Deep within Umbertok Forest, in the heart of a clearing, a pale, young-looking man was sleeping at the foot of a tall, ancient tree. Suddenly, his shadow lengthened and pierced the air in front of him. The air shimmered, and in the spot where the shadow had pierced – a middle-aged man appeared, with the pale man’s shadow still pierced deep into his heart.

  The pale man calmly rose towards the trees.

  "Really, children, weren't you taught not to attack an Umbra inside Umbertok Forest?"

  Four men with drawn weapons emerged from among the trees.

  A large knight, clad in armor and holding a large, gleaming sword, stepped forward and asked:

  "Are you the Dread Lord of Darkness?"

  "Great. Not only did you wake me up, now I have to deal with your flowery speech?"

  In response, a man wearing a cloak and holding a staff raised his staff and shouted:

  "Lightning Bolts!"

  Lightning bolts shot out of his staff towards the pale man.

  In response, the pale man's shadow threw the man who was still pierced by the shadow – towards the lightning. The man struck the lightning with a crackling sound, and the smell of scorched flesh filled the clearing.

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  "You rebellious wretch!" the knight cried out and ran towards the pale man, who suddenly shimmered and disappeared.

  "Ah, such amazing talent, wasted on such a useless human being..." The pale man's voice suddenly emanated from the other side of the clearing, although he could not be seen anywhere.

  "Look at yourself, son of b...!" – shouted the cloaked man.

  "Why doesn't your little friend be a good dog and try to sniff me out?" answered the pale man, this time his voice emanating from behind the knight, who quickly spun around and tried to cut the pale man – but only hit the air.

  Meanwhile, one of the men wearing a green cloak began to writhe – and transformed into a werewolf. He began sniffing the air , and then leaped towards the middle of the clearing – but landed only on air. The pale man laughed, appeared behind him, and in a sharp, fast movement – so fast it was barely visible – he decapitated him.

  Then the werewolf's shadow rose and grasped him. The fourth man, dressed in a golden cloak, began to scream – and suddenly all the light in the clearing was sucked into him.

  "Light Burst!" he shouted.

  All the light gathered into him exploded across the clearing in a powerful wave of light and heat. Darkness spread over the clearing.

  Suddenly the silence was broken by a sharp laugh:

  "If this is the best the Traixis can offer, they've really deteriorated. Getting rid of the light in front of a shadow user – seriously?!"

  Three piercing sounds were heard in the clearing – and when the light returned, the three remaining men were floating in the air, lifeless, suspended on shadow arms. The pale man stood in the center, when suddenly two large monsters emerged from among the trees, shrouded in darkness, carrying a tall, tanned young man dressed in leather armor – and dropped him in front of the pale man. They snarled.

  The pale man snarled back – and the monsters returned to the forest.

  The man dressed in leather armor looked frightened, but fell to his knees before the pale man and asked in fear:

  "Who are you?"

  The pale man looked at him, extended a hand for a handshake, and smiled:

  "I am Kieran Umbra. Who are you?"