"The copper coffin is large, but compared to a slightly larger primal beast, it still feels small," Kent thought, analyzing the situation.
According to common knowledge, the size of an alternate space is generally proportional to the size of the cloud formation at the entrance. In other words, the larger the alternate space, the larger the cloud, and the smaller the space, the smaller the cloud. Therefore, based on the size of the colorful cloud inside the copper coffin, this alternate space should be rather small, even smaller than the Bullhorn Mountain Secret Realm.
The fact that the contents of the coffin had disappeared without signs of grave robbers confirmed Kent's suspicion—there was likely a creature residing in the alternate space.
A small alternate space could not support many creatures. Kent didn't need to think too much about it.
"I have to go in and check," Kent decided after a moment of contemplation.
He stored Garfield and Wukong in his Beastmaster's bracelet, then leapt into the coffin, approaching a small portal within the cloud. As he stepped forward, he felt a strong pulling force, and the surroundings were plunged into darkness, as if falling into a bottomless pit. A powerful wind began to surge beneath him.
About ten seconds later, Kent sensed light ahead.
"I remember it took about half a minute last time in the Bullhorn Mountain Secret Realm," Kent noted cautiously.
When he looked around, he found himself in a cave, with another cloud of colors. The cave was primitive and small, with light filtering in from the outside. Kent immediately walked out of the cave and was taken aback by the sight before him—this alternate space was indeed pitifully small.
The entire space was only the size of a football field. Aside from a patch of red earth, there was nothing else—no mountains, rivers, clouds, or winds. The sky was only about a hundred meters high, and the light came from the space's walls, emitting a piercing white glow.
Kent was momentarily dumbfounded. What kind of terrible place was this?
"Wait, there must be life here," Kent realized.
Though at first glance it seemed empty, not even a bug could survive here, Kent suspected that there was something hidden—a living creature capable of surviving in such an environment.
"Shutting off oxygen supply," he decided, to further confirm his theory.
After closing off the oxygen supply in his helmet, Kent soon felt a suffocating sensation.
"No oxygen?" he thought, quickly reopening the oxygen supply. He was running low on oxygen, only having enough for about half an hour.
Feeling an urgent need to investigate, he activated his fiery eyes with golden pupils and began a meticulous search.
"Wait, there's a skeleton over there, with piles of gold and jewels," Kent noticed as he found the remains of the tomb's owner and their burial treasures. This only strengthened his belief that there was a creature in this space, even if it had not been found yet.
"This is strange. In such a small place, where could it possibly hide?" Kent pondered.
He suspected that the creature possessed intelligence, the ability to think, and could perfectly camouflage itself, even rendering Kent's fiery eyes with golden pupils ineffective.
Kent searched repeatedly for about ten minutes, but found nothing, feeling a little discouraged.
"Wait, if the creature can move the bones, it must be a physical entity," Kent reasoned.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. If he couldn't find the creature by searching, perhaps he could make it reveal itself.
Kent pretended to faint, lying still as if lifeless, without any movement.
Around five minutes later, he heard a faint sound.
In this empty space, with no wind, rain, or lightning, how could there be any noise?
Kent's heart skipped a beat. He sensed the creature approaching. Though the sound was extremely faint, in this quiet space, it was impossible to miss.
The noise continued, getting closer—very cautiously, it seemed.
Kent's anxiety grew, but he remained still, closing his eyes. He felt as if he were walking a tightrope, with no sense of safety.
The sound continued to approach, and Kent could tell it was just a few meters away, getting closer and closer.
Finally, Kent spun around and opened his eyes, but saw nothing.
"How is that possible? This can't be an illusion, I'm not dreaming."
Kent activated his fiery eyes with golden pupils and stared intently at the spot. After a full minute of searching, nothing had changed.
In a moment of inspiration, Kent threw his military dagger at the spot, and it instantly punctured the air, splattering a pitch-black liquid and eliciting a painful cry.
Then, a smoky black figure began to rise from the ground, resembling a humanoid face with three eyes—grayish-white, lacking pupils.
Its body had no solid shape, flowing like liquid, constantly shifting and morphing.
Kent was stunned. He had never seen such a creature before, even after studying countless records.
"Scan."
A flash of golden light appeared in Kent's eyes as the scan succeeded.
"Name: Light-Devouring Shadow Beast
Beast Rank: High Heaven Rank
Beast Level: Level 9
...
Abilities: 1. Light Devouring: Absorbs all light, becoming invisible like a black hole. 2. Shadow Theft: Can steal shadows and exist as a shadow."
Kent's face showed shock as he read the information. He had never encountered such an extraordinary creature before.
"It can devour all light. No wonder my fiery eyes with golden pupils couldn't detect it. This is even better than invisibility," Kent thought in amazement.
"Also, Shadow Theft is even more impressive. Light Devouring is a high-level invisibility, while Shadow Theft is in a manifested state. Its body has no shape, like black mist, so it can become any shadow. And once it steals a shadow, it can solidify, making it impossible to see through."
Kent immediately considered the various ways this ability could be used—it was extremely powerful.
"If I can contract this beast, I'll be set. This is a high-grade Heaven Rank beast, born and nurtured by nature. There probably isn't another one like it in all of Earthstar."
Excited, Kent looked at the contract terms on the beast's panel.
"Contract: Requires 1 pound of host's blood."
Without hesitation, Kent chose to forcibly contract the beast. Instantly, he felt his blood diminish, and he became somewhat sluggish and exhausted.
The Light-Devouring Shadow Beast, still wounded and frightened, was retreating in panic, its three eyes showing fear.
However, as the contract was forcibly established, its expression softened, and its body became still, sitting there in confusion, unsure of what to do.
Kent was overjoyed. He quickly took out a blood-clotting pill and gave it to the creature. Although the Light-Devouring Shadow Beast wasn't a flesh-and-blood being, it still had a form of "blood" that resembled ink.