Part 2, Book 1: The Phantom Shield

The sixth book in the Black Crown series and the first book of Part 2, ***Black Crown & The Phantom Shield**,* details the events in which Black Crown must retrieve a powerful artifact from a rampaging God-Slayer known as Jack-O'-Hollow.

Set in January of 2024, the book begins when Zane Euphoria suddenly returns after two years of having disappeared, revealing that he in search of an artifact known as the Phantom Shield, which can trap the soul of any being who stares at its reflection for too long. Not wanting to trust him, however, Amber–as the captain of Black Crown—forbids him from rejoining the guild, agreeing to work with him for just one last time.

Below is a summary of each chapter. January 2024.

## **Prologue**

Ren Asura visits a recently destroyed city in the Underworld, encountering the SZ-Class Mage known as Bones. Wanting more information on the city's destruction, Ren attacks and battles against Bones.

## **Chapter One:** Burst **(Burnt in Hell Arc)**

While out traveling New York City, Amber and Mio are suddenly ambushed by an army of aflame corpses following a massive explosion in the center of the city. Just before they can be consumed by another explosion, however, a golden light appears before them.

## **Chapter Two:** Judgement

Returning to Morning Star Town, Amber holds a vote on whether or not Zane should be allowed to return to the guild. Once the results are revealed, however, they get a mysterious visit from Reaper Kurosami, who informs them that the bridge between the Earth and the Underworld has been repaired.

## **Chapter Three:** Return

After being called down by Lucifer, Black Crown receive an information report on a mysterious being who used powerful flames to repair the bridge between the Earth and the Underworld. Denying his involvement, Zane is forced to defend himself against Ren Asura in a physical confrontation.

## **Chapter Four:** Spark

Instructed by Divinos to stand back, Black Crown watch as Zane and Ren battle one another, with the ladder attempting to force out the former's Fire Devil-Slaying Magic.

## **Chapter Five:** Blaze

Following Ren's defeat, Black Crown is tasked to find the location of the being responsible for the recent destruction: Jack-O'-Hollow. Receiving a notice that a city nearby in under attack, Amber and Jay discover a familiar mage at the scene.

## **Chapter Six:** Mercy

Attempting to subdue to a possessed Alzon, Black Crown quickly find themselves outmatched as they struggle to fight the SZ-Class Mage, who uses the Phantom Shield to subvert their vision. Before Ren can arrive, however, Jack-O'-Hollow flees the scene and leaves the guild to tend to their injuries.

## **Chapter Seven:** Companion

Clara introduces herself to Amber and Zane as Ren's apprentice, which causes the two of them to argue about how they should deal with Jack-O'-Hollow, who is actually Alzon's other personality.

## **Chapter Eight:** Brokerage

Zane, Mio and Lance visit Bones in his prison cell in order to learn about the history of Absalon and the Mugen Flames, eventually finding themselves making a deal with him.

## **Chapter Nine:** Tale

Under Bone's instructions, the trio head to a place known as Leviathus in a distant part of Lucifer's Domain, where they meet a man who claims to hold all information regarding magical entities.

## **Chapter Ten:** Sheath

Amber and Kristina visit the forgery where the Phantom Shield was made in order to learn more about its abilities, discovering that Ren's lack of magic may hold the key to defeating Jack-O'-Hollow.

## **Chapter Eleven:** Pride

At the forgery where the Phantom Shield was made, Rowan Chambers suddenly appears, claiming to know how to track down Jack-O'-Hollow and defeat him, though the information comes at a price.

## **Chapter Twelve:** Union

Black Crown regroups and meets with Ren in order to discuss their plan for taking down Jack-O'-Hollow, learning that the Phantom Shield is useless against those who don't wield magic.

## **Chapter Thirteen:** Ambush

Catching Jack-O'-Hollow off guard at a recently destroyed city, Black Crown and Ren successfully ambush the God-Slayer, fighting him to a standstill until he begins to reveal more of his power.

## **Chapter Fourteen:** Clash

As the battle rages on, Black Crown and Ren begin to wear the God-Slayer down; however, before they can eliminate him, Zane suddenly appears and engages into battle with Ren.

## **Chapter Fifteen:** Dawn

With no magic left, Amber watches as Zane and Ren fight against one another. Meanwhile, Rowen attempts to assist the remaining members of Black Crown against Jack-O'-Hollow, who seems to be gaining more power.

## **Chapter Sixteen:** Infinity

Revealing the Mugen Flames, Jack-O'-Hollow defeats the remaining members of Black Crown and Rowen, forcing them to retreat after Zane is defeated by Ren in their second fight.

## **Chapter Seventeen:** Counter

As Black Crown recovers at one of Lucifer's places, Zane visits Kristina and asks her to help him train against sword-users. Reluctantly agreeing, the two begin their training in the middle of the night in preparation for their next fight.

## **Chapter Eighteen:** Technique

Discovering their secret training session, Clara assists Zane and Kristina, teaching former of the two on how to counter some of Ren's attacks and tricks, and relaying to them his next attack plan.

