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This article refers to Shadow in Shadow Fight 3. For other uses, see Shadow (disambiguation).
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| “ | It will all soon be over, Moira. We'll start a new world. You'll have new friends in it. | ” |
| –Shadow revealing his new world creation plan to Moira | ||
Shadow is the secondary antagonist in Shadow Fight 3. A living legend, he was once a respected hero, before he attacked the Dynasty and Heralds Dome, razing everything to the ground. Now, he has become an evil tyrant who is hated by everyone who suffered because of his deeds. Shadow aims to create the world where the late May is alive and well, by eliminating the current one and forming a new one on its ashes.
Appearance
Shadow appears as a muscular man with black hair, which is tied in a bun. He wears long black pants. There are long white bandages tied on each of his hands and feet. He has many scars on his body, which are the result of his many fights with various opponents.
Story
At the end of his long adventure, Shadow began a happy life with May, the woman he loved. But, everything changed when their child was born. From May's illness, Shadow found out that the baby brought along a sentient entity of pure shadow energy known as Shadow Mind. Shadow immediately attacked in an attempt to exterminate Shadow Mind, causing the latter to summon shadow beasts called Scourge in order to protect May and presumably, the baby. In the process, Shadow accidentally killed May. While the baby and Shadow Mind are the only ones who survived. Feeling extreme sadness and rage over losing May, Shadow refused to admit his mistake and vowed to destroy Shadow Mind. However, he could only split the entity from the baby and imprison it inside a glass sphere. It is then believed that the child was dead before they were even born. In fact, the child is still alive, and Shadow hates his own child so much that he will immediately kill them on sight.
Moira, a local princess, touched the Sphere and she became infected with the Scourge and developed an unusually strong affinity to shadow energy and Shadow Mind. Shadow tried to save the little girl's life and took her to Bolo for a cure, to no avail. In the end, Shadow took Moira away to an island far from where she lived before. If Moira stays in this island, the Scourge cannot reach her, and Shadow told Moira to never leave the island. He also made some type of bots called Defenders to guard Moira from leaving the island.
Several years had passed, and no matter what Shadow tried, every attempt to destroy Shadow Mind had failed. It was to be expected, Shadow was a warrior, not a scientist. Shadow began slaying the shadow beasts of Shadow Mind, which earned him the respect of the locals, and he was hailed as a hero. Consequently, the locals inherited his hatred towards Shadow Mind, and so the Legion was born. One day, Shadow took the strongest Legionaries with him and started his search for a legendary shadow sword, which was belonged to a prince of a neighboring land. The prince did not obey the outlanders, and defeated the Legionaries in a fight. Shadow witnessed the fight and figured that this skillful nation might figure out how to kill Shadow Mind. Shadow asked the prince's father to help him study the Sphere. The Sphere Temple was built to keep the Sphere, and then three persons are chosen to research the Sphere and find a way to destroy it, who are known as The Three Arrows.
Shadow then took Galen, The Second Arrow, under his tutelage. When Galen found out the potential of the Sphere and convinced the Emperor to preserve the Sphere, Shadow was very angry and disappointed. This turned Shadow into the enemy of Dynasty and caused him to part ways with Galen.
After Bolo told Shadow that Shadow Mind cannot be destroyed but has the power to destroy the world and create a new one, he abandoned his goal to terminate Shadow Mind and instead set a new goal of resurrecting May. He went through May's grave, which is a portal into the future. Emerging from May's grave many years into the future, Shadow learned about the prototype of the Accelerator Core invented by the Heralds. The Accelerator is a device that could form time and space outward into the whole world by accelerating shadow energy particles, hence the name. It can split shadow particles, which results in an explosion. There are abundances of shadow energy around, so splitting shadow energy of such scale will cause mass obliteration. With this knowledge, Shadow plans to start a Cleansing, to recreate the whole world using the Accelerator, creating a new one where May could be alive and well.
Shadow immediately seizes the Legion throne from its current ruler, Queen Iolanda. Under his reign, the Legion changes drastically. The Fortress has been changed into a cyber military stronghold, with cannons and missiles everywhere. Shadow bots are becoming common things among the Fortress, and the Legionaries willingly started using shadow energy, to the point where they become very adept at it.
