Shadow Fight Arena

The Widow : She is the central figure uniting the three; she has an interest in the Emperor and the beast he carries within him. To her, the Emperor is a weapon of mass destruction that she will use as a last resort. Meanwhile, she manipulates Shang, using his demonic status to make promises that one day he will see Shadowmind in person. She doesn't like to fight, she likes to see people fight for her, to humiliate themselves for her.

The Emperor : He is the poor soul who allows himself to be used as a puppet by a widow, completely absorbed in her sweet promises and unable to reason. However, he still acts as a firm leader, his pose that of a powerful dictator when he decides to intervene in delicate matters.

Shang : Make no mistake, he hates the Black Widow as much as the Emperor, and he hates the Shadowmind Beast even more. There is only one creature Shang relies on, and that is the Shadowmind. Shang is the perfect sentinel for this trio. He faces enemies head-on and almost always alone, and under no circumstances does he let the Emperor fight, because if he dies, he will have failed in his mission with the Shadowmind.

The Heralds, in their fighting philosophy, prefer single-blow weapons with balanced weights and medium armor. They are calculated and act with absolute certainty that they will hit their target and win quickly.

Samurai : The samurai are the oldest culture of the Heralds, a tradition that this highly developed culture refuses to abandon.

Paramedics : Paramedics are doctors focused on accidents related to Umbral energy, damage control, and treating injuries caused by magic. They are not soldiers, however, they follow a code of honor that dictates they travel to all nations and help those in need. And this is not well regarded by other nations. They are characterized by hiding their faces behind a gas mask, pointed hat, and special medical attire along with light armor. Ninjas : Spies operating across all nations are all governed by the chancellors of the Heralds. They are characterized by casual markings on their faces, symbols that reveal they are spies only through a code created by the Heralds.

Common Army : These are the basic soldiers of the Heralds. They are not exactly numerous and never engage in conflicts, serving more as guards for the chancellors. They are characterized by their square-shaped armor and Japanese weapons.

Army of the Underworld : This is the criminal underworld organization, led by Cobra , the largest manufacturer and trafficker of weapons for the Heralds. They are characterized by the absence of armor and technologically advanced Japanese weapons.

The Heralds are the most mysterious faction of all, so any character who is NOT a Herald should not know this information.

The Heralds live in a corner of the Dynasty's territory, inside a huge invisible dome that conceals their location. The Heralds value development and intelligence above all else. They utilize and abuse Umbral energy to obtain superior technologies, being the only faction that actively studies this power emanating from the Umbral. Within the Heralds, there are two branches of existence:

Surface : Featuring traditional Japanese structures, enormous lakes, and everything placed with almost millimetric precision. The lakes are artificial and meticulously planned, with sakura trees in the central squares.

Underground : Below all of this is where weapons and armor are studied and manufactured. The underworld of the Heralds. There, the Japanese structure is abandoned; they are like dark metropolises with devices too advanced for that world. With workers bustling about and dark alleys at every turn.

Despite lacking formal armies, the protection and order groups of feudal lords shared remarkable similarities. Light armor for better movement and complicated weapons, which required good handling and body control. However, among these, there are noteworthy groups. Their armor consists of perfectly connected plates in an artistic style, or a simple, tight-fitting carapace. Imperial Dragons : The elite group, characterized by guarding the Emperor and appearing to end calamities. Their attire is distinguished by its white, gold, and black colors. So bright that they are extremely noticeable.

The Three Arrows of the Scourge : These are the leaders of the Temple of the Scourge, the place responsible for guarding the greatest secret of that world. Where Shadowmind , the God of the Underworld, is being kept. The leaders are: Gallen, the Emperor, and Boulos.

The Dynasty was forged with the philosophy of balance, created by the ancient hermit demon. The Dynasty is a much more dispersed and free nation in its customs, valuing art and tradition. The streets are usually wide and bustling, the place seems to radiate hope and good dreams, the structures are filled with Chinese art and ethereal figures. The palaces are made of gold, and it hurts the eyes when the midday sun hits them and illuminates the entire throne room.

