My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 1055 - 1057: Hail The Goddess
Previously on My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger...
A frigid sensation coursed through Damon’s soles and into his very bones the moment his feet encountered the Lake of Tears. This chill transcended the physical, penetrating his skin and stirring within him like an invasive presence.
He then experienced a sensation of falling, an unending descent despite his body’s stillness.
Submerged in an abyssal body of water, direction, surface, and floor ceased to exist. Though his Water Celebration ability usually rendered him impervious to drowning, he found himself unable to breathe.
The water was vast, heavy, and extended beyond his senses, a darkness deeper than any shadow.
In that fleeting, suffocating instant, Damon grasped a profound truth: he wasn't merely immersed in water.
He was contained within something.
Dread, instinctive and primal, washed over him. The fluid surrounding him exhibited an unsettling uniformity, fluctuating between warmth and cold. A faint pulse emanated from it. The boundaries weren't walls but shifting, translucent, living membranes.
Damon realized with dawning horror that he had been swallowed by a creature.
This colossal being was navigating an incomprehensible expanse. Through its translucent flesh, Damon could perceive external shapes—horrifying forms of unimaginable size and alien nature, contorting in ways that defied perspective. Distances warped, and movements lacked any discernible direction.
These were entities that could be witnessed but never truly understood.
Damon blinked.
Upon reopening his eyes, the world had transformed.
Before him loomed a colossal maw, stretching infinitely, unattached to any comprehensible structure. It simply existed, an open, patient void awaiting its next meal. The creature he inhabited was being drawn inexorably towards it, a helpless morsel on its way to a predator that dwarfed existence itself.
And then.
Gasp. Gasp.
Damon violently landed on the stones beside the Lake of Tears, gasping for air and clutching his throbbing head. His vision blurred, and his heart hammered against his ribs with deafening intensity.
Lilith knelt beside him, her hand gripping his shoulder firmly. Her emerald eyes were wide, her breaths shallow. She had managed to pull him out just as the creature and the maw were about to merge.
A slight tremor ran through Damon’s hands. The visions he had endured, the sights and sensations, defied articulation. His mind strained to process imagery that refused to settle, constantly shifting and eluding his memory.
"The Metaverse," the Blind Old Daoist stated softly. "A truly perilous domain. It ranks only second to the Abyss, though some might argue the distinction."
Even his voice held a subtle undertone of unease.
Damon slowly pushed himself upright, drawing a deep, steadying breath. The experience had been terrifyingly close; for a moment, he had genuinely believed he was facing his end.
"You seem remarkably knowledgeable about the Metaverse. Come to think of it, didn't you Outsiders first enter this world through it?"
A faint smile touched the Blind Old Daoist's lips.
"We did. However, we were shielded by the Unknown God. The Metaverse is not a realm meant for casual travel. Only a select few entities can navigate its infinite expanse safely. Then again, even infinity is a construct of imagination. Any rules you conceive of exist, and any you fail to imagine remain in effect."
Lilith slowly crossed her arms over her chest.
"I've heard the Metaverse is a collective consciousness, a confluence of every entity's mind across existence—past, present, and future, all at once. It is the plane where all thoughts converge."
The old man nodded in affirmation.
"Indeed. Everything that is conceived or imagined takes form there. Every dream and every nightmare. You cannot fathom the terror of it, girl. For thoughts that should remain mere thoughts manifest as reality. A monster you dread might originate from the imagination of an innocent child, or perhaps the shadow of a deeply tormented soul."
Damon found this description deeply unsettling.
On any given day, his mind conjured numerous terrible visions. He constantly grappled with dark thoughts, fear, doubt, and lingering memories. The notion that all of these existed somewhere as tangible realities sent a shiver of profound disquiet through him.
The Metaverse did not merely observe thoughts; it gave them tangible form.
"If that's the case, shouldn't positive creations also exist there?" Lilith inquired gently.
The Blind Old Daoist leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me, girl. Does this world appear to be one that cultivates dreamers?"
