The Extra System: Summoner of Shadows

Time stretched into a thin line that connected his outstretched hand to the cat before him. Cedric never imagined he would be this nervous about a summoned creature accepting him as its familiar. But the Djinn Cat before him did not move, staring into his soul.

[Djinn Cat (Level 20) has invited you into its realm.]

[Accept?]

[Yes] / [No] 

[Warning: entering a spiritual realm carries a great risk of spiritual destruction.]

Cedric was once again confused by what was happening. For the first time since he came to Elaris, he found himself uncertain. However, he needed to make a choice if he wanted this cat to be his familiar.

"I accept."

Cedric felt his vision twist into a vortex that appeared between them. The next instant, his surroundings changed to reveal a desolate landscape filled with nothing but ash. As he looked around, he noticed a black temple atop a small hill before him.

Instead of wasting time in this dangerous place, Cedric moved forward toward the black temple. After passing a pond where black and white fish danced beneath the moonlight, he reached a small shrine with a statue of a cat.

"Are you brave… or a fool?"

An ancient, neutral voice broke the silence as Cedric saw the statue's red ruby eyes staring at him. He realized the voice came from the cat statue before him, which was identical to the Djinn Cat he had summoned.

A stone platform sat before the statue, and Cedric took his seat. He straightened his back and answered the statue. "I am neither."

"I can destroy your soul in an instant. Are you still neither?" asked the cat again, its ruby eyes gleaming dangerously.

"I am wise," Cedric replied. "I knew you could destroy my soul, but I didn't sense ill intentions from our contract. But I am not wise enough to know what makes a forgotten god enter the mortal realm."

"You recognize me, human?"

"How could I not recognize an ancient god of Umbra?" Cedric asked again. "Answer my question, please. What makes a god enter the mortal realm as a summoned monster?"

"Mere interest," the statue answered after a moment of thought. "You obtained the Mark of Umbra, recognized by the Shadow Roc as a suitable vessel of shadows, despite the final trial being so soon. What makes the Lord of Shadows recognize you?"

"I obtained a key to his trial."

"That would be far from enough. Each feather can choose a candidate, and it chose you after thousands of others who came across it," the statue replied. "Again, I ask you, human: what makes you desirable?"

"Some would say I have very kind eyes, but beats me," joked Cedric with a shrug, but the statue did not seem to appreciate humor. "I saw the vision of the roc, and shadows began chasing me. I have very little information to give."

Cedric once again checked the narrator while the statue mulled over its answer. Of course, Cedric did not recognize that he was in the presence of a forgotten god. The narrator had simply told him what he needed to know to appear wise.

Elaris had countless forgotten gods, with more widely worshiped gods like the strongest one, Aegis. Although mentioned in the Records of Elaris, most of them perished because they were forgotten. The one before him was such a god.

"The Mark of Umbra can only be given to nine individuals, but somehow, you are the tenth," said the statue after a while, beginning to explain what was happening. "You have been selected just before the trial begins. And according to what I have seen, you are the weakest."

"How weak am I compared to the rest of the candidates?"

"The strongest is a demi-god," the statue said with a snicker. "And the weakest is… the summoner you are fighting. The rest fall on that spectrum, including kings, mages, monsters, and even a dragon."

"All of them wish to be the Shadeborn?" Cedric muttered, genuinely confused. "What does it mean to walk in the valley of the shadow of death?"

"For someone who knows nothing, you know a lot," remarked the ancient god with suspicion. Cedric tried his best to keep a straight face. "Umbra is the world beneath the real world, a place where the shadows of the real reside. The Shadeborn is the one who can access the two worlds as he desires."

"And the valley?"

"A place where partial souls reside. Shadows are considered to be part of one's soul, necessary for the soul to withstand the light."

Cedric could not reveal that he understood nothing of what it said. However, meeting this ancient god at this time was more than helpful. After all, he knew nothing about the trial but was still involved.

"What do you stand to gain from helping me?"

"I have long since lost my desire for anything," answered the ancient god. "Time does not kill a god; boredom does. Once a god, you gain the freedom to pursue not survival, but amusement. And you, the Tenth of the Nine Candidates, amuse me."

"Does that mean you would be my familiar?" asked Cedric with a sheepish grin. The statue was silent, not answering his question. "I mean, if you want amusement, wouldn't it be amusing to help the weakest candidate become the Shadeborn?"

"Does that mean you want to become the Shadeborn?" asked the voice again, intrigued. Cedric pondered his answer. Although it sounded dangerous, he was a sucker for thrills.

"It would be fun!" he answered with an honest grin. The statue was silent again, and Cedric began considering taking a different familiar since this one was so reluctant.

"Touch the head of the statue, and let me look into your soul. I will decide afterward," said the statue, and Cedric hesitated. However, he was the one proposing a contract between them.

After a few moments of thought, Cedric rose and walked up the stairs, patting the statue on its head. The moment his hand touched the stone, shadows rose from the statue and wrapped around his hand.

Cedric felt a splitting headache as if something wanted to split his mind open. However, even after several seconds, the shadows did not seem satisfied. Then, he received a notification from the system.

[Blessing of ????? has activated.]

The entire temple began shaking as the shadows reacted to the blessing he had. Cedric saw his entire body glowing with an ethereal light that pushed the shadows back. Then, it died down, leaving the broken voice of the ancient god.

"Who exactly are you?"

And Cedric had the perfect answer.

"Someone who shouldn't exist."