Chapter 328 XI Returns

The cavern lit up in light as Keng watched the shadow goblin fly backwards from the explosion. He could feel the energy lighting around him as he lowered his hand. The shadow goblin screeched in pain as large burn marks appeared all over the goblin.

"It worked." Keng sighed in relief. "If only I could do that moving, it would make it even more deadly." He glanced over at Lee Seng and his shadow goblin. The explosion of light seemingly stunned the other shadow goblin. It shielded it's eyes from the light. Lee Seng had taken the bright light to his advantage and swung the scabbard straight for the goblin. The goblin erupted in a blast of light and gravity sending it flying backwards into the ground.

The goblins screeched as they tried to get up. Lee Seng and Keng moved forwards to their goblins. They would end it before the goblins could react. Light built up in their hands, the light spreading across Lee Seng's scabbard as they both went for the killing blow. Lee Seng and Keng went straight for the goblins' necks.

"RAAAA!" The shadow goblins screamed. The goblins heads went flying as they landed ont he ground at the same time. Lee Seng and Keng watched as the shadows flickered over their decapitated heads.

'Is it over?' Lee Seng wondered. He watched the shadows dance around the decapitated head and body. The shadows flickered, instantly piercing Lee Seng faster than he could react. 'Shit!' Lee Seng flew backwards, landing on the ground.

"Lee?!?" Keng turned to run as the shadows off of the goblin's body intercepted him. It blocked his path as the other shadowy energy flew to join the other. The two shadows combined creating a humanoid body. Four red eyes appeared as its horns grew out of its head.

"Raaaaaaa…." The shadow growled. Keng gulped as he watched the Shadow crack its neck. A loud pop was heard followed by the sounds of fast decay from Keng's left and right. He watched from the corner of his right side, the goblin's body disappear and fly back into the Shadow.

"What the hell are you?" Keng asked. The monster cracked its body making Keng grow uncomfortable.

'Why does it make cracking noises like its cracking bones? Does it even have a body?' Keng asked himself. The Shadow monster's form flickered as a mouth appeared. Its razor sharp teeth smiled at Keng. It began to chuckle, ignoring Lee Seng's groans.

[Protocol XI has increased to 65%]

"I didn't think anyone would be capable enough of dealing with me." The Shadow grinned. "It looks like you two can handle me split apart, but the real question is can you fight me as one?"

"Why are you like those Shifters?" Keng asked.

"Those puny things?" The Shadow shook its head like it was offended. "You mistake me for those lesser beings? Ha!" The Shadow appeared in front of Keng and whipped him straight into the opposite wall. Stone and dirt caved around Keng as smoke flew out. "How rude." The Shadow turned to look at Lee Seng slowly getting up. A large hole had pierced itself through his armor and out the back. He groaned as it quickly healed leaving blood behind.

"You're still alive after that attack?" The Shadow asked surprised. "I guess you aren't that bad after all." The Shadow blinked in front of Lee Seng and picked him up, lifting him ofte the ground. "I will kill you and continue my killing spree. The humans will know true terror." The Shadow smiled as it began to squeeze Lee Seng's neck. Lee Seng gasped as he tried to pull the Shadow monster's hand off of him.

[Protocol XI has increased to 79%]

"I love it when they squirm and try to fight back. Humans don't know when to quit." The Shadow watched Lee Seng try to hit the Shadow monster's grip off.

[Protocol XI has increased to 82%]

'I guess it's come to this…' Lee Seng's vision began to fade as the sound of his neck cracking in half echoed across the cavern.

"Shame," the Shadow monster shook its head as it tossed Lee Seng's body to the side. "You're both weak. How did you even get an edge on me?" It turned to see Keng unconscious body in the wall. "And you're still awake. I shall end you."

[Protocol XI has reached 100%.]

[Protocol XI has started.]

[Healing has increased. Now don't die, kid. There's much to figure out… This one… This one feels like its like us.]

