Kael frowned.
A Shadow Legion that couldn’t fight being more valuable than the ones that could?
He found that difficult to believe.
Noticing the look on Kael’s face, Varek continued before he could ask.
"Master."
"Did you notice something unusual during our spar?"
Kael thought back to the battle.
After a moment, he nodded.
"I did."
"The shadow constructs suddenly began coordinating with one another."
"They stopped attacking recklessly."
"It felt as though they had become an organized army."
Varek inclined his head.
"That was the Hivemind."
"It possesses exceptional intelligence and mental capabilities."
"While it lacks offensive power, it can establish mental links with a vast number of shadow constructs simultaneously."
"Through those links, it coordinates every unit under its command."
"It analyzes the battlefield."
"It issues commands."
"It adjusts formations."
"It identifies weaknesses."
"To every ordinary shadow construct, the Hivemind functions as the brain of the entire army."
Kael slowly drew in a breath.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Earlier in the battle, he had wondered why the shadow constructs had abruptly changed their tactics.
Instead of charging blindly, they had begun covering one another, creating openings, cutting off his retreat, and attacking from multiple directions with uncanny precision.
At the time, he had assumed it was simply Varek controlling them more carefully.
Now he understood.
It hadn’t been Varek.
It had been this strange little creature.
His gaze returned to the Hivemind.
Despite its harmless appearance, Kael no longer underestimated it.
An army without coordination was little more than a mob.
An army with perfect coordination...
Was an entirely different beast.
Even if the individual soldiers weren’t particularly powerful, their effectiveness would multiply many times over once every movement was synchronized.
No wonder Varek had claimed it was worth more than many combat-oriented Shadow Legions.
Kael couldn’t help but feel increasingly satisfied.
Aside from his Multiplier talent and his physique, Varek was his next most valuable asset.
Leaving aside Varek’s own strength...
His knowledge alone was invaluable.
And now there were these Shadow Legions.
One after another, Varek continued revealing abilities that far exceeded Kael’s expectations.
Without even realizing it, Varek was slowly becoming one of his greatest sources of strength.
After a brief moment of thought, Kael shifted his attention back to the towering Nether Sentinel.
"So."
"How many Nether Sentinels can you currently create?"
"I currently possess ten, Master."
Kael nodded.
That was more than enough.
"I’ll take four."
"Two will be assigned to protect my mother."
"The other two will remain with Lyra."
"That should be sufficient to guarantee their safety."
"As you command, Master."
Varek raised his hand once more.
The shadows beside the first Nether Sentinel rippled.
One...
Then another...
Then another...
Three more towering guardians slowly emerged from the darkness until four gigantic figures stood silently before Kael.
Their crimson eyes glowed faintly beneath their helmets, yet none of them moved without instruction.
Varek made another simple gesture.
The four Nether Sentinels dissolved into pools of shadow before slipping across the floor.
They reached Kael’s feet before sinking directly into his own shadow.
The instant the last one disappeared...
Kael felt something change.
A strange connection formed within his mind.
It was faint...
Yet unmistakable.
He could clearly sense the existence of the four Nether Sentinels resting within his shadow, awaiting his commands.
Varek lowered his hand.
"I have transferred control of the four Nether Sentinels to you, Master."
"They will obey only your commands unless you choose to delegate authority."
Kael nodded.
"That’s good."
With those arrangements settled, there was nothing left for him to do inside the instance anymore.
He looked toward Varek.
"Well."
"That’s everything."
"I’ll be leaving now."
Varek respectfully lowered his head.
"I understand, Master."
He extended his hand toward the empty air.
The surrounding shadows immediately gathered together before twisting into a swirling vortex.
Space rippled.
Moments later, a dark portal silently opened before Kael, revealing the familiar passage leading back to the outside world.
Kael looked at it for a brief moment before taking a step forward.
Without the slightest hesitation...
He walked through.
The portal rippled gently behind him before slowly sealing shut, leaving Varek standing alone once more within the silent throne room.
Kael stepped through the portal.
For a brief moment, his vision blurred as space twisted around him.
The familiar sensation lasted only an instant before solid ground met his feet once more.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The ancient throne room had vanished.
In its place was the secluded area where he had first entered the instance.
The night remained as quiet as before.
A cool breeze drifted through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth while moonlight filtered through the canopy overhead.
Kael didn’t move immediately.
Instead, he closed his eyes once more.
His senses spread outward like invisible ripples, expanding farther and farther until they blanketed the surrounding area.
Every movement, every corner that came within his range was instantly brought into his awareness.
Several seconds passed.
Only then did he withdraw his senses.
"No one."
He gave a small nod.
Good.
No one had witnessed him enter or exit the instance. It would have been a headache otherwise.
Without another thought, Kael bent his knees.
Boom!
The ground cracked beneath his feet as his body shot into the darkness.
To an ordinary person’s eyes, he was nothing more than a fleeting blur disappearing into the night.
The scenery rapidly retreated behind him.
Buildings.
Roads.
Streetlights.
Everything flashed past in an instant.
His destination, however, wasn’t home.
Instead, he changed direction midway through his journey and headed toward the hospital.
Several minutes later, Kael arrived outside the building.
Bright lights illuminated the entrance while a handful of visitors and medical staff moved in and out through the main doors.
He had no intention of entering.
Not openly, at least.
Moving around the side of the building, Kael stopped within a dark corner hidden from the security cameras and passing pedestrians.
Only then did he lower his gaze toward his own shadow.
"Come out."