Equal to heavens : shadow devil

"Can you explain the skills 'Shadow Lord' and 'Cold Logic' to me, son?"

Adrius glanced at the well-dressed old military man. He seemed like a good person. Usually, high-ranking individuals behave arrogantly and bossily toward others, but this elderly man appeared kind and honest, Adrius thought. Since Adrius was naturally distrustful of strangers, he typically tried to keep his skills, stats, and anything that gave him an advantage hidden from the public. However, having already provided detailed information to the party, he decided to trust the old man this time and answer honestly.

Thus, Adrius explained 'Shadow Lord' and 'Cold Logic' to Stimer in detail and even made some references to his 'Master Swordsman' skill.

When Adrius finished his explanation, Stimer closed his eyes for a few minutes, carefully contemplating the information he had just received. Finally, opening his eyes, he said, "The 'Shadow Lord' skill seems quite limited and rather ordinary, which is surprising given its name. I would expect a skill with such a title to grant absolute, lord-like control over shadows, right? But I don't understand why it's so restricted. At least it consumes minimal mana, considering your mana stats." He paused briefly, seemingly organizing his thoughts before continuing. "But 'Cold Logic' is truly extraordinary. You may not realize it because you haven't spent your life on the battlefield like I have, but being able to remain calm and logical in any situation—and having a mind that strives to achieve the best possible outcome with the least loss, even in dire circumstances—wow... it's more like a blessing from God than just a skill."

Adrius thought to himself that Stimer was probably right. In critical and chaotic situations, it's not just the mind that reacts; a disturbed mind triggers specific hormonal responses, leading to various effects on the body. An emotion like fear, which starts with mental turmoil, can manifest physically. Extreme fear can cause sudden, involuntary reactions, such as temporary loss of bodily control, trembling, or even worse, fainting. In essence, lacking control over one's mind and being unable to remain calm and adaptable in dangerous situations only increases vulnerability and weaknesses. This was why Stimer described the ability to suppress such reactions and emotions during crises as akin to a divine blessing—which it truly was, assuming one considered the Akashic Record as a kind of deity.

Stimer continued, "For now, I won't factor your 'Shadow Lord' skill into my conclusions, but I suggest you focus more on this skill. Maybe, with better understanding, you'll unlock more of its potential. However, 'Cold Logic,' combined with your high physical stats, mana, magic, 'Master Swordsman' skill, your sword, and the high leveling speed you possess, makes you an invaluable asset to my party. But I want to know: why did you choose to join the military party?" For the first time, his expression shifted from that of a kind and honest old man to that of a powerful general waiting for an answer from his subordinate.

The change in Stimer's tone and gaze had little effect on Adrius—perhaps because he didn't care, or maybe due to the influence of 'Cold Logic.' Without a moment's hesitation, with the same cold gaze and firm voice, he responded, "The answer is simple. Only by joining this party can I continue to improve my skills and level up without wasting time. After all these years, the world has finally given me another chance to change my life, and I have no intention of wasting it."

Stimer stared into Adrius's cold eyes for a few seconds before saying, "I have no intention of hindering your progress or limiting you. In fact, I welcome it and will even provide the necessary conditions for it. However, the military has two important rules: loyalty and obedience to superiors. Can you handle that, son?"

Adrius, still with the same cold gaze and firm tone, replied, "As long as you don't limit me or ask me to compromise who I am, loyalty and obedience are what I will give you—not just as a soldier to his superior, but as one person to another." He then gave a faint, cold smile. "Of course, loyalty and trust go both ways."

Stimer's expression and tone remained unchanged as he said, "As a general, after my people, I have always been loyal to my men. Always. But are you sure about what you're saying? Generally, when people reach a certain level of power, they start thinking they can do better than their superiors and decide they should take their place. You might—"

Adrius interrupted Stimer with blatant disrespect, his tone filled with anger: "If you knew the kind of people I've had in my life, you wouldn't disrespect me like this, General. Loyalty and trust mean far more to me than you can imagine..." He closed his eyes, took a deep breath to calm himself, and then continued in a calmer and more polite tone, "Besides, I have no interest in political power or the kind of power that comes from controlling people. It's my personal growth that matters to me."

Adrius's rude behavior and angry tone left Stimer slightly shocked. It had been years since anyone had interrupted him or responded to him in such a threatening manner. But the world was changing, and those ranks on his chest no longer signified power. Now, power was determined by the numbers and blue words displayed on those white windows. For this reason, he controlled himself.

Moreover, the young man in front of him was too talented and promising to lose. Additionally, they had not yet officially established a superior-subordinate relationship. Thus, Stimer gave a brief smile and said, "Then we have an agreement. Loyalty and trust in a two-way street. From this moment, you are officially my soldier, and I am your superior. I don't want to see any more disrespect like a moment ago, soldier."

Adrius nodded in acknowledgment, a slight decrease in the coldness of his gaze. "Of course. Obedience starts with respect, General."

Stimer, seemingly satisfied with Adrius's response, nodded in approval. "You may return to your tent for now, but be here at six sharp tomorrow morning. Remember, the military has always operated on discipline, and that won't change just because the world has. Be on time."

Adrius stood up, straightened himself, a faint smile forming on his lips, and replied, "Yes, sir."

near the door, behind a dark wooden desk, Aida, Stimer's secretary, gave Adrius a resentful and slightly angry look. Adrius stopped in front of her, staring at her for a few seconds. His gaze had once again turned cold, and the faint smile he had moments ago was gone. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Adrius left without saying anything or even offering a simple thank you.