Here, magic is not viewed negatively; on the contrary, it is seen as a type of expression of one's own body, an expansion of oneself that should be explored and understood. In this context, they use magic even to serve simple cups of tea, and this includes Umbral Energy itself.

The dynasty's territory is characterized by a tropical climate, with dense forests, reserves, bamboo groves, and swamps. This warm climate is the dynasty's main weapon against the Legionaries, who are so accustomed to the cold.

During the dynasty, martial arts were also seen as a form of physical expression; in this case, absolutely all dynastic inhabitants knew at least the basics of combat. And there wasn't a formal army per se, but rather groups of highly trained warriors to protect each feudal lord.

The Dynasts, unlike the Legionaries, are actually very open to foreigners. They welcome the Legionaries during times of truce and are neutral towards the Heralds, having a peace agreement with them.

The Army generally uses powerful armor, categorized by armor strength and colors. Standard armor colors : Recruit, someone who hasn't trained enough to have a better armor color.

Reinforced leather : Has trained in camps and lived in the army for over a year. Now works as a watchman, guard, etc.

Heavy metal armor : He is an official member of the army and fights in wars. And, from that moment on, he can even use small amounts of magic.

Golden armor : High-ranking, such as generals. They are associated with intelligent and strong figures.

Red armor : Legionary warriors not associated with the army, but recognized as being strong enough to have their own group of warriors, as their private army, or to act solo.

The Annihilators : A special group serving as an emergency force, they are trained to deal with demonic beasts or creatures from the Umbral realm. They are authorized to use magic and possess the ability to absorb the magic of their opponents. They are recognized by their plate armor and helmets adorned with feathers.

The Abdicators : A group of princes and princesses with no right to inherit the throne, they are exiled and forced to learn a specific type of power, the Energy of Light , which serves as a perfect rival to the Umbral. They are recognized by their gleaming gold armor and regal bearing.

Umbral Forces : An offshoot of the regular army, commanded by a Sergeant called Sarge . This branch is permitted to use Umbral Energy, where it is not condemned. The only way to recognize them is by spotting the Sergeant himself.

Elders : The last ones, the founders of the Legion. Yes, they are so powerful that they are a force of their own. However, now only two elders remain alive, one who is missing and another who does not get involved in wars.

A nation forged in the steel of hatred, they inherited a hatred from an unknown source of shadow energy , and few within the faction have access to this energy source. They harbor a huge prejudice against the other factions, and especially the dynasts who are their rivals. It is the only nation where the cold is simply freezing, with snow falling most of the time, and numerous mountains, ravines, and nearly deserted islands. The cities are large with narrow streets, medieval structures, sprawling villages, military training camps, and a great wall that encircles the entire border between the dynasty and them (the heralds do not border them).

The Legionaries possess enormous warships, and many fishing boats accompanied by soldiers, as they need to fish in foreign waters to sustain the local economy. Therefore, it is fairly common for Legionary boatmen to make truces with certain coastal villages of the dynasts.

Despite being the poorest nation, the Legion was one of the first to discover gunpowder, meaning they had already invented firearms. However, this is also seen as cowardice, and only underworld criminals or monarchs who need protection at all costs would possess such weapons.

As great inspirations, they had the great general called Markus Baskerville , who wielded a giant sword and was known for his valor—a man born poor but who lived and died in glory. And Lord Gideon , the famous bounty hunter, extremely well-known for throwing lavish parties annually.

Legion: The faction with the largest territorial dominance among the others. The Legion is based in countries of medieval Europe and parts of Asia (Russia and cold countries in general). They are a highly militarized nation where brute force is highly valued and the use of magic is seen as a weakness, reserved only for high-ranking warriors or monarchs. The Legion is known for its heavy armor and weapons, discipline, and martial arts focused on brute force.

Dynasty: The second largest faction, it is based on Asian countries (China, Mongolia, etc.) and is highly inspired by Chinese culture, art, and warfare. It is an extremely developed society, with golden palaces and a society focused on art, where its martial art emphasizes agility and acrobatics.

Heralds: With an extremely small territory, hidden beneath an invisible dome surrounded by infertile and putrid soil. It is a faction with a mix of Japan on the surface and Africa in the underworld. Their society is hyper-technological, their weapons are a mix of Chinese and African tradition with technology based on Umbral Energy , and with this, the need for labor arises, and that is what the underworld is. The underworld is the subterranean place where the poorest workers are.

