Chapter 50: Test of Shadows
After a long, grueling day working as a detective, Morpheus decided it was time to put his newfound strength and abilities to the test. He also wanted to try out his new armor, Nightweaver, which felt like an extension of the shadows, blending seamlessly with his enigmatic spirit.
His goal was clear: venture into the Forest of Beasts, not just to test his strength, but to dominate the shadows he now wielded.
As night fell, Morpheus made his way toward the forest on the city's outskirts. The forest was heavily guarded by knights due to the danger it held—ethereal beasts that roamed its depths. Some of these creatures were born from the power of aether itself, while others were once humans who failed to control the aether, transforming into monstrous abominations.
Being a detective, Morpheus had no trouble bypassing the guards. Using his authority, he entered the forest confidently, even as the thick darkness coiled around the trees like the breath of a living entity.
He muttered to himself, his voice resolute:
"I won't let anyone control me—not Cassandra, not fate. If I must consume fate's own shadow to be free, then so be it."
As he ventured deeper into the forest, he encountered an ethereal wolf, slinking through the shadows. In a swift motion, Morpheus activated his new ability, summoning a shadow replica of the wolf beside him. The shadow mirrored the wolf's appearance and skills, though it was weaker in power.
The shadow charged at the real wolf, disorienting it and giving Morpheus the chance to deliver a decisive blow with his sword.
He watched the shadow fade after the battle and thought to himself:
"An incredible power... I can replicate my enemy's shadow to fight alongside me. But it has a glaring flaw."
He paused, reflecting:
"I can only replicate the shadow of someone who is my enemy. If they're not a threat, I can't use this ability."
As he continued deeper into the forest, Morpheus faced an array of creatures:
The Aetheric Raven: A massive bird with wings that shimmered with otherworldly energy, capable of firing ethereal spikes from its feathers.
The Forest's Transformed Warrior: A human who had succumbed to the aether's power, mutating into a spiked, organic-armored monstrosity.
Each time he encountered a new foe, Morpheus used his shadow ability to summon a replica of the enemy. While the shadow replicas weren't as strong as the original creatures, they proved invaluable in distracting and confusing his opponents, granting him the upper hand in combat.
As he wiped ethereal blood off his sword after one of the battles, Morpheus stood still in the middle of the dark forest. He was surrounded by the corpses of beasts and fading shadows. Looking up through the tangled canopy of trees, he murmured:
"This power... the shadows I create... they're not just tools for battle. They're a reflection of my will. A reflection of my desire to be free."
He took a deep breath and continued:
"But to be bound by these limitations... to have this power tied to my enemies... it's a constant reminder that I'm still a prisoner. I have to find a way to evolve this ability, to surpass its boundaries. Only then will I truly be free."
As he ventured deeper into the forest, Morpheus sensed something different. A strange, ethereal light pulsed faintly in the distance. Moving cautiously, he gripped his sword tightly, prepared to use his shadow ability once again.
But this time, it wasn't an ordinary beast waiting for him. It was something far greater—something that would force him to test not just his new strength, The monster was a giant
The Beast and the Crimson Portal
The massive beast towered at nearly 30 meters tall, a radiant blue flame blazing atop its head. Its skin shimmered with a metallic purple hue, exuding an otherworldly aura of power. It wielded a colossal bone-like hammer, a weapon seemingly carved from the remains of some ancient creature.
Morpheus, observing the giant, muttered with a confident smirk:
"What an imposing presence… its strength approaches Level Five. I've faced Level Four beasts before, but only with Lunara's help. This time, it's just me. Perfect to test my true limits."
Morpheus assumed a combat stance, gripping his blade, which hummed faintly with ethereal energy. The giant took notice and unleashed a thunderous roar, sending shockwaves through the forest and shattering trees like twigs.
The giant surged forward, lifting its massive hammer and striking at lightning speed. Morpheus dodged in the nick of time, leaping atop the hammer as it crashed into the ground. In a swift move, he dashed toward the beast's torso, aiming to strike. However, as his blade met the giant's shimmering skin, it deflected effortlessly, sending Morpheus hurtling backward.
"Damn it," Morpheus cursed, landing on his feet and steadying himself. "Even my blade can't scratch its hide. I'll need a stronger weapon."
The beast retaliated with another devastating hammer strike, shaking the earth beneath them. The force was so immense that Morpheus struggled to maintain his footing. Realizing brute force wouldn't suffice, he decided to unleash his new shadow ability.
Focusing his energy, Morpheus summoned a shadowy replica of the giant. The dark figure rose from the ground, mimicking the giant's form and movements. Although not as powerful as the original, the shadow began engaging the giant in combat, creating an opportunity for Morpheus to observe.
Watching the fight, Morpheus analyzed the situation:
"The shadow isn't nearly as strong as the beast… it's barely holding its own. But this ability has incredible potential. Imagine creating shadows of an entire army to fight for me. That would be terrifyingly effective."
While the giant focused on battling its shadowy counterpart, Morpheus prepared a counterattack. Surrounding himself with shadow bombs, tiny orbs resembling black holes, he hurled them at the giant. The resulting explosions shook the ground and sent the giant reeling.
As it stumbled, the shadow clone seized the opportunity, swinging the colossal bone hammer and smashing it into the giant's head with all its might. The impact caused the giant's head to explode, extinguishing the blue flame in a brilliant burst of light.
The shadow dissipated shortly after, leaving Morpheus to reflect:
"The shadow's energy fades quickly. That final attack must have drained all its power."
Believing the beast to be dead, Morpheus approached its fallen form cautiously. To his shock, the creature began moving again.
The giant's purple skin turned a dull gray as it rose to its feet, now headless, wielding its hammer with relentless determination.
Without warning, it swung its weapon at Morpheus. Though he narrowly avoided a direct hit, the force of the blow sent him flying 20 meters, crashing into a massive tree.
Groaning, Morpheus steadied himself and thought:
"Damn, that hurt. Thankfully, my Nightweaver armor absorbed most of the impact. I'll have to go all out now."
Drawing upon his primal instincts, Morpheus unleashed his berserker state. His eyes turned pitch black, and an aura of blood and shadow swirled around him like a violent storm.
He channeled every ounce of energy into his blade, which began glowing with an intense, dark brilliance. With incredible speed, he charged at the giant, dodging its hammer strike and severing its leg in a single, precise slash. The beast toppled onto one knee, roaring in defiance.
Leaping high into the air, Morpheus spun with a spiraling descent. The giant attempted one final strike, but Morpheus narrowly evaded, his blade carving cleanly through the beast's torso as he landed. The giant collapsed, split in half, and lay motionless at last.
From the giant's remains emerged a radiant purple crystal, floating in the air. Morpheus approached it cautiously, recognizing its significance:
"This must be the beast's core… its ethereal essence condensed into one form. If I can absorb it—"
Before he could finish, a crimson butterfly appeared out of nowhere, its shimmering wings glowing with an eerie light.
Morpheus, startled, muttered:
"Where did that come from?"
The butterfly fluttered around him before a crimson portal materialized nearby. He felt an overwhelming force pulling him toward it
Morpheus was swallowed by the portal, finding himself submerged in a crimson vortex, spinning uncontrollably. The sensation was suffocating, as if drowning in endless waves. Suddenly, he was expelled from the crimson vortex
As he stood and looked around, his surroundings left him speechless