LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 24: Chapter 24
"My lord, we found life on Mars," Storm reported as she floated over to Ashborn, who was jotting down notes on paper.
He was focused on pushing [Weapon Overlord] to its limits, brainstorming possible skills he could create. Almost anything was possible—it just had to be a weapon-based technique.
"Oh? What do you mean by life?" Ashborn asked, not looking up.
"Charles has been searching for Magneto for a while now. With the increase in his power, even with the changes Magneto made to Earth to prevent Charles from covering the entire planet, Charles's current strength allowed him to easily bypass them and extend his reach across the entire solar system," Storm explained.
Ashborn's pen stilled, his eyes narrowing slightly as he realized what she was getting at.
"They're not zombies?" Ashborn asked, raising an eyebrow.
Storm nodded. "Magneto, Emma Frost, and a few others managed to avoid being turned. They call Mars their home now."
Ashborn stood up, eager to finally see living people after so long… but after a brief pause, he decided there was something he needed to do first.
Twelve days without a shower had left him feeling grimy. His gear kept him from smelling bad, but that didn't change the fact that he was covered in dirt, blood, and whatever else had accumulated during his battles.
So, before anything else, he had one of the reality warpers create a proper shower. Under the steaming water, Ashborn washed away the past twelve days, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he took a moment to really look at himself.
"Oh? I look a lot like Sung Jinwoo," Ashborn muttered, studying his reflection.
His features were hard to pin down, he didn't look Korean, or like any particular race at all. It was as if he had transcended human limitations, his appearance shaped by the sheer power of his charm stat.
After a moment of observation, he moved on, changing into his new gear: [Shadow Monarch Gear].
The armor looked as if it were woven from shadows themselves, shifting and flowing like a living entity wrapped around him. The dark cloak draped over his shoulders gave the impression that the abyss itself had embraced him. But with a thought, the effect faded, revealing the true form of the gear, an intricate combination of white, silver, gray, and gold.
His weapon was just as impressive. The ever-changing blade remained dormant in its default form, a sleek golden hilt, while the rest of it shimmered between silver and gray, waiting to take shape at his command.
With the darkness effect active, the weapon radiated an ominous aura, shadows seeping off the blade like ethereal steam.
"Let's go," Ashborn said, his voice calm yet resolute.
In an instant, he teleported, reappearing on Mars within the small, habitable zone that had been altered to sustain life. Before him stood the last remnants of humanity—only a few hundred people, survivors who had managed to escape the zombie plague.
The magnetic field surrounding Mars had also been altered, forming an impenetrable barrier that prevented outside forces from easily sensing or entering the area.
Magneto hovered above, his expression darkening as he took in the sight before him. His instincts screamed danger, and for good reason. Below him stood Charles Xavier and Susan Storm, but it was the man between them who held his full attention. Clad in armor that seemed to drink in the light, exuding an overwhelming presence, this stranger was something else entirely.
"…What's the meaning of this?" Magneto's voice was sharp, laced with suspicion. He had seen too much destruction and lost too many people to trust easily. But then, the armored figure before he reached up, removed his helmet, and revealed a face that even the gods would envy.
"Relax," the man said with a faint smile, his voice was deep, a charming deep manly voice that made him unwilling to hear his own voice out of shame. "Name's Ashborn… but you can call me Ash. I found myself in your world and decided to deal with the zombie problem. Cleared them all out and turned them into my shadows."
He glanced at the barren land around them before continuing.
"Earth should be free of the undead now. That said, I don't know if the thing that started this mess is still lurking somewhere."
His words were casual, almost indifferent, but the weight behind them was impossible to ignore. Magneto could sense it, this was no ordinary man.
"T-Thank you…" Magneto—no, Erik—stammered, momentarily at a loss for words.
The people behind him were no different. A stunned silence hung over the gathered survivors, their wide eyes locked onto Ashborn. Not a single one of them questioned him, didn't even hesitate to believe his words.
Ashborn let out a quiet hum, slipping his helmet back on. That was all he needed to see. His charm stat was absurdly effective—borderline mind control, really. A useful tool, but one he'd have to be mindful of.
"You're free to return to Earth if you'd like," Ashborn said calmly. "I just wanted to check in—it's been a while since I've seen another human. But I should be heading back. I plan to take the fight beyond Earth and wipe out the remaining zombies across the universe."
He had expected to feel something more upon meeting other survivors, but now that he was here, he found himself disappointed. There was nothing special about this moment.
With a snap of his fingers, his shadow stirred, rising from the ground to form a swirling portal. Without hesitation, he stepped through, disappearing into the darkness.
Susan followed without a word, while Charles lingered for a moment, meeting Magneto's gaze. He had once considered Eric his greatest rival—his opposite in ideology. But after everything that had happened, that rivalry felt meaningless now.
"Is that you, Charles?" Erik asked, his voice laced with disbelief. It was hard to accept that the man before him, a shadow of his former self, was still the Charles Xavier he once knew.
"Of course it is," Charles replied with a gentle smile. "Though I have risen again as a shadow under my lord's command, I am still myself. My mind, my will—they remain unchanged."
"That's… hard to believe," Erik admitted, studying him carefully.
"It's the truth," Charles assured him. "Come back to Earth. We won't be staying for long—there are still countless zombies out there waiting to be wiped out." He gestured toward the swirling portal.
Erik hesitated for only a moment before reaching out with his senses. The magnetic waves of Earth pulsed on the other side, familiar and strong. Trusting his instincts, he stepped forward and emerged in Wakanda, where shadows moved tirelessly, rebuilding the fallen nations.
The Vibranium mines of Wakanda were gone, stripped bare by the shadows who tirelessly worked to repurpose Earth's resources. Even materials Ashborn had never known existed had been gathered and put to use, as the shadows had a will of their own, seeking out anything of value.
"Wakanda will serve as our base," Charles said, placing a reassuring hand on Erik's shoulder. "The rest of the world is yours to rebuild as you see fit. I wish you the best, old friend."
With those parting words, Charles turned and walked away, making his way back to Ashborn's side, leaving Erik to decide his own path in this new world.