SSS Ranked Awakening: Starting With My Limitless Cosmic Shadow System-Chapter 138: Holy Astaroth

Amon opened his eyes and realised he had appeared at somewhere that seemed like a graveyard...

There were things like steles erected in various places and the stench of death and decay filled the surroundings

Because the place was dark amon couldn't see anything, hut despite that his gaze remained afixed on his surroundings as he tried to peer through things.

'did instructor Damien send me to the right place?' amon asked internally while scannibg his surroundings with wide curious eyes.

Taking a deep breath he looked around and then the artifact materialised in his grasp.

Clang... Clang....clang...

The weapon made a light noise that seemed to echoe continuously in thus deserted place.

Suddenly amon heard a voice whisper into his mind.

"did up a grave and bury yourself while writing your request in a piece of paper to retrieve the thing you want the most."

"who's there?" amon instantly became alert as he scanned the environment.

Still he didn't see anyone.

Suddbeky there was a light whoosh and something that seemed like a table with an ink pen, an ink and a piece of paper Atop it appeared.

A second later something akin to a shovel manifested in the table as well.

Amon was slightly surprised as he gazed at it.

'were those words truly the condition to enter into this start gate?'

As amon's words, the papers ahead rippled slightly as though they were confirming his guess.

Still, amon didn't completely want to believe it.

He glanced around and even began walking when he suddenly paused.

He stretched his hand towards the air infront of him only for a barrier to materialise.

He glance around and retreated his steps to his original position before retreating some more.

A few paces later he encountered another barrier.

This confirmed Amon's guess.

'I'm confined to a distance of roughly 2 meters?' akon narrowed his eyes suspiciously as hi surroundings.

He took a few more walks before finally confirming that it was the case.

He frowned and his eyes returned back to the table with the few things Atop it.

There was hesitation in his eyes as he glanced in the direction, but with no other way to go about it, he could only turn begin walking towards there.

Having nothing else to do amon didn't wany to remain stich here.

Besides, he knew that there was a limit to how much time natasha had left.

Keeping all these at the back of his mind amon finally reached the location of the table.

He glanced down at it and saw the clause written on the piece of paper.

It seemed to have been written just a few seconds ago with the ink pen.

In fact, staring at the ink pen amon noticed that it was still a little wet, with slight ink stains, staining the surface of the table.

He didn't think too much about It as he shifted his eyes down to the 'consequences' clause.

It seemed to be the consequence of him exceeding the timer or failing to fulfill the requirements of the graveyard.

'such a unique star gate...' amon muttered while drawing in a sharp breath.

His heard thudded wildly in his chest as he read.

[consequences: eternal slumber...] 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

There were only two word with ko further explanation but amon understood that it contained so much depth.

At first, the eternal slumber might seem like nothing kuch but upon taking a closer look one should recall the words of the voice from before.

It had told amon that he should dig a grave and burry himself.

In essence if main failed to pass whatever trials were set he would just be digging a grave for himself.

'how preposterous!' amon was immediately furious as he slammed the table causing it to shake slightly but it still endured the force of his strike.

Amon glanced down at the table and then let out a sharp breath.

'no wonder instructor Damien said that this start gate was truly unique... Now the question is... To do or not to do?'

Amon didn't want to endanger hi life but at the same time he had no way out of here.

Since the time he decided to save natasha there seemed to be only one way forward.

'it's truly frustrating. It's as thought I'm being controlled against my will.' akon thought aggrieved.

Now, with only one path left to take amon felt that he might as well...

With a sigh amon picked up the pice of paper.

He reached towards the ink and began scrubbing things down on it.

His face was filled with a neutral expression as he easily wrote down on it.

Within moments the part where amon was required to write in were filled.

After he was done he felt a ripple and then something appeared afterwards.

Amon closed his eyes for a few seconds, reminiscing a little as he felt a gentle tug on his soul.

After that he opened his eyes and began digging...

Previously he wanted creating a comprehension gift as his Tenth gift but it seemed that might have to change.

'thankfully, I have the sufficient creation points to help me out here.' amon was a little bit relieved at that thought.

Withing roughly two hours amon had dug a barely 3 feet grave for himself.

He hesitated for more than ten minutes before lying down and closing himself.

Instantly, silence reigned and the table disappeared, vanishing with the light along with it.

Amon continued staying in the grave for more than 5 minutes when he felt something fall ontop of him.

Surprisingly, it was a sand...

Amon opened his eyes in astonishment and glanced towards his legs where sand had fallen onto.

He was briefly startled.

Glancing up he noticed shadow sihouletted which he couldn't completely make out due to the darkness.

Swoosh... Another heap of sand landed on him.

Amon felt speechless...

'in getting burried alive.'

In all his life amon had never exxected to actually get hurried alive.

Truly just as damien had said, this was a very unique star gate!

It was so unique that it made amon bewildered.

'what were they thinking when they created it???'

Another sand fell onto amon and then another.

Gradually, sand Bagan to fall atop him and soon it had completely covered his body.

Suddenly Amon's heart skipped a beat as he thought of something.

Wjen he was burried, how would he escape?

He hadn't thought of it before because his mind was occupied but now...

Recalling it amon tried to claw jos way out of the sand but it was just too much.

The more he clawed the more he fell back on him.

Just as he wanted using his gifts a sudden drowsiness over took him causing his thoughts to grow muddled and his mind to become hazy.

Amon tried to think straight but the a suffocating feeling surged sound him.

It felt as though the air Inhis throat were beobg drained at lughtnibg speed.

Just as amon felt his eyelids turn heVy and he lost his consciousness, his eyes snapped ópen.

Without hesitation he thrust his fist forward in a fighting gesture, like he was ready to attack at any moment.

