NOVEL NEXT Chapter 0105: Fighting The Prodigy
The chamber shuddered violently as Modret and the entity clashed midair, a storm of shadow, flame, and ice spiraling outward in every direction. The black lotus around his fists burned hotter than the sun, each spin leaving trails of molten shadow that hissed as they cut through frozen debris.
The entity's arms blurred with unnatural speed, shadowed flames erupting from its claws like living whips. Each strike was calculated, aimed to shred not only Modret's body but the energy that flowed within him. Sparks of lightning and bursts of flame collided with the attacks, detonating in a deafening cascade that sent shards of ice raining like glass over the chamber floor.
Modret twisted midair, letting the force carry him in a brutal arc. With a roar, he brought both fists down simultaneously, black lotus spinning in tandem, merging shadow, lightning, and flame into a single, concentrated surge. The entity braced itself, but even its chaotic energy wavered as the attack struck.
A thunderous explosion tore through the central chamber. Ice cracked, the ceiling groaned, and shards of crystal flew outward like jagged missiles. For a heartbeat, the world seemed suspended, frozen between the clashing forces.
The entity staggered, its form flickering under the onslaught. Crimson eyes glowed furiously, yet for the first time, its voice carried strain. "You… surpass… my expectations…"
Modret smirked, sweat and frost streaking his face, veins pulsing with raw energy. "I don't do expectations. I do results."
Before the entity could recover, he surged forward again. Shadows whipped around him, coiling like serpents ready to strike. Lightning arced from his fists, flames roared along his arms, and black lotus petals burned brighter than ever. With a deafening impact, he slammed his palm into the entity's chest, channeling the entirety of his Universe Realm strength into a single point.
The central chamber convulsed. Ice exploded outward in jagged fragments, and a shockwave of energy rippled through the pyramid, bending the walls and warping the frozen floor. The entity's roar of fury and pain echoed endlessly, merging with the sound of cracking crystal and bursting flames.
Modret's shadow coalesced behind him, stretching into a massive, serpent-like figure that wrapped around the entity, constricting and binding it with shadow, flame, and lightning fused into one unbreakable force.
The entity thrashed violently, energy surging outward in a chaotic tempest. But Modret held firm, his grin widening as he whispered, "This ends now."
With a final, explosive motion, he unleashed the full force of his black lotus. Shadows erupted like miniature suns, flames licked outward, and lightning struck with precision, converging into a cataclysmic strike that tore through the entity's core.
The chamber went silent.
Ice shattered into a thousand shards, mist hung thick in the air, and the once-mighty figure of the entity collapsed into a heap of dissipating shadow and flickering flames. The glow of its crimson eyes dimmed, leaving nothing but scattered embers and golden sparks drifting to the frozen ground.
[Gained 100,000 Shadow Fragments!]
[Gained Mastery of Ice Pyramid Core!]
[New Ability Unlocked: Shadow Incarnation – Merge Shadow, Lightning, and Flame into a single destructive entity.]
Modret exhaled slowly, letting the rush of Universe Realm energy course through his veins. The chamber was in ruins, the Ice Pyramid trembling in the aftermath, yet he stood unscathed, the black lotus spinning fiercely around him as if celebrating victory.
He looked to the remnants of the entity, a faint smile on his lips. "Finally… the master of the Ice Pyramid has fallen."
From the distance, the shattered corridors seemed to whisper, the energy of the pyramid bending around him, acknowledging his triumph. Even in its ruin, the structure resonated with power, yet now, it pulsed in harmony with him.
Modret flexed his fingers, feeling the complete integration of shadow, flame, and lightning within himself. Every particle of energy obeyed his will. He could feel the very heartbeat of the pyramid, its power flowing into him, amplifying his Universe Realm strength beyond what he had ever imagined.
And somewhere deep within, a faint pulse remained—a whisper of challenge, promising that even greater threats waited beyond this victory.
Modret's grin widened, sharp and eager. "Interesting… this was just the beginning."
The chamber trembled with the echoes of the battle long after the entity had fallen. Frost hung in the air like dust, mingling with the faint smoke of burned ice and scorched stone. Jagged shards of crystal littered the floor, glittering in the dim light like frozen stars.