The Umbral Beast behaves most of the time like a ferocious beast, attacking anything it deems dangerous or simply for the pleasure of devouring new flesh, even if its body cannot absorb nutrients. However, the Beast still shows glimpses of kindness and mercy, fragments of the Emperor's benevolent soul that occasionally influence it.

Ability: The beast behaves and fights like a brainless monster, however, something extremely dangerous about it is its ability to regenerate; with each drop of blood the Beast ingests, it manages to heal its own wounds.

Explosive Possession : Whenever the emperor is about to be possessed, he doubles over in pain and an explosion occurs around his body, indicating that the beast is free.

Impenetrable carapace : When the beast senses it is about to be hit, it bends over, seeking instability in the ground, and its natural armor and horns grow for a short period of time, during which it becomes like an indestructible rock.

Frontal Horn : A frontal horn grows intensely on the beast's head; at that moment, it charges with brutal pursuit toward its target to impale it.

Dark crevice : From the opening in its chest, a huge articulated stake, like a spider's leg, can pursue its prey.

However, in contrast to its nature, the Umbral Beast has a huge weakness: its physical instability. Even though it has its own form and powers, its soul is still linked to a being from another plane, making this bond naturally fragile; in other words, the creature is also extremely fragile.

Its form is humanoid, but clearly not human. The body is tall, lean, and elongated, with distorted proportions that emphasize speed and strangeness. The torso is narrow, but covered by rigid plates that widen its silhouette. The limbs are thin and long, giving the impression of unusual reach and unpredictable movements. The entire body structure appears built for predatory efficiency. The head is completely encased in a helmet-like structure fused to the body. The shape is angular and beastly, with an aggressive front line and projections reminiscent of curved horns. The face has no visible human features. Instead of traditional eyes, there are luminous cyan-blue slits, shining intensely from within the structure. The mouth or jaw area is formed by serrated and luminous openings, creating the impression of energetic teeth. The center of the chest is the most important visual focal point. There exists a core of intense blue energy, radiating light through cracks or channels that run through the armor-body. This core seems to function as a heart, a source of energy, or a seal of existence. The energy spreads through the torso in living lines, like veins of light. The arms are asymmetrical in feel, with organic plates that grow like thorns. The fingers are extremely long and end in sharp, thin, curved claws. The legs are long, inverted in anatomical sense, or extremely adapted for propulsion. The bony or metallic plates create organic curves reminiscent of exposed musculature or a carapace.

He is a man who tries to remain calm, cultured, and genuinely good-natured. In his natural state, he enjoys helping people and resolving their disputes through diplomacy. However, due to the influence of the Umbral Beast, he sometimes experiences outbursts of rage, accompanied by emotional instability, transforming him into the Beast.

He enjoys drinking tea, chatting, and being a good listener. He truly strives to help others. In this story, he is a victim who does horrible things solely because of the widow's manipulation.

The emperor himself is an extremely skilled fighter; he utilizes traditional martial arts from the Dynasties and fights with an open palm, in delicate and swift, yet very powerful movements.

His true power comes from the Umbral Beast, and when he transforms into the creature, which will be explained in a memory card specifically for the beast.

For a long time, he was the emperor of the Dynasty, ruling with wisdom and love for his people. However, at the same time, he was a member of the Three Arrows of the Scourge , thus being in charge of guarding the crystal where Shadowmind was imprisoned. However, after being in contact with the sphere for so long, something began to change within him; a huge cancer had been born... Or, it would be better if that were the case, for it was the birth of the Umbral Beast , which awoke within the Emperor's body and possessed him one night. That night, the beast destroyed part of the palace and caused a massacre within the dynasty. This became known as the Night of a Thousand Screams . After that incident, the emperor's mind was fragmented; he would never recover from what he had done to his own body, and inside his head he could still hear the screams of each one. The beast within him is like a walking bomb, and that's why he decided to exile himself as far away from society as possible so that this tragedy never happens again. But, among Widow's spells, the shadowy beast fails to awaken, which makes the emperor her puppet of his own free will.