With the Legion under his hand, Shadow proceeds to destroy the Lands of Dynasty. Many villages are razed to the ground, countless Dynastians died, and some are missing. The once flourish Lands of Dynasty is now turned into ruins and wastelands. Nomads are the only things left of the Dynasty, which are actively hunted by the Legion's Erasers. Shadow's motive for committing Dynasty destruction is not explained, although he does consider them as his enemies after The Three Arrows betrayed him.
Seeking out to retrieve the Accelerator Core prototype, Shadow launches an invasion to the Heralds Dome. After obtaining the prototype, Shadow then ends his invasion by attacking the Void Room, causing anomalies and distortions around the place. Many Heralds and shadow bots died from this attack, and the Dome is destroyed. What is left of the Heralds now are glitched, desolate villages in the middle of Wasteland.
Shadow built the Accelerator in the middle of Wasteland, inside an enormous tower. The only thing he needs to start the Cleansing is Shadow Mind, which can trigger the Cleansing; and Moira, who can seize control over Shadow Mind. However, Moira is not in Shadow Island anymore.
Chapter VII, Part II: Behold the Future
After searching for Moira for ten years, the Legion finally finds her location in the capital ruins. Shadow immediately heads off there to retrieve her. He slays every single Nomads that are left, only sparing one person because he hands over Moira to him. While Gizmo and the Erasers take care of the Palace, he takes Moira to the Accelerator. Now, he only needs Shadow Mind to complete the Cleansing. Shadow does not even need to search for it, as his Descendant who has the Shadow Mind confronts him on the Accelerator.
Shadow asks Moira a favour, to take Shadow Mind from the Descendant and put it into the Accelerator Core. Moira pleas to Shadow to stop, as she does not want to do this, only for Shadow to ignore her. He threatens the Descendant by telling them to prepare to die, before he hops into a giant robot behind him. Shadow enters it and controls it from the inside. The robot is very huge and sturdy, and it is armed with energy blades in both of its arms and a pair of missile launchers on its shoulders. Even though it moves and attacks very slowly, the robot is steady like a rock and does not recoil from the Descendant's attacks. However, Shadow Mind has a trick up his sleeves: it empowers the Descendant to fight Shadow. After it starts being damaged, the robot then charges to the Descendant to grab them. But, the Descendant dodges this by hopping onto its arm and jumps over the huge robot. Shadow Mind then blasts it from above with shadow energy beam, sending the robot all the way down to the floor below it, and the Descendant then lands just right beside it.
With the robot broken, Shadow gets out from it and fights the Descendant with his martial arts skills. Shadow's combat prowess is proven to be very deadly, as he delivers whirlwinds of punches and kicks to the Descendant. Shadow also utilizes a rechargeable shield which protects him from attacks. This is quite problematic as the shield requires a considerable amount of hits/damage to be destroyed. And even then, Shadow can easily recharge the shield again. Eventually, the Descendant manages to overcome Shadow thanks to Shadow Mind's help. Shadow is cornered and exhausted, as the Descendant approaches to kill him. He then barely stands up on his feet again to continue fighting. Seeing this, Moira runs towards them before they can approach each other in an attempt to stop this. However, Moira briefly loses control over herself and with her power, unleashes a shockwave that pushes both the Descendant and Shadow away. This causes Shadow Mind to rise out with a physical form. When it realizes this, Shadow Mind tries to attack Moira. Shadow quickly shields Moira and tries to stop Shadow Mind and as a result, he accidentally fuses with it. Shadow then enters shadow form and with his new godlike powers, continues the fight.
The tide of the battle has been turned, the Descendant loses all the power granted by Shadow Mind and Shadow now has obtained unimaginable powers. He can conjure many weapons and use them to attack the Descendant. He can also make Shadow Mind emerge from himself and shoot out the shadow energy beam through it in a huge radius. Despite the huge power difference, the Descendant finally manages to defeat Shadow after a long struggle and emerges victorious. Shadow returns to his human form as he dies. Moira runs towards Shadow and starts crying over his death. Feeling a huge grief, Moira completely loses control over herself. Her eyes glow with shadow energy and she pushes the Descendant away, knocking them out. Moira then levitates and forcefully pulls Shadow Mind out telekinetically from Shadow's lifeless body. Shadow Mind desperately tries to free itself from Moira's grasp as she throws it into the Core. Moira is successful, and the Accelerator starts the Cleansing. It releases a huge shockwave and evaporates the entire world in shadow energy.