Modret walked forward, black lotus still spinning slowly around his fists, absorbing the remaining residual energy of the guardian and the pyramid itself. Every step he took reverberated through the frozen corridors, a soft hum of power marking his passage.
The half-humans, who had been waiting at the entrance, dared not approach. Awe and fear painted their faces, and their movements were careful, tentative. Modret lifted a hand, letting shadows curl outward, not as a threat but as a boundary. "Approach," he said, his voice calm yet carrying authority that required no repetition.
They moved forward cautiously, their eyes wide with reverence. None spoke immediately, and that was fine. Words were unnecessary when presence alone could command loyalty.
Modret turned toward the center of the chamber where the remnants of the core still pulsed faintly with chaotic energy. He crouched, placing a hand on the largest shard, feeling the heartbeat of the Ice Pyramid beneath it. Shadow, lightning, flame—all coalesced, flowing into him, reinforcing his Universe Realm strength.
[Gained 50,000 Pyramid Residual Energy!]
[Mastery Increased: Universe Realm Strength +20%]
[Skill Enhanced: Shadow Incarnation – Damage and Control Improved]
He stood slowly, letting the power settle. His grin widened, sharp and almost predatory. "You see this?" he asked the half-humans. "This is the price of hesitation. Power doesn't wait for the weak. It demands precision, control, and resolve."
Their silence deepened, but it was now respect, not fear. They nodded, swallowing hard, each one silently committing to following him. Modret's presence alone had elevated him beyond leader—it had transformed him into something closer to a force of nature.
He glanced around the shattered chamber, eyes scanning for the faint pulse of the pyramid's lingering energy. "This pyramid… it isn't done yet," he muttered, almost to himself. The master had fallen, yes, but the heartbeat at the core hinted at deeper mechanisms, layers he had yet to uncover. "It's like a machine… no, like a living being… testing, reacting."
One of the half-humans, braver than the others, stepped forward. "Master… what now? There are more chambers. More… tests?"
Modret smiled, shadows curling up his arms, black lotus petals spinning faster in response. "Then we move. Every test, every chamber, every guardian—it's all part of a ladder. And I intend to climb to the top. No hesitation, no mercy."
He turned toward the narrow corridor that led deeper into the pyramid. The air grew colder as they stepped forward, mist swirling around their boots. Shadows stretched unnaturally along the walls, and faint pulses of crimson and gold light flickered in the distance.
As they advanced, Modret's senses extended outward, brushing against the energy signatures of hidden chambers. He detected dozens of minor guardians, scattered traps, and energy constructs designed to challenge even seasoned warriors. None of it mattered—they were tools for him to conquer.
[Gained Ability: Enhanced Sensory Perception – Detect Energy, Weakness, and Presence within 500 meters]
A soft rumble echoed from the depths, the pyramid itself reacting to their presence. Shadows twisted along the walls, coiling like serpents, hinting at life within the ice. Modret's grin sharpened. "Interesting… someone—or something—has been waiting for me all along."
The half-humans glanced nervously at each other, but none dared question him. Their eyes reflected a mix of fear, awe, and something almost like devotion.
Modret's black lotus flared briefly, petals spinning violently as he whispered, "Let's see what else you've prepared."
And with that, the group plunged deeper into the Ice Pyramid, the frozen corridors twisting like a labyrinth, each step bringing them closer to the true heart of the ancient structure—and whatever entity, far older and far stronger than the fallen guardian, awaited them.
From the deepest shadows, something stirred. A pulse of energy far older than the pyramid itself, a heartbeat that carried intent, hunger, and awareness. It had been waiting… and now it knew that Modret had arrived.
The Ice Pyramid shivered, as though bowing to a new master… or preparing to devour an intruder.
The corridors opened into a vast chamber unlike any Modret had encountered. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, lost in shadow, jagged crystal formations hanging like the teeth of some colossal predator. The floor was a frozen ocean, black veins of shadow pulsing beneath the ice like trapped lightning.
At the center, hovering above a throne of shattered frost and smoke, was the source of the pyramid's heartbeat. Its form was immense, barely humanoid, composed of writhing shadows, molten gold veins, and flames that shifted from crimson to violet with every pulse. Its eyes were twin abysses of light, burning with knowledge, malice, and a predatory intelligence that made even Modret's pulse quicken.