## **Chapter Nineteen:** Serendipity **(World of Illusions Arc)**

Using the Phantom Shield, Jack-O'-Hollow traps Black Crown and various other mages within an alternate dimension where they must fight against one another for freedom until there is only a few mages left standing.

## **Chapter Twenty:** Aberration

Zane visits Amber and tells her what his updated plan. Meanwhile, the fighting commences and Ren battles against Reaper Kurosami, using his swords and swap ability to attempt to gain an edge.

## **Chapter Twenty-One:** Bilk

Jay and Kieron have difficulty fighting against Felix McKnight, who aims to be the one to battle against Jack-O'-Hollow. Their fight ends sooner than expected, however, as everyone's position on the battlefield is swapped.

## **Chapter Twenty-Two:** Circumvent

An SX-Class Devil suddenly goes berserk amidst the fighting, causing Rowan, Kristina, Lance and Felix to try and subdue him. Meanwhile, Lord Spencer makes his move.

## **Chapter Twenty-Three:** Exigent

Jack-O'-Hollow suddenly appears before Zane and Amber, explaining that he has plans that require both of their magics. Down on the battlefield, Black Crown attempts to reunite as Metalka continues his rampage.

## **Chapter Twenty-Four:** Pastel

Lord Spencer steps in and defeats Metalka, prompting Ren to challenge him to a duel. As the battle becomes more heated, Umbra makes his appearence and steps into the battle between Spencer and Ren.

## **Chapter Twenty-Five:** Safari's Horizon

Kieron and Lucy assist Ren in his battle against Spencer and Umbra, forcing the two SZ-Class Mages to retreat and conserve their magic. Before they can celebrate, however, Bones appears and attacks.

## **Chapter Twenty-Six:** Disturbance

The arena swaps once more, leaving Mio and Kristina to fend off against Bones, who seems stronger than before. A storm suddenly shakes the battlefield, however, leaving several mages unconscious as silver bolts of lightning come crashing down from the sky.

## **Chapter Twenty-Seven:** Scandal

Having discovered Jack-O'-Hollow's location, a newly-appeared Divinos quickly engages into battle with him, threatening the God-Slayer's entire plan as he quickly becomes overwhelmed.

## **Chapter Twenty-Eight:** Fallen Throne

The battle between Divinos and Jack-O'-Hollow continue, however, it seems that the former is quickly losing his strength and grip as he finds it increasingly difficult to evade the Phantom Shield.

## **Chapter Twenty-Nine:** Bandage **(Blades of Blood Arc)**

With every mage in the arena either unconscious or severely weakened, Jack-O'-Hollow captures Divinos within the Phantom Shield and destroys the dimension he made, sending everyone back to the real world. Confused and unsure of what to do next, Ren begins preparations for a final battle with Zane and Jack-O'-Hollow.

## **Chapter Thirty:** Dribble

Not being able to come up with a solid plan, Black Crown agrees to side with whoever wins Zane and Ren's duel, which is to take place the subsequent week at noon.

## **Chapter Thirty-One:** Seize

Clara speaks with both Zane and Ren, who then engage into battle with each other one last time, with neither one of them seemingly having an edge on the other as they power up throughout the battle.

## **Chapter Thirty-Two:** Rotten

Activating his Slaying Magics, Zane begins to overwhelm Ren, who finds that most of his sword techniques and swapping tricks are now ineffective. However, invigorated by his past, Ren refuses to give up and pushes back.

## **Chapter Thirty-Three:** Weave

As Zane and Ren's duel begins to come to an end, Jack-O'-Hollow makes his appearence once more in the Underworld, revealing his intention to destroy the entire thing at its heart. Moving quickly, Black Crown attempts to stop his plans.

## **Chapter Thirty-Four:** Power

With his newly-awakened power, Jack-O'-Hollow quickly makes work of Black Crown. However, just before they can be eliminated, Zane appears and challenges the God-Slayer to a battle using his own God-Slaying Magic.

## **Chapter Thirty-Five:** Tendencies

Unable to defeat Jack-O'-Hollow on his own, Zane decides to team up with Ren in order to take down the possessed Alzon, the two of them using all of the tricks at their disposal. Meanwhile, Divinos escapes from the Phantom Shield and assists Black Crown with fighting against Jack-O'-Hollow's army of ablaze corpses.

## **Chapter Thirty-Six:** Chance

Finding himself unable to take down Zane and Ren, Jack-O'-Hollow attempts to turn Alzon's body into a bomb, causing the ladder of the two to risk it all on one last plan.

## **Chapter Thirty-Seven:** Run For the Future

Having neutralized most of the explosion, Zane escapes the rubble and apologizes once more to the members of Black Crown, who all but one accept. As they search the sight, however, no traces of Ren are found.

## **Epilogue**

Zane gives Clara Ren's swords. Meanwhile, Amber questions how she will deal with the Host of Unus.