Five years have passed since the end of the war. The revived Empire of Darkness is slowly but surely turning into a single state. It would seem that Shahrion should celebrate his victory, but alas, the emperor’s condition is deteriorating every day. The Shadow is gaining strength, which means that the time of the Black Lord is coming to an end. To save his soul and mind, he will have to pass the most difficult test in his life. But will it work? And will the numerous enemies allow that they are already weaving intrigues, waiting for the emperor to stumble? Who knows, who knows... Author's notes: This book completes the story of Shahrion, which I began already in the mid-1990s. In a good way, it should have been written a long time ago, but that’s how it is. It is very different from the first part - there are fewer battles and more intrigue, but I hope it turned out interesting.