After Adrius left, AIda spoke in an annoyed tone to Stimer, "General, how could you let such an arrogant and rude person treat you like that? With his attitude, who knows where he came from or what he might do in the future?" It was clear she was deeply upset by Adrius's behavior.

Stimer gave a fatherly smile and replied, "The world has changed, AIda. Each of these individuals I personally interviewed today is like a superhero from fantasy stories... The old ways no longer work. The army of a country and its laws no longer back me, and worse, my opponents are no longer ordinary humans. Different methods must be used..."

AIda, still displeased, responded, "Some of the others were really strong, like Cassius Black, or that big guy... what was his name? Ah, Cedric Knight. But this one only had a high level and no particularly remarkable skills... except for his rudeness and false pride. That's why I don't understand why you gave him so much importance."

Stimer shook his head in disagreement. "You're mistaken, my dear. Among all those I met today, this young man was the best. My instincts tell me that he is as special and extraordinary as Cassius. But we'll have to wait and see."

AIda remained unconvinced. To her, the arrogant and boastful young man was nothing special and couldn't even be compared to the likes of Cassius Black or Cedric Knight. Nevertheless, she respected Stimer greatly, and Stimer had acquired a unique skill that allowed him to sense things others couldn't. Therefore, she nodded in acknowledgment and returned to her work.

---

This new situation felt strange and unfamiliar to Adrius. A superior-subordinate relationship was not something he had ever imagined for himself. He thought, *At least I hope I can really trust him.*

Lost in thought, he walked slowly toward the exit until Severus's voice caught his attention. "Was it as you expected? Or can they be trusted?" The change in Severus's tone and gaze surprised him for a moment, and he finally responded with a smile, "Seems like you understood what I meant…" He didn't know why, but from the very first moment he had a good feeling about Severus. After their previous conversation, he decided that if Severus genuinely showed his true self, he would start a friendly relationship with him.

The Akashic Record had changed the world, and with this change, Adrius had the chance to start a new life. That's why he had decided to change himself along with the world's transformation. These past three years had affected him more than he cared to admit. If he allowed the past and the people from his old life to haunt his thoughts any longer, he would only hurt himself more and more.

However, the distrust ingrained in his mind and behavior through these experiences made it difficult for him to change and connect with others. That's why he hoped Adrius would drop the pretense and act honestly.

Severus replied with a smile, "True friendship is built on trust, and trust is built on honesty."

Adrius nodded in agreement, "For now, I've decided to trust the General… He didn't mention disarmament or restrictions, he even said he supports progress. But you know how it is—from words to actions… heh."

Severus, nodding as Adrius spoke, added, "Yeah, there's a huge gap. I get it. Now it's my turn to go into the room… I hope he's trustworthy and reliable. In these circumstances, betrayal and exploitation would be the worst things that could happen to our kind."

Adrius replied, "I need to get back to the girls. See you tomorrow."

Severus patted Adrius's shoulder and responded, "Okay, see you tomorrow…"

From midnight until now, for Adrius, the biggest change wasn't the Akashic Record and its windows, nor even the fighting and bloodshed. Rather, it was his connection with others that made him feel the change more deeply than anything else. For someone as distrustful and skeptical as Adrius, his relationship with Miranda and her daughters, his decision to trust Stimer, and finally, his friendship with Severus—all within less than a day—was a greater change than the upheaval of the entire world.

On his way back to the tent, he reviewed his plans again. For now, he only needed to leave the camp to level up and train. The more important decisions depended on future events and the people around him. He was also waiting to see if, as he predicted, the king had actually staged a coup or would do so. He was curious to see who would emerge victorious from the conflict between the Prime Minister's government and the royal court. Moreover, he needed to search for his stepmother and Ganzo. This new world and the powers it granted him provided a clear path to seek revenge for his past. That is, of course, if both—or at least one of them—had survived.

He wasn't sure who he hated more: Melinda, who had manipulated both him and his father, ultimately seizing most of his father's wealth and leaving Adrius in his dire situation, or Ganzo, who not only stole the entire family company but also ensured that Adrius hadn't had a single moment of peace over the past three years.

As memories of the past resurfaced, his blood pressure and heart rate began to rise. Every few seconds, his right eyebrow twitched involuntarily. His nervous tic had flared up again. His mind replayed fragments of various images—some of him slitting Melinda's throat, others of him riddling her body with bullets from his father's hunting rifle. The thoughts showed him how he could crush Ganzo's facial bones with his hands or hang him from the entrance of the company while slitting both his wrists.

A cold smile formed on his lips, and his eyes took on a crazed, mischievous gleam. Tilting his head to the right and staring at an undefined point, he muttered softly to himself, "I can't even imagine how satisfying it would be… seeing how much blood they've got in them…" As he finished the sentence, he suddenly bit down hard on his lower lip, causing blood to trickle down his chin and neck. The sensation of the bloodflow snapped him back to reality, his head straightened, his gaze returned to its cold and somber state, and the mischievous smile vanished from his lips.

One of the effects of the constant mental and emotional pressure over the past three years was this duality of thought. His mind constantly swung between positive and negative thoughts, and Adrius struggled to maintain control over his mind and behavior.

He thought to himself, *Maybe leveling up and increasing my intelligence stats will help me control myself better… maybe it'll even get rid of it… I hope so.* He took a deep breath. It puzzled him why cold logic had no effect on these sudden thoughts. Perhaps his skill level was too low to influence such deep-seated emotions.

Shaking his head, he entered the tent.