Inside the throne room of Xerxes, the air crackled with the sheer density of mana. Arthur sat upon his throne, watching as twelve pillars of dark light erupted from the obsidian floor. Igris stood at his right hand, his new deity-grade aura making the very walls of the palace vibrate.
"My King," Igris spoke, his voice deep and resonant. "The selection is complete. From the millions of shadows in our legion, these twelve have shown the most potential. They are no longer mere soldiers; they are the extensions of your will."
As the dark light faded, twelve unique figures emerged. One was a massive, four-armed warrior made of cracked volcanic rock—the Shadow of a defeated Fire Titan. Another was a slender, hooded figure with glowing green eyes—the Shadow of a legendary elven assassin. Each one was an S-Rank threat on their own, but now, they were being fueled by Arthur's 'Divine Sparks'.
[Ding!]
[100x Multiplier Activated!]
[The 'Twelve Generals of Xerxes' have been created.]
[Total Mana Capacity of the Legion has increased by 500%.]
Arthur looked at his new generals. "You are the wardens of this world. Each of you will take a sector of the planet. Ensure the dungeons are contained. Protect the weak, and crush those who would use their power to oppress others. The era of the Hunter Association is over."
"We live only to serve the Monarch!" the twelve generals shouted in unison, their voices shaking the mountain itself.
Arthur turned his gaze toward a large holographic map of the world that had appeared in the center of the room. Red dots were appearing everywhere—ports, capitals, and military bases.
"The human world is panicking," Arthur said, a cold smile on his face. "They are launching their nuclear missiles. They think fire can destroy a shadow."
"Shall I intercept them, Master?" Igris asked, his hand already on the hilt of his star-shattering blade.
"No," Arthur stood up, his cloak of shadows billowing behind him. "Let them fire. I want the world to see that their greatest weapons are nothing more than toys in the face of the Omni-Monarch. I will catch their 'suns' with my bare hands."