The Smiling Death-Chapter 294: Death’s Darkness (2)

Amon had just noticed it. When his two abilities merged, they created something new.

The shadow and darkness at his feet had partially merged together, somehow gaining a solid form.

This was not possible with just shadow and darkness. Amon had tried it before, but he had felt too weak to make his shadow take a solid form. He had thought that maybe after becoming stronger. After ranking up, he might be able to do it.

But now, he might have found another way. There was a chance.

"If it’s possible... then this will be very useful," Amon mumbled to himself. He was really eager to find it out.

Amon dismissed the darkness on his body. His dark-coated form returned to normal.

After that, he went back to the place where the fire was lit. The fire was making a crackling sound.

"Let’s try something normal, and not put too much strain on my small— I mean big brain."

Amon sat on the ground, his heart pounding with excitement. He closed and opened his fist.

First, he moved the shadow beneath him. It shifted from his body to his right hand.

The shadow was cold, shapeless, without any mass. It was not like a liquid. The shadow could cover things, augment them, even push or move some objects, but that required more mental strength.

Darkness, on the other hand, was smoky, cloudy, cold, and yet not at the same time. It was heavy and dense. He could move it, but it also had no spine to hold a shape.

Amon brought both shapeless substances together, forcing his mind to form something very simple. Giving it the shape of a sphere. It was not solid at first.

Amon projected his shadow into his palm, creating a round shape, something like a ball.

He drew in the surrounding darkness and poured it into that spherical frame.

The shadow acted as a high-pressure container, squeezing the darkness until it became so dense that it slowly formed a hardened shape.

"This... I did it! I created it!" Amon exclaimed in joy.

Amon then held it tightly. He clenched his hand around it, using all his strength to crush the dark ball. But it didn’t crack. It didn’t break under his strength.

"Hahaha! It’s so hard and tough. With this, I can do amazing things," Amon laughed. He could already imagine different ways to use this ability.

If he worked hard and practiced more, he could create sharp weapons out of it. He could create multiple spikes from the ground, killing multiple monsters in one attack.

Harming his enemies would become much easier. And at night, this could become truly dangerous for his enemies.

Amon dismissed the ball, and it vanished. The shadow returned beneath him.

The darkness evaporated into the surroundings.

’I really got some useful things. With this, my survival rate increases by a lot.’ he thought happily.

Amon then went into deep thought, considering how he could use this more, in different ways. Then another possibility came into his mind.

Amon pointed his finger into empty air. A black sphere crackling with darkness formed on his fingertip.

It was a spell formed by mana.

Then he used his ability to draw darkness from the surroundings, reinforcing his Eclipse Bolt spell. It compressed further, becoming more powerful. He could sense it.

"Oh... I can enhance my darkness spells more by using this." This was another use of his ability.

He didn’t try to release the Eclipse Bolt spell. He dispersed it.

’I should sleep now. It’s late. I have to move from this place tomorrow morning.’

Getting up, Amon put out the fire, extinguishing it.

Then he chose the biggest nearby tree.

"This will do for tonight." He decided to sleep on the tree. For some reason, it felt safer.

Amon climbed up and sat on the biggest, widest branch.

Leaning against the tree, he thought, "This seems like a good place to sleep."

Amon was really happy and satisfied with his new powers. His abilities. He knew he could learn more about them slowly.

The forest was quiet. Only the soft rustling of leaves and distant night sounds remained. The darkness around him no longer felt hostile. It felt familiar. Almost comforting.

A cold wind continued to move through the forest, giving Amon an odd sense of comfort.

The cold breeze made him sleepier. His excitement slowly faded, replaced by exhaustion.

’Today was... productive.’ he thought.

Yawn~

He yawned tiredly. Using his abilities had also strained him.

His breathing became slow and steady. Wrapped in shadows, hidden high above the ground, Amon closed his eyes.

Sleep claimed him instantly.

---

Morning came quietly. Amon’s eyes slowly opened.

The sky above was covered in grey clouds as usual, dim light filtering through the forest canopy. The night’s darkness had retreated, and the world felt calmer, heavier.

He sat up and stretched his body. He felt refreshed.

"Morning already... I slept well yesterday."

He climbed down from the tree with ease and moved toward a small pond nearby. Kneeling down, he cupped the cold water in his hands and washed his face.

The chill cleared his mind instantly. Amon looked at his reflection for a moment, then straightened.

"No time to waste."

He scanned the surroundings, and then his gaze stopped.

Far in the distance, beyond the endless forest, mountains rose into the sky. Large and silent, they stood like a natural wall.

A new path. A new challenge awaited him.

"That’ll be my next destination," Amon said softly.

’That place is really far. I hope I won’t meet any monster stronger than rank three. If I meet them... then I will die for sure.’

Amon had no choice but to start somewhere. First, he needed to cross the walls made up of mountains surrounding the Celestial Tree.

Turning toward the mountains, Amon began to move. He was still not safe. He need to survive this forest for much more longer.

With steady steps and renewed resolve, he left the forest behind, heading toward what awaited him beyond the horizon.