Floating Islands: SSS Gacha System - Chapter 372

Chapter 372: Chapter 372 – Teach Me Darkness
“All right then,” Dullorak replied after a brief pause. “We can proceed with absorbing the Heart of the Void,” he concluded.

Atlas turned his gaze toward the core resting inside the small crate before him.

“I’ve made a few modifications to this core,” Dullorak continued, “so that you can absorb its essence and merge it into yourself more efficiently. You’ll do it by…”

He then began explaining the overall concept of the process. In essence, Atlas would need to cultivate the core within his own inner core. Absorbing its energy by entering a state of deep consciousness.

Within that mental realm, he would find himself inside the Heart of the Void, where he must face and overcome whatever challenges awaited him there.

In simpler terms, it would be a battle, or perhaps a series of trials. While his physical body remained still, his mind and soul doing all the work.

It sounded straightforward enough, and as Dullorak described the process, it seemed smooth enough that Atlas would barely feel the transition at all.

“This will take time,” Dullorak added, “but you can repeat it daily until you’ve completely absorbed the core. With the Light element affinity you already possess, we should be able to neutralize most of the curse that the core carries, and integrate it perfectly into your being. It’s better if we move on to practice right away, my lord.”

“Agreed,” Atlas replied.

Atlas closed his eyes and did exactly as Dullorak had instructed. He focused on sensing every elemental particle around him. Almost immediately, he saw a massive surge of dark elemental particles pouring out from the core before him.

The concentration was immense. Far greater than anything he had felt before. It reminded him of what Kurogasa had said: that the price he had paid for this item was nothing compared to the true value it held, especially for someone who knew how to use it properly.

And then… after a few moments, he felt his body being pulled forward, the sensation similar to being drawn through a teleportation portal.

When he opened his eyes again…

He found himself standing upright on a vast circular platform carved with strange magical patterns beneath his feet.

In the distance, tall trees encircled the area, forming a silent perimeter around him. At a glance, it looked as though he was standing in the middle of a ritual circle. Or something very much like it.

He looked up and saw a full moon hanging bright in the sky. Then he glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers slowly.

He could feel everything. The faint touch of air on his skin, the movement of his muscles. Even though he knew this was all happening inside his mind, the sensation was startlingly real.

Interesting, he thought. Now then… What should he do next?

At this moment, Atlas only intended to check what kind of changes Dullorak had made. Not that he planned to immediately focus on conquering the core.

He had been warned that this would be a long process, so it was better for him to take it slowly and get used to it bit by bit.

Besides, he needed to keep his attention on the major battle awaiting him soon.

Then… something stirred nearby. A surge of dark energy burst out, forming shadowy shapes that twisted and writhed wildly, coalescing into dark tendrils that moved as if alive. They tangled together, growing larger and larger until they began taking form.

Atlas stepped back, bracing himself for whatever was coming. He tried to summon his spear, but nothing happened.

So, he could not use any of the items stored within his dimensional storage.

The massive surge of shadow began to compress, shrinking down until it took the shape of a figure. One that stood only up to Atlas’s chest.

Atlas tilted his head slightly, studying the thing that had appeared before him. A person, or something like one. Dressed in tattered clothes, its body thin and frail, with long, tangled hair that fell forward, hiding most of its face.

Damn it, that’s creepy.

The figure slowly raised its bony right hand, brushing the messy strands away to reveal a wide, gleaming eye that stared straight at Atlas. Its mouth stretched into a grin, showing a row of crooked, uneven teeth beneath that unsettling gaze.

“Fresh soul…” the strange creature rasped. “Khi! Khi! Khi!”

It laughed in a harsh, breathless way, like someone choking on their own laughter.

“Hey, hello there,” Atlas said casually. “Can you tell me who you are? My friend mentioned that a challenge would be waiting for me here.”

He frowned as he studied the figure before him. “But all I see is a starved-looking thing like you. So, where’s the real challenge supposed to be?”

“Khi! Khi! Khi!” the creature laughed again, its grin stretched across its flat, pale face. “You’re quite arrogant for a living being.”

The energy around it suddenly grew heavier. Shadows erupted once more from its back, those tendrils twisting around its body, cloaking it until its thin frame appeared fuller, and stronger.

“That’s… cool,” Atlas said with a faint smirk. “So that’s the potential of the Shadow Element when it’s fully mastered.”

He tilted his head slightly. “Can you teach me how to use that ability?”

“Khi! Khi! Khi!” the figure wheezed again, laughter scraping from its throat. “You’ll end up trapped here. So you might as well watch how I do it… For all eternity!”

Atlas gave a faint smile, his eyes sharpening. “Unfortunately, I don’t plan on staying that long.”

He quickly steadied himself, clenching his fists and taking a firm stance.

Before coming here, Dullorak had given him a clue. That this challenge would be much easier if he used the Light Element.

Maybe this was the perfect moment for Atlas to truly master it.

The strange figure, now completely cloaked in shadows, looked almost like a living storm of darkness. Then, in a blur, it launched itself straight at Atlas.

Atlas gritted his teeth, his body flaring with a radiant aura that wrapped around him in brilliant light, making him the only glowing figure in that pitch-black space.

He raised his guard just in time.

Too fast!

The creature appeared right before him in an instant, its movement almost impossible to track. Atlas barely had time to lift both arms to block the incoming strike.

Then, everything froze for a split second, followed by a deafening impact.

Damn it! That’s strong?!

The force of the hit lifted Atlas off his feet, hurling him backward. He crashed hard into the ground, rolling several times before slamming into something solid. A line of trees at the edge of the platform.

Before he could even catch his breath, the creature was already there again, standing in front of him.

It grabbed him by the throat, easily lifting him off the ground.

“I’ll show you what it feels like,” it hissed, “when your soul is ripped out of your body.”

Its left hand plunged straight into Atlas’s chest, sinking through flesh and bone as though his body were made of mist. Its fingers closed around something inside.

A surge of unbearable pain shot through Atlas’s entire being. It felt as if his very essence was being torn apart.

“No! No way!” he gasped, his eyes wide.

Am I… going to die here? the thought screamed in his head, panic flooding through him.

Dullorak never said the challenge would be this hard!