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- "A few weeks after the Jewelbilee, what was supposed to be a proud day that commemorated Auradon's glory turned into a massacre the moment Kirito freed Zevon from the Isle of the Lost and recruited him into his rogue army that we now call the Shadowkeepers, who killed all of the civilians and corrupted Mal with the Darkness. But, what traumatized us the most wasn't her betrayal or the deaths of her friends, but Zavala's death, and now, what we saw proved to us that no one is safe. Not anymore."
- — Ikora Rey highlighting the start of the Shadowkeepers Apocalypse
The Shadowkeepers Apocalypse was a massively cataclysmic system-wide conflict fought between millions of Guardians and inhabitants of the Solar System and Kirito and Asuna and their armies of Shadowkeepers, Shadow Army and Pastbreakers minions, and Ghosts of Nagasaki to take back Auradon, save Mallory Bertha, and protect the Light. Although this crisis was initially triggered when Mal killed Maleficent, it actually began when the Shadowkeepers murdered countless people in Auradon, including Ben, Evie, Suguha Kirigaya, Emperor Calus, the Auradonian Kids' parents, and Commander Zavala, in order to take over all of Auradon and begin an eight-year reign beyond the heart of Aincrad. Unlike the previous enemies the Guardians killed, the Shadowkeepers sought to rewrite history and create a dark future, with them controlling all worlds as gods.
Events
Prelude: The Swordsman's Arrival
- "The Dragon’s Eye has awakened. It is on a little world. A human world. They would only wield its power… But our allies know its workings as they never will. They are ready to lead. And our forces will follow. The world will be theirs. The universe yours. And the humans, what can they do but burn?"
- — An unnamed Taken commander, speaking to the Darkness about Kirito and Asuna
Some time after the Guardians' victory of the Dimensional Wars, the Darkness, having found a still-open portal, sent the Pyramids into the dimensional gateway to recruit its new allies: Kirito and Asuna. Having already known that they had seen what it saw and mourned for the deaths of their friends and of innocence, the Darkness not only gave them back their powers from Sword Art Online, but also granted them permanent access to its Pyramids, knowing that they can succeed where its previous forces failed.
Upon accepting the Darkness's gift, after stepping out of their dimension and into the dimension of The Guardian's universe, Kirito and Asuna recruited both the Shadowkeepers and the enemies of Light, instilling into them a profound sense of freedom and purpose, promising them that they would be the one to save them and those cast out and left for dead by their own people from the Traveler's lies.
Rebirth of Aincrad
Fall of Light
- "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, I just... I thought that... I was afraid to tell you. I thought I was gonna lose my life. But I had to do something! I had to protect my birthright! It's just... I wish things could've been different."
- — Mal, talking to Petra Venj shortly before leaving with the Shadowkeepers
Some weeks after the Jewel-bilee, the Shadowkeepers and their newly-assembled Shadow Army freed the son of Yzma known as Zevon from the frozen prison on the Isle of the Lost before launching a high-stakes invasion on Auradon that resulted in Mal's corruption at the hands of the Darkness and the deaths of countless civilians and heroes, including Zavala. Kirito and Asuna, having triumphed over the now-dead Zavala, proceeded to launch the codes for the Darkness's corruptive-matter system, simply known as Lightfall, which summoned waves of malevolent Blights that destroyed everything that Auradon stood for, killed all living beings of Light and civilians of Auradonian blood within it, and turned the entire city into a realm of Kirito and Asuna's ideal birth worlds. Although the fall of Auradon itself was unfathomable and the exact aftereffects of this event were unknown, it is certain that Petra Venj was the only survivor.
Reign of the Shadows
Eliksni Rebellion
- "For centuries, the Great Machine abandoned us and left our home for dead with the Whirlwind. But now, the Black Swordsman and the Lightning Flash have shown us the way to true freedom and great salvation."
"Our enemies will try to rise up against us... to kill the heroes of Aincrad and end our future, but little do they know that they're already dead even before they move a single inch. The fall of false happiness was just the beginning. Darkness lives forever, and so shall we!" - — Kotrik and Eramis, rallying the Fallen
During this time, the House of Shadows and their Shadow Splicers, led by Kotrik and Eramis, would launch multiple attacks against various Fallen Houses, slaughtering those loyal to their respective Kells and sparing those who cast off their loyalties to serve Kirito and Asuna. Upon hearing about this, Variks would rally the Awoken survivors and rebuild the House of Judgment, hoping to give the Guardians enough help to fight back against the House of Shadows, while Koriks and Nagihiko would expand the forces of the House of Flame and recruit fellow anime watchers to prevent Kotrik from corrupting the rest of the Fallen.
Hive-Light War
During this time, the Shadow Swarm, led by Zharves and Xyurdok, would massacre entire waves of Lightbearers and introduce the Hive to the Shadow Logic, a new method of paracausal tribute-gathering that combined The Sword Logic with Imbaru and served as a key to accelerating the progress of the Dark Traveler. At the same time, unbeknownst to them, Savathûn, the Witch Queen and Xivu Arath, God of War and their respective armies would rebuild the Osmium Throne as their lair and rally the Hive for a terrifying brawl that would determine the fate of humanity.
War of Harmonies
During this time, the Shadow Divisive, led by Hydrax, would prepare the entire world for the creation of the Shadowkeepers' future and lead an assault against time travelers of the Light, seeking to prevent their sparks of revolution from coming into fruition.
Red War
During this time, the Shadow Legion, led by Gha'arn, would invade the Tri-State Area and kill off all of its inhabitants before turning it into a Cabal empire under the rule of Emperor Ghaul, while most of the Shadows would betray Calus before killing him and overthrowing the Leviathan.
Second Taken War
During this time, the Reborn, led by Thu'urg and Phoenixaro's Echo, would lay waste to the Hidden Leaf Village and execute Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno before surrounding all of Konoha with Taken Blights, while Sasuke Uchiha would go on to become the Hokage.
Hunt for the Scorn
During this time, the Cult of Shadows, led by Fikrul's right hand, Vayeriks, would go on to murder various Awoken bystanders and members of the Old Resistance within the Tangled Shore and turn it into a lawless wasteland.
Genesis Revolution
Aftermath
Solar Coalition
(TBA)
Evangelion's Arrival
- "In defeating the Black Swordsman, the Guardians have proved themselves useful... and now, we can finally move on to the next phase."
- — Evangelion, a few days before the events of Last Smile
Some time after the creation of the Solar Coalition, a mysterious Warlock by the name of Evangelion would rise to power and set up base alongside his partners Mar Novu, Mayura, Parado, Ryuko Matoi, and Tokyo within the Horizonwake aboard the Isle of the Lost, looking for the Guardians who helped bring an end to the Apocalypse so that he can help them prepare for what's coming.
Appearances
- Destiny 2
- Paradox (First appearance)
- Fractured Worlds (Mentioned only)