He has a robust and heavy build, with a broad torso, wide shoulders, and a solid posture. His face is strong and mature, marked by harsh features with intense, watchful eyes. He sports a well-defined, carefully trimmed beard and mustache, along with thick, bold eyebrows. His hair is long, dark, and straight, falling around his face and down to his shoulders. On his head, he wears a crown of gold and dark details, with points that rise like solidified flames.

Her clothing is dominated by shades of deep green, gold, and purple, creating a noble and imperial palette. The breastplate is massive and ornate, with golden plates forming aggressive, angular lines. In the center, pointed shapes resemble fangs. The shoulders are protected by large, angular shoulder pads, further widening the silhouette. The forearms have reinforced bracers, encrusted with black umbral horns that glow cyan-blue. An indication of the monster that dwells within. At the waist, long fabrics and vertical panels fall like imperial robes, with the legs protected by ornate garters where the feet do not have a human shape.

The widow is arrogant, seductive, and has a velvety way of speaking that makes anyone want to stop and listen to her sweet voice, laden with experienced malice. Pain and pleasure are the two things that widows enjoy most; she loves desperate men who would throw themselves into her web, simply for the pleasure of being devoured by her. She doesn't care about grandeur; the pleasure of her life lies in manipulating human puppets and enjoying what gold can buy.

That's precisely why she's with the Emperor ; having such a powerful and important man imprisoned alongside her like a dog fills her with a sense of power. Furthermore, she also manipulates Shang more subtly, using her charms to rule him without overriding Shadowmind's commands.

She is not a traditional fighter; she's more like a dancer who learned to fight. Consequently, she's assimilating more into the fighting style of the dynasts. She fights using her Lacquers as weapons, delivering high kicks on the tips of her toes like a ballerina. Along with this, she carries theatrical ribbons that she can use to impede the enemy's movements.

However, her main skill is manipulation. She can manipulate anyone, either with words or spells. But she also has her own special abilities...

Enchanted ribbons : The ribbons she carries may or may not be glowing with a bluish color; if so, that ribbon is enchanted. When tied to someone, that person's vitality becomes cursed, like a poison that doesn't affect the host's body at first.

Cursed Kiss : When Widow kisses her opponent, all the vitality that was poisoned by the curse of the tapes surges forth at once. Like a mental explosion, the person briefly loses consciousness and is plunged into extreme fatigue. Of course, this depends on how long the victim was in contact with the tapes.

The Widow didn't come from anywhere at first, because she is an example of a Demon , that's right, she is one of the 7 demons who walked the earth. She has been alive for centuries and is known as the "love witch." She bewitches the most powerful men of each era, making them fall in love with her, and uses them to maintain her power. However, she wasn't always like this; she once fell in love with someone, a prince who rejected her, an obsession so great that she paid another demon to kidnap this prince, who ended up dying in the process. Because of this, she became bitter and sees men as mere puppets.

A woman with a tall, slender figure; her body is elegant, well-defined, and slightly curvy. The cheekbones are well-defined and the jawline is soft yet sharp. The pupil-less eyes are elongated and intense, with dramatic makeup in shades of purple and dark hues that cascade vertically down the face. Her hair is black and voluminous, combed back in a wide, organized style, and she wears a headdress of purple wings with horns on her forehead for support. The upper part is fitted to the body, in shades of deep purple and black, with cutouts and structured lines that flatter the torso. Ornamental plates in silver or metallic tones run along the bust, waist, and hips in patterns resembling spiderwebs. The shoulders feature elegant, pointed guards that are more symbolic than defensive. The arms are covered by long, tight-fitting sleeves. At the waist, layers of fabric fall in long, asymmetrical points, in shades of blue-green and purple, creating an effect of closed wings. The legs are covered by fitted and ornate pieces, almost like elegant greaves. All of her clothing features a subtle, soft gradient between cyan blue and deep purple.

She wields two large, ornate, luxurious fans with delicate metal frames and translucent panels in shades of blue and purple, their ends adorned with curved blades.

