Shadow trilogy

1. Takeru (Protagonist)

Appearance: Young man in his twenties; short black hair; right eye naturally brown, left eye dark crimson (later becomes a bloody hollow after Chapter Six).

Clothing: Torn black kimono bound by a leather belt engraved with cryptic symbols.

Weapons:

Kuroyami-no-Tsurugi (Sword of Darkness): Pitch black, pulses with living shadow, inflicts wounds that never heal.

Sword of Flesh and Bone: His new weapon after Chapter Eight, forged from his lost fragment of soul.

Powers:

Curse of Kuroyami: Grants him supernatural speed and strength, but devours his body (his left arm is completely blackened).

Inner Shadow: Can summon an unknown shadowy entity during moments of extreme rage.

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2. Kazuya (Main Antagonist)

Appearance: Tall man draped in tattered priestly robes; long black hair that moves like a living thing; seven eyes clustered within his eye sockets, each a different color.

Transformation: In Chapter Six, a golden mouth opens in his chest, its teeth pure gold.

Weapons:

Shinko-no-Tsurugi (Sword of Faith): Brilliant white, causes religious hallucinations.

Tama-no-Tsurugi (Gem Sword): Studded with jewels, absorbs wealth and converts it into power.

Shirai-no-Tsurugi (Pale Sword): Translucent white blade that makes wounds melt instead of bleeding.

Powers:

Embodiment of the Seven Sins: Can summon seven entities representing each sin (e.g., Hikari for Pride).

Golden Gluttony: His golden mouth consumes any matter or energy to amplify his strength.

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3. Hikari (Embodiment of Pride)

Appearance: Small girl in a sheer white kimono, hollow-bodied like a doll; golden eyes without pupils.

Weapon: Small golden sword sprouting from her empty chest cavity.

Powers:

Amplification of Pride: Makes opponents act recklessly out of arrogance.

Mockery of Reality: Can distort the surroundings, making them seem "insignificant."

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4. Ryo (The Dead/Undead Friend)

Appearance: Mid-twenties young man; messy brown hair; glassy eyes (after partial resurrection).

Clothing: Black leather garb of a highway thief, adorned with hidden tattoos on his arms.

Weapon: Poisoned daggers concealed within his sleeves.

Powers:

Demonic Agility: Can move at superhuman speed for a few brief seconds.

Partial Undeath: His body doesn't bleed, but decays further every time he moves.

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5. The White Priestess

Appearance: Elderly woman with translucent white skin; hollow eye sockets that stare into nothing.

Clothing: White robe stained with writhing black blotches.

Weapon: Bone Bell – its sound forces curses to recoil briefly.

Powers:

Curse Sight: Can trace the trail of any accursed being.

Prophetic Decay: Her body rots each time she speaks hidden truths.

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6. The Ashen Shadow (Mysterious Entity)

Appearance: Tall man with long white hair; faceless save for two crimson eyes like Takeru's.

Weapon: His own hands – capable of tearing through reality to create fleeting black voids.

Powers:

Memory Consumption: Erases fragments of his victims' pasts.

Limited Manifestation: Can only appear when Takeru is on the brink of death.