Chapter 251: Chapter 236: Shadow Shard
At the end of the passage was a spacious hall.
The hall was circular, about thirty meters in diameter. In the center stood a huge crystal pillar, its body covered in complex and intricate Star Runes.
Those Runes emitted a faint silver glow, which was particularly striking in the dim environment.
"This is..." Ian’s gaze flickered.
He walked to the crystal pillar and reached out to touch its surface.
A cold sensation spread from his fingertips, and along with it, a faint but pure fluctuation of Star Energy.
"The Star Spirit Race’s rune technology," Ian muttered to himself.
This was some of the scattered information recorded in the data Alevia had brought.
He could feel that the structure of these Runes was extremely exquisite; every single line contained a profound understanding of Star Energy.
If he could decipher these Runes, it could provide significant inspiration for his Meditation Method, [Starry Sky Festival], and even his Star Bloodline on the projection side.
But time was limited.
Ian took out a blank Crystal Plate from his Dimension Ring, pressed his palm against the pillar, and his Spiritual Power surged in like a tide.
’Record.’
The rune structure on the pillar’s surface was completely imprinted and stored in the Crystal Plate.
The entire process took less than a minute.
"Done." Ian put away the Crystal Plate, his gaze sweeping across the hall.
The hall had four exits, each leading in a different direction.
Three of the exits were pitch-black, and it was impossible to tell where they led.
The fourth exit faintly glowed with a pale blue light—the fluctuation of Water Attribute Energy.
"This way," Ian said, pointing to the exit with the pale blue glow.
Gaga had no objection, only reminding him in a low voice.
"Ian, be careful. I feel like... the Shadow is thick over there."
"The Shadow is thick?" Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Perfect. Your chance has come."
The two walked into the exit, one after the other.
The passage was much narrower than before, only wide enough for one person to pass through.
The Memory Material on the walls became denser, and the images grew more frantic.
Countless figures of the Star Spirit Race ran, roared, and melted deep within the walls, like a silent, horrifying pantomime.
Ian forced himself not to look at the images.
The [Spirit Devourer] trait in his Sea of Spirit pulsed faintly, Devouring and Purifying the chaotic "echoes" that invaded his consciousness.
After walking for about two hundred meters, the way ahead suddenly opened up.
It was a naturally formed cavern. Countless dark blue stalactites hung from the ceiling, their surfaces glistening with moisture.
In the center of the cavern was a deep blue pool.
The pool wasn’t large, only about five meters in diameter, but its water was so deep you couldn’t see the bottom.
The water’s surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the silhouettes of the stalactites on the ceiling.
And around the pool, the Shadow was so thick it was almost tangible.
Like some kind of "living" Shadow Energy.
It slowly writhed at the pool’s edge, like a living black tide.
"Gaga!"
Gaga suddenly grew excited, its small eyes fixed on a spot at the edge of the pool.
"There! Ian, there’s something there!"
Ian followed its gaze.
In a crevice of an inconspicuous rock at the pool’s edge was a small, jet-black fragment.
The fragment was only the size of a fingernail, its surface covered in fine cracks.
But deep within the cracks flowed a "darkness" so profound it was absolute.
A darkness of "Void" that Devoured all light, all Energy, all existence.
"A fragment of Eternal Shadow..." Ian’s pupils contracted slightly.
The data had mentioned this. It was Cosmic Dark Matter used in experiments by the Star Spirit Race, a priceless treasure for Shadow Element creatures.
"Gaga, go get it," Ian said in a low voice.
Gaga could no longer hold back. With a flap of its wings, it transformed into a streak of black light and shot toward the fragment.
But just as it was about to touch the fragment, something unexpected happened!
The calm surface of the pool suddenly exploded!
Three jet-black figures shot out from the water.
They had no physical bodies and were composed entirely of dense Shadow Energy.
Their forms were twisted like phantoms, their speed was extreme, and they lunged straight for Gaga.
Shadow Binders!
And three of them at once.
"Watch out!" Ian shouted sharply, already raising his right hand.
But Gaga’s reaction was faster than his.
[Shadow Jump]!
The streak of black light abruptly vanished in mid-air, reappearing a second later in another shadow twenty meters away.
The three Shadow Binders missed, but they didn’t pause. Their bodies melted like liquid into the surrounding shadows and instantly vanished.
When they reappeared, they had already surrounded Gaga.
"Gaga!"
A fierce glint flashed in Gaga’s eyes. Its wings spread once more, and a dark luster appeared on its jet-black feathers.
Rudimentary [Shadow Messenger]—Full Outburst!
The surrounding Shadow Energy began to boil as if it had heard a command.
It formed into countless jet-black tentacles that madly collided with and tore at the three Shadow Binders!
A war between shadows, with no sound and no light, only violent tremors on the energy level.
Ian didn’t rashly interfere.
He knew this was Gaga’s opportunity, as well as a test for it.
Devouring the fragment of Eternal Shadow with its own power would stimulate its bloodline’s potential to the fullest.
He wasn’t idle, either.