Suddenly, feeling the light of the sky drifting onto his amon realised he was no longer in the graveyard.

He glanced around and subconsciously widened his eyes in shock.

"what?" Steven stuck his little finger in his ear and twisted, half-convinced he'd misheard.

"Wait… what did you just say? Did you seriously ask me to take care of someone?"

Max didn't flinch. He just stared straight ahead, eyes locked on Steven, waiting for a response.

"Hey, you've got to be careful with how you say stuff like that," Steven muttered, glancing around the empty gym out of instinct. "You say something like that, and it almost sounds like you want me to…" He lowered his voice. "Kill someone."

That made Max laugh, and not a little chuckle either—full-on laughter that echoed through the gym. Given the context, it made him seem completely unhinged.

"No, I'm not asking you to go that far," Max said as the laughter faded. "I just want you to rough someone up a bit. A few solid hits here and there—someone from my school."

Steven's brows drew together. "You want me to beat up a kid?"

He shook his head. Based on what he'd seen of Max so far, the request didn't really add up. The kid could clearly handle himself. Still, Steven had a few guesses. Maybe Max was being bullied at school, and this was his way of fighting back.

But if that was true… then who the hell were these bullies?

"I'm sorry… I just… I don't think I can do it," Steven finally said, shaking his head. "Beating up someone I don't even know? Someone I've got no personal issue with? That's just not who I am. And besides… we're talking about a teenager. A 17-year-old kid. I don't think I could go through with something like that."

Max gave a small nod. He'd gotten the answer he was looking for—not disappointed, not surprised. If anything, he'd just been curious. Curious to see what someone like Steven, with real skill, might say when faced with a situation like that.

Because Max wasn't just thinking about today.

He was thinking about the future—about the White Tiger Gang. About going up against the very empire he had built from the ground up. It was a force too large to take on alone. And Max didn't have the luxury of time to build deep, meaningful relationships. Not anymore.

So, instead, he wanted to test something.

Just how far can money really take me?

After all…

You said money is what rules the world.

That's why I was betrayed, right?

With those thoughts, Max slid his hands into his pockets and turned away.

Steven, still watching him, felt his phone buzz. Then again. And again. Notifications lit up the screen—several messages from different people and companies, all popping up in quick succession.

[Your loan is overdue.]

[Your debt has gone into collections.]

[If you don't pay us back, you know what will happen to you.]

Steven stared at the screen, his grip on the phone tightening. Slowly, his eyes lifted toward Max, who was just about to walk out the gym doors.

"But!" Steven suddenly shouted. "It depends how high… after all, there's a price for everything."

Max didn't even glance back. He kept walking, a small smile creeping onto his face.

'There sure is.'

Steven stood frozen in the middle of his empty gym.

"…Wait, he's not even going to make an offer? Was that all just to mess with my head?!"

When Max finally returned home, he pulled out his phone and started reviewing the information he had gathered so far—trying to piece together the fragments of Max Stern's life. He was looking for patterns, connections, anything that would help him make sense of why things had turned out the way they did.

He had met a few people now, but none of them explained everything.

So far, I've only managed to find one person from the list.

And I know the moment I act, things will spiral. It'll get messy fast. I need to find more names before I do anything—at least until this body is strong enough to handle what's coming.

The next day arrived, and Max was back at school—the dreaded place that twisted Max Stern's life.

As soon as he walked into the classroom, his eyes locked onto Sam.

He'd been pushed to the back of the room.

Again.

Joe and Mo each held a permanent black marker in their hands, scrawling all over Sam's white school shirt. They were mostly drawing two balls and a long shaft—thinking they were absolutely hilarious.

At least, Ko thought so. He was doubled over at his desk, laughing loudly.

"Ha! What a perfect canvas. Honestly, I'd say we just increased the value of your shirt by fifty percent," Ko mocked.

Tears welled up in Sam's eyes. He didn't cry out loud, but it was clear how much this hurt him. He knew neither he nor his family could afford a new uniform.

"Aww, is Piggy upset?" Ko taunted. "What's the matter? They don't make shirts big enough in your size?"

He then turned to look behind him—his eyes landing on Max, who had just entered the classroom.

"Joe, I think we need a fresh canvas, don't you?" Ko grinned.

Joe didn't hesitate. He strolled toward Max, reaching out to grab a fistful of his shirt—just like always.

But this time, Max slapped the hand away without thinking.

"Don't touch me," Max snapped.

Joe blinked, stunned. "What the hell? Did you just… talk back to me? And knock my hand away?!"

Damn it, Max thought. I acted on instinct… I only just walked in, and I already slipped. That's exactly what I would've done before. Crap—I can't act now. Not in front of everyone.

"Aren't you going to say anything?!" Joe shouted before slamming a kick straight into Max's stomach.

The impact knocked the air out of him as he crumpled to his knees. Without a pause, Joe grabbed Max by the hair, yanking him up and dragging him across the classroom floor.

"Did you not hear what Ko said? You two are our servants. You don't get to defy us!"

With that, he flung Max across the room, releasing his grip. Max slammed into the back wall.

Slowly, Max brushed off the dirt from his uniform and moved to stand beside Sam again.

"What the hell is that?" Ko said from his seat, squinting toward the back of the classroom. "What the fuck is that look on your face?"

Right now, Max was doing everything he could to restrain himself. Every fiber in his body screamed to act—but he knew if he snapped now, everything he'd built up could come crashing down. Still, his fury was written all over his face as he glared at the three of them.

"Looks like we've got a defiant one," Ko sneered. "Y'know, we've been going a little easy on Sam lately. Maybe you forgot your place. Joe—how about we remind him with something special? A beating so bad, he'll wish he was in hell."