In the heart of a desolate mountain range known as the Silent Peaks, Priyanshu Yadav stood before a long-abandoned temple that reeked of forgotten blood and broken oaths. This was the resting place of one of the System's most prized hidden assets: the First Shadow General.
[Quest: Awaken the First Shadow General – Dreadblade Raiga. Requirement: Blood of a Transcendent Being.]
Luckily, after humiliating the Crown Prince, Priyanshu had captured a corrupted divine beast in secret—just for this.
He dragged the unconscious beast's massive body toward the center of the temple. The walls shimmered with black runes as soon as the creature's blood soaked into the altar.
The ground trembled.
The sky darkened.
Chains burst from the void, slamming into the ground around him.
Then, laughter.
Dark. Hoarse. Mad.
"You're not worthy…" a voice echoed through the temple.
Priyanshu raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"And yet, here I am."
From the shadows emerged a towering figure clad in armor of charred bone and obsidian steel. His helmet bore three blood-red horns, and a crimson cloak flared behind him like living fire.
"Dreadblade Raiga," Priyanshu said coolly, "your master commands you to kneel."
The being snarled. "I knelt to no one… not even the gods."
[Activating Hidden Authority: Origin Seal – True Villain's Command.]
A pulse of absolute darkness spread from Priyanshu's body. The runes on the walls shattered. Even the air whimpered.
Raiga fell to one knee involuntarily, his body trembling.
"You…" he growled. "You bear the seal. The true one."
Priyanshu stepped forward, his eyes glowing with violet threads. "I'm not just your master—I'm your purpose."
Raiga's resistance broke, and he slammed both fists into the ground. "Command me, my Lord of Shadows."
[Quest Complete: First Shadow General Awakened.]
[Raiga's Stats: Peak of Soul King Realm. Loyalty: 100%. Special Skill: Warpath Resonance (Boosts all allied strength by 30% in battle). Passive: Undying Commander.]
Priyanshu smirked. "Your first order: form the first cell of the Shadow Legion. I want assassins, spies, and saboteurs across every empire by the end of the year."
Raiga rose, his eyes gleaming like coals. "Consider it done. The Shadow Legion shall move as your will."
As the winds howled over the Silent Peaks, Priyanshu looked into the distant night.
"The world thinks light rules the heavens… But the darkness beneath is always deeper."
And from that moment on, whispers of a nameless force began spreading across the continent—of shadows that killed kings in their sleep, of a villain pulling strings from the void.
The Hidden Villain had summoned his first general.
The game had just escalated.