NOVEL NEXT Chapter 0103: Heading To The Family!
With a final leap, he surged above the apex beast, black flaming lotus circling his fists. He descended, slamming both palms onto the apex's back, sending a blinding flash of fire, shadow, and lightning into its body. The chamber shook violently as the impact exploded outward, ice shattering, debris flying in every direction.
The apex beast screamed, a long, piercing wail that shook the very foundation of the pyramid. Its massive body twitched, then collapsed onto the floor, cracks spreading across the frozen ground from its massive frame. Smoke and energy flickered across its scales, and finally, the creature's aura dimmed, leaving only a faint golden ember where its heart had been.
[Gained 25,000 Shadow Fragments!]
Modret landed lightly, exhaling slowly, his body humming with the influx of new power. Universe Realm strength surged through him, more potent than ever before. He flexed his fingers, feeling every particle of energy within his control, every shadow, flame, and spark of lightning resonating in perfect harmony. It was intoxicating, almost enough to make him forget the ruined battlefield around him.
The half-humans watched, stunned, their faces pale with awe. None dared step forward yet, not until Modret nodded and gestured them closer.
"Check the remaining chambers," he said. "If there are more awakened beasts, finish them. Make sure no one falls behind."
They nodded vigorously, almost tripping over themselves to obey, then scattered across the broken ruins to engage the remaining threats. Their fear mixed with admiration, and Modret could sense it clearly. To them, he was no longer a leader. He was something greater. A force.
Modret, however, had no intention of stopping. His gaze slowly lifted toward the highest chamber of the Ice Pyramid. That was where the true source of this chaos waited, the one responsible for awakening these beasts and challenging all who dared enter.
Stepping into the shadows, Modret moved silently, the remains of the apex beast's aura still radiating faintly behind him. His senses extended outward, brushing against the energy of the pyramid itself. It pulsed with a rhythm, a heartbeat of immense power that told him he was nearing the central chamber.
The corridors narrowed as he ascended. Ice hung like jagged teeth above him, and frozen mist swirled around his feet. Each step rang faintly against the crystal floor. Faint light flickered ahead, golden and crimson, blending with shadows in a way that made it impossible to tell where the chamber began or ended. Still, Modret's instincts guided him, every step calculated, every breath steady.
The silence grew heavier. Even the echoes of battle below had faded. Only the low rumble of the pyramid remained, a sign that the structure itself was reacting to his presence.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the hallway, carrying with it a low, guttural growl that made the ice tremble. Modret froze. The energy signature was immense, thicker and more oppressive than any beast he had faced so far. He could feel the raw, unrefined power pressing against his mind like a cold, crushing grip. Universe Realm strength alone would not be enough if he was careless. He would have to think. He would have to move with precision and fight without hesitation.
A faint crack echoed.
Then another.
The chamber doors ahead shattered violently as a humanoid figure emerged, shrouded in shadows and flickering flames. Its eyes glowed deep crimson, and an aura of chaotic energy spread outward, distorting the air. The temperature spiked and dropped in rapid bursts, the ice groaning under the pressure.
"You've come far, mortal," the deep, resonant voice echoed through the hallway. "But this ends here."
Modret's grin widened, sharp and eager. "Good. I was hoping for a proper challenge."
The shadowed figure surged forward, energy crackling violently. The Ice Pyramid trembled as fragments of ice spiraled outward like missiles. Modret stepped into the attack without fear, flames and lightning merging with shadow energy as he countered. Their collision sent a shockwave that shattered the surrounding walls, the sound deafening and the explosion of light almost painful.
This was no ordinary awakened beast. This was a master. A guardian of the Ice Pyramid. A being that had commanded all the chaos from the shadows.
And yet, Modret's power had grown to match it.
The figure lunged again, moving faster than most eyes could follow. Its claws tore through the air, carving streaks of distortion into the frozen walls. Modret responded with a swift burst of shadow movement, disappearing from sight before reappearing above the enemy's head. He brought his fist down, black lotus spinning and gathering force, but the guardian raised an arm to block. The impact created a crater beneath them, chunks of ancient ice blasting upward.
The guardian snarled, pushing Modret back with sheer physical force. Modret skidded along the ground before stabilizing himself, a thin line of steam rising from the ice where his feet had dragged. He wiped a streak of blood from his lip and chuckled quietly.
"Not bad," he said. "You actually draw blood."
The guardian responded with another surge of energy. Frozen air condensed into spears that shot toward Modret in a relentless volley. Modret flicked his fingers, and lightning spread across his arms before erupting outward in a crackling shield. Sparks and shards clashed, scattering across the chamber like glittering stars.
The guardian roared again and brought both hands together. Shadow flames spiraled into a single destructive orb that pulsed with chaotic force. The floor warped under its presence. The ceiling trembled.
If it touched him, even Modret knew he would be torn apart.
Modret inhaled sharply. The black lotus behind him expanded, petals burning like miniature suns. His veins pulsed with fire and lightning, his shadow energy coiling like a serpent ready to strike.
He stepped forward, calm, focused, and unafraid.
"This is what you wanted," he said quietly. "A fight worthy of your title."
He launched himself forward, meeting the guardian at the center of the chamber as their powers collided once more.
The battle had truly begun.