Forum:Shadow Empire

"Sword Art Online was only the beginning. Soon, all living souls from every universes shall bear witness to your coming."

- The Witness to Kirito

The Shadow Empire is a massive empire consisting of Avatar champions and elite armadas of immensely powerful wielders of the Darkness in the service of Kirito, the Shadow Emperor and Asuna, the Shadow Empress. According to untold series of reports and archives, it is composed of individuals from various civilizations and untold varieties of species and backgrounds who were personally recruited by Kirito and Asuna during their rise to power, completely devoted to their leaders' beliefs, and opposes the forces of The Traveler.

Prelude to the End
In the days immediately before the Second Collapse, The Witness tasked Kirito and Asuna with rousing the Avatars from their slumber and protecting Mallory Bertha from the united forces of The Coalition and Emperor Calus, a former Disciple who had been resurrected from death by Maleficent, so that she could open the world to the Black Fleet's assault in preparations for the fruition of the Final Shape. In spite of Vanguard Commander Zavala and Awoken Queen Mara Sov's allegiance with Calus and The Witness's "dead man's switch"-style death at the hands of the Gold Saints, the Coalition's efforts were in vain as Mallory mortally wounded Elisabeth Bray and made short work of Calus and his forces, The Reef, Shin Malphur, and Devrim Kay, giving the Black Swordsman and White Angel and their forces the opportunity to sever the European Dead Zone, Cosmodrome, Europa, and Nessus's connections with the Light, killing Clovis Bray I, Shaw Han, and Failsafe and annihilating said locations in the process.

Having become the new commander of the Black Fleet and his Superpyramid, Kirito, assisted by Asuna, launched a cataclysmic high-stakes assault on The Last City in the hopes of finally bringing an end to the Light once and for all. Despite heavy resistance from numerous Guardians, his armies succeeded in destroying the Traveler, killing Zavala, Mara Sov, Anastasia Bray, and Mithrax in the process, but not before they sacrificed their lives to buy The Guardian, Ikora Rey, and many other members of the Coalition, civilians, and Lightbearers enough time to evacuate to Tokyopolis.

Shadow Wars
During the early days of the Shadow Wars, the Shadow Empire expanded its forces and set out to conquer the multiverse and bind various universes into Aincrad, succeeding in destroying and subjugating Earth-NWO, the Snyderverse, Apokolips, and many others to Kirito's will, with the souls of all of the conquered worlds' denizens being transmutated into miniature cartoonish dolls and imprisoned in Dark Fetor chambers to be used as offerings to the Black Heart. To further his goals of multiversal vengeance, he used the Corrupted Heart of Poseidon to corrupt many of his prisoners into Avatars.

Shadow Monarchy

 * Kirito, the Black Swordsman – Shadow Emperor and Leader of the Shadow Empire
 * Asuna, the White Angel – Shadow Empress
 * Tatsuyi Kirigaya, the Shadow Prince – Scion of the Shadowkeepers and Son of Kirito and Asuna

Shadowkeepers

 * Totomaru, Bladebound to Kirito
 * Eobard Thawne, Adherent of Kirito
 * Malcolm Merlyn, Wrathseeker of Kirito
 * Damien Darhk, Warkeeper of Kirito
 * Tobias Whale, Shieldbreaker of Kirito
 * Sachi, Devoted to Kirito
 * Yuki Shironeko, Celebrant of Kirito
 * Eve, Reverent of Kirito
 * Anton Ivanov, Imprint of Kirito
 * Diego Lodge, Foreguard of Kirito
 * Morgana le Fay, Veilweaver of Kirito
 * Zevon, Pride of Kirito
 * Scorned Baron Fikrul, Risen by Kirito
 * Uldren Sov, Supplicant to Kirito
 * Sakuya, Acolyte of Kirito
 * Akira, Anguish of Kirito
 * Sasuke Uchiha, Swordbinder of Kirito
 * Ruby Hale, Deathbringer of Kirito

Shadow Alliance Emissaries

 * Kotrik, Bloodcrafter of Kirito – Kell to the Fallen House of Shadows
 * Zharves, Shadowcaster of Kirito – Brood Queen and leader of the Hive Shadow Brood
 * Hydrax, Mindkiller of Kirito – Leader of the Vex Shadow Divisive
 * Gha'arn, Crownforger of Kirito – Dominus to the Cabal Shadow Legion
 * Thu'urg, Blightmaker of Kirito – Leader of the Taken's Reborn army
 * Vayeriks, Fatesmith of Kirito – Leader of the Scorn's Cult of the Scorned

