The crimson giant lay motionless on the shattered tiles, his armor cracked open from shoulder to waist—split cleanly by the delayed brilliance of Zeroth Gleam.
Silence washed through the throne room like a held breath finally released.
Then—
A translucent window unfolded before Knox's eyes, its glow cold and absolute.
[ Dungeon Cleared ]
Knox blinked once. "…Huh?"
Before he could even react—
Another window pulsed into existence.
[ Congratulations. Shadow Monarch's Authority has been unlocked.]
That familiar pull in his chest—
That instinct—
That déjà vu—
A slow realization ran down his spine like electricity; the same familiar sensation of awakening, the same pull of power he had felt once before—back when everything in his world first changed.
And now… the final piece had finally appeared.
"…So this is it," Knox murmured, pupils narrowing as the realization washed over him. "The real signature ability of the Shadow Monarch."
But the system wasn't finished.
A third prompt materialized.
[ Please input the keyword to use the Authority.]
Knox stared at the floating text for a moment.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth—a knowing, excited, almost childlike grin.
"Oh? You're even giving me that much freedom?"
His lips curved into a crooked grin—one born from exhaustion, relief, and just a hint of thrill.
"Fine. Let's go with the classic."
He lifted his hand, tapping the input field with a flick.
"Arise."
The moment the letters registered, the entire room dimmed, as if the shadows themselves drew a slow breath.
Knox stepped forward—toward the fallen knight who had pushed him farther than anyone else had.
Toward the crimson warrior who stood like a wall, like a trial, like a ruler of this dungeon.
He stopped in front of Igris's broken but dignified form.
Knox exhaled softly, lowering his gaze to the fallen knight.
"Igris," he began, voice steady but reverent,
"I believe the time has come for you to serve a new master."
His shadow writhed—alive, eager.
"Come and join me. To carve and cut fate."
Shadows thickened, rising like smoke.
"For tomorrow," Knox continued, extending his hand,
"and for the future."
The air itself trembled.
"So…" He smiled, sharp and certain.
"Igris, I command you—"
His shadow erupted upward.
Knox's eyes sharpened.
"Arise."
The world responded instantly.
The shadows around Knox pulsated—
Then surged—
Then bloomed, swallowing the fractured floor in a tide of black-violet mist.
Igris's corpse twitched.
The crimson armor sank into its own shadow, pulled downward as if gravity had inverted. Bit by bit, the body dissolved into darkness, drawn into a spreading puddle of shadow at Knox's feet.
A heartbeat of silence.
Then the shadow bulged.
It rose like a geyser of darkness, taking shape—broad shoulders, plated armor, blazing eyes of purple fire instead of red. The silhouette sharpened, solidifying as if forged from night itself.
When the transformation finished, the knight knelt on one knee before Knox.
And then—
"…My liege."
The voice reverberated like steel scraping stone, but beneath it echoed absolute loyalty—unquestioning, unshakable.
And Igris—now bowed before him.
Knox couldn't help but grin as the last wisps of violet shadow faded back into the darkened floor.
Did you see me, Solo Leveling readers…?
I actually did it. I managed to fulfill every one of your dreams…
I got to say "Arise."
The thought echoed with a mix of disbelief and smug satisfaction — a quiet, incredulous laugh slipping from his throat as the shadow beneath Igris began to ripple like liquid night.
Igris tilted his head, the faintest hint of confusion crossing his newly-formed visor. Then, in a voice rough like grinding steel yet unmistakably respectful, he spoke,
"Master… may I offer a suggestion? The fallen knights in the corridor — they, too, can serve."
Knox blinked once. Then his smile deepened, soft and almost playful.
"Good idea."
He turned his head toward the long, shadow-stained hallway where dozens of armored corpses lay motionless — the enemies he had cut down on his way to the throne. A single word left his lips, whispered like a promise:
"Arise."
Knox's shadow expanded instantly — blooming outward, stretching, swelling like a tidal wave of black-violet mist. It surged across the stone floor, racing into the corridor. The moment it touched the dead knights, the darkness swallowed them whole, pulling their forms down into the abyss of shadow.
For a breath, the hallway fell silent.
Then —
one by one — shapes began to rise.
Helms snapped into place. Gauntlets curled. Runes along their armor flickered with black-violet light as the newly reborn knights lifted their heads toward their king.
A fresh of shadows stood waiting.
The clatter of metal boots echoed softly as the shadows began to move—slow at first, then with a steady rhythm. One by one, the newly risen knights stepped out from the darkness of the corridor, forming into orderly lines without anyone needing to command them.
Before Knox realized it, the hallway had gone quiet again.
A hundred armored figures now stood in front of him—each one perfectly still, each visor faintly glowing with that muted black-violet shimmer.
Knox blinked once.
"One hundred shadows… alright, that's more than enough."
Igris stepped aside, giving Knox a clean view of the entire formation.
There was something strangely intimidating about seeing an army materialize like this—especially one that answered only to him. Not because he was forcing them, but because the shadows themselves recognized him.
A small, almost amused breath slipped out of Knox.
"Feels like I accidentally pressed the 'Avengers, assemble' button."
None of the knights reacted, of course. But somehow, the silence made it even funnier.
Knox stopped in front of Igris, tilting his head slightly.
"Good work. Looks like your squad's a bit bigger now."
Igris lowered his greatsword in a respectful bow—proud, but also expectant, "What's our next move, my liege?"
Knox didn't answer right away.
He let the silence hang for a moment, letting the presence of a hundred shadows settle in around him. The weight of it… the potential… it was tempting to rush ahead. But Knox wasn't the type to move blindly just because he had power.
He breathed out, then looked at Igris.
"Igris," he said, his tone steady, "do you know the situation outside this dungeon?"
For a second, the knight didn't move. Then Igris lifted his head slightly.
"I know it roughly, my liege. Somehow… the information suddenly appeared inside my head."
Knox raised a brow. "…A system effect, huh."
He wasn't surprised, but hearing it out loud made the pieces click into place.
"Then you should know about the 'Legion Commander' as well, right?"
"Yes, my liege."
Knox let out a quiet, almost amused breath through his nose.
"You know… if anyone saw this scene right now, they'd probably think I'm a Legion Commander myself."
His eyes shifted to the neat ranks of shadow knights behind Igris. "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Fifth Legion Commander, Magnus Alban, came chasing after me."
He gave a small shrug.
"My summons are different from typical necromancers, sure… but still."
Knox's expression sharpened—not tense, but resolute.
"If he shows up, I'll fight back. Of course I will."
He paused. "But realistically? With what we have right now… it's not enough yet."
Igris remained silent, but the faint tightening of his posture made it clear he agreed.
"So here's what I've decided," Knox continued, voice calm but firm.
"I'll keep getting stronger. And along the way, we build our army—our strength."
His gaze turned forward, toward the unseen depths of the dungeon.
"When the time comes… we'll decide what happens next~."
The shadows behind him seemed to stir, as if acknowledging a vow.