SSS Ranked Awakening: Starting With My Limitless Cosmic Shadow System-Chapter 100 - 0101: Exploring Celestial Gates!

Modret’s senses sharpened as he moved through the ice pyramid, the sounds of battle growing louder with each step.

Every step he took sent small clouds of frost spiraling into the air, but he didn’t pay them any attention as he scanned his surroundings looking for the next location of the fight.

He paused for a brief moment, closing his eyes and letting his mana flow outward.

The vibrations in the air, the faint pressure of distant auras, the subtle shifts in temperature—all of it painted a map in his mind, this was him combining the use of a few sensory abilities to do this.

He could feel the presence of more half-humans scattered throughout the pyramid, some still locked in combat, others barely holding their ground.

They were strong, certainly, but against the awakened beasts they were still not a match. That much was evident.

Yet, Modret allowed himself a brief smirk. The moment he stepped in, the scales would tip decisively.

A faint hum reached his ears. It sounded like a low, almost melodic vibration that pulsed constantly. Modret’s eyes snapped open. The next beast was near. It was larger than any he had faced so far, its aura so dense it pressed against him like the weight of the atmosphere itself. Even standing here, he could feel the tremors of its power as it moved in the cavernous chamber ahead. A golden glow seeped through the fissures in the ice, casting eerie reflections across jagged walls.

Stepping forward, Modret silently adjusted his pace, letting the shadows of the broken Celestial Gates mask his movement. As he rounded a jagged pillar, the source of the golden glow revealed itself: a massive, lion-like creature. Its body radiated raw energy, scales shimmering with golden fire, and eyes glowing with a brilliance that seemed almost divine. Its roar echoed through the pyramid, causing the ice beneath Modret’s feet to tremble.

The half-humans nearby were already engaged, though they were clearly outmatched. One had a staff glowing with cerulean energy, sending out spirals of frost magic, only to have them torn apart by the lion’s overwhelming power. Another, a hulking figure with crystalline gauntlets, tried to strike its flank, but the creature’s tail swept through the ice like a battering ram, shattering the floor and sending shards flying in every direction.

Modret allowed himself a slight smile, stepping fully into the chamber. "Let’s see how strong you really are," he murmured.

The beast’s eyes locked onto him instantly, sensing the surge of universe-level mana radiating from his core. Its roar turned into a growl, and golden flames danced along its mane as it leapt forward. Modret moved with fluid precision, sidestepping the initial strike and letting the creature’s momentum carry it past him. Fire erupted from his palms, forming a dozen flaming lotus petals that shot toward the lion-like beast with unerring accuracy.

The attack hit, forcing the creature back and leaving scorch marks etched across the ice, but it barely slowed its advance. It was fast—unbelievably fast—and each movement radiated strength beyond what the half-humans could even hope to counter. Modret, however, was calm. His previous battles had honed him, each encounter sharpening his instincts. He could feel the flow of the fight before it happened, the subtle patterns in the creature’s attack forming a rhythm he could exploit.

Bang! A powerful swipe from the lion’s claw shattered a section of ice near Modret, sending splinters flying. He ducked under the next strike, rolling to a safe distance and letting the residual momentum propel him forward. His fists flared with fire again, and he struck with calculated precision, aiming not to overwhelm but to test the beast’s reactions.

The creature howled, shifting its attack patterns, and now a dangerous intelligence became apparent in its eyes. This was not a mindless awakened beast—it had strategy, adaptability, and the cunning of a predator that had survived countless battles. Modret’s grin widened. Finally, a challenge worthy of his full attention.

He leapt into the air, spinning to summon a column of flames that spiraled like a cyclone around him, then dove toward the lion with all his strength. The beast lunged to intercept, and for a moment the world seemed to freeze as fire and golden flames clashed violently. The sound was deafening, reverberating through the Ice Pyramid, causing even distant half-humans to pause in awe.

The impact sent both of them skidding across the floor. Modret’s eyes narrowed, sensing the subtle fluctuation in the beast’s aura. It was strong, yes, but it had a weakness—its energy was heavily concentrated in its mane and core, leaving its sides slightly exposed after each attack. This was his opportunity.

He surged forward, faster than the eye could track, and slammed his fist into the lion’s exposed flank. A burst of energy shot out, cracking the ice and sending shards flying. The beast roared in anger and pain, flames licking its body, but Modret was relentless. He followed through, each strike calculated to wear it down, to force it into a defensive pattern.

"You’re strong," Modret said, his voice low but laced with amusement. "But even strength has a limit."

The creature responded with a flurry of attacks, claws and teeth moving in a blur, each one a deadly proposition. Modret dodged and countered, fire and lightning crackling around him, his aura flaring like a blazing sun in the icy chamber. Time seemed to stretch, the clash of powers creating a spectacle of destruction. The half-humans around the edges watched in awe and fear, some cheering silently, others trembling at the sheer force on display.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Modret found an opening. The beast had overextended during a strike, leaving its core exposed. Channeling both fire and lightning into a single devastating blow, he struck with all his might.

Bang!

The chamber shook violently. Ice shattered, frost vaporized, and the golden flames surrounding the beast flared violently before dimming. The lion-like creature staggered, its body smoking from the combined force, and for the first time, it faltered. Modret didn’t give it a chance to recover.

He summoned all ten of his black flaming lotus and sent them spiraling toward the beast. Each petal struck with unrelenting force, cutting through the aura and leaving deep burns in its golden scales. The lion reared back, trying to roar, but the combined attack was too much.

A final burst of fire and lightning engulfed it completely. When the smoke cleared, the beast lay still, its golden mane smoldering, eyes dimmed, and body reduced to ashes.

[Gained 12,500 Shadow Fragments!]

Modret’s chest rose and fell steadily. He felt the surge of new energy flowing into him, the remnants of the beast’s aura merging with his own. He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw potential of the power coursing through his core. Universe Realm—this was only the beginning. The Ice Pyramid still held more secrets, more awakened beasts, and somewhere deeper, the source of this chaotic convergence waited.

He glanced at the half-humans nearby. They were battered, bruised, but alive. For a brief moment, Modret allowed himself a nod of approval. "You’ve done well," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight. "Keep moving forward. Don’t die before the real fight begins."

The group quickly scattered, returning to the ongoing battles. Modret’s gaze shifted upward, toward the upper levels of the Ice Pyramid. Faint golden light pulsed intermittently from the highest chambers, and he knew instinctively that the strongest awakened beast, the true guardian of this place, awaited there.

His body pulsed with anticipation. Each step he took was measured, precise, as he ascended. The upper chambers were more treacherous, the floors cracked and unstable, the walls lined with jagged icicles that threatened to fall at any misstep. Yet, Modret moved with absolute confidence. Universe Realm power gave him a grace, a control over both momentum and force, that made even the most hazardous paths manageable.

A low growl echoed from the next chamber. Modret froze. The air was dense, suffused with the kind of pressure that made even seasoned warriors tremble. As he stepped closer, the chamber doors shattered violently outward, and a shadow surged forward.

It was massive, larger than the lion, with wings spanning the entire chamber. Its body was a deep obsidian black, veins of crimson running like molten rivers through its scales. Its eyes glowed with a terrifying intelligence, and the aura radiating from it was unlike anything Modret had faced before—a chaotic blend of fury, malice, and ancient power.

Modret’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Finally... the apex."

The beast let out a roar that shook the very foundations of the pyramid, and Modret could feel the energy pushing against him like a tidal wave. He clenched his fists, igniting his flames and sparking his lightning.

"Let’s see if you can live up to the legend," he said, his voice calm, but the words carried a weight that made the air around him vibrate.