Lilith fell into a thoughtful silence.
Their world was unforgiving, offering no solace to gentle minds or hopeful fantasies. It forged individuals through hardship and the fight for survival. Consequently, imagining horrors was far easier than conceiving miracles.
"Hmm. Then how do we utilize the Lake if it merely leads to our demise? Lazarak certainly didn't leave any instructions," Damon mumbled, rubbing his temple.
"A valid point. However, Junior, you overlook a crucial detail. The Metaverse is a realm shaped by the mind. You must possess a clear target in your thoughts."
He tapped the side of his head.
Lilith appeared visibly uneasy.
"Are you suggesting he must verify his contact? Is that really safe?" Damon closed his eyes for a moment. "I am unsure of who I wish to contact. My choices are limited. The first is the Goddess, but she might very well end me before I get a word out. The second choice involves those who reside within the Crystal Palace. The kin of the Unknown God." The Blind Old Daoist let out a dry chuckle. "I would abstain from that if I were you. Both options are exceedingly perilous for you. Particularly since your connection with the Demon God runs deep. You even possess a bespoke system. The Goddess would undoubtedly obliterate you instantly." Damon's head snapped towards him. "Did you just say what I think you did?" "And what would that be?" the old man inquired gently. "You mentioned my system. I do not recall mentioning that I possessed one." The Blind Old Daoist smirked. "Naturally, I am aware you have a system. Such things carry a significant price. One can procure a rudimentary one from the God of Adventurers, but custom systems demand substantial upkeep. Yours appears to be top-tier, with administrative rights still tied to your sponsor." Damon gazed at him, uncomprehending. Systems were not uncommon? "Moreover, you failed to engage incognito mode." Within his mind, Ashcroft erupted in laughter. "Ah, precisely. I neglected to inform you of that. I assumed you left it visible intentionally, perhaps seeking to flaunt it. To entities in higher planes, it's akin to displaying a novel gadget." Damon did not grasp the full implication but swiftly willed his system into concealment. A subtle flicker in the Blind Old Daoist's eyes confirmed his success, while Ashcroft's mocking laughter continued unabated. Lilith turned her attention back towards the lake. "What of the Unknown God's kin? Would they offer assistance?" The Blind Old Daoist pressed his lips together. "Fear of them is the genesis of wisdom. I would not dare approach them, even in dire straits. To solicit their aid against one of their own implies a disregard for this world that I hadn't anticipated." He elaborated more deliberately. "Those abominations would rend this universe asunder before they would betray one of their own. Consequences be entirely disregarded." Damon perceived that the old man harbored greater apprehension towards them than towards the Goddess of Doom. "So, what course of action remains?" Damon inquired. The Blind Old Daoist fell silent for a span. "How many other deities do you know? You could attempt to transmit a message, though I doubt their intervention. This falls within Doom's dominion. Your alternative is to seek aid from true demons, a path I strongly discourage." Lilith opened her mouth, but the old man gestured negatively. "True dragons will not lend their support. Any other entity would prove insufficient." He drew a slow breath. "I have no desire for the cessation of all existence. I have only existed for less than a million years. I am still youthful. I do not wish to witness the Omniverse reduced to nothingness." He turned his sightless gaze towards Damon. "With that understanding, you must summon the courage to face the Goddess." Lilith's expression instantly soured. She didn't require Damon's affirmation to know he would detest this proposal. "She is the Goddess of Doom, the mistress of all inevitability. When you encounter her, lower your head, prostrate yourself, and offer prayers." Damon bit his lip, deep in thought. "Does the Goddess truly warrant such reverence? I hold no particular faith in her." He slowly clenched his fist. "However, I am determined to ensure my Ranar has a future. My pride is a minor concession." Lilith's eyes widened slightly at his resolute decision. Damon stepped once more into the Lake of Tears. This time, his voice resonated with unwavering resolve. "Hail Minerva, Goddess of Doom." The lake's surface began to stir, darkening as the water gradually absorbed the hue of impending doom.
