Modret glanced down at the creature, noticing the jagged spikes protruding from its back and its moon-like skin.
He frowned for a moment before purple lightning and black fire crackled in his hand.
The instant the creature fully stepped out of the gate, the terrifying attack engulfed it, incinerating it to ashes and leaving behind a faintly glowing green core on the ground…
[Gained 2000 shadow fragments.]
Modret withdrew his gaze from the system, then glanced at Axel. "Let's head inside for now."
Axel nodded and turned around, following him into the shabbily built hut as they waited for Xara to approach.
A few minutes passed before the door rustled slightly and a figure wearing a blue mask stepped inside.
In his hand were two rabbits, each about the size of a human head.
Modret glanced at them, then at Axel, and chuckled—causing Axel's face to flush slightly in embarrassment.
His expression hardened as he ordered in a deep voice, "Xara, come with me."
"Master!" came Xara's voice from beneath the blue mask.
Modret led him and Axel to the gate not far from their hut, the air around it radiating a wave of pressure and a mysterious aura.
"You must have seen this, right?" he asked, his tone filled with curiosity. "Do you have any idea what it is?"
Xara glanced at the gate for a moment, his eyes beneath the mask studying it closely, before shaking his head. "No, Lord."
Modret let out a breath. "I figured as much. In that case, I want you to enter and explore it for a few minutes. Tell me everything you see in there and whatever you encounter. If it's too dangerous, you may return…"
Modret had another reason for sending Xara into the gate.
With Xara being his shadow servant, he could use their shared vision to see whatever Xara saw, allowing him to analyze the danger firsthand.
Xara remained silent for a moment, wanting to disobey, but the pull on his soul made him wince in pain. Reluctantly, he said aloud, "Yes, Master…"
"Do I head in now, or is there something else you need me to do in the meantime?"
As Xara spoke, the celestial gate rippled once more, and another being stepped through.
Modret didn't hesitate. He quickly combined the null fire with lightning, destroying the creature instantly.
Then, with a wave of his hand, a shadow string shot out, latching onto the core and pulling it into his grasp.
He now had three of these cores. However, without knowing their purpose, he could only slip them into his pocket, which was now slightly bulging.
He turned to Xara, who wore a stunned expression. "What better time than now?"
Xara bowed politely. "Yes, Lord."
Then he slowly approached the celestial gate…
Behind him, Axel watched their interaction and asked curiously, "Whatever you did to me, is it the same for him?"
A faint smile played on Modret's lips. "Nope. Your case is somewhat special. He's merely a disposable pawn."
Axel's eyes flickered with faint emotion before he asked in a low voice, "Will I ever become a disposable pawn to you?"
'Haha…'
Modret laughed lightly. "You think too much, Axel. Of course not…"
Axel fell silent, lost in thought, his face unreadable.
'Xara should be far enough into the gate by now…' With that thought, Modret ignored Axel and turned his attention inward. 'System, activate shadow senses…'
[Shadow senses activation failed.]
'Huh?' Modret was stunned. He'd never encountered this before. He tried again. 'Activate shadow senses.'
[Shadow senses activation failed.]
Modret furrowed his brows and called out in his mind, 'Fairy, are you there? What's going on?'
A dazzling array of blue light surfaced around his chest before the small creature—now slightly larger—materialized before him.
She chuckled softly before speaking.
{The reason for the shadow senses failure is likely because the shadow servant is in another dimension entirely.}
She turned toward the gate, an unreadable expression passing through her face as countless emotions flickered in her eyes.
Turning back to Modret, she continued,
{You'll have to wait for the shadow servant to return. As for his condition—it's unknown for now.}
Modret frowned slightly. Just then, the gate rippled, and a figure was hurled out.
It was Xara—but his state was far from good.
He was bruised all over, his mask cracked to reveal a face scarred and charred by fire, and his arms twisted at unnatural angles.
His breathing was ragged as he tried to steady himself, staring at the celestial gate in horror.
Modret's eyes widened, his chest tightening as he rushed forward. 'Damn… is it that deadly?'
Relieved he hadn't impulsively entered, he rushed toward Xara, who was coughing blood.
Fortunately, aside from the injuries, Xara's awakened body allowed him to endure—for now.
He looked at Modret, coughed again, his face pale, and shook his head, signaling the danger of the place.
Modret frowned, then asked, "What exactly did you encounter inside?"
Xara let out a weak breath and began to speak. "The moment I stepped inside, a line of words—similar to the ones in the sky—appeared, telling me, 'Welcome to the Celestial Descent.'
"I decided to look around to gather more information about the place when I saw a chamber ahead. Inside that chamber, a faint hue of a creature was being formed. Before I could take a closer look, I was suddenly attacked by numerous creatures of the same kind."
Modret rubbed his brow in thought, mulling over Xara's words.
'If my guess is right, that chamber must be what's forming these creatures. After they reach a certain limit, one of them steps out of the gate? And Celestial Descent… really, Noctis?'
Modret didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
Axel, who had been listening, remained silent, his mind deep in contemplation.
'Based on his words, the place doesn't seem too dangerous. If he hadn't been careless, he wouldn't have been hurt this badly.'
It was clear Axel was considering whether he and Modret should enter the gate themselves.
He glanced at Modret, waiting for his final decision.
Modret smiled faintly. "Take him inside. I'll prepare the rabbits, and then we'll discuss our next move."
"Yes, young master," Axel replied, nodding before reaching out to help Xara from the ground.