Chapter 44: Division Of Identity
Eros explained that Ian must be a Shadow attuned wizard to beat the Soul attuned beings. "Are you ready for your rebirth Ian? This will take three steps to change your Soul attunement into Shadow. First, you have to become one with the light just like Mindrax. Second, you need to separate your body from the souls of your acquired Titans for a while. Third, you need to release your soul to fuse with my essence." Eros instructed Ian, his eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and concern.
"That is quite complicated Eros. I am against my great grandfather and grandfather's will and I will do whatever it takes to stop them. How can I become one with the light Eros?" Ian asked, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"You must release the Crane's Beast Mode and sacrifice James as your prime Identity. This will be a huge risk to take, but you have to acquire your shadow attunement," Eros instructed, his voice firm but laced with a hint of empathy.
"That would be the hardest sacrifice I'm going to take Eros. Do you think it might work?" Ian replied, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"It will work, but you will not be able to be one with James anymore, and you might lose your Sun attunement. But you will acquire a much more powerful identity, enough to beat Zeo and the rest of the Soul attuned beings. Just tell me when you're ready," Eros informed Ian, his eyes locked onto Ian's.
"I accept it Eros, as long as I can protect my loved ones," Ian replied, his resolve evident in his voice.
With a deep breath, Ian released the Crane Beast Mode and focused on the ultimate fission with James. James' soul separated from Ian's body and formed a different body. The four Titans remained on James' body. James became unconscious and slipped into a coma-like state, while Ian successfully attained being one with the light. He then proceeded to the last step, which was to absorb the essence of Eros into his body.
Samantha said her farewell to her grandfather, her voice trembling with emotion. "I may have known you for a short time, grandpa, but I will do my best just to protect our family and Ian. I love you, grandpa."
"This will not be our last meeting, my dear. My essence will always be with Ian," Eros responded, his voice filled with warmth.
As Eros fused his body with Ian's, the shadow insignia formed on the back of Ian's hand. Ian's body began to glow with a soft, ethereal light. Ian's eyes gleamed with a newfound power as he felt the Shadow attunement coursing through his veins. Ian embraced the shadow, and he transformed into the Glorious Shadow Form, which made him capable of casting curses and invulnerable to any magic spells of the Soul attuned beings. He was surrounded by shadow flares with light emerging from his body.
"This feeling is insane. This is really my fate to be one with the shadows," Ian thought, his mind reeling with the implications of his new powers.
The process was a success, but all of Ian's powers remained with James' identity. James was awakened with a separate body, his eyes snapping open as he took in his surroundings. He was amazed by Ian's transformation and the potential it held. "This is really amazing, my twin. Now, we could be unstoppable and protect everyone from Zeo," James said to Ian, a grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, my twin. We will become more powerful than we can imagine," Ian replied, his voice filled with excitement and anticipation.
As the twins stood together, Mindrax and Xerath chose to protect Ian, while Draven and Zexerav remained by James' side. Heat was duplicated, and the diamond gem formed on Ian's gauntlet, a symbol of his newfound abilities.
"I will call you Eros, my partner," Ian said, his voice filled with a sense of camaraderie.
Eros' essence was restored as Ian cast a curse to make Eros a Djinn. "This is beyond amazing, Master. I haven't thought you would become my Master," Eros talked to Ian's mind, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and admiration.
Ian smiled, feeling a sense of pride and purpose. He knew that this was just the beginning of his journey as a Shadow-attuned wizard, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As Ian stood there, feeling the power of the Shadow attunement coursing through his veins, he couldn't help but think about the weight of his new identity. He felt a sense of detachment from his old self, as if he was shedding his skin like a snake. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying.
"This is it," Ian thought to himself. "This is the moment I've been preparing for. But what does it mean to be a Shadow-attuned wizard? What kind of power will I wield?"
Ian's thoughts were interrupted by James, who was now standing beside him, looking at him with a mix of awe and trepidation. "Ian, you're...you're really powerful now," James said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ian smiled, feeling a sense of pride and responsibility. "We make a good team, James," he said, clapping his twin on the back. "Together, we'll be unstoppable."
