lift himself up.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, it is absolutely impossible.
So this is the true use of Shadow Bind!
And so does shadow movement.
After awakening to this identity, Roland can appear anywhere in the world where there is a shadow.
And not just the whole world... Roland used Shadow Movement to sense it slightly, and he found that he could easily sense the shadows of Medea, Esdeath, and Mebius...
He could visit any of the worlds he had ever been to... no, rather, any of the worlds where he had registered an identity!
It seems that this parallel world we live in now requires us to experience it at least once.
These are Shadow Bind and Shadow Movement. Apart from these, all other shadow-related skills, except for those shadow familiars, have received a synergistic enhancement effect.
As Roland experienced these effects, he realized that he was completely different from other people who could manipulate shadows.
They are all people who can manipulate shadows.
He himself was the emperor of the shadows...
He can control all the shadows, not because he has the ability to control them, but because the shadows are fanatically convinced of his authority, worship him, and would never disobey him!
This reminded Roland of the dream he had after dealing with the Dark Six Lords.
In the world of shadows, one's own shadow manipulates everything in the shadow world, easily turning enemies trapped in the shadow world back into ownerless atoms!
This is the King of Shadows!
Having awakened to this identity, Roland somewhat understood why he was able to acquire so many shadow-based skills from this simulated star chart.
But then a question arises: where do these identities, whether it's the identity of the final human trial or the identity of the Shadow Emperor, come from?
Thinking of this, Roland first looked at the Shadow Puppet, and then he summoned the Shadow Wolf, Shadow Warrior, and Shadow Mage—these shadow familiars had not received any kind of synergy enhancement after Roland obtained the identity of Shadow Emperor.
Moreover, Roland could now sense that they were different from the other shadows.
Although this sounds a bit strange, Roland could clearly sense that the other shadows were all alive when he explored them.
These shadows might be considered a kind of life... Although Roland didn't know what kind of life they were, they didn't have their own will or anything, and they wouldn't talk to Roland, Roland could feel their fanaticism and faith in him.
But his shadow familiars are different.
These shadow familiars are like Roland's four garments... especially the Shadow Puppet. When it moves, Roland has no shadow of his own. The Dragon's Shadow ability also directly changes on him, so it is undoubtedly Roland's own shadow.
Before he awakened to his identity as the Shadow Emperor, Roland could feel a sense of familiarity with these shadow familiars, but he couldn't sense anything else about them.
But this time it's different.
Roland could sense that the Shadow Wolf, the Shadow Warrior, and the Shadow Mage were all in a state of suppression or sealing.
Although the Shadow Wolf was not strengthened, it awakened its divine nature, and the seal on its body was the lightest.
The seals on the Shadow Warriors and Shadow Mages were very tight.
Logically speaking, such familiars should be unusable, but Roland could sense that they belonged to him before they were sealed, which is why he was able to use some of their power even when they were sealed.