Campaign Missions

 * Aisha Landar, Risen Sorcerer
 * Aya Asagiri, Radiant Deathslinger
 * Brakion, Genesis Overmind
 * CJ Hook, Shadow Inherent – Seraph: Divided We Fall
 * Ducker, Bound to Sachi
 * Fate Graphite, Blood Sentinel
 * In Anânh, Risen Necromancer – Lightbearer Wizard: Shattered
 * Issei Hyoudou, Subjugator of Souls – Moonblade: Dark Designs
 * Jashin-chan, Devil King – Moonblade: Clash of Monsters
 * Keita, Bound to Sachi
 * Kousuke Kira, Sworn to Shadows
 * Rosaria le Friede, Shadowborn Ashbringer
 * Sasamaru, Bound to Sachi
 * Scorned Baron Araskes, Loyal to Fikrul – Raider: Shattered
 * Scorned Baron Elykris, Loyal to Fikrul – Second in Command for the Scorn
 * Scorned Baron Hiraks, Loyal to Fikrul – Leader of Mindbent Hive
 * Scorned Baron Kaniks, Loyal to Fikrul – Explosives Expert for the Scorn
 * Scorned Baron Pirrha, Loyal to Fikrul – Chief Sharpshooter for the Scorn
 * Scorned Baron Reksis Vahn, Loyal to Fikrul – Destroyer of Wolves' Servitors
 * Scorned Baron Yaviks, Loyal to Fikrul – Leader of Scorn Pike Gang
 * Shadowblade Kelgorath, Risen from Bones – Lightbearer Knight: The Wicked World
 * Son of In Anânh
 * Taniks, the Scarred
 * Tetsuo, Bound to Sachi
 * Xyurdok, Commander of the Throne
 * Yuuma Amano, Risen from Flames – Witch: Honor of the Lionheart

Arenas

 * Ayumi, Shadow Illusionist – Witch: Shadow Games
 * Blake Belladonna, Plague of the Moment – Splicer Witch: Blightspring Imperative
 * Kisaragi, Daybound Reaper – Moonblade: Shadow Games
 * Saphir, Starlight Fearmonger – Seraph: Shadow Games
 * Zeed, Gladiatorial Raider – Berserker: Shadow Games

Quests

 * Makoto Itou, Tainted by Shadows – Seraph: The Forgotten

Strikes

 * Armin Arlert, Armored Loyalist – Neo Titan: Ballad of the Rumbling
 * Commander Gaoros – Phalanx: Ballad of the Rumbling
 * Eren Yeager, Founding Inheritor – Neo Titan: Ballad of the Rumbling
 * Korofaust, Edge of the Witness – Tormentor: Promised Retribution
 * Saki Yoshida, Reverent of Shadows – Witch: Ballad of the Rumbling
 * Velnorak, the Hungering Pursuant – Helstalker: Promised Retribution

Syndicate Pursuits

 * Malachai, Devoted to Penny – Syndicate Pursuit: Inception
 * Panther, Sworn to the Ghoulies – Syndicate Pursuit: Inception
 * Penny Peabody, Serpent Charmer – Syndicate Pursuit: Inception
 * Volkis, Iron Gambler – Captain: Syndicate Pursuit: Dissonance

Dungeons

 * Kavekith, Technobreaker of Tatsuyi – Reborn Ogre: High Orbit
 * Kra'hur, Bondshifter of Tatsuyi – Reborn Phalanx: High Orbit
 * Nezhaku, Unchained Champion – Tormentor: High Orbit
 * Zahveks, Splicewalker of Tatsuyi – Reborn Captain: High Orbit

Raids

 * Angelise Misurugi, Bladebound to Tatsuyi – Moonblade: Symphonia of Dreams

Former Members

 * Mallory Bertha, Vengeance of Kirito – Progenitor of the Avatars and Herald of the Second Collapse; defected to The Coalition upon being saved by The Guardian
 * Rhinox, Subjugant to Issei – Brainwashed by Issei Hyoudou; eventually freed from his influence by The Guardian

List of appearances

 * Destiny 2
 * Paradox
 * Season of the Black Swordsman
 * Season of Resurgence