CH 146 At Light

Nothing has meaning on its own. Meaning is something that gets determined later. Humans are born, grow up, and die all without meaning. It's only when a life's over that you finally see what it meant. That's what life is, Mash. We don't live in order to create meaning. We live so meaning can be found from our life.

— Dr. Roman

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Today's meme is here. [ ]

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Possibly not, as the task might be beyond simple magic's capacity. Then again, he could be mistaken. The multiverse is chaos; the omniverse lacks rules. Nothing is definite or constant in this realm.

'… I suppose I'll eventually find out. Until then, all I can do is wait.'

His heartbeat quickened.

Jin meticulously stored all nineteen bottles in his Inventory, along with the remaining ingredients. Even now, he had numerous other items to deal with.

'One ring, one longsword, two daggers, and two japtems.' Because Baran was the boss of the dungeon, it certainly coughed up a lot of loot. This proverbial pile of treasure was a sight for sore eyes, but there was no reason to go through all of them right now. Indeed, his priority lay in getting out of here to see the outside world and how far the story had progressed without him.

Jin simply dumped all the items acquired from the corpse of the Demon King and other demons in his trusty Inventory. After lightly dusting his hands and changing his clothes, as the last ones got destroyed again, he took a look around.

'I have a pressing matter to attend to, but….'

….But he shouldn't miss out on other things because of that, right? Wasn't there an old saying about "Patience and precision are the cornerstones of victory; the hastiest path rarely leads to triumph," or "Rushing into decisions only sharpens the blade of defeat," or something like that?

Jin looked behind him and found his Shadow Soldiers standing at attention in rows, having massacred an army five hundred times their number. Behind his soldiers, dead demons were strewn about everywhere, and they were picking up the somewhat intact corpses.

'What about the fake Sky Dragon?'

Jin's wandering gaze hurriedly searched for the monster that the Demon King rode around in. All he could spot was blood and gore, with piles of things resembling demons, but not a hint of the fake Sky Dragon anywhere.

Then, after sensing him, Jin looked at Iron, who was dragging a limp corpse behind him. It was none other than the Sky Dragon, Kaisellin.

"Iron, nicely done."

Maybe Iron felt embarrassed by Jin's praise, which was a first in a while, because he began scratching the back of his head. Of course, it was still the back of his helmet, though.

Jin lightly patted Iron's shoulder and stood before the fake Sky Dragon's body.

'As I suspected.'

Just as he had seen from the monster's name and appearance, he could see black smoke slowly rising from the corpse of the fake Sky Dragon. This meant it was possible to extract its shadow.

Jin extended his hand.

"Arais."

The Shadow Extraction worked without any problems whatsoever, perhaps due to the level and power gap between the two.

Kiyaaaahhhk-!

Accompanied by the death throes of a beast, a creature covered in some type of black gas crawled out of the fake Sky Dragon's shadow. The dead Wyvern shadow immediately recognized his new owner and lowered his head in front of Jin.

[Please assign the name of the Shadow Soldier.]

It must've been pretty handy in battles because the Sky Dragon's shadow started right away as a Knight grade. Considering that the whiz of the Shadow Army, Igris, had also been a Knight grade not too long ago, it made sense. Since all the monsters and soldiers that weren't below Knight grade.

There was no way a boss referred to as the 'Demon King' would ride on a weak, pathetic monster, after all. Jin was genuinely satisfied with the grade of his new soldier.

Now, I had five soldiers who could fly, carrying huge weights without losing speed: Typhon, Pterodactyl, King Gappi, Wyvern from Akame Ga Kill, and now him.

Soon I will claim many dragons that I could ride upon becoming a proper rider. Who could ride even dragons.

Soon I will have the strongest mythical creatures in my army, and they will fill the sky abundantly.

As he replied to the System message naming this beast…

"…Kaisel."

The Sky Dragon, now bestowed with a brand new name, raised his head high into the sky and let out a lengthy roar.

Kiiieeeehhk!!

