Returned to Ash, Rising in Shadow

At seventeen, every youth across the Blue Star Planets faces their First Summoning—a ritual that instantly seals the fate of those who call forth weak beasts. But for the fortunate few who summon powerful creatures, a deadlier trial awaits: the Hunter Association Test, a lethal mission that sends successful beast tamers to distant worlds teetering on the brink of collapse. Sunny summoned what should have been a divine blessing—Lilith, a twelve-winged angel of radiant glory. Yet tragedy struck before he could rejoice: his angel suffered a shattered cultivation and a crippled foundation, rendering her powerless. But from this ruin emerged an extraordinary gift—the Golden Finger. This unique ability grants Sunny the power to perceive the cures, weaknesses, and evolution paths of any summon he encounters. With the broken Lilith at his side, Sunny embarks on his inaugural Hunter mission alongside fellow recruits. Their destination: a dying world where Devouring Abysses—hundreds of kilometers wide—tear open the surface, unleashing apocalyptic devastation. Infinite cold, raging storms, and undead hordes surge across the crumbling planet as the sun itself rises later each day, heralding the Doomsday. But fate twists the knife deeper. The God of Shadow curses Sunny's system, corrupting his Awakening Path and forcibly transforming his sacred twelve-winged angel into his First Shadow. Where light once dwelled, darkness now reigns. Consumed by grief and burning with hatred, Sunny embraces his new identity as a Shadow Monarch. His mission evolves beyond mere survival—he will grow strong enough to slay the deity who stole his light. Each cleared world paves the way to greater challenges, and with every shadow he commands, Sunny marches closer to his ultimate vengeance. The abyss took his angel. The shadows gave him power. The gods will know his wrath. ---