CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 0049: CELESTIAL REWARDS!

[Congratulations on clearing a D-grade celestial dungeon.]

[Rewards have been distributed accordingly...]

Modret subconsciously frowned at the floating words, then his gaze shifted to the glowing screen in front of him.

[Black Fire Sword Technique: Ashen Sever]

[Type: Celestial-tempered Black Flame Technique]

[Grade: D (Fragment of an unclassified Battle Art)]

[Description: A swift, silent cut that leaves behind a trail of dark, flickering fire which devours heat and sound alike. Instead of spreading like a normal flame, it contracts, pulling energy inward and erasing the target’s vitality for a heartbeat before combustion.]

[Mana requirements: Full mana of one at the Universe Realm to execute once.]

[Negative effects: Strains the body; cannot be repeated consecutively at Universe Level and below.]

[Second Reward: 20 Celestial Coin.]

[Description: A coin used to purchase things in the Celestial World.]

"What?" Modret’s eyes widened in shock as he read through the information.

He never expected to encounter something like this; what the hell was this?

He frowned repeatedly, trying to read through the line of words, however, in his mind, a line of information surfaced, imprinting itself onto his consciousness.

The Cosmic Shadow System sounded a prompt in his mind.

[Congratulations on mastering a fragment of a Battle Art.]

Reading through the information, he frowned once more, unable to understand what a Battle Art meant.

"Are these techniques for battling?" he had a faint guess in his heart.

"Moreover, it seems this technique is suited to the Null Fire..." many thoughts resurfaced in Modret’s mind.

He frowned for a moment before placing it at the back of his mind and turning to Axel.

"Did you receive the same reward as me? Mine is the Black Fire Sword Technique."

Axel shook his head, his gaze lingering on the prompt in front of him as the information of his technique embedded itself into his mind.

[Lightning Sword Technique: Azure Rift]

[Type: Celestial-tempered Lightning Sword Art]

[Grade: D (Fragment of an unclassified Battle Art)]

[Description: A single thrust charged with condensed lightning that slices the air in a straight line — the strike freezes the space it passes through, leaving a glowing rift that crackles for seconds before shattering.]

[Mana requirement: Full mana of one at the Universe Realm.]

[Negative effects: Strains the body; cannot be repeated consecutively at Universe Level and below.]

[Second Reward: 20 Celestial Coin.]

[Description: A coin used to purchase things in the Celestial World.]

...

After listening to Axel’s description of his rewards, Modret rubbed his chin in thought.

"We obtained two different Battle Arts, each corresponding to the abilities we used here. Aside from that, it seems this dungeon can’t detect the fact that Axel is already dead, being my shadow, or it just chooses to ignore it anyway."

"Nonetheless, it can’t change the fact that this technique is helpful, and the Universe Realm? What is that?"

Back then, the fairy had only told Modret about the Star Core Realm, Cosmos Realm, and the Galaxy Realm.

Modret was just about to call out the fairy and ask her when the information on their rewards faded and another line of words materialized in front of their eyes.

[Self-destruction of the dungeon will commence in 1 hour. Please explore it before then.]

"The dungeon is going to be destroyed?" Modret’s brow shot up slightly.

He noticed Axel’s gaze and also snapped his gaze in the direction, then nodded.

Swiftly, the two of them disappeared.

"While fighting, I thought of something and it’s something I have to check out before leaving the dungeon..."

Modret’s thoughts moved rapidly as he approached the door in the distance.

He wondered what lay behind that door. Would he be greeted by a world of celestials?

Many thoughts passed through his mind as he made his way there.

Along the way, on the pillars and walls, he saw many more engravings and inscriptions. There were even faint drawings that seemed like humans; however, he couldn’t make sense of them.

Within a few minutes, he finally reached the dungeon door.

Hesitating briefly, he reached out towards the door and pulled it back.

It didn’t budge.

Modret furrowed his brows, then pushed the door.

Still, it didn’t budge.

He sighed and shook his head, "I guess I was thinking too much about this... but then what is it with this dungeon?"

"When we entered into this place, we were greeted with the message ’Welcome to Celestial Descent.’ Does this mean the celestials are descending? Are these celestial dungeons fragments of the celestials’ place of stay?"

"If so, then what are the celestials? And do they have a larger home?" Modret frowned repeatedly, conjuring all sorts of thoughts in his mind.

"Young master, come and take a look at this..."

Axel’s voice sliced through his thoughts, drawing his attention.

Feeling as though he was onto the truth of the matter, Modret swiftly departed, heading in Axel’s direction.

Arriving there within a few minutes, he noticed Axel staring at a painting...

Modret’s eyes widened the moment his gaze landed on the painting.

Normally, he wouldn’t be surprised by a mere painting, however, in this painting was a pitch-black object that seemed like their... sun?

Rather than the sun being bright, it was filled with darkness, the rays of light threatening to escape the engulfing darkness.

And beneath the whole darkness were countless drawings, including celestials, beasts, human-like figures, and many more creatures, prostrating themselves and bowing towards the drawing.

"It almost seems as though they are worshiping it!" Modret’s heart shook as he realized something, his eyes widening.

He stared intently at the pitch-black moon, as though he wanted to peer through its secrets.

"Previously, Noctis had mentioned the being who wiped out the gods.... If my guess isn’t wrong, then this creature that is a black moon is..."

"MODRET!"

Modret’s mind shook as his thoughts paused, hearing his name being called out...

"That voice... Noctis!" Modret couldn’t forget that voice, and he could tell that Noctis was the one who had called him!

His hand went to his nose, feeling a warm liquid trickling down, and the next moment, he froze.

Pooling beneath him was a pool of blood; it trailed down from his orifices, flowing freely to the ground. His face was already pale and his expression was ghastly.

"I... almost lost my life?" Modret hastily distanced himself from the painting, not daring to get close to it.

Axel also noticed the abnormality and the blood, his eyes filled with shock and horror. An alert expression appeared on his face.

Modret turned to him, "Axel, let’s leave this dungeon immediately..."

As Modret spoke, he activated the greatest speed he could muster, swiftly leaving the Celestial Gate with Axel trailing behind him...

The moment they left, the celestial castle fractured and cracked apart like shattered mirrors.

At the same time, an unknown sigh from something... or someone escaped into the surroundings.

Reaching outside, the gate exploded, thrusting Modret and Axel forward...

Modret groggily stood up, his eyes filled with emotions as he struggled to stand up.

Just as he stood up, a chilling feeling swept up to his heart.

Surrounding him were seven masked figures...

They all wore six blue masks with the one in front wearing a purple mask.

How could Modret not remember his longtime enemies?

How could Modret not remember the Illuminati???