He fully extended his Spiritual Perception, placing the entire cavern under his surveillance.
At the same time, the Rice Grain-sized black dot reappeared in the palm of his right hand.
The [Gravity Collapse Ball] was ready to be launched at any moment.
In the center of the cavern, the battle between Gaga and the three Shadow Binders had already reached a fever pitch.
The shadow tentacles and the Shadow Binders’ bodies constantly collided, were annihilated, and regenerated.
Every clash consumed a massive amount of Shadow Energy.
Gaga was clearly at a disadvantage.
After all, it was only at Tier One Middle Stage, while each of the three Shadow Binders had an energy intensity close to Tier One Peak—not to mention it was three against one.
But Gaga didn’t back down.
A blazing fighting spirit burned in its small eyes. Every time it was knocked back, it would immediately counterattack with even more ferocious shadow tentacles.
Gradually, Ian noticed something strange.
The shadowy luster on Gaga’s body was rapidly becoming deeper and more solid.
The shadow tentacles it controlled also became more agile and powerful.
It was absorbing the Shadow Energy from the battle!
Its rudimentary [Shadow Messenger] form was rapidly growing in the high-intensity shadow War!
A hint of approval flashed in Ian’s eyes. ’Very good...’
Just then, Gaga suddenly let out a sharp cry!
Its wingspan expanded to its limit of over twenty meters, its jet-black feathers standing on end.
The shadowy luster flowing over its surface suddenly became blindingly bright!
The [Shadow Messenger] Talent Awakened once more!
BOOM!
With Gaga at the center, the Shadow Energy within a thirty-meter radius went completely berserk!
It was no longer under the control of the Shadow Binders; instead, it converged on Gaga as if paying homage to a king.
Behind it, a five-meter-tall, jet-black phantom took shape!
The phantom was blurry and indistinct; one could only vaguely make out the silhouette of a bird.
But the pressure it emitted made all three Shadow Binders freeze in place.
"Gaga!"
Gaga tilted its head back and let out a Soul-piercing shriek.
The jet-black phantom moved in tandem, spreading its wings and transforming into a small Shadow Storm that completely engulfed the three Shadow Binders!
In the storm, Shadow Energy madly strangled, tore, and Devoured.
The three Shadow Binders didn’t even have a chance to struggle before they were crushed and assimilated by the storm.
Finally, they were reduced to the purest Shadow Energy and absorbed into Gaga’s body.
The storm lasted for about five breaths before slowly dissipating.
Gaga landed back on the ground, its wingspan retracting to its normal size.
But the aura it exuded was at least twice as strong as before!
Its small eyes glimmered with a profound, dark light, and a faint black mist swirled around its body—a sign of its Shadow Energy manifesting externally.
"You succeeded?" Ian asked, walking to its side.
"I succeeded, gaga!" Gaga’s voice was filled with excitement.
"I can feel it... the shackles deep in my bloodline have been broken! The Shadow Messenger... has Awakened again!"
With a flap of its wings, its body instantly merged with the shadows, reappearing a second later in another shadow a hundred meters away.
The distance and precision of its [Shadow Jump] had at least doubled.
The residual Shadow Energy in the cavern slowly calmed down as Gaga excitedly flapped its wings.
"Ian! I feel... so strong, gaga!"
A profound light flickered in its small eyes. With a gentle flap of its wings, it turned into a black line, flashing continuously between several patches of shadow in the cavern.
A trace of relief flashed across Ian’s eyes, but his expression remained calm.
"Rein in your aura. It’s time to go."
He walked to the edge of the pool and pried out the fragment of "Eternal Shadow".
The fingernail-sized fragment was cold to the touch. It didn’t feel like a material substance, but more like a kind of solidified "Void".
Deep within the cracks, the darkness seemed to devour one’s very sight.
"Take it." Ian handed the fragment to Gaga.
Gaga extended its small, delicate beak and carefully took the fragment.
The moment the fragment touched its feathers, it automatically melted into a wisp of pure Shadow Energy and seeped into its body.
Gaga trembled all over, its feathers standing on end, and it let out a satisfied purr.
"So comfortable, gaga... It’s like I drank a big gulp of iced shadow essence..."
"Let’s go."
Ian didn’t linger and turned toward the exit on the other side of the cavern.
This passage was even narrower, only wide enough for a person to pass through sideways.
The Memory Material on the walls seemed to be on the verge of overflowing. Countless twisted faces of the Star Spirit Race were pressed against the "walls," their empty eye sockets staring fixedly at anyone who passed.
Ian forced himself not to look. In his Sea of Spirit, the crystalized point of light spun gently, forming a thin spiritual barrier.
The [Spirit Devourer] trait operated slowly in the depths of his consciousness, Devouring and Purifying the occasional fragments of negative emotion that seeped in.
After walking for about ten minutes, he heard the faint sound of flowing water ahead.
At the end of the passage was a naturally formed stone bridge, and beneath it was a bottomless, dark river.
The river water was a strange, dark purple, with specks of pale phosphorescence floating on its surface.
On the other side of the stone bridge was an even more expansive space.
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