Chapter 9: The Ultimate Darkness

Across the vast ocean, an ocean-going freighter sliced through the waves. Inside a shipping container, a lone Oni Mask lay quietly amidst a pile of cargo.

Simultaneously, in countless other locations, trucks speeding down highways, Airbus jets soaring through the heavens, nine masks in total were being transported back to Section 13 via various routes. They had already crossed the border, and they all shared a single destination.

At the entrance of Section 13, accompanied by a slight ripple in space, a red mask with a long white beard suddenly manifested. Though he was a mere mask, his features shifted with expressive malice.

At this moment, Tarakudo, the King of the Shadowkhan, felt a twinge of confusion.

Centuries ago, he and his nine generals had ruled Japan during the Shogunate era. Times had changed, and their era had long since passed. Now that he had awakened, he naturally intended to reclaim everything that once belonged to him.

However, he never expected the process to be so... smooth.

He didn't even have to lift a finger. In his sensory perception, the nine masks were all converging on a single point of their own accord. It was so effortless that it filled him with doubt.

Yin and Yang. Good and Evil. They existed in a state of mutual generation and restraint. Logically, shouldn't someone have stepped out to stop this by now? Were they really just letting the nine masks gather in one place? Did the humans of this era understand nothing?

Or rather... was there some presence that had shattered the original order of this world?

Tarakudo pondered for a long while but couldn't make sense of it. Ultimately, he could only reach one conclusion: In that case, we, the Shadowkhan, shall reluctantly accept this Earth.

…

The Space Center.

Shendu suddenly sought out Zoran.

"Brother, I have sensed something else," Shendu said, his expression grave.

Zoran waited quietly for him to continue.

"You may not know this, but before I was sealed by Lo Pei, that human wizard, I once stole a portion of power. That power came from an island; it allows one to freely command soldiers of shadow."

Zoran's brow furrowed slightly. He knew exactly what Shendu was talking about.

As if fearing Zoran might not understand, Shendu pointed a finger and whispered: "My soldiers."

In the next second, the shadow beneath him began to writhe, manifesting into the form of a Ninja Shadowkhan. But quickly, the ninja soldier dissolved like flowing water.

"The true master of this power has returned. He has severed my connection to the shadows. In the past, I would have had ten thousand ways to solve this, but now I am imprisoned in this body..."

Shendu explained the situation thoroughly. Clearly, he was relaying a very important piece of information: Tarakudo had returned.

Zoran looked puzzled. Logically, the eight Demon Sorcerers and the Shadowkhan were not supposed to appear on the same timeline. Both being parts of the dark forces, the Demons and the Shadowkhan were equally irresistible and powerful.

Unless... his arrival had influenced the world's original design.

Thinking of this, Zoran's frown deepened. He suddenly realized a more terrifying possibility.

In the world of Jackie Chan Adventures, Good and Evil, Yin and Yang, must remain in balance. Just as the Eight Demon Sorcerers ran rampant in ancient times, the Eight Immortals appeared to seal them. Just as Shendu once escaped the Netherworld alone, the Sacred Warrior Lo Pei appeared to seal him, even scattering his original power into twelve Talismans.

Zoran's descent had unconsciously shattered this balance. Right now, the world was "Dark-heavy" and "Light-light."

Therefore, the world was taking a more extreme measure: pushing the powers of Evil to their absolute peak.

What would the result be?

Without a doubt, a much more powerful force of Good would emerge to meet the era's demand. To put it simply: if the universe couldn't handle the current problem, it would let things escalate. Once the crisis reached a certain magnitude, it would naturally be easier for "Fate" to intervene.

A chill instantly swept through Zoran's entire body. At this moment, he realized that he wasn't just fighting Jackie Chan or Uncle. He was fighting the original, eternal laws of this universe!

The specific hero that would appear to smooth over the darkness was almost secondary. Whoever it was would return like a lightning bolt, carrying the divine might necessary to seal everything.

And Zoran, he had to find a sliver of survival! Otherwise, all that awaited him was ten thousand more years of unchanging torment in the Netherworld.

…

The Antique Shop.

Uncle sat cross-legged before the altar. He wore a white mages' robe, his expression profoundly solemn. White sandalwood incense smoke curled around him. As the nine masks drew closer in a place unknown to him, the authority of the Archmage grew by the second.

In his mind, the magical classics he had studied over a lifetime flooded back like a tide, and a nameless radiance began to envelop him. It was almost dazzling enough to rival the Great Sages of old.

When the nine masks gathered, the Ultimate Darkness capable of swallowing the Earth would descend. At that moment, perhaps the light within him would burn fiercely enough to tear that darkness apart.

"Jackie, I feel it. A nameless dark power is spreading through Section 13," Uncle said somberly.

"Section 13? That's the safest place on Earth! Besides, aren't we going to space to stop Tso Lan?"

"No. Uncle's master came to Uncle in a dream. Nine masks are converging. Once they are together, the whole Earth will be swallowed by darkness!"

"Hiss… Bad day, bad day! I'll go notify Captain Black!"

"No, come back! It is too late! We must stop Tso Lan first!" Uncle held Jackie back.

"But—"

"Demons are more dangerous than masks!"

As he spoke, Jackie suddenly felt the aura radiating from Uncle become even more intense.

…

Section 13.

Personnel were moving collectibles from the field into the vault.

"What are these?" a mover asked, holding an Oni Mask.

"Some stuff from Japan. Who knows? If there are more, just hang them all on the wall together."

One mask after another was unpacked from the crates and hung on the vault wall. Exactly nine masks were finally arranged in a row.

In the next instant, space vibrated, and the Shadow King Tarakudo appeared. He laughed wildly. "It seems you have made a fatal mistake!"

The nine masks suddenly vibrated in unison, shattering into fragments on the floor as black shadows drifted out.

"My soldiers, the time to blot out the sun has come!" Tarakudo cried out with fervor.

The nine Oni Generals took physical form, and the Shadowkhan they commanded emerged from the darkness. The vault of Section 13 instantly split apart.

Countless variations of Shadowkhan converged from the sky and the earth, a massive shadow looming over the entire world. Guided by Tarakudo, the nine generals began to walk the mortal realm toward the four cardinal directions.

Wherever they stepped, everything fell into the domain of the Shadow Kingdom.

Ultimate Darkness had arrived.