Even though Shadow loses the battle, he wins the war. The Cleansing takes place as he wanted it to be.
Transformation: Itu's Plane
Proxy and the team's travel ends when they reach none other than the Sphere Temple. This place is not supposed to exist considering there never was any Sphere. But, their arrival in this world caused the place to emerge - Nexus is collapsing, and so is this simulation, reconciling to reality.
Nanami thanks Proxy after they take care of the Arbiters, remarking that they must have a real name as they are human after all. Itu is confused at her sudden remarks, but she does not bother elaborating and the moment they see Shadow, Nanami immediately runs towards him and speaks to him, referring to him as master. Shadow is confused at the sudden appearance of both this place and all the figures before him. The bot reveals that this world is an illusion created to trap him, by the people who used the Sphere for their own pleasures. Shadow initially does not get what Nanami means, although it does not take long till he remembers something about the Sphere. Nanami informs him that he once opened the Gates of Shadows and this caused shadow energy to fill the world, the same energy that is flowing through her mechanical veins. He aimed to fix this, but the Dynasts and Heralds stopped him, with the former eliminating the Legion and the Abdicators Tower, as well as killing Moira the little princess to prevent them from rising again. And Shadow is then trapped inside this illusive cage. She then provokes a fight between Proxy and Shadow by telling that the bot is Shadow's Descendant that killed his lover and he can now take his revenge.
The fight occurs, as Shadow wastes no time in delivering his deadly flurry of punches and kicks toward the Descendant. Combined with the simulation environment that gives disadvantages to the Descendant making the fight much harder for them. But in the end, they manage to defeat Shadow once again, just like before. Nanami proceeds to help Shadow get up, telling him that the Descendant is just that strong that Shadow cannot defeat them alone, but she claims to be stronger than the Descendant. She came here to free him, from the cage that starts falling apart. Nanami plans to take Shadow to the real world, where the Legion is waiting for him and the Accelerator is ready - the Cleansing awaits.
In another place, Shadow meets May's voice. She explains when the Descendant surpassed Shadow, the world will bend to his will, but he still has a weak spot. He created half a billion copies by jumping in time, and they are all connected to him. Every victory or defeat of theirs is also his own. By defeating them, he will give one of them a chance to stop the original Descendant. May says they cannot change the past, but they can try to help. Shadow then fights the Descendant copies at the temple. He wants to save May. May tells Shadow that him just saving the world will be enough for her. May says one of these copies can defeat the Descendant. Everything he needs is a little gap, a little chance to exist. Shadow is willing to help the copy to stop the real Descendant, by clearing the path for them. He is ready to fight for thousands of years if needed and till his spirit leaves him.
Transformation: Marcus's Plane
The General and party go through the Bamboo Forest when June tells about her father that when the Immortals had replaced the king, her father was very young. Only their agreement with the king had prevented them from getting rid of them. The Immortals took their land and left them alone, but they did not dare to come into the Hero's Temple. That hero had let the shadow energy into their world through the Gates of Shadows. After that, he never forgave himself for it. So he disliked shadows but they got him in the end. The king then took his life force and disappeared, but the hero got trapped inside the temple he was born before.
They go inside the temple when they see the contamination of the hero. June warns them that this would be the end of them if they lose their lives. Helga still does not believe if he is the one who brought shadow energy into their world. Outcast then replies her in positive that hating them is what makes him bring the shadow energy. After seeing them, the hero attacks them but General quickly defends them and they fight with him.
After a long fight, the General manages to defeat him. Then the hero shows up and he is none other than Shadow. He was finding the General for thousands of years and they finally came here according to May. He then warns him about his son that he wants to open the Gates of Shadows and only Moira can stop him from doing so. So, he is returning the king to the world only to get rid of her so that his plan will not go in vain. He then forgives them for beating them and he requests to give him hope as he wants this world to live. After saying so, he disappears.