"Behold, my warriors! Your dedication and valor have carved a path to resounding triumph. The demons that stood against you now lie defeated, a testament to your unyielding spirit.

Your actions have painted the battlefield with glory, and your perseverance has turned the tide of battle. Rejoice, for you have earned the honor you so rightfully deserve.

Through sweat and steel, you've etched your names into the annals of the shadow army.

In every swing of your blade and every incantation whispered, you've forged a legacy of valor. This success is not just a milestone, but a reflection of your character."

"Distinguished warriors, your unyielding dedication has led us to an incredible victory. Amidst the chaos of battle, your unwavering resolve has shone brighter than the sun, dispelling the darkness that dared to challenge me.

Behold the fruits of your labor, the fallen demons strewn across the battlefield. Each one is a testament to your unmatched skill and courage. It is not just a triumph; it's a symphony of your unwavering spirit playing out in every strike, every spell, every battle cry.

As we stand here, triumphant, remember that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Your relentless pursuit of excellence has brought us to the cusp of new beginnings. The path to greatness lies before you, and your journey has illuminated it with every step.

The demons you've vanquished were not mere adversaries; they were stepping stones on your ascent to glory. Your dedication, your sacrifices, have forged a legacy that will forever be etched in the annals of my history.

With this victory, you've come one step closer to the recognition you so rightfully deserve. A rank-up is not just a promotion; it's a proclamation of your mastery, a reward for your ceaseless commitment to our cause.

But let not your hearts be heavy, for even as we celebrate today's success, remember that tomorrow holds even greater promises. The challenges ahead may be daunting, but your spirits have proven to be unbreakable. Embrace the future with the same valor that led us to this triumph.

So, raise your heads high, champions of this day! Let your spirits soar as you gaze upon the battlefield where your valor was proven beyond doubt. As we march forward, let the echoes of today's victory be the anthem that drives us towards the uncharted horizons of triumph yet to come."

The scene was bathed in a serene white light, a stark contrast to the battles that had raged just moments ago. Jin, their leader, stood before them, his words a powerful proclamation of their achievements. The soldiers, their hearts still racing from the recent combat, were momentarily frozen in shock. Their lord, their commander, had just bestowed upon them unprecedented praise.

The weight of his words began to sink in, and slowly, as if in unison, they raised their heads. Faces that had borne the fierceness of battle were now softened with surprise and pride. And then, as if the very heavens themselves were echoing their sentiment. 

ROAR!!! KIIIEEEEHHK!!! HOWL!!! SCREECH!!! 

the soldiers let out a resounding roar. It started as a rumble, a primal sound deep from within their chests, and it grew louder and more thunderous, until it resonated through the air like a triumphant symphony.

ROAR!!! KIIIEEEEHHK!!! HOWL!!! SCREECH!!! 

The first voice broke through, a warrior's roar that set the tone for what was to come. One by one, they joined in, their roars mingling with the air, a chorus of triumph that surged forth like a tidal wave. The sound was deafening, a manifestation of their pride, their unity, and their unbreakable spirit.

But it didn't end with just roars. As if the celebration couldn't be contained within mere vocalizations, the soldiers clapped their gauntleted hands together. The applause began softly, like a distant drumbeat, but it swelled rapidly, like a storm gathering its strength. The claps resonated, a rhythmic melody that merged with the roars, creating an awe-inspiring cacophony of sound.

The very ground beneath their feet seemed to vibrate, as if moved by the sheer force of their jubilation. The sound waves radiated outwards, touching every corner of the battlefield, every soldier, every beast. It was a celebration that transcended words, a shared moment of exultation that bound them all.

And at the center of it stood Jin, their leader, their lord. His expression remained one of quiet satisfaction, his eyes reflecting the pride he felt for each of his soldiers. The cheers, the roars, the applause — they all washed over him, a testament to the bond that had been forged through battles.

