SSS Ranked Shadow Monarch: Summoning Infinite Shadows-Chapter 207: Lewis

Step Step,

Aren made the final steps, making it to the twentieth floor. Small beads of sweat formed on his face. The pressure was immense, but ultimately, he was fine. He had left the group behind several floors back, so he was alone for now, like old times.

Stepping into the large floor, there was nothing there, which was pretty weird considering every floor had some monster that they had to fight.

’Something should be here, but my shadow sense isn’t picking anything.’ He looked around even more for something that he missed, but there was nothing at all. Without any choice, he headed for the stairs, but just as he did, he sensed something coming for him fast.

Aren moved out of the way instantly, almost like he flash stepped. A massive cut slammed into the wall, leaving a very deep mark. The inside of the cut was so smooth, not a single extra scratch.

"I knew something was here," he muttered, his eyes scanning as well as his shadow sense. Whatever this was, it didn’t have a shadow, so it became hard to sense. But that was when Aren sensed one of the tiles in the room shift. Instantly, he attacked right there with a barrage of shadow blades.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Each one hit like a small bomb with crazy precision, but it seemed that whatever it was, it had moved already.

"Shit." He cursed as he started searching again, only for whatever it was to attack from the ceiling. It came fast like before, but Aren was faster, moving out of the way instantly and dodging it. He immediately retaliated by attacking that area of the roof with tendrils.

Whatever it was, it started dodging again, but couldn’t dodge all of them, as one latched onto it. Instantly, Aren pulled it down. It slammed into the ground hard, and there was instantly a flicker of color. Aren got a glimpse of what it was, some sort of chameleon-looking monster.

The monster tried to get up and run away, but it was far too late. More tendrils latched onto it, refusing to let it go. In a desperate bid, it started attacking slash after slash, but Aren dodged one after the other as he approached with steady steps.

Seeing this, the monster turned visible, showing its massive two-meter chameleon-looking body, but with a third eye on its head. The eye started spinning with a vortex of colors, as it attempted to use some sort of illusion on Aren.

Sadly, after facing what the priest of the Architect Church used, this illusion was merely child’s play. His mind instantly blocked it out.

"That won’t be enough," he said and then got ready to finish off the monster, only for it to attack with its tongue. It moved as fast as a bullet, heading right for his chest, but Aren caught it and then pulled on it with all his strength. The monster was yanked forward. Aren immediately ended it with a kick to the head that shattered the skull. Its body fell to the ground limp.

"Inconvenient, but still easy," he muttered as he headed for the stairs, only to hear some footsteps behind him. Curious, he decided to take a look at who had made it this far, and when he saw the figure, he froze.

"Lewis," Aren muttered. It was his younger brother. Lewis paused as well. He looked across the room, seeing this awfully familiar figure, yet not being able to instantly put his finger on it, but that didn’t last long as he would recognize his brother even after many changes.

There was a deathly silence that followed. Both of them stared at each other for what looked like an eternity. Lewis looked much like Aren, same hair color, face, and more, with only a few differences. They could even be confused as twins.

"Hey, bro," Lewis finally spoke, his voice breaking the silence.

"Hey," Aren replied. He turned around fully and faced his brother.

"It’s been a very long time," Lewis said with a chuckle. He stepped into the floor and headed for Aren. He stopped a few meters away.

"You seem to be doing pretty good," Aren stated, seeing the classy silver and black fitting armor that his brother had on, as well as the sword that hung from his waist. It was a sign that he was having a pretty good life.

"Indeed, I was taken in by the Black Dragon Sect. They said even for a B-tier warrior, my strength rivals that of even A-tiers. They chose me due to my potential," Lewis said. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

’As expected, he is a genius no matter what,’ Aren thought.

"That’s good, bro. You’re doing pretty well."

"Yeah," Lewis said with a somewhat embarrassed expression. He then looked up, some curiosity in his eyes. "So, bro, what organization are you under?" he asked.

"The Adventurer Guild," Aren replied without any hesitation.

"Oh," Lewis said in a lackluster tone, almost with pity in his voice. The Adventurer Guild was something nearly everyone had to be part of, but for those that had it as their primary organization, it meant no one else took them in, which meant they were weak.

Aren looked at the pity in the eyes of his brother. ’This idiot, he really thinks even here I have failed and he is better than me? Tch, whatever, I have to move on.’

"It was nice meeting you, Lewis, but I have to keep climbing now," Aren said and headed for the stairs.

"Brother, wait," Lewis said. "This is dangerous, let me come with you." He offered. This was the statement that crossed the line for Aren. He turned around, staring his brother in the eyes.

"Do you really think I need help if I’m at floor twenty by myself? Do you even think, or whenever you see me, you assume I am weak and helpless?" Aren asked. The aura around him exploded outward, instantly slamming into Lewis, who stood there shocked.