Reborn Regress Return: I Am the Heir of Shadows!-Chapter 22: A Conflicted Heart In a Nightmare World

The door clicked shut behind Julian as he stepped into his apartment. The dim glow of the sunset bled through the curtains, casting long shadows across the floor.

His heart was still steady from the run, but his mind? Racing.

Sena's request. The woman in his memories. The notification from the goddess. Too many things were shifting at once.

Julian exhaled, stripping off his sweat-drenched shirt before tossing it aside. The cold air hit his skin, grounding him back into reality.

His gaze drifted toward the sleek black VR pod in the corner of his room.

The interface blinked in standby mode.

A low hum from the engine and processor, and bubbling nutrient gel in the side panel.

'I should message Sena.'

He couldn't help but think about how she looked at him before he left, Julian's stomach churned thinking of his failure to respond. He avoided an overly complicated message and placed the phone inside its slot with a click.

"Here I go again..."

Standing outside the machine, Julian took off the last of his clothes, tossing them into his washing basket before climbing inside to the familiar screen.

[◇ Return to Avalon? ◇]

[Coolant safety check: ...50% ...75% ...100%]

[VR Visionary system loading: ...10% ...50% ...100%]

[Game Engine starting: ...5%...25%...100%]

A vivid blue screen with cracks appeared in Julian's vision. The bold text was easy to read and vanished when he thought about it disappearing.

He reached for the latch, stepping closer.

'No more distractions.'

Tonight, he would return to the battlefield.

And this time, he wouldn't lose.

The game started like before, a burning forest, and destroyed city while he stood in silence. Now the screams of people faded and only the growling monsters remained.

'Everything is different here.'

Unlike the dream world, which remained like a game, this hellish landscape was alive. The burning forest was now barren and dissipated, a forest of charred remains.

A warehouse once burning, now trampled and destroyed.

"What's going on?"

[◊ You have woken from your dreams, face reality and survive! ◊]

[Detecting total needed sleep: ...10% ...30% ...90% ...complete!]

[Timer set: 09:00:00]

[You will be logged out in nine hours.]

Without delay, he pressed the synchronise world button, before he suddenly experienced the sensation of falling.

"Ngh."

The sensation of nausea and his stomach churning lasted a few moments, but to Julian, it felt like hours as he opened his eyes to the familiar world.

'Strange, where did the warehouse and stables go?'

The moment he arrived, Julian felt something, his skin crawling and his chest beating faster, like a drum.

'Why?'

Julian's eyes trembled. The burning trees became a forest of charred remains, broken and uprooted, like giants rampaged through it. Not even a single tree remained standing.

'Forget it, I need to summon another Shade.'

"Umbra, return to me!"

Because long enough passed, Umbra healed and returned from the shadow world, her misty figure flickering from the ground, forming the mysterious spearwoman.

'Let's avoid being attacked too soon, and summon the second shade.'

The frigid night air hummed with energy as Julian extended his hand, fingers curling as shadow gathered at his palm. The summoning circle ignited beneath his feet, glowing with dark, flickering light.

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His heart pounded. This was the second time.

The first time he summoned something, it was instinctive and a desperate call for something to help him. He called Umbra from the abyss, but this time he needed something.

He focused. Controlled.

An image appeared in his mind, a guardian with the ability to protect, to survive.

A valiant and focused defender.

"Come forth—"

His words, filled with determination, echoed in the dead world. Shadows danced beneath his feet, twisting into shape, churning and folding as something more than darkness formed.

Sleek, feminine, and shrouded in smoke, the Shade knelt before him in silence. Unlike Umbra's delicate style and spear-wielding stance, this one stood with squared shoulders, its stance one of unwavering defence.

Armour-like shadows wrapped around her body, creating a heavier and more pronounced armour, like a sentinel standing guard over the abyss.

A faint whisper, a beautiful but husky voice.

"Nocta will serve the Master."

Julian stood silently, taking a deep breath as he marvelled at the creation, his temples dripping with sweat.

He studied her, his new shade created as he imagined. Her form lacked defining features, but there was an undeniable presence and ego.

Where Umbra was swift and fluid, Nocta was solid and unshakable.

A ripple ran through Umbra's shadowed form.

A subtle, almost imperceptible tremor—so faint that Julian, focused on Nocta, didn't notice.

Her fingers curled tighter around her spear, the motion small but stiff, as if grasping at something slipping away.

For the first time, she looked away from Julian—her hollow gaze resting on Nocta.

Nocta—so different from her. Nocta—strong where she was fast. Nocta—heavier, built to endure.

The faint vibration in her shadows quieted as she forced herself to stillness. She couldn't let Julian notice. She wouldn't.

"Fight for me, Nocta, Protect me in danger."

"Nocta will become your shield, Master."

The shadows around her hands shifted, twisting and entwining, forming into a tangible shape. A weapon, perhaps?

No, not a weapon.

A shield.

The shield was shaped like a kite, but its size, its height, almost equal to the tall Nocta, bigger than Umbra's dainty figure. And in Nocta's left hand, a long, wide sword with a blunted edge.

A shield... the thing Umbra never had.

Her grip loosened, a creeping sensation settling in her chest—though she had no heart, no breath, she could feel it pressing down.

'Such a thick blade, is it for defence?'

Julian's eyes curled into a delighted smile.

This was what he wanted. A shield and sword, able to protect him from death.

Umbra's gaze snapped back to Julian, searching for something—recognition? Assurance? But his eyes were on Nocta.

The front line that he desired most.

The thing that pleased Julian most was now his two shadows formed the basis of a formation, with a vanguard, mid-guard and rear-guard.

"Stand," he commanded.

Nocta rose, silent, but she never changed her stance or faltered in his sight, while awaiting orders.

Umbra followed, rising in tandem, though the motion lacked her usual grace. For a fraction of a second, her stance was uneven before she steadied herself.

Julian clenched his fist, feeling the weight of his presence drawing monsters from a distance as they sensed his Mana.

Umbra turned her face forward, her expression unreadable, but within the swirling darkness of her form, the shadows pulsated—unseen, unheard.

'This is just the beginning.'