Lee Seng's eyes shot open as his neck cracked back into place. His tail flew into the suit while golden stripes flew across the black suit. The ground cracked and Lee Seng disappeared, swinging at the back of the Shadow monster. The Shadow monster bounced forward feeling the impact of the strike hit him.

"How are you even alive?!?" The Shadow monster shouted. Lee Seng's dull eyes watched the Shadow monster, ignoring Keng's unconscious body.

"I guess I'm in control now." XI spoke. "It's a shame both of them are out, but since you think you're better than me, why don't I peg you down a bit?" XI Lee Seng shot forward, sending a punch straight at the Shadow monster. The ground rippled all around them as XI Lee Seng continued to punch at the Shadow monster. The Shadow grunted with each punch as everything shook around them.

"You reek like a Failed One." XI spoke. The Shadow retaliated with a blast of pure shadow energy.

"GET OFF ME YOU HUMAN!" The Shadow shouted. XI Lee Seng went flying, stopping themselves in mid-air. "You know nothing of what I am, stupid human! You'll die!" The Shadow launched itself into the air, a large shadow scythe growing out of its left arm. "Decimation!" The scythe blade extended fifteen times larger, swinging straight for XI Lee Seng.

"Weak." XI lifted their hands and froze the attack mid-air. "Tell me what I want to know and I'll let you go."

"Never!" Shadows rushed out of the Shadow monster, impacting against the invisible shield in front of XI Lee seng.

"Tch." XI shook their head. Tendrils appeared from all sides of the Shadow, piercing it. Tendrils continued to pierce the Shadow as its body shook in the air. "Why are you here, Failed One? What do you want?" The Shadow monster exploded with shadow energy, pulsing all around it. The tendrils ripped to shreds and XI lifted their left arm to shield themselves.

"A Failed One?" The Shadow chuckled. Its four red eyes looked up at XI Lee Seng. "I'm the next step in the evolution! Ethereal Illusion." Thick black fog grew in the air. XI Lee Seng kept their eyes where the Shadow monster was.

"You think blocking my sight will do anything?" XI shook their head as they watched the invisible shield around them explode around them. "Let me tell you something, Failed One. If you're the next step in this so-called Evolution, then I am the perfect version of you." The invisible shield bursted in all directions, shoving everything away from it.

XI Lee Seng lifted their hand up into the sky. A black hole appeared above them as they watched the Shadow monster rush straight for them.

"The next step in my power. The Cosmos themselves shall bend to my form!" XI shouted. XI threw their hand forward at the Shadow. Shadow bullets flew straight for XI Lee Seng as they raised their other hand up to catch the bullets. The black hole flew straight for the Shadow monster as its face went from anger to fear.

"Don't even think about running away. Gravity Hold." XI made a snatching motion at the Shadow and watched as the Shadow monster froze in its spot.

"No!" The Shadow monster shouted. "I-I'll tell you what you want to know, you monster!"

"Monster?" XI smiled. "I'm not a monster, I'm just above you, Failed One."

"No! I can tell you what you want to know!"

"Speak fast. You don't have much time before it devours you."

"I-it's… It's… It's an inside–" The Dark hole engulfed the Shadow monster. The dark fog instantly disappeared as the Dark hole spun into itself, disappearing. Nothing was left in the spot where the monster was. Silence flooded the space as XI lowered themselves back onto the ground.

"Inside?" XI whispered. "Hmm, maybe I should've gone easy on it. Nonetheless, it's time to finish my job here." Xi Lee Seng made his way to Keng and stared at the unconscious Fox humanoid. "I should kill you and take this one for myself." XI lifted their hand and touched Keng's chest. Keng disappeared into silver light, pouring back into XI Lee Seng's body.

"It's time for my way." XI Lee Seng spoke. "You shall stay in slumber until then." Gray energy pulled around XI Lee Seng one second and turned into nothing the next. "I will figure out my existence with or without your help."