The shadow did not remain on the surface; instead, it permeated every inch of its skin, every muscle, every bone, every cell, like the most minuscule virus, leaving no crevice untouched!
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle."
Amidst the eerie sounds, Planet Godzilla's previously cooled, lava-like skin began to show countless dark, circuit board-like shadow veins.
The power of shadow was frantically eroding, transforming, and reconstructing every single one of its cells, forcibly linking its physical existence to the shadow dimension, transforming it into something unprecedented—a Shadow Planet Godzilla!
The colossal corpse began to writhe, its shattered life core forcibly pieced together and strengthened by the power of shadow. Its body started to grow more twisted and sharp thorns and bone plates made of pure shadow energy.
"Awaken!"
"Awaken!!!"
"Godzilla—!"
Naruto roared, his voice like thunder, reverberating between the overcast sky and the sea.
"!!"
In the depths of Planet Godzilla's dim pupils, like a cooled and extinguished nuclear furnace, light reignited!
"Roar!" Finally, with a deafening roar, the massive body of the Shadow Planet Godzilla suddenly stood up again!
The sea churned, and giant waves surged.
It was still as massive as a mountain, but it was enveloped in an ominous mist of shadow, with dark energy patterns flowing across its skin.
Its dorsal fins, like countless dark sharp swords, pointed directly at the sky, and its pupils were the cold, ruthless color of black gold.
It lowered its head, looked at Naruto, who stood on its forehead like a dark monarch, and let out a submissive, low hum.
Planet Godzilla—no, from tonight onwards, it should be called Shadow Godzilla. Unlike character card manipulation, once dominated by Naruto's shadow, Shadow Godzilla would absolutely obey his commands.
"Very good—very good—"
Naruto, who had transformed into the Shadow Monarch, slowly descended, stepping on the Shadow Planet Godzilla that he had killed and then resurrected and controlled with the power of shadow. His gaze turned to the distance.
A monster capable of destroying the world had now become the strongest member of his shadow army.
"With such power, it's hard to imagine what could stop me in a Bronze-level Underground City."
"Let's go, we'll visit the Royal Capital first."
Naruto stored Shadow Godzilla in the Dark Dusk Court, then took the Ghost Ship and flew towards the Royal Capital of the Human Kingdom.
Goblin Slayer Continent, Human Kingdom.
Royal Capital.
Inside the white marble throne room, the mourning black gauze had not yet been removed, and the air was filled with the solemnity of incense and power.
The newly crowned King, once a Gold-Grade adventurer—the Crown Prince, was young but his brows were etched with worry. The heavy crown seemed to make it difficult for him to breathe.
He sat on the high-backed throne inherited from the old King, his gaze earnestly fixed on the guest in the hall who seemed out of place with his surroundings.
Uzumaki Naruto wore a simple black short-sleeved shirt with an orange jacket over it, his attire clearly different from the nobles and generals beside him.
He stood there calmly, as if he were not in the center of power, but rather standing in the sunlight of his own courtyard.
That transcendent calm, instead, made the armored and weapon-wielding royal guards on both sides feel an invisible pressure.
"Shinigami-sama—Naruto, you've finally arrived."
"I, the King, have recently commissioned the Adventurers' Guild to search for your whereabouts."
The young King's voice held a subtle tremor, as he tried to maintain his regal dignity.
For some reason, after only a month or so of not seeing him, the pressure emanating from Naruto was even greater, surpassing even himself, the new King of the kingdom.
"The kingdom is in a time of crisis. The late King passed away suddenly, and an evil shadow is quietly approaching."
Beside the young King, an old astrologer, clad in a deep purple star-and-moon robe and holding a crystal ball, stepped forward. His voice was hoarse like rubbing parchment: "The star tracks have drastically changed, and a tide of darkness is rising. An ancient prophecy has been triggered—the Demon God King's will is awakening in the realm of the dead. Everything points to the death labyrinth that suddenly rose from a fissure in the earth, three days' journey east of the Royal Capital."
The young King interjected, his tone urgent, gripping the sword at his waist: "Deep within the labyrinth, according to divination, lies a forbidden path leading directly to the core of the underworld."
"Once the Demon God King's power fully flows into the world through that path, the entire world will be swallowed by the shadow of death! We… we need your strength!"
He stood up and pointed towards the training ground vaguely visible outside the window.
There, the royal guard formations, with bright helmets and shining armor, stood in a murderous array, the sunlight gathering on their spear tips like a cold forest.
On the other side, several powerful-looking men and women, wearing Gold-Grade adventurers' badges, stood tall. They were the peak of martial prowess attainable by mortals, and also acquaintances of Naruto, including the Sword Saintess, who had recently been promoted to Gold-Grade adventurer.
"The kingdom's most elite army, and the Adventurers' Guild's strongest Gold-Grade adventurers, will all obey your command! We will gather our strength and, at all costs, flatten that nest of death! We implore you, lead us to stop this doomsday catastrophe!"
"Swish!"
Nobles, generals—all eyes focused on Naruto, awaiting his response.
The throne room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the King's hurried breathing.
[Main Quest: The King's Request]
[Quest Content: The court astrologer predicts that the dormant Demon God King will revive again. The death labyrinth outside the Royal Capital is one of the signs. Please go to the death labyrinth to prevent the Demon God King's revival, or eliminate the revived Demon God King once more.]
[Quest Rewards: 5 million experience points, 100,000 exchange tickets, Silver Rank Underground City Key * 1, Red Quality Equipment: Sword of the Brave * 1]
The quest from a month ago finally popped up.
Looking at the rewards... it's similar to slaying a god under the Green Moon.
But there was one crucial extra item—a Silver Rank Underground City Key!
Naruto's thoughts stirred. His gaze swept over the murderous military formations outside the window, over the familiar Gold-Grade adventurers, and finally returned to the King's face, which was full of anticipation.
He slowly spoke, his voice calm, without a ripple, yet carrying an unquestionable resolve:
"The army, is not needed."
"What?"
The King was stunned, suspecting he had misheard.
The generals frowned, and the nobles looked puzzled.
Naruto continued calmly: "adventurers, are also not needed."
"Shinigami-sama! You may not understand how terrifying that labyrinth is!" a general with a greatsword on his back couldn't help but exclaim, "It's filled with undead creatures, abyssal monsters, and even rumors of ancient dragons, liches, and giants! By one person alone—"
Naruto slightly raised his hand, stopping his words.
His eyes remained calm, yet they seemed to contain the entire azure ocean.
"Your sacrifices are meaningless."