Amidst the roars and screeches, growls and cheers, Jin and his soldiers shared a moment of victory that would forever be etched in their memories. It was a celebration of their strength, their unity, and their unyielding spirit. And as the echoes of their jubilation faded, they were left with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to face whatever challenges the future might hold.

With this, after everything had calmed down and they had collected everything they could, Jin stored all of his Shadow Soldiers, including the new addition of Kaisel, back into his shadow. It was almost time to make his exit from the Demon's Castle. However, one more thing remained.

Jin opened the inbox, where the quest completion messages were still waiting for him.

[You have completed 'Normal Quest: Collect the Souls of Demons! (2).]

[Completion rewards are now available.]

[Will you confirm the rewards?] (Y/N)

'Yes, obviously.'

As soon as he answered, the list of rewards popped up in his view.

Ring.

[Following rewards are made available.]

1. One highest-grade Rune Stone

2. Bonus Stat points +30

3. Unknown reward

[Will you take them all?]

This was the 'Shadow Exchange' skill, one more way to get out of touch situations, but I don't think it would work if space was locked, with techniques and spells like dimensional lock or higher versions of it.

But hey, if grander equates to excellence, then embracing more will surely yield even greater triumphs. Jin chose to take that one first.

'Okay, I choose the first reward for the time being.'

Ring.

['Highest-grade Rune Stone: Shadow Exchange' has been delivered.]

After that message came and went, he felt a small rock residing within his palm. When he brought his hand closer to his nose and opened it, he found a jet-black Rune Stone resting there. Its color was completely different from the 'regular' Rune Stones. Also, its hue came across as so much more mysterious compared to the average black color.

Crumble.

Unlike in the past, when he physically had to break the Stone, the item crumbled all on its own the moment he thought about squeezing his hand.

The pitch-black aura rising up from the shattered Rune Stone slowly enveloped Jin, before getting absorbed into his body. He hurriedly checked his Skill Window.

[Skill: Shadow Exchange Lv.1]

Class-specific skill.

Mana required to activate: None.

The summoner can switch locations with the designated Shadow Soldier.

Once activated, you must wait three hours of 'cool down' period before being able to use the skill again. The 'cool down' period will change according to the Skill's level.

'Nice!!!'

Sure, it might be handicapped by the limitation of the cool down period, but… No, instead, it was an incredible skill that perhaps necessitated that cool down period to make it fair.

'Doesn't this mean it's possible to switch locations regardless of where my Shadow Soldier is?' Is it possible by dimension switch? If so, can I switch locations in the multiverse or to any world where one of the shadow soldiers is? If so, who is stopping from world hopping to the world I have gone through?

Depending on how he used it, this was almost on the level of teleportation. Jin tried to teleport himself but it didn't work as he can't teleport from one dimension to another. Jin was about to summon a Telo as he could teleport to any place he put his mark on even if it's in an entirely different dimension. But now he quickly changed his mind.

'If I'm to test it out, I might as well try it with a soldier that's really far away.'

Thankfully, he did leave behind a handful of soldiers outside the Demon's Castle. He hid six of them in his sister's shadow, while five were patrolling the district as of this moment.

'There's nothing to think about, is it?'

He didn't know what kind of an after-effect the skill might have, and also, he couldn't just haphazardly pop out near his sister's location either. And that was after setting aside the possibility of his sister freaking out too.

So, he sought out the 'signal' emitted from one of the five Shadow Soldiers patrolling around his district and zeroed in on it.

"….Shadow Exchange."

As soon as Jin opened his mouth…

As if gravity was powerfully pulling him down, he was rapidly sucked into his shadow.

Just before Jin was completely swallowed up by his shadow, he heard another message issued by the System.

[The dungeon's interior will revert back to its original appearance with the death of….]

The sensation of him falling didn't last long. Suddenly, the gravity's direction reversed, and he was now being lifted back up at the same speed as he was being sucked in.

His darkened vision reverted back to the original state in no time at all, it was faster than even a Planck second second smallest unit of time. One Planck time is the time it would take a photon travelling at the speed of light to cross a distance equal to one Planck length.