As they stood there, Mindrax and Xerath approached Ian, their eyes shining with a newfound respect. "Master Ian, we will protect you with our lives," Mindrax said, his voice firm and resolute.
Ian nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his loyal companions. "I appreciate your loyalty, Mindrax. But I think it's time for me to take the lead. I have a feeling that things are about to get a lot more complicated."
Meanwhile, James was looking at Draven and Zexerav, who were standing beside him. "And what about us, James?" Draven asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
James grinned, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. "We'll be the backup team, Draven. We'll support Ian and take down anyone who gets in our way."
As the twins stood there, surrounded by their companions, they knew that their bond was stronger than ever. They were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that they had each other's backs.
Ian's gaze fell upon Eros, who was now a Djinn, floating beside him. "Eros, what can you tell me about my new powers?" Ian asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Eros' essence glowed with a soft, blue light. "Your powers are vast, Master Ian. As a Shadow-attuned wizard, you will be able to cast curses that can manipulate the very fabric of reality. You will be able to bend the shadows to your will, creating powerful illusions and deceptions."
Ian's eyes widened with excitement. "That sounds incredible," he said, his mind racing with the possibilities.
But as he looked deeper into Eros' essence, he saw a hint of warning. "There's more, isn't there?" Ian asked, his voice low and serious.
Eros' essence nodded. "Yes, Master Ian. There is a price to pay for wielding such power. You will need to be careful not to let the Shadow attunement consume you. It is a powerful force, and it will not hesitate to turn on you if you are not careful."
Ian's expression turned grave. He knew that he had to be mindful of the risks, but he was willing to take that chance. He was ready to face whatever lay ahead, knowing that he had the power of the Shadow attunement on his side.
Suddenly, Ian felt a surge of energy course through his body. He raised his hands, and to his amazement, dark tendrils of shadow erupted from his fingertips. The shadows danced and swirled around him, taking on a life of their own.
Ian smiled, feeling a sense of pride and wonder. But as he looked deeper into the shadows, he saw something that made his blood run cold. A figure, hidden in the darkness. Watching him.
"Ian, what's wrong?" James asked, noticing the look on Ian's face.
Ian's eyes narrowed. "There's something...something in the shadows. Watching us."
James' expression turned serious. "What do you mean?"
Ian's eyes locked onto the figure. "I don't know, but I think it's been waiting for us."
As Ian spoke, the figure began to take shape. It stepped out of the shadows, revealing a figure that made Ian's heart skip a beat.
It was Zeo, Ian's great-grandfather. But something was different. His eyes seemed...off. And his presence was surrounded by an aura of darkness.
"Ah, Ian," Zeo said, his voice dripping with malice. "I see you've taken the bait. You're now a Shadow-attuned wizard, just as I planned."
Ian's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Zeo smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're just a pawn in a much larger game, Ian. And soon, you'll find out what it means to be truly powerful."
As Zeo's shadowy form stood before him, Ian felt a mix of emotions. Anger, confusion, and curiosity warred within him.
"You," Ian accused, his voice firm. "You're not really Zeo, are you?"
The shadowy form chuckled, a low, ominous sound. "No, Ian. I am Khan, the Shadow almighty. Zeo's shadow essence, freed from his soul's constraints."
Ian's eyes widened in surprise. "You've been manipulating events from behind the scenes?"
Khan nodded, his shadowy form rippling with amusement. "Yes, Ian. I granted Zeo power, but he squandered it. I saw potential in you, and I've been guiding events to bring you to this point."
James stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. "Why? What's your goal?"
Khan's shadowy form seemed to expand, filling the space around him. "My goal is balance. The universe needs balance between light and darkness. And I've chosen you, Ian, to be the instrument of that balance."
Ian's mind reeled as he processed Khan's words. He was the Shadow almighty, a being of immense power and knowledge. And he had chosen Ian for a greater purpose.
"What do you want me to do?" Ian asked, feeling a sense of trepidation and anticipation.
Khan's shadowy form smiled as it disappeared. "I want you to wield the Shadow attunement, Ian. Use it to bring balance to the universe. And together, we will reshape the world."