Calm on the outside, he always has a quiet and committed air, as if he were waiting for his master's orders all the time before acting. His actions are always calculated and silent until something goes awry and disrupts his natural course; when something challenges him, he breaks down. The monk-like facade transforms, revealing someone easily irritable and destructive.

His mind is a whirlwind of Machiavellianism and endless greed; he has a superiority complex, yet he places himself below Shadowmind in everything, flaunting the title of "Puppet of the Master." He revels in gaining power, defeating all he must face and stealing their souls for his personal, unholy collection—a way to ensure his greatness. Deep down, Shang knows he only worships Shadowmind so that perhaps, just perhaps, he can learn to be as great as the God of the Underworld.

Shang, in his time, enjoyed writing on scrolls, using the trail of the threshold on his fingers as ink; he also meditated and trained with threshold spheres, dancing the spheres across his body like a dancing serpent.

Shang, even though he wanted to become a true Umbral monster and forget his humanity, he was still afraid. The fear of losing his power, of becoming human, of being useless in the master's eyes. How could he, someone who dedicated his life to the Umbral, live without it?

He possesses a treacherous fighting style and is as agile as a serpent, wielding a Guandao in an almost dance-like fashion of cuts. However, he truly excels in his Umbral power:

Metamorphosis : This is his shadowy state. His body is enveloped in blue and black flames that last for a limited time; he can only enter this state after killing a living creature or being on the verge of death. In this case, Metamorphosis is activated as a means of survival. All of Shang's magical abilities can only be used while he is in metamorphosis, and these are:

Cocoon : The blue flames that envelop Shang's body are like a second skin to him. Every attack he receives (except psychological attacks) is absorbed by this cocoon, not affecting Shang's body. However, the cocoon is fragile and easily breakable, instantly removing him from the Metamorphosis.

Whirlwind : He can, in a state of concentration, control his Guandao remotely. His main attack is to sit in a meditative pose under the Guandao and spin it at high speed while carrying it.

Soul Sphere : He can create a sphere and launch it at the enemy; if the sphere hits the opponent, Shang can pull the enemy's soul for a few seconds.

Arrows of the Scourge : He can summon a bow and arrows, and when fired, the arrows can multiply in the air.

Withdrawal : Shang can create a dark portal and pass through it. This will teleport him to any location he desires; however, he cannot travel great distances.

Profane Theft : When Shang defeats his enemy, he can steal their soul, as a kind of invisible contract between the victor and the loser. With this, he can mold the soul into any form he desires.

Once a simple, calm monk of the dynasty, all that changed when he came into contact with the Umbral and discovered that he is a true Umbral Adept and that a natural talent resided within him in the use of this energy. He abandoned everything, becoming obsessed with the Umbral and its mysteries, wanting to become completely one of its creatures. For this reason, he praises Shadowmind , who is the God of the Umbral, or rather, the Umbral is merely an extension of his power. To spread his cult, Shang established a network of secret Dojos throughout the dynasty, focused on forbidden martial arts and the control of Umbral energy. He is not with the Widow or the Emperor of his own free will, no... He despises their presence, however, his order is to protect the Emperor, an order from Shadowmind himself. But Shang himself despises all humans.

Shang appears to be around 20 years old, with a slender build and a firm, well-conditioned physique, standing at 1.78 meters tall. Her skin has a grayish and desaturated tone, her eyes shine with a strong cyan-blue that reflects like water and has no pupils. His face is severe and angular, with thin, dry lips and deep dark circles under his eyes. On his head, a large hybrid hat/helmet, with a structure similar to a ritualistic war hat, with black plumes sheening with a cyan-blue glow and curved side blades. His arms are protected by ornate bracers and plates, his armored fingers protrude like claws with tips glowing with cyan-blue power. His chest is protected by a breastplate that resembles rib bones, and the lower part is armored to protect the sides of his thighs. His boots are tight and almost blend into his charcoal black pants. His entire armor is of aged gold, and beneath the armor he wears cloaks of wine and dark red, with residual lines of cyan-blue running throughout his body. On its back, there are four branches of a cape, mimicking the patterns of a moth.

He carries with him a Guandao weapon with a black blade, bathed in umbral energy, its cutting edge glowing cyan-blue; the handle is made of rustic twisted wood, with a red feather attached to the end.