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Shadows are a race of undead entities brought into existence by the
Shadow Monarchs, through the usage of the Shadow Extraction ability from deceased creatures and humans.
A shadow’s level of personality depends on its grade. Normal to Elite Grade shadows have little to no personality at all, while Knight and Elite Knight Grade shadows are able to express simple emotions like anxiety and joy. In comparison, General and Marshal Grade shadows have very developed personalities. Despite their varying degrees of personality, all shadows are fiercely loyal to the Shadow Monarchs and maintain their allegiance even if they were adversaries in their past lives. This loyalty extends to the point that they can even override the Shadow Monarchs' orders to them in special circumstances. They are also capable of sensing their masters' emotions, even when they are thousands of miles away from each other.
While some shadow soldiers have abilities unique to themselves, they all share the same set of basic powers.
- Regeneration: Shadow soldiers passive and most notable ability is that they possess incredible regenerative capabilities and cannot be killed by normal entities, as they can completely regenerate even if their bodies are torn to shreds or reduced to nothing. However, this does not necessarily apply against some of the Monarchs, as Antares was able to permanently destroy them with his breath attack.
- Conversation: Shadow soldiers who are at least General Grade are able to talk. However, they are only able to communicate in monster tongue, meaning that most humans can't understand them. However Beru was able to bypass it thanks to his Gluttony skill, as he devoured many humans to gain their abilities which includes their languages.
- Growth: Shadow soldiers are able to steadily grow in power by killing monsters in battle, allowing them to surpass their former selves.
- Shadow Infiltration: At the Shadow Monarch's discretion, shadow soldiers are able to hide within the shadows of other humans. While doing so, they are able to watch and observe everything happening around the person that they are anchored to. They are also able to send signals to the Shadow Monarch in case the humans they are planted on are attacked, regardless of how large the distance is between them.
- Transformation: A unique feature accessible to a master of the Authority over Death, shadow soldiers can be transformed into a weapon or any item to their master's whims.
- Stats: The strength of shadow soldiers varies depending on their master. This is due to the difference in Shadow Authority, intelligence stats, and level, which directly affect the strength of the summoned shadows.
- Infinite Stamina: Due to being the undead, they lack any physical organs or life expectancy as such they possessed stamina that didn’t know the meaning of fatigue and are not burdened with the weakness of ordinary soldiers─don't need food, never grow tired, not break and the capability to regenerate almost endlessly.
- Immortality: Shadow Soldiers are unbound by conventional life or death, and thus cannot be traditionally killed as their Immortality comes from their advanced regeneration can simply regenerate from wounds that would normally be lethal, making only higher beings like Monarchs able to erase Shadow Soldiers with their attacks.
Shadows are classified into distinct grades that reflect their strength. While they can grow stronger over time by defeating opponents in battle, advancing to a higher grade requires direct authorization from the Shadow Monarch. Additionally, shadows created from exceptionally powerful beings may begin at a higher grade immediately upon their extraction.
- Normal Grade : The lowest tier, these shadows are the weakest in the shadow army, serving as foot soldiers, can be as strong as E, D and C-Rank Hunters.
- Elite Grade : Shadows of this grade are the most common in the shadow army and are about as strong as B-Rank Hunters.
- Knight Grade : Shadows of this grade are about as strong as A-Rank Hunters and can be given names by the Shadow Monarch.
- Elite Knight Grade : Shadows of this grade are about as strong as basic S-Rank Hunters.
- General Grade : Shadows of this grade possess immense power, capable of contending with—and even overpowering—advanced S-Rank Hunters. They also demonstrate the ability to speak.
- Commander Grade : This grade represents the highest level a shadow can evolve to, making those who reach it the most powerful soldiers in the Shadow Army.
- Grand Marshal Grade : As the ultimate rank, this grade is reserved for the strongest shadow in the entire Shadow Army. A shadow of this grade also serves as the lieutenant to the Shadow Monarchs themselves.
