'I can seal your memories, but I don't know when the seal will break, and….'
Sealing memories was like putting the memory of each life in a different container.
She didn't know when the container (seal) would break.
There was a high chance that if containers broke in the wrong order, his memories would become blended.
As an example, if his memories of the 10th life and 30th life mixed, the resulting memories would make no sense.
He was Benjamin Clinton in his 10th life and Neo Thompson in his 29th life.
If those memories mixed, he might think he lived only one life instead of two, and that life was named Neo Clinton.
This was just one of the dangers of sealing memories.
'Are you sure you want me to seal your memories?'
He was escaping his problems.
He thought King Morgan would call him a coward.
But she looked at him with a kind smile—
Neo was left gasping when the memories ended.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
What the hell are these memories?
Seraphs were created in the Age of Gods.
They started to reincarnate after the Apocalypse arrived.
But Neo had been reincarnating since hundreds of thousands of years before the Apocalypse.
He has been there when the first civilizations were budding.
He had seen civilizations grow and merge and develop and finally come to an end due to the Apocalypse.
Neo had lived in each era.
He couldn't think of a cause for his reincarnations.
Mystical quantities appeared on Earth only after the Apocalypse.
Reincarnation before that shouldn't be possible—
No, I'm thinking wrongly.
The cube from which the Apocalypse started had been on Earth since long ago.
Mystical quantities were always present on earth.
They were just hidden.
I need to look into them if I want answers about me me and my reincarnation.
There were a lot of things Neo did not understand.
He tried asking his blessing why he had been reincarnating, but he received only only silence in return.
Clicking his tongue, he stepped into the next door.
The new Shadow was a familiar face.
The only life Neo originally remembered.
He had been Kronos' and Klien's brother.
An orphan. A boy who dreamed of achieving success
The Shadow bolted toward Neo with sharp movements.
Neo killed the Shadow without any hesitation.
His red lightning crackled and split the darkness, shattering the familiar figure into nothingness.
Even if the Shadow belonged to the 'Neo' he knew, the one before him was nothing but a monster.
So this was how I used to look.
Neo barely remembered anything from his original life.
Devouring the Shadows refreshed his memories.
Awakening progress: 31/33 → 32/33
Now that I think about it... Why was the awakening progress 1/33 in the beginning?
The question echoed in his mind.
I don't remember devouring any Shadow.
It irritated Neo how he had no answers to his countless questions.
Knowing thinking about it was wasting time, he stepped into the shadow door that appeared before him.
Only one more Shadow, and he would awaken the shadow element.
The Shadow Element could mimic other elements.
Neo was looking forward to using it.
Of course, it was not going to be easy.
The Shadow of Neo Hargraves stood before him.
The oppressive silence in the room tightened around Neo's chest.
The shadow exuded a suffocating aura,.
Its form mirrored his current appearance—a humanoid mass of red lightning, crackling and hissing like a storm incarnate.
Since Neo's awakening progress had been 1/33, it meant he had already devoured one Shadow.
He had hoped it was the Shadow of Neo Hargraves.
Unfortunately, his hopes were not answered.
The Shadow's red lightning surged, illuminating the darkness.
It mirrored his every movement perfectly, every spark of power a reflection of his own.
So, you're the final trial...
Neo's fists clenched as arcs of lightning rippled through his body.
He stood face-to-face to his own Shadow.
Knowing the Shadow could use all abilities he could, he remained vigilant.
Neither of them moved, their eyes locked, as if sizing each other up.
Then, without warning, both figures surged forward at the same time.
Their swords clashed together with a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves through the air and scattering arcs of energy across the floor.
Neo gritted his teeth as the force of the impact sent him skidding backward, but he quickly regained his balance.
Divine Swordsmanship, Semi Fourth Stance: Ryu no Mai
In the blink of an eye, the Shadow vanished, reappearing behind Neo with a brutal spinning kick aimed at his ribs.
The fourth stance consisted of two techniques: a rapid footwork that allowed near instantaneous movement and a volley of quick rapid slashes.
Combining both made the user look as if they were dancing.
The Shadow used the movement technique part of the stance to catch Neo by surprise.
Neo barely managed to raise his arm to block the blow.
The red lightning making its face stretched giving it an eerie appearance.
Without warning, it launched another flurry of attacks, each strike moving with inhuman speed.
Neo blocked and dodged, barely keeping up as the two exchanged rapid blows that sounded like thunder with every impact.
Neo's sword cut through the Shadow's midsection.
But the Shadow, showing no sign of slowing.
It was as if his attack did zero damage.
The Shadow immediately retaliated by launching a devastating wave of red lightning from its outstretched hands.
The electric surge shot through the air, aiming straight for Neo's chest.
He raised his sword, and summoned Darkness to block it.
The two waves of energy collided in a burst of light, sending a shockwave that cracked the floor beneath them.
The Shadow tilted its head.
A mocking smile played on its face.
Divine Swordsmanship, Semi Fourth Stance: Ryu no Mai
With a sudden shift, it vanished again.
Divine Swordsmanship, Seventh Stance: Tenraizen
It reappeared above him with a devastating downward slash.
Neo twisted, narrowly dodging the attack.