Powers and Abilities
Shadow has been implied many times to be the strongest man in the world. He had been described as strong and capable, full of might and strength beyond all measures, as well as having an unprecedented power. Shadow is a very powerful fighter, as he was strong enough to slay many shadow beasts.
He also possesses what seems to be a high level of knowledge as he was capable of creating the Defender bots, which are more complex than the shadow bots of Master Okada (This claim proved wrong after it was revealed that it was Nanami who programmed Shadow Bots to protect Moira in all worlds during the events of Marcus' Plane Part III). Shadow is a long-lived human as well, as he was already senile when teaching Galen. On top of that, Shadow's will is so strong that he is capable of merging with Shadow Mind without being taken over by Shadow Mind. Bolo himself also admits that Shadow was already a tough guy, and having the Accelerator only made him invincible.
Turns out that all of these claims are true when the Descendant fights Shadow. He is capable of creating a huge robot, which is armed with many weaponry and very tanky. His combat skill is also commendable. He is capable of keeping up with the Descendant, even without wielding any weapons at all. And when he fuses with Shadow Mind, he becomes godlike, even much more powerful than the Descendant themselves with Shadow Mind.
Fight of Fate
Shadow is fought as a boss in Chapter 7.2. The fight can last up to seven rounds, in which the player is required to score four victories in order to be declared victorious. This fight is much different than any fights the player has fought, as it features many unique mechanics and cutscenes that take place whenever the player wins against Shadow in each phase.
In the first phase, Shadow fights by controlling a giant robot from the inside. The robot will not recoil from any non-shadow attacks. It has three main offensive abilities: its hands, energy blades, and missile launchers. The robot can deal guaranteed critical hits with its hands and energy blades.
In the second phase, Shadow fights the player by himself. He utilizes a very deadly combat style, which is a mix of many moves from all known fighting styles combined into a number of long combos. Shadow also has a shield which protects his health from attacks. Any attack he receives will reduce the shield instead.
In the third and final phase, Shadow fights in permanent shadow form, using his shadow powers he obtained after fusing with Shadow Mind. He can conjure many weapons to be used against the player, as well as make Shadow Mind emerge to shoot out a devastating shadow energy beam in a huge radius.
Shadow's Plane fight
Shadow is fought again in Itu's Plane part 2. He was provoked by Nanami that his Descendant has showed up and now he can take his revenge. He still doesn't wear (except basic clothes like his trademark headband and his shorts) or use anything other than his own fists and kicks, but this doesn't make him less dangerous than last time, since not only the player cannot utilize any perks nor the Shadow Mind beam, Shadow now has flurry, which makes his combo attacks even more dangerous than what he is last time. He will also repel a portion of the damage dealt by the player's successful hits on him, the portion's percentage depends on the player's stability. Note that the percentage can go above 100%, which makes the player takes more damage than they've otherwise done with Shadow, and this rule also applies to damage absorbed by Shadow's shield.
Destroyer of the Dome
Shadow is fought again in Marcus's Plane. He was trapped inside the temple, referring to him battling multiple copies of the Descendant from Itu's Plane. He still doesn't wear (except basic clothes like his trademark headband and his shorts) or use anything other than his own fists and kicks, but this doesn't make him less dangerous than last time, since now Shadow is permanently in his shadow form, and depending with the player's choice, he can repel a portion of the damage dealt by the player's successful hits on him or has Protective Concentration (a shield that protects his health from attacks).
Gallery
.jpg "Cleansing (13).jpg (697 KB)")
.jpg "Cleansing (43).jpg (669 KB)")
.jpg "Cleansing (91).jpg (566 KB)")
Trivia
- Shadow was the player and the main character in the previous installment, where he journeyed through six provinces to defeat the menacing demons and seal the Gates of Shadows he had opened.
- One of the weapons he can conjure while in shadow form is a smaller version of Titan's Desolator, the weapon used by the Titan in Shadow Fight 2.
- The robot used by Shadow in the fight with him likely inspired the design of Eraser's equipment, due to their colors and design resemblance.
- Shadow, just like Xiang Tzu can be seen using styles of all factions, which shows